Title, Age, Genre

So Far from the Sea by: Eve Bunting

Modern Fiction (Ages 7-10)

Characters

Laura Iwasaki- young Japanese girl (daughter)

Thomas Iwasaki- young Japanese boy (son)

Mr.&Mrs. Iwasaki

Plot

As the Iwasaki family moves to Massachusetts, they visit the grave of their grandfather who died at the Manzanar War Relocation Camp.  This was a camp that thousands of Japanese Americans were interned in during World War II.  As the family stands are this camp, their father begins to recall the events that took place while their family was living there.  

Unique Features

Having a family that is Japanese American sheds a lot of light on both sides of the things that happened. This book talks about some of the events that were a result of WWII and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  At one point in the story, the father tells his children that both groups of people made mistakes and did things that they shouldn?t have.  It was unique to see this father saying that both the United States and Japan made mistakes. 

Classroom Connection

A wide range of connections are available when using this book in the classroom.  This book could be used in a lesson about history of the United States, or in discussing things that happen because of violent acts.  Another way to use this book may be to talk about other countries in the world and their way of life and culture.

Citation

Bunting, E. (1998). So far from the sea. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Title, Age, Genre

The Whale?s Song By: Dyan Sheldon

Historical Fiction (Ages 5-9)

Characters

Lilly

Grandmother

Grandfather

Plot

Lilly always has listened to the stories that her grandmother tells about the whales and how they sing and jump and play in the ocean.  Her grandmother has told her that if she leaves them a gift on the beach, they will reward her if they like it.  Despite her great uncles doubts that this is true, Lilly leaves a single yellow flower on the beach for the whales.

Unique Features

The oil paintings in this story make the book a wonderful one to use in the classroom.  The illustrations are beautiful! 

Classroom Connection

This book could be used in a variety of ways.  One way to use this book is to use it in a unit about animals.  This may be one that can be used to talk about whales or the ocean.  Although it is fiction, there are facts in the book about whales that can be used in discussion.

Citation

Sheldon, D. (1990). The whale's song. New York, NY: Dial Books.

Title, Age, Genre

The Polar Express  By: Chris Van Allsburg

Modern Fantasy (Ages 3-12)

Characters

Young Boy

Train Conductor

Boys and Girls traveling to the North Pole

Plot

A young boy lies in his bed one Christmas eve and hears a noise outside his window.  It is the Polar Express and the conductor asks him to climb aboard and travel with the other children to the North Pole.  Throughout his visit there he receives a bell from one of Santa?s reindeer.  When he wakes up on Christmas morning, he finds it under his tree but only he and his sister can hear the bell.  He soon discovers that the bell only rings for those ?who truly believe.?

Unique Features

Reading the words of this book help draw an amazing image in the minds of all who read it.  Along with the wonderful text that Van Allsburg has created, the illustrations are beautiful.  This story is full of description and beautiful text. 

Classroom Connection

One way to use this in a classroom connection is to discuss what it is like to believe in something even when people may make fun of you or not agree with you.  This can be a topic that all ages of children can talk about.  Another classroom connection for the upper grades would be to talk about the similes and metaphors that are found within the book.  Along these same lines, talking about the wonderful use of descriptive words would be a wonderful classroom connection to show the students how these use of words help draw pictures for the readers.

Citation

Van Allsburg, C. (1985). The polar express. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Title, Age, Genre

The Great Eagle Spirit By: Hal Granum

Modern Fantasy (Ages 5-9)

Characters

Carl

Grandfather

Plot

Carl is a young Alaskan boy that gets caught up in a terrible storm.  Upon his ?rescue? he begins a journey in which he is able to visit his deceased ancestors.  In doing this, he decides to try and link this heritage and culture he sees to his life in modern times.  When he awakes, he finds that his grandfather is there with him and had rescued him after this terrible storm during which he was able to go on an adventure he hopes to never forget.

Unique Features

This book is wonderful when discussing culture and heritage and the ways of life in the past and the effect that those traditions and practices have on our lives now.  I also think this is a wonderful book because the young boy is American, but his culture goes much deeper than just being an American.  He is Alaskan and in this book finds out what that means to him. 

Classroom Connection

Using this to discuss who we really are past being in the United States is a wonderful way to use this book.  Talking in our classrooms about what makes us as people and all of the little parts of our culture that make us who we are is a wonderful way to tie this book into the classroom.

Citation

Granum, H. (2006). The great eagle spirit. Baltimore, MD: Publish

America.

Title, Age, Genre

Marsupial Sue by: John Lithgow

Modern Fiction (Ages 5-7)

Characters

Marsupial Sue

Plot

Sue is a kangaroo and doesn?t really like it.  She feels like if she were something else besides the kangaroo she was, she would be happy.  As she undertakes this journey to find out what she would really love to be, she realizes that being a kangaroo isn?t as bad as she seemed to think.

Unique Features

The feature that I liked about this book was that it contained pictures within the text.  For instance, when the word sock was used, beside the word was a picture of a pair of socks.  This is a wonderful tool for beginning readers to have access to.

Classroom Connection

As a classroom connection, this could be used to talk about self esteem and being confident and ok with the person we are.  Another way that it may be used would be to discuss the similarities and differences between each of the marsupials that Sue finds in the book.

Citation

Lithgow, J. (2001). Marsupial Sue. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Title, Age, Genre

Go to Sleep Groundhog! By: Judy Cox

Historical Fiction (Ages 5-9)

Characters

Mr.Groundhog

Plot

Mr. Groundhog can?t seem to get to sleep.  He keeps waking up and takes a walk hoping that upon his return to his home we will be able to rest until his big day.  When he finally falls asleep, it is time to wake again for his day.  When he comes out of his home, will he see his shadow to find out if winter is going to continue?

Unique Features

I thought that this book had extremely friendly illustrations.  They were playful and when reading the book, I thought they added to the feeling of the story.

Classroom Connection

Using this to discuss the holiday known as Groundhog Day would be a wonderful way to use this.  Growing up, I never really remember knowing much about what Groundhog Day was, but having a discussion about what the day is would be a good classroom connection.  Another connection may be to talk about animals that sleep in the winter or hibernate.  This could lead into a discussion about bears and what hibernation is and why they do it.

Citation

Cox, J. (2004). Go to sleep groundhog! New York, NY: Holiday House.

Title, Age, Genre

Growing Vegetable Soup by: Louis Ehlert

Picture Book for Early Readers (Ages 5-7)

Plot

In this book, a child and his father grow vegetables in order to make vegetable soup.  Each step in planting a garden and taking care of it in order to produce the vegetables they need is discussed and illustrated.  Finally, they are able to cook everything they have grown and enjoy a nice bowl of vegetable soup!

Unique Features

The illustrations in this book are very large and there aren?t many things on one page which makes the read much easier for early readers.  The feature I love about this book is that each word that is used in the book that may be a ?harder? word for students to read is labeled with a picture.  Using the pictures helps the students successfully complete reading this story.

Classroom Connection

This book would be a wonderful book to discuss plants and the things they need to live.  In kindergarten, many of the things discussed in this book would be completely new concepts.  Another way this book could be used in the classroom is for a comparison activity.  Having the students discuss how humans and plants are the same when it comes to what they need to live is another way this book could be used in the classroom.

Citation

Ehlert, L. (1987). Growing vegetable soup. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Title, Age, Genre

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by: Shirley Neitzel

Picture Book for Early Readers (Ages 5-7)

Characters

Mother

A young daughter

Plot

This is a story about a young girl that is getting ready to go out in the snow and all the things she has to wear to keep her warm.  She goes through each piece of clothing as she has to put it on before she goes outside to play.  Her sled crashes into a snowman and the little girl starts to cry.  Her mother comes to her rescue and brings her inside where she removes the layers of winter clothing.

Unique Features

The feature that I liked about this book was that it contained pictures within the text.  For instance, when the word sock was used, beside the word was a picture of a pair of socks.  This is a wonderful tool for beginning readers to have access to.

Classroom Connection

For the younger grades, this would be a fun book to do an activity with connecting ?self to text.?  The children could talk about anything they relate to in this book dealing with their experiences in the winter time.  Another way to use this book would be using it to introduce winter.  In kindergarten they are learning what the seasons are and when they occur. (Ex: It is June and it is Summer.)  This book could be used to introduce to season of winter.

Citation

Neitzel, S., & Parker, N. W. (1989). The jacket I wear in the snow. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Title, Age, Genre

The Remembering Stone by: Barbara Timberlake Russell

Multicultural and International Literature (Ages 5-9)

Characters

Mama-  Costa Rican lady living in the United States with her daughter

Ana- daughter, Costa Rican

Grandma and Grandpa- both Costa Rican; living in Costa Rica

Plot

This is a story about a mother that lives in the US with her daughter but longs for the day that she can see her family again in Costa Rica.  She tells her daughter stories of when she was living there and the way of life that she knows from Costa Rica.  When Ana, her daughter, finds a stone from a box full of Costa Rican items, she decides to put it under her pillow for the night and think of what it may be like there.  Upon falling asleep, she travels to this country seeing her grandparents, the beautiful coast, and learns all about the culture. 

Unique Features

This book contains beautiful illustrations, but the most unique feature is that it uses many words from the Spanish language.  There is a glossary at the beginning to refer to if needed, but throughout Ana?s journey to Costa Rica, many Spanish words are used.

Classroom Connection

This book is a wonderful book to make connections between those of different cultures.  For example, discussing the similarities and differences in both the American and the Costa Rican culture would be a wonderful thing to do to connect this book to the classroom.  Especially if you have Latin American students, this will helps others learn more about other cultures.

Citation

Russell, B. T., & Cotts, C. B. (2004). The remembering stone. New York, NY: Melanie Kroupa Books.

Title, Age, Genre

Molly Bannaky  by Alice McGill

Biography

Characters

Molly Walsh- European milkmaid

Bannaky- a slave brought to the New World from Africa that worked for Molly

Plot

Molly Walsh was a milkmaid that lived in Europe.  During her time as a milkmaid, she spilt the milk twice which resulted in her going to court.  Appearing in court, she was sentenced to work 7 years in the New World.  Taking what little belongings she had, she sales the seas to a new place and works for the seven years she was sentenced to.  After completing those years, she is given tools and land to build her self a house and live a free life.  Needing help, she purchases a slave from Africa who she falls in love with and soon marries.

Unique Features

The unique feature found in this book is that interracial marriage took place.  This could pose possible controversy in our society today just as it did many years ago.

Classroom Connection

This book could be used in a history lesson about slavery or about the discovery of the New World and the ways of life that followed that discovery.

Citation

McGill, Alice. Chris K. Soentpiet (ill). Molly Bannaky. Houghton Mifflin, 1999.

Title, Age, Genre

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter and Connie Roop

Nonfiction (ages 6-10)

Characters

Abbie- left to keep this light burning in the lighthouse that he father is the lighthouse keeper for

Papa- the lighthouse keeper

Mama

Esther- Abbie?s sister

Mahala- Abbie?s sister

Lydia- Abbie?s sister

Plot

Papa Burgess is the lighthouse keeper at a lighthouse on the coast of Maine.  He needs to sail to the nearby town in order to get medicine and food for his family, but can?t afford to leave his lighthouse unattended.  Keep the Lights Burning Abbie is the story of Abbie and her fathers request that she be in charge of the lighthouse while he is one his journey.  Days pass without her father?s return because of a terrible storm, but Abbie doesn?t let the light go out as she fulfills what he father has asked of her. 

Unique Features

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie was selected by Reading Rainbow to be a Reading Rainbow book.  One of the features I really liked was that is seemed to have a wonderful balance of illustrations and text for the transition from picture books to chapter books.

Classroom Connection

This book would be an excellent book to use in fourth grade for the North Carolina curriculum in social studies about lighthouses.  This would be wonderful in a discussion or lesson on lighthouses and their purposes in the late 1800s.

Citation

Roop, Peter and Connie. Peter E. Hanson (ill). Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie. Carolrhoda, 1985.

Title, Age, Genre

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People?s Ears by Verna Aardema

Multicultural and International Literature (ages 7-9)

Characters

Mosquito    Monkey

Iguana         Baby Owl

Snake          Momma Owl

Rabbit         King Lion

Plot

One day, a lonely mosquito began telling the iguana a lie about a farmer picking yams.  As the iguana hears this, he believes it to be a lie and plugs his ears with twigs.  Seeing this, the snake assumes that the iguana is planning something against him.  This leads into a chase through the entire forest all the way to King Lion who calls a meeting of all the animals.  This African legend tells us the truth about why mosquitoes always buzz in our ears.  It is because of their guilty conscience.

Unique Features

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People?s Ears was the Caldecott winner of 1976.  It is an African tell to explain the annoying habit that mosquitoes have to buzz in our ears.

Classroom Connections