Thanksgiving is...

Author:  Gail Gibbons, 2004, Scholastic

Thanksgiving is... is a great informational text.  The reader first learns the history of Thanksgiving celebrations around the world, then the book culminates with the traditional American Thanksgiving.  I learned that President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be Thanksgiving, but it was changed by President Franklin Roosevelt to be the fourth Thursday in November, beginning in 1939.  Traditions, such as decorations, family gatherings, and of course, the food, are covered throughout the book.  I really liked the simple, yet colorful, illustrations.  They do not detract from the message conveyed by the author, but they are a helpful addition to the reading.  Not only is this a great informational text, it is also a powerful teacher of culture.  Children (and adults) who read this book will think of their own traditions and how those traditions have changed over the years.  I was unaware of some traditions mentioned in the book, such as sending Thanksgiving cards and flowers.  In my family, we send Christmas cards, but not Thanksgiving cards.  I would categorize this as not only a book of information, but also a book of history.    

Skittles Riddles

Author:  Barbara Barbieri McGrath, 2000, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Roger Glass

Why are Skittles Original Bite Size Candies always happy?
BECAUSE THEY'RE NEVER BLUE!  :)

What's not to love about Skittles?  These delicious fruit chews are a favorite of many Americans, including both children and adults.  Now, teachers can use this popular candy to teach math!  In the book Skittles Riddles, children learn addition, subtraction, and fractions using Skittles.  This idea is great for a group activity, but make sure to give students a fresh set of Skittles after they have handled them.  Hershey's also makes a book about their famous chocolate bars and math, so take your pick.  I remember using this book when I was in school, and I'm sure it will never go out of style.  After all, who doesn't like to mix food and math?

 

Punctuation Celebration

Author:  Elsa Knight Bruno, 2009, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Jenny Whitehead

Punctuation Celebration is a good literature source to use when teaching students about grammar.  In today's "text lingo," people often neglect punctuation, and that spills over into formal and professional writing.  This book takes each punctuation mark and uses it in a rhyme.  There are colorful illustrations that correspond with the rhymes, and the final page of the book puts everything together.  When I was young, I loved School House Rock, and I can still remember some of the chants, songs, and rhymes.  That, along with literature such as this book, gives children a way of remembering some of the nuances of the difficult English language.  Overall, I thought this book did a fantastic job of using writing to teach proper punctuation. 

Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens

Author:  Cindy Neuschwander, 2009, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Wayne Geehan

Want to learn a way to teach your students how to group numbers in sets of 10?  Look no further than this modern tale of a medieval noble who groups party guests in order to count them.  In Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens, Sir Cumference and his wife, Lady Di of Ameter, throw a surprise party for King Arthur.  So many people arrive (9,000+) that the hosts have no idea how to count them for lunch!  They finally figure out how to arrange the guests in groups of 10, 100, and 1000.  This makes their counting much easier and more accurate than a very good guess. 

I thought this book was a good teaching tool for the math concept of grouping.  We all know some children who have difficulty understanding how numbers fit together to make bigger numbers, and I thought the illustrations in this book helped tremendously.  The story line was funny, and the pictures added humor to the text.  I was a little confused at first why a book with a character named "Sir Cumference" dealt with grouping, and I would have thought circles would have had a prominent role in the story.  Regardless, this book is a fun way to teach a necessary math concept.  

Liliuokalani: The Last Queen of Hawaii

Author:  John MacGregor, 2009, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Pamela Johnson

On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States of America.  Today, tourists from all over the world bask in the beauty of Hawaii's tropical climate, but many do not know the turbulent history of this tiny island.  Hawaii was an independent royal kingdom until Americans forced their way in to make money off the sugar crop.  Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch to sit on the Hawaiian throne, watched her nation slip from power throughout her lifetime.  It was a sad day when she stepped off the throne and was arrested in her own palace.  There was no way of stopping the Americans from annexing the Hawaiian nation; therefore, she avoided war by peacefully surrendering.

This book by John MacGregor gives a realistic view of Queen Liliuokalani's life.  She was raised in a life of privilege, and she had every right to become queen of Hawaii.  She served as queen from 1891-1893, but this time period was wrought with turbulence.  Children will find this book to be very informative in many aspects.  It not only details the queen's life, but also the events surrounding her acension to and surrender of the throne.  Hawaiian vocabulary words, history, and other tidbits of information are included throughout the book.  I really liked that the information was presented in a simple and concise manner.  This would be a wonderful text to use as a resource for classroom study.

The Gingerbread Man

Author:  Jim Aylesworth
Illustrated:  Barbara McClintock, 1998, Scholastic
Traditional Literature

"Run, Run, as fast as you can.  You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" 

As soon as I saw this story, I knew I had to read it for my blog.  I can still remember reading The Gingerbread Man when I was a young child, and I had to reread how a cunning cookie could outwit so many, and be outwitted by an equally cunning fox.  The Gingerbread Man runs away from the people who baked him, from a butcher, from a cow, and from a sow, but a sly fox tricks him and gobbles him up.  It is a fun tale that many children have probably heard, so as a teacher, you can have the children act it out or retell it to each other.  The pictures in this particular version are quite amusing, and they include cows and sows who wear dresses and bonnets.  I laughed at the expressions on the characters' faces throughout the story and, in the end, I knew that the Gingerbread Man had gotten what he deserved.  Have fun with this piece of traditional literature, and allow your students to actively take part in the telling of this tale.

    

The Emperor's New Clothes

Author:  Hans Christian Andersen
Illustrator:  Eve Tharlet
Traditional Literature

In the classic tale The Emperor's New Clothes, a young ruler loves his wardrobe so much that he changes clothes every hour of the day.  When two weavers come to town saying they make beautiful clothing that can only be seen by intelligent people, the emperor decides he must have them.  He orders these conniving men to design him a set of clothes so that he may impress everyone in his kingdom.  Day after day, the young emperor sends his most trusted authorities to the clothesmakers so that he can hear the progress that is being made.  No one wants to admit that they can't see the clothes because, if they admitted it, people might call them stupid.  So, everyone assures the emperor that his clothes look wonderful.  The day finally comes for him to wear the custom-made garb in public, so he orders a parade, gets dressed, and begins walking among the villagers.  Everyone, including the emperor himself, pretends that they can see the clothes, but it isn't until a child cries out the obvious that realization occurs.  The tricky designers had already skipped town and had taken the gold paid to them by the gullible emperor.

This is a story that applies to many.  Often, "keeping up appearances" is a way of showing how put together one feels, instead of simply being truthful.  This is exactly what happened to the emperor.  He was so vain that he had to have the best clothing money could by, and someone capitalized on his stupidity.  This is a good lesson for students to learn early.  The book was easy to read, and the pictures were simple, yet informative.  I noticed that this book was translated from the original story.  If students have heard it before, this might be a different version.  Let them tell you the differences, and compare/contrast the many versions.  It will make for a great discussion!

The Lion and The Mouse

Author:  Jerry Pinkney, 2009, Little, Brown & Co.
Traditional Literature

Take a timeless fable, put a new spin on it, and tell it without using words.  That is essentially what Jerry Pinkney did with The Lion and The Mouse.  A mouse happens upon a lion one day, and in a great show of compassion, the lion lets the mouse go free.  Later on, when the lion is captured in a poacher's net, the mouse hears his cries, finds him, and nibbles through the thick cords to free his lion friend.  The moral of this story, in Pinkney's words, is that the meek sometimes trump the mighty.

I read this story in my children's literature class recently, so some discussions in our class lent insight into the differences between this modern version and the original tale.  Some of my classmates have read a version in which the lion gets a thorn in his paw and the mouse frees him.  Regardless of the differences, Pinkney brings this piece of traditional literature to life with his rich watercolor drawings and word-less pages.  The reader is forced to use his imagination to pull the pillars of the story together in his mind.  I am always in awe of Jerry Pinkney's illustrations, and this book certainly does not disappoint me.  Allow your students to draw upon their prior knowledge of the story (if they have heard it before), and open the classroom to a discussion of differences between the two (or more) versions.  It is a great way to appreciate rich artwork, and in the meantime, to apply a moral standard to real-life situations.     

Mr. Putter and Tabby (Series)

Author:  Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator:  Arthur Howard

During spring break, I chose to read the Mr. Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant.  This children's series is about an old man and his cat, who are strikingly similar in demeanor.  Mr. Putter prefers tea and cakes to hard work, and his cat, Tabby, takes on a human personality.  The two of them live next door to Mrs. Teaberry and her dog, Zeke.  While Mr. Putter and Tabby are bleak, Mrs. Teaberry and Zeke are full of fun.  The foursome blends well together, and the reader can't help but notice the loving relationship between Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry, as well as between Tabby and Zeke.  I loved this series because of its traditional storylines and feel-good endings.  From the series, I read the following books, all beginning with "Mr. Putter and Tabby..."

• Walk the Dog
• Stir the Soup
• Run the Race
• Row the Boat
• Paint the Porch
• Fly the Plane
• Feed the Fish
• Bake the Cake
• Toot the Horn
• Catch the Cold
• Pick the Pears

I don't believe I could pick a favorite from this list.  Each book has its funny parts, and they are perfect for young readers.  Children who are beginning to read chapter books would really enjoy this series.  Each book has around 5 chapters, and the chapters include only a few pages.  I remember when my sister was in first or second grade, she and my mom read the entire series several times.  My sister loved Tabby because she had a cat that looked just like Mr. Putter's.  I believe, for this reason, many young girls would love the stories in this series, but maybe some boys would like them too.  They are great stories of friendship, and that is a quality we all should cherish.

Mr. Putter and Tabby

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author:  Sherman Alexie, 2007, Little, Brown and Company

When you are an adolescent on an Indian reservation, born with fluid on the brain and wimpy in every way, you are an easy target for bullies.  That is exactly what Arnold Spirit (a.k.a. Junior) has faced all his life.  Junior is an Indian on the Spokane Indian Reservation.  He attends Wellpinit School, and if it wasn't for his best friend, Rowdy, Junior would have been decimated years earlier.  Rowdy is Junior's protector and shares a unique relationship with him.  In fact, the reader almost suspects some sort of "male crush" between Junior and Rowdy, but thankfully, that question is put to rest when Junior meets Penelope at Reardan High School.  After being told by one of his teachers at Wellpinit that he could do better, Junior breaks barriers by commuting (sometimes walking) to Reardan High School more than 20 miles away.  No Indian from the Spokane reservation has ever gone to school in the neighboring white community of Reardan, and because of his decision, Junior takes a lot of flack.  Throughout the story, the reader sees Junior's grit and determination as he carves his own path, leading away from his roots on the reservation, but also sadness due to excessive drinking and death.  This story aligns itself with what we know from studying history, but it gives a human voice to a real problem.

Honestly, I did not care much for the book.  I thought the language was crude and sometimes disgusting, and there was really no reason for that.  I believe the author could have told the story in a more informative and wholesome way.  From my perspective, the author attempted to be humorous, and I'll admit, I laughed on occasions; however, the majority of the story was not funny, and it was a lame attempt at humor.  The story basically reinforces every stereotype we have of Indians, including violence and alcoholism.  Instead of turning a blind eye to these truths as we so often try to do, this story forces us to understand exactly what the Native Americans face.  Overall, I am not sure that I would ever use this book as an instructional material.  In fact, I don't know what age group to whom I would recommend this book.  Students who find this book on the shelf will undoubtedly have questions, and that is where teachers can be of great assistance.

Esperanza Rising

Author:  Pam Munoz Ryan, 2000, Scholastic

Esperanza Rising is the story of a privileged young Mexican girl, her servants, and their radical life change.  Esperanza Ortega is the daughter of a wealthy ranch owner in Aguascalientes, Mexico.  She means everything to her father, and he dies suddenly after being attacked by bandits.  Her whole life changes instantly when her greedy uncles take over the ranch, burn it to the ground, and force Esperanza, her mother, and their servants out of the country when one of the uncles imposes marriage on Esperanza's mother.  Alfonso and Hortensia, the servants, and their son, Miguel, take Esperanza and her mother to the United States, but they had to leave Abuelita behind due to an illness.  Esperanza finds her place in a whole new world, one in which she must work to provide for her family.  She is used to ordering people around, but now, she is equal to her former servants.  When her mother falls ill with Valley Fever, Esperanza desperately longs for her to get well, and she eventually does.  Secretly, Miguel goes back to Mexico to retrieve Abuelita many months after they fled.  When the family is together again, so is Esperanza's heart.

I thought this was a poignant story of major life changes, heartache, and new friendships.  Esperanza embodies the idea that present circumstances are not set in stone for ever.  I was saddened by the reasons for her life change, but I think she embraced them as best as she could.  This would be an excellent reading choice for upper elementary and junior high students.  I think the boys would like it, even though it features a female protagonist.  It is especially indicative of the time period, and, while it is difficult to imagine, it tells a real story in a fictional way.

There's a Zoo in Room 22

Author:  Judy Sierra, 2000, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Barney Saltzberg

There's a Zoo in Room 22 is a book of poems about animals that each begin with a different letter of the alphabet.  Room 22's teacher promises her students that they may make a "pet alphabet," so they create a poetry book about Amanda Anaconda, Boring Beetle Bill, Claude the Cat, and others.  This is a great way to introduce young children to poetry, especially with the alphabet being the guiding force behind the poems.  Not only do children reinforce their knowledge about the alphabet; they learn rhythm, rhyme, and detail.  I thought this was a neat book of poems, and I would highly recommend it to other teachers.  

Almost Late to School And More School Poems

Author:  Carol Diggory Shields, 2003, Puffin Books
Illustrator:  Paul Meisel

Almost Late to School is a compilation of several poems, all of them having to do with school.  There are traditional rhymes, haikus, and other forms of poetry.  One poem was about a snake that a student had brought to show-and-tell, and the poem was written in the shape of a snake.  I really liked this book of short poems, and I think children would love them also.  If I were a student in elementary school, I would especially like the fact that each poem has a different focus, but they all reflect the same common theme.  Overall, I would give this book a "thumbs up."

Yellow Star

Author:  Jennifer Roy, 2006, Marshall Cavendish Corporation

Yellow Star is another heartwrenching tale of an oppressed people overcoming adversity.  In this first-person account, a woman named Sylvia recounts her childhood as a Jew growing up in Poland during the second World War.  Sylvia is the name she took on as an American, whereas her birth name was Syvia.  Young Syvia and her mother, father, and sister, Dora, are forced to leave their home and relocate in Lodz, Poland, a Jewish internment camp when Syvia is five years old.  For the next five years, Syvia remained in hiding while her parents and sister worked, while narrowly escaping the clutches of Nazi soldiers who were searching for children.  Many of the Jewish children were sent to extermination camps under the guise of being taken care of by the Nazi government.  Due to the tireless efforts of her parents and only sister, Dora lives to see the rescue of her camp by the Russians, and her family is freed.  The author of this book is Syvia's niece, and she recorded her aunt's stories from telephone conversations and put them into a book.

I enjoyed this story because I consider it a primary source of history.  These words are straight from the mouth of someone who lived through one of the most horrifying times in the modern age, and they are a reminder to us of how evil people really can be.  I suggest teachers be mindful of the content and weight of this book before they assign it in their classrooms.  Seventh and eighth grades would be my ideal age suggestion, but one could easily extend that range into high school.  I definitely would not recommend this for any child under the seventh grade, simply because students need a concrete understanding of the events surrounding this time period, as well as the maturity that comes with older age.  Overall, this book was a somber account of a fairly recent occurrance, and it paints a picture of bleak optimism in a terrifying time.  

Hoover's Bride

Author:  David Small, 1995, Scholastic

Don't get too distracted by the title of this book.  At first, I thought it was a story about our 31st president:  Herbert Hoover.  As someone who loves history, I was excited to read a poem about a historical figure. 

But this has nothing to do with Herbert Hoover.

Hoover's Bride is a silly rhyming story about a man who marries his vacuum cleaner.  Hoover, the main character, lives alone and never cleans his house.  It acquires so much dust and dirt that one day, all the dust falls on Hoover.  His neighbors introduce him to a vacuum cleaner named Elektra, and instead of merely cleaning his house, he falls in love with it.  Somehow, they are able to get married, and while they are on their honeymoon, the people in the hotel room next door have a loud noise in their room.  When Hoover inquires about the racket, he finds a woman and her "husband", a lawn mower.  She, too, fell in love with her appliance and married it.  Long story short--she and Hoover end up legitimately married, and the two ex-spouses end up rusting together in the dump.  After all, a lawn mower can only go so far without gas and a vacuum cleaner needs someone to plug it in!

This story, while humorous, is absolutely ridiculous.  I understand the humor behind it, but what child will accept the idea that a man can marry a vacuum?  I would not use this story in my classroom, but again, it is what I like to call a "mindless read."  If it is one you have on your bookshelf, go ahead and leave it there, but if not, leave it in the dust.