The Hare and the Tortoise - Traditional Literature

The Hare and the Tortoise, retold by Caroline Castle and illustrated by Peter Weevers was slightly different than the story I remembered hearing as a child. While it was the same storyline, this version had a lot of embellishments along the way. For instance, in this story the tortoise liked to read and was in the middle of writing a book, two pages per day. Hare liked to run and could not understand why tortoise liked reading, so he challenged him to a race. Everyone in town got ready for the race; there were tickets sold and there was even a concession stand! On the day of the big race, rabbit starts off so fast that he can't even see tortoise behind him. He decides to lay down on a grassy hill and soon, he falls asleep. He dreams that he is the fastest runner in all the land. When he finally awakes, tortoise is only a few steps from the finish line. Hare gets up and tries to run and beat him, but he was too late and cannot beat Tortoise. In the end, the moral of the story is "slow and steady wins the race".

I think that this story is worth having in my classroom. However, I do not think that I would have this copy. I felt that it was too long and I did not enjoy it very much. I think that a simpler version would have gotten the moral out more clearly.

The Butterfly - Author Study

Of the three books I read by Patricia Polacco, The Butterfly was definitely my favorite. This is a story of a young girl who wakes up one night when the Nazis are occupying Paris and sees another girl in her room. The other girl is frightened and flees out of the room. When she asks her mother about this other girl, her mother scolds her and tells her never to talk of this other girl again. The girl, Monique, and the mysterious girl in her room, Sevrine, become friends and Monique finds out that Sevrine and her family are Jewish and hiding in her basement. Throughout the story, Monique learns a lot about what the Nazis are doing to the Jewish people. Without giving away the whole story, I will say that Monique's friendship with Sevrine teaches her about hope and friendship.

I believe this would be an excellent book to have in my classroom, especially if we were discussing Anne Frank, the Nazis, or any World War II topic really. There is also a bit of French vocabulary such as papillon for butterfly and Maman for mother. Children could learn so much from this book without even realizing they are learning. The most amazing part was that this, along with Patricia Polacco's other stories, is true. This particular story is about Monique, her aunt.

Chicken Sunday - Author Study

Chicken Sunday is the second book I chose to read by Patricia Polacco. Though I did not enjoy this book nearly as much, the story was cute and I could see how it would teach good lessons to children about diversity. I would be more likely to keep Pink and Say in the classroom than this one.

This story is about a young girl and her neighbors, Winston, Steward, and their grandmother, Eula Mae Walker. Though she points out that they are not the same religion, her mother let her go to the baptist church on Sundays with the Walker family. These Sundays are called chicken Sundays because they always have fried chicken after church. Eula Mae loves hats! Every Sunday after church they pass Mr. Kodinski's hat shop and Eula Mae admires the lovely Easter hat. The children decide to find a way to make money and buy her the hat as a surprise. At first they are afraid of Mr. Kodinski, but the young girl's mother helps them approach Mr. Kodinski and blend cultures.

Pink and Say - Author Study

I chose Patricia Polacco for my author study. The first one of her books that I chose to read was Pink and Say. This book follows two young boys who are about 15 years old, Pink and Say. Say is a young white boy fighting for the north in the Civil War. Pink is around the same age and also fighting for the north, but he is a slave. When Say is inured and lying hopeless on the ground, Pink finds him and brings him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. As Say heals, Pink decides they need to go back and fight in the war, yet Say is not so sure.

I enjoyed this book very much. Though this book was for my author study, I was equally impressed with the pictures as with the words. They were extremely realistic and made me feel as though I were a part of the story or as though the author was painting scenes while they happened. Some of the aspects of the story would be great as teaching tools. For example, Pink says to Say, "My mother and Kaylo, my father, jumped the broom on this very spot." Many children may not realize that is a reference to getting married in Pink's culture. With the many references to the Civil War, this could also be a great introduction (or fun reinforcement) to a Civil War unit. The aspect that I found most interesting about this story, however, is that it is a true story from the author's great-great-grandfather, Sheldon Curtis, or Say for short.

Ginger Pye - Newberry Award Winner 1952

I started reading Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes with pretty high expectations. Everyone who had read the book before me told me what a good book it was and that I would love it. While I enjoyed reading this book, it was not one of my favorites. I thought that "Uncle Benny" was strange and often had trouble feeling as though the characters were real. Often I also thought that the book was getting long.
However, I could see how this could be a good book that many people would enjoy. The story line was cute and if some of the language was modernized I may have liked it more.

This story was about the Pye family, mainly Jerry and Rachel. Jerry buys a dog, Ginger Pye. This is going to be the smartest dog ever! Jerry says that his dog is going to be able to do tricks that no other dog can do! However, shortly after they buy their dog Ginger, they notice someone following them. All they can see of this person is their yellow hat. This person, their mother says, is an unsavory character, so they nickname the fellow "Unsavory". Unsavory is found to be following the Pyes on several occasions and eventually Ginger goes missing. The Pyes are on a search for their missing dog. Did Unsavory steal him?

While the plot was cute, I just had trouble getting into this book. I didn't have the desire I've had with prior books to keep reading. I see why in 1952 this book might have won the Newberry Award, but I feel that now it is rather outdated. The pictures were cute too but they were pretty widely spaced and not always very clear. If I had to rate this book on a scale of 1 to 5 I would give it a 3.

Cendrillon - Traditional Literature

Cendrillon, by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Brian Pinkney, is a Caribbean twist on the classic tale of Cinderella. In this version, Cendrillon's godmother is in her life because she nursed baby Cendrillon when she was a baby and her mother was sick. The godmother was given one thing by her own mother who died, a mahogany wand which could turn one thing into another with just a few taps. She never had much use for this... until Cendrillon's stepmother mistreats her. She turns Cendrillon's washerwoman rags into a beautiful dress and accompanies her to a ball thrown by the prince. The rest of the story is basically the same as the tale we all know and love until the prince comes to Cendrillon's house with the slipper she lost at the dance. In the traditional story, Cinderella hears the prince trying the slipper on her stepsisters and comes out with the other slipper. In this version, however, Cendrillon's godmother is the one who coaxes her to reveal herself.

I loved this book! It had french words scattered throughout the book such as nannin' for godmother and blanchisseuse for washerwoman. There were just enough words to bring in the French culture well, but not enough to hinder a non-French speaker from reading the story. In the back, there was a "Glossary of French Creole Words and Phrases". Both the story and pictures give the impression of the French Creole way of life. This would be a good book for the classroom because it uses a story that children already know and understand to help them learn about another language and culture.

Cinderella - Traditional Literature

I read Cinderella, retold by Paul Galdone, for one of my traditional literature titles. This was interesting because right away I noticed a difference between this version of the story and Disney's version. In Disney's Cinderella, her father has died and that is when Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters start to pick on her and make her do chores around the house and basically treat her as a maid. In this book, however, her father is still alive and simply ruled completely by his new wife. Also, one thing I thought was interesting was that in the book, when Cinderella tries on the glass slipper and pulls the matching shoe out of her pocket, the godmother returns and turns her back into the lovely princess she was at the ball. This part is not in the Disney movie.

However, I thought that overall, the differences were small. I love this fairytale and thought that Paul Galdone did a wonderful job with it. I liked the pictures in the book but sometimes felt there was almost too much going on in them. I would consider having this particular version of Cinderella in my classroom.

Life as we Knew it - Rebecca Caudill Nominee

I know I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but even looking at the description of Life as we Knew it, by Susan Beth Pfeffer, I did not expect to like this book. Life as we Knew it is about what happens to a family, a town, and even to some extent the world, when an asteroid hits the moon sending it closer to the Earth than ever before. The main character, sixteen-year-old Miranda, lives in a small town with her mom and two brothers, one in college and one who is around 10 years old. After the asteroid hits the moon the world loses power, volcanoes start to erupt worldwide, and tsunamis take over the east coast. Next, the sun dims, cold sets in early, then freezing cold and blizzards. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing was excellent and made me feel as if I were part of the story. I read this book almost all in one sitting. Once I had finished, I actually was concerned to go outside because the story had seemed so real!

I thought this was going to be more of a science-fiction book (which I suppose it was), but the journal-style writing made it appealing to a wider audience, even someone who doesn't usually care for this particular genre. One of the most interesting aspects of the book, I believe, was how Miranda's relationship with her family changed and how the rest of the family's relationships changed with each other as well. I would definitely recommend this book. However, it could scare some children so I would be more likely to put it in a middle school classroom than an elementary classroom.

Tuck Everlasting - Book-to-Movie

I listened to Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt on audiotape read by Melissa Hughes. I enjoyed listening to it rather than reading because since the reader knew what was happening, she was able to put much more correct inflection in her voice. I felt as though I got a lot closer to the characters in the story than I might have otherwise. Actually, this was a story in which it was very easy for me to feel close with the characters. Winnie was a very innocent young girl who simply wanted to see things and make a difference in the world. Though I was not quite so sheltered as a child, I felt I could relate to her yearning to make a difference. It was interesting to me that I could easily relate to the Tucks. Though they were each over 100 years old, they seemed as real as anyone. They were wise, yet still had an innocence about them. Jesse's attraction to Winnie added even more to the realness of the Tucks and helped me relate to characters with whom I had seemingly nothing in common.

One idea that struck me while reading especially the second half of this book was the idea of teaching children about death. I felt that this book helped even me at 20 understand a little better the idea of death and dying. Though it shows that yes, death can be sad, it is a necessary part of life so that new people and things may live. I would definitely include this book in my classroom library.

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry - Newberry Winner 1977

I remember reading Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D. Taylor when I was in Elementary School and loving it, so I had high expectations when starting to read it again. When I started reading, however, I had a lot of trouble getting into the story. I felt like it was taking a long time for the characters to develop enough for me to feel any connection to them.

It was interesting to me to hear about how these black children in Mississippi were being treated by the whites and what they felt about that. Cassie is the only girl of the four Logan siblings and she especially does not understand the way the blacks are treated. She does not understand why she has to call one of the white girls who is mistreating her "Miz Lillian Jean" or why she has to apologize for simply being on the sidewalk the white family intends to walk on. Then there's the Logan children's friend T.J. who tends to get in trouble but doesn't seem to know how to take blame. He still has a lot more growing up to do than the Logan children and wants to become friends with the white children. Throughout this book, the children learn even more of the truth about how they are seen by the white families and what the white families feel they should do about this including lynchings and burnings.

Though this book started out very slow for me, by the time I was done reading I found that I felt a strong connection to the characters. I enjoyed the contrast between Cassie's very naive personality and her older brother Stacey's more mature outlook on life. I can definitely see why this book won the Newberry Award and it is a book I would be sure to have in my classroom library.

Grandfather's Journey - Caldecott Illustrator Award

Grandfather's Journey, by Allen Say is the winner of the Caldecott Award because of its illustrations. This book shows beautiful sunsets, flowing rivers, and endless fields. Though I felt the people in the pictures were rather lifeless, I absolutely loved the scenery. Especially in the picture of the sunset on the ocean, I felt like I could step into the picture and become part of the story. As for the storyline, I didn't entirely understand the point until I read the second-to-last page. Though I couldn't relate to the rest of it, that page caught my attention. The narrator said that whenever he is in one country (America or Japan) he is homesick for the other. I felt that I could relate to that. After spending even a few months in a Paris last semester, I feel that I can appreciate the feeling he had. While I was excited to be in Paris and to be experiencing new things, I missed my friends and family at home as well as the routine that I had developed here. However, though I am excited to be back, there are times when I wish more than anything that I could go back there. One day I will. I think that this could be a good book for students who have moved. It can show them that though they will miss their home, they will also come to see where they are now as a home and they will always keep a special place in their heart for where they grew up.

The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963 - Required Reading

I read The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis just after reading A Long Way From Chicago. I thought that there was no chance for this new book to be as good as the last one I had read, but I was wrong. I very much enjoyed The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963. I was already laughing on page two when the main character Kenny refers to his older brother as an "official juvenile delinquent" because he is now thirteen years old. As it turns out, his brother was indeed a delinquent. It was nice to see, however, that his brother really was looking out for him.

I was surprised during this book because I thought a lot of the story would be about the Watson family's trip to Birmingham. While this did take up 5-6 chapters, the Watson family did not really even leave their home in Flint, Michigan until the tail end of chapter 9. Instead, the author spent the first 9 chapters telling about the lives of each family member, including Kenny's flashbacks. In the end though, this book was less about the Watsons actually going to Birmingham, and more about them being a family and caring for each other which I thought was especially evident in the very end (which I won't give away...). I would definitely recommend this book to my students to read.

A Long Way from Chicago - Required Reading

In A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck, Joey and his sister Mary Alice are from Chicago. In the summer of 1929, their parents send them to visit their grandmother in a small town in Illinois. This becomes an annual trip all the way through 1934. During their summers at Grandma Dowdel's, they experience a reality FAR different from their life in Chicago. They, along with their grandmother, get into a ton of crazy situations. During this all, they learn how much their grandmother loves to embellish on just about everything.

I really enjoyed this book. I am from Chicago, so it was easy for me to see the huge differences between Joey and Mary Alice's life in Chicago and their summers at Grandma Dowdel's. I loved how each chapter was about a different year and a completely different experience for the characters. There was just enough connection between chapters to keep me from being confused but it was basically a different story for each summer. The last chapter tells about Joey in 1942 when he is part of the troops for World War II and passing through Grandma Dowdel's small town. It was really touching since I felt I had become close with the characters through the stories of their summers. I can clearly see why this book was a Newberry Honor Book in 1999.

Color Dance -Lit Based Lesson Plan

Color Dance by Ann Jonas is the book I picked for my literature-based lesson plan. Throughout the book, there were children in different colored leotards and matching large scarves that they were holding. These children would put their scarves together to mix the colors and make new colors.

While I believe this book could be good for teaching students about mixing colors, it seemed to me that was the only thing I would use it for. Other than that the children in the book were holding scarves and wearing leotards, there was no connection to dance as I hoped there might be and there was no story-line, just children blending colors. Also, while I thought this would be a good book for young children (say first grade), I did find a lot of unusual color words such as vermilion and chartreuse which may need explained to them. This would probably not be a book I would keep in my classroom unless I was using it to teach color mixing.

Skippyjon Jones - Monarch Nominee

Skippyjon Jones, by Judith Schachner, is about a cat with a crazy imagination. He even likes to sleep with the birds! But when his mother finds him doing this, she sends him to his room to "think about just what it means to be a Siamese cat". While in his room, Skippyjon Jones lets his imagination take control as usual. His antics and imagination put him as a chihuahua in Mexico where he is forced to defeat the evil Alfredo Buzzito who is stealing every one's beans.
I absolutely adored Skippyjon Jones! Even before reaching the first page of the story, I could tell that the pictures (also done by Judith Schachner) were going to be wonderful. The large faces and often crazy expressions added even more to an already hilarious book. In addition to being a Monarch Nominee, this book also won the "E.B. White read aloud award". I would definitely agree that this would be a great book to read aloud to first through third grade classrooms. I know I wanted to read it to anyone who would listen!