Book Review

My Book review was over Henry's Freedom Box and I chose to post on the Barnes and Noble website. My pen name is jdykes which is what I wrote my review under. Enjoy! : http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Henrys-Freedom-Box/Levine/e/9780439777339/#TABS

Ruby Lu, Brave and True By: Lenore Look

Honestly, I did not really enjoy reading this book. I thought that there were way too many story lines within the story that it was a little hard to keep up with. I do not think that I would integrate this book into my classroom curriculm, but I would be willing to keep it as a classroom library book. I do think that some children would relate to Ruby and enjoy the book, but as an adult I did not. One thing I did like was Ruby's character. I found her fun and refreshing. I do not think that I would recommend this book to fellow teachers.

Stuart Goes to School by: Sara Pennypacker

This book really confused me. I felt like I did not know what was happening half of the time and then I could not figure out what was real and what was made up. I think that this book may be confusing for a child just starting to read chapter books. Also, after our discussion in class about this book I think it would be a good idea to read "Stuart's Cape," the first book in the Stuart series, so that the reader has background knowledge of Stuart and the powers of his cape. This is a book that I can definitely see in my classroom library because I think that children would enjoy reading it, but it may be a little too confusing to read aloud.

Video Book Talk #2

Craft Lesson #3

For: 2nd or 3rd graders


Materials: The Giving Tree by: Shel Silverstein, 5 sets of alphabet letters (these can be magnetic, foam, or paper), 5 writing pads (one per table or group)

DISCUSSION

As children learn to read and write many times they can read more words than they can spell. It is our job as teachers to ensure that our students are also focusing on their writing ability and not just their reading. Spelling words helps children learn to sound out words, and also helps them become better readers as well. Many times when these taught teachers tend to focus most of their class time on reading. This craft lesson is a great way to mesh reading and writing together to help strengthen both skills.

HOW TO TEACH IT

Today, we are going to read a book called The Giving Tree. This story describes the importance of a tree to a young boy as he grows up. He visits the tree many times throughout his life and the tree is always giving him something to make the boy’s life better. Now I am going to read The Giving Tree.

Read the whole story to the class.

Now, I am going to break you up into five different groups. (You can number the children off or let them pick their own groups. Try to have about the same number of kids in each group). I want each group to go sit at a table together. On your table you will find a bag of alphabet letters, and a writing pad. In just a second I am going to call out a word and I want you to work with your table and spell the word using the alphabet letters that I have given you. Once you are done raise your hand and I will come check your answer. Once I have checked your answer, each of you needs to write the word once on your writing pad.

The first word is “branches.” (You can choose whatever word you would like from the book).

(Go around to each table as they raise their hands and check their answer. Make sure that each of them is writing the word once on their writing pad.)

The next word is “carried.” (Again, you may choose whatever word you would like).

(Go around to each table as they raise their hands and check their answer. Make sure that each of them is writing the word once on their writing pad.)(Continue this same process for the next 3 words. If you want to do more than 5 words you can. This lesson is flexible and totally up to you. The next 3 words that I chose were: gather, climb, and forest).

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by: Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

I felt like this book was very different from the others that we have read before. The illustrations were done in collage which was new and the book was nonfiction which makes it unlike the other books we have read. I also appreciated this book because of all the wonderful lessons that could be taught from it. This would be a great tool to use with children when they are studying foreshadowing and prediction. I also really love the glossary in the back of the text. This is something that I think kids will enjoy reading because many of the animals in this story are not things that we see in West Texas. I would definitely like to use this book when I am teaching and I think that kids of any age would love it.

Video Book Talk #1

Take Me Out of the Bathtub by: Alan Katz

Honestly I did not enjoy this book. I feel like it would be hard to incoporate into any classroom because it is too silly. Although I do like the illustrations I feel that they are overpowering and would be overwhelming to a child reading this book. The only way that I could see myself using this book is to read a song at the end of the day and have the class sing along with me, but I would rather do a read aloud. I also think that small children may not know the tunes to all of the songs in the book, because I did not even know all of the tunes. It may also be difficult for them to sing different words to the tune. Overall, I would not recommend this book and I cannot see myself using it.

Craft Lesson #2

For: First or second grade students


Materials: paper, crayons or markers, and What Would You Do With a Tail Like This?, plain white printing paper (enough for everyone to get two sheets)

DISCUSSION

One of the most important elements in a children’s book is its illustrations. Good illustrators know that their work should add to the story. Children should be able to look at the art work and be able to tell their own story without having to actually read the words. If we want our students to become successful writers and story tellers we must emphasize to them the importance of illustrations to the story. It not only allows the student to tell their own story, but lets them use their imagination as well.

HOW TO TEACH IT

In What Would You Do With a Tail Like This? the illustrations are very important to the story. They help you to guess what comes next! Often times the pictures in a story are just as important as the words. Now I am going to read a story to you, and I want you to think about the pictures of the story and how they are important.

(Read entire story: What Would You Do With a Tail Like This?)

Now we are going to look back through the book and brainstorm as to why the pictures are important.

(Turn back to the second page with the noses)

What do the pictures on this page help us to do? (Let students answer and help them in their brainstorming.)

Now lets look at another page and I want you to guess what animals are shown just by looking at the pictures. (Turn to tail page)

(Let the students guess what the animals are) Why do you think the writer just has tails on this page? Why doesn’t he put the whole animal on the page? (Let them answer)

We are going to look at one last page which has lots of mouths on it! (Turn to the mouth page towards the end)

What do you think these animals are? How can you tell? (Let them answer)

Do you think that it is important that the author had good drawings to go with his story? (Let them answer)

Why is it important to have good illustrations? (Let them answer)

Now I am going to let you be the author of your own tail story! I want each of you to go back to your seat and be thinking about your favorite animal. I am going to give each of you a two pieces of white paper and some markers or crayons. I want you to make up your own story about your animal. This can be like the book we just read or something that you thought up on your own. The most important thing to think about while doing this project is that your illustrations add something to your story.

(Now let them work on their own story. Make sure that their illustrations are adding to the plot. Guide them if they need help and answer all of their questions).

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

The illustrations in this book were beautiful. Kadir Nelson is such a talented artist that I cannot help but to love the book even if it is just for the illustrations. I grew up with this song, so reading this book reminded me of my childhood, especially church. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I do not think that I would teach it to my class. One reason I would not is because I would not want to bring up the topic of religion. Many parents are sensitive to what their kids hear about that, so it is a touchy topic that I would rather just not mess with. However, I do think that this would be a great book for a Sunday school teacher to read to her class especially if it was read to small children. I think that everyone can appreciate the illustrations and they are truly the focal point of this book.

Reflection #3- Henry's Freedom Box by: Ellen Levine

I absolutely loved this book! It is my favorite book that we have read so far. The illustrations were beautiful and the story was touching. One thing that I particularly liked about this book was that it was a true story. There are not many children's books about slavery and civil rights issues so I think that it would be a great book to read to students. I also think that it would touch them much more because it is factual. Parts of the book were sad, but that is appropriate for that time and place. It would not be as believeable if the story was happy and cheerful. I think that this is such an important part of history that children need to be aware of and reading this book aloud to a class would open the doors to discussion about slavery.

Craft Lesson #1

For First Grade Students

MATERIALS: The Napping House by: Audrey Wood, Post-it notes

DISCUSSION

Learning to read and using context clues to help predict upcoming events in a story can be a difficult thing for a young child to master. One way that we as teachers can help children learn how to use context clues to foreshadow is by helping them break down the text of a story. We can ask questions and allow them to really analyze what is going on in the story so that they can learn how to use context clues independently. In essence, we are teaching them the skills that they will need to become independent readers and problem solvers.

HOW TO TEACH IT

Teacher: Today I am going to read you a book about a house where everyone is taking a nap! There are lots of people and animals who are all taking a nap together on the same bed. While I am reading this story we are going to stop sometimes and talk about what else we think may be napping on the bed. You will have to really think about patterns while you are reading this book to figure out what animal comes next. We are going to use the illustrations in the story to help us make our predictions about what will comes next. Everyone pay close attention while I read The Napping House.

(I read first 3 pages of the book) We just read that there is a granny sleeping on the bed. Let’s all take a good look at the picture and predict who will be sleeping on the bed with the granny.

(Let the students discuss their ideas. Make sure they give you a specific reason for their predictions. Once they have predicted, turn the page and see if they were right.)

(Read on to the next page) Who do you think will sleep with the boy and the granny? Let’s look at the picture and maybe it will give us some clues. I see a dog and a cat in this picture. Who do you think will be on the bed next? (Let them explain their answers)

(Read the next page with the cat) Do you think that this is everyone that is sleeping, or do you think they can fit more people on the bed with them? (Let the children answer) What kind of patterns do we see here? Do the animals get from biggest to smallest or smallest to biggest? (Let them answer and explain) What is something that could be on the cat? (Let them discuss) Would it need to be smaller or bigger than the cat?

(Keep reading until you get to the last page, where you should have a post it note over the words “no one”) Now, let’s look at this picture to figure out what the words under the cover are. Does it look like a napping house now? (Let them answer and explain) What do you think the missing words are? Do you think it is the word “everyone”? Why not?
(Let them predict what they think the word is and give reasons why. Once they have guessed the correct word explain to them why it is correct).

Reflection #2- La Mariposa by: Francisco Jimenez

One thing that I really enjoyed about this book was that it is different than any other children's book that I have read. It also had some spanish words in it which could make this book a great tool if spanish was part of your students' curriculum. I also felt like this book could build a sense of community. For example, you could let a spanish speaking students explain some of the vocabulary. This gives that child an opportunity to teach the other children about his native language and heritage. Many children do come to the United States and start school without knowing English. La Mariposa gave a unique perspective on how a child that does not how to speak English would feel at an English speaking school. I also loved the illustrations in this book. They were so beautiful and really told a story of their own. All in all, I found this book to be powerful and I could definitely see myself reading to my class someday.

Reflection #1- Good Night Pillow Fight by: Sally Cook

I found this book to be too short and lacking a plot. I think that this book would be too easy to read to even a kindergarten class. However, I may use this book if I was going to teach my students about correct punctuation because the words are big enough for everyone to see and there are many different types of sentences. It would be a good book for a read aloud before a writing workshop, because the children could go write about the book using the correct grammar. One thing that I really loved about this book were the illustrations. I loved the use of water colors and it is so colorful and eye catching. I feel like that in order to read this book I would need to come up with specific questions about the story to ask ahead of time, otherwise the read aloud would be over in a matter of minutes. I think that this book could be a good teaching tool if it is well planned and executed.