A Happy Meeting

Firefly July

A Year of Very Short Poems

Written by: Joyce Sidman

Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet

Candlewick Press, 2014

47 pages

Poetry

This book includes thirty-six short poems involving aspects from all four seasons. One that I thought was cute was A Happy Meeting. This short poem presents us with a description of what happens when rain collides with dirt. Something so simple, but yet so creative. Kids will love it!

The illustrations were done in watercolor, goauche, and mixed media. The colors are very vivid and bright. Lines are presented in all forms. The texture varies with each poem, but they all exhibit softness to a certain degree. 

I chose English Language Arts as my subject and second grade as my level. I would have my students write their own simple poems on how they see the uniting of rain and dirt.

  

If the Shoe Fits

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal

A Worldwide Cinderella

Written by: Paul Fleischman

Illustrated by: Julie Paschkis

Henry Holt and Company, 2007

32 pages

Traditional Fiction

With the death of Cinderella's father comes living with her evil stepmother and two stepsisters. When Prince Charming hosts a ball, Cinderella is forbidden to go because of her duties as a maid. She does not let this stop her. Her very own Fairy Godmother and animal friends come to her rescue and she ends up going to the ball. In her hurry to get home before her stepmother and stepsisters, one of her glass slippers slips off. We all know this version of Cinderella, but do we know Mexico's, Korea's, Iraq's, Russia's, Iran's, India's,Ireland's, Zimbabwe's, Germany's, Appalachia's, Laos', Indonesia's, China's, Japan's, France's, or Poland's?

The illustrations were done in Winsor & Newton gouaches, which is a type of watercolor paint that contains an added white powder to create a more opaque finish. They are very bright and colorful. Both straight and curved lines are present, all of which are bold. The texture appears to be smooth.

I chose Social Studies as my subject and second grade as my level. I would use this as a diversity project and have the students study on their version of Cinderella. I would have them prepare posters that represent their versions and how they differ from at least one other culture's.

 

Two Outta One

That Book Woman

Written by: Heather Henson

Illustrated by:David Small

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008

40 pages

Historical Fiction

 

 

Cal is no scholar-boy. He likes to help his Pap out and do things boys do. He does not seem to understand why his sister loves reading as much as she does; it only frustrates him because she does not help outside. They do not live close to a school, so his sister likes to try and be the teacher for the both of them. The Book Woman, as she is known, comes every two weeks and trades out books with his sister. This Book Woman comes rain or snow. Cal begins to wonder why it is so important.

 

 

The illustrations are done in ink, watercolor, and pastel chalk. The color scheme is neutral, with colors such as brown, gray, blue, yellow, and white. The texture feels both soft and gritty; the lines are what gives it that gritty look. There are both straight and curved lines. You can see how the lines were done with chalk.

 

 

I chose Social Studies as my subject and first grade as my level. We would study on past forms of transportation (horses), apparel, and recreation(reading) as seen in the writing and illustrations of this book. I would do a dress-up day and have them dress according to the time this book was set in and we would read books about this time and do fun activities such as comparing and contrasting past and present attributes.

 

 

  

Gone But Not Forgotten

Bone Dog

Written and Illustrated by: Eric Rohmann

Roaring Brook Press, 2011

32 pages

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Gus and his dog Ella grew up together; they were best pals. One day Ella tells Gus that she is getting older and her time is drawing near, but that she would always be with him no matter the circumstances. Ella passes and Gus is devastated; he does not have the desire and strength to carry on, but he does. One spooky Halloween night, Gus is walking home from trick-or-treating and is suddenly surrounded by a hungry group of skeletons. Will Ella keep her promise to always be there for Gus?

The illustrations were drawn first and then he finished them with the use of woodcut. They are colorful with a soft texture. The lines are both straight and curved; they are bold and help to define characters and objects.

I chose English Language Arts as my subject and Kindergarten as my grade. I would have the children take turns telling of a time that their pet was there for them. I would also allow them to draw a picture of them with their pet. I might even do a show-and-tell along with this book; the children could either bring a picture or stuffed animal that represents their pet.

  

And Off We Go

Captain Ren's Trip to Mars

Written by: Bel Richardson 

Illustrated by: Mykyta Harets

Bookbot, 2018

12 pages

Science Fiction

Captain Ren prepares to fly his rocket to Mars to discover whether there has ever been life there or not. He takes off and eventually lands on the surface of Mars. He gears up and grabs his tools to test for life. What will Captain Ren's findings reveal about this planet?

The illustrations in this book are very colorful. Lines are used to define the edges of all objects in the story; there are both straight and curved lines. The texture is soft and smooth. It appears that the illustrations were done in digital media.

I chose Science as my subject and Kindergarten as my grade level. I would bring materials to the class to allow for the children to create their own rockets. I would allow them to take turns flying their rockets to help them understand how they fly and to possibly spark their interests.

  

On a Mission

Mars Rover Rescue (Epic Space Adventure)

Written by: Andrew Rader

Illustrated by: Galen Frazer

Storybook Genius, 2017

60 pages

Science Fiction

This fun crew of space explorers are ready for any tasks sent their way. While in space, they get called back to Earth to receive the mission of searching for a lost rover on Mars. They load and fuel up the rocket, and then...TAKE OFF! With so much land to cover, will they be able to find that one rover? With teamwork and cooperation, anything is possible with this crew.

The illustrations are done in digital media. The colors are not only bold, but they are realistic as to what I would imagine Mars looking like. The texture is gritty.

I chose English Language Arts as my subject and Kindergarten as my grade level. This book tells the story while presenting the alphabet in a fun way at the same time. I would use this in my classroom to help my students better themselves in identifying letters and how they can be used.

 

Rosa Refused

Rosa

Written by: Nikki Giovanni

Illustrated by: Bryan Collier

Henry Holt and Company, 2005

40 pages

Nonfiction

Rosa Parks was just Rosa Parks until one word was spoken: no. Rosa, along with the rest of her community were tired of segregation and wanted no part of it. On this particular day described in the book, Rosa got her job done early and was excited to get home and surprise her husband with meatloaf. She gives her dime to the bus driver and walks to the back where the "colored" had to sit/stand. All seats were taken there, so she went and sat in the neutral section where both races were allowed to sit. When approached by the bus driver to give up her seat so a white person could sit down, Rosa refused.

The artist used watercolor and collage to bring the illustrations to life. The illustrations are boldly colorful. The characters are very life-like and real. The texture seems soft with a little grit. Facial expressions and body languages are illustrated well; you can read every emotion. 

I chose Social Studies as my subject and fourth grade as my level. I would have my students study on Rosa Park's story for a couple of days and I would have them re-enact it in class. I would have them do this to obtain a better understanding of how big of a deal this action was and how real it was.

 

Together We Stand

Those Rebels, John & Tom

Written by: Barbara Kerley

Illustrated by: Edwin Fotheringham

Scholastic Press, 2012

48 pages

Nonfiction

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were two very different men. They were both distinct, not only in their appearances, but in their mannerisms, interests, work ethics, and talents. Although many characteristics separated them, two connected them, "They both cared deeply about the American colonies, and neither of them cared much for George (Kerley, 12)." Together, Tom and John's differences worked to the good of their partnership and set America on a sturdy foundation.

The illustrations were done in digital media; they are animated. The colors are bold and bright, but are limited to a few specific colors. The varying shades of blue, red, yellow, and brown are present in this book. Lines are expressed in every way and the texture surfaces as gritty and rough.

I chose Social Studies as my subject and fourth grade as my level. I would incorporate this book into my classroom by splitting my class in half and giving one group Thomas Jefferson and giving John Adams to the other group. I would have them do research on their assigned person and create a presentation, such as a power point, to present to the rest of the class.

 

  

The Awesome You That You Are

A Bad Case of Stripes

Written and Illustrated by: David Shannon

Scholastic Inc., 1998

32 pages

Modern Fantasy

A young girl, Camilla Cream, loved lima beans. Her friends did not, so Camilla refused to eat them; she wanted to be like them and would do anything to prevent getting made fun of. One day, Camilla wakes up covered in stripes. Oh, no!  She is told that nothing can be found wrong with her, so she goes to school. The kids begin to call out different looks that they want her to turn into, only to find out she transformed to everything they expected out of her. The same thing happened when doctors attempted to put a name on this condition and prescribed her medicine. Will she ever transform back into the amazing young girl that she originally was? Is it so bad to be YOU?

The illustrations in this book are very bright and colorful. They are done with both watercolor and markers. The texture appears soft. There is not a real definite line around the characters and objects; it is more of an assumed line. The facial expressions and body languages in this book are illustrated very vividly. 

I chose English Language Arts as my subject and third grade as my level. I would have the students illustrate themselves as they are now and the versions of themselves that others have expected them to be, whether it was to be more taller or more pretty or athletic. I would do this and teach the importance of self-identity and being who you are. If you like lima beans, eat lima beans!

  

Make Your Mooove

Click, Clack, Moo

Cows That Type

Written by: Doreen Cronin

Illustrated by: Betsy Lewin

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2000

32 pages

Modern Fantasy

What happens when cows get access to a typewriter? The cows and hens in Farmer Brown's barn got cold at nights and desired to have some electric blankets to keep warm. They decided to correspond by letter with their owner. When Farmer Brown turns down the electric blankets, the cows and hens decided to close down and provide no milk or eggs. Farmer Brown gives in and gets them the blankets, but it appears that this will not be the last of his purchases.

The artist did brush drawings using black watercolor and then applied watercolor washes to the black drawings. The illustrations are colorful with bold lines outlining them. The artist represents all types of lines: straight, curved, jagged, soft, and bold. The texture seems very soft.

I chose English Language Arts as my subject and Kindergarten as my grade. I would bring a typewriter (if possible) or some sort of keyboard and cups to put over their hands. I would allow the kids to attempt to type with the cups on their hands to have an understanding of what it was like for the cows to type. This would also allow kids to recognize their letters and how they make different words. This would be a fun activity that kids would want to be involved in. 

  

Be True to You

Book Talk 1 on Franklin

Dark Clouds

Michael Rosen's Sad Book

Written by: Michael Rosen

Illustrated by: Quentin Blake

Candlewick Press, 2004

32 pages

International Fiction

Michael Rosen is a very sad man.His son died and he just does not understand why. He tries to wear a smile to appear happy, but underneath is a broken and lonely man. Sometimes the sadness wraps itself completely around him and he just wants to be by himself and mourn on his own. He tries to do things to take his mind off this burden, but sadness always finds its way back. Will Michael be able to live again or will he remain in the shadows of his son's death?

The illustrations are depicted through the use of watercolor and ink. The colors are light and simple, but with a certain darkness to embody his sadness. The lines are imperfectly drawn with curves being their main characteristic in the book.

I chose English Language Arts for my subject and second grade as my grade level. Michael Rosen wrote a poem about sadness on page 17 of the book. I would instruct my students to write their own simple poems about it to work on their writing and poetry skills.

 

Kindness is Key

Curse in Reverse

Written by: Tom Coppinger

Illustrated by: Dirk Zimmer

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003

40 pages

International Fiction

Agnezza, an old witch, visits the town of Humburg. She is in need of a place to stay but gets rejected time after time by people. These people are not just any people, they are wealthy people with plenty of room to let Agnezza in; the issue is that they "do not like witches." With hurt in her heart, she places a curse on each person. She comes up to a small house owned by Mr. and Mrs. Tretter. They let Agnezza in, feed her, and give her a bed to sleep in. This couple did not have much; they had one bed and limited food. They have longed for a child but have not been able to have one. Because of their kindness, Agnezza puts a curse on them, a curse in reverse. She calls it "The Curse of the One-armed Man." Why would she curse them if they went out of their way for her? Mr. and Mrs. Tretter have a child but are in fear of this curse to reveal itself. What will happen to this new family?

The illustrations in this book are created with pen, ink, and watercolor. The texture is rough and scratched. A wide variety of color is used. The lines are curved, straight, curly, and jagged.

I chose mathematics as my subject and Kindergarten as my grade. I would have the kids work on their counting by having them count up amounts of certain objects on pages. For example, I would have them count the number of birds on pages 1 or 11. I could have them count the stars on pages 5 or 6. I can also ask how many animals they see on page 16.

 

 

Raise Your Voice

Sélavi, A Haitian Story of Hope

Written and Illustrated by: Youme Landowne

Cinco Puntos Press, 2004

40 pages

Multicultural Fiction

Sélavi is a homeless little boy that lives on the streets of Haiti. His family was torn apart by people with guns and his house was burned in the process.  Sélavi bounces from place to place in search of food and shelter, until one day a boy his age comes to him and offers him a place to stay. Sélavi accepts the offer thankfully, only to find that he is not alone in his struggle. When he gets to the tree that he will be sleeping in, he meets many kids that are all there just trying to make it through each day like him. One day, something happens that puts them back on the streets without hope once more. Separate, their voices are not loud, but together they can change the world, and that is just what they do. By expressing their need for help and a home, people take appropriate actions to meet their needs. These people provide more than a home; they provide hope. But will this hope get ripped apart just like every time before?

The illustrations are very colorful and vibrant with a soft texture. They are done in paint. At the back of the book, real photographs of Haitian children are shown. The lines in this book are light and vary between straight and curved.

I chose English Language Arts as my subject and second grade for my grade level. After reading the story, I would put my students in groups at their tables. I would spread out pictures of events from the story and have them sequence them in the order they occurred. We would read back over the book to see if they have the pictures in the correct order. 

 

Wings to Fly

Bird

Written by: Zetta Elliot

Illustrated by: Shadra Strickland

Lee & Low Books Inc., 2008

48 pages

Multicultural Fiction

Mehkai, known as Bird, has a passion for drawing; he likes to draw what he sees so he will always remember them. Bird goes through many life struggles throughout the book; his grandfather has recently passed and his brother is addicted to drugs. When Bird's granddad passes, his granddad's friend, Uncle Son, takes over and takes care of Bird. Bird's brother, Marcus, becomes overly addicted and "sick" that he no longer lives at the house and is of very rough health. Like his drawings, Bird wishes to erase Marcus' sickness and fix him up. But is it really only as simple as that?

The illustrations are a combination of watercolor, gouache, charcoal, and pen. Some of the illustrations are visuals of Bird's drawings of how he sees things. The texture appears to be very soft. Lines are used heavily in this book; they are curved, straight, thin, and thick.

I chose English Language Arts as my subject and first grade for my grade level. I would instruct the students to flip through the book and identify feelings and senses portrayed throughout it. I would have them think about their own emotions and feelings to certain circumstances and compare/contrast them to those of the characters.