#20- Scaredy Mouse

#20-Scaredy Mouse

Scaredy Mouse

Written by: Alan MacDonald

Illustrated by: Tim Warnes

Scholastic Inc., 2002

25 pages


Fantasy

“In a small hole behind a closet under the stairs there lived a large family of mice. The youngest was called Squeak. Squeak was a small mouse, a scared mouse, a stay-at-home mouse.”

            This book is about a young mouse named Squeak. Squeak was always nervous and scared. He liked to stay at home. One day his sister asked him to go to the kitchen with her because she found a chocolate cake. Squeak is afraid of the cat and getting lost. Because Squeak is afraid of getting lost, his sister ties a string around his waist so he can find his way home. The whole way to the kitchen, Squeak thinks he sees the cat. Every time he finds out that he is just imagining it. Both the mice find the cake and start to take it home with them. The cat finally sneaks up on them. They run away and the cat starts to chase them, but he gets tangled up in the string that was tied around Squeak. Squeak eventually finds his courage and overcomes his fear of the cat.

            Warnes’ pictures are very colorful and cartoon-like. The medium is not listed, but I believe he may have used oil pastels and pencil to create the drawings. Proportion is used in these pictures to show how small the mice are compared to everything they face. When Squeak finally overcomes his fear, he is the only character on the page, and he is drawn to be gigantic.

            This book is appropriate for younger elementary level students. You could use this for a lesson on how to fill out a sequence chart. You could demonstrate a sequence chart in front of the class and have them help you fill it out using this book. Then the students could partner up and chose a book to read. They would then have to fill out their own sequence chart based on the book they read. 

#19- I Need My Monster

#19- I Need My Monster

I Need My Monster

Written by: Amanda Noll

Illustrated by: Howard McWilliam

Flashlight Press Inc., 2009

31 pages


Fantasy

“What was I going to do? I needed a monster under my bed. How was I supposed to get to sleep if my monster was gone?

            This book is about a little boy who loves his monster that is under his bed. One day, his monster, Gabe, goes fishing. The little boy is upset because he needs his monster to sleep. He missed his ragged breathing, nose-whistling, scrapping claws, and spooky green ooze. He knocks on his floorboard to summon another monster. Four different monsters come to try and properly scare the boy, but he sends each of them away. Finally, Gabe returns. The little boy is very happy Gabe is back, and he is able to go to sleep.

            McWilliam used pencil on paper, and then painted the pictures with digital acrylic paint to create these beautiful, vibrant illustrations. McWilliam plays with light and shadows in every one of the pictures. Some of the illustrations are on a double-page spread, and some of them are only drawn on a single-page spread. All of the monsters who the little boy rejects are drawn to look silly; but Gabe is drawn to look scary with dark colors.

            This book would be appropriate to use in a 2^nd or 3^rd grade classroom. You could use this book as a writing prompt. Your students could write a story about what their imaginary monster would look like, and what would happen if their monster lived under their bed. They would need to use a lot of description in their writing. They could follow their story with an illustration of what their monster looks like.

#18- First Graders from Mars

#18- First Graders from Mars. Episode 1: Horus’s Horrible Day

First Graders from Mars. Episode 1: Horus’s Horrible Day

Written by: Shana Corey

Illustrations by: Mark Teague

Scholastic Inc., August 2001

32 pages


Fantasy

"So Horus and Pelly bounced into Pod 1 together. And from then on, first grade started to look up."

            This book is about a martian named Horus. Horus loved martiangarten (kindergarten), so he was very excited about starting first grade. When he got to school, he quickly realized it was nothing like martiangarten. Instead of playing and having fun, they actually had to do work. He wasn’t put in the same group with his best friend, his drawing was made fun of in art class, and there was no “snooze time.” When he went home, he decided he was never going back to school. Of course, his mother made him go the next day. When he arrived at school, he met a new girl names Pelly who was nervous and shy about going to school. Horus told her about school, and he realized it wasn’t so bad. He and Pelly happily walk into school together.

Teague uses very colorful, kid-friendly drawings to illustrate this book. The medium for this book is not listed, but it looks like watercolor and pencil might have been used. Most of the drawings have a very round shape to them. The facial expressions of the martians are very readable and comical.

This book is targeted for the younger elementary grade level students. This book could easily be used as an ice breaker book. It would be a terrific book to read to first grade students on the first day of school. It’s silly and outrageous, but it would help the students feel more comfortable in your classroom.

#17- The Little Red Hen

#17- The Little Red Hen

The Little Red Hen

 Written by: unnamed author

Illustrated by: Barry Downward

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2004

29 pages

Traditional Literature

“’Who will help me plant this wheat?’ ‘Not I,’ said the duck. ‘Not I,’ said the pig. ‘Not I,’ said the cat. ‘Then I will plant it myself,’ said the Little Red Hen. And she did.”

            This book tells the classic story of a hard-working hen. During the story, the Little Red Hen has to plant the grains of wheat, cut the wheat, go to the miller, make the dough, and bake the bread. The whole time, the hen asks the pig, the duck, and the cat if they will help her with her chores. The animals refuse to help her through the whole story. Once the bread is baked and ready to be eaten, the pig, duck, and cat all want to help the hen eat the bread. She won’t share the bread with them because they did not work to make it. She ends up eating the bread herself.

            Downward uses real photographs that he put together in a collage on the computer. The illustrator uses real animals in his pictures. The illustrations have a comical quality to them. All of the pictures are very bright and colorful.

This story would be most appropriate for a 2^nd-5^th grade classroom. This story could be used for a ‘writing directions’ lesson. The story tells about the process of how to make bread. The students would have to choose something that they knew how to do. They would have to write down explicit instructions for that process. The teacher could bring fresh bread as a fun treat during this lesson.

#16- Aesop's Fables

#16- Aesop’s Fables

Aesop’s Fables

Retold by: Brad Sneed

Illustrated by: Brad Sneed

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2003

30 pages

Traditional Literature

“’You placed your head in a wolf’s mouth and lived to tell about it. What more could you ask for? Now fly, fly away, Miss Birdie, or I will eat you for dessert.’ Then he leaned close and whispered, ‘I promise to chew every bite forty times!’”

            This book contains stories from the original fables from Aesop. It includes stories such as “The Tortoise and the Eagle,” “The Wolf and the Crane,” and “The Ox and the Frog.” Most fables involve two different animals; and usually one of those animals ends up learning a valuable life-lesson. After each fable, Sneed identifies the moral of the story. Each story has a moral that everyone can apply to their own life.

            Sneed uses watercolor, colored pencil, and acrylic on watercolor paper to create these beautiful illustrations. Some of these pictures are drawn in a double-page spread, while others are just single page illustrations with vignettes on the opposite page. Most of the pictures have a warm hue, which creates a relaxed feeling while reading the stories.

            This book is appropriate for adults and children alike, but 2^nd-5^th grade students would probably appreciate it most. This book could be used for comparing and contrasting. The teacher would ask the students to pick out their two favorite fables. They would then have to fill out a chart that requires them to list the differences in the characters, events, and the morals learned in the stories.

#15- The Ant and the Grasshopper

#15- The Ant and the Grasshopper

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Retold by: Amy Lowry Poole

Illustrated by: Amy Lowry Poole

Holiday House, 2000

28 pages

Traditional Literature

“’You will do well to do as we do,’ said one of the ants. ‘Winter is coming soon and food will be hard to find. Snow will cover your house and you will freeze without shelter.’”

            This story has been retold throughout the ages. The book tells the story of a care-free grasshopper and a colony of hard-working ants. The ants are constantly working to gather food and prepare their home for the winter. The grasshopper never wants to work. He sleeps for most of the day, and then he plays and dances all night. The ants try to warn the grasshopper that he needs to prepare for the winter months. The grasshopper doesn’t heed their advice. The winter months come, and the ants are safe in their house. The grasshopper ends up alone and outside in the cold.

            Poole applied ink and gouache to rice paper using traditional Chinese brushes. The technique she used is a traditional Chinese method. The illustrations are in a double-page spread. Every picture contains bright, exciting colors that capture the reader’s attention.

            This book is appropriate for all ages, but probably should be read to middle elementary grade level students. This story could be used during a lesson on plots. The students could work with a partner to identify and illustrate the beginning, middle, and end of the story. The students could be given a poster board to complete this assignment on, and the posters could be displayed in the hallway.

#14- A Child's Introduction to Poetry

#14- A Child’s Introduction to Poetry

A Child’s Introduction to Poetry

Written by: Michael Driscoll

Illustrated by: Meredith Hamilton

Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc., 2003

91 pages

Poetry

“Listen while you learn about the magic words that have moved mountains, won battles and made us laugh and cry.”

This book is all about different types of poetry. It has two parts: part one is about rhymes and their reasons; and part two is about poetry greats. The book discusses the different kinds of poetry in a very kid-friendly way, and then gives you terrific examples of the specific kind of poetry they are talking about. They give you definitions for words that children may not understand while reading the poem. The book even talks a little about the authors of the poems. There is a CD included with this book that includes all the poems being read aloud. The book contains nursery rhymes such as “Little Miss Muffet” and “There was an Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe.” There are nonsense verse poems such as “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll. Even the “Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe is included in this collection of poems.

Hamilton illustrates colorful, cartoon-like drawings to tell the story of each poem. The medium is not listed, but it looks like pencil and watercolor is used. You can see the layers of transparent colors in each of the drawing. Some of the pictures are full-page, and some of them are vignettes.

This book is appropriate for middle elementary level students (2^nd-5^th grade). You could use this book in a literary center. The students could fill out a graphic organizer on the book as they perused it. They would be able to see and understand all different types of poetry by doing this activity. 

#13- Are You Quite Polite?

# 13- Are You Quite Polite?

Are You Quite Polite?

Written by: Alan Katz

Illustrated by: David Catrow

First Scholastic Printing, September 2007

Poetry

“Are you quite polite having dinner every night? Do you stomp up to the table and then chomp in monster bites? Are you eating or just slurping? And do you conclude by burping? Are you quite polite?”

This book is a collection of poems all about manners. The poems are silly, but they all teach very necessary lessons. The book includes topics such as chewing gum, cleaning your room, rules, being quiet in the library, and sneezing. Each poem can be sung to a particular popular song. For example, the poem “Are You Quite Polite?” is to be sung to the tune of “Do Your Ears Hang Low?” The poems are very comical, and children really seem to enjoy reading them.

Catrow uses watercolors, colored pencils, and ink to make these exaggerated, silly illustrations. All of the pictures are drawn on a double-page spread. The pictures are not at all realistic, but very funny. Each page is full of color, and there is very little negative space.

This book could be used in any elementary classroom, but I believe 2^nd-4^th grade students would be able to appreciate it. It could be used for a lesson about making your own poem. The teacher could play a song for the class, like “America the Beautiful.” The students would then have to create their own poem that can be sung with the assigned song. The topic for their poem would have to be about good classroom manners. 

#12- Poetry for Young People: Robert Browning

#12-Poetry for Young People: Robert Browning

Poetry for Young People: Robert Browning

Written by: Robert Browning

Edited by: Eileen Gillooly

Illustrated by: Joel Spector

Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2001

48 pages

Poetry

"The year's at the spring. And day's at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hill-side's dew pearled; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn; God's in his Heaven-All's right with the world!"

          This book is a collection of poems written by Robert Browning. Some of these poems are about moments in history. Other poems are dramatic monologues. Still, other poems are written about places that Browning has been, or things he loves. Browning's poetry can be difficult to understand, so Eillen Gillooly has written short introductions/explanations for each poem. These introductions help bring clarity into the poetry, which, in turn, makes it more enjoyable to read. Each poem is beautifully written, and filled with emotion.

          Spector uses pastels to create the beautiful and engaging illustrations in this book. Each picture captures a moment that is described in the poem. Some of the pictures take up the entire page, while other pictures are vignettes. The illustrations are amazingly life-like. Spector is able to depict hope, despair, sadness, and beauty flawlessly in his paintings.

          This book is appropriate for upper-elementary grade levels. Some of the poems are difficult to understand, but Gillooly provides explanations and definitions for difficult words. This book could be used for a research paper assignment. Each of these poems has a story behind it. It would be very interesting to have your students research a poem from this collection and write a paper based on what they found.

          This book has not won any awards, but Robert Browning is known as one of the greatest poets of the Victorian age.



#11- I Didn't Do It

#11- I Didn't Do It

I Didn't Do It

Written by: Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest

Illustrated by: Katy Schneider

Katherine Tegen Books, 2010

28 pages

Poetry

"I didn't do it. uh-uh. I didn't chew your slipper. I don't like the taste of wool."

          This book is told from the point of view of a collection of puppies. Each individual poem is told by a different puppy, but the poems all work together to form a collection of stories about what dogs experience from day to day. Usually, the poem will be about an event that happened. The puppy will experience something like rain or getting in trouble, and the poem will be his response to that particular experience. Often times, the title of the poem only gives you a hint about what the poem is about. While you are reading it, you are able to try and figure out what the dog is talking about.

          Schneider uses oil paints to create the beautiful, life-like pictures in this book. The pictures were actually modeled after real puppies. Katy Schneider successfully captures emotion in each puppies' eyes. The illustrations tell the story of the poems on each page. The warm colors and hues set the relaxing tone of the book.

          This book is appropriate for any age group. However, younger elementary school students would greatly enjoy the pictures. It would be more efficient to read these poems aloud to a younger age level classroom. The poems can be cryptic, so by reading it aloud, you can guide the class toward understanding what the poem is referring to. This book would be great to use in a poetry lesson. You could read a few poems out loud, and then have your students write a poem about their favorite animal/pet. Younger students could excel in this activity, because the poems do not rhyme.

          This book has not one any awards (yet). However, Patricia MacLachlan has won the Newbery Medal for her book Sarah, Plain and Tall. Katy Schneider's paintings have been exhibited world-wide.