Electric Girl Volume 2

by Michael Brennan

Graphic Novel 

Henry's Freedom Box

written by Ellen Levine 

Historical Fiction

Biopoem

Henry

Determined, Strong, Compassionate, Abolitionist

Husband of Nancy

Who desires freedom, equality, and humanity

Who feels despair, yet remains hopeful

Who fears separation, loss, and slavery

Who escaped slavery by delivering himself to freedom

Who wants to see families stay together and people as people, not property

Resident of God's creation

"Box" Brown

The Wretched Stone

written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

Modern Fantasy

This book is yet another one of Chris Van Allsburg's creations that allows young readers to escape the realities of this world by creating a story filled with mysticism, thus readers are exposed to uncharted waters.  The book is a compilation of a fictional log from the Rita Anne, and is written by the fictional Captain, Randall Ethan Hope. The story is soothing as the reader flips the pages because the illustrations are soft and smooth, which is characteristic of many of Allsburg's books.  However, as the journal entries progress, the crew aboards an uncharted island where there is lush vegetation, yet no fruit, and no animals are present.  The crew finds a strange stone that is quite large and they board it onto the ship.  Strangely, the once lively crew over the next few days becomes quiet and begins to hunch over. The Captain believes the crew has caught a fever from the stone and decides to do away with it. However, the next day he awakens to the crew locked up with the stone, however, to his surprise they have turned into apes! The Rita Anne faces a horrible storm and the Captain is left to fend the ship for himself. The Rita Anne is destroyed but the crew and the Captain survive.  The Captain burns the stone and the crew is turned back to normal.  This story would be great to use in the classroom to show an example of how literature is also compiled through a series of journal entries.  I would introduce this book by having students read the story and then integrate writing by having students write a log like the one in the book.  This could be done by having students write  creative writing topics in which they are to create a fictional story or they could write historical fiction by using an historical event to center around their writing journals.  

Enemy Pie

by Derek Munson 

illustrated by Tara Calahan King

Fiction

This book is a story about a young boy who is beginning to think his should-be "perfect" summer is becoming the worst summer ever, and it's all thanks to Jeremy Ross.  Jeremy Ross just moved in down the street and is at the top of the boy's enemy list.  The boy tells his dad about the situation, about how he now has an enemy and doesn't know what to do.  His dad tells him he has the perfect solution, enemy pie.  The boy's dad tells him that the pie is top secret so he must go and play until it's ready. The boy's dad also says he needs to go spend the day with Jeremy Ross because that is the key ingredient to getting your enemy to eat "enemy pie."  The boy goes and spends the day with Jeremy Ross and ends up actually having fun. Jeremy goes over for dinner and his dad brings out the pie.  The boy shouts to not eat the pie, but his dad goes on eating along with Jeremy.  The pie was harmless! No more enemies for the boy, Jeremy Ross is not so bad after all.  I love this book because I think its a great way to show children how being nice to your "enemies" can really help the situation.  I would read this book during Morning Meeting in order to have a class discussion about how kindness is far more rewarding than acting cruel to those who may not like you.  I think every teacher should have this book in his/her classroom library because this is an issue that every classroom deals with and this is a great way to address the problem.

Revolutionary War on Wednesday

Magic Tree House #22

by Mary Pope Osborne

Historical Fiction

Novel

This book is part of the well-known children's series, Magic Treehouse.  In this particular book, Jack and Annie are given a task by Morgan (the magical librarian) to help save Camelot from trouble.  The children have already solved the first task. This book takes place on Wednesday, the day they are to solve the second task: to find something to send.  The children are to go back in time to the days of the Revolutionary War and complete their task.  Jack and Annie stumble upon Patriot soldiers preparing to cross the Delaware River which took them to defeat the Hessians on Christmas day, December 25, 1776.  Along the way they come in contact with the Captain, who needs a farewell letter sent home to his children in case their mission is to fail.  In the midst of gathering the letter, the children are pushed onto George Washington's boat and are both delighted and frightened to what may come of them.  As they are crossing the river, George Washington hears the children and accuses them of being spies because of their knowledge about the secret mission.  Jack and Annie explain that it was a mistake and share a bit of encouragement with George Washington to complete the task and to remember the speech he gave his men.  Jack and Annie are free to go and make it safely to their magic tree-house where they arrive home peacefully.  This book is a wonderful addition to any classroom library. The book is both a delightful read for children, and a great way for students to learn more about the Revolutionary War. I love how Jack writes down important information along their journeys in his notebook because it gives readers an example of how to take notes on important information that is given.  I would use this book in my classroom to integrate social studies and literature because it blends both so well.  There are great tidbits of information throughout the book that is given. The information is bolded so that readers can draw their attention to the new information.  At the end of the story, the author provides further historical information for the readers which is a great way to focus on the history that is addressed in the book.  

The Story of Ferdinand

by Munro Leaf

Fiction

 The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf, is a beloved children's classic. It is the story of Ferdinand, a peaceful bull who is unlike the other bulls in the pasture.  Ferdinand loves flowers and is perfectly content just sniffing the flowers under the cork tree rather than fighting with the other bulls. His mother is concerned and asks him why he doesn't go play, Ferdinand responds that he is perfectly fine enjoying the flowers.  As Ferdinand grows older, the other bulls in the pasture all train so that they will be chosen to fight in the coveted Madrid Bull Fights, however, Ferdinand continues to sit and enjoy the flowers, ignoring the possibility of being chosen to fight.  One day, Ferdinand is sniffing flowers when suddenly he lands on a bumble bee! Ferdinand reacts to the sting and goes crazy because it hurt him so badly.  Meanwhile, 5 men had come to visit the bulls to pick one for the fights in Madrid.  The men happen to see Ferdinand in the field going crazy and pick him! Ferdinand is driven to Madrid to fight; however, when he sees all the pretty flowers in the arena, he does not fight, he sits and smells the flowers. He is taken back to the pasture and is happy to sit and smell from then on.  This book is a classic, I would love to have it in my classroom library.  It offers children a sense of hope that though they might be different, its okay to "sit and smell the flowers".  I would read this story to my class possibly during morning meeting.  It is a great way to start the day to read children a book that is simple and offers a great message.  

Japan

by Gina DeAngelis

Nonfiction

Japan, is just one of the books found in the Many Cultures, One World series.  It is a wonderful resource geared towards readers on a 4th grade reading level.  The author breaks this book into chapters in which readers can easily find different topics involving the study of Japan.  The chapters include: Welcome to Japan, A Japanese Legend, City and Country Life, Seasons in Japan, Family Life in Japan, Laws, Rules and Concerns in Japan, Pets in Japan, and Sites to See in Japan.  The pictures found on each page are so valuable because it really allows readers to see a glimpse into another place and another culture.  Each page was filled with factual information that is both accurate and reliable.  I honestly studied this book pretty closely, having been to Japan the past summer and the summer before that, I wanted to make sure that the information was correct. It is so important to have reliable resources in the classroom that teachers can trust will provide factual information for his/her student.  The text is written in a way that is comprehendible for students who may struggle with reading; and at the same time offers readers who are above grade level, a chance to explore a new country through a brief overview. The pages are filled with maps and other helpful tools for students to gain a better understanding of where Japan is.  I really enjoyed how each chapter had a craft or activity students can do to place themselves further in the culture they are studying.  The activities included making traditional Japanese desserts, playing Japanese games such as "Fuku Warai," and creating Origami.  The book also offers pronunciations along with the Japanese words to aid the readers by implementing the actual Japanese language in the text.  This book is so valuable to have in the classroom. I plan on having a "Let's Travel To..." section in my classroom in which students can go and pick out books or other items to learn more about a particular country of the world. This book would be a perfect addition to that section in my classroom.  I would love to use this book when introducing world geography or possibly just using this book as a resource for a project I create in which students explore diversity by picking a country of interest on to write a report.