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Review of Children's Literature
Title: Beatrice’s Goat
Author: Page McBrier
Illustrator: Lori Lohstoeter
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 9780689869907
Summary: This book is about a girl named Beatrice and her family. Beatrice and her family live in the small village of Kisinga, which is in the western part of Uganda. Beatrice wants to go to school, but her family cannot afford the books or uniforms for the school. Her family receives a goat, which Beatrice names Mugisa. Mugisa means luck so Beatrice hopes the goat will bring her family good luck. The goat brings a lot to the family.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This is a great message to teach children to word hard through anything and not give up. When you work hard, you get what you want. The message shows that those who do not have much appreciate the little things in life.
Title: Beatrice’s Goat
Author: Page McBrier
Illustrator: Lori Lohstoeter
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 9780689869907
Summary: This book is about a girl named Beatrice and her family. Beatrice and her family live in the small village of Kisinga, which is in the western part of Uganda. Beatrice wants to go to school, but her family cannot afford the books or uniforms for the school. Her family receives a goat, which Beatrice names Mugisa. Mugisa means luck so Beatrice hopes the goat will bring her family good luck. The goat brings a lot to the family.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This is a great message to teach children to word hard through anything and not give up. When you work hard, you get what you want. The message shows that those who do not have much appreciate the little things in life.
Title: Jingle Dancer
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Illustrator: Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 31389013560867
Summary: This book is about a girl named Jenna. Jenna wants to honor a family tradition of dancing in the next big powwow. She has learned to dance with the help of her grandma and she also finds enough jingles to fill her dress. Jenna needs enough jingles to fill her dress in order to dance in the powwow. Through hard work and dedication, Jenna was about to make her dream of dancing a reality.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book shares a lot of insight on traditions and terms of Native American/American Indians. The message in the book is that you should always persevere and work hard towards your goals in life. This book is a good resource for teaching students about Native American/American Indian culture and traditional ceremonies.
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Illustrator: Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 31389013560867
Summary: This book is about a girl named Jenna. Jenna wants to honor a family tradition of dancing in the next big powwow. She has learned to dance with the help of her grandma and she also finds enough jingles to fill her dress. Jenna needs enough jingles to fill her dress in order to dance in the powwow. Through hard work and dedication, Jenna was about to make her dream of dancing a reality.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book shares a lot of insight on traditions and terms of Native American/American Indians. The message in the book is that you should always persevere and work hard towards your goals in life. This book is a good resource for teaching students about Native American/American Indian culture and traditional ceremonies.
Title: Too Many Tamales
Author: Gary Soto
Illustrator: Ed Martinez
Copyright: 1996
ISBN: 0698114124
Summary: This books is about a girl named Maria. Maria is part of a Mexican American family that are preparing for their Christmas celebrations by making tamales. Maria asked her mother to wear her wedding ring. When Maria is making tamales, the ring falls off into the tamales. Maria does not want her mother to find out so her and some of her friends start eating all the tamales to find the ring. The book ends with a reminder that families can be supporting and loving.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book has wonderful pictures and illustrations. The characters in the book are free of tokenism. The message in the book is that families can be supportive and loving when you make mistakes. This book also teaches young children about the culture and traditions of the Mexican culture.
Author: Gary Soto
Illustrator: Ed Martinez
Copyright: 1996
ISBN: 0698114124
Summary: This books is about a girl named Maria. Maria is part of a Mexican American family that are preparing for their Christmas celebrations by making tamales. Maria asked her mother to wear her wedding ring. When Maria is making tamales, the ring falls off into the tamales. Maria does not want her mother to find out so her and some of her friends start eating all the tamales to find the ring. The book ends with a reminder that families can be supporting and loving.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book has wonderful pictures and illustrations. The characters in the book are free of tokenism. The message in the book is that families can be supportive and loving when you make mistakes. This book also teaches young children about the culture and traditions of the Mexican culture.
Title: Apple Pie 4th of July
Author: Janet S. Wong
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 9780152057084
Summary: This book is about a Chinese American girl. The girl watches her parents cook Chinese food in order to sell in their family store on an all-American holiday. The girl is shocked and tries to tell her parents how she feels and how things really are. In the end while she is watching the fireworks on the Fourth of July, she learns a surprising lesson.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book conveys a valuable lesson to students that Christmas is the major celebration in America. This books shows us that there is not one culture or one set religion in America so we need to embrace other cultures and holidays. This book shares with students the importance of culture in an appropriate way.
Author: Janet S. Wong
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 9780152057084
Summary: This book is about a Chinese American girl. The girl watches her parents cook Chinese food in order to sell in their family store on an all-American holiday. The girl is shocked and tries to tell her parents how she feels and how things really are. In the end while she is watching the fireworks on the Fourth of July, she learns a surprising lesson.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book conveys a valuable lesson to students that Christmas is the major celebration in America. This books shows us that there is not one culture or one set religion in America so we need to embrace other cultures and holidays. This book shares with students the importance of culture in an appropriate way.
Title: My Brave Year of Firsts
Author: Jamie Lee Curtis
Illustrator: Laura Cornell
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 9780061441554
Summary: This book is about a girl named Frankie. Frankie is starting the first grade in elementary school and in ready to be brave. She is ready to have many experiences of firsts throughout the year. Some of Frankie's firsts are fun and successful learning opportunities. Frankie learns a lot of useful skills and tips on how to live in society with her friends and her family. She learns that everyone has their own firsts that they are going to experience in their lives. It is up to the individual to decide if they are ready to experience their firsts in life.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book conveys to students that they should experience new things now in life and take chances. This is a great age to find likes, dislikes, interests, passions, goals, dreams, etc. Students won't find these things if they do not experience and try new things.
Author: Jamie Lee Curtis
Illustrator: Laura Cornell
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 9780061441554
Summary: This book is about a girl named Frankie. Frankie is starting the first grade in elementary school and in ready to be brave. She is ready to have many experiences of firsts throughout the year. Some of Frankie's firsts are fun and successful learning opportunities. Frankie learns a lot of useful skills and tips on how to live in society with her friends and her family. She learns that everyone has their own firsts that they are going to experience in their lives. It is up to the individual to decide if they are ready to experience their firsts in life.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book conveys to students that they should experience new things now in life and take chances. This is a great age to find likes, dislikes, interests, passions, goals, dreams, etc. Students won't find these things if they do not experience and try new things.
Title: Miz Berlin Walks
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
Copyright: 1997
ISBN: 0399229388
Summary: This book is about a girl and her elderly neighbor. One day, the girl got to know her neighbor by walking around the block with her. The girl listened as her neighbor told her stories about her life. The girl and the elderly neighbor created a strong bond and friendship.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book is great for story telling and oral traditions. Stories can be passed down from elderly to young children. The message is that you can learn a lot from stories you hear from the elderly. This book also sends the message that strong bonds and friendships are important and can happen between anyone.
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
Copyright: 1997
ISBN: 0399229388
Summary: This book is about a girl and her elderly neighbor. One day, the girl got to know her neighbor by walking around the block with her. The girl listened as her neighbor told her stories about her life. The girl and the elderly neighbor created a strong bond and friendship.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book is great for story telling and oral traditions. Stories can be passed down from elderly to young children. The message is that you can learn a lot from stories you hear from the elderly. This book also sends the message that strong bonds and friendships are important and can happen between anyone.
Title: Field of Peace
Author: Joyce Meyer
Illustrator: Mary Sullivan
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 9780310723189
Summary: This book is about a baseball championship. It is help at Everyday Zoo. The giraffe is the star pitcher, but he is not having a very good game. The giraffe feels bad about something he did. He wants to fix things with his friend and make everything better. He finds peace from doing the right thing before God.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book is not just religious based. This book also conveys the message about finding peace by making the right choices and decisions. This book also has animals and a theme of baseball.
Author: Joyce Meyer
Illustrator: Mary Sullivan
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 9780310723189
Summary: This book is about a baseball championship. It is help at Everyday Zoo. The giraffe is the star pitcher, but he is not having a very good game. The giraffe feels bad about something he did. He wants to fix things with his friend and make everything better. He finds peace from doing the right thing before God.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book is not just religious based. This book also conveys the message about finding peace by making the right choices and decisions. This book also has animals and a theme of baseball.
Title: Understanding Sam
Authors: Clarabelle Van Niekerk and Liezl Venter
Illustrator: Clarabelle Van Niekerk
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 9780974721712
Summary: This book is about a child who is living with Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome is a form of autism. This is a firsthand point of view of the life of an undiagnosed child who shows behaviors and characteristics that are common among children who are diagnosed with this disorder. It shows the challenges the child faces while living with Aspergers.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book is very insightful to Asperger Syndrome with an overview of autism. It talks about challenges students may face and behaviors or characteristics to be aware of. This book serves to mainly teach about Aspergers, but other disorders can be brought up when talking about this book.
Authors: Clarabelle Van Niekerk and Liezl Venter
Illustrator: Clarabelle Van Niekerk
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 9780974721712
Summary: This book is about a child who is living with Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome is a form of autism. This is a firsthand point of view of the life of an undiagnosed child who shows behaviors and characteristics that are common among children who are diagnosed with this disorder. It shows the challenges the child faces while living with Aspergers.
Would you use this book?: Yes
This book is very insightful to Asperger Syndrome with an overview of autism. It talks about challenges students may face and behaviors or characteristics to be aware of. This book serves to mainly teach about Aspergers, but other disorders can be brought up when talking about this book.
Title: It’s Okay to Be Different
Author: Todd Parr
Illustrator: Todd Parr
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 0316666033
Summary: This book is about various types of people in the world. The message is that it is okay to do things differently from other people. This book includes some disabilities and family structures. The book has a lot of different examples of things children can have and do and that it is all okay because that's what makes you special.
Would you use this book? Yes
This book shows students that they should embrace what makes them unique. The pictures and illustrations help students apply the words and messages in the book to their lives. The book uses many different examples for the students to connect to and feel like the book is speaking to everyone.
Author: Todd Parr
Illustrator: Todd Parr
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 0316666033
Summary: This book is about various types of people in the world. The message is that it is okay to do things differently from other people. This book includes some disabilities and family structures. The book has a lot of different examples of things children can have and do and that it is all okay because that's what makes you special.
Would you use this book? Yes
This book shows students that they should embrace what makes them unique. The pictures and illustrations help students apply the words and messages in the book to their lives. The book uses many different examples for the students to connect to and feel like the book is speaking to everyone.