Set #5 - Fantasy

Set #5

The Underneath

 

Appelt, K. (2008). The underneath. New York: Simon and Schuster.

When a pregnant calico cat is abandoned in the woods, she meets a chained hound dog who becomes her saving grace. Ranger befriends the cat and provides her safety in the underneath, the crawl space under the house of his evil master, Gar-Face. Ranger warns the kittens, Sabine and Puck, to never leave the underneath, but Puck’s curiosity gets the best of him. Puck’s curiosity causes trouble for the whole family, but a mysterious creature saves the day and allows the animals to live together as a family. The author paints a vivid picture of the underneath and the mystical forest that surrounds the house. Appelt uses the theme of friendship and family as the animals form an unlikely bond.  

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ4Ds1Yub3Q

 

 

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

After escaping the evil man, Jack, who killed his parents, Bod Owens is raised in a graveyard by ghosts who swear to keep him safe. As he grows older, Bod becomes curious about the world outside of the graveyard. This curiosity leads Bod out of the graveyard and back to the man who wants him dead. With the help of his graveyard family, Bod captures Jack, and he is safe to leave the graveyard and lead a normal life as a normal teenager. Gaiman’s vivid descriptions of the setting make it easy for readers to imagine the graveyard in which it is possible for Bod to communicate with the dead. Gaiman puts a spin on the theme of good versus evil as the ghosts are considered to be heroes while the book’s main villain is a human.

See the book trailer narrated by Neil Gaiman here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UUVwTaemk

 

 

Rapunzel’s Revenge

Hale, S. & D. (2008). Rapunzel’s revenge. New York: Bloomsbury.

Rapunzel discovers that she was kidnapped as a child by her evil godmother and decides to take matters into her own hands. After escaping the tower where she has been locked away for four years, Rapunzel sets out on an adventure to save the world from her wicked stepmother. Rapunzel meets Calamity Jack and together they fight off evil witches, bandits and beasts with an unlikely weapon: Rapunzel’s hair. Shannon and Dean Hale put an interesting twist on this beloved fairytale. The story is written as a graphic novel, and the illustrations help to enhance the story and make Rapunzel’s adventure come to life. Rapunzel and Jack’s journey for justice will keep readers engaged from cover to cover.    

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4_Slu5J67M

 

Babymouse

Holm, J & M. (2005). Babymouse: Queen of the world. New York: Random House.

Babymouse is tired of her normal, everyday routine and dreams of adventure and excitement. She often daydreams of being a crime-solving detective or even the queen of the world. When the popular Felicia Furrypaws passes out invitations to her slumber party, Babymouse becomes determined to spend the night with the cool kids. Babymouse eventually receives her invitation, and she cannot wait to share stories and fashion tips with the other girls. When the girls begin to make mean comments about the unpopular kids at school, Babymouse realizes that this party is nothing like she had imagined. She quickly leaves and heads to her best friend Wilson the Weasel’s house for movie night. Young readers can easily relate to the plot of this story as Babymouse struggles with her desire to become popular at school. The theme of friendship is apparent as Babymouse realizes who her true friends are.     

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPWcnSuYFoM

 

 

Skulduggery Pleasant

Landry, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant: Scepter of the ancients. New York: HarperCollins.

Stephanie Edgley is tired of her boring, ordinary life. When her uncle dies, she meets a peculiar man by the name of, Skulduggery Pleasant, and her life becomes anything but boring. Skulduggery is actually a skeleton who introduces Stephanie to a world of mystery and magic. Stephanie discovers that her uncle was actually murdered by the evil Serpine who is search of a magic scepter. Stephanie aides Skullduggery in saving his world from Serpine and the Faceless Ones and discovers she has a little magic inside of herself. Landry’s style of writing and use of words paint a vivid picture of the magical world of Skulduggery Pleasant. The suspenseful plot will intrigue readers until the very last battle between good and evil.    

Meet the author, Derek Landy, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFZ8BcK9aD0

 

 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick, B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic.

Hugo’s father discovers an old, rusted automaton in the attic of the museum where he works. Hugo is devastated after his father dies in a fire, but he discovers that the automaton survived when he returned to the scene of the fire. He clings to the hope that he can one day fix the automaton to receive a message left by his father. Hugo’s uncle takes him in where he teaches him how to crank the clocks of the local train station. When his uncle disappears, Hugo is left to manage the clocks on his own. No one knows of Hugo’s existence in the train station until he is caught stealing mechanical toys from the mean, old man in the toy booth. With the help of his new friend Isabelle, Hugo fixes the automaton and discovers that the mean, old man from the toy booth is actually Georges Melies, a once famous film maker. Brian Selznick removes portions of the text and fills the gaps with beautiful, pencil sketched drawings which demonstrates his creative writing style. The illustrations enhance the text by making the characters’ emotions come to life.

See an interview with the author here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfBEUhP9aCY

 

 

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

Krosoczka, J. (2009). Lunch lady and the cyborg substitute. New York: Random House Children’s Books.

Hector, Dee and Terrence have a feeling that their lunch lady has a very boring life. By following her after school, the three students discover that the lunch lady is actually a secret agent, and they help her defeat the evil Mr. Edison who attempts to replace the school’s teachers with robots. Young readers should be able to identify with the struggles of Hector, Dee and Terrence such as their bullies and their curiosity about school staff members outside of school. The exciting plot will keep readers intrigued as they wait to discover if the normal, old lunch lady is actually a super hero and if she will be able to defeat her enemies to keep the school safe.

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWLFSW839tY

 

A Big Guy Took My Ball!

Willems, M. (2013). A big guy took my ball! New York: Hyperion.

Piggie is devastated when a big guy takes her ball. Gerald is angry that a big guy picks on little Piggie, and wants to get her ball back. He discovers that the big guy is actually a whale who is much bigger than himself. Scared, Gerald returns to Piggie empty handed. The whale sadly approaches Piggie and Gerald with hurt feelings because no one wants to play with him. Piggle and Gerald learn that appearances are not as they seem, as they make friends with the big guy and begin a friendly game of ball. Willems uses the theme of acceptance to teach children not judge a book by its cover. The funny illustrations help to enhance the text to teach a lesson of friendship.  

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsHzU7Y-_ag

 

 

Chapter 7: Fantasy

Cardell, S. (2008). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Chapter 7 provides an overview of the fantasy genre for children. A fantasy story is defined as a story that is make-believe. The plots of fantasy novels cannot happen. Fantasy novels often include enchanting tales of magic, dragons or a handsome prince. Many characters from fantasy novels are so loved by children that the novels are often translated into feature films. Courage, intellect, imagination, intuition and risk are important elements that are often included in fantasy novels. Some of the most popular fantasy novels include The Wizard of Oz, Charlotte’s Web and Harry Potter. The types of fantasy novels are low fantasy, ghost stories, high fantasy, science fiction and fantasy series. High fantasy stories take place in another world while low fantasy stories occur within the real world. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an example of a low fantasy story. The Chronicles of Narnia is an example of a high fantasy story. Well known authors if this genre include Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling. Characters, plot, setting, theme and style are used as evaluation criteria for fantasy novels. Readers should easily relate to the main characters event though they may be a different species, and the plot should be consistent throughout the story. Characters often encounter villains and obstacles within the fantasy world. Authors should paint a detailed and vivid picture so readers are able to easily visualize the setting. Recurrent themes in fantasy novels are love and good versus evil. Distinctive awards within this genre include the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award and the Andre Norton Award. Chapter 7 also includes a short section on audiobook and how they can promote literacy by encouraging listening skills, expanding the attention span of children and introducing the use of technology into reading. This was my favorite genre out the assigned five genres. The authors’ use of detail and vivid descriptions made me feel as if I was watching a movie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set #4 - Historical Fiction

The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963

Curtis, C. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963. New York: Delacorte.

Kenny’s family, the Weird Watsons, live in Flint, Michigan. Kenny is a fourth grader who is often bullied by the king of the fourth grade, Larry Dunn. Kenny has a younger sister named Joey and an older brother named Byron. Kenny is happy when Rufus moves to town because he thinks that Rufus will be the new target for bullies, but he and Rufus become fast friends. Byron stays in trouble, and when his parents hit their breaking point, they decide to take Byron to Birmingham to live with his strict grandmother. The whole family travels to Birmingham, where Byron surprisingly changes his behavior. When a local church is bombed, the family fears that Joey was one of the fatalities from the bomb. Joey eventually returns home safely, but the family is forever changed, especially Kenny and Byron. Curtis tells the story in a youthful manner as it is from Kenny’s point of view. This book is filled with humorous family moments, but it is also a heartwarming tale of a family who remains strong in a time of intolerance.

See an interview with Christopher Curtis here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okkk4iYlUvU

We are the Ship

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: The story of negro league baseball. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.

The narrator describes the trials and tribulations encountered by young African American athletes as they struggle to make a living doing what they love most: playing baseball. Baseball greats, such as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, persevered through major struggles of the time, including segregation and the Great Depression. The author uses the theme of perseverance throughout the book to describe the change in beliefs towards these men. Though these baseball legends were once hated because of the color of their skin, they overcame their struggles through hard work and perseverance to open door to the major leagues for future African American athletes.

See an interview with Kadir Nelson here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km5vbhrKJ8E

 

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! 

Schlitz, L. (2007). Good masters! Sweet ladies! Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Members from a medieval village tell their stories of survival during the middle ages. The members from this village come from different socioeconomic backgrounds ranging from family members of a lord to a family of beggars. Even though the villagers come from different social classes, they all encounter struggles which make it difficult to survive the medieval times. The author provides background information on major historical events that took place during this time period, to provide readers with a better understanding of the setting and plots of each storyline within the book.

See an interview with Laura Amy Schlitz here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWFHOk-xGYU

 

 

 

Chapter 6: Historical Fiction

Cardell, S. (2008). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Chapter 6 provides an overview of historical fiction for children.  Historical fiction is defined as a story that has a historical setting that occurred the at least one previous generation. Children often think of history as boring, so historical fiction books are considered hard to market to young readers. However, when well written with exciting plots and characters, historical fiction can be just as exciting as contemporary realistic fiction novels. Historical novels can be used as a supplement to history lessons. These books can provide students with a better understanding of historical events as readers can relate to the characters and their experiences. When shared in an enthusiastic manner, historical fiction books can make young readers excited about history. Types of historical fiction books include United States history, world history, historical series and historical fiction books. It is not uncommon for authors of historical fiction to combine their stories with another genre such as fantasy or poetry. The Magic Tree House series is a popular collection of books which are considered as historical fantasy. Well-known authors of historical fiction are Laurence Yep and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Evaluative criteria for historical fiction include characters, plot, setting, theme and style. Characters and themes of this genre should be relatable even though the stories take place in the past, while the setting should be easy to imagine from vivid descriptions provided by the author. The plot should include accurate information of the time period described. Awards for historical fiction include the Scott O’Dell Award and the Jane Addams Book Award. One way to encourage deep thinking and verbal responses are to have students research and answer questions from the historical characters point of view. Drama, museums and guests speakers can also be used to help engage and excite children and historical events. I enjoyed reading this chapter because I learned how to help students become excited about history. I considered history as a boring subject when I was growing up, and I feel that I would have enjoyed my history classes more if historical novels would have been included more often in the curriculum.

Set #3 - Contempory Realistic Fiction

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Cleary, B. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw.  New York: Morrow.

When given a writing assignment in school, Leigh Botts chooses to write a letter to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. Leigh is struggling with his parents’ divorce and his absent father and reveals his troubles to Mr. Henshaw in his letters. Mr. Henshaw suggests that Leigh begin to write in a journal. Leigh takes Henshaw’s advice and his writing improves over the course of the story. Leigh writes an essay about his favorite memory of riding with his father in his rig, and he wins honorable mention in a contest in which he wins a lunch meeting with a well-known author. Leigh finds comfort in his writing an demonstrates emotional growth as the story ends. Readers can easily relate to the character of Leigh and the story’s plot, especially young readers struggling with the divorce or separation of parents.  

See an interview with Beverly Cleary here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b0fY9SmqDY

 

Out of My Mind

Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Melody’s photographic memory easily makes her one of the smartest kids in her school, but no one knows because she isn’t able to verbally communicate. Melody’s peers and even some teachers feel that she is unable to learn due to her inability to use words and her limited ability to control her body. With the help of her school aide, her parents and a family friend, Melody discovers a life-changing device that allows her to use words for the first time. The author’s dialogue makes it easy to imagine Melody’s constant struggle to communicate her wants and needs. Family is a major theme throughout this story. Melody’s supportive and encouraging parents and close family friend work to make her dreams come true by doing everything in their power to help ease her daily struggles. 

See a book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkQisi1ua9Y

 

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

 

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Greggory is an awkward middle school student who records his adventures and traumas in a journal given to him by his mom. Greggory comes up with creative ways to survive the bullies of middle school, but his crazy ideas often get him into trouble. Even though he is viewed as a dork by his classmates, Greggory survives his first year of middle school by looking on the bright side of his mishaps. Young readers can easily relate to the characters of this book and the struggles that can occur during the middle school years. The language and context used by the characters is comparable to the language used today by students, thus making the book believable. The plot of this book also makes it relatable to young readers. The struggles of the main character reflect problems which are easily comparable to the struggles of middle school students in real life.

See the book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9DIx1VJRMs

Rules

Lord, C. (2008). Rules. New York: Scholastic.

Catherine only wants to be normal. However, her life is anything but normal with her brother David. David has been diagnosed with autism, and Catherine desperately attempts to teach him socially appropriate behaviors. Catherine meets a boy named Jason while attending her brother’s doctor appointments. Jason is a paraplegic and can only communicate by pointing to words in his communication book which lacks in cool, teenage lingo. Catherine and Jason develop a friendship as she helps him add new words to his book. Catherine is embarrassed to be seen with Jason in front of her new neighbor and friend, Kristi. In the end, Catherine discovers that her own behavior towards Jason is the most embarrassing of all. Being different and accepting others’ differences can be major struggles for young people. The theme of accepting differences and Catherine’s struggle with accepting differences makes this book easily relatable to the everyday struggles of school aged children.   

See the book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH_4BsFhmvE

 

Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Jesse is disappointed when a girl steals his chance to be named the fastest kid in the fifth grade. Even though they have little in common, Jesse eventually befriends Leslie. Jesse and Leslie’s imaginations carry them to their secret land of Terabithia where the two rule as king and queen. Leslie’s tragic death brings Jesse’s world to a halt, but he eventually accepts her death and invites his younger sister into his secret world where she will become the new queen. Paterson provides in depth descriptions which make it easy to imagine the setting of Terabithia. One of the main themes throughout this book is friendship. Through their friendship, Jesse and Leslie are able to escape their troubles from the outside world. Gender roles also play an important part throughout the book. Jesse and Leslie are both disapproved of because they don’t fit the typical masculine and feminine stereotypes.  

 

 

 

Chapter 5: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Cardell, S. (2008). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Chapter 5 provides an in-depth description of contemporary realistic fiction books including types of contemporary realistic fiction, well known authors in the genre and the evaluation criteria for contemporary realistic fiction books. Contemporary realistic novels should depict events and people in today’s society, but are made-up by the authors. Today, authors of this genre frequently write about struggles such as death, divorce and homelessness. Young readers are often able to easily relate to the topics of contemporary realistic fiction novels which help make the books appealing to older children. Popular themes for this book genre include discovering one’s identity, friendship, family and growing up. These books can be humorous as the characters tackle the hardships of growing up, or written in a serious manner to portray struggles such as sexuality or abuse. These books can be used during book discussions as the relatable topics can easily spark in-depth discussions in the classroom. Types of contemporary realistic fiction include short stories for children, short novels and series. Series are a popular trend among young readers today because they develop a familiarity with the characters which keep young readers asking what will happen next. Popular authors of this genre include Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary and Louis Lowry. Characters, setting, theme, plot and style are the elements used to evaluate contemporary realistic fiction books. Readers should be easily able to relate to a story’s main characters and the issues the characters encounter. The plot and themes should be based upon happenings that are believable and likely to take place within today’s society. The setting and style of contemporary novels should be realistic and natural. The portrayal of gender and culture has changed over the years to reflect the viewpoints of current times. Well-known awards for contemporary realistic fiction include the Newbery Award and the Hans Christian Anderson Award. Book reports, oral discussions, and readers’ theatre are examples of ways to engage readers and encourage verbal responses towards their feelings of these books. I particularly enjoyed reading this chapter because of my previous job working with middle school students and witnessing their daily struggles to fit in. I feel that the five books that were assigned for this chapter realistically target struggles that I have witnessed my students cope with in real life.             

 

 

 

 

Set #2 - Informational Books

Spiders

Bishop, N. (2007). Spiders. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

Did you know that a spider can recycle its web by eating it? Or that spiders peel skin from their eyes when they molt? They also can taste and smell with their feet, and they use these two senses to find their webs. Nic Bishop, author and nature photographer, provide readers with interesting spider facts along with an up close and personal view of different species of spiders. He even raised some of the spiders in his home so he could record the processes of molting and laying eggs. The design of this book helps to clearly communicate the subject of spiders. Bishop’s up close and breathtaking photographs provide insight into the life of a spider that would normally not be seen by the human eye.

See the book trailer here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeBDOE55cxE

 

 

Magic Windows

 

Garza, C. (1999). Magic windows. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press.

Carmen Garza takes readers on a visual journey of Mexican family traditions through her paper cut artwork. She begins by describing paper cut art. This art is typically cut from a single sheet of paper, but can also be created from multiple panels of paper to add size and color. Garza shows a piece of her artwork for each childhood story she tells and also provides readers with a description of how each piece was made. Garza’s writing style and detailed illustrations clearly relay her passion for her artwork. Garza presents the text in both English and Spanish, and introduces readers to Mexican traditions and culture through her stories.

See an interview with a paper cut artist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLm888SFaP0

 

 

It’s So Amazing!

Harris, R. (1999). It’s so amazing! Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Curious about where babies come from, a young bird researches the topic with his not so curious friend, the bee. Through his research, the bird discovers the truth about puberty, the differences in the male and female anatomy, sexual intercourse and many other sex related topics that can be confusing to children. The author provides accurate information on the important topic of sex in a comic book style which makes the book appealing to young readers. Through factual information, the author provides children with a healthy understanding of how their bodies work through the comedic conversations between the bird and the bee. The organization of the material and the use of an index and table of contents, make it easy for the reader to search for the information they seek.

 

 

Rosa

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Rosa Parks is one of the best seamstresses in Montgomery, Al, and her fast but accurate work results in  an afternoon off to spend time with her ailing mother. Rosa enters the bus and sits in the neutral section, because the colored section of the bus is too crowded. As the white section of the bus fills, Rosa is told by the driver to move to the back. Rosa is tired of the unequal treatment of colored people, so she refuses to move. Her arrest is the beginning of a peaceful, non-violent protest which results in a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on a bus is not only wrong, but illegal. The author uses historical facts and vivid images throughout the book to accurately tell the story of how Rosa’s stand for change reminded the county that all people deserve the right of equality.

See an interview with the author here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efhxc4iM4FY

 

 

 

Balloons Over Broadway

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy's parade. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Even as a small child, Tony Sarg loved to discover how things moved. He grew up to become a puppet maker and was hired by Macy’s to make eye-catching window displays with his creations. Tony is given the challenge to create large, spectacular puppets to replace the live animals in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. He exceeds expectations and makes the parade one that will never be forgotten. This is an attractive book due to the bright colors and different illustration styles used by the illustrator. The design and artwork of this book help to communicate the story line and capture the reader’s attention while providing factual information on the man who made the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade unforgettable.

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnfW3MdNpOU

 

 

How They Croaked

Bragg, G. (2011). How they croaked. New York, NY: Walker Publishing Company.

Georgia Bragg uses a humorous approach in providing detailed, gory descriptions of the deaths of nineteen famous men and women throughout history. Students will appreciate the medical care available today as they read about the exploding remains of Henry VIII and the deadly strep throat infection of Mozart. Bragg’s humorous writing style will keep young readers intrigued from cover to cover while encouraging an interest in history. 

 

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_g1DKSH6T8

 

 

Hitler Youth

Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler youth: Growing up in Hitler’s shadow.  New York: Scholastic.

Through interviews of surviving Hitler Youth participants, Susan Bartoletti tells the story of what would become the largest youth group in history. In the beginning, young people had a choice in whether or not they joined the Hitler Youth, but the group became mandatory as Hitler gained power. The author provides detailed information on how both boys and girls contributed to Hitler’s cause. Many Hitler Youth participants were devastated after the war ended and they learned of Hitler’s horrific actions.  Bartoletti’s use of expository writing provides readers with factual information while her use of narrative writing helps readers get to know individuals who fell under Hitler’s spell. Black and white photographs help the reading audience to better understand the power that Hitler held over the German people during World War II.

See a book talk with the author here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vrtMFFsrnI

 

 

Chapter 8: Informational Books

Cardell, S. (2008). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

In chapter 8, the textbook author provides an in-depth description of informational books along with the types of informational books, well-known authors of informational books, and the evaluative criteria for informational books. In recent years, informational books have gained popularity because of engaging literature rather than a lengthy book of facts. These books can be colorful and displayed in a variety of formats to keep the reading audience engaged. Because many informational books are now presented in more appealing formats, the books can now be used for research purposes or can be read for fun. There are many types of informational books, and the author provides a description of the following: survey books, photo essays, context books, social histories, informational storybooks, activity books, trivia books, series books and reference tools. Survey books and photo essays are the most popular informational books for young readers because they provide appealing visuals and helpful captions which help keep children engaged. Biographies can also fit under the category of informational books, but authors sometimes add characters or dialogue which can cause the biographies to seem more like a fiction book. Well designed and accurate biographies can provide readers with insight into important people and events throughout history. Seymour Simon, Don Brown and Susan Campbell Bartoletti are among the most well-known authors of informational books today. The evaluative criteria for informational books include accuracy, organization, design and style. Authors must provide factual information for non-fiction books. The text and illustrations of informational books should be accurate to avoid misinforming young readers. The information should be organized in a format where readers can easily find the information they need. Visual and verbal access features help to present informational books in an organized format. Some examples of visual access features include illustrations, maps and photographs, and examples of verbal access features include table of contents, glossaries and subheadings. The design and book style should be appealing and also encourage thinking. Creating a poster, making a model and conducting an experiment are examples of hands-on activities that can further the understanding of informational texts and can also make non-fiction books fun for children. I enjoyed reading this chapter on informational books and how they have changed over the years.  I think it is important that young readers be engaged and excited to learn about important people and events that have helped shape and continue to shape history.

Set # 1 - Picture Books

 

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Deedy, C.A. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers.

At 21 days old, Martina is ready to married, and her beauty lures in multiple suitors. Martina’s family members provide her with gifts to make her even more appealing to the suitors’ eyes, but her wise grandmother provides her with the best gift of all: the coffee test. Martina uses her grandmother’s test to determine which suitor is right for her. Just when she feels that she will never find a suitor, her grandmother and the coffee test lead Martina to true love. Cultural markers are evident throughout this Cuban folktale. The author and illustrator depict the Cuban culture through text and images.

Link to book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x24kj8FwLBQ

 

 

 

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

DePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

 

Struggling during a famine, a Comanche tribe performs rituals for the Great Spririts in hope that the famine will end. She-Who-Is–Alone, one of the few children who remain in the tribe, lost her parents and grandparents to the famine. Even though she suffered a great loss, She-Who-Is-Alone sacrifices her most treasured item from her family to bring hope to her people and end the famine. The theme of this book provides an important lesson to young readers. She-Who-Is-Alone is given the new name of She-Who-Loves-Her-People as a result of her selfless act that once again brings hope and good fortune to her tribe.

Where the Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1962). Where the wild things are. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

When Max is sent to his room without dinner for his mischievous behavior, his imagination takes him on a journey to the land of the wild things. Max tames the wild things and they crown him as their king. Feeling lonely, Max decides to sail back home where he finds a hot supper waiting for him. Sendak’s use of an earth tone color pallet helps set the mood of the story, while his use of texture seems to make the creatures come to life. 

 See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqkNfWy7ayQ

 

 

 

Mirror Mirror

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror mirror. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books.

Famous fairy tales, such as Snow White and Cinderella, are presented in dual points of view in this clever and thought provoking book. The author presents this book in the reverso writing style, which provides two points of view if the lines are reversed. For example, Sleeping Beauty portrays that life is no fun while locked in a tower waiting for her love. By reversing the words, her prince reveals the struggles he encounters while out in the world searching for his love. This writing style reveals to young readers that there are two sides to every story.

Meet the author: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p5kAL6JlYo

 

 

 

The Three Pigs

 Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. New York:  Clarion.

The story begins as the three pigs are gathering materials for their homes. The first pig builds his house of straw. The big, bad wolf comes along and blows so hard that he blows the pig right out of the story. The second pig builds his house of sticks, and is also blown off the page by the big, bad wolf. The two pigs find their brother and all exit their story. The three pigs make a paper airplane and set out on an adventure where they discover more story lands. Animals from each story escape the confinement of their own stories to reach a new land in which they are able to create their own fates.  Wiesner puts an exciting twist on the plot, in which first appears to be a version of the original fairy tale. The characters illustration style changes as they enter each story which displays Wiesner’s talent as an illustrator. The vivid and detailed illustrations and the use of text bubbles really make this story come to life.

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U41VWexL6gE

 

 

It’s a Book

Smith, L. (2010). It’s a book. New York: Roaring Book Press.

A donkey asks a series of questions to a monkey who is reading a book. The donkey has never seen a book due to his excessive use of technology. He is surprised to learn that a book doesn’t have to be charged, doesn’t come with a mouse, and that it can’t be used for blogging or tweeting. The donkey takes the book from the monkey and begins to read. The monkey has to ask for his book back because the donkey is so intrigued with the book. The donkey lets the monkey know that he will recharge the book after he finishes in which the donkey responds, “It’s a book, jackass.” The plot of this humorous story depicts how today’s society heavily relies on technology to enhance our lives. The illustrations enhance the story by reminding readers how fun and engaging reading an actual book can be.

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4BK_2VULCU

 

 

This is Not My Hat

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

A small but bold fish steals the hat of a much larger fish who he assumes is taking a nap. The small fish is very confident that he will make his way to the tall plants without being caught. Little does he know, the large fish is following close behind. The large fish enters and leaves the tall plants with his hat leaving the readers to guess the fate of the small fish. Klassen uses the illustrations to tell a different story than the text. Though the small fish is certain he will get away with stealing the hat, the illustrations say otherwise.  

See the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhbYyEdYWY8

 

 

Chapter 2: Picture Books

Cardell, S. (2008). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

In chapter 2, the textbook author provides an in-depth description of picture books along with the types of picture books, well-known authors of picture books, illustration characteristics and evaluation criteria. The most popular type of picture book is the picture storybook. Picture story books can be targeted towards children of all ages and many become award winners or best sellers. An example of a timeless storybook is Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. Other types of picture books include the following: wordless picture books, predictable books, easy readers, alphabet books, counting books, engineered books and board books. Some of the most well-known authors and illustrators of picture books are Mo Willems, Marc Brown and David Shannon. To become an established author of picture books, authors must create an abundance of engaging books that keep readers wanting more. The text book author provides an overview of illustration styles which includes the following: visual elements, artistic styles, illustration media, and book making. Through visual elements (line, shape, color, texture, composition) and artistic styles, authors are able to create images that grab the reader’s eye and help make the words come to life.  Some examples of artistic styles are abstract art and realistic art. The two main categories of illustration media are painterly techniques and graphic techniques. Painterly techniques involve painting or drawing the illustrations on paper, while graphic techniques are made by cutting and pasting. Illustrators combine these illustration styles to make their books visually appealing to the reading audience. Many young readers are able to recognize their favorite authors by the book covers and illustration style. Evaluation criteria for picture books are used to determine if the text and illustrations will engage readers. Characters and plots should be relative to young children, so that the story will be believable. Illustrations should paint a picture of the setting and make the characters come alive, while the theme of picture books often teaches children a valuable lesson. Awards are given to the most outstanding picture books for illustration and literature. Significant awards for picture books include the Caldecott Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, the Geisel Award and the Pura Belpre Award. Finally, the textbook author provides methods to share picture books to create a deeper understanding of the books. Some methods provided are: thinking aloud, predicting a story’s outcome, and active involvement in the story. This chapter provided me with insight into the creative process that is used when creating a picture book. I appreciate how the textbook includes lists of famous picture book authors and illustrators, as well as references to books that provide in-depth information on how picture books are made. I am intrigued by the different illustration styles that make settings and characters come to life.