Definitions of the Genres Below:

Definitions: 

Alphabet Book: A book about the letters and symbols in the alphabet.

Counting Book: A book that teaches a child how to count.

Color Book: A book about different colors or a coloring book that a child fills out.

Concept Book: A book about a different action or concept in a child's life. For example: brushing your teeth or getting dressed.

Multicultural Book: A book about the many different cultures in the world.

Traditional Book: A book whose story was passed down through ear from generation to generation

Folk Tale: a tale or legend passed down as an oral tradition of people.

Fables: Usually a short tale that teaches a lesson that normally has animals with human characteristics.

Fantasy: A book using a lot of imagination dealing with magic, monsters, witches, etc.

Realistic Fiction: A book or story that is untrue, but is also realistic and can happen in real life.

Non-Fiction Books: Books that are completely factual and correct.

Biographies: A book about a person in detail about their life and what they did.

Poetry: A written or spoken story of any length that can be rhythmical and also uses beautiful, imaginative or creative language. 

Graphic Novels: A longer book that uses some graphic images throughout the story.

Historical Fiction: An untrue story that takes place in historic time periods.

Non-Fiction/Biography/Poetry Books Continued

What the World Eats by Faith D’Aluisio

This book is about what everyone in the world eats.  Millions of families around the world eat different thing whether they eat at a table, on the floor or outside.  This book was about 25 different families in 21 countries.  Each family described what and how they eat.  There were many pictures and information for each family.  There were a lot of facts and interesting details.  I liked this book because it was interesting to see how other families survive and hunt for food.

A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston

This book is all about butterflies and how they live.  It has many different species and pictures of butterflies.  There are a lot of neat facts and details about every butterfly in only 40 pages.  This book was really interesting to read.  I think it would be a great book for the beginning of spring.

The Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein 

This book is filled with a lot of different short poems.  The poems range anything from animals to people, nature and buildings.  It is a classic that I loved to read when I was little.  I recommend reading a couple of the poems to your classroom because they are all interesting in their own way.

Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Maria Francis Child

This book in a very enjoyable and humorous spoof of the traditional version.  It would be great for a classroom of children that celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo 

This book is a biography about Audrey Hepburn.  It is all about her life and her sense of fashion.  It her like off camera and how she was raised in Nazi-occupied Europe and how she works with UNICEF to raise money.  I liked this book because her work always inspired me and it was really interesting to learn about her.

Traditional Books Continued

Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault

This book is about a cat named Puss, and his master, and the miller’s son.  They in many adventures that are really comedic and fun.  This book is a great excited story that will keep children, as well as adults on their feet and left wanting to read more.  I liked this book because I have an image of Puss already in my head from the Shrek movies.

Persephone by Sally Pomme Clayton

The young goddess Persephone is snatched from her home by Hades, evil god of the Underworld. She was taken away to live underground and become his bride. Persephone's mother, Demeter, goddess of Earth, is so brokenhearted that she curses all the land so nothing can grow making winter the season all year round. This book is all about Greek Mythology and how she escaped the underground.  I loved this book because I have always loved Greek Mythology.

The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen

This book is about a duckling that doesn't fit in with the other ducklings. Everyone treats him poorly, and teases him so he decides to run off. Someone takes him in for the Winter but sets him free when it is Spring. At the end of the book he turns into a swan and a group of swans adopt him.

The Story of Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe

After hearing tales of the Far Off Land, a young mouse travels to find it. On the way to Far Off Land, he meets a magical frog named Jumping Mouse. Throughout the adventure, Jumping Mouse meets a variety of other animals all in need of his help. Jumping Mouse helps the other animals and is rewarded by magically becoming an eagle who will live in Far Off Land forever.  I liked this book because it is a great story about the good karma from helping others.

Cinderella by Charles Perrault

This book is the French version of the classic Disney story of the young girl who is poorly treated by her mean stepmother and stepsisters. Cinderella received this name from her stepsister because she always liked to sit next to the chimney in a pile of ashes. It was Cinderella that did all the handy work in the house. Cinderella was a beautiful child, but she had horrible luck. One night the prince was having a ball. Cinderella’s stepsisters did not let her go to the ball, but she is visited by her godmother who gave her a beautiful chariot and all the works. She helps her godmother gather all the pieces of the look and arrives at the ball. She goes to the ball and dances with the prince but has to run out late to leave by midnight; when the magic wears off. She leaves a shoe behind that the prince ends up finding.  With the shoe, he tests it on all the girls of the town and finds her!  They end up living “happily ever after”.  I loved this book because it is a classic and always great to read again.

Multicultural and Diversity Books Continued

Julian, Dream Doctor by Ann Cameron

This book is about a little boy name Julian who decides to get his Dad a special birthday present.  Him and his brother and sister, Huey and Gloria decide to get him something scary! This book is all about their adventure to get the present and figuring out what Dad wants.  I liked this book because it was entertaining and funny.

Keena Ford and the Second Grade Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson

Keena is a second grade girl who lives with her mom and brother in the DC during the week and with her dad in Maryland on the weekends. Keena's mom has given her a journal to write in to try and help her manage her feelings without yelling or pinching because she was always in time-out in school. She explanied, "I say a lot of things you aren't supposed to say out loud. I think I will have A LOT to write in my new journal". Keena Ford and the Second Grade Mix-Up is written in the Keena's voice, in a journal form. This book was kind of funny and entertaining. I liked this book and recommended to all second graders.

Baby Rattlesnake by Te Ata

This book takes on a different spin of Multicultural and Diversity books. Baby Rattlesnake is young and does not have a rattle like his siblings. His crying keeps the Rattlesnake People up all night, which makes the family give into his needs. Happy about his new rattle, he starts to scare other animals with it. One day he rattles to the wrong animal and gets in big trouble.  This book is really enjoyable because it teaches the students about self control in a strange and different prospective. 

I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

This story is about a small little girl named Keyana, who is getting her hair combed by her mother. This is very painful for Keyana, which makes her aggravated towards her hair. Her mother tells her that she should be proud to have such beautiful hair and all the different kinds of styles she can do to her hair. I liked this book because the message is to be proud of your body and who you are.

The Rough-Face Girl by David Shannon

This book is a Cinderella tale, set in the Algonquin Indian tribes of North America. The Rough-Face Girl is mistreated by her sisters and is literally scarred by their meanness. The Rough-Face Girl must "sit by the fire and feed the flames" and as the branches burn, she is burned by the sparks. The Invisible Being lived in this village and all the young women wanted to marry him. The Invisible Being's sister told that whoever could see her brother would marry him. As fate has it, the Rough-Faced Girl does see the Invisible Being and is able to answer his sister's questions. The sister gives the Rough-Faced Girl the finest buckskin robes and a perfect shell necklace, and the Rough-Faced Girl transforms to be as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. She then marries the Invisible Being, and they live "happily ever after."

Alphabet and Concept Books Continued

Picture Books

Alligators All Around by Maurice Sendak 

This book is a fun and interesting way to learning the alphabet.  There is an alliteration for every word, for example: Getting Giggles, Juggling Jellybeans and Forever Fooling.  It is simple and fun with great illustrations. I like this book because it is simple and straightforward. 

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert

This book is a great alphabet book for learning the different fruits and vegetables.  This book has a list of foods from A-Z with great illustrations.  I love this book because it is a different way to learn about the alphabet and the different food too!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

This book goes through all the letters in the alphabet has the climb up the coconut tree.  It is a fun and creative way to learn the alphabet.  I love this book because it is one of my old time favorites.  It is great for art in your classroom or easy board games.

My First Book of Letters by Nadeem Zaidi

This book is great for a first level learning student.  For the children that are just starting to learning, this book will be helpful.  It lists all the letter in simple form.  I like this book because it is so simple and easy.

Animal ABC by Cedco Publishing

This book is great because it lists off the alphabet with different animal names.  I love this book because it is a double learning option - animals and letters!

H is for Haunted House by Tanya Lee Stone

This book is a great book for the Halloween season.  It is a picture book of all the different Halloween objects from A-Z.  I love this book because I love Halloween and I think it is a fun way to learn the alphabet.

Whose Ears Are Those? by Lana Jordan

This book is great for young children who need to learn about animals. There are a lot of interaction in this book.  It is about a little sister that gets into her brother’s toy collection.  All of the animals have come-apart in weird ways that all of their ears are switched.  It is a lively book filled with useful animal information with a fun and interesting twist.

Realistic Fiction Books Continued

Chapter Books

Stargirl by Jeff Spinelli
Stargirl left homeschool and started new in a tenth grade classroom of a public high school in Arizona. She has a lot of enthusiasm. The other students had difficulty understanding her. She was asked to join the cheerleading squad and she did. Then during the basketball season, many of the fans thought that she cared too much whenever someone was injured on the field for the opposing teams. This turned the school against her. The students stopped talking and interacting with Stargirl and Leo, her boyfriend. Leo did not like this and wanted Stargirl to try to be more like the other students. She did change for him, but the other students continued to ignore them. So, Stargirl returned to the way she was. Stargirl went to the Ocotillo Ball without a date and she danced by herself at first, but then she asked the band to play a bunny hop. After the dance, Stargirl never returned to school. Her actions stayed, the small group of basketball fans who, years later at school basketball games, always cheered the first basket scored by the opposing team. I didn't really like this story that much because I did not like the ended too much.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

One summer Opal and her father, who is a preacher, move to Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket and comes out with a dog. The dog is not the best looking dog, but it has a great sense of humor. She names the dog Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known. Together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of the book War and Peace. Later they meet Gloria Dump, who is almost blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then plays his guitar to them. Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship, and forgiveness, can sneak up on you. I love this book.  I remember loving it was I was a little girl.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

A young boy named Roy Eberhardt moves to Coconut Cove, Florida where he tries his hardest to help save the burrowing owls. He has to stop the construction on the piece of land where they live. He helps the owls and makes new friends in the process which changes him into a more mature young man. I thought this was a great book because it cares so much for the owls.

Holes by Louis Sachar

Camp Green Lake is a boys’ juvenile detention center in Texas, but there is no lake there. The boys spend each day digging five-foot holes in the dried up lakebed and have to report what they have found if they get lucky enough. Stanley Yelnats, a boy who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, is sent there for ‘stealing’ a pair of used sneakers.  Stanley believes his bad luck is because of a curse placed on his family after his great-great-grandfather, Elya Yelnats, stole a pig from a gypsy, Madame Zeroni.  In the book the reason why he stole the pig is explained.

At Camp Green Lake Stanley is given the nickname “Caveman”, because Stanley has some acceptance from a peer group for the first time. He grows stronger and tougher as he battles the harsh conditions at the camp. He becomes friends with a boy called Zero by agreeing to teach him how to read in exchange for helping his digging process. This upsets the other boys and causes a fight. In the aftermath, Zero gets into trouble and runs off into the desert. Stanley attempts to steal a water truck and go out after Zero, but he drives the truck into a hole, gets out of the truck and runs away. He heads out across the desert toward a rock called “God’s thumb,” the place where his grandfather, the first Stanley Yelnats, survived after being robbed by Kissin’ Kate Barlow a hundred years ago.  Kissin’ Kate became an outlaw because for revenge for killing her love.  Before she died, she left treasure behind without telling anyone where it was. The Warden at Camp Green Lake tells people that the boys there dig holes to build character. In reality, she is continuing the search for Kate Barlow’s treasure. Stanley continues to walk across the lakebed and finds Zero under the remains of a boat.  Zero is weak and sick, but they manage to walk up to “God’s Thumb”. After a few days the boys have regained their strength and decide to go back to the camp to try and dig up Kate Barlow’s treasure. Under cover of night, the boys return to the hole where Stanley had found the lipstick tube. Stanley digs and unearths a suitcase, just as the Warden arrives. In the light of flashlights, the boys see that they are covered with yellow-spotted lizards. They stay completely still until the sun rises and the lizards go down into the shade, off of the boys. It turns out that Zero’s real name is Hector Zeroni, the great-great-great-grandson of Madame Zeroni, the gypsy that had cursed Stanley’s great-great-grandfather. By carrying Zero up the mountain, Stanley had broken the curse. I loved this book because I loved the story line and plot; so creative.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Kevin is a very smart child, but has birth defects.  His birth defects cause him to wear braces on his legs. Max is powerful and huge, but he feels worthless and dumb. Each boy seems like half a person, but when they meet the summer before eighth grade starts, join together, and become friends. They are both known as Freak the Mighty. The novel Freak the Mighty focuses on one year of the boys’ life. It follows them through their first meeting, their summer adventures, their return to school, and even Max’s Christmas Eve kidnapping at the hands of his murderous father. Although the boys are eventually reunited, their happiness cannot last forever. Kevin’s health problems worsen, leading to an unfortunate end of Freak the Mighty. A devastated Max learns how to face the world without his best friend. I loved this book because it is so different but empowering. 

Historical Fiction Continued

Chapter Books

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

  This is the first book of the Little House series which is based on the life of the writer. This book is set in the period before the Ingalls family moved to the prairie. This is the place of Laura’s birth and the beginning of her childhood.  Little House in the Big Woods portrays a little girl with eyes full of wonder and heart full of love for her Ma and Pa and sister Mary. The theme of this book is very clear and simple —caring, sharing and growing up during a time when, even though you are a little girl, you do your part to help your family. The theme is brought out simply in each chapter. Laura and Mary had their "chores" each and every day. They were done —without hesitation or pushing from Ma and Pa —completely and thoroughly; then and only then would Laura play.  Little House in the Big Woods is one adventure after another in Laura’s life. It is a book of vivid descriptions of first-time happenings for Laura. There’s the dance at Grandpa’s where Laura watches all the "big girls" dress up. There is Laura’s first experience at seeing a town, and of course the fun at butchering time roasting the pig’s tail. I liked this book because it is really informational and interesting for many ages.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

  Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March are four sisters living with their mother in New England. Their father is away serving in the Civil War, and the sisters struggle to support themselves and keep their household running after losing all their money. In the process, they become close friends with their neighbor, Theodore Laurence, known as "Laurie." 

As the girls grow older, each faces her own personal demons and challenges. Jo, the protagonist, must stop acting like boy and learn to be more ladylike while working to be a great writer. Meg, the oldest, must put aside her love of money to be able to follow her dreams. Beth, the shy one, must try to be more outgoing, while Amy, the youngest, has to get rid of her pride. The girls are guided by their mother, "Marmee," and their faith.

The family's bonds are changed when Meg falls in love with John Brooke, Laurie's tutor. Meg and John marry and get a home of their own, and have twins, Daisy and Demi. Another marriage seems likely when Laurie reveals to Jo that he has fallen in love with her, but she cannot care for him in the same way. Jo goes to New York as the governess for a family friend, Mrs. Kirke, experiencing the big city and trying to become a professional writer. Meanwhile, Amy travels through Europe with her rich Aunt Carroll and cousin Flo, learning how to be an artist. Laurie goes to Europe with his grandfather. He finds his passion for music and tries to forget about Jo. I liked this book because it is a page-turner and you never want to put it down.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

  Point of view of ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen. The story is set in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark in September 1943, the third year of the Nazi occupation of Denmark. Annemarie and her best friend Ellen, who is Jewish, are stopped by soldiers on their way home from school. The two girls, who go to the same school and live in the same building, are unsettled by their first direct encounter with the Germans. Mrs. Johansen and Mrs. Rosen are concerned and ask the girls to take a new route to school. The encounter makes Annemarie reflect on what her father has taught her about Denmark and also about her older sister Lise's death a few years before the start of the novel. Later in the fall, Annemarie and her younger sister Kirsti discover that Mrs. Hirsch's neighborhood shop has been closed. This event further alarms Mrs. Johansen, though Annemarie does not understand why. During a late night visit from Peter Neilsen, a member of the Resistance and the man Lise was to marry, Annemarie is told more about the war. Her parents and Peter explain that Jewish stores are being closed. The next day, the Rosens must flee. They leave Ellen with the Johansens. During the night, German soldiers come to the apartment demanding that Mr. Johansen disclose the location of his friends. He refuses and they search the apartment. Ellen pretends to be one of the Johansen's daughters, but her dark hair causes the solider to be suspicious. Luckily, Mr. Johansen is able to show them a baby picture of Lise with dark hair, which convinces the soldiers. The next day, Mrs. Johansen takes the three girls to her brother Henrik's home in Gilleleje, Denmark, where Henrik is a fisherman. They spend a peaceful day in the house by the ocean before Henrik announces that their Great-aunt Birte has died. The service is to be held that evening. Annemarie knows that no such aunt exists, and demands the truth. Uncle Henrik explains the importance of not knowing too much when bravery is needed. That night the coffin arrives and they gather around it. Many more people arrive, but all are silent. Soon Peter appears with the Rosens, who are reunited with Ellen. Soldiers, drawn by the post-curfew lights, come to the house. They demand that the coffin be opened, a problem since the coffin is empty. Mrs. Johansen thinks quickly and says that her aunt died of highly contagious typhus. The soldiers leave. Henrik takes the first group of people down to his boat. Mrs. Johansen follows with the Rosens. Annemarie, who now understands that the people are being taken to safety in Sweden, awaits her mother's safe return. When her mother does not appear, she discovers that Mrs. Johansen has broken her ankle. Because of this, Annemarie must take an important package to her uncle before they can leave. On the way to the boat, soldiers with dogs stop her. They search her basket and discover the package. But when they rip it open it contains only a handkerchief, and they let her go. Annemarie makes it to the boat in time, to Henrik's evident relief. That evening, Henrik is safe at home having dinner with Annemarie, Kirsti, and Mrs. Johansen, whose ankle has been taken care of by the local doctor. After dinner, Uncle Henrik takes Annemarie to learn how to milk the cow. They talk about the events of the day. He explains that he hid his passengers in the bottom of the boat, and the handkerchief was essential because it kept the Germans' dogs from smelling the human cargo. Uncle Henrik praises Annemarie for her bravery and reassures her that Ellen is safe and they will meet again someday. The war ends in May, and Annemarie and her family watch from their balcony as people parade in the streets with the Danish flag. Annemarie thinks of the Rosens and realizes that they, along with all the others who were forced to flee, will soon be returning home. Peter Nielsen has died. He was shot in a public square for his involvement in the Resistance. Annemarie's parents tell her that Lise was a member of the Resistance, too, and that she did not die in an accident, but was killed by the Germans. Thinking of Lise and of Ellen, Annemarie goes to the trunk of Lise's things in her room and takes out the Star of David pendant that she has been keeping for Ellen. She says she will wear the necklace herself until Ellen returns. I liked this book because it taught me a lot about the history of the Nazis and the Resistance.

Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne 

  Jack and Annie go back to Ancient Egypt and get lost in a pyramid. They find a ghost queen inside. She asks Jack and Annie to help her find the Book of the dead so that she can go to the afterlife. Jack and Annie try to decode a message on the nearby wall for the ghost queen and are successful. They follow the ghost down the hallway, up some stairs, and into a cold, drafty room. Here the ghost disappears.They find a boat on the other side of the room and grab a jar out of it. Then they grab a scroll out of the jar. It is the Book of the Dead. They walk through a door and into a room with only a long golden box in it. The kids look into the box and are stunned to see a real mummy. Annie runs off in disgust. Jack sets the Book of the Dead on the box and backs out of the room. He continues out the boat room and down the stairs. He turns into the hallway and tries to find his sister. He hears her voice, but starts walking in the wrong direction. He turns and heads in the other direction. He walks back up the stairs and into the room with the boat. He notices an open door that he didn't notice before. He enters the room, which is at the top of a staircase exactly like the room he had just come up. He walks down the stairs and enters a hallway that also looks like the previous one. Jack finds Annie, who had gotten lost, and they turn to go back up the stairs. Just as they do, the doors close and the torches go out. They walk down the hallway looking for secret doors, but instead end up right back where they started. They hear a meow and see the black cat from before. They follow it all the way to the outside of the pyramid. The cat then runs off and disappears into the waves of heat in the distance. The kids go back to the tree house and grab the Pennsylvania book. Jack turns and sees the queen in her boat floating through the air on her way to the Afterlife. The Jack points to the book and wishes them home.When they got back, they organized the books in the tree house. While doing this, they discover an "M" in the floor. Jack touched the M and felt a tingling in his body. Leaves started to blow. The kids leave the tree house and go home. When they arrive, their mom is making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I liked this book because it is really interesting for many people of all ages.

Picture Book

The Wall by Eve Bunting

 A dad and his son making that long trip to visit father/grandfather, whose name is printed into the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. They look under 1967, the year Grandfather died in the war. Once they find his name, Dad takes out paper and pencil to make a rubbing of his father's name as a keepsake. They leave a picture of the grandson below the grandfather's name. The boy has already looked through some of the items that relatives and friends leave at the base of the Wall. They meet many different groups people: an elderly couple obviously visiting their son's name, a grandfather and grandson visiting the soldier-dad's name, and a group of girls on a field trip. Their behavior is proper, but not reflective of loss such as the others experience. The fourth type of visitor becomes the most deeply moving encounter. A man in a wheelchair with a blanket folded over where his legs should have been, a soldier with a decorated ribbon, and obviously a Vietnam veteran at that, rolls in. It is a chance meeting the boy will never forget. When they leave, the boy is sad, but a lot wiser. He would like a grandpa as the other boy had, but he is proud to know his grandfather served his country. I loved this book because it is really touching and informational.

Fantasy Books Continued

Picture Books

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
  Lucy the Bear was walking in the woods and found a little boy that she named "Squeaker" because he made squeaking noises.  She asked her mom if she could keep him and she said only under one condition: He was her responsibility.  They did everything together; napped, played and ate.  Squeaker was tough to potty train, he ruined furniture and caused problems.  One day she lost squeaker, but found him with his family.  She learned that children do make terrible pets. I liked this book because it was really enjoyable and humorous.

Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort
  They love underpants but there are none in space. The big surprise is that when aliens fly down to Earth they don't meet people, they just want to underpants.  Their radar beeps, they land in your backyard, dance around and try them on.  They also put them on their heads, feet and other silly places.  They played games with them and with the dog.  They zoom away when mom comes to get the laundry.  Alway check for aliens that are unseen! I loved this book because it is really funny and interesting, plus something to think about!

Strega Nona's Harvest by Tomie de Paola
  During the winter Strega pulled out small packets of seeds and planted them when "the moon said so".  She says some things in Italian and repeats them in English while planting.  The secret ingredient is to blow three kisses to the moon.  Big Anthony made his own little garden behind the goat shed to show Bambolona he can do it.  His plants were growing well but not so beautifully, it looked like a jungle! The family harvested their crops and were all going to rest but Anthony still had work to do.  The next morning Strega found a lot of vegetables outside her door and they gave them away because other's didn't have a good growing season like they did.  At the end of the book Strega was in bed wondering where the extra vegetable came from while Anthony was outside putting them all in front of the door once again. This book can be long and boring to many students, but personally I did enjoy it.

The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark by Deborah Diesen
  Ms. Clam lost her pearl.  Mr. Fish tried to find it.  He swam deeper and deeper, but he was scared of the dark.  He said he was fast, strong and smart but still afraid of the dark.  He swam deeper to the slopes where Miss Shimmer help him with his fear and found the pearl with Mr. Lanturn's help.  We are always bigger than the dark. I loved this book because it was sweet and funny.

Curious You: On Your Way! by H.A. Rey
  George wondered the town because everything was up to him.  There are message in the book like follow you dreams, and things may not always work out, but don't worry, find your style, give to other and you will make new friends.  In the end, the message is to just be you! This book was wonderful to read.  I loved this book because after I read it I felt a lot better with being me.  Even though this is a little kid's book, it is very inspiring. 

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan

This book is a fun adventure about a boy named Percy who finds out he is a demi-god with powers.  I travels the magical world to save it from an evil demi-god and learns about himself as well as others.  This is a great book for many ages because it is fun and exciting. 

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline has always wondered what is behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a place just like her own, but strangely different. When she finds her parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting and creepy black button eyes. Coraline ends up having to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror with the help of a cat. Coraline  gets over her fears and defeats the monsters.  I liked this book because it was different than anything I have read before and really interesting to read.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

The story takes place in the magical realm of Alagaesia. Eragon, an ordinary farmer’s boy, needs to get food on the table. He lives with his cousin, Roran, and his uncle, Garrow.  While Eragon is out hunting, he finds a sapphire-blue stone lying in a ruined glen. Eragon, thinking he could sell the stone in exchange for some meat and takes it back to his uncle’s farm. The stone splits open and a dragon hatchling emerges and when some strange bird-like creatures, called the Ra’zac, arrive at the local village and destroy everything. Before Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, spend the rest of the book seeking revenge on the person that killed Garrow.  I liked this book because it is mystical and takes you to a different world while reading.

Historical Fiction Books

Picture Books

Milly and the Macy’s Parade by Shana Corey (Historical Fiction)

Summary: It's 1924 and the holidays are approaching. Milly lives in NYC with her Polish family and frolics daily in holiday displays at the Macy's store under the watchful eye of Mr. Macy. But Milly's family misses their homeland and traditions. In an effort to cheer people up, Milly convinces Mr. Macy to combine old country traditions with new American heritage in a celebration for all to enjoy. Everyone agrees that the resulting parade will become a wonderful new tradition. This heartwarming story beautifully captures the creation of a uniquely American event.  Concerned that the immigrant employees of New York City's Macy's department store are homesick at Christmas, a young girl inspires the store's head to hold the first Macy's Parade. Theme of this book is the Macy’s Parade. I liked this book because it was based on a true story. 

When Jessie Came Across The Sea by Amy Hest (Historical Fiction)

Summary: It is a story of a 13-year old girl Jessie who is an orphan and lives with her grandmother in a village in Europe. She always keeps her mother's marriage band close to her. She has a lovely relationship with her grandmother. Jessie teaches her grandmother to read and write while her grandmother teaches her to sew. They are happy in their own little world. But this soon changes with a big jolt when the Rabbi of the village selects Jessie to go to America on his ticket as he has to be in the village to perform his regular duties. Jessie and her grandmother are devastated even at the thought of being away from each other but then they both reconcile to this big change in their lives.  The day soon arrives when Jessie has to finally board the ship to New York. Jessie is unsure, afraid, alone and very sad but soon forgets her woes and gets herself busy in sewing laces for the women passengers on the ship. While on the ship, a young boy Lou becomes her friend. On arriving New York, Jessie is received by Rabbi's brother's widow who owns a dress shop. Jessie starts working there sewing beautiful laces and soon people begin to throng the dress shop for her special laces. Also, she starts school again and regularly writes letters to her grandmother narrating her experiences in the new city.  Three years fly away like this and one day she happens to meet her old friend Lou in the garden. They develop liking for each other and Lou proposes but Jessie wants some more time. By this time she had already saved enough money that she could buy a ticket for her grandmother to come to New York. Grandmother reaches America and blesses the young couple with the perfect gift which she had been entrusted with when Jessie came to America.  Illustrations are very mature and can be appreciated across all ages. The water color pictures are really life like and bring the inner feelings of the protagonist beautifully to the paper. The picture which is also on the cover, captures the moment when the ship of the immigrants reach the shores of America and Statue of Liberty is in the backdrop. It beautifully depicts the medley of emotions that the protagonist must be experiencing at that time - excitement of landing in an alien land, hopes to fulfill the dreams of a better future, apprehensions of the unknown and melancholy feeling of leaving the loved ones far behind. These are some of the feelings which are not alien to me and I am sure, not to many people who move from their place of birth to a new country, new surroundings and amidst new people leaving the comforts of known surroundings. Theme is to never give up. I liked this book because it shows that even if you are away from someone you love, you can always make other friends. 

Coming On Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson (Historical Fiction) 

Summary: Ada Ruth tries her best to be brave when her mother decides to go to Chicago to work on the railroads during World War II. Times are hard and Ada Ruth must remain at home with her grandmother. Ada Ruth knows her mother loves her more than rain and more than snow, but she still misses her more and more. She constantly waits for the arrival of a letter from her mother. When a stray kitten appears on the doorstep, she puts down a saucer of milk. As Grandmother softens towards the kitten, Ada Ruth sees how much her grandmother misses her mother as well. The three of them keep each other company as they await news from Chicago. Finally, a letter with some much- needed money from her mother arrives. The letter also includes the promise that her mother will be coming on home soon.  Woodson’s text is simple and spare, conveying pure emotion. The dialogue is written in italics, helping to keep the text clean of even punctuation. She repeats the phrase, “coming on home soon,” to reassure not only the characters but also the readers that mother will indeed reappear.  E. B. Lewis has filled the pages with watercolors full of light. Sometimes the light shines through the window or streams in an open door. It is always there to give the illustrations warmth despite the expressions of longing and hope on the faces of Ada Ruth and Grandmother. In one two-page spread, Lewis shows Ada Ruth curled up with the kitten on a rug in front of the fireplace; the fire glows red and orange casting a shadow on Ada Ruth’s face that deepens the look of loneliness. Theme is to have hope. I liked this book because it shows that having hope is helpful. 

The Memory Coat by Elvira Woodruff (Historical Fiction) 

Summary: When the Tsar's soldiers invade their Jewish community, Rachel and her family flee from Russia to America. But what they fear most is facing the inspection station at Ellis Island. For any wrong move there could cause one or all of them to be turned away. Hoping to make a good impression, the family pleads with cousin Grisha to let them replace his tattered old coat with a new one. But Grisha refuses. His mother had made the coat for him just before she died, and it still holds the powerful memory of her love. A harrowing experience upon their arrival threatens to separate the family. But it's Rachel's cleverness and Grisha's cherished coat that ultimately keep them together.  Theme is memories, tradition and family. I liked this book because it was about keeping memories and loved ones close to you.

Chapter Book

My America: Our Strange New Land by Patricia Hermes (Historical Fiction)

Summary: Elizabeth Barker is only nine years old when she and her parents leave Plymouth, England. They set sail with nine shiploads of other people, headed for a small colony in America --- Jamestown, Virginia. They have high hopes for a wonderful life in this brand new country, where they can own their own land and build their own house. Elizabeth misses her twin brother Caleb, who had to stay in England because of his weak lungs, so she keeps a journal for him, to tell him what their first months are like in this strange, beautiful country. The journey itself is very difficult. They lose five of their nine ships at sea in a terrible hurricane. They don't know whether the ships got blown off course, or if they sank in the storm. One of the ships carried their food. But when they arrive in Jamestown, Elizabeth is excited. She and Jessie, another girl her same age, become good friends. They explore the forest, splash in the river, and go fishing for clams and crabs. They see a raccoon and think it's a monkey! They sleep under the stars in a lean-to while their fathers build their houses. Elizabeth's father lets her help him; she gets to climb up on the roof and thatch it. And she and Jessie meet an Indian girl named Pocahontas, who becomes their friend. Elizabeth even gets to go with Captain John Smith to the Indians' camp. But amid the excitement of a new land, the colonists endure many hardships. Jamestown was built in a wet, humid marsh. The heat is terrible. Mosquitoes spread the "summer sickness," and many people die, including Jessie's mother. It reaches a point where at least two people die every day. They bury them at night so the Indians won't know how their numbers are dwindling. Rats that disembarked from the ships destroy the food in their storehouse. Eventually two of the ships thought lost in the storm make it to land. Elizabeth meets three new friends from these ships, but they also become very ill. Elizabeth's mother is going to have a baby, and Elizabeth is afraid that she might die in childbirth like some of the other women and their newborn babies. Along with the problems they encounter in their new country, the colonists bring some problems with them from England. Some of the men think that they are gentlemen --- and therefore too good to work. They kidnap and enslave the Indians to do their work for them. They also steal food from the Indians. The Indians, who were at first friendly and helpful, begin to fight back and kill the colonists.  Finally, in the autumn, Captain John Smith is seriously injured, and he must return to England. He takes some of the colonists back with him. The rest will stay in Jamestown for the winter. In May 1607, 3 ships sailed up the James River in Virginia. In the riverbank marshes, they made land and hung the flag--England's flag--establishing the first permanent English colony in Jamestown, Virginia. In 1609, the first ship carrying women and children arrived.  After 71 days at sea, nine-year-old Elizabeth Barker is thrilled to be on dry land. Lizzie keeps a journal for Caleb, her twin brother who stayed in England because of his weak lungs. In her buoyant entries,Lizzie tells of the abundant forests, trading with and learning from the Indians, and adventures with her new friends. Theme is history and travel. I did not like this book because am not a fan of history and social studies in general. 

Non-Fiction or Biography and Poetry Books

Picture Books

What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Non-fiction)

Summary: The artist/writer zooms in for equally lifelike close-ups of ears, eyes, noses, mouths, feet, and tails. Five examples of each organ thrusting in from beyond the pages’ edges for each “What do you do” question precede spreads in which the point of view pulls back to show the whole animal, with a short accompanying caption. Visual surprises abound: a field cricket’s ears are actually on its legs; a horned lizard can (and does, here) squirt blood from its eyes as a defense mechanism; in an ingenious use of page design, a five-lined skink’s breakable tail enters and leaves the center gutter at different points. Capped by a systematic appendix furnishing more, and often arresting, details—“A humpback whale can be 50 feet long and weigh a ton per foot”—this array of wide eyes and open mouths will definitely have viewers responding with wide eyes and open mouths of their own. Theme is to learn about the many differences in the world and how they might be helpful. I liked this book because it shows the different uses for the different parts on animals and humans. 

Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (Non-Fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel) 

Summary: Henry was a slave and didn’t know how old he was because he wasn’t allowed to know his birthday. Henry and his mother had a really nice master, but they knew that could change. One day the master asked them to his room and he told Henry that he will be given to the master’s son and he doesn’t like lies. He said goodbye to his family and left to work for his new master in a factory. He was good at his job but if he made a mistake, the boss would beat him. Henry was lonely and found a girl named Nancy. Years later, Henry and Nancy’s masters agreed for them to get married and they had many children. Nancy was afraid that her master was going to sell her children because they lost a lot of money. At the factory, Henry’s friend James came up to him and told him that his children were just sold at the slave market. At the slave market, Henry found his children as well as Nancy being taken away. Henry was so sad, he couldn’t sing or hum and all he could think about with his family being taken away. Dr. Smith was a white man that though slavery was wrong and helped Henry escape. He helped Henry be put in a box and mailed to Philadelphia where Dr. Smith had friends who didn’t participate in slavery. They purposely hurt Henry’s hand to he would have to stay home for an easier escape. On the steamboat to Washington D.C. the people were wondering what was in the box, thinking it was mail. Finally Henry’s box was opened and he finally had a birthday, March 30th 1842, his first one. He also was given a middle name: Henry Box Brown. Theme is survival and history of the slaves. I liked this book because it was a true story of a brave man in history. 

We the Kids: The Preamble... by David Catrow (Non-fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel)

Summary: Catrow, who doubles as a political cartoonist, writes in his amiable introduction, "When I paint my paintings and draw my cartoons, I can do them any way I want. Being able to do that makes me very happy and very free. And I think that's exactly what all those old guys with their big words and big ideas wanted," he says, referring to the authors of the Constitution and the liberty he enjoys as a result of their efforts. Following a casual glossary ("insure domestic tranquility" means "To make sure that we can all have a nice life and get along with one another"), he takes fresh liberties. He uses the Preamble as text for crazy cartoons about three eccentric-looking kids and a spirited pooch on a backyard camping caper. The characters review a poster outlining rules for the evening ("establish Justice"); wearing a helmet and looking bored, the dog stands guard as the kids frolic in the tent ("provide for the common defense"). And everyone snuggles under a blanket ("and secure the Blessings of Liberty") while two parents survey the placid scene from a window ("to ourselves and our Posterity"). With his customary satiric flair, Catrow inserts plentiful tongue-in-cheek visuals: a saucepan bouncing off one child's head while she sits entangled in another child's rope hardly suggests "domestic Tranquility." This zany, patriotic paean offers kids lighthearted but meaningful incentive to reflect further on the relevance of those "big words" and "big ideas." Theme is learning about the Preamble and history of it with a spin. I liked this book because I think it is great for all ages and an easy way to learn the Preamble. 

Killer Whales by Seymour Simon (Non-Fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel)

Summary: The nonfiction narrative, Killer Whales, is an irresistible invitation to beginning readers to question, explore, and discover new information about the exciting world of these beautiful creatures.  The narrative contains dozens of interesting facts and photographs of Killer whales, from their graceful leaps to their cunning hunting skills.  The clear text and delightful photographs prove yet another classic for Seymour Simon. Theme is killer whales and how they live. I liked this book because it taught me about Killer Whales in an interesting and fun way. 

My Great Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston (Non-Fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel) 

Summary: Little girl narrates about her great-aunt Arizona. Her great-aunt was born in a log cabin in the meadow on Henson Creek in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The day she was born her brother sent a letter saying she should be named Arizona because she will be beautiful like the land. Arizona was very tall and loved to grow flowers, read sing, and square dance. She played with her little brother, Jim, on the farm in the summer and the climbed the mountains in the fall. In the winter they made snow cream from Mama’s cows. In the spring they helped Papa tap the maple trees and catch the sap to make maple syrup. At school they played games at recess and read lessons. One day Arizona crossed the mountains to visit another school in a village called Wing to read all of their books. She loved to read and always wanted to visit faraway places. Arizona went to school to be a teacher and helped her Aunt Suzie, who made her work very hard. Finally, Arizona returned to Henson Creek and became a teacher. She taught in her old one-room classroom and told the children about all the faraway places she wanted to go to.  She married a carpenter who helped build the new Riverside School. She then because Mrs. Arizona Hughes, but the fourth-graders called her “Miz Shoes”.  When her first daughter was born, she brought the baby to school. Every year Arizona had a Christmas tree growing in a pot and then the school kids helped her decorate it and plant it at school. After teaching for 57 years, she died on her 93rd birthday. She never got to go the faraway places, but she goes with them in their minds. Theme is about the grandmother and how teaching was for her. I did not enjoy this book very much because some parts were pointless and boring with a bad and depressing ending. 

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill (Historical Non Fiction)

Summary: Starts off with talking about dirt and pots that store flowers, meat and memories. Clay was used to form things for nearly 200 years. starts as dust, spun in mills, then mixed with water to be wet and stiff and heavy.  Dave threw the clay so it was stick and worked it to make things. He pulled out a shape of a jar and as the wheel spun, the jar rose until it almost fell. Then he rolled clay and put them on the top of the jar, changing the shape. He made glaze from sand and wood-ash. Before the jar harden, he wrote in the jar with a stick. He wrote the date and a quote about his family. Dave’s poems and art became famous. August 16, 1857. The theme is poetry and slavery. I love this book because even as a slave he became famous with his art and poetry. 

Graphic Novel

Around the World by Matt Phelan

Summary: In this graphic novel, Phelan tells the story of three adventurers at the end of the 19th century who attempt to travel around the world.  There is Thomas Stevens in 1884 who had been working in the mines but then started bicycling.  He first bicycled across the United States, and then attempted to cycle around the world on the difficult-to-ride old-fashioned bicycle with one larger wheel.  The next adventurer is Nellie Bly in 1889, who set herself the task of beating Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.  The men running the New York World newspaper did not like her idea, but eventually came around to having her attempt it.  Her race became a national obsession and sold many newspapers for them.  Finally, there is the story of Joshua Slocum in 1895.  He restored an old sailing vessel in a time when sailing was becoming outdated.  Then all on his own, he set off to sail around the world, becoming the first person to sail around the world alone.  These three adventurers all have their own reasons for circumnavigating the globe, but they are united in their attempts.  These are all stories of determination, courage and bold ideas.  United under the umbrella of Jules Verne’s novel, these three stories are beautifully connected and yet stand entirely on their own merits as well.  The three intrepid souls are also equally connected and yet uniquely themselves.  Their journeys are made for different reasons and received differently by the public, but they are all powerful stories of independence and resourcefulness.  All three stories show the power of taking charge of one’s life and following your dreams.  Phelan’s art suits each of the stories individually and also has a cohesive whole.  There are subtle changes from one story to the next, the colors shift from blues and greens to oranges and creams and then to deeper blues and grays.  The art style stays much the same but beyond the colors there are changes in mood that are amazingly deep yet subtly done.  Stevens’ story of bicycling has a merry joei de vive to it.  Bly’s adventure is filled with energy and zip.  Then there is the lonely sailing tale that has a deep grief embedded in it that almost aches.

Thomas Stevens - Wheelman

Nellie Bly - Girl Reporter

Joshua Slocum - Mariner

Theme is traveling. I did not like this book that much because it was boring and did not interest me because I am more into the fantasy and funny books.