Chapter Book #11 The Underneath

TITLE: The Underneath
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written by Kathi Appelt.
GENRE: Fiction Chapter Book
THEME: forming a friendship regardless of societies expectations
AWARDS: Newbery Honor Book, National Award Book Finalist, ALA notable Children's Book
CHARACTERS: Mother Calico Cat, Ranger, Gar-Face, Grandmother Moccasin 

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Antheum Young Readers, 2008.

SUMMARY: An abandoned Mother Cat is about to have kittens.  Mother cat and Ranger, a hound dog form an unlikely friendship that will help keep one another alive.  The animals struggle to survive against the mean ruling of Gar-Face, the man who lives int he house.  The kittens, and the friend pair live underneath the house (hence the title).  With the help of each other and Grandmother Moccasin, the group will survive regardless of the abusive owner.  This story is a great way to display the idea of "being friends with someone no matter what others think" to younger children.  They will appreciate the animal version an understand it better.  This would also be a great way to introduce higher level thinking skills when dealing with segregation in history and other topics that are similar.

Chapter Book #12 What Jamie Saw

TITLE: What Jamie Saw
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written by Carolyn Coman.
GENRE: Fiction Chapter book
THEME: domestic violence impact on a family
AWARDS: Newbery Honor Award
CHARACTERS: Jamie, Nin, Patty, Earl, Van

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Puffin, 1997.

SUMMARY: This story is told from the perspective of Jamie, a little boy who sees his stepfather, Van, physically and verbally abuse his mother and younger sister.  This image haunts Jamie afterwards.  His mother, Patty, gets her and her children away from Van and begins to try and survive on her own in the not most desirable conditions.  However, with the help of a few kind people, Patty, Jamie, and Nin make it through a troubling situation.  This book is great for older children.  It could be useful in a classroom during domestic violence awareness week, or even when talking about bullying.

Chapter Book #10 Lily's Crossing

TITLE: Lily's Crossing
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written by Patricia Reilly Giff.
GENRE: Historical Fiction Chapter Book
THEME: the effects of lying, the importance of friendship
AWARDS: Newbery Award
CHARACTERS: Lily, Albert, Lily's father (Poppy)

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Bantam Doubleday dell, 1999.

SUMMARY: Lily's world completely changes in 1944.  Her best friend and her father move away from her home in New York, leaving Lily to have trust issues.  Lily then befriends Albert, a Hungarian refugee.  Their friendship forms quickly as they learn to depend on each other.  However, things begin to go awry when Lily lies to Albert by telling him she could get him back to Europe.  In order to find out what consequences will occur, read this excellent book!  This book would be great in a classroom to discuss the history of World War II.  Often, educators focus on the war and how it effected the general population; however, very rarely do we focus on a child's perspective.  This would be an excellent way for children to connect with Lily and Albert as they go through this trying time.

Picture Book #26 Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

TITLE: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Mo Willems
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: communication
AWARDS: Caldecott Award
CHARACTERS: Trixie, Daddy, Knuffle Bunny

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Hyperion, 2004.

SUMMARY: Trixie, daddy, and Knuffle Bunny all take a trip to the Laundry mat.  While enjoying herself at the laundry mat, Trixie completely forgets her bunny.  However, because she is too young to speak real words, her daddy does not understand what she is saying.  Finally, when getting home, her mother informs her father that they forgot Knuffle Bunny!  This book is excellent for children to understand why communication is so important. This book would be an excellent introduction to a writing unit for communication and reading.

Picture Book #25 The Red Book

TITLE: The Red Book
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Barbara Lehman.
GENRE: Picture Book
THEME: The adventures found in a book
AWARDS: Caldecott Honor Book
CHARACTERS: Children who encounter the book

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Houghton Mifflin Book for Children, 2004.

SUMMARY: This is an amazing wordless picture book that will take all readers on quite a journey!  A little girl who lives in the city discovers a red book covered by the snow.  In this book she finds a map of an island and sees pictures of a little boy reading the same book; however, in his red book the story shows the city-girl.  I see this book as a play on words.  When I see the word "red", I think of the homophone "read".  I think this story would be great  to demonstrate to children how "red"/"red" books can lead everyone to a different place/perspective; however, they will all enjoy it at the same rate.

Picture Book #24 Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

TITLE: Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Mo Willems
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: following directions under pressure
AWARDS: Caldecott Honor Book
CHARACTERS: Bus Driver, the Pigeon

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Hyperion Press, 2003

SUMMARY: In this book, the readers are left responsible as the Bus Driver asks us to watch the bus ad "Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!"  Throughout the story the pigeon asks, begs, pleas, bargains to drive the bus.  All while the readers insist  that he cannot drive the bus.  This book is a humorous way to teach children that persistence in doing the right thing is always needed.

Picture Book #23 Color Zoo

TITLE: The Color Zoo
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: Physical attributes do not determine the outcome
AWARDS: Caldecott Honor Book, 1990.
CHARACTERS: lion, goat, monkey, ox, mouse

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: HaperCollins, 1989.

SUMMARY: Throughout this book, nine shapes and sixteen colors will change a lion into a mouse, and other animals along the way. This book is an excellent way to form the idea of "diversity"' in the classroom at a young age.  The book demonstrates that just because the animal looks different than the other does not mean they are not made from the same "shapes and colors".