Chapter Book #8 I am the Cheese

TITLE: I am the Cheese
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written by Robert Cormier.
GENRE: Fiction Chapter Book
THEME: loneliness, facing reality, determination
AWARDS: ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1977; New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year award, 1977.
CHARACTERS: Adam Farmer (Paul Delmonte), David/Louise Farmer (Anthony/Louise Delmonte), Amy Hertz, Mr. Grey

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Pantheon Book, 1977

SUMMARY: This is a story of a young boy determined to give something to his father.  He journeys on a bike to a hospital in order to see his father.  He often recalls memories of his life with his parents, and a crush he had, named Amy Hertz.  Throughout the story, Adam learns that what he thought to be his life may have all been lies.  He attempts to discover his family's true identity; however, he ends up uncovering horrible truths.  To see what Adam unveils, read this dark and mysterious novel.  This book would be great for middle school readers.  Because it has government, espionage, and mystery, boys in a classroom would likely be drawn to it.  You could use this book in order to discuss family identities or relationship roles in society.

Chapter Book #7 The Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room

TITLE: The Reptile Room
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written by Lemony Snicket
GENRE: Fiction Chapter Book
THEME: family, courage, thinking-skills
AWARDS: n/a
CHARACTERS: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, Uncle Monty, Stefano (Count Olaf)

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Scholastic, 1999

SUMMARY: This is the second book in the "Series of Unfortunate Events" following the Baudelaire children.  After surviving the dreadful living situation with Count Olaf, the children are moved to Uncle Monty's house.  Uncle Monty is a strange, caring man who absolutely adores reptiles.  He provides the siblings with all that they could ever need.  However, their luck is running out (again).  Uncle Monty hires a man from Peru, named Stefano, to work with him with the reptiles.  Stefano turns out to be no other than Count Olaf.  Throughout this story, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny have to work together, again, in order to escape Count Olaf.  They are still solving the long mystery of their parents death throughout the story.  This book is great to use in a classroom because it shows children that unique talents and people are always needed in order to survive bad situations.

Chapter Book #6 The Series of Unfortunate Events:The Bad Beginning

TITLE: The Bad Beginning
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written by Lemony Snicket
GENRE: Fiction Chapter Book
THEME: family, perseverance
AWARDS: Colorado Children's Book Award, Nevada Young Readers Award
CHARACTERS: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, Count Olaf

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Scholastic, 1999

SUMMARY: This book is dry, straight forward humor for children that is absolutely interesting!  Violet, the eldest of the siblings, creates magnificent inventions; Klaus, the middle-child, reads constantly and retains all information; and Sunny, the youngest, has the sharpest teeth of any babies most people have met.  The Baudelaire parents and Mansion die early in the book due to a horrible fire.  Misfortune comes to the children when they are landed in Cout Olaf's house and under is care.  The care he provides is only so that he can inherit the Baudelaire fortune.  Through many wacky and strange events, the Baudelaie siblings find clues that Count Olaf may have mad a connection to their parents death.  However, the children are unaware of the mystery and adventure these clues will take them on for years and years.

This book would be a great in a classroom setting because it teaches children how to utilize their individual talents as well as how to cope with stressful and sad situations.

Chapter Book #5 The Higher Power of Lucky

TITLE: The Higher Power of Lucky
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book is written by Susan Patron and illustrated by Matt Phelan
GENRE: Fiction chapter book
THEME: losing a parent, determination, motivation
AWARDS: Newbery Medal, 2007
CHARACTERS: Lucky, Brigitte, Lincoln, Miles

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books, 2006

SUMMARY: Lucky is a ten year old girl.  He mother dies from a terrible events and lucky is left with her's absent father's ex-wife Brigitte.  Her two dearest friends, besides her dog, are Lincoln and Miles.  In their small town of Hard Pan, California, the children seem to stir up all sorts of adventures. As Lucky begins to fear Brigitte's leaving, she decides to search for a "higher power" to help her.  Through this "higher power" search, she learns mistakes, fear, and, ultimately, courage.  To see how Lucky's lucky pans out, read this wonderful story of a young girl trying to define who she is.  This book would be great in a classroom for many reasons!  It is a great way for children who have possibly lst a parent to connect with the reader and find resolution through the story.  It is also great for students because it teaches them that no one is perfect or has perfect luck, not even a girl named Lucky.

Picture Book # 16 If You Take a Mouse to School

TITLE: If You Take a Mouse to School
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: mischief, results of actions.
AWARDS: IRA/CBC Children's Choice
CHARACTERS: Mouse

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Haper Collins, 2002

SUMMARY: This book describes uncomfortable and unenjoyable situations that could occur if a student was to bring a mouse to school!  This message of the story is what bad things would happen if rules, such as bringing rodants to school, were broken.  This is a light-hearted story that could be used to show students the importance of thinking about results and consequences before you take actions.

Picture Book #15 Barnyard Dance

TITLE: Barnyard Dance
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: rhythm
AWARDS: National Parenting Publication Award Gold Medal, 1994
CHARACTERS: Barnyard Animals

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Workman Publishing, 1993

SUMMARY: This book is a wonderful, fun story!  The story shows how all animals in the barnyard get involved in the barnyard dance.  This story would be excellent for teaching young children rhythm and animal sounds.

Picture Book #14 Llama Llama Red Pajama

TITLE: Llama, Llama, Red Pajama
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: How to handle sepeartion anxiety or fears of the night/dark
AWARDS: Wanda Gag Honor Book, 2006
CHARACTERS: Baby Llama, Mama Llama

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Scholastic, 2005

SUMMARY: Mama Llama prepares Baby Llama for bed time; however, when she leaves, the anxiety begins.  Baby Llama becomes anxious, scared, nervous, and all other types of emotions!  When Mama Llama does not immediately come back, Baby Llama begins to worry even more.  She finally comes back to Baby Llama and reassures him.  Through out the story, Baby Llama continue to show these feelings as well as the resolution when his mother returns.  This book would be excellent for younger children as a lesson about anxiety, because it something all children can connect with.

Picture Book #13 Stellaluna

TITLE: Stellaluna
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Janell Cannon.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: Family, Belonging
AWARDS: Keystone to Reading Award; ABBY ward; California Young Reader Medal; 
CHARACTERS: Stellaluna, the birds, her mother

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Harcourt Children's Book, 1993

SUMMARY: After Stellaluna, a bat, falls from her mother's nest she is not so sure wear to go.  She eventually finds her self in a nest with birds.  This family of birds try to assimilate Stellaluna to the bird world; however, Stellaluna finds these tasks difficult.  She doesn't like sleeping right side up and she hates eating bugs!  To find out if Stellaluna is reunited with her family, read this wonderful, light-hearted story.  This is a story that is great as an introduction for a lesson on animals of flight or a story of similar traits.

Picture Book #12 The Quiet Book

TITLE: The Quiet  Book
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Renata Liwska.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: The sound of "quiet", appreciating sounds
AWARDS: ALA Notable Book, 2011
CHARACTERS: The different animal-characters

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Houghton Mifflin, 2010

SUMMARY: This picture book demonstrates different activities where one can "hear" the quiet.  Different sounds are appreciated and exemplified in the quiet times.  This book would be an excellent book for younger children before a lesson about sounds or music.  It would also be a great way to explain "inside" voices and "outside" voices.

Picture Book #11 Children Make Terrible Pets

TITLE: Children Make Terrible Pets
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Peter Brown.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: friendships between animals and humans
AWARDS: Cybils Award Nominee, 2010
CHARACTERS: Lucy, Squeaker, Mom (Lucy's mother)

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Workman Publishing, 2010

SUMMARY: Lucy, a bear, finds a child in the woods.  She hears him make a noise, which she defines as a squeak.  Lucy then decides to name the child Squeaker.  When she brings Squeaker home, she asks her mother if she can keep him.  Her mama informs her that "Children make terrible pets"!  However, Squeaker and Lucy develop a great friendship.  Their friendship has interesting and hilarious events, such as when Lucy tries to teach Squeaker to use the little box!  Eventually, Squeaker runs away back to his family.  In order to see how their friendship survives, you will have to read the story.  This book would be great to use in a classroom to possibly introduce a unit on animal biology.  

Picture Book #10 Beautiful Oops!

TITLE: Beautiful Oops!
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Barney Satlzberg
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: mistakes becoming creations, mistakes being a normal happening
AWARDS: Teachers' Choice Awards for the Family, 2011; NAPPA Gold Award, 2011
CHARACTERS: The creation from the paper mistakes.

PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Workman Publishing, 2010

SUMMARY: In this book, Saltzberg shows how accidents that may occur on a piece of paper can become a unique creation.  The main idea and theme of the story is that mistakes are okay and there is always a way to create a mistake into something wonderful.  This book is appropriate for all ages and can be used in a classroom to explain that mistakes are okay and fixable.

Picture Book #9 A Sick Day for Amos McGee

TITLE: A Sick Day for Amos McGee
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: Philip C. Stead is the author and the illustrator is Erin Stead.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book.
THEME: friendship, working hard, rewards for being good
AWARDS: 2011 Caldecott Medal
CHARACTERS: Amos McGee, the elephant, tortoise, and other zoo animals. PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Roaring Book Press, 2010
SUMMARY: Amos McGee loves his job and works very hard.  He is a zookeeper, and he loves the animals.  He takes the perfect care of the animals at all time.  One day, Amos wakes up with cold-like symptoms and needs someone to take care of him!  While sick, the animals that he takes care of come to take care of him.  This is a heartwarming story.  This story would be great to use in a younger classroom to teach social ideas such as "the golden rule" and other moral, appropriate lessons.