So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

Where to even begin with this book?! I simply could not put it down. I tried reading a couple chapters before bed which did not work out so well; I found myself turning on the lights to keep reading because thoughts about the book were swimming through my head and I couldn't sleep. It was so interesting reading about Yoko and her family's experience in Korea during WWII. This is a perspective that most of us never come in contact with when learning about WWII. I had never thought about what the Japanese families went though or been asked to reflect on anything other than the American experience during that time. Further, I never even realized that there was such conflict between the Japanese and Koreans. It's true that I'm no history buff, but I'm pretty sure that this can be attributed to me not learning about it in school. I certainly do not want this to happen with my future students, and therefore, will do everything in my power to present them with stories like Yoko's. I want them to have the chance to express their feelings and and be able to respond to the Japanese experience during this time.

What Yoko and her family went through is by no means pleasant. Many grueling and graphic details were revealed on account of the author's honesty and openness about the events that occurred. Students do not need to be sheltered from these details. It needs to be accepted that students can handle such content; keeping it from them means keeping them from the truth.

She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl by Eloise Greenfield

I'm not quite sure how this book is perceived as "controversial." A little boy is at home awaiting the arrival of his brand-new baby brother. He asked his mother to bring home a baby boy and experiences much disappointment when she ends up having a girl. In addition to disappointment, he begins to resent the baby girl. There are constantly people coming over just to see the new baby, bringing her gifts and not even paying any attention to the little boy. Eventually, things do turn around after his mother takes the time to talk to him.

I think it is pretty normal for an older sibling to feel resentment toward the new baby in the family, whether the baby is a boy or girl. Also, it seems natural that a young child would hope for a baby that is the same sex as they are. I would consider the book controversial if one of the parents or one of the visitors shows disappointment that the baby is a girl instead of a boy. In such a case, the male gender is being preferred and valued over the female gender. However, this is not at all the message of the book. I'm glad that there is a book like this out there to read to children in a similar situation as the boy in the book. Going off the topic a bit, I thought the illustrations were pretty spectacular; they are unique and different from any other book I've read before.

"Never underestimate the value of doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."

~ Winnie The Pooh

I love this quote! Just thought I'd share it with you all!

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting

In this book, a little boy and his father are homeless and living in an airport. They move around the airport constantly, wearing the same blue pants and blue jackets and carry the same blue bags, trying as hard as they possibly can not to get noticed. It is terribly sad when the boy becomes fed up with his situation towards the end of the book and gets upset with all the "normal" families he sees in the airport, living "normal" lives when he cannot. When a bird flies into the airport and becomes trapped, the boy tells it to not give up. Eventually the birds gets out and the boy is given hope that maybe someday, he too might get out.

This book bring awareness to children that not all people have homes. Many children know nothing about this topic until they start moving into the upper elementary grades and talk about economics in social studies class. I admire Bunting for writing such a book, as many children's authors do not even think about writing anything besides what life is like for the perfect American family. This book will be read in my classroom, no matter what grade I am teaching.

Children's Literature so far..

Exploring various children's literature has been a great experience for me. Obviously, because I am going into the field of teaching, becoming familiar with different books,
genres, authors etc is really important to me. Reflecting back on my grade school experience, I only remember teachers reading novels (Charlotte's Web and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), never picture books. I have been in search of picture books and novels that will be great read-alouds for my future classroom. Many of the books reviewed on my blog will serve this purpose. Coming into this, I was basically in the frame of mind that I needed to find books that would appeal to children of all different ages..I did not realize that so many of the books would have such a strong effect on me!

Come Look With Me, Discovering African American Art for Children by James Haywood Rolling, Jr.

This is just one of the books in the "Come With Me" series created by Gladys Blizzard. Each book in the series introduces children to 12 works of art.

The book starts with a page on "how to use this book"; it gives tips on how to use the book with children and explained some of the dynamics of the book. There are 12 works of art presented in this book, along with a page of background information on the artist and a set of invigorating questions that can be asked to children as they are exploring the image. It goes without saying that the images are beautiful and striking. The questions are thought-provoking and sure to generate great conversations. The information that is provided is meaningful and interesting. While this book is educational, it is not boring. I learned about African American artists I did not know existed, and think it is important for children to learn about them as well. This book would be a great resource for a social studies lesson!

The Moon Over Star By Dianna Hutts Aston

In this book, a little girl named Mae is anxiously awaiting the first spaceship to land on the moon. On July 20, 1969 the Eagle landed and astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, Jr. and Michael Collins walked on the moon. Mae is a special little girl with big dreams and aspirations; her heartfelt passion about the events taking place and her dreams of someday going to the moon, convinces her gramps to value the space program rather than think it is a waste of money. Read this book to your children, to your students, and especially, read it for yourself!

Oh yeah, isn't this a FANTASTIC cover?!

Madam President, The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics by Catherine Thimmesh

This book was an inspiration for me. From Abigail Adams, who asked her husband to "remember the ladies" when writing the constitution (he didn't), to Sandra Day O'Connor and Hillary Rodham Clinton. This book offers brief profiles of politically influential woman throughout American history intertwined with pages of pictures and dialogue among contemporary children discussing if it is possible for a girl to become president. Because the book covers over twenty influential women, I think it would be best to skip around and choose a small amount of women to read about in one sitting, if reading aloud to a class.

This book was a wonderful representation of what women were capable of achieving and how far women have come, despite all of the barriers we have had to cross.

Magic Pickle by Scott Morse

Morse has created an out-of-the-ordinary superhero in this fabulous graphic novel, a Magic Pickle! I had this book recommended to me by a woman at Prairie Lights and decided to buy it. After reading it, I'm going back to buy the other 2 Magic Pickle books, Magic Pickle and the Planet of the Grapes and Magic Pickle vs. the Egg Poacher. The 2 second-grade students I work with have been in the process of making comic strips with me. Because of Morse's amazing technique and successful animation, the children often pick up this book to study some of the characteristics of comics. Also, they think it is hilarious and look up to Morse as a creator of comic books.

Magic Pickle likes to be referred to as "Weapon Kosher." Magic Pickle, a.k.a Weapon Kosher, came about after the scientist Dr. Jekyll Formaldehyde accidentally dropped the vegetable from his lunch into an experimental particle confabulator. The pickle gained superpowers, and "dill justice became his only desire." With the help of his sidekick, Jo Jo Wigman, Magic Pickle sets out to save the world from the Brotherhood of Evil Produce: Peashooter, Phantom Carrot and Chili Chili Bang Bang, Squish Squash and Romaine Gladiator.

Morse included a bonus story, Magic Pickle & The Loconut in Nuttin' But Crazy', and a how-to-draw guide for creating produce characters. This is a great book to have accessible to children of all ages, even though there is some advanced vocabulary. The second grade student I work with didn't seem to mind; he picked it up, read to himself and cracked up at almost every page.

A Good Day, A Great Book!

Props to Kevin Henkes on his wonderful book A Good Day! It is simple, yet satisfying. This book will without a doubt be on my classroom shelf no matter what grade I am teaching. It teaches a great lesson that no matter how bad things may seem, change is right around the corner. It teaches us to not stress out about the little things in life and to focus on what is truly important. If you have a bad day that doesn't seem to improve, tomorrow will be better. This book was calming and comforting, leading me to read it everyday for about a week. It is just one of those books that you can turn to when you need to relax and remind yourself to take a deep breath. I particularly envisioned myself reading this to students with special needs on a daily basis. Because I am studying special education, I have been searching for simple books that are motivating. A Good Day fits this description! Finally a book I've been looking for!

The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons

YAWN. I hate to be so blunt, but I truly did not enjoy this book what so ever. Personally, I love vegetables and have an obsession with cooking, so I thought this would be an interesting book for me. I am really disappointed. There are so many fun and creative ways one could write about a topic like vegetables to make it appealing to children (and adults alike), but this book certainly did not accomplish this in the least. I was expecting playful illustrations, rhyming, fun facts etc. Instead I got, "Vegetables are good for us to eat. They are nutritious. They grow to be different shapes, sizes and colors. Corn is a seed vegetable that does not have a pod. It has a husk." I don't think anyone, except maybe a botanist, would find anything in this book amusing. It makes me want to write a children's book about vegetables!

Yellow Unbrella by Jae Soo Liu, Music by Dong II Sheen

This wordless picture book is accompanied by a CD to be played while reading the book; a break in the music indicates when to turn the page. The beginning opens with a single yellow umbrella venturing down the street, with the assumption made that a child is underneath carrying it. Gradually, more and more colored umbrellas appear and fill the pages. Nothing can be seen except the top of the umbrellas and the background of the pictures. All of the umbrellas are going to the same destination, following together in a pack. Along the way, they cross a bridge, pass through a park, get stuck waiting at a railroad crossing and then finally arrive at their school, which is when little legs and rain boots are revealed underneath the umbrellas. The strong message that the illustrator is portraying is that underneath the umbrellas are children that are all created equal, despite the physical differences they may possess. While I didn't mind this book, I'm not sure it is one I would use in my classroom. The colors are beautiful but I didn't find the music to be very effective. Additionally, the illustrator's message is a great one, however, I do not think that children will make a connection with this book. Perhaps I was looking for a bit more action along with the wonderful statement being made by the illustrator.

William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow

This book really touched my heart. There are lots of little boys that gravitate towards dolls when they are in a room full of toys, like the Character William in the book. In my three-year-old classroom, I witnessed this sort of thing all the time. Not only did the boys like playing with dolls, but they often liked to join the girls in playing dress-up. I'll never forget the look on one father's face when he came to pick up his son who, at the moment, was walking around the play centers with dress-up princess shoes on and a baby doll clenched tight in his hands. He rushed over to the boy totally embarrassed, scooped him up, threw off the shoes and took him over to the tool set. He sternly told him that this is where he should be playing, "not over there with the girl stuff". My heart sank. It is a perfectly natural thing for boys to have a desire to play with dolls, barbies, dress up etc. Masculinity is a learned concept, something that parents teach their children the second they begin interacting with them so that they will grow up to fit in with the rest of society and not be made fun of at school.

The fact of the matter is that we need to embrace what is natural for children. Me and the three and four year old students in my class thought nothing of the boys playing with what one would consider "feminine toys," it was the parents that couldn't handle it. Consequently, I am sad to say that there is no possible way I could ever have put a book like this in my classroom library. Parents often skimmed the book shelf, looking over what was being read to their children. Catching a glimpse of a book like this would have caused an uproar, no doubt.

All About Lilly

Chester's Way

My friend had recently asked me if I liked the "Lilly books" and said that she adored Lilly. I was interested and went and checked out the book, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. In the preview on the front dust jacket flap, it said that Lilly was the star of the book Chester's Way. I went right back and picked up Chester's Way to read first, and am glad I did. Lilly was definitely the STAR of the book, with her two friends Chester and Wilson always at her side. The three characters remind of me, my twin sister and our best friend since kindergarten. The three of us were inseparable, but each unique in our own little way. Lilly, Chester and Wilson are quite a group, but one thing's for sure...Lilly still shines! She always has on her bright red cowboy boots and yellow crown. It only makes sense that Henkes decided to feature Lilly in her own books.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Before opening the book, we are immediately reunited with Lilly and her diva personality. The cover is filled with several different pictures of Lilly posing wearing her trademark yellow crown and sassy red cowboy boots. But there has been an addition made to her personal repertoire...Lilly is now carrying around a glistening, new purple purse. The beginning of the book was just as expected, Lilly was back in action. Only now, we get to see her at school, obsessing over her new spectacular teacher, dominating the classroom, and excited to show off her brand new purple purse and green movie star glasses. Things take an interesting turn when her beloved teacher, Mr. Slinger, takes away Lilly's purse for the day. Her emotional side is at once revealed and the reader gets to see a different side of her.

I would read this book to young students for a couple reasons. First off, I am confident that children will fall in love with Lilly and be quite amused by her character. Second, the book represents how writing can be used as a way to express one's feelings, something that children need to be introduced to at a very young age. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that it is right for kids to write insulting letters to their teachers. I'm focusing on the bigger picture. Lilly's first letter conveyed her strong feelings about what happened in school and revealed how much the purse meant to her. After Lilly went home and thought about what she had done, she turned to writing again. This time she wrote a story about Mr. Slinger indicating how sorry she was and even included illustrations. As a future teacher, I really value this book and think it could be used to teach multiple lessons.

Lilly's Big Day

That's right. I couldn't get enough of Lilly and had to go back for more. This book is hilarious and brought me right back to my childhood. As soon as Lilly catches wind of it that Mr. Slinger is going to get married, her wheels start spinning and there is only one thing on her mind...She must be the flower girl! I wouldn't expect anything less from Lilly. She is driven and determined to get what she wants. I can remember dreaming of getting to be a flower girl when I was little. I recall begging my uncle to please get married so that I could be the flower girl in his wedding. My wish didn't come true, unfortunately.

This book did not disappoint. What would Mr. Slinger's wedding have been like without Lilly there as the center of attention? This book made me really appreciate Henkes' talents as an illustrator. His detail is outstanding and every page is filled with his lively, playful illustrations.

Check out this book!

The Angel and the Soldier Boy is yet another AMAZING wordless picture that I read. Peter Collington does a great job of capturing the imagination of young children. I have never experienced a book like this before. It is fun and creative and has over 100 adorable pictures!

The story starts out with a little girl falling asleep after her mother reads a treasure ahoy book to her before bed. Her soldier boy toy and angel doll are resting on the pillow next to her as she sleeps. Suddenly, the toys come alive as the pirates from the book climb up the girl's night stand and steel her piggy bank. Soldier boy comes to the rescue and attempts to threaten the pirates with his sword. Completely unthreatened, the pirates take Soldier boy and hold him hostage. The Angel doll goes in search for Soldier boy, finds the pirate ship where he is tied up, releases him and together, they break into the treasure chest and recover to girl's stolen piggy bank.

So many children fantasize about their toys coming alive; Collington did a fantastic job creating a story that gives children the chance to watch it in action.