Rosa

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. NY: Henry Holt and Company.

A very informative biography about the day Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus ride home. Rosa was too tired to give up her seat to a white gentleman and was arrested for it. A professor and some her friends broke into the university to make flyers to boycott. Her decision to not give up her seat led her community to join together and boycott segregated buses. When one person stands up for something it can make a huge impact.

I enjoyed how this book didn't go into what happened on the bus, it explained what Rosa was feeling prior to it. The illustrations give the story life making it easier for children to understand what happened that day. This really is worth the read!

Marsupials

Bishop, N. (2009). Marsupials. NY: Scholastic.

An informational book about animals that are considered marsupials. Marsupials are animals that have a pouch where their young can be safe to grow and gain strength. The majority of these animals are located in Australia. There a lot a facts throughout the book about marsupials as well as beautifully captured pictures throughout the book.

I enjoyed the real life photography of these animals in their habitat. Each picture give the words meaning and there are descriptions of what was happening during that photo or a fact on that animal. This is a great book for children who are into learning about animals.

Wonderstruck

Selznick, L.A. (2001). Wonderstruck. NY: Scholastic Press.

Two different stories that are fifty years apart come together as one. One story is told through words while they other is told through pictures. Ben is a young boy looks for the father he never had. While Rose dreams of a famous actress who is her mother. When Ben finds something that his mother has kept hidden in her room it makes him go on a journey to find his father. While fifty years earlier Rose decides to sneak out of her house to find her mother. These two individuals meet in one of the rarest ways.

This is a very lengthy book however it is a gem to read. It goes back and forth about the lives of Ben and Rose. I enjoyed every minute while reading it and when I was looking at the illustrations throughout the book. You can feel what each character is going through. This book shows the how a person can desperately go looking for that one thing they are missing.

How They Croaked: The awful ends of the awfully famous

Bragg, G. (2011). How they croaked: The awful end of the awfully famous. NY: Walker.

Even famous people meet their ends. This book is composed of the deaths of different people from discovering King Tut's tomb to the demise of King Henry VIII and Albert Einstein's brain. It contains all the details of what had happened to these people and how it happened. Some of these famous individuals were killed by poison, murder, or just by getting really sick. 

I was a bit skeptical when I first looked at the cover mainly due to the fact that I'm not into skulls and such. After I started reading it I couldn't put it down, I even started reading some of the pages out loud so the people around me can listen. This is a very interesting book it explains the deaths of these people in a simple way.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

dePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet. New York: Putnam.

Story of a girl whose family die during the famine that has struck her tribe. She is left alone and her new name s She-Who-Is-Alone. The only thing she has left from her family is a doll, it is her most prized possession. The drought threatens her tribe so they speak to the Great Spirits. The Great Spirits wants them to sacrifice their most valued possession. She-Who-Is-Alone knows what she must do and goes at night to make her offering by giving her doll. The Great Spirit's answer with the much need rain but also with a field covered with bluebonnets. She-Who-Is-Alone name is changed to One-Who-Dearly-Loved-Her-people.

This an absolutely beautiful story about giving up something important for those that you love. The illustrations are exquisite, the water colors show the emotions of the story. I loved this story when I was younger and I still love it today.

Rapunzel's Revenge

Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel's revenge. New York: Bloomsbury.

This is a new take on the original Rapunzel story that is set in the Old West. Rapunzel's life is perfect she lives in a gorgeous villa, servants, guards and strong and powerful mother named Mother Gothel. It isn't until she climbs over the walls of her villa does she come to realization that her mother isn't as good as she thought. Beyond the walls lies a wasteland with starving slaves. Rapunzel meets her real mother who is a slave. Her mother tells her how Mother Gothel took her away. Rapunzel then confronts Mother Gothel and is then sent away and imprisoned in a tree. She escapes and her plan is to get revenge on Mother Gothel while saving her mother.

This is a neat graphic novel. There is humor within the the story, the artwork is amazing and it is a has a different twist to the original. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book because I am a huge fan of the classic tale of Rapunzel. However, I wasn't disappointed with this version I would recommend it to others.

Close to Famous

Bauer, J. (2011). Close to famous. New York: Penguin Group (USA).

Foster is a twelve year old girl who can make bake like a professional.She has big dreams of having her own cooking show.  Her mother has a voice everyone remembers. Her father died at war and all she has left of him is a pillowcase with his memories. Foster and her mothers take off to the small town of Culpepper when her mothers ex-boyfriend hits her. She forces herself to be strong of her mother and herself. Another thing about Foster is she can't read. Foster is very determined to learn how to read and hopeful for the best outcome.

Foster has a great personality but they way she spoke did not sound realistic to me. She spoke like an adult but was acting like a child. This story has a good theme about overcoming and persevering through the hard times. I like the build up of the characters throughout the story but in the end it didn't really grab my attention on wanting to read it again.

Out of my mind

Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. NY: Atheneum.

Melody is an 11 year old girl who has cerebral palsy who has never spoken a single word but is highly intelligent. Nobody knows how intelligent she is until she decides to try out for the Whiz Kids at school. It is a competition where students are given questions from all subject matters, winners have a chance of going to Washington, D.C. and if the teams gets first place they will have a segment on Good Morning America. Melody makes the initial team and she helps her team get first place in their district. However, Melody's heart gets broken when nobody from her team calls her to take the early flight to Washington, DC to compete. She thought her teammates were her friends but it turns out they were embarrassed to be seen with her. This story takes you through her trials and tribulations of attending school, being heard, making friends, having rude peers and finding acceptance.

When I first started reading this book I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it but now after finishing it I am amazed how realistic this story is. We judge people who have disabilities on their looks without ever getting to know who they really are. This is an absolute must read for anyone!

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Deedy, C. A. & Austin, M. (2007). Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

This a Cuban Folktale about a 21 day old cockroach named Martina who has finally decided to that she is ready to be married. Her entire family gives her advice on what to do and what to wear to find a suitor. She takes the shocking advice of her grandmother who tells her to spill coffee on the shoes of those who ask her for marriage to see their true colors. Martina meets a handful of suitors to only be disappointed until she meet the one at the very end.

This is an absolutely wonderful book. I enjoyed reading it and the detail in the illustrations are simply amazing. I enjoyed how it shows the tightness of a Cuban family. This folktale shows respect, compassion and family love. Anyone will enjoy this book even those who are scared of cockroaches.

Crenshaw

Applegate, K. (2015). Crenshaw. New York: Feiwel and Friends. 

This is a touching story depicts a young boy going through what many children go through in this world. Jackson and his family are going through financial hard times. His parents do not have any money for food or rent. Although Jackson is a boy who loves facts, he has an imaginary friend Crenshaw, who happens to be a giant cat. His parents put up a front that everything will be okay but Jackson doesn't believe it. He is worried about living in the minivan again. However with the help of his imaginary friend he finds hope to get through it all.

This story depicts very real situations that people go through on a daily basis. It shows the troubling times family can have in a dreadful situations. I enjoyed reading this story, Crenshaw and Jackson are a very unique pair of friends.

El Deafo

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York: Abrams.

This is an amazing story!! A girl named Cece, becomes deaf after she contracts meningitis at a young age. She finds out she's hearing impaired when she comes back home from the hospital. She goes through the trial and tribulations any child would go through. Cece deals with how people react to her being deaf, having a hearing aid, being embarrassed, making friends and eventually liking a boy. She deals with difficult situations by pretending to be a superhero.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone. It's funny and touching on so many different levels. This story is about the author herself, I love how she brought out her feelings into the story, it made that much more realistic.

The Crossover

Alexander. K. (2014). The Crossover. Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 

This is the story of a normal African American family that deal with their struggles, sickness and death. The Bell twin Josh and Jordan are very close to their father, who was one that taught them how to play basketball. Josh and Jordan start having different interests besides basketball because they are getting older. This causes them to a have rift between each other. This story is written in Josh's point of view, and the is coping with the struggles of adolescence and his constant competition with his brother.  

I actually enjoyed this book. When I first opened it and saw it was written as a poem I thought to myself, "Oh great, this is going to take forever to finish," I am not into reading poems. The poem is free verse, there is hip-hop and different fonts. I think this book will get the attention of young readers because the way it is written is relatable. 

The Three Pigs

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. NY: Clarion Books. 

We all know the story of the The Three Little Pigs, and how the wolf huffs and puffs. However, this book is written in the pigs point of view. It starts off with each pig making their houses out of different materials and when the wolf blows down the first two houses it the pigs jump out of the story and go into others stories and meet other characters. 

I liked this book, but I still prefer The Three Little Pigs, it was hard for me to see the story from a different view. It is a well written and it has gorgeous illustrations. 

Where The Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. NY: Harper & Row Publishers

A little boy, Max, is sent to his bedroom without dinner. He falls asleep and his transforms into a forest with monsters. He is in charge of the ferocious monsters, he lets the "wild rumpus start!"  The have a lot of fun, dancing and swinging through the trees. When max is finally tired of it he send the monsters to bed without any dinner like his mother did to him. At this point Max misses his mom and he wakes up to find dinner on a table in his room. His mom did not forget about him. 

This book is a classic! This is a beautiful book showing the imagination of a young child. I haven't read this book is years and it brought me back to when I was a little kid reading it. It definitely is worth reading. 

The Nest

   

Oppal, K. (2015). The Nest. NY: Simon & Schuster. 

About a young boy, Steve,  who's parents are very stressed out because his new baby brother was born with congenital health problems. Steve has problems of his own he has vivid dreams of a an "angel" making him believe that she can fix his baby brother. However, his dream turns into a nightmare when he figures out that it is a queen wasp and figures out how she plans on making his brother better. 

This book does represent how nothing is ever perfect. I honestly did not enjoy reading this book. 

I personally wouldn't recommend it for children. 

This in Not My Hat

                                
Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.           
                                      
 A small fish steals a hat from a much bigger fish. He thinks it is okay because the hat is much too small for the bigger fish. He swims to hide himself just in case. However the big fish notices when the hat is gone and starts searching for the smaller one. He finds the smaller one in a patch of big and tall plants. At the end of the book the bigger fish comes out of the plants with his little blue hat. This book is narrated from the thief’s point of view.

I enjoyed how the illustrations walk you through the story. I also liked how when the big fish comes out of the plants you make your own assumptions on what happened to the little fish.  

Knuffle Bunny Series

The first book Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale starts off with a toddler version of Trixie and her Dad taking a trip to the laundry mat with her favorite bunny. When they go back home Trixie realizes that Knuffle Bunny has been left behind. Her parents rush back to the laundry mat in search of Knuffle Bunny.

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, Trixie goes to school. She wants to show off her bunny but when entering the classroom she sees another girl with the SAME bunny. Trixie has a bad day at school when her teacher takes away their bunnies. When school is out they get back their bunnies. However in the middle of the night Trixie realizes that she has the wrong Knuffle Bunny and wakes up her dad for him to go find her real one.

In Kuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, Trixie and her parents are going to Holland to visit her grandparents. On the way over there she loses her Knuffle Bunny on the plane and that plane is going to China. She has a hard time doing activities without her favorite bunny. It isn't until she has a dream and realizes that Knuffle Bunny can make other kids happy that she is okay being without it. When they get on the plane to head back home she finds her bunny in the pocket and gives it to the baby behind her who is crying.

This series shows the development stages of a child's attachment and loss of objects. Children don't have many possessions so when they have something they hold onto it tightly. It also shows the bonds of parents, children and their favorite toy.

I also enjoyed the real life scenery throughout the books it makes you feel like you are actually there. It contains real life humor, I can actually see parents doing what Trixie's parents do to make her happy. I definitely recommend this book to young children and parents.

Willems, M. (2004). Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.  

Willems, M. (2007). Knuffle Bunny: A Case of Mistaken Identity. New York: Hyperion Books for              Children.

Willems, M. (2010). Knuffle Bunny: An Unexpected Diversion. New York: Harper Collins                          Publishers.

Lesson Plan
Interview with Willems

Skulduggery Pleasant

                                            

Landy, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant. NY: Harper Collins.

The mysterious death of Stephanie's uncle send her into a world of magic she never knew existed. When he passes away he leaves her everything including her new best friend Detective Skulduggery who is a skeleton. Skulduggery introduces her to the magic world. They fall into a world of adventure and risking their lives fighting evil. They fight vampires, ghouls along the way.

This is a wonderful book to read. I could not put it down. The relationship that Stephanie and Skulduggery is one you wont forget, they bond through the death of her uncle as well as both of them solving mysteries. Skulduggery brings humor to the story with his witty personality.

The Graveyard Book

                                              

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

This is a story of a boy, Nobody (Bod) Owens, who grows up in a graveyard after the murder of his family.  Bod was only a toddler when we walked into the graveyard when his family was murdered, the ghosts there decided to protect him until he was old enough to take care of himself. Throughout his life growing up in the graveyard he befriends a girl named Scarlett as well as, helping the spirit of a witch, escaping a ghoul-gate, dances the dance of the dead the Macabray, attends school and confronts bullies. Bod's guardian is Silas, who can go between the living and dead worlds. He is able to provide Bod the necessities he needs to survive.

There are illustrations in the book  which helps you understand the mood this book is written in. However, in my opinion this book was slow to start, it did take me a while to get into it. It is an interesting story.

The Watsons go to Birmingham 1963

                                              
Curtis, C. P. (1995). The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963. NY: Delacorte.

This story takes place in 1963 in Flint, Michigan, about a family who stick with it through the good times and the bad times. In any family where there are siblings, they tend to irritate and hate one another but in the end they love and care for each other. This story is written through the eyes of Kenny, the younger brother, who is constantly being bullied. The Watson family, have a troubled son, Bryon, and their last resort is take him to down to Birmingham, Alabama to live with his strict grandmother. While in Birmingham, there is a church bombing where Kenny goes thorough a traumatic experience and his bully of an older brother helps him through it.

I did not really enjoy this book as much as I though I would to be honest. In no way am I saying to not read it but, for some reason it did not connect to me. It is a decent book in my opinion, it does connect to a historical time in the American History which I did like. There is also happens to be a movie that goes with the book.

 Movie Trailer