Three Years and Eight Months

Three Years and Eight Months
Icy Smith

East West Discovery Press
Manhattan Beach
2013

This Moonbeam Children's Book Award winning multicultural picture book tells the story of a Chinese boy named Choi. It tells about the struggles he faces as the Japanese take over China. He is separated from his mother and ends up working at military base in order to survive. This story tells of the struggles, pains, and emotions Choi and others experienced during World War II.

Noteworthy Features:

• The pictures in this book are extremely detailed. Some details include writing on a filing cabinets, on the soldiers uniforms, and on postcards. 
• The author of this book is from China
• The book is based on her father and grandmother experience during World War II. 

This is an emotional and informational book. It is a book worth reading, however, the topic could be difficult for some students. Teachers need to be sensitive when reading this book with students or when allowing students to read this book. It is a good book to use to teach World War II from a different perspective.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
Eileen Spinelli

Bradbury Press
New York
1991

This is the story of cranky man named Mr. Hatch. He did the same routine everyday until one day her received a package from the mailman. After getting the package he becomes a happy man that helps everyone around him. But then the mailman returns with some unfortunate news for Mr. Hatch. The community comes together for him and makes a difference.

Noteworthy Features:

• The pictures in this book are cartoons. It uses very simple colors. The pictures on each page coincide with the words almost exactly. 

This book is good for students because it shows the impact that feeling loved has on a person. It shows that everyone deserves to be cared for and that we should express our concern and love for others. This book would be cute to use for Valentines Day. The students can write notes to each other expressing a positive message about each of their classmates.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Lesson Plans 
•  Read Aloud Video

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Jon Scieszka

Penguin Group
New York
1989

This picture book tells the story of the three little pigs from the wolf's perspective. The wolf explains that he was framed and really is not the Big Bad Wolf. He was just trying to get some sugar for baking.





Noteworthy Features:

• It is based off of the well known story of the three little pigs, but told from the perspective of the wolf.
• The pictures are drawn in a cartoon manner. Some of the words are also written with images. 

This book is funny and students will enjoy it. Teachers can read the story of the three little pigs and then this book and discuss similarities and differences. It could also be fun to have the students defend either the pigs or the wolf and decide which story is "the real" story.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Activities from Scholastic 
• Lesson Plans 

Nora's Duck

Nora's Duck
Satomi Ichikawa

Philomel Books
New York
1991

This tells the story of a little girl named Nora who finds an injured duckling. She brings the duckling to Dr. John and learns that he cares for many animals. She meets all the animals and visits with them. Once the little duckling is healed, the duckling meets all the other animals. The duckling looks at Nora as if she is trying to tell Nora something, but Nora does not know what she is saying. Dr. John explains to Nora that just because they can not speak with words does not mean they cannot communicate. Nora "listens" to what the duckling wants and helps the duckling achieve her desire.

Noteworthy Features:

• This book was written by a Japanese women who based this book after her friend Doctor John who lives in Europe with many animals like Doctor John from the story.
• The pictures in this book appear delicate. The lines used to draw the images are thin and exact. The characters features appear to be Japanese. Almost every page has a picture on it. 

This is a very cute book about a little girl taking care of an animal. I think that a bigger lesson from this book is learning the ability to understand someone without them physically speaking. Teachers can use this book as a cute story, but then go on to talk about body language and how she is using this with animals, but people also use body language to portray their feelings and thoughts.

Links for Classroom Activities:

• Understanding Body Language Activities
• Video Idea for teaching (below)

Big Al and Shrimpy

Big Al and Shrimpy
Andrew Clements

Simon And Schuster Books for Young Readers
New York
2002

This picture book is about a little fish named Shrimpy who becomes friends with a big fish named Al. The two do not fit in with the rest of the fish, but when Big Al needs help, Shrimpy comes up with a plan and gets the other fish to help him.

Noteworthy Features:

• Pictures: The pictures in this book are full pages. The words are on top of the pictures. All the pictures are in natural looking colors of greens and blues. The images are seem textured. There are bumps and lines that give texture to the ocean scenery and to the fish.

This book would be good to use in the classroom to  help with social and emotional development. The teacher can discuss friendship and groups with the students. Because Big Al and Shrimpy are both outcasts it is a good book to discuss social elements with class. Also, Big Al and Shrimpy have emotions that the students can discusses to help aid in the emotional development of students.

 Links for Classroom Activities:

• Support Social Emotional Development

• Lesson Plan

A Week in the Woods

A Week in the Woods
Andrew Clements

Aladdin Paperbacks
New York
2002

Mark Chelmsley is a fifth grade student, who after many moves, is now attending Hardy Elementary. Mark is challenged by the moving of schools and discovers how his attitude impacts his social life. But he has one other problem... Mr. Maxwell. This is Mark's teacher who does not like Mark. The fifth grade of Hardy Elementary has a field trip in which they spend a week in the woods. Tension builds between Mr. Maxwell and Mark putting both of them in harms way.

 Noteworthy Features:

• Adventure: Mark Chelmsley is adventurous, especially when it comes to the outdoors. 
• Attitude: Mark begins the story with a bad attitude. He is unhappy about moving and does not care about others. Although he is very smart, he slacks off in school. Mark changes his attitude and this change in attitude makes a huge impact on his life.

A teacher should recommend this book to student's who enjoy adventure and camping. Mark's experiences are exciting and make the reader want to keep reading to find out what happens next. This book is also beneficial for students to read because of the attitude change Mark makes. It illuminates the difference that having a good attitude can make. It also shows that sometimes you may be doing all the right things, but you will still not get a positive reaction. Following Mark's example, you continue to try and be a good person despite the attitude others have toward you.

Links for Classroom Activities:

• Literature Unit 
• See Video - Interview Assessment

So You Want to Be President

So You Want to Be President
Judith St. George

Philomel Books
New York
2000

This Caldecott Medal Award winner discusses the first 41 presidents. It talks about the presidents in a manner that makes them seem more human. For example, it discusses embarrassing moments, their pets, where they are from, etc. It also tells interesting facts like how many presidents are name James, which presidents are related, and how many grew up in log cabins.


Noteworthy Features:

• Pictures: The pictures in this book are funny. They are drawn in a comedic and colorful manner. Most of the pictures are exaggerated in some way, making the pictures funny, but also help make the point the author is trying to make about the president(s). 
• Language: This book is written in a way that is easy to understand. It is a book of funny or interesting facts, but it does not read like reading a bunch of facts. It is entertaining and engaging.

This is a great book for students to read for social studies. It allows the students to see that even though the president has a very important job, all the presidents were people and have human qualities like themselves. They will learn interesting facts about the presidents that may not be the most important, but do allow the students to have a different perspective of the presidents. Students will find this book funny and want to read it. After reading this book, students may be more interested in learning more about the presidents (giving teachers an in to teach the important facts!)

Links for Classroom Activities:

• http://mrswarnerarlington.weebly.com/unit-25-so-you-want-to-be-president.html
  This link leads to a fourth grade teachers website. The website includes many ideas to use with this book. Some of the topics in this link include: about the author, puppet video of books, and a slideshow about the book. 
• https://www.teachervision.com/presidents/literature-guide/5241.html
  This link leads to a page that contains 10 tips for teaching using this book!
• http://bookinitat50.blogspot.com/2012/10/lesson-plan-so-you-want-to-be-president.html
  This is a social studies lesson plan using this book.

Jumanji

Jumanji
By Chris Van Allsburg

Houghton Mifflin Company
Boston
1981

The Caldecott Medal Award winner,"Jumanji," is about two children, Peter and Judy, who were bored at home. They went outside and found a normal looking game under a tree. They decided to try the game when they got home. When they began to play they realized that the game was not a typical game. Everything that happened while playing the game actually happens in real life. Playing this game puts the two children on an unforgettable adventure.

Noteworthy Features:

• Pictures: This is a pictures book. The pictures are all in black and white. The pictures are very realistic. The pictures look like they have depth rather than being flat on a page. They are also detailed, for example you can see the different pieces of hair on the children's heads and on the monkey's bodies. 
• Quotes: The book is written so there is a narrator who is not either of the children. When the children are talking it is always quoted. This can introduce to students the concept of quotes, and how quotes show when a person is talking. This can also be used to have the children do a read aloud.

Students who like adventure stories would enjoy reading "Jumanji." Because this is a picture book, it can be beneficial for students who need help visualizing what is happening. The book is also not very long, so it is a good book to read when you want to be able to read an entire story at one time or for students who struggle reading lengthy books.

Links for Classroom Activities:

• http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/thepolarexpress/tg/jumanji.shtml
  This is a link to teaching ideas for this book.