Walk Two Moons

Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech

Harper Collins Children's Books
New York
1994

This award winning novel tells the story of Salamanca Tree Hiddle who is taking a trip with her grandparents from Euclid, Ohio to Lewiston, Idaho, to visit her mother's final resting place. Along the way, Salamanca (Sal) tells her grandparents the story of her best friend, Phoebe Winterbottom, whose mother, like Sal's, unexpectedly decides to leave home. Sal meets Phoebe when Sal and her father leave their farm in Bybanks, Kentucky, to Euclid, Ohio, where Margaret Cadaver, whom Sal's father befriended after her mother's death, lives. Phoebe tells a dramatic story, but Sal interrupts the story with memories of her mothers, who is ignored by the family. As the car ride continues, they stop to swim in the Missouri River, but Gram gets bitten by a snake and they have to rush her to the hospital. The stories of both Phoebe and Sal continue throughout the entire book as you learn more about their mothers and the struggles that occur in their lives and Sal comes to terms with her mothers traumatic death.

Noteworthy Features:

• Written in response to the book Absolutely Normal Chaos. 
• Has multiple story lines being told throughout the book
• Themes of Death, Grief, and Loss
• Messages: "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins"

I would recommend this book to the girls in a class. This was one of my favorite books in grade school. I read this book and then became a huge fan of Sharon Creech. This lead me to read many other books of Sharon Creech. If students enjoy reading this book, I would recommend reading Bloomability, Absolutely Normal Chaos, Ruby Hollar, The Wanderer.

This book has a such a great theme of not judging others and perceiving when times are tough. This book may be difficult for some students to read because of the discussion of death, grief, and loss that is prevalent in this book. However, I do think that these are important topics that many times teachers do not address. This would be a great way to address these issues through reading a well-written, award winning, engaging novel.

Classroom Activities:

• Sharon Creech's Website
• School Visit from Sharon Creech (visit website for more information)
• Unit Plan 
•  Book Report Videos

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin
Paul O. Zelinsky

Penguin Group
New York
1986

This is a retelling of a favorite tale of a girl who must trust a strange creature to help her spin straw into gold. The original version is by the Brother Grimm.

Noteworthy Features:

• Illustrations are in a Renaissance Style: Oil paint over watercolor
• Retelling of a tale by Grimm

I would teach this book over the Grimm book because it is less detailed than the Grimm version. The illustrations are also very cool. I am not actually a huge fan of the story Rumpelstiltskin. I enjoyed the illustrations more than the actual story. However, some students may enjoy reading this book.

Classroom Activities:

• Teach a lesson on Renaissance Style artwork
• Compare and Contrast this version and the Grimm version
• Paul Zelinsky's Website

The Three Little Pigs

The Three Little Pigs
James Marshall

Dial Books for Young Readers
New York
1989

This is the story of three little pigs. Each of the pigs builds there home out of a different material. When the wolf comes he blows down all of their homes except the last one.

Noteworthy Features:

• Full page, colored pictures
• Very common story, most people know it

I would use this book in the classroom. Students may already be familiar with it, but it would be fun to read with them. You could also do a lesson on sequencing. For example, the students would have to sequence the events of the story, which pigs house was blown down first, etc. Teachers could also use this book to teach students about different materials and how materials have purposes. The teacher can talk about other uses for each of the materials the pigs used. Overall, this is a fun book that teachers could apply into various ways. Teachers can also just read this will students to have students practice reading and enjoy reading. 

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Unit Plan
• Video Read Aloud

The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling
Hans Christian Anderson, Jerry Pinkney 

Morrow Junior Books
New York
1999

This tells the story of an duckling. After the ugly duckling is teased by his family and friends, he spends his winter alone.  With spring comes a surprise for the duckling.

Noteworthy Features:

• full page watercolor illustrations
• A retelling of the version by Hans Christian Anderson

I would use this book with young students. They would enjoy this tale. I could then do a lesson about ducks to go with the story. But this story would be a great engaging introduction to a further lesson. This book is also great book to use for the pure enjoyment of reading with students. 

Snow White

Snow White 
Grimm Brothers

Double Day
New York
1977

This story begins with a step-mother who is jealous of her beautiful step-daughter. She asks her magic mirror who the fairest in the land is and it always says that Snow White is. The step mother wants to be the fairest and decides she must kill Snow White. Snow White must escape various attempts. She lives with seven dwarfs but she must cook and clean for them; she gladly accepts this offer. The stepmother is mad when she finds out Snow White is still alive and attempts to kills her  with a necklace, hair clips, and an apple. On the first two attempts the dwarfs arrive in time to save Snow White, but when presented with the apple Snow White meets her fate. Snow White's body is laid to rest in a glass casket so the dwarfs can mourn her beauty. The dwarfs are confronted by a prince while they move her body. The prince is immediately taken by Snow White's beauty and convinces the dwarfs to give him Snow White's body. When the casket is shaken  the apple is dislodged from Snow White's throat and she wakes up. The prince and Snow White fall in love. The wicked step mother attends their wedding and is forced to dance in heated, iron slippers until she dies. 

Noteworthy Features:

• A different version of a story many students may know because of Disney

Some students may enjoy reading this because they are familiar with the Disney version. However, teachers need to be careful when reading this story with students because it is very gruesome and much different from what students think of when they think of Snow White. I personally would probably not read this with students because of the gruesome nature, but teachers can read this at their own discretion. 

Classroom Activities:

• Watch Disney version and compare and contrast the two stories

Oh, Brother

Oh, Brother
By Johniece Marshall Wilson

Scholastic Press
New York
1989
 
This is a realistic story of sibling rivalry between two young African-American boys who learn to overcome their character flaws. Andrew and Alex are opposites in personality and always manage to get on each other's nerves. Andrew, the older brother, likes to socialize and has a hard time keeping a part-time job. Alex, the younger brother, is athletic and a paperboy with his own bicycle. Their relationship changes for the better when a gang of boys harasses Andrew and steals the bicycle he borrowed from Alex. The fight inspires Alex take matters into his own hands, while Andrew learns how to be a more responsible person.

Noteworthy Features:

• Sibling Rivalry
• Bullying

Students will enjoy this book because they can relate to it. Most children can relate to a sibling rivalry. This makes it a good book to engage students in reading and help them enjoy reading. I would not do activities with this book. I would use this book as a method of getting students to read for the enjoyment of reading. This factor of reading is missing so often in school. 

The Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge
Audrey Wood and Robert Florczak

Harcourt Brace and Company
Orlando
1995


On the island of Limuw, where the heavens touch the sea, Hutash the earth goddess was alone. But then she planted the seeds from a sacred plant. Instead of flowers, beautiful people came from each plant and populated the island, forming the Chumash tribe. The tribe flourished, but then there were too many people on the island. Hutash knew she must send half of them to the land across the water. This legend reveals how the goddess accomplished this dangerous task and how she saved some of the Chumash from drowning by transforming them into dolphins.
 Noteworthy Features:

• Illustrations are paintings with bold colors

Some students may enjoy this tale of how dolphins came to existence. This book may appeal especially to girl students. However, I do not think all students will enjoy this book. Especially the boys, may really dislike this book because of the topic of dolphins and its unrealistic nature.


Links to Classroom Activities:

• Audrey Wood Website

Under the Sunday Tree

Under the Sunday Tree
Elois Greenfield and Amos Ferguson

Harper Trophy
Washington D.C.
1988

This book of poems includes 20 peoms. Each of the poems are matched with a painting by Amos Ferguson. He is from the Caribbean and this culture shows vividly in the illustrations.





Noteworthy Features:

• Illustrations: Bright Colors, Paintings, Full Pages

This book is great to use with students because of the poems, but even more so because of the illustrations. It is a multicultural book that will allow students to understand the Caribbean culture that is apparent in the illustrations. 

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Caribbean Art Lesson

The Disappearing Alphabet

The Disappearing Alphabet
Richard Wilbur

HMH Books for Young Readers
New York
1998

This book explains what would happen if the alphabet disappeared. What if there were no letter A? Cows would eat HY instead of HAY. What's HY?   It shows what life would be like without these 26 letter of the alphabet. It show that they may be little, but they are powerful.

I would use this book to demonstrate to students how important the letters of the alphabet are. It shows students that just eliminating one letter changes so much. Students will find this poetry book humorous and want to read it. It makes you really think about how important the letters of the alphabet are.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Worksheet Activity
• Handouts/Lesson Plans

Playing Right Field

Playing Right Field
Willy Welch

Scholastic Inc
New York
2000

In this poem, the school's baseball team is playing on a bright Saturday afternoon and the score is nearly tied. The book's narrator, a lonely young boy, has been sent out to cover right field while the more athletic and popular boys share center field. The boy dreams of making the catch of his life but he knows for sure it won't happen. Suddenly, he hears the crowd roar. A quick look up in the sky, and here comes the ball! When the ball lands in his baseball mitt, the boy can't believe it. And neither can his classmates! 

Noteworthy Features:

• Illustrations: watercolor drawings
• Baseball
• School life

This is a great way to introduce to students how poetry can still tell a story like other fictional books they read. Students, especially boys, will like that the book is about baseball. The book also includes important themes such as anti-bullying and courage.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• PBS Activities 

The New Kid on the Block

 The New Kid on the Block
Jack Prelutsky

Glenwillow Books
New York
2007

Collected in this book of poems are more than 100 humorous poems. Many of these poems include strange creatures and people. The book is illustrated with colored, sketch type drawings. 

Jack Prelutsky is a popular poet. Students will enjoy his poems because of the humor. Teachers should read this book or have this book available to students because they will enjoy his poetry. Anything written by Jack Prelutsky is a good option to introduce to children. 

Woodrow, The White House Mouse

Woodrow, The White House Mouse
Cheryl Shaw Barnes and Peter J. Barnes

Little Patriot Press
Washington D.C.
2012

This book introduces readers to the workings of American government through every kid's favorite rodent a mouse! As the authors explain, every four years, just like human Americans, the United Mice of America elect a president. Through President Woodrow G. Washingtail and his family, kids learn about presidential responsibilities as well as life in the White House where these mice work and play side-by-side with our very own First Family. This book became so popular that it is the first of a series.

Noteworthy Features:

• Teaches about the government and presidents
• Illustrations are very colorful and detailed

I would use this book to begin teaching students about the White House, the presidents, and the government. Students will find this book to be very humorous. It is a great way to introduce these topics to students in a fun and engaging manner.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Lesson Plan 

Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months

Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months
Maurice Sendak

Harper Collins
New York
1962

Collected in this book are twelve poems and illustrations for the twelve months of the year, with chicken soup as their universal theme. Although the book starts in the middle of winter (the best time for chicken soup) a case is made for the why chicken soup should be part of every season.



Noteworthy Features:

• Goes through all 12 months
• Rhyming
• Witty Illustrations

I would use this book with students to teach them the months of the year as well as the progression of seasons. Students will grasp a better understanding of how seasons change, what the weather is like in each seasons, and what months are part of what seasons. It is also a great book for teaching students about rhyming.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Lesson Plans 
• Calendar Lessons
• Months of the Year Game
• Seasons Activities