The Bibliophile's Book Collection

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story

Written by Uma Krishnaswami

Illustrated by Ruth Jeyaveeran

Published by Lee & Low Books Inc.

32 pages

Multicultural

The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story is about a girl named Meena. She wants to be a tree in the school play, but she thinks she is too clumsy. How will she overcome her clumsiness? How will her performance be during the play?

Ruth Jeyaveeran used acrylic to illustrate the book. The bright illustrations will capture readers’ attention. The illustration of Meena in the class shows how happy she is to overcome her clumsiness. The illustration of the children rehearsing the play shows the emotions of the students.

This book could be used in a fourth or fifth grade classroom. The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research facts about India. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Students could write their own version of Red Riding Hood. This book could be used for another social studies lesson. Students could research the origin of yoga. This book won a Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. This book was a book of the week at the Cooperative Children’s Book Center.

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match: Marisol McDonald no combina

Written by Monica Brown

Translated by Adriana Domínguez

Illustrated by Sara Palacios

Published by Children’s Book Press

32 pages

Multicultural

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match is a story about a girl named Marisol. She likes to use print and cursive writing together. For lunch, she eats peanut butter and jelly burritos. One of her classmates tells Marisol that he does not think she can match. What will Marisol do?

It seems like Sara Palacios used the computer to illustrate the book. The colorful illustrations make the story more interesting. The illustration of Marisol’s drawing helps explain the text on that page. The illustration of Marisol looking in the mirror shows how she feels about the challenge.

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match could be used in a third or fourth grade classroom. This book could be used for a character education lesson. Students could learn to accept each other’s differences. This book could also be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research Spanish-speaking countries. This book could also be used for another social studies lesson. Students could research their own family’s heritage. This book won an International Latino Book Award in 2012. This book was an ALSC Notable Book in 2012.

My Mei Mei

Written and Illustrated by Ed Young

Published by Philomel Books

40 pages

Multicultural

My Mei Mei is a book about a girl named Antonia, who wants a mei mei, or sister. When she and her parents go to China to adopt her sister, she is surprised to find out her sister can not walk or talk. She also realizes that her parents pay more attention to her new sister than they do to her. How will she feel about her sister?

Ed Young used gouache, pastel, and collage to illustrate his book. The patterned backgrounds of the pictures make the illustrations stand out. The picture of the girl with her mother and sister shows how she feels about her new sister. The girl’s eyes in the illustration of her holding a shovel seem to stare at the reader.

This book could be used in a third or fourth grade classroom. My Mei Mei could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research facts about China. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Students could write about how they would feel if they got a new sibling. This book could also be used for another social studies lesson. Students could research the adoption process in different countries. This book has not won any awards.

Busing Brewster

Written by Richard Michelson

Illustrated by R.G. Roth

Published by Alfred A. Knopf

32 pages

Historical fiction

Busing Brewster is about a boy named Brewster who has to go to Central School, which is an all-white school. His mom is excited about his new school, but Brewster is not. When he gets to the school, people are not friendly. How will he like his first day at a new school?

R.G. Roth used ink, watercolor, and collage to illustrate this book. Each book stands out in the collage of the library. The illustrations help explain the story. Without the illustrations, Brewster asking his brother about the signs would not make sense.

Busing Brewster could be used in a fifth or sixth grade classroom. It could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research the history of segregation. This book could be used for a writing lesson. Students could write about how they would feel if they had to go to a different school. Busing Brewster could also be used for a science lesson. Students could research different types of transportation. This book made the New York Times list of the Ten Best Illustrated Books of 2010. This book also won a National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People in 2011.

Eli Remembers

Written by Ruth Vander Zee and Marian Sneider

Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth

Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

32 pages

Historical fiction

Eli Remembers is a book about a boy named Eli who celebrates Rosh Hashanah Eve with his family. When his great-grandmother lights seven candles, everyone seems sad. Eli visits Lithuania with his parents, his grandma, and his grandpa. When they get to Lithuania, Eli learns about his family’s history? What is the significance of the seven candles? Will Eli find out why everyone is sad?

Bill Farnsworth used oils on canvas to illustrate this book. The use of duller colors helps create a somber tone throughout the book. The realistic illustrations help readers see themselves in the story. The full page picture of the boy shows his emotion after he heard the information.

This book could be used in a sixth grade classroom. The subject matter in this book would not be appropriate for students in earlier grades. Eli Remembers could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could read the book before they learn about the Holocaust. This book could be used for a writing lesson. Students could write about how the book made them feel. This book could be used for another social studies lesson. Students could research the history of Lithuania. This book won a bronze medal Florida Book Award in 2007. This book won a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People award in 2008.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Roanoke: The Mystery of the Lost Colony

Written by Lee Miller

Book design by Nancy Sabato

Published by Scholastic Inc.

112 pages

Nonfiction

Roanoke: The Mystery of the Lost Colony is about a colony formed in North America that disappeared. The book is written in narrative form. It focuses on different members of the Roanoke colony. What will happen to them?

It seems like Nancy Sabato used the computer to design this book. The warm colors used on the front cover give the book an inviting feel. The use of drawings and actual photographs help make the book more interesting. The pictures are spread out throughout the book, which helps break up the text.

This book could be used in a fifth or sixth grade classroom. This book could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could compare and contrast Roanoke to other early colonies. This book could be used for a writing lesson. Students could compare life in Roanoke to life in their hometowns. This book could be used for another social studies lesson. Students could make a timeline of events that happened in Roanoke. This book has not won any awards.

Too Hot? Too Cold? Keeping Body Temperature Just Right

Written by Caroline Arnold

Illustrated by Annie Patterson

Published by Charlesbridge

32 pages

Nonfiction

Too Hot? Too Cold? is a book about how people and animals regulate body temperature. The book includes information about polar bears, bottlenose dolphins, cougars, and several other animals. How many animals are included in the book? How do they stay warm or stay cool?

Annie Patterson used watercolor and Adobe Photoshop to illustrate the book. The drawings of different animals on each page make the book interesting. The use of the color blue throughout the book gives the book a relaxing feel. Although there are several pictures on each page, they are spread out enough to not be overwhelming.

This book could be used in a third or fourth grade classroom. This book could be used for a science lesson. Students could choose an animal from the book to research. This book could also be used for a social studies lesson. Students could compare climates of different countries. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Students could write a summary of what they learned on a poster and decorate it. This book was chosen by the Junior Library Guild in 2013. It was a finalist for an AAAS Science Books and Films award in 2014.