The Bibliophile's Book Collection: 2014

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.

Built to Last: Building America's Amazing Bridges, Dams, Tunnels, and Skyscrapers

Built to Last: Building America’s Amazing Bridges, Dams, Tunnels, and Skyscrapers

Written by George Sullivan

Book design by Nancy Sabato

Published by Scholastic Inc.

128 pages

Nonfiction

Built to Last is a book about different man-made structures in the United States. The book includes the Hoover Dam, the George Washington Bridge, and the Statue of Freedom. The book includes facts about different structures. How are these structures built?

It seems like Nancy Sabato used the computer to design the book. The mixture of modern pictures and older pictures add to the subject matter of the book. The use of two pages for the picture of the Sears Tower helps the reader visualize the height of the tower. The photos are important to the book, because drawings would not fit the nonfiction topic.

This book would be useful in a fifth or sixth grade classroom. Some of the vocabulary in the book would be too difficult for students in earlier grades. This book could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could create a timeline of when the different structures were built. This book could also be used for a science lesson. Students could research different materials used to make structures. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Students could write a story about a structure using facts they learned. This book was nominated for a Grand Canyon Award in 2009. It was also chosen by the Children’s Book of the Month Club.

The Tooth Mouse

Written by Susan Hood

Illustrated by Janice Nadeau

Published by Kids Can Press

32 pages

Fantasy

The Tooth Mouse is a story about mice in France who want to be the next Tooth Mouse. The current Tooth Mouse gives them three tasks to decide who will be her replacement. What are the tasks? Which mouse will become the next Tooth Mouse?

Janice Nadeau used pencil and watercolor to illustrate the book. The use of cool colors give the book a relaxing feel. The colors also make the book seem like it was set in the past. The detailed illustrations will keep students’ interest in the book.

This book would be useful in a fourth or fifth grade classroom, because the book has some French words. Children in younger grades would have a more difficult time learning words from a different language. This book could be used for a science lesson. Students could research facts about mice. This book could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research France. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Students could write a story about their own version of the Tooth Mouse. This book was selected by the Junior Library Guild in 2012.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Created and Illustrated by James Dean

Story by Eric Litwin

Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books

40 pages

Fantasy

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons is a book about a cat named Pete. He has four buttons on his shirt, but one falls off his shirt. After the first button falls, more buttons fall off his shirt. Will Pete get mad about the buttons falling? Will he have any buttons left?

It seems like Eric Litwin used paint to illustrate his book. The bright colors will appeal to young students. Painting the cat blue gives the book a whimsical feel. The illustrations are large enough for students to see when a teacher holds the book up during a read aloud.

This book would be beneficial in a first or second grade classroom. The song that accompanies the book would interest students in early grades. This book could be used for a math lesson. Students could practice adding and subtracting Pete the Cat’s buttons. This book could also be used for a science lesson. Students could choose a type of cat to research. This book could be used for a writing lesson. Students could write their own short story about Pete the Cat. This book received a Theodore Seuss Geisel Award in 2013. It is also an ALA Notable Children’s Book for Younger Readers.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Davy Crockett Saves the World

Written and Illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer

Published by HarperCollins Publishers

32 pages

Tall tale

Davy Crockett Saves the World is about a man named Davy Crockett. When Halley’s Comet comes toward the United States, the President tries to find Davy Crockett to stop it. Will Davy get the President’s message? Will he be able to stop the comet?

It seems like Rosalyn Schanzer used colored pencils to illustrate her book. The red eyes she drew on Halley’s Comet add to the scariness of the comet. The colorful illustrations make the story more exciting. The illustration of birds dancing in a tree add to the silliness of the tale tale.

This book could be used in a fourth or fifth grade classroom. This book could be read before a social studies lesson where students learn about Davy Crockett. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Students could choose a well-known story and rewrite an exaggerated version. This book could also be used for another social studies lesson. Students could research the history of tall tales.

Messing Around on the Monkey Bars

Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices

Written by Betsy Franco

Illustrated by Jessie Hartland

Published by Candlewick Press

48 pages

Poetry

Messing Around the Monkey Bars is a book of school-related poems. The topics of the poems range from riding the bus to the lost and found. What can be found in the lost and found? What happens when the teacher does not pay attention?

Jessie Hartland used gouache to illustrate the book. The colorful illustrations look like they were drawn by children, which will appeal to young students. The illustrations help students relate to the poems about school. The illustrations help tell the stories in the poems.

Messing Around the Monkey Bars could be used in a second or third grade classroom. The book could be used for a character education lesson. The teacher could read “New Kid at School” and discuss how students could make a new student feel welcome. It could also be used for a science lesson. The teacher could read “Anatomy Class” before the students learn about parts of the body. This book could also be used for a math lesson. The teacher could read “Lunch Money” to the students before they learn about money. This book won a Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books award.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale

Retold by Carmen Agra Deedy

Illustrated by Michael Austin

Published by Peachtree Publishers

32 pages

Traditional

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach is about a cockroach named Martina who is trying to find a husband. Her grandmother gives her advice to help her find one. She tells Martina to pour coffee on her suitors’ shoes to see how they react. How will Martina’s suitors react? Who will be her husband?

Michael Austin used acrylic paint to illustrate the book. The bright colors add to the excitement of Martina trying to find a husband. The shades of blue on the last page add to the sense of calmness at the end of the story. The crisp lines in the illustrations give the folktale a more modern feel.

This book could be used in a third grade classroom. This book could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research facts about Cuba. This book could be used for a science lesson where students are learning about animals and insects. This book could be used for a writing lesson. Students could rewrite folktales they have previously heard. This book won an International Latino Book Award in 2008.

The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound

The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal

Written by Sallie Wolf

Published by Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

48 pages

Poetry

The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound is about different types of birds. It is a birdwatching journal written in poems, rather than paragraphs. The author listed which birds are seen during which seasons in the book. The author wrote some poems in the book about birds that are not well-known. The author included some of her observations about birds in the book.

Sallie Wolf illustrated her journal using watercolors, pens, and ink. Micah Bornstein worked with the author’s illustrations in Photoshop to design the book. The design of the book makes it seem more scientific, but the hand-drawn illustrations keep the book from being too formal. The duller tones of the colors add to the scientific feeling of the book. The contrast between computer-generated design and hand-drawn illustrations complement each other in the book.

This book could be used in a fourth or fifth grade classroom. Students in earlier grades would not be interested in the duller colored pictures. This book could be used for a science lesson to introduce different types of birds. This book could be used for a writing lesson. Students could think of different ways to write a journal without using paragraphs. This book could also be used for another science lesson. Students could research which birds are found in their area during different seasons. This book won an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students award from the NSTA/CBC.

If Not for the Cat

If Not for The Cat

Written by Jack Prelutsky

Illustrated by Ted Rand

Published by Greenwillow Books

40 pages

Poetry

If Not for the Cat is a poetry book about animals. Every other page has a haiku about a different animal. Each haiku is a short description of an animal. Animals from different habitats are included in the book. The reader or listener does not have to see the illustrations to figure out the animal being described.

Ted Rand used India ink, traditional watercolors, chalk, spatter, and printmaking techniques to illustrate this book. The colors he used for his illustrations give the book a calm feeling. The colors used in the book match colors found in nature. Although the illustrations cover more of the pages than the haikus, the illustrations do not take away from the haikus. The illustrations add to the book by providing pictures of the animals described.

This book would be useful in a third or fourth grade classroom. This book could be used for a science lesson. Students could choose an animal from the book and research it. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Once the students research the animal they chose, they could write a haiku using the facts they learned. This book could also be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research the countries where these animals are common. This book is an ALA Notable Children’s Book. It also won a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Honeybee Man

Written by Lela Nargi and Kyrsten Brooker

Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

Published by Schwartz & Wade Books

40 pages

Fiction

The Honeybee Man is a book about a man who has honeybees. He visits the bee houses in the morning and greets the bees while they are working in their hives. He dreams about how the honey will taste. He releases his bees so they can gather nectar, and he gets honey from the bees to give to his neighbors.

Kyrsten Brooker used collage and oil paint to illustrate this book. The shades of yellow used in the book help depict the subject of the bees and honey. The warm colors give this book a cheerful feel. This is important because it depicts the bees as helpful, rather than harmful.

The Honeybee Man would be a good book to use in a third or fourth grade classroom. Some of the vocabulary in the book would be too difficult for students in earlier grades. This book could be used for a science lesson. The teacher could read it to her students and have them look up more facts about bees. This book could be used in a social studies lesson. The students could research countries that export honey. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Students could write short stories about bees. The Honeybee Man won an award from the National Science Teachers’ Association, according to the publisher’s website.

Extra Yarn

Written by Mac Barnett

Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Published by Balzer + Bray

40 pages

Fiction

Extra Yarn is a story about a little girl who knits herself a sweater. She wears it to school, and her teacher says it is too distracting to the other students. She knits sweaters for her classmates and other people in the town. What will happen when someone gets jealous of her yarn?

It seems like Jon Klassen used ink to illustrate Extra Yarn, because that is one of the media he usually uses. Klassen used dark colors to contrast the colorful yarn Annabelle used to knit the sweaters. The contrast between the dark colors and the bright colors showed that Annabelle’s sweaters made people happy. The dark colors were also used to portray a somber tone toward the end of the book.

This book would be beneficial in a second or third grade classroom. It would be too easy to read for students in higher grades. This book could be used for a math lesson. Students could measure different lengths of string to learn about centimeters, inches, and feet. This book could also be used for a social studies lesson. Because the archduke tried to steal Annabelle’s yarn, students could research countries that have had archdukes. This book could also be used for a writing lesson. Students could write about what they would do with an endless supply of yarn. Extra Yarn received a Caldecott Honor in 2013.

Monsoon Afternoon

Written by Kashmira Sheth

Illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi

Published by Peachtree Publishers

32 pages

Fiction

Monsoon Afternoon is a book about a boy in India who wants to play, but everybody is too busy. Dadaji takes him outside to play. The two of them talk about the monsoon, and the boy thinks about when he will be a dadaji. When the two of them get back to the house, Dadima tells them to clean up after themselves.

Yoshiko Jaeggi used watercolors to illustrate this book. The use of earth tones ties in with the topic of the monsoon. The shades of blue in the book are used to depict the rain. The cool colors give the book a cheerful tone.

This book would be beneficial in a third or fourth grade class, because it has a few advanced vocabulary words. Monsoon Afternoon would be beneficial to use in a science lesson. A teacher could read this book to her students before they learn about the water cycle. Teachers could also use this book as part of a social studies lesson. Students could compare the amount of rain India gets with the amount of rain their home country gets. This book could also be used for a cultural lesson. Students could research the home countries of other students in their class. This book won an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature in 2009, according to the author’s website.

Interrupting Chicken

Written and Illustrated by David Ezra Stein

Published by Candlewick Press

40 pages

Fiction

Interrupting Chicken is a book about Chicken and Papa Chicken. Chicken asks Papa Chicken to read her a bedtime story. Papa Chicken reads Chicken different classic stories. She blurts out the endings of one book after another, until Papa comes up with a solution. How does Papa Chicken solve the interrupting?

David Ezra Stein used watercolors, water-soluble crayon, china marker, pen, opaque white ink, and tea to illustrate his book. The colors he used in the book give the book a warm and relaxing feeling, which fits in with the papa chicken reading a bedtime story. The use of primary colors give the story a childlike feel. The illustrations drawn by Chicken will also appeal to children in early elementary school, because the drawings Chicken drew look like drawings by an elementary school student.

This book would be useful in a first or second grade classroom. The book would be too easy for children in higher grades. Interrupting Chicken would be a good book to use for a writing lesson. Students could choose one of the stories Chicken interrupted and write the ending for it. This book could also be used for a science lesson. The teacher could read this book to her students before they start studying about chicken. This book could also be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research the history of storytelling. This book won a Caldecott Honor in 2011.

Trouble Talk

Written by Trudy Ludwig

Illustrated by Mikela Prevost

Published by Tricycle Press

32 pages

Genre/category: Fiction

Trouble Talk is a book about a girl named Maya who tries to become friends with Bailey, the new girl in school. She spends time with Bailey until they both go to Keisha’s sleepover, and Bailey makes fun of Keisha. Bailey starts spreading rumors and saying things to embarrass people. When Maya goes to the guidance counselor to talk about one of the rumors Bailey spread, the guidance counselor tells Maya that Bailey has a case of “trouble talk.” Will Bailey cure her trouble talk so she and Maya can be friends?

Mikela Prevost used watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and collage to make the illustrations. The colorful illustrations attract the reader’s eyes to the book. The illustrator’s use of the color red around the children’s head helped portray anger when the children were fighting. The use of the darker colors in some parts of the book gives the book a serious tone, which depicts the seriousness of bullying.

Trouble Talk would be beneficial in a third or fourth grade classroom. This story would be too long to hold the attention of students in earlier grades. Trouble Talk could be used in a character education lesson. Students could discuss how they feel when they are bullied and what they should do when they are being bullied. Trouble Talk could be used for a social studies lesson. Students could research other forms of communication besides talking. The book could also be used for a cause and effect lesson. Students could discuss how trouble talk affected characters in the story. Trouble Talk won a Mom’s Choice Gold Award in 2009, according to the author’s website.