The Bibliophile's Book Collection

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.