A Weekend With Van Gogh

Weekend With Van Gogh - Rosabianca Skira-Venturi
Rizzoli
ISBN: 0-8478-1836-5

My rating: 3 out of 5

This biography about Van Gogh is written from an interesting angle - a "letter" written by Van Gogh to his nephew. The "letter" tells about Van Gogh's life and his life as a painter. As good as this concept is, I feel that this book was incredibly dry. I do not think that kids will be stimulated enough to want to finish it once they start it.

"A Weekend With Van Gogh" is a book that I feel children will not like too much if they read it for pleasure, but if they are doing a report, this book would be a good resource.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0-439-13635-0

My rating: 5 out of 5

This is the third installment of the "Harry Potter" series and follows the boy wizard as he spends his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Like the previous installments, this book is filled with action and excitement that children and adults alike will enjoy.

This book is slightly longer than the previous two, and as the seven-book series progresses, each book from this point on is longer than the previous one. Having read all the books in the series, I can say that this book is the last one to be relatively "self-contained." When I first read the series, I accidentally read this one before the second one, but it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of the series. However, the rest of the series builds upon the previous books and must be read in order.

In addition to being the last "self-contained" of the series, I would say that "The Prisoner Of Azkaban" is the last of the lighter books in the series. The next book ("Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire") grows darker as it progresses and the rest of the series gets equally as serious in the battle between good and evil in the world. I do not feel like teachers should prevent kids from reading the rest of the series because of this fact. Despite the more serious tone that starts with the next book, kids will still want to follow the plot and find out what happens to the characters - especially Harry.

"Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" is another excellent achievement from Rowling and it, along with the rest of the series, will pull kids into this magical world and really encourage kids to read - especially those who do not normally enjoy reading.

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0-439-06486-4

My rating: 5 out of 5

The second book in the "Harry Potter" series certainly lives up to its predecessor and maybe even surpasses it. Harry returns to the magic school (named Hogwarts) and soon is caught-up in another adventure along with his friends Ron and Hermione.

This book is about the same length as "The Sorcerer's Stone" and probably about the same reading difficulty. If kids enjoyed it, then they will definitely like "The Chamber Of Secrets." The story is very engaging and full of action and mystery.

"Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" is another great installment of the "Harry Potter" series that kids will love reading.

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling
Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0-590-35340-3

My rating: 5 out of 5

I, along with countless others, love this book. "Harry Potter" is an incredibly fun read that kids will enjoy. I feel that the reason kids like these books so much is that at one time or another we all have felt that like an outsider and that we just do not "fit in." This book takes this concept and transforms it into a tale of a boy who finds out he is a wizard. The characters are intriguing and really stimulate the imagination. But what's also interesting that we all know people who are like the characters in the book - the school bully, a teacher that you think just doesn't like you, the best friend, etc.

Children who do not enjoy reading, I feel, will be pulled into this magical world right away and will not put this book down until it is finished. "Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone" is a fun, enduring tale that all libraries should have.

Don't You Dare Shoot That Bear! A Story Of Theodore Roosevelt

Don't You Dare Shoot That Bear! A Story Of Theodore Roosevelt - Robert Quackenbush
Prentice-Hall
ISBN: 0-13-218496-6

My rating: 5 out of 5

Teddy Roosevelt has always been one of my favorite presidents to study, mainly because he was so active and untraditional. This book certainly does his story justice. This book is short, but it highlights the main points in his life, including how he became associated with the teddy bear. It does not discuss his death or how he got shot while campaigning, but it's probably a good thing it doesn't, considering the target audience.

I really liked how, in additional to the regular text, there were a group of teddy bears at the bottom of every other page either giving other Roosevelt facts, or acting out the scene. One example that sticks out is when the book talks about the charge up San Juan Hill. There is a teddy bear with a hat and a wooden sword yelling, "Charge!" The other bear looks at him from behind a cash register and says, "I'm sorry, but we don't accept charge accounts at this store." This made me laugh aloud.

"Don't Shoot That Bear!" is a short and informative biography about one of our more interesting presidents. If a student finds biographies or non-fiction boring, this book may help get them interested.

Nate The Great

Nate The Great - Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Marc Simont
Sharmat/Simont
ISBN: 0-385-73017-9

My rating: 5 out of 5

This is a fantastic book. It follows this pancake-eating boy detective as he tries to track down a missing picture. This mystery is written very well for a primary audience with it's basic story and short, simple sentences. Primary students will enjoy this book because they will try to solve the mystery right along with Nate and they will laugh at the situations along the way.

"Nate The Great" is an entertaining and engaging mystery story that would be great to incorporate into an art lesson dealing with colors and mixing them together.

Beowulf: A Hero’s Tale Retold

Beowulf: A Hero’s Tale Retold – James Rumford
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 0-618-75637-X

My rating: 4 out of 5

I had only read “Beowulf” in high school, but I feel that this version is great for older children. The author condenses the original Anglo-Saxon text and puts the story into well-understood English. I believe that children will both understand the story and enjoy it.

I like how this book incorporated some of the original Anglo-Saxon English into the story, and had a pronunciation key anytime a new name was introduced.

The illustrations are fantastic and really how what is going on in the story at that time. To me, they resemble some of the art in comic books that I have read.

I really liked the way Beowulf was described at the end – “Once he said a thing, he kept his word. Once he set his mind, he never backed down.” This is a very strong quality that I believe children should be taught and adults should follow. Too often, people give their word or say they will do something and then they don’t.

“Beowulf: A Hero’s Tale Retold” is a book that I would recommend kids reading. It introduces the story of Beowulf early, so that when they get into High School and study it more in depth, the story won’t be so alien to them.

Aladdin & The Wonderful Lamp

Aladdin & The Wonderful Lamp – Carol Carrick, illustrated by Donald Carrick
Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 0-590-41679-0

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

I discovered something about this story that I did not know – this story is actually Chinese. The author decided to set it in the Middle East in this book and that story is what I’ve always known (granted, through Disney).

Anyway, I really liked this book and it’s illustrations. The drawings are very realistic and really set the mood for what is happening on that page.

“Aladdin And The Wonderful Lamp” is a great story that touches on a good moral that you should try to help others less fortunate than you. Whenever Aladdin was faced with the prospect of riches, he always thought about others and how he could help them with the money.

The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway: Two Legends From Ancient China

The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway: Two Legends From Ancient China – Alice Provensen (also illustrated)
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0-689-83232-X

My rating; 3.5 out of 5

This book is actually two separate Chinese legends compiled into one book. One thing is certain about the stories – they do not end how you think they will. In “The Master Swordsman,” I can understand the ending and after thinking about it, it makes sense in that it teaches that there are more ways to settle a dispute than through violence. Little Chu did not use his abilities on the bandits, but on food. This caused fear among the bandits and they never attacked. I really like this moral and think it would be good for kids to know.

I do not know if I can say the same about “The Magic Doorway.” The ending was odd and I am not sure if I can think of just what the point of the story is. Perhaps it is something along the line of not double-crossing people, but I’m not sure. It’s a fun story, but I would probably leave it for leisure-time reading.

“The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway” is a book that might use if I were doing a China unit, but probably if I couldn’t find a few other ones first.

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Tikki Tikki Tembo – Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
ISBN: 0-033-012711-4

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Tikki Tikki Tembo” is the retelling of an ancient Chinese folktale of why the Chinese have such short names. This is an amusing story of how one brother has such a long name that, when he falls into a well, his brother has a very hard time explaining what happened because he can’t get all of the syllables of the name out.

The actual story is very well done and this would make an excellent story to kick-off a unit on China and Chinese culture. This could include not only language arts, though this book, but teachers could incorporate China throughout the day through science, math, and social studies.

My only real complaint is the illustrations. The only colors are green, blue, and yellow and they tend to get dull as the book progresses. I think if different illustrations could be used, it would greatly enhance the book.

Despite the pictures, “Tikki Tikki Tembo” is a great book that has many applications in the classroom.

Blood On The River: James Town, 1607

Blood On The River: James Town, 1607 - Elisa Carbone
2009 Rebecca Caudill Award Nominee
Viking Press
ISBN: 0-670-06060-7

My rating: 5 out of 5

This book is up for the Rebecca Caudill Award for 2009, and it definitely deserves it. The story begins with action right away and it does not end. Once you start reading, you will not want to stop; I started and finished it in only three sittings in one day.

I really liked how the main character, Samuel, really evolved and transformed throughout the course of the book. I appreciated that his last name is not revealed until after you read the story and we find out that he was real.

I especially liked how the author portrays the native tribes. She really gives them a voice and shows how the European settlers had an impact on their culture. She shows that the natives were not "savages," but they were also not saints either. This book also shows what the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas was probably really like, as opposed to what Disney may have led people to believe. The afterword provides a great deal of information and tells the reader why certain things were written the way they were.

"Blood On The River: James Town, 1607" by Elisa Carbone is an excellent historical-fiction book that would be fantastic to use when discussing early colonies in the Americas.

The Creation

The Creation - James Weldon Johnson, illustrated by James E. Ransome
Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Holiday House
ISBN: 0-8234-1069-2

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

This book is actually an illustrated edition of a poem from Johnson's, "God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse." The poem itself is very well-done, plain spoken, and easy to understand. Even if you are not a "poetry person," you will enjoy reading this story, mainly because it does not feel like you are reading a poem that you cannot understand.

The illustrations are very rich, detailed, and beautiful. There are pages in the book that have no text that truly capture the reader's attention.

"The Creation" is a great book to use to introduce poetry to students, especially if they already have it in their minds that it is hard and something you cannot understand, because this book is the exact opposite.

Jumanji

Jumanji - Chris Van Allsburg (also illustrated)
Caldecott Award Winner
Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN: 0-395-30448-2

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Like many people, when I think of "Jumanji," I immediatly think of the movie of the same name. I was not aware that it had been a book.

I really enjoyed this book and it's message stressing the importance of reading directions before doing something. The story was short, but it was very captivating. As you read this, you are constantly wanting to know what will happen next, whether it be a monkeys in the kitchen or rhinos in the hall.

There are pictures on every other page, also illustrated by Van Allsburg. Even though they are in black and white, they are richly detailed and really make the scene come to life.

"Jumanji" is a fantastic book that children of all ages will enjoy.

Superhero ABC

Superhero ABC - Bob McLeod
2009 Monarch Award Nominee
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0-06-074514-2

My rating: 5 out of 5

When I was a kid, I fell in love with superheroes and if this book had been around then, I would have tried my best to get it. I love this book. Using superheroes to help kids learn their ABCs is a fantastic idea.

The illustrations in this book are excellent and each hero looks like they could actually have their own comic or TV show. I really enjoyed the way McLeod makes each hero unique-looking, and not just look like the same person with a different letter of the alphabet sewn to his/her chest. I like how not only there is a different superhero for each letter (ie: Letter C = Captain Cloud), but the page is full of other words describing the hero all beginning with the same letter as the hero.

"Superhero ABC" is a fun book that is definitely recommended for all libraries.

A Wrinkle In Time

A Wrinkle In Time - Madeleine L'Engle
Newbery Award Winner
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
ISBN: 0-374-38613-7

My rating: 3 out of 5

This is a book that I remember reading as a child, but as I read it now, it does not seem as exciting as it once was. The story focuses on three children on a cosmic quest to rescue their father from IT. One thing that surprised me is that, unlike most science-fiction/fantasy stories, this book contains references to God and Christianity. I thought this was an interesting thing for the author to include, even though the story does not revolve around those ideas.

My only hesitation in recommending this book to young readers is the pacing of the story. To me, it felt like the story was either moving too slowly or too fast. Because of this, it oftentimes felt like a chore to finish the book.

All in all, "A Wrinkle In Time" is just an OK book that has trouble finding an adequate pace, but still has a decent story.