Hi! Fly Guy

Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (also illustrated)
Theodore Suess Geisel Honor Book
Scholastic, Inc.

ISBN: 0-439-63903-4

My rating: 4 out of 5

This is the story about a boy and his pet fly. Everyone is astonished by the fly’s ability to say the boy’s name – Buzz. This is fun short story that primary age students will enjoy. Even though it’s a small size, this would be a good book to use for a read aloud or possibly as a reading center. The vocabulary is not too challenging either.

Visually, the book certainly gets your attention. In some editions, the cover features a holo-foil background that reflects many different colors of light. The artwork itself is simply done in a cartoon-ish style. Far away, it looks like solid color, but when you look at the pictures up close, the shading is done with different colors of spirals. I do not think I have seen this done in any other book I’ve read. It really adds uniqueness to the book.

Hi! Fly Guy is an entertaining book that I would recommend to primary teachers.

Duck for President

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Caldecott Award Honor Book
Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 0-689-86377-2

My rating: 5 out of 5

This book is a sequel to Click Clack Moo and features the character of Duck, although Farmer Brown and the other barn yard animals and in the book as well. The story centers around Duck and how he disagrees with how things are being done, so he runs for office.

The art in this book is just as good as Click Clack Moo’s. The watercolor paintings create a nice balance of light/shadow and color. I also enjoyed little things painted in the story that older readers will understand. For example, Duck plays the saxophone on a late night TV show. Young readers will probably just think that’s funny, while older readers will remember that that is a nod to Bill Clinton’s run for the presidency when he appeared on “The Arsenio Hall Show.”

This would be a good book to use when discussing democracy and voting to students. Although it is geared toward younger readers, there is plenty in this book that can be applied to older grades as well. Duck for President is a fantastic book that all ages will enjoy.

The Scrambled States of America

The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller
Henry Holt & Co.
ISBN: 0-8050-5802-8

My rating: 4 out of 5

This is an amusing tale of the United States of America. The states are living things on a map with their own personalities and quirks. The states get tired of where they are located so they decide to switch places with other states. At first, I wasn’t so sure about this book, but the more I read it, the funnier it got. The story itself is funny, but the smaller pictures on the side of other happenings are pretty darn funny as well. This book is good, but I don’t think it is quite as good as one of her other works – Do Unto Otters.

This would be a great book to use in a unit about geography of the United States. Not only does it cover the states’ locations, but it also discusses things like the earthquakes in California, the cold weather of Minnesota, and the warm Florida climate just to name a few.

If The World Were A Village

If The World Were A Village: A Book About The World's People - David J. Smith, illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong

ISBN:

My rating: 5 out of 5

I found this to be a very fascinating book. The premise is simple - what if the world's population fit into one village? One person represents 62 million people making the village's population 100. Each page of the book describes the ratios of the village based on languages, wealth, religion, etc. Passages from this book would be entertaining for younger children, but I feel this book is mainly targeted for intermediate ages and older. I really feel that this could be used for people of any age - from the elderly to the primary age children.

"If The World Were A Village" is a great book to teach about the world. All too often, the gravity of certain facts can be lost because of large numbers that are hard to imagine. However, when they are broken down into ratios based on merely 100 people, these facts gain a lot more weight.

I strongly recommend "If The World Were A Village" for any teacher in any grade. It teaches a lot about the world we live in in a way that is easy for most people to understand.

The Indian In The Cupboard

The Indian In The Cupboard - Lynne Reid Banks
Avon Books
ISBN: 0-380-60012-9

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

For his birthday, Omri receives a an ordinary cupboard...or so it appears. He soon discovers that it will bring to life any plastic toy that he puts into it. After he brings to life on of his toy Indians, Omri soon realizes that this newfound gift has more consequences than he first realizes.

The story is enjoyable, but I would encourage teachers to be cautious with this story. Although it touches on the fact that the media has misrepresented the Native Americans (as illustrated in the scene where Little Bear and Boone are watching TV), the book itself could send some wrong signals about the Native Americans. It would be very important for teachers to first discuss Native American culture with his/her students before reading this book.

"The Indian in the Cupboard" is a a very enjoyable read that students and teachers alike will enjoy.

The Time Warp Trio: The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy

The Time Warp Trio: The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy - Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
Viking Press
ISBN: 0-590-98165-X

My rating: 5 out of 5

Jon Scieszka strikes again! This addition to the Time Warp Trio series does not disappoint. While watching an episode of "Cowboy Bob," Fred, Sam, and Joe are transported back into the Wild West in an attempt to become real cowboys. It doesn't take long for them to realize that life in the Old West was nothing like they saw on television.

I really enjoyed this book, not only for the story, but for the message it sends to readers - don't blindly accept everything you see on TV or in movies. Fred, Sam, and Joe's view on history was almost completely shaped by what they saw on TV, and chances are, most students are the same way. The possibilities for use of this book in the classroom are vast - science lessons on deserts and astronomy, social studies lessons on Native Americans, settling the West, etc.

I highly recommend "The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy" to students and teachers everywhere.

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs - Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
Viking Press
ISBN: 0-670-82759-2

My rating: 5 out of 5

This version of the classic fairy tale is very different than what we all know and love. This book tells the tale from the perspective of Alexander T. Wolf and his misunderstanding that stemmed from trying to borrow a cup of sugar from his neighbors.

I have fallen in love with Jon Scieszka's work recently and I consider this book to be one of his best. The story is full of humor that will entertain both kids and adults alike.

This is a great book that teachers can use for both entertainment and educational purposes. Important life lessons about perspective and point-of-view can easily be incorporated with this story. "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs" is a must-have that all libraries need to have.