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.

Where The Wild Things Are

Where The Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak (also illustrated)
Caldecott Award Winner
Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN: 0-06-025493-9

My rating: 2 out of 5

I've been a fan of Maurice Sendak ever since I read "Little Bear" at my grandma's years ago. However, I can't say that I am a big fan of this particular title. The main character, Max, is a little brat whose room is transformed into a jungle, where he soon becomes king of "The Wild Things." He returns home to find his supper waiting for him. I feel that Max is the wrong kind of character to be featured in a book such as this - he is the same at the end of the story as he was at the beginning. It almost encourages kids to just go and do whatever they want.

One thing I did enjoy though, was Sendak's illustrations. They are richly detailed, and yet, still maintain a certain cartoon-feeling about them.

"Where The Wild Things Are" is not Sendak's best work, but it would work well as a quick read-aloud, but I am not sure if a teacher would be able to use it to connect it to another subject. It may be best to leave this one for leasure time.

Aunt Chip & The Great Triple Creek Dam Affair

Aunt Chip & The Great Triple Creek Dam Affair - Patricia Polacco (also illustrated)
Philomel Books
ISBN: 0-399-22943-4

My rating: 4 out of 5

Patricia Polacco does a fantastic job creating this town where no one reads anymore, except for one woman - Aunt Chip. I think Polacco's story is very well-told and gives forth a good message that reading can be fun and exciting. This book is entertaining for younger readers and, as an older reader, I found it to be intresting in another respect - that the town is an allegory for how society in general, has slowly given up reading for pleasure because of the TV and its popularity. I have seen this with many of my old classmates who cite that they do not like reading because they can watch the same story on TV.

The illustrations in "Aunt Chip," also done by Polacco, are incredibly detailed and very close to life. Personally, I'm not crazy about her style, but I think they are very well-done illustrations, nonetheless.

As opposed to "Click, Clack, Moo," I would not recommend this for a read-aloud. It is much too long and the students will quickly lose interest if forced to sit through a full reading of this book. However, I would recommend "Aunt Chip & The Great Triple Creek Dam Affair" for older elementary students. It is a fun story with a good message that reading is both fun and exciting.

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type - Doreen Cronin & illustrated by Betsey Lewin
Caldecott Honor Book
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0-689-83213-3

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

This is a great book. "Click, Clack, Moo" has a simple premise and story that kids will find easy to follow and will enjoy. If teachers decide to use this as a read-aloud, they may want to bring in a typewriter or spend some time explaining the simple machine to students who, by the time they enter the classroom, have been immersed in a world full of computers, video games, and internet, and may not know what a typewriter is.

The one thing that really drew me into this book was the wonderful illustrations by Ms. Lewin. As someone who enjoys creating art, I can say that I find watercolors incredibly hard to control, but Ms. Lewin has done a wonderful job at using the paint medium to create a bright, colorful world that will draw anyone into the story. I was particularly impressed by her ability to portray the animals in the dark/shadows while still making the page bright with color.

"Click, Clack, Moo" is a funny and wonderful story and would make a great read-aloud. Many activities can be branched off from this book into various different subjects. One that comes to mind is connecting this with history and discussing strikes, mediation, and unions. Another possibility is doing an English lesson on letter writing and composition.

"Click, Clack, Moo" is a fun and well-illustrated story that will be enjoyed by many children to come.

A Long Way From Chicago

A Long Way From Chicago - Richard Peck
Newbery Honor Book
Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-8037-2290-7

My rating: 5 out of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed "A Long Way From Chicago." Each chapter is self-contained, covering one summer trip taken by Joey and Mary Alice to see their grandmother, which makes for easy reading; especially if do not have time to read a lot in one sitting. The best character, hands down, is the grandmother. She is kind, witty, old-fashioned, and in a way, her character contains some aspect of everyone's own grandmother. Richard Peck does an excellent job of showing how Joey and Mary Alice grow and mature year after year. "A Long Way From Chicago" is funny, well-written, and very touching all at the same time. I would definitely recommend that teachers feature this book in their classroom libraries.

The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963

The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963 - Christopher Paul Curtis
Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Yearling, an imprint of Random House Children's Books
ISBN: 0-440-41412-1

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

For the most part, I liked "The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963." I can remember reading this for the first time in grade school and enjoying it. The characters are very well-written and realistic. I find the interactions between the two brothers, Kenny and Byron, especially entertaining because at times they seem to mirror situations between my younger brother and myself growing up.

However, there were a few things I did not like about this book. I disliked that the reader must get through over half the book to even discover that the family is going to make a trip to Alabama. One confusing aspect was the symbol of death, similiar to the Grim Reaper, that Kenny creates in his mind. He describes it in a very real way to the point where the reader is not sure if it is physically there or not. I, as an adult, had a difficult time determining just what was going on, and I feel that such a concept will be a bit too complex for some children.

Nonetheless, "The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963" is a good book and would be a good book to incorporate in a lesson when studying the civil rights movement and Southern violence in the 1960s.