Oh! The Places You'll Go: Best Gift for Really Anyone

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Oh! The Places You'll Go

By: Dr. Suess

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Copyright: 1990

Genre: Fiction, Character Education, Picture Book

Grade Level: Any Age

Brief Synopsis:

Illus. in full color. "Don't be fooled by the title of this seriocomic ode to success; it's not 'Climb Every Mountain,' kid version. All journeys face perils, whether from indecision, from loneliness, or worst of all, from too much waiting. Seuss' familiar pajama-clad hero is up to the challenge, and his odyssey is captured vividly in busy two-page spreads evoking both the good times (grinning purple elephants, floating golden castles) and the bad (deep blue wells of confusion). Seuss' message is simple but never sappy: life may be a 'Great Balancing Act,' but through it all 'There's fun to be done.'"--(starred) Booklist.

About the Author:

Dr. Seuss- It s difficult to imagine the children s book landscape without Dr. Seuss, who is, almost half a century after The Cat in the Hat, the best-recognized children s book writer in the country. But until Dr. Seuss -- a.k.a. Theodor Seuss Geisel -- reinvented the genre with his colorful and exuberant Sneetches, Grinches, Zaxes, and Zooks, children s books were often little more than literal-minded lessons and cautionary tales intended to transform young readers into productive citizens.

Themes: - Inspiration for life

- Helping to guide a person's path in life

- Encouragement to reaching your goals

Pre-Reading Activities:

- Have students write a list of their goals in their journal.  They can be long term or short term.  For the short term goals have them set a date and try to reach it by the end of the year.

Post Reading Activities:

- Have students try to write a story like Dr. Seuss. They can try to use inventive, silly words in their stories.  After they are finished they will read it aloud to the class. Drawings should be included as well with their writing portion.

Reflection: This is another classic book that I could not leave out of my blog.  It is an inspiration for many people and is a very popular baby and graduation gift.  I actually quoted the last line of this book in my graduation speech in front of thousands.  Dr. Seuss creates very fun and educational books for children, but they are also something that adults still enjoy.  Definitely a book that needs to be kept in my classroom at all times.

Links:

Book Info. and author bio.

I'll Love You Forever: A Classic Favorite

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I'll Love You Forever

By: Robert M. Munsch

Illustrator: Sheila McGraw

Publisher: Firefly Books

Copyright: 1995

Genre: Fiction, Character Education

Grade Level: 1st or 2nd

Brief Synopsis:

A sentimental favorite about a mother's love for her child that has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback since its publication in 1986.

About the Author:

Robert Munsch is the author of more than 25 books for children including The Paper Bag Princess and Stephanie's Ponytail. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.

Sheila McGraw has illustrated six children's books, including the best-selling I Promise I'll Find You and has written children's and adult craft books Papier Mâché for Kids and Painting and Decorating Furniture.

Themes: - Loving people no matter what

- Growing up and Moving Out

- The Love of a Mother to her children

Pre-Reading Activities:

- Have students write a letter to their mother's or guardians about how much the love them.  This can be done around the Valentine's season and can be displayed in the hallway for the school to see.

Post Reading Activities:

- Have the students react to the story with a partner. What did they like about it?  What feelings did they have while reading it?

- Ask the students about the style that the author writes in.  What do they notice about the writing? (Repetition, Flow in the sentences)

Reflection: This has always been one of my favorite books and my mom has read it to me since I was a little girl.  This is a story that will never grow old or fade away because it is special to so many people.  I love the repetition of the words and it makes it easy for children to read along with their parents before bed.  The pictures are very cute that go along with the sincere and touching words.  The wrap around to the end it was gets me...when he begins saying the same lines back to his mother.

Links:

Book Info.

Author and Illustrator Bio.

Dirt on My Shirt: Poems for the Everyday Kid

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Dirt on My Shirt

By: Jeff Foxworthy

Illustrator: Steve Bjorkman

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Book

Copyright: 2008

Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Grade Level: Kindergarten- 2nd

Brief Synopsis:

In this hilarious collection of poems, comedian Jeff Foxworthy creates a neighborhood filled with fun, family, friends, and more. Here you'll meet Cousin Lizzy, Uncle Ed and Aunt Foo Foo, cows with horns that don't go beep, dads in sweaters, also sheep. From the thrill of flying to the imaginary planet Woosocket to bonding with a friend over a shared hatred of spinach, these poems capture the very essence of being a kid.
Filled with sly humor and always affectionate, Dirt on My Shirt is sure to delight kids, big and little, everywhere.

About the Author:

Jeff Foxworthy- Jeff Foxworthy is one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country. He is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee and best selling author of 11 books. Widely known for his redneck jokes, his act goes well beyond that to explore the humor in everyday family interactions and human nature, a style that has been compared to Mark Twain’s. This Georgia native remains true to his southern roots and resides with his wife and two daughters in Atlanta.

Steve Bjorkman- he has illustrated more than eighty books for children, including the New York Times bestseller Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy. He also creates greeting cards with his brother through Recycled Paper Greetings. Steve lives in California with his wife and three children.

Themes: - Beginning Poetry

- The Fun Aspects of Being a Kid

- Describing People in a Poem

Pre-Reading Activities:

- We will discuss in a whole group what the students think about the book just by looking at the cover and title of the book.  What do the students think the poems will be about?  What types of poems have we already studied and how will these poems compare?
- Students will finish this sentence, My favorite thing about being a KID is...  This quick writing activity will get the students thinking about all of the fun and exciting things they do as a kid.  The students will share their sentence with the class.

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Post Reading Activities:
- We will read through a few poems and discuss the type of poems Jeff Foxworthy write.  How does he organize his poems in this book?  Most of the poems describe a person or animal in poem form.  They don't necessarily all rhyme, so it is important to point this out to the class so they can see what a free verse poem might look like. 
- After this discussion students will brainstorm ideas about a person or animal in their life that they will write a 4 line poem on.  Once they get their brainstorming checked with 4 to 5 descriptions written out, they can then begin their poem.  They can choose to have the poem rhyme or not...just as long as the poem has 4 lines.

Reflection: This book of poems does cater to the minds of children.  The words in the poem may be hilarious to children, but not necessarily to the adults that read them.  I think that is the point of Jeff Foxworthy's writing...the poems are directed towards kids, and that is who he wishes to please.  I think this book is good to use with beginner poets because the poems are really simple, and students can build their poems in the same style.  They can begin simply and then always build off of what they have started.  I like the fact that the poems in this book are descriptions of people and animals because students can compare what they hear in the book to what they experience with people in their own lives.  Allowing them to choose who they would like to write their poem about will make their poems more personal and worthwhile.

Links:

Book Info.

Jeff Foxworthy Bio.

Steve Bjorkman Bio.

Shout! Little Poems that Roar: Poetry using ExPrEsSiOn

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Shout! Little Poems that Roar

By: Brod Bagert

Illustrator: Sachiko Yoshikawa

Publisher: The Penguin Group

Copyright: 2007

Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Grade Level: Kindergarten- 2nd

Brief Synopsis: 

This vibrant collection of twenty-one poems celebrates the joys (snack time!) and pitfalls (2 + 2 = 23?) of childhood. Brod Bagert's often silly, always winsome poems cover everything from the seasons and the stars to finger paint and kids who quack. With humor and warmth, Shout! shows us there's fun in work and play, poetry in everything, and a million different uses for ketchup. Kids are sure to shout for a reread.  This poem book concentrates on poems that use expression and onomatopoeia. 

About the Author:
Brad Bagert- he is a published author and an editor of children's books. Brod Bagert compares himself to Johnny Appleseed because he journeys across America, planting a love of poetry in children. On his travels, he performs poetry for children and instructs teachers in what he calls the Performance Method, "a system which recognizes that poetry is an oral art, and that, for children, a poem comes alive when they perform it," Bagert commented. The author began writing poetry for children when his own children needed to perform in school programs.
Sachiko Yoshikawa- she grew up in Tokyo but spent many summers visiting the beaches of southern Japan. Her childhood memories served as inspiration when creating the pictures for this book. Ms. Yoshikawa is also the illustrator of Stars. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband.

Themes: - Silly Situations that happen in School
- Beginning Poetry
- Reading and Acting with Expression
- Fun Things Kids Do and Think About

Pre-Reading Activities:
- Mini-Lesson on onomatopoeia and Reading with Expression.  First give students some examples of such words and then ask what they all have in common. Once they have figured out that all the words make a sound...give them the definition of onomatopoeia. Then model for them reading words with expression.
- To get students in a Silly mood have the students come up with silly words and write them all over the white board.  These words can be used after reading the book to help them write their Silly Shout Poems.

Post Reading Activities:
- Once you have read a few poems from the book, modeling reading with expression and exagerration, have a few volunteers read their choice of a poem from the book.  The whole class can give the student feedback on how they read the poem.  This will help them to focus on certain things to concentrate on the next time they read aloud.
- After practicing with the whole group have the students go off in small groups to practice reading these poems aloud to each other.  Once they all get a chance to read have them answer the following questions: How did you feel reading these poems in Shout?  When you were listening to other students in your group read, what made their reading exciting to listen to?  How can you improve your expression next time you read aloud?  What were some suggestions you gave others in your group as they read?

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Reflection: I really enjoyed reading the poems in this book because I can picture how much fun they would be to use in a classroom.  Elementary students love being silly, and this allows them to do this and also learn about poetry.  Along with reading with expression, you could also focus on the different poem structures that each poem has in Shout!.  The illustrations on each page are also very captivating, which is very important with poetry because some students are very resistant to working with poems.  The bright and inviting pictures will get each student interested in finding out what the book is all about.  The themes of the poems in this book have to do with school and learning in some way.  This makes them relatable to young ones and another incentive to bring students into poetry.  I would very much recommend this book to any teacher when beginning a poetry unit as an anticipatory set to engage their learning.

Links:
Book Info.
Brod Bagert Bio.
Sachiko Yoshikawa Bio.

Pecan Pie Baby: Sibling Jealousy of the New Baby

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Pecan Pie Baby

By: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrated By: Sophie Blackall

Publisher: Penguin Group; Putnam Juvenile

Copyright: 2010

Genre: Fiction, Picture Book, Multicultural Literature

Grade Level: Kindergarten- 2nd grade

Brief Synopsis:

Gia is tired of hearing about the new baby. It hasn't even been born yet, but everyone, even her friends, seem fixated on it. Gia thinks things are fine just the way they are! And she's worried: if the baby's such a big deal now, what's going to happen to Gia's nice, cozy life with Mama once it's born?
Beloved author Jacqueline Woodson and Sophie Blackall have created a heartwarming story for kids adjusting to the idea of a new family member. Young readers will be reassured by Gia's eventual understanding that the baby won't ruin the special bond she has with her mom, and might even be a sweet addition to the family.

About the Author:
Jacqueline Woodson- she is the author of many award winning books.  Through her stories she likes to show how love can come in many forms. Woodson currently lives in Brooklyn, where she writes full-time and can be found in the mornings hanging out in Prospect Park with her dog, Maus.  She says she was inspired to write Pecan Pie Baby when "Jackson-Leroi – our son – was on the way and Toshi – our daughter – had decided, once she knew it was a boy, that she didn’t want a baby in the house after all. By then, of course, it was way, way, way too late. She’s since come to like him but she does complain about him breaking her toys! And yes, both of them love pecan pie. But I actually don’t like it very much."
Sophie Blackall- She began as an illustrator for magazines mostly, and made paintings for art exhibitions.  When she had two children she moved from Sydney, Australia to New York and did her first book Ruby's Wish.

Themes: - Coping with a new baby
- The role of being an older sibling
- Highlighting family traditions
- Easing a child's nerves about losing a parent's attention

Pre-Reading Activities:
- Have students brainstorm, using their own graphic organizers, their own special family traditions.  These can include anything...just things that they do with their loved ones that are special to them.  This will get them thinking of how each family is special in its own way.
- Have two students get together to compare and contrast their families.  In modern times it is evident that families come in may different shapes and sizes.  A classroom can become even more accepting of each other with this activity because they will able to see visually what they have in common and what differences make them unique.  This will also help them to compare and contrast their family to the family in Pecan Pie Baby as it is being read.

Post Reading Activities:
- Students will fill in a "Pecan Pie" with all of the ingredients (details) from the story.  This will allow them to practice retelling a story after they have read it.  They can bullet their details and list as many things from the story that they remember without looking back in the book.  The paper "pecan pies" will be displayed around the room for students to refer to if they forget how to recall details in a story.
- Students will re-read the story and highlight special words or phrases that the characters say that may express their feelings.  Ex. in the story Gia refers to the baby as a "ding-dong baby" many times.  How does this express what Gia is feeling?  This can be done in small groups with teacher assistance if needed.

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Reflection:  This is a cute story to relieve children's stresses about a new baby arriving in their family.  It would be good for parents and teachers alike for this purpose.  I like the authors addition of personal experiences to add to the family in this story.  The way the characters speak to each other really reflect on their personalities.  I love that they come up with a nick name for the baby, and that the baby already has something in common with the sister before it is even born.  This book will settle a lot of kid's fears of losing their parent's attention when their is a new addition to the family.  The illustrations are also very welcoming to young readers.  This book made me realize that it is important to include stories to help students cope in the classroom library.

Links:

Book Information
Jacqueline Woodson Website
Jacqueline Woodson Bio.
Sophie Blackall Website

Yoko Writes Her Name: Learning to Appreciate Others

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Yoko Writes Her Name

By: Rosemary Wells

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Copyright: 2008

Genre: Fiction, Multicultural Literature

Grade Level: Kindergarten- 3rd grade

Brief Synopsis: The main character, Yoko, is a young cat who is very excited to be starting Kindergarten.  Her excitement quickly fades when two girls from class make fun of her Japanese writing of her name.  This happens right after the teacher tells Yoko how beautiful her writing is.  The girls tell Yoko she will never graduate Kindergarten, and Yoko becomes very worried that she is doing something wrong.  A fellow classmate takes an interest in Yoko and he begins teaching her English writing in exchange for her to teach him Japanese.  After this the whole class, except the two girls, becomes interested in Yoko. Her Japanese writing becomes a big hit in her classroom.  In the end everyone has a successful graduation that includes both English and Japanese language.

About the Author:
Rosemary Wells- She is a multiple award winning author of children's books.  She has written other stories in this series called Yoko and Yoko's Paper Cranes.  She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut.  This video is an interview with Rosemary as she describes her life growing up and what inspires her.

Interview with Rosemary Wells from Weston Woods on Vimeo.
- Japanese calligraphy in the story is done by Masako Inkyo.

Themes: - Feeling left out or different from a group

- Getting to know and appreciate people around you

- Celebrating our differences

- Offering a helping hand to those who need it.

Pre-Reading Activities:

- Students will interview a partner and then present the information to the class.  Make sure the students partner up with someone they don't normally work with.  In conclusion have a discussion with the students with the focus being getting students to realize that by getting to know each other will help them better work together.  They will learn to appreciate each other based on their similarities AND differences. 

- Give a mini-lesson on how the author and illustrator work together to produce the characters' emotions.  Examples to discuss would be : emotions expressed through facial expressions and words that show us feelings.  Walk through a book together and model what to look for.  Have students quickly practice finding character feeling and emotion a short book with a small group. 

Post Reading Activities:

- After finishing a read aloud of the story have students focus on the feelings that Yoko experiences throughout the story.  Have them fill out a graphic organizer of when Yoko experiences specific emotions.

- Have students experiment with Japanese language.  Give them simple expressions to practice writing.  They can be creative with this and decorate their Japanese expression to be displayed around the room.

- Have students respond to Yoko Writes Her Name, and include how they felt the teacher could have responded differently in the story?, How could the class have made Yoko feel more included into their classroom from the very beginning?

Reflection:
I really enjoyed this story to introduce students to thoughts about tolerance.  I am a huge advocate for making sure my classroom is always accepting and tolerant of everyone, and that everyone feels just as safe and open to expressing themselves and participating.  Yoko shows us her Japanese culture and is more comfortable with writing in her Japanese language because she is not familiar enough with English.  A Kindergartener can relate to this because school is so unfamiliar to them even with having English as their first language.  ESL students would feel connected to this story even more because they may experience very similar situations as some people may not know how to act around new languages.
Yoko feels lows and highs when participating in school activities, and a lot of her feelings are based on how she is treated by those around her.  By having Yoko and classmates drawn as cats help to make students critque the book and what happens without feeling like it is highlighting their own behaviors.  It helps to put the story at a distance for the students.
Students can learn a lot about accepting others no matter what differences they may have.  I would talk about celebrating our differences instead of looking down on them...just like Wells does in this book!!!
I love the Japanese caligraphy that is added on each page of this book.  They can be used in my activity of introducing simple Japanese expressions to have students practice writing.  I believe students would be very excited to try this activity because it is different from what they are used to, and those that do practice the Japanese culture will take pride in the whole class taking notice to their language.

Links:

Rosemary Wells Bio.

¡Quiero Ayudar! Let Me Help!: A Cinco de Mayo Celebration

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¡Quiero Ayudar! Let Me Help!

By: Alma Flor Ada

Illustrator: Angela Domínguez

Publisher: Children’s Book Press

Copyright: 2010

Genre: Fiction Multicultural Holidays Foreign Language

Grade Level: 1^st- 3^rd grade

                     or secondary Spanish classes

Brief Synopsis: A family parrot named Perico is trying to find some way to help with the planning of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations.  Every time Perico tried to help someone he is shooed away.  At last in the end he finds the perfect way to help in the Cinco de Mayo fun in San Antonio, Texas. 

About the Author:

Alma Flor Ada- She is an award winning children’s book author, gifted translator, and professor at the University of San Fransisco.  She is an avid leader in the field of bilingual education in the U.S.  She is also a poet, storyteller, educator, mother, and grandmother. With a Ph.D. in literature and a lifelong love for stories, Ada has mastered the art of retelling traditional folktales and nursery rhymes from across Latin America. A native of Cuba who has also lived in Spain, Peru, and the United States, Ada writes poetry, picture books, and novels that offer rich, multicultural perspectives for all children.

Angela Dominguez- Born in Mexico City and grew up in Texas.  She always loved to read and draw as a kid.  Let Me Help is her first children’s picture book.  In December of 2007, she graduated from the Academy of Art in San Francisco with her MFA in illustration. Since graduating she has worked with a variety of publishing companies including Feiwel and Friends, Children’s Book Press, Abrams Books, Random House/Tricycle Press, and Holiday House.

Themes: Persistence will pay off in the end

No matter what age or size there is always a purpose for everyone

Learning about Cinco de Mayo

Not fitting in or finding one’s place

Pre-Reading Activities:

-Introducing a culture’s holiday.  Topic: Cinco de Mayo.  Teach a mini lesson on Cinco de Mayo to the whole class.  What does it mean (translation)?  Why do they celebrate it?  Who celebrates this holiday?  After the mini lesson have students answer questions about the holiday after reading a quick excerpt about it.  This will help check for the student’s understanding.

-Mini lesson on interpretation.  Model how to interpret a piece of literature with the students during a read aloud.  What is the author trying to get across to the readers?  Have the students do a turn and talk with a partner with a sample reading.

Post Reading Activities:

-Have students plan their own Cinco de Mayo celebration for the class.  It must stay authentic to true Spanish culture , traditions, and food.  They will be graded on their portion of the material presented to the rest of the class.  This includes food ideas, music ideas, etc.)

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-Have students write the parrots adventure in a sequence.  What did he do first, second, third, fourth?  After practicing with the story’s sequence they will write their own sequence of what they did that day.  They will illustrate their steps once their writing has been checked.  Reiterate that they should be using transition words like First, then, next, lastly, etc.

-Relate to the characters in the story.  Have students write of a time they were trying to be helpful to someone, and no one wanted them around.  How did their story end?  Was it the same as Perico’s ending?  The students will do a read aloud of their story for extra practice.  This story can be written in their personal journal.

-If it is a secondary Spanish class have them translate the story into English and then check their translation with the English they give in the book.  This can lead into them writing their own children’s book in Spanish.

Reflection:

This story is a great choice to use for ESL Spanish speaking students because they will be able to see the Spanish right next to the English.  It is a wonderful introduction book when teaching about different cultures.  If this was used to teach about Spanish culture it would have to be paired with authentic teaching and experiences, so as not to just touch on the holiday of the countries.  Putting the character as a pet parrot to a Spanish family puts the view from the outside looking in.  This allows students to see the culture from the outside, but doesn’t actually include them in it. 

Links:
Alma Flor Ada Bio
Angela Dominguez Bio

Wabi Sabi: Finding the Simple Beauty All Around

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Wabi Sabi

By: Mark Reibstein

Illustrated By: Ed Young

Publisher: Little Brown and Company Hatchette Book Group USA

Copyright: 2008

Genre: Fiction Japanese Poetry

Grade Level: 3rd or 4th

Brief Synopsis: A cat named Wabi Sabi lives with her master in Kyoto, Japan. The story begins when her master is asked what the name Wabi Sabi means. Her master answered, “That is hard to answer.” After this Wabi Sabi decided to venture off on an adventure to find out the true meaning of her name. This story is written with a haiku on every page along with regular text.

About the Author:

 Mark Reibstein- he is an English teacher and writer who has lived in New York, California, Hawaii, Japan, and Thailand. While living in Kyoto, Japan he met a cat named Wabi Sabi and was close friends with her for 10 years. This clearly is his inspiration for this story, and he was able to take something from his life and give them their own adventure. Mark and his daughter now live near San Fransisco with good friend Arlo, also a cat. 

Ed Young- Ed Young, winner of the 1990 Caldecott Medal, has illustrated over 40 books for children, four of which he has also written. Ed Young was born in Tienstin, China. He grew up in Shanghai and later moved to Hong Kong. He came to the United States as a young man on a student visa. A graduate of the Los Angeles Art Center, Young has since taught at the Pratt Institute, Yale University, Naropa Institute, and the University of California at Santa Cruz. He currently lives with his wife in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. When he was young he thought he could “disappear” into his own world. He brought his own drawings to life.

Themes: Finding the real beauty around you

Learning the haiku writing style

Exploring your surroundings

Beauty found in nature

Pre-Reading Activities:

-Introduce Haikus to the class with a mini-lesson as a whole group. Come up with a class Haiku using the school environment for inspiration.

-Have the students look up the meaning of their own name using the internet, and create a visual definition by writing their name with pictures around it that explain the meaning. This will lead into the story when Wabi Sabi tries to find the meaning of his name.

-So a picture walk through the story Wabi Sabi with the class. Ask them for predictions and opinions about what they see in the illustrations. Ask them why they think the illustrator decided to use things in nature to create the settings and characters in the book.

Post Reading Activities:
-Students will write their own Haiku. I will give them the format of what to include in each line and they will pick their own topic.
First line 5 syllables
Second line 7 syllables
Third line 5 syllables
Haiku is written with details of the senses and of nature. A seasonal reference and transition are usually added into a Haiku.
-The students will take things from nature and create their own illustrations using Wabi Sabi’s illustrations as a model and guide. We will go outside to find things from nature to use in their illustrations. The students will then have to write a paragraph describing what they find simply beautiful about their creation.

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Reflection: Wabi Sabi comes alive through the illustrations on each page. This paired with the beautiful haiku written allows for the reader to completely visualize and come to understand the story’s meaning. This story can be used in multiple ways to introduce Japanese teachings and beliefs. This story teaches the student about the beauty that exists around them in the simple things. It can help them open their eyes to their surroundings, and not taking the little things for granted. It also demonstrates to the students the belief of Shintoism by many Japanese and their immense respect for nature. The Japanese Haiku writing throughout the book with translations at the end make the story authentic. I like this book because of its incredible potential in many areas of curriculum.

Links:
Mark Reibstein Bio.
Ed Young Bio.

Ramadan Moon: A Muslim Perspective

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Ramadan Moon

 By: Na’ima B. Robert

Illustrator: Shirin Adl

 

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Limited

Copyright: 2009

Genre: Multicultural, Informative, Fiction

Grade Level: Any

Brief Synopsis: The month of Ramadan is a very exciting time for Muslims to celebrate mercy and appreciation.  It is a time for fasting during daylight, prayers throughout the day, visits to the mosque, and being especially kind to others.  The young girl narrating this story tells how she is watching the progress of the moon each night from one new moon to the next.  At the end of Ramadan the Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, which is also described in this story. 

About the Author:

Na’ima B. Robert- Na’ima B. Robert is “Muslim, Black, mixed-race, South African, Western, revert and woman all in one”. Scottish on her father’s side and Zulu on her mother’s side. She was born in Leeds and grew up in Zimbabwe.  She attended University of London and has worked in marketing, performing arts, teaching, travel, and tourism.  All of these things inspire her when writing now.  When she became a mum she began writing children’s books.  She has converted to Islam and married a Ghanaian convert.  She now lives between South London and Egypt. 

Shirin Adl- Shirin Adl was born Shirin Saramad in Harlow in 1975. A little while later she left England for Iran and decided to stay there as it seemed like a good place for growing up. She got her degree in illustration at Loughborough University.  She also designs greeting cards, and Ramadan Moon is her first children’s book.Shirin currently lives in Oxford with her lovely husband Mr. Adl.

Themes:

Understanding what Ramadan is and how it is celebrated.

Following the lifestyle of a Muslim family

Learning to be humble and grateful

Being charitable towards others

Learning the cycles of the moon

Pre-Reading Activites:

-Group work about the Islam religion.  Have students break into 4 groups.  Each group will become an expert about one portion of the Islam religion. (History, Holidays and Food, Prayer, and Restrictions/Limitations)  Once each group has found the information for their criteria they will present their information to the class in a short presentation.  They have the choice of how they want to visually present the information. (Powerpoint, poster, or handout)

-Mini- lesson or review on the moon cycle.  Have the students draw out the moon cycle after discussing it so that they understand what is going on when the young girl describes it during Ramadan.  Islam bases their religion on the Lunar cycle, which is why the moon cycle is so important.

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-Have students define words from a word wall by first writing the definition, then drawing a picture, and lastly putting the word in a complete sentence.  This will help lessen the confusion when the students come to these words in the story.

Post Reading Activities:

-Have students think of their favorite holiday and write a short story about it with vivid illustrations. 

*With older kids you can ask them to answer the following questions after writing their story. 

            - Why is this holiday important to you?

            - Is this holiday celebrated by your religion and why is it celebrated?

            - What unique family traditions do you follow pertaining to this holiday?

-Compare and contrast Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr with another holiday that the student celebrates.  They can use a Venn diagram or be creative with their graphic organizers to compare and contrast.

-Create a project of choice to explain the aspects of Ramadan including: fasting, prayers, celebration, moon cycle, and charity.  This can be done in a variety of ways like poster, shadow box, diorama, song, skit, etc.  Again I would let the students have a choice in how they present.

Reflection:

When I began reading this book the vibrant illustrations were what first peaked my interest.  The title gives away the topic of the book, so I knew what I would be getting in to.  I liked that the narration is done by a young girl, and this allows young children to put themselves in her shoes.  The author also does not put any distinct location of where the young narrator lives.  I believe this is smart because they all readers can put themselves in this story, and they will not feel like this only happens in some far off distant place. 

I love that the illustrations are using different materials and fabrics that make you look deeper into what is being shown.  It is great that the moon is shown on almost every page so that the reader can follow along with what the moon cycle looks like on each day of Ramadan.  This book portrays the importance and excitement that both Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr hold for Muslims.  This book is best for those interested in learning more about the Muslim holiday.  This is also a great book for Muslim students to read and show off and have pride in their religion.  It would also help the student explain their customs to others (peers and teachers).

Links:

Na'ima B. Robert Bio.

Shirin Adl Bio.

The Graveyard Book: Growing up with the Dead

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The Graveyard Book

By: Neil Gaiman

Publisher: Library of Congress Catologing-in-Publication Data

Copyright: 2008

Newbery Medal Winner 2009

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 5th or 6th grade



Brief Synopsis: Nobody Owen's parents and sister were brutally murdered when he was just a baby.  Jack, the murderer, tried chasing Bod down the hill to finish the job and kill the whole family, but he lost sight of where he went.  Bod ended up crawling to a nearby graveyard, and was taken in by the ghosts and spirits that lived there. We get to experience Bod's journey as he learns and grows up in a cemetary.  His life is adventured filled because he is a very curious boy  He seems like a normal boy to those he loves, but the outside is a very unknown and dangerous place for Bod to be.

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About the Author:
 Neil Gaiman is known for his post-modern graphic novels and stories.  Neil grew up in England and now lives in Minnesota.  He has written numerous award winning books including Coraline, Sandman, and The Graveyard Book.  He grew up loving to read, and always carried around books with the genres of science fiction and fantasy. He began writing comics after high school when he could no longer find comics suited for a more mature audience.  I think that Gaiman was inspired by a lot of the stories he read as a child since he was drawn to science fiction and fantasy genres.  In The Graveyard Book Gaiman creates a very dark and dangerous setting that draws the reader in to see what happens to our young character, Bod.



Theme: Finding Oneself
            Death and Supernatural
            Pushing Boundaries
            Growing up and Exploration



Pre-Reading Activities:
-Have the students do an activity dealing with mood.  This book creates a very clear sense of a dark and eerie mood, and the students should be able to point out the language the author uses to create this.  For the activity pass out a mood card to each student; examples, cheerful, gloomy, meloncholy, suspenseful, etc.  The students then go to see who has the same mood card as them.  In their groups, the students will make a list of words that will help them write a story with the mood on their card.  After 10-15 minutes creating a list the groups will write a one page story together creating the mood from their card in the story.

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Post-Reading Activities:
- During the story the student can create a vocabulary word list of words that are unknown to them and will define them as they are reading.  When they come back to the class they can share the vocabulary words that they had difficulty with. 

- Also students can complete their mood sheet during and after they read a chapter in the book.  On the mood sheet they will pick out the words in the chapter that have created a eerie, dangerous, or dark mood.  They will bring this back to class to discuss with the whole class.

Reflection: This story is a great book for students to see a kid grow up in a world very different from their own.  They can remove themselves from their world and put themselves in Bod's shoes.  The Graveyard Book is a fantasy story with ghosts and ghouls and a boy living in the middle of it all.  Above all this is an adventure story of a young boy discovering things that are forbidden of him.  Students can relate to him in this way because they probably have done things also that they were told not to.  They can share how their life relates to this book in class discussions. 
I think the illustrations in this chapter book really add to the mood already created with the words.  The students can create a picture in their mind of hat they are reading and this can be enhanced by the pictures throughout the book. 
Gaiman won the Newbery Medal in 2009 for this book and I can see why this book is seen as "distinguished."  It is very well written and even though Bod lives in a creepy graveyard he still has qualities and fears that we can all relate to.  This story offers many ways to interpret and practice many literary skills with students.




Links:
Neil Gaiman
Biography
Book Information
Newbery Award

When You Reach Me: Solving the Unknown

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When You Reach Me

By: Rebecca Steid

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

Copyright: 2009

2010 Newbery Medal Winner

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 5th or 6th grade

Brief Synopsis: Living in an apartment in New York City a middle school girl named Miranda has a life like a lot of other girls her age.  She is having trouble with her best friend, a boy who live in her apartment complex, and they begin to grow apart.  One day she walks home from school and find that her front door is unlocked.  After her and her mother look everywhere for stolen items and what could have happened she finds a note from a mysterious person giving her instructions on what she needs to do.  For the remainder of the story Miranda brings the readers on the journey with her to discover who this anonymous writer is and what they want with her. 

About the Author: Rebecca Steid grew up on the Upper West side of NYC in the 1970's, and uses this experience to help her to express Miranda's adventure in the same location and time of NYC.  Miranda tells the reader her journey to and from school each day, and what is dangerous and what isn't while walking home.  I'm sure Rebecca adds some things she learned in the same experience while growing up and going to school in NYC. Rebecca was also inspired by a newspaper article she read that was about "a man who had lost his memory and then, while hypnotized, told the police his wife and two daughters had been in a car accident. But when the police circulated his picture, a woman came forward and said she was his fiancée, that they had no children, and that there had been no car accident." Rebecca took this story and developed it into something interesting and new.

Theme: Coming of age story

            Discovering the Unknown

            Talking about the idea of Time Travel

            Getting to know people by walking in their shoes

Pre-Reading Activity: Have students write in their journal responding to the following prompt: Think of a time when you and a friend had a disagreement.  What was the disagreement?  How long did the fight last?  Could the disagreement have been resolved if you had talked to your friend about it? How? 

Post Reading Activity: Make a character development chart:

Character       Personality Traits      Relationship with Miranda     Outcome

Have students work with a partner on this activity and then report their ideas to the whole class.

Reflection: This book offers a lot to be used in the classroom.  The students will be able to relate to the book because they come across problems with friends and the school experience just like the main character, Miranda, does.  Even though this takes place in the 1970's, they can still put themselves in Miranda's place because she is a very likable character with an interesting story to tell.  Students can go on this journey with Miranda as she discovers herself and the mysteries in the story.
 

               This book offers a look into the future that the students could try to imagine themselves.  You could have them predict what they think the future could have in it.  This allows students to think outside the box because this story also think outside of the box, but makes it very believable to the reader. 

               The chapters in this book make reading it very easy, especially for short attention spans.  Most chapters are 3-4 pages and keep the reader engaged and eager to find out what happens in the next chapter. 

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Links:

Rebecca Steid

Book Information