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.

Let's Talk About Down Syndrome: What is it all about?

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Let's Talk About Down Syndrome

By: Melanie Apel Gordon

Publisher: New York : PowerKids Press

Copyright: 1999

Genre: Special Needs, Nonfiction

Grade Level: 2nd or 3rd

Brief Synopsis: Describes what causes Down syndrome and how it affects those children who have it, stressing how they can be helped to lead happy lives.

About the Author:
Melanie Apel Gordon is a published author of children's books and young adult books. Some of the published credits of Melanie Apel Gordon include Let's Talk About Dyslexia, Let's Talk About Head Lice (Let's Talk Library), Let's Talk About When Kids Have Cancer (Let's Talk Library), and Living with Adversity (Let's Talk Library).

Themes: - Learning about down syndrome
- Diagnosing and Testing for down syndrome
- Growing up with Down Syndrome

Pre-Reading Activities:

- Have the students do a book walk and explain to a partner what they see, and how they see the book is set up.

Post Reading Activities:

- Have the students each get a Chapter to focus on.  They are responsible for reporting back to the class about what they read.
- Students will make a poster about Down Syndrome after having heard all of the presentations and information.

Reflection: This book is very informational for those that do not know what down syndrome is.  It is very simple writing and is easy for all ages to understand.  It puts the important terms in bold so while reading it is easy to pick out the words that are new. This book would be great for a classroom who needs to understand this Disorder.

Links:

Melanie Apel Gordon Bio.

Autism and Me: Sibling Stories

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Autism and Me: Sibling Stories

By: Ouisie Shapiro

Photographs By: Steven Vote

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company

Copyright: 2009

Genre: Non-Fiction, Special Needs, Coping Skills

Grade Level: 2nd, 3rd, or 4th

Brief Synopsis:

About the Author:

Ouisie Shapiro- she is a writer and producer specializing in sports documentaries. She is a three-time Emmy award winner whose most recent shows include "Joe Louis, America's Hero...Betrayed" and "Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football," both for HBO sports. Ouisie is the author of " Autism and Me: Sibling Stories." She is working on a book about bullying and a documentary about Vince Lombardi. She holds a graduate degree in journalism

Steven Vote-he is an internationally recognized Australian photographer. Now, after almost 20 years of working in advertising and editorial photography, Steven’s fine art work is coming to the surface. While living in New York City, Steven saw a unique charm in taxis.

Themes: - Learning about the symptoms of Autism

- A glimpse into the life of austistic children

- Siblings telling of their experience living autistic siblings

- The power of love to heal

Pre-Reading Activities:

- Have the students write a short essay about one of their siblings.  If they don't have a sibling have them write it about a close friend or cousin.  In their essay they will include; a description of their sibling, things they do together, and what makes them special.  This will help lead into the story.

- Teach students what autism is.  We will have a whole group discussion about Autism and it will be open to questions from the students once I have presented all of the information

Post Reading Activities:

- Have partners choose a sibling group from the book to read about and then have to report back to the class.  This will help students practice recall and share. 

- After reading the book to the class ask the students to give examples of autism throughout the book. Was it aways the same? What was different from story to story?  What does this book teach you?

Reflection: I really enjoy the setup of this book and its own way of explaining what autism is.  I love that it gives real life stories and experiences of children around the age of who the reader is.  Some students have never encountered autism before and this will give insight on how to treat students with autism.  This book reminds teachers to be empathetic to all students because you may not know everything that is affecting them all the time.

Links:

Book Info.

Ouisie Shapiro Bio.

Steven Vote

"If you see a kid with autism on the street, don't yell at her if she's doing something wrong. She can't help it. Autism is really challenging," explains Christian, who tells about life with his sister, Mary Gwen, a beautiful girl who loves to swim. In these moving essays, Christian and many other kids tell what it's like to live with siblings who have autism. Sometimes they can't talk much. Sometimes they have tantrums. It can be tough for a family, but there are happy surprises, too. "Autism has helped us to become a better family," adds Christian. "It teaches us patience and understanding." Ouisie Shapiro's inspiring book shows how children - and all of us - can grow in wisdom, acceptance, and love. Steven Vote's warm photos capture the rich emotional life of these amazing families.

The Alphabet War: Living with Dyslexia

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The Alphabet War: A Story About Dyslexia
By: Diane Burton Robb
Illustrator: Gail Piazza

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Copyright: 2004

Genre: Nonfiction, Special Needs, Coping Book

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 2nd

Brief Synopsis: Adam starts school, and although he loves stories, he can't seem to get the words to make sense. Over the next few years, he slowly despairs of ever learning to read. Instead, he imagines that he is being held captive by an evil king who torments him with vowels. His parents hire tutors to help, but it isn't until a specialist comes in at the beginning of third grade and diagnoses him as dyslexic that things start to look up. For Adam, it has become a much bigger problem than just learning how to read-he must also find the self-confidence that years of failure have robbed from him. His new teacher helps him see that reading will always be hard for him, but that it is possible. The pastel illustrations adequately convey Adam's emotions. Although the text often tells rather than shows the boy's plight, the subject matter is handled with respect for his feelings at every stage of the process, and does not oversimplify or sugarcoat the difficulties of dyslexia.-

About the Author:

Diane Burton Robb- she is a published author of children's books. Published credits of Diane Burton Robb include The Alphabet War: A Story About Dyslexia.  There was not much to find on this author.
Gail Piazza- she is a home economics consultant with a Master's degree in Food and Nutrition. For over thirty years, she has developed and tested recipes and styled food for movies, television commercials, print ads and packaging for an extensive list of high-profile clients, such as All-Clad, Emerilware, Krups, Farberware and Lenox Corporation.

Themes: - Learning about dyslexia
- The frustration students feel when they do not understand something
- Struggling in school leading to violence towards others
- Teacher's need to take notice of student's behaviors to help in finding learning disabilities.

Pre-Reading Activities:
- Have students read a passage in which the words were not all spelt correctly and many of them should have the words being jumbled.  This will create for the class what it feels like to suffer from dyslexia.  They will answer questions like, how did you feel while reading this passage? and what helped you get through the reading?
- Talk to students about using pictures in the book to help them enhance their understanding of what is occurring.  his book is full of fantastic pictures they display the characters emotions and the students she be prepared to be looking for these hints in the words as well and the pictures.

Post Reading Activities:
- Write a letter to Adam suggesting ways to help him read with dyslexia.  How can the student help Adam to  not give up on school and reading?
- Students will fill out a story map of the events that happen in this story.  What does Adam do to get from the beginning to the ending?  What were the steps leading to the turning point?  They will fill this out alone and then hand in for clarification.

Reflection: I really was captured by the title of the book because it is very clever.  Sometimes students can feel defeated and overwhelmed with reading especially if they have a disorder like dyslexia.  It is important that students don't use the disability as an excuse to give up, and this book helps to encourage students suffering from dyslexia not to give up.  The illustrations are amazing at capturing Adam's emotions, from sad to overjoyed, throughout his journey.  This book would be good for both students wanting to learn about dyslexia and students suffering from dyslexia.

Links:
Book info.

Gail Piazza Bio

Big Cats: Hunters of the Night

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Big Cats: Hunters of the Night
By: Elaine Landau

Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Incorporated
Copyright: 2007

Genre: Nonfiction, Animals

Grade Level: 3rd or 4th

Brief Synopsis: Lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars are all big cats, and you would not like to meet them in the dark! They rest during the day but come to life at night to hunt. With a mighty roar, the big cats chase down their prey. Sharp teeth and claws and powerful jaws mean certain doom. Author Elaine Landau tells the reader all about these beautiful hunters: how they hunt, where they live, and what the future holds for the big cats.

About the Author:

Elaine Landau is a highly acclaimed author of over 300 nonfiction books. She has written on such subjects as terrorism, earth science, the supernatural, planets, dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, ecology and a broad range of contemporary issues.
Her most recent published books include Oil Spill!: Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, Pluto: From Planet to Dwarf, Big Cats: Hunters f the Night, The Best Dog Ever series.
Ms. Landau lives in tropical Miami with her husband, Norman, and her son, Michael. Her husband, a top-notch researcher, works with her on many of her books. Their son, Michael, tells jokes and encourages them to take him to Disney World. When that doesn't work as often as he'd like, he suggests that they eat out. Many of Elaine Landau's books have been written under a palm tree while drinking lemonade. However, her favorite trip was going to chilly Scotland to research a book on the Loch Ness monster. She also loved visiting Alaska.

Themes: - Learning about the life of Big Cats
- What some of the aspects are we learn about in an informational book with animals
- Creatures of the Night series

Pre-Reading Activities:
- Have students analyze the differences between tigers, lions, bears, and cheeatahs.  They will write down what they already know the differences are.  They will fill out a graphic organizer to seperate these big cats into their specific categories.
- Review with students how to take notes while reading a nonfiction book.  Explain to them that while they read Big Cats they will be putting post-its on things that they have "learned" while reading.  They do not need to put post-its on things that they already know.

Post Reading Activities:
- Students will add to their graphic organizer about the difference between tigers, lions, bears, and cheetahs.  They will add the differences that they learned in the book that they did not already have.  After finishing this they may get into a group of 4 and each person in the group will choose one of the 4 wild cats to illustrate.  They will need to include specific details from their notes when drawing to receive full credit.
- Students will take out their book with the post-it notes throughout it.  They will use these notes to make a list of things they have learned in their journal.  This journal can be used during discussion at the end of the book.
- This book is broken into categories about the wild cats, and students will choose their own animal to do a project on and set their book up in the same way.  The different areas to include are; description of animal, habitat, diet, motherhood and young, threats, and routines.

Reflection: The most eye-catching thing about this book is the photographs.  They really bring the reader in to want to know more.  The black pages really make the pictures and words pop, and stay with the theme of the series; creatures of the night.  I would really like to use this book as a model of how students can set up their project and what categories should be included.  The author write in a very simple way that can reach out to many different readers.  Overall this book is a good beginner nonfiction to share with the class and keep in the classroom to use as a reference in the future.

Links:
Book Info.

Elaine Landau Bio.

The Batte of Gettysburg: Important Decisions Made during wartime

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The Battle of Gettysburg: Would You Lead the Fight?

By: Elaine Landau

Publisher: Enslow Elementary; Enslow Prod. Inc.

Copyright: 2009

Genre: Nonfiction, Civil War, History

Grade Level: 4th, 5th, or 6th

Brief Synopsis:  By 1863, the Civil War was far from over. Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his troops to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. President Abraham Lincoln sent a large Union army, hoping he was in time to stop the Confederate army's advance. On July 1, the battle of Gettysburg began. Thousands of men were killed, but this deadly battle was a turning point that changed the war. After the battle's end, Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address. Author Elaine Landau helps the reader ponder the difficult questions that faced the leaders during this brutal battle.

About the Author:

Elaine Landau- she is a highly acclaimed author of over 300 nonfiction books. She has written on such subjects as terrorism, earth science, the supernatural, planets, dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, ecology and a broad range of contemporary issues.       Elaine has a BA degree in English and Journalism and a Masters degree in Library and Information Science.

        Ms. Landau lives in tropical Miami with her husband, Norman, and her son, Michael.

Themes: - Learning about the Battle of Gettyburg

- Important key Historic Figures during the Civil War
- Learning how to read and learn from nonfirction books

Pre-Reading Activities- The students will have to be learning about the Civil War in history.  Review with the students the events that led up to the Battle of Gettysburg.  They can do this by writing notes or answering questions with a partner.
- Make a list of the main historical figures that were involved in the Battle of Gettysburg.  By identifying them they will not look so foreign when we begin the read the book together.


Post Reading Activities:- Answer the question: Do you prefer reading a book like this over reading the information in your textbook?  Why?  By getting this feedback from students it will help to plan what type of nonfiction book to use in the future.
- Give questions after each section read together (or alone based on the students you are teaching).  What would you do if...  These questions are provided in the book.  They can answer the questions and then discuss them with a partner.
- Watch a short viedo on the Battle of Gettysburg...what information is the same in the book and video?  And what information was new?  Which source is more reliable?  Why?  By being able to evaluate their own sources the students will be able much better equipped to research accurately in the future.


Reflection: I liked this book because it contained a lot of information, and it got the students thinking about what they would do if they were put in the same situation.  One reason we learn history is so that we can learn and grow from the past, and this is a way we can see where the students stand after they have the information.  I like that the book is sectioned off on different events and people from the Battle.  It also offers a "words to know" section and index to make reading the book easier.  I love that they include website and books for the students to learn more in because we could even use these sources to compare to.  This can be used in the sources reliability activity from the post-reading activities.


Links:

Book Info.

Elaine Landau Bio.


One Small Step: The US Lands on the Moon!

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One Small Step: Celebrating the First Men on the Moon

By: Jerry Stone

Cover Illustration:Terry Pastor

Book Design: Andy Mansfield

Publisher: Templar Publishing

Copyright: 2009

Genre: Non-Fiction, Space Travel

Grade Level: 4th, 5th, or 6th

Brief Synopsis:

RELIVE THE WALK THAT CHANGED THE WORLD  Touch, feel, and experience the story behind the first moon landing.


This celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing is a collection of keepsakes and memories that bring that historic moment of pride an accomplishment to life for a new generation. A stunning lenticular cover animates man's first steps on the moon; an embossed textured page inside reproduces footprints in lunar soil; stickers, replicas, mission patches, fold-out newspaper pages, collecting cards, removable novelties and more complete this spectacular commemorative book.

About the Author:

Jerry Stone- Surprisingly could not find any information on him.  The book is supposed to be in the perpective of Mike, son of the NASA scientist.

Themes: - Learning about the Space Race

- What an astronaut experiences in space

- Memoir of the astronauts in Apollo 11

Pre-Reading Activities:

- Have the students make a mind map of everything they know about space exploration and astronauts.  Once they have finished their own mind map they will share it with a partner and compare notes.

- Show a video clip of Apollo 11 and have students share their reactions in a class discussion.

- Discuss the history of the space race between the US and Russia.  Have the students answer questions for clarification after teaching the history lesson.

Post Reading Activities:

- Discuss how Science Fiction turned into Non-Fiction with the Apollo 11 landing on the moon.  Many of the things about space were fantasized about before this event and after it we could actually prove what exists on the moon.  The students could use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast when space travel was Science Fiction to after when it became Non-Fiction.

- Have the students look over the way this book is set up.  It is a scrapbook of many different things that occurred during the Apollo 11 voyage. Ask the students what intrigued them about the style this author has?  What made them want to keep reading and finding more information? The students could then pick a significant event in their own life and make a scrap book of it.  The more create they are with their scrapbook the better.  They can be inspired by the variety that this book offers them.

Reflection: This book was very different than any I have read before in this non-fiction category.  I think that the students would be fascinated by the pop-ups and fun facts throughout the book.  The setup of this book might be benficial for a student who learns best with hands-on activities.  They will be able to pull out hidden messages in envelopes, find pop out space shuttles, and many other fun, interactive facts througout the book.  Students don't mind or notice that they are reading or learning when books are fun to read, and it would feel like an adventure to make their way throught it.

Links:

Book Info.



Ocean Hide and Seek: Camouflage Under the Sea

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Ocean Hide and Seek

By: Jennifer Evans Kramer

Illustrator: Gary P. Phillips

Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing

Copyright: 2009

Genre: Marine Animals, Nonfiction, Juvenile Literature

Grade Level: Preschool - 3rd

Brief Synopsis: The sea is a place of mystery, where animals big and small play hide and seek! Can you imagine a shark hiding in the light? What about a clownfish in plain sight? Don't believe it? Then, sink into the deep blue sea with Jennifer Evans Kramer and Ocean Hide and Seek! Surround yourself with the vibrant ocean illustrations of Gary R. Phillips. The ocean is an old, old place, and the exotic animals in the depths have learned to adapt to their surroundings to survive. Can you find the creatures hidden on every page? Or will you, too, be fooled by an ancient, underwater disguise?

About the Author:
Jennifer Evans Kramer- she loves spending time outdoors and believes children make the very best nature guides. Jennifer graduated with a BA from Emory University and a JD/MBA from Georgia State University. It was at Emory that Jennifer obtained her NAUI scuba certification. Her first dive trip was to a rock quarry in Alabama, where there were no sea animals. Since then, she has snorkeled and dived off Maui, the Caymans, and the coast of Cozumel. She loves to talk about coming face-to-face with a white tipped reef shark! In addition to Ocean Hide and Seek (Spring 2009), Jennifer has also written Good Luck Charlie and The Ninth Dragon. She has fiction and non-fiction stories and articles published with Highlights for Children, Ladybug, Educational Testing, McGraw Hill, and more. Jennifer currently resides in Georgia, with her husband, four children, and a standard poodle that thinks he is Elvis.
Gary R. Phillips- he has been a freelance illustrator for 25 years. He has illustrated for numerous clients in both the editorial and children's illustration markets receiving Verse Page Illustrator of the Year from Highlights magazine in 2003 as well as five other awards from Highlights. Gary has several books to his credit, including 86 Years: The Legend of the Red Sox, New Old Shoes, The Naptime Book, and Santa's Little Sleigh.  He has also taught illustration and creative thinking as an adjunct professor. Gary lives in a rural corner of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, two daughters, and two Siamese cats. He loves camping, tennis, painting out in nature, and drawing wherever he goes.

Themes: - Learning about the importance of camouflage
- Animals tactics to survive
- Using rhyming and repetition to create a flow while reading
- Learning about different marine animals

Pre-Reading Activities:
- Have the students play a round or two of hide-and-seek.  Once the game is over have a class discussion about the strategies they used to stay hidden the longest.  What helped them to not be found by the other players?  Why were some students found very quickly?  Ask the seekers...What skills did you use to find the other classmates?
- Ask students to come up with everything they know about fish and marine life.  What types of fish do they know?  What do they eat?  Where do they live?  Once they are done, come up with a big class list of all the prior knowledge coming from the students regarding marine life.
- Begin a class aquarium and have the students take on the tasks like feeding the fish.  This will build students interest in learning about sea life if it is also something that can take care of in the classroom.

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Post Reading Activities:

- Make a graphic organizer for the students to get the technical, scientific aspects out of the story.  Next to each marine animal have them write what they do to hide or stay safe.

- What other animals use camouflage like the sea creatures in this book?  Students will turn and talk, and then we will connect the story to things that we already know.  After this the students will create a picture of their animal of choice and their habitat.  They will include a couple sentences on how they camouflage themselves.

- Ask the students how the illustrators in the book help us understand how these sea creatures stay safe?  What do you like about the illustrations?

- Students will get in groups of 3 and will receive a fact from the book about ocean hide and seek.  They will become the experts on their topic and as they present the rest of the class will listen and take notes.  The description of the animal needs to be in the students on words.  They will get a sheet that says; Fact Title, Description, Example.  There will be multiple areas for this because students will need to write in their notes as they are listening to the other groups. 

- Imagine if you could change your own skin color to blend into your surroundings.  In fact, if you look at the army camouflage outfit, that's what soldiers do with their clothes!  To what color would you change your skin to hide in or around:

WATER, GRASS, SAND, ROCKS, SNOW, LEAVES, MUD, TREES. 

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Reflection: I really like this nonfiction book because it is not typical of what most would picture a nonfiction book to be.  It is a cute and catchy storyline that also teaches the students a lot about camouflage under the sea and the survival of marine life.  The pictures are very vivid and really help to capture the creatures hiding in their habitat.  I like that the book also includes links to their educational website for the book.  The publisher has many books on this website that come with games, pictures, and other fun facts.

Links:

Book Info.

Jennifer Kramer and Gary Phillips Bio.

Food for Thought: Where Did Your Food Come From?

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Food for Thought: The Stories Behind the Things We Eat

By: Ken Robbins

Publisher: Flashpoint Roaring Book Press

Copyright: 2009

Genre: Nonfiction, Food

Grade Level: 4th, 5th, or 6th

Brief Synopsis:  Apples, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes- these are just a few of the foods we consume everyday.  But have you ever wondered about the stories behind them?  Join renowned photographer and author Ken Robbins as he leads you through the fascinating world of what we eat.  Deliciously interesting, tasty morsels of cultural history combined with luscious photographs will leave readers hungry for more.

"Every kind of food has its story." Acclaimed photographer Ken Robbins guides us through the history, mythology, and literary significance of food. Fascinating factsÑit was an apple that started the Trojan War; oranges used to be so expensive that only the rich could afford them—and stunning photographs make Food for Thought a tasty read that will have everyone looking at their plates in a new way.

About the Author:

Ken Robbins- he specializes in photographic nonfiction books on subjects ranging from the Brooklyn Bridge to autumn leaves. His book Tools, with its trademark hand-tinted photographs was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. His books for Atheneum include Fireflies at Midnight by Marilyn Singer, Trucks, Thunder on the Plains, and Apples. Mr. Robbins lives in East Hampton, Long Island.  In a career spanning 25 years and more than 2 dozen books, Ken Robbins has established himself as one of the foremost creators of nonfiction for children. 

Themes: - Find out the stories behind different foods
- Origin of food throughout history
- Descriptions of what the foods are good for
- Gaining appreciation for the food we eat on a regular basis

Pre-Reading Activities:
- Have students catergorize a list of foods into their correct food group as a whole group of the white board/felt board.
- Teach or review the food pyramid.  Have students color the food pyramid and list how much of each food group they should eat each day. 
- Have students create a dinner that constitutes as a "well-balanced meal" they will take this drawing home to their parents to find out if their dinner would be "Well balanced"
- Ask the class what the title might mean, "food for thought."  How is it kind of a play on words or pun?

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Post Reading Activities:
- Have the students each choose a food from the book.  They will each get into a group based on their food choice and create a poster to bullet the interesting facts about that food item.  Displaying these vibrant posters in the hall will get the rest of the school excited about fun, cool, healthy food.
- Have students go beyond the book and try to find information on foods that were not mentioned in the book.  Let students explore their natural curiosity.

Reflection: This book will grab the attention of students right away with the colorful and detailed photographs throughout it.  The text in this book can get pretty complicated and a read aloud would be best to use because it is above most students reading levels.  These stories and tales aren't part of the curriculum about the food pyramid, but they will spark the interest in students to remember the foods.  They might remember their value and placement in the food pyramid when having a story behind them. 
The food for thought at the very end of the book is spectacular!  Robbins touches on starvation in the world due to poverty, natural disasters, and contamination.  This helps students realize the fortune they have to have this food readily available and appreciate the things in life that many people are not as lucky to have.

Links:

Book Info.

Ken Robbins Bio.

Dinothesaurus: Poems about the Extinct

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Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings

By: Douglas Florian

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Copyright: 2009

Genre: Poetry, Nonfiction

Grade Level: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd

Brief Synopsis:

This book is full of dinosaurs,

Both carnivores and herbivores.

You'll find a big Iguanodon,

As well as a clever Tro-o-don.

There's Spinosaurus and T. rex,

Plus plesiosaurs with giant necks,

And others from an ancient age.

Want to learn more?

Then turn the page!

This book is loaded with poems about the different types of Dinosaurs that existed millions of years ago.  It is not only educational, but poetry too!

About the Author:

Douglas Florian- he is the creator of many acclaimed picture books including Dinothesaurus, which received starred reviews in four major publications, Comet, Stars, The Moon and Mars, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and Horn Book Fanfare List selection; Bow Wow Meow Meow, winner of the Gryphon Award and a Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year; and Lizards, Frogs and Polliwogs, a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book. He lives with his family in New York.

Themes: - Exploring the different types of dinosaurs that existed
- Using poetry to educate about dinosaurs
- Comparing and contrasting this extinct species

Pre-Reading Activities:
- Begin unit on dinosaurs before reading any of these poems to the class.  They will need prior knowledge to understand what is being said in the poems.  Have students fill out a KWL chart about dinosurs.  These charts will be evaluated and then whatever students lack knowledge in will be taught.
- Teach or review what EXTINCT means.  Have a class discussion on the rug for this activity.  We will work with a poster to brainstorm the definition of extinct and some examples of extinct things of the past.

Post Reading Activities:
- Have students pronounce the names of the dinosaurs with you.  Florian writes in the correct pronounciation, and the students need to know how to use this to help them say the word out loud.  Once we practice as a whole group have the students split off into partners to practice with each dinosaurs name.
- Students will pick one poem from this book.  With their poem they will explain each line of the poem in their own words.  Once they have found information about their dinosaur they will present the facts they found from the poem to the class.  Some students will get the same poem, so as they present the class can see what differences they notice between each interpretation.

Reflection: I like that this book can teach students about a particular topic in such a creative and fun way.  This type of book can show students that nonfiction does not have to be dry fact after fact.  The title of the book is playful in that you can get that it is like a thesaurus of dinosaurs.  Also most dinosaurs end in saurus and it can be a play on this fact as well.  Students could also have a continuation of this book by choosing a dinosaur from a poem and then research it.  They can find out if the poem is completely factual, and also add to the information that was already presented to them in the poem.  Dinothesaurus is very well thought out and would be a beneficial addition to and elementary classroom.

Links:

Book Info.
Douglas Florian 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.

The Blacker the Berry: Loving the Skin your In

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The Blacker the Berry

By: Joyce Carol Thomas

Illustrations By: Floyd Cooper

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishing

Copyright: 2008

Genre: Poetry, Multicultural Literature, Character Education

Grade Level: 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th

Brief Synopsis: The book is a rich collection of poetry that celebrates the beauty we can find in everyone.  Black is dazzling and distinctive, like toasted wheat berry bread; snowberries in the fall; rich, red cranberries; and the bronzed last leaves of summer.  In this lyrical and luminous collection, Coretta Scott King honorees Joyce Carol Thomas and Floyd Cooper celebrate these many shades of black beautifully. 



About the Author:

Joyce Carol Thomas- Internationally renowned author received National Book Award for Mark by Fire and Coretta Scott King Award for Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea.  Ms. Thomas lives in Berkeley, California.

Floyd Cooper- Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrations in Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea and I Have Heard of a Land.  He was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  In 1984, he came to NYC to pursue a career as an illustrator of books and now lives in Easton, Pennsylvania with his wife and two sons.

Themes: -Finding the Beauty in Everyone

- The use of Similies and Metaphors

- Poetry to describe Oneself

- Storytelling through Poetry

- Rhyming and the Flow of Words

Pre-Reading Activities:

- Explore the beauty in all colors.  Have students complete a graphic organizer, in which they think of things that remind them of a certain color.  Have them come up with an adjective to go with each noun they choose in each color category.

This will get them to start thinking about the meaning of colors in objects around them.  This will help build into the significance and meaning of different colors in people in the book.

- Have students get with one partner.  Have them interview their partner, touching on what is special and unique about them.  They will then have to present to the class about their partner with a picture and information to display.  They will take pride in their projects about their classmates.

- Have a mini-lesson on Similies and Metaphors.  What are they?  Give some examples.  Have children give their own examples.

Post Reading Activities:

- Have students go through the similies and metaphors in at least two poems from this book.  For each metaphor or simile have the students write it out and then explain what it is comparing, and what the deeper meaning might be in their own words.

- Discuss some of the poems as a whole class.  What are they trying to say?  Why is it important to see beauty in everyone? ... etc.  After this have students write a poem about themselves and the skin that they are in.

Reflection: This poetry book is full of beautiful and moving words that are from the heart.  The reader is pulled into each poem with the flow of the language, and then leaves the poem changed from the meaning in the words.  We are put into the narrator's shoes when they describe themselves in such a postive way, and each stanza provokes emotion.  The illustrations pefectly fit in with the elegant language, and they create the picture of the person to help understand the comparisons being made in the words of the poem.  The light and expressions on the children's faces help the book alive.  This book of poems is really helpful to get students to find the beauty in everyone and themselves.  Our world is full of different colors, shapes, and sizes of people.  When we can look and find the beauty in those around us, it will help to make the world a more accepting and harmonious place.  Remember that the world would be such a boring place if we were all cookie cutter and the same with no variety and personality. 

Links:

Book Info.

Joyce Carol Thomas Bio.

Floyd Cooper Bio.