Waiting by Paul Henkes

Waiting by Paul Henkes

Five toys wait at the window. The owl waits for the moon, the pig waits for the rain, the dog waits for the snow, the bear waits for the wind, but the bunny just likes to look out the window. Every so often a toy leaves but always comes back, and other times new friends come and go. However, looking out the widow and waiting makes them happy, because they see so many interesting things like clouds, lightning, rainbows, and fireworks. One day a new friends comes, a cat who doesn’t seem to be waiting for anything until one day when nine more cats come out of their new friend and so that there are ten of them. So, they are all happy together.

Review: This is an adorable story I would love to read to Pre-k students and younger. The illustrations are beautiful and even tell part of the story. This would be a grea book to introduce seasons chaning as the caracters wait for specific weathers to occur as they stand in the window.

The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock by Bill Peet

The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock by Bill Peet

Summary: Prewitt Peacock’s tail was not the best tail, it had scraggly feathers and only two eyes, because of this was always at the back of the group where Phineas Peacock was at the front. Prewitt waited and waited for his tail to grow as beautiful as the other, but it never did. Prewitt’s tail grew more wile, with fluffy dark eyebrows growing above the two eyes, a mouth below and even arms with claws at the end. Prewitt shrugged it off and though to himself that it could be worse and so he went about to join the group. It took a week for everyone to notice his tail, but when they did they were all in an upset about and Phineas had to calm everyone down. Once all was calm, Phineas became angry with Prewitt and called his tail spooky and that h=he had to either lose the tail or leave the pack. Later that night, Prewitt had a dream about an elephant with no trunk, a giraffe with no neck, a camel with no humps, a Prewitt with no tail. When Prewitt woke the next day he told Phineas that he and his tail were staying, but this made everyone mad, mad enough to start chasing Prewitt through the trees and into an open field. In the field was old tiger Travis who was ready to pounce on the now frightened peacocks. Before he could though, Prewitt's tail sprang up and scared old Travis away. Phineas and the other peacocks were so grateful that they asked him to be their new leader, but he declined. Prewitt decided he wanted to roam free and Phineas asked if they could follow him around and he agreed. Eventually, there were so many followers that Prewitt agreed to be their leader and now he truly now what it meant to be a proud peacock.

Review: This is a great book for independent readers in third, fourth, and fifth grade. Its a real fun book and a great way to teach children about learning to accept and appreciate other's differences. This a book I would love to have in my classroom. Also, an interesting fact that I found out about Bill Peet is that he worked with Walt Disney Animations Studios, and worked on Snow White.

Little Bear’s Visit by Else Holmlund Minarik, Illustrated by Maurice Sendack

Little Bear’s Visit by Else Holmlund Minarik, Illustrated by Maurice Sendack

Summary: Little bear went to go visit Grandmother Bear and Grandfather Bear. Here he liked to try one his Grandfather’s clothes and eat his Grandmother’s cooking. That day Grandfather Bear took Little Bear to have a fun day and when they were done, they sat down for a story, but Grandfather bear fell asleep. While Grandfather Bear was sleeping Little bear went to find Grandmother bear in the garden. When Little bear found her he asked her to tell him a story instead, and so they skipped to the summer house where she told him the story of Mother Bear and Her Robin. In this story Mother Bear, as a young girl, finds a young robin hurt on the ground and takes him home. Soon the Robin heals but Mother Bear is not ready to let him go. Eventually, Mother Bear sees that Robin is sad and so she sets him fee, but every year he comes back to see her. After the story, Grandfather wakes up and tells Little Bear a story about a Goblin. In this story there was goblin who hears a scary noise in his cave and runs off into a tree hole. When he peeks outside he find that it had been his own shoes chasing after him. When the stories are over Little Bear’s parents coming to pick him up and Little Bear insists that he is not tired, but before they leave they all find that Little Bear has fallen to sleep.

Review: I though that this easy-to-read would be a fun read-a-loud book for younger children, and it is appropriate for children in Pre-k to second grade. This book would be great for students who are learning how to read independently, that's how I would use it in my classroom. It would be on a shelf where students can find their own independent reading books. I would love to have this book in my classroom, as I remember the joy I had reading them and even watching that came out in the mornings before school started.

The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter

The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter

Summary: An old tailor who lived in Gloucester was very poor but made beautiful clothing. He would even little little scraps of cloth for the mice that would run around town without ever going into the streets. One evening when he came home he told his cat, Simpkin, to buy some things and especially some more twist so that he could make the nicest cherry-colored coat for the Mayor of Gloucester. Only, his cat. Simpkin forgot to by the twist and was angry that the Old man had let his mice loose from where he had trapped them. Later on that day the old man had found that he was growing sick and he was for the christmas holiday. However, the mice who had clothed and set free saw that he was sick and heard about what he said about making a cherry coat for the Mayor of Gloucester. On Christmas morning, when the animals were able to speak, the cat searched the cats that he old man had set free, and he found them in the Tailor shops singing songs. Now, because Simpkin could not find the key, he could not go into the store to get the mice. And so Simpkin went back home and waited fro the Old man to wake and go to the story. Later that morning when the Old tailor woke and entered the store there he found no mice but instead the cherry-colored coat he had envisioned for the Mayor of Gloucester. This coat was so amazing that all gentlemen from all around came to the old tailor, who grew rich, for coats with buttons that seemed to be stitched by little brown mice.

Review: Another Beatrix Potter classic that any child from ages 3-5 would enjoy. This story was cute and I thing that children will really enjoy that the cat goes shopping and the images of small mice in tiny clothing. I would to have on a classroom on my shelf, and again the fact the book was constructed to fit into small hands makes this book all the more appealing to students. A story like this could be used to teach kindness to students  or young children not in school yet, and how it affects the people around them.

Tale Of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Summary: The Mother of four bunnies, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter had warned against going into Mr. McGregor’s garden because of what happened to their Father. However, while their Mother was out and Mopsy, Flopsy, and Cotton-tail were out picking berries, Peter decided to go to Mr. McGregor’s garden. When Peter got to the garden he ran straight into Mr. McGregor. Sacred, Peter ran as fast as he could with Mr. McGregor right on his tail. Peter lost both his shoes and his jacket before Mr. McGregor got tired of chasing him and went back to work. Peter, was not lost and wandered around the garden looking for a way out, not even a mouse taking food to her family could help. But finally, he saw the gate from which he came and ran as fast as he could not even caring that his shoes and coat had been made into a scarecrow or that he had to pass Mr. McGregor, who chased after him. One he arrived home, he fell to sleep. Later that night, Peter became ill and had to have tea instead of the yummy dinner his siblings were having.


Review: A classic like The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a great book to with 3 to 5 year olds. I would love to have this classroom, especially for the younger children, because it is a book that is made to fit their hands. This story could be used in a lesson having to do with cause and effect, such as your actions have consequences. I really enjoyed reading this book and am very excited to use it in my classroom.

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Summary: Ada lives in London, England with her brother Jamie and her Mom, in a small one bedroom apartment. While Jamie gets to go out and play with the other lane children who also not in school yet, Ada is forbidden to leave her flat, she is not even allowed to walk. However, if she could walk, play outside, and go to school her bad foot would be in too much pain for her to do it long. Ada was born with a club foot, and because of this her Mom will not let her leave, or walk, or go to school. Ada's Mom is mean and makes her cook, clean, and take care of her little brother Jamie, but she can look out the window all the way down to the street. Sitting by the widnow is how Ada learned about Hitler and the War, also how they the schools were sending the students away from London because the war meant bombs in London. So Ada hatched a plan to learn  how to walk and go with Jamie to the country. When time came, Ada walked, although it hurt her very much, with Jamie to the train station where all the other children and school teachers were getting ready to board. On the way to Kent, London Ada sees a womon riding a horse. Ada, doesn't know why but she knows that feeling of going so fast that everything is passing you by and so she decides that she will learn to ride a horse and jump a wall just like the woman did. When they finally arrive, Ada ada and Jamie are the last ones to get picked up, and even then the woman in charge took them down to a house where the womone argued with her saying that she did not wany children. However, the woman in charge told the other woman that she had to. The woman's name was Ms.Smith and although she said she was  not nice, she was. She made sure that Ada and Jamie were clean, fed, and healthy. Ms. Smith  let Ada play oustsied, gave her crutches so she could walk, made sure theher bad foot was wrapped. Ada;s favorite thing about being with Ms. Smith was that she had a horse named butter and she let Ada go outside and play with him. Eventually as Jamie went to school and Ms. Smith was in her room or shopping, Ada began to teach her self how to ride butter. After a while, the London Mothers began to pick up their children and take them back home, but no mattr how many times Ms. Smith wrote to Ada's and Jamie's Mom, she would never reply. As Ada and Jamie and Ms. Smith started to act like a family, the War got worse There was even an Air base a cross the sreet from them. Although, that was exciting event, there much more terrifying ones.The Fist one was when Dunkirk happened and all the soldier were imported to Kent so that they could go to another base, but too many to many of them had come and so Ada and her friend Daisy helped injured soldiers on Daisy's mom's pub. The second was the air raids. Ms. Smith, or Susan as she insisted Ada call her, Jamie and Ada, had to hide in the shelter that some men and boys from from the town went around and built everyone. The third event was rather excited but also quire frighting. Ada turned in a Spy and the whole town loved her for it, but it made everything much more real to Ada. Once as Ada was coming back from riding butter, her mom was there talking to Susan and holding Jamie's hand. Susan tried convince their mom to let them stay with her but took them home so that she wouldn't have to pay the weekly allowance she did not realize she had to pay. When they got back to London, Ada and Jamie found that their mom had moved into a slighty nicer apartment and got a new job at the factory. However, their mom was still mean and all Ada and Jamie wanted to do was go back to Kent with Ms. Susan. So, Ada did something she always wanted to do, she stood up to their mom and told them that she was leaving and was going to take Jamie with her. And because it didn't cost anything to her, their mom left to work, agreeing to let Ada and Jamie go. Soon after, bombs started falling from the sky and Ada and Jamie ran to the nearst shelter. After everything stoped Ada decded that now was the time to leave and as they were walking out, they found susan walking in the street. Susan had come back for them. Once they were all back in Kent they found that Susan's house was gon after a bomb had landed on her home. There stading, looking throught he rubble were all the friends that Susan, Jamie and Ada had made and they were happy to see them. Everybody was safe and where they were where they belonged.

Review: This book I would say is appropriate for 9 to 12 year olds. I loved this book very much and even plan on reading the sequel very soon. I would love to put it in my classroom, but because the character in the story is abused by her mother and she has PTSD episodes, the children may not understand it and some parents may not find it appropriate. For this reason I would ask the parents of the students in my classroom, about their concerns and if they would feel comfortable reading it. I would still have it as an option for thise students who are allowed to read it , I would just need to be aware of the students who are not allowed to. The War that Saved My Life is beautifuly written and teaches children about what life was life for some children during World War II.

Red Sings from Treetops: a year in colors by Joyce Sidman

Red Sings from Treetops: a year in colors by Joyce Sidman

Summary: This book of poems goes through each of the four seasons and describes them using colors. Each poem using a different color from red to yellow to white and the rest. Each color convey a different characteristic of the four seasons. The illustrations, done by Pamela Zagarenski, focuses around each color and uses them in scenes depicting different activities that are typically done during the specific season.

Review: These poems are great fro children in kindergarten and second grade as they learn about the different seasons and also as they are being introduced to poetry. I would love to have this book in my classroom for kids to read as a beginner poetry book.

The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas

The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas

Summary: This book of poems is about celebrating different colors of beauty. Each poem using different kinds of berries to illustrate diversity and the beauty in that diversity. Along with each poem is a two page illustration from Floyd Cooper, who depicts the essence of each poem and uses warm colors for all of them.

Review: This book of Poems beautifully celebrates the diversity in a way that children will understand. It is so important that children are able to see themselves in the books and arts they consume. This book will be great to have in a classroom with ages ranging from 7 to 9, and even older. This would be a great book to go along with African-American History Month or a lesson celebrating different cultures within our schools and communities. This book will be found on a shelf in my future classrooms.

If I Were a Tree, from Poems by Rachel Field

If I Were a Tree by Rachel Field

Summary: With powerful imagery, this poem conveys the desire to be a strong mighty tree instead of a small child. The poems describes the roots, the texture, the twigs, and the leaves.

Review: This poem is great for children of 6 to 7 years old, and would go great as a introduction for living organisms or about the natural world, or maybe even Arbor day! This poem was beautifully written and I it has a place on the shelf in my future classroom.

Mother Goose: A Collection of Nursery Rhymes by Brian Wildsmith.

Mother Goose: A Collection of Nursery Rhymes by Brian Wildsmith

Summary: This collection of books has a variety of the Mother Goose classics from Humpty Dumpty, This Little piggy, and to Oranges and Lemons, and everything in-between. They are all beautifully illustrated by Brian Wild smith, using watercolors as his medium.

Review: Wildsmith's collectin is one I would out into my younger grade classrooms like Pre-K and Kinder. They are great for emerging readers and familiarizing young children with new vocabulary and phonemes.

Jimmy Jet and His TV Set by Shel Silverstein

Jimmy Jet and His TV Set by Shel Silverstein

Summary: In this beautifully imaginative poem by Shel Silverstein there is a boy who watched TV so much that he himself turned into a TV set. His parent's tell the tale of how he watched TV from morning until night , and how his grew into his chair, he face into a TV screen, and he even grew a plug. So, now his parents watch him, instead.

Review: Its so important for a child to keep up their imagination especially in the upper grades of middle school as they begin to encounter more analytic and critical thinking questions. Silverstein's poems also have fun and silly poems that children will enjoy and I will definitely have a copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends. This is also great for any Poetry lessons where children are learning to find meaning in poems.

It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach

It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach

Summary: In this Yiddish folktale we see a poor and unfortunate man living in a small, one room hut with his mother, wife and six children. He because so distraught that he runs to the Rabbi seeking advice. The Rabbi tells the man to take chickens, goose, and the rooster into his house, and so, the man does as the Rabbi says. After some weeks, the house only gets worse and so the man runs back to the Rabbi, only to be told to take in a goat. The man reluctantly adheres to the Rabbi's advice, but it only becomes much worse in his house, so he sees the Rabbi once more for help. This time the Rabbi tells the man to take in a cow into his home, and the man is unsure about it, but he does it anyway. With all his animals in his house and his family, the house is much, much worse, so he goes to the Rabbi again. This time the Rabbi tells him to take all the animals out of his house. After all the animals are out of the house, the man and his family are at peace. Finally, the man goes back to the Rabbi to thank him and to tell him what a pleasure his home has been.

Review: This silly, Yiddish, folktale is great for ages 6 to 8 years old. This book would be a fun one to have in a classroom library. It is a fun book to go along with a lesson about being appreciative of what you have.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall

Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall

Summary: In this classic tale, retold in Illustrated by James Marshall, we see a young Goldilocks, known to get her self into trouble. When Goldilocks' mother sends her off to buy muffins, instructing her not to take the dangerous shortcut, Goldilocks does anyway. One the path that Goldilocks is on, there is a house where a family of three bears live: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby bear all leave the house while they wait for their morning porridge to cold down. While they are out, Goldilocks walks right into their home, eats their porridge, sits in their chair, breaking Baby Bear's chair, and after trying out all the beds, falls asleep in Baby Bear's bed. While she is sleeping, the Bear Family comes back home. Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby bear find that someone has eaten their porridge and sat in their chairs. Not knowing that Goldilocks is there, the Bears go upstairs to check their beds. Papa Bear and Mama Bear both find that their beds have been laid in. Baby bears finds Goldilocks in his bed. Goldilocks is then startled awake by Papa Bear's voice and jumps out the window. The Bears never see Goldilocks again.

Review: This is a classic Folktale for ages 5 to 7, and even younger. This is a book I would love to have my future classroom that teaches children not go through things that aren't yours! It also teaches children's how different people like different things, even if you don't like them.