Book To Reality: December 2017

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh

Summary: Pancho Rabbit’s father had gone way to the US for work so that he could make enough money to take of the family. His family missed him very much, and soon he would be home. Pancho’s mom made all Pancho’s dad favorite foods, mole, rice, beans, and tortillas. His mom even made Aguamiel, which was Pancho’s dad’s favorite drink. The party was ready for when his father finally arrived. However, Pancho’s father didn’t come that night, as everyone left the party, they all assured Pancho and his family that his father would be home soon enough. That night, Pancho could not take it anymore, he was going to search for his father. He took some his father’s favorite food and his favorite drink, and while his mother and siblings were fast asleep, Pancho snuck off into the night. Not soon after leaving, Pancho met Coyote who said he would help, but only if Pancho gave him the mole he had in his bag. So, Pancho gave it to home, just so he be closer to his father. When they were about to cross the river, Coyote said that he would need some rice and beans to give him strength, and because Pancho could not swim, he gave him the food, and they crossed the river. They they were caught by some snakes, but they were able to get away by distracting them with the toritalls Pancho had. Next, they were crossing the desert, and it was so hot that both the Coyote and Pancho drank all of the aguamiel. When the day was over, they stopped in a shack and Coyote built a fire to keep them warm. Then Coyote asked if Pancho had any more food and drink, when he said not, Coyote said that that means he’ll just have to eat Pancho. However, before Coyote could make a move on home, in burst in Pancho’s father and his friends Senor Ram and Senor Rooster. They scared off the coyote and father and san were reunited. Pancho’s father and revealed to Pancho they they had been attacked and robbed by crows, and this is why they were late. When they arrived home. Their family was so happy to see them all. Pancho’s siblings told him to never do that again, because they were so worried, but also that they were happy to see him. Now all the town gathered again to celebrate their homecoming. During the party, Papa Rabbit told everyone about the robbery. His family begged him not to leave again, but Papa Rabbit said that if they have a good harvest this year, then he won’t have to. Pancho and his siblings all announced that they would go with their father if they he had to leave again. Papa Rabbit, just chuckled and said to hope that they had a good harvest.

Review: This book is a bilingual book, and it even has a glossary in the back. It’s important threaders can identify with characters in the books they read. At ages 5 -9, students are beginning to see the differences in their peers from themselves, and it is important they they know they are not alone in whatever situation they are in. I would love to have this book in my classroom, especially during Hispanic Heritage month we talk to our students about the culture and way of life people live right next door.

Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto, Illustrated by Susan Guevara

Summary: Chato and his friend Noio boy were at a birthday party for their friend, Chorizo, when Chaot noticed that Novio wasn’t having a good time. When Chato asked about it, Novio Boy revealed he had never had a birthday party before. Chato then got an idea, he would throw a birthday party for him! Chato bought everything he needed and all of Novio Boy’s friends. However, the day of the party when everyone arrived, Novio Boy was no here to be seen, that’s when Chato realized he had forgotten to invite Novio Boy! So everyone went on a search for Novio boy. The more they searched for them the more worried everyone got. They all thought the worst. Everyone went back to Chato’s house and they began talking about the good things about Novio Boy, when suddenly Novio Boy jumped over the fence with two of his friends. Everyone was so happy to see him. Novio Boy had been hanging out with his friends all day and wasn’t in any danger at all. Novio Boy was so excited about the his first birthday party, he even said it was the best one he has ever been to.

Review: This book was very colorful and even provided a glossary for the spanish works that were in the text. The story is would be great for a lesson about caring for other people and friendships. While this book, is intended for the 5-8 year old. I don’t think that the younger readers would understand the art, however the story is on they would really enjoy.

Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales

Summary: Nino is a Luchador, and he is ready for anybody who challenges him. He fights off The Guanajuato Mummy, the Olmec Head, La Llorona, El Extraterrestre, and El Chamuco. However, there is one opponent will be a challenge; Las Hermanitas. Just when it looks like they girls are about to win, Nino does his best move ever, he joins in their fu, and they become Los Tres Hermanos. They are ready for anybody who challenges them.

Review: This book is such a fun book to read aloud, and not only 4 to 8 year olds, but the younger ones, too. This would be another great book to read for fun, when learning about he different cultures in Texas, and even during Hispanic Heritage Month. I would love to have this fun book in my classroom.

Last Stop On Market Street by Matt de la Pena, Illustrated by Christian Robinson

Summary: CJ and his Nana are leaving church and heading to the bus when it begins to rain. And on their way to wherever they are going CJ asks a lot of questions, and Nana has all the answers, just not in the way CJ expects. Under his Nana’s umbrella, CJ asks why it’s raining, and Nana says, because trees need to drink, too. At the bus stop CJ asks why they don’t have a car, and Nana says it’s because then they wouldn’t know Mr. Dennis, the bus driver. On the bus CJ ask why they go to the place they are going to, and Nana says, if they didn’t then they wouldn’t know Bob, or the Sunglass Man, or get to see Trixie’s new hat. Later on, CJ ask why a man is blind, and Nana says that some people see differently. Next, CJ says he wishes he had a music player like two other boys on the bus, but then Nana says if he did he wouldn’t get to her the guitar player sitting across from them. When the man started to play, CJ felt free and like he could fly. Finally it was their stop, and when they got off CJ looked around and asked why the neighborhood was so dirty, and Nana said it so they can see beauty better. And when they finally arrived at the Soup Kitchen, CJ was glad he came.

Review: This book is written just like it was CJ’s head and I think that kids would get a kick out of reading a book that sounds just like them. This story is also on they could relate to, because the character ask questions about everything and they’re questions any kid would have, and he’s spending time with his grandma.At the ages of 3-6 these are things that they notice in their lives. I am very eager to put this in my future classroom.

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis.

Summary: Clover’s mother told her that she could not play on the other side of the fence because it was not safe. One day a girl in a pink sweater asked Clover and her friends if she could jump rope with them, but before Clover could say anything, her friend Sandra said no. Clover asked her mom why she couldn’t go on the other side, but she still didn’t quite understand. When it rain, and it did a lot, Clover had to stay inside, but when she looked out the window, she would always see that girl playing around in the puddles. One day, when Clover was finally able to go outside she got to meet the little girl. Her name was Annie. Annie got up on the fence and sat on it, then invited Clover to do the same. Clover said her mom told her about not going to the other side, and Annie said her mom told her the same thing, but her mom never told her she couldn’t sit on it. Clover decided it was okay to sit up there with Annie. And the sat together a lot for the rest of the summer. Clover’s friends, even Sandra, didn’t understand what she was doing up on the fence talking to Annie. Her mom even noticed, but didn’t tell her she had to stop. One day Clover’s friends were playing, so Clover asked if her and Annie could play, and they did. Now, they all sit on the fence. Annie says that one day the fence will come down, and Clover agrees.

Review: It can be hard for 5 to 8 year olds to understand why the country was segregated for a long time, a story like this one may help them understand what it looked like for children their age at the time. It would fit in perfectly with a lesson over the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. I would put this in my classroom in a heartbeat.

Book Fiesta by Pat Mora, Illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Summary: Children’s Day is here and so is Book Day! Children read in many languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, and Navajo. They read everywhere they can: with their families, at the library, in a car, a plane, with puppies, on an elephant, on a whale, a submarine, in a hot aire balloon, even in our beds.

Review: There is a Mother’s Day, a Father’s day, and a Grandparents day. However, April 30 is Children’s and Book’s Day! Children should know that they are important and celebrated. This book, a Bilingual book, shows a diverse group of children ready a diverse collection of books is various places and it is wonderful. Ages 5-8 would would love this book yes, and so would the youngers ones!. I would love to have this book in my classroom!

Going to the Doctor by Kira Freed

Summary: What should you know about going to see the doctor? This book has the answers. There will be nice nurses who get all kind of information, your height, weight, even blood pressure. Next, you will see the doctor. The doctor will check on how you are doing, if you sick, if you are in pain, and what he can do to make you feel better. They will check on things like your heart, eyes ears, reflexes, even your stomach. Also, there are some tips on how to stay healthy, like eating right, exercising, and enjoying life.

Review: Sometimes going to the doctor can be scary, especially for preschoolers and kindergarteners. This book would help them to know exactly what the doctor do and they it is important to go. This would be helpful in a lesson about helpers in our local communities. I would have this in my library, no doubt about it.

Ocean Alive: Sharks by Colleen Sexton

Summary: This book is all about Sharks. All you need to know about what kind of bones they have to the tiny scales covering their body. As well as how they hunt, which is by swimming fast or even hiding in the ocean floor. Also, how sharks eat, which talks a lot about different kinds of teeth that they have. The book ends with a glossary and a few resources to look up more shark facts.

Review: Sharks are always fun to talk about in a class, and students who are starting to read on their own want to read things that interest them and sharks are always a popular topic. First, second, and third graders would enjoy this mini chapter book about sharks. So, no question that I would have this book in my class library.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

Summary: Harriet Tubman talked to God, she could not be a slave anymore and God told her that it was time to flee to freedom. Harriet trusted in him, always talking to him. She did not tell anybody of her plans to leave, but instead sang a song the night of her escape. She walked a long time, all the while God was guiding her way. She got help from a nice lady, but soon it was back to traveling. There a few times that she was almost caught, but she prayed to God and He answered. God kept her safe. There times she felt as if she couldn’t go any longer, her feet even started to bleed. However, again she would pray to God, and he would answer. He would say that freedom is where she is going, and he would guide her the rest of the way until she finally reached freedom. She felt like a whole new person. But, there was still something she had to do; she had to get her family. She worked hard, and even found a church that worked as a stopping place for the Underground Railroad. Here she worked learning all the tunnels, and all the safe places. Once she has learned all that she needed, she went back for her family and brought them back to family. Even though, she had her family back, she felt God calling her back to help more people reach freedom. Harriet talked to God about it because she did not thing she was the right person, but God said that He knew all that she had went through, and He has given her everything she needed. He told her to be the Moses of her people. And, so, Harriet went back, again and again, guiding people to freedom.

Review: This book tells the amazing story of Harriet Tubman and her journey to freedom, coupled with the magnificent paintings of Kadir Nelson. This would be a terrific book of for any lesson on the Underground railroad. While the books is mainly appropriate for ages 7 through 10, i believe that younger and older readers would appreciate the book. I would absolutely have this in my classroom library!

A River of Words by Jen Bryant, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Summary: William Carlos Williams was just like everybody else, except he liked to walk through the woods and observe everything. He never missed a thing. He liked to rest by the Passaic River, and just listen to the water rushing by. As he got older, he had less and less time to go outside and walk through the woods and listen to the river. However, one day his teacher began talking about poetry. As William began to write his own, he felt like he was back in the woods, laying next to the river. William liked to write about his the things he saw, and because the things he saw didn’t fit with each other like what he read in other poems, William decided to try something different. William continued writing, and when time came to go to college, William decided to study medicine like his Uncle Carlos. While William was away studying medicine he met his friends, Ezra Pound and Hilda Doolittle who both studied literature, and Charles Demuth who studied painting. When he was all done with school he went back to his hometown to opened “William C. Williams, M.D.- Family Medicine”. William was busy again, helping families and delivering babies. But at night when the town went to sleep, William would write.

Review: This book on William C. Williams would be amazing to have in a lesson about poetry and famous poets. For 7 and 10 years olds, it’s important they are engaged in what they are reading, and have content that they relate to. This book allows its reader to walk through the busy life of William C. William and why he wrote the poems he did. I would without a doubt put this in my classroom.

Me… Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Summary: Jane has a stuffed monkey named Jubilee, who she takes everywhere including outside where Jane likes to spend most of her time. Outside, Jane likes to spend time watching and learning all about the animals and things she sees. She likes to watch the birds, the spiders, and the squirrels. She also likes to hug the trees and hear their sap trickling down the trunk. And everything she saw, felt, and learned, she wrote down in her journal. Jane also liked to read Tarzan, a book where another Jane lived in Africa. This was Jane’s dream, to live in Africa with all their animals and their jungles. One day, Jane’s dream came true.

Review: This story of Jane Goodall would be great to have in any classroom. The story would be great for emerging readers and older readers, from 2 to 10, and a great introduction into talking about nature and living organisms. I would not hesitate to put this in my classroom.

The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick

Summary: When victor was ten he loved magic and he especially loved Harry Houdini, who could escape from anything and anywhere. Victor tired to do all his tricks, and it drove his mother crazy because she was always finding him locked in things and trying to hold his break underwater in the tub. His mom tried to calm him died, but nothing worked. On their way to visit his Aunt Harriet, Victor spotted him. Harry Houdini was just feet away, so Victor went after him. Victor ask question on how to do all his tricks. Houdini was very nice about it, he even took Victor's name and address from his suitcase so that he can write him a letter to answer all his questions. Wen his letter finally arrived, all it said was to meet him at his house on a certain day, but Victor couldn’t way that long, so Victore went to Houdini’s house right then. When Houdini’s wife answered the door and Victor showed her the letter she began to cry, but told him to wait. When she came back, Houdini was not with her, she only had a box for him. Then Victor heard her say that Houdini was dead. Later that day, when Victor tired to open the box, he saw the initials E.W. and thought that this was not Houdini’s box after all. So he buried the box away and decided that he was no longer going to do magic or think about Houdini again. And then, Victor grew up. He had a wife ana son named Harry. One day Victor and his son were playing with a baseball when Harry it the baseball so hard it flew somewhere in o the graveyard they were in. When he found the ball, it was right in front Harry Houdini’s grave. On his tombstone he saw Houdini’s real name. It was the initials E.W. It really was Houdini’ box! Victor and his son raced home, and without telling his wife or his son, he found the old box and opened it. That night, he escaped from a locked box in under 20 seconds.

Review: This is fun book I think most 3rd through 8th graders. Magic is always such an interesting topic. And it’s important that students find things in history and in books that they like to read about. I would use this in a history lesson about how sometimes famous people don’t use their real names. I would definitely put this in my classroom.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin

Summary: Wanda was not at school and nobody noticed for many days. One day Peggy and Maddie looked for her and realized that she was gone, and had not been for a while now. Then, later on that same day, Mrs. Mason announced that Wanda had won the girl’s drawing award. Wanda had submitted 100 drawings of beautiful dresses. Peggie and Maddie would always poke fun at wanda because she had a funny name and was from Boggins Heights, which is where the poor live. Wanda wore the same dress to school every day, a pale blue one. One day Cecile came to school with a new crimson dress, everybody was amazed by it, that’s when Wanda mentioned that she had one hundred dresses in her closet. However, the other girls did not believe her and then created a game called “How many dresses?” where they would ask how many things Wanda had of certain things like hats and shoes. Maddie knew this game was wrong, but she never said anything, and she felt guilty about it. After Wanda was announced winner, Mrs. Mason read a letter from Wanda’s dad saying that they had moved away to the big city, because his children were being treated badly at the school, and they hoped the big city would be better. Maddie, felt really guilty about what they had done. She wanted to say something, but was afraid that she would be teased, too. Later on, Peggy expressed some remorse and suggested that they go to Wanda’s house and talk to her. However, they were too late, they had already gone, so they decided write her letter instead. Although they meant it to be an apology letter, they just wrote a friendly one instead. They waited a long time to hear back, until finally, around Christmas time they did. Mrs. Mason read it to the class and in it Wanda said that her new Teacher was not as good as Mrs. Mason, that she had new dresses, and that she wanted Peggy and Maddie to have two of her drawings. Peggy took this letter as Wanda’s forgiveness, but Maddie still felt guilty because Wanda was always so nice to them. Later on that day , Maddie realized in the drawings, the girls wearing the dresses looked just like her and Peggy.

Review: This book is a wonderful book to read to the ages first graders and up, about bullying, speaking up, and accepting others. This can be a hard conversation for students, so a fun activity may be to have students write in a reflection journal about the time they dealt with a similar situation. During a discussion on this book with students, it would be a great to have the students talk about and grasp each character's emotions. I would love to put this in my classroom.

Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak

Summary: When Ida’s parents were away she looked after her baby sister. One afternoon, while Ida played her wonder horn, she didn’t notice goblins take her baby sister through another window and replace her with an ice replica of her. When Ida realized what happen she knew the goblins stole her sister to make her a goblin bride, so she went after her. Only, she made a mistake by climbing back out the window backwards causing her to go flying through the sky, until she heard her father singing a song from the sea about how to turn back around and to save her sister. So Ida turned around and all of a sudden she was the goblin wedding, only they looked just like babies and just like her sister. So Ida played a song on her horn and made then dance, and then she made them dance right into the river. After the goblins were gone, she scooped iu her sister and brought her home. There waiting for them was their mother, who had a letter from their father that said he’ll be home soon, and that Ida should watch her baby sister and mother. And so that is what Ida did.

Review: This is a fun story, however there is alway the problem of censorship (the babies in the book are naked) and it is something I would check on before having this book in my classroom. Especially if I was going to put it in a grade 3, 4, or 5 classroom, because the students would definitely notice. The story however is fun and a great lesson on paying attention because you will miss something important.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Summary: Turtls is not like the other girls, she doesn’t like Shirley temple or babies. She likes the funny pages and her cat Smokey Turtle’s mom, Sadiebelle is a hard working, single mom. She clease houses and takes good care of her eleven year old daughter, Turtle. Her mom is also always falling in love, but this time her mom thinks that her current boyfriend, Archie, a salesman, is different. When Sadiebelle gets a new job, her employer refuses to house Turtle and her cat Smokey, so Turtle is sent to live with her Aunt Minnie in Key West, Florida. When she arrives her Aunt Minnie is surprised because she had not received her mother’s letter yet. Aunt Minnie eventually takes in Turtle. Now, Turtle has to live with her new cousins, Beans, who is mean and dislikes her, Kermit, who has a heart condition and has to take a lot of naps, and Buddy, the youngest who is always wetting the bed and follows his brothers around. After settling in, Turtle meets the Diaper gang, a group of boys her age that babysit the bad kids in her neighborhood. The Diaper gang includes Bean’s, Kermit, and Bean’s Best Friends, Porkchop and a boy named Ira. She also meets some Sailors names Slow Poke, who took her on a boat ride and who she forms a bond with, Johnny Cakes, who she tired get to let her work on his boat, and Ollie. Soon, she gets to meet her Nana, she thought was dead, but is disappointed to find that she does not like kids. Despite this, she is determine to get Nana Philly to like her so she bring her lunch, and spends time with her. While she is in her Nana’s attic she finds a treasure map to Black Caesar's treasure. She convinces the Diaper gang to help her and so they lie to their parents so they can take the day to search for the treasure. Its takes a while, but they eventually find the treasure, $20,000 worth, which they split between them and Nana Philly. But the end up stranded in a shack and have to wait to be rescued, which takes a while because then a hurricane passes by. However, they are eventually rescued by Slow Poke, Johnny Cakes, and Ollie. Soon her mother comes for her, along with Archie who is now her husband. Later one, when Sadie Belle and Turtle are supposed to meet Archie so they can leave, it is revealed that Archie has taken off to Cuba with Turtle’s share of the money. Sadiebelle is devastated, but Aunt Minnie offers to let her sister and turtle live there with her. Turtle, looks around at her family and people who love her and thinks to herself that this is the real treasure.

Review: This book is one that children 8-12 year olds can relate to, with all the hijinks that all the characters get into. Not only that but he events like moving to a new place and searching for pirate treasure, and the fun nicknames. A lesson with book would look like having the children describing how life was like for these characters in the Great Depression. I would not hesitate to put this book in my classroom library.

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Summary: The year is 1937 and Jack’s Kansas town has been taken over by Dust. Some families leave, if they can, and head towards the coastal cities. Jack’s family decided to stay a little longer, to watch over their farm, but the thing is there are no farms left to take care of. However, despite that the farm is covered in dust, Jack’s father does other work, but he never let’s Jack help. Jack never helps. Whenever he goes into town there are rowdy older boys who like to beat jack up whenever they can. Jack goes to town anyway so he can stop by the general store for a story from Ernie who works at the store, and a soda. Ernie always tells him stories about other boys named Jack who defeat giant Kings and monsters. The Jack in those stories are always brave and always a hero. Jack doesn’t feel that way about himself though. At home, are Jack’s sisters. One is Dorothy, who is bedridden with Dust pneumonia, and who likes to stories of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Jack talks to Dorothy about anything. Jack’s baby sister’s name is Mabel, and he is always watching after her, and she is always playing with an old black umbrella. One night Jack is looking out the window at the barn of a family who left town a while ago, and then suddenly there are the brightest lights shining from the blue barn. Jack blinks and the light is gone, he lays back down and thinks about the doctor had said earlier about Dust dementia. The next day Jack finds Mabel playing over by the barn, but when he tries to open it, he can not because doors are stuck. He tries again, but gives up and goes home. A another day later, Jack is walking back from town and he tries to open the blue barn doors again and this time he opens it. He looks around and then spots the weirdest thing, a puddle of water on the floor, and the barn smelt really funny, too. He hears something from on the second floor of the barn and decided he should run out of there. That night jack see the light come from the barn again and this time he decides it’s time to go see what it is. When he get there he finds a bag that rumbles and discovers that this is where the light is coming from. And when he looks up there is a face that looks like rain staring right back at him, so Jack bolts out of that barn. The next day Jack is coming home and hear his baby sister playing the barm. When he goes to get her he find the rain faced man again he fights him away, grabs Mabel and takes off toward home. He tells Mabel that they are to never go back in there. The next time the barn begins to shine, Jack stays in bed. The next day, Jack’s father still will not let him help with anything. And jack is tired of it all. Not helping. No rain. Dorothy’s sickness. So that night he goes into the barn and confront the monster living there. The monster reveals himself as the rain and that he is not letting any rain fall so that he can become more powerful so that he can eventually rule the Earth. Jack manages to take his bag, of what he realizes now is thunder, and races to the of a wind tower. Jack was going to make it rain again. He once heard from a man selling a thunder machine that wherever there is thunder, there is rain. The rain king comes up and fights Jack for the bag, but jack never lets go, not even as he starts to fall off the tower, causing the bag to rip open. Thunder pours out into the sky, taking the rain with it. And in second, it begins to rain. Rain begins to cover the whole town, and every rejoices. Jack’s family begins to look for him and they find him walking back from the tower. His father bends down, gives Jack a hug, and asks him to hello on the farm when the crop grows back.

Review: This book was an interesting way to tell about the dust storms in the 1930’s. I believe that children will relate to young Jack, the main character who feels like he can’t help anybody, but in the end he saves his whole town. It’s important that the students know, especially in Grades 4-8 as they become more involved in their communities, that they can make a difference. I would use this book in a lesson about the period of the dust storms, the great depression, and what life was like for children and families during that time.

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, Illustrated by Rick Allen

Summary: In this book of poems, the inner workings of the Night Life of nature comes alive. There are 12 poems, each one of them covering what life is like at night. Also, accompanying each poem is a brief paragraph about the subject of the poem or a creature of the night.. The first poem, Welcome to the Night, welcomes in the creatures that come out at night, and the animal facts on this page are about the nocturnal raccoon. The second poem, Snail at Moonrise, describes what a snail does, how it moves, and why it moves. The animal facts paragraph covers the Snail. The third poem and subject of the animal fact paragraph is, Love Poem of the Primrose Moth, which describes what a primrose moth is and what it does at night.Next, is the poem, Dark Emperor, which is about the Great Horned Owl, same as the animal fact paragraph. Then it is oak After Dark, which is about trees and how they look and what they mean to the nocturnal animals. This fact paragraph talks about the plethora of life that goes on in a tree during the day and at night. Following this poem is Night Spider’s Advice, which talks about the spiders the crawl in the night. The fact paragraph says that Spiders can work both in the day and in the night. The seventh poem is I am a Baby Porcupette, a porcupette is another name for a baby porcupine, as it says in the fact paragraph. The eighth poem is Cricket Speaks, which describes the life of a cricket, as does the animal fact paragraph. Next is another plant life, The Mushrooms Come, which tells of where mushrooms come from. The fact paragraph discusses how they are fungi and the purpose they have in this ecosystem. After the Mushrooms is the Ballad of the Wandering Eft. From this poem you learn how an eft moves and what it must feel like. In the fact paragraph you learn that and Eft is in fact a newt and why they move around at night. And now we have the Bat Wraps Up poem, which is about bats, of course. The poems describes what is must be like to be a bat and the fact paragraph tells you all about these nocturnal creatures. And last, but not least there is the poem Moon’s Lantern, which talks about one of the most important parts of the night, the Moon. The fact paragraphs tells all about how important the Moon and it’s light is to the creatures of the night. The book ends with a glossary, just clear a few things up.

Review: Introducing this book to young reader learned about animal nightlife would be so exciting. The poems are vivid descriptions of each animal, the illustrations are beautifully eye-catching. One of my favorite part of the book is the fact paragraphs on the side of each illustration and the glossary at the end of the books, which students can use as they learn how to use dictionaries and glossaries in textbooks. The appropriate age range for this books is from 6-9, however, I feel that the younger ones will enjoy this book as well.

I See Without My Eyes by Mark Brauner Hayward, Illustrated by Nancy Lee Hartman

Summary: Nine year old Carolyn, who is blind, tells what it is like and the things the blind do to adapt to life. She talks about how they rely on their senses, guide dogs, and braille. Carolyn is out to live the best she can, and will not let being blind get in the way of that.

Review: Children always have questions, especially in preschool through first grade, and this book does a great job about giving information about the blind and how they live just like us, with just a few adjustments. This book would be a great with a lesson for young readers about how other people who are blind go about their daily lives and how sometimes other people who are different also have to adapt to the world around them. I would love to put this in my classroom library.

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