Blog 5

The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

     I thought this story was great as it dove into the many different parts that make up with the Earth.  The story is a great piece of literature because it ties reading along with the subject of science.  I, myself can struggle with the science topic but here in the text it is very well laid out and allows for much discussion and self teaching.  The book goes into the seperate layers of the Earth, how they are made up, and what they provide for us, etc.  I think this is awesome because it allows the children to really learn the text as well as read it and it has many sections of the book where I can easily expand upon.  in my own classroom I had the students use a Venn Diagram and compare the different layers of the Earth that are both pictured and explained within the text.


The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall

        I know that the title is most likely familiar to you as this is a very well known story.  However, I really enjoy this story because it tells the story of the three little pigs in a different way.  The author portrays the story with a few twists by having the third pig and the wolf meet up in the story.  The ending is also quite different from the original, in that the wolf ends up burning!  The story is perfect for teaching point of view and perspective.  I used it in my own teaching by reading different versions of this story and then discussing how the stories were alike and different. The story is also great for multiple ages which really helps!




  Learning About the American Revolution with Graphic Organizers  by Linda Wrikner

            The book here is different from any other text I found.  Yes, the topic is the same but it teaches the reader about different events throughout the American Revolution through the format of a graphic organizer.  The author first describes the event in a paragraph or so and then lays out the events in a graphic organizer, including timelines, facts, etc.  I think this is a great way for students to learn about these important events in history!  At times, I am sure it can get confusing for both readers and students to remember details about each separate event.  But here we have it lay out very clean cut and clear the background and details about each event. Examples of the events the author is introduces are: dividing the colonists, leaders of the revolution, major battles, and major acts passed by the British Government.   The author uses multiple graphic organizers in order to display the information including a sequence chart, KWL chart, concept web, line graph, map, and classifying web.  

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamille

      I had heard much about this book as it is an award winner.  I really enjoyed the story and felt that it contained much emotion and and overall great story.  The book allows for much discuss about characters, their circumstances, and even character motivation.  I would certainly use this book in my own classroom either for guided reading, a literature lesson, or simply placing it in my classroom library.  I would plan to have students choose a character in the story and create an "I am" poem after reading the novel.  I feel that this type of literacy exercise is very appropriate post reading the text!

Costume, Tradition, and Culture: Reflecting on the Past. Fighting Units of he American War of Independence by Dan Harmon

     The text listed is an overall explanation and description of American and British allies and forces.   It gives great detail about both and allows for a reader to truly expand their knowledge.  I feel that this book may be better used during a lesson and not as a self-selected reading book.  It would be very useful for a teacher to pick out a specific topic and focus in on it.  The text covers a multitude of topics, so personally I would choose one and possibly read that section to my class and then expand from there. I chose this book because it emphasizes the costume, tradition, and culture during the time period.  The book gives information while also allowing for a focus on the tradition and costumes.  I feel that most texts only do this through illustrations but here we have an example of this being done in both text and illustrations. 

The Declaration of Independence by Karen Price Hossell

            In this book the author takes the reader through the journey of the Declaration of Independence from the very beginning.   It describes in detail how it all began, which American leaders were involved at the time and how one would benefit from it.  The text is essentially an entire history unit wrapped into one tremendous book!  It really has a great deal of information on multiple topics from Jefferson writing the Declaration to the Preamble.  It does it in a way that gives just enough detail without it being too much.  It allows for students to do their own research by looking up unknown words in the glossary and by reading the footnotes the author added on individual pictures throughout the text. 

The Black Regiment of the American Revolution by Linda Crotta Brennan

            Here we have a story about the Black Regiment military units fighting for independence in the Revolutionary War.  It takes the reader through the obstacles that the African American slaves had to face and how they became members of this elite military unit.  It gives great description and is fairly easy to follow; I feel that this is a wonderful read for young children.  I enjoyed that the text as “sidebars” that notes what actual historians say about this period in time, as well as giving extra facts and information.   The text also contains pictures, maps, and meanings to certain words that may be new to the reader.

Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette

by Selene Castrovilla

            Here we have a book that is factual but yet, presented in a maner that engages young readers.  The text focuses on the relationship between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette.  It takes the reader through the journey of signing of the patriot cause and the obstacles that came along the way trying to get the general to accept his aid.  It eventually shows how their friendship builds alliances between France and America.  The illustrations give great detail of the trials and different wars that went on at the time.  I feel that the pictures really allow for the text to come alive. My favorite part about the text is that on almost every page there is a little “scroll” that has an actual quote from one of the important leaders that is discussed throughout the book. 

Where Washington Walked by Raymond Bial

            The text Where Washington Walked gives great detail about the life of George Washington.  The book could be used to provide background information on such an influential leader in history.  The book not only contains information on his life and how he came to become such a significant leader to our country but it takes the reader through his family life as well.  I think that one of my favorite parts about the book is that the illustrations are actual photos from his childhood home, living manner, and events throughout his life.   Overall, the book gives a detailed and intriguing biography of George Washington.

Cinderella by Susan Jeffers

    Once again, this may seem repetitive as everyone knows the story of Cinderella but this is what is so great about this book, the story is unique.  The text gives the original Cinderella a twist as well as has an alternate ending.   I have been using this book with third grade as they are working on fables, fantasy, and myths.  The students enjoy the book and have mentioned how much they love the illustrations. The illustrations are simply yet detailed and make the text come alive.  The story is shortened yet has new aspects that the students find interesting to learn about as they predicted something different to happen!

The Many Rides of Paul Revere by James Cross Giblin

            The very start of the book begins with a map of the great town of Boston; right then and there the reader may become engaged!   The author here, James Cross Giblin, who is a Sibert Medalist takes us through the life of Paul Revere.  He starts out showing Paul as French immigrants sons and the obstacles he came across prior to becoming a major support in the years leading up to the American Revolution.  The text and illustrations alike help the reader enter the world of Paul Revere.   The book is more of a continuous story rather than one that stops to gives factual information.  However, there is a great deal of information that is interwoven in the text throughout the entire book. 

Prisoner for Liberty by Marty Rhodes Figley

    The story is based around James Forten and the importance of freedom.   Since he knew the great importance he waited until he was old enough to take a job on the Royal Louis, an American ship.  Soon after he is captured and taken prisoner.  At the time the British often sold African Americans as slaves, the story takes us through James’ journey of slavery.   The story is fairly easy to follow and answers many questions one may have along the way.  I think this is great for students learning about slavery, as it introduces some new issues and topics that correlate to the time period.  The book is fiction yet is contains many actual facts and even goes above and beyond to describe what actually happened to the real James Forten when he was captured on the ship. 

The Heroines of History” Heroines of the American Revolution, America’s Founding Mothers  By Diane Silcox – Garret

            The title of the book had me from the start!  When choosing book son this topic many of them seem similar but to find a book focusing on the roles of women and how they came into play during this time, is not something that is common.   The text offers the story of multiple women that were influential and significant during that time period.  So often, women were overlooked at this time in history but here we have pages of information full of all the wonderful things women did for our country at the time.   Examples of women in history during the time of the revolution are Hannah Arnett, Catherine Moore Barry, Nancy Hart, and Molly Hays McCauley.  I think the book is one that may be interesting to all students but would probably grab the attention of young girls.  The text starts out with a map of the American colonies and then goes through each influential woman.  It is inspiring to read, because these women are not as well known as some of the men during the time of the Revolution. For me personally, a lot of the information was new which is something I enjoy when reading. 

 Ben Franklin His Wit and Wisdom from A-Z

by Alana Schroeder

            I think this book is absolutely fabulous.  It is a fun and crafty way to get students involved in learning the life of Benjamin Franklin.  It takes us through Ben’s life noting important facts as well as fun facts all the way from A-Z.  For example, it notes under letter “V” that Ben Franklin was a vegetarian, this is certainly something that may be new information to many people. The book is a great text for a young reader looking to learn more about Ben Franklin who was a key player at the time during the American Revolution.   The illustrations are phenomenal and really help tie the entire book together.  I would suggest this text to anyone who is covering the topic within his or her classroom.

The Lewis and Clark Journals by E.J. Carter

            The text in this book is all geared towards explaining the major events in American history through the journals of Lewis and Clark.  The book offers up factual information and specific documented history about these important events throughout time.  It talks about the connection between Thomas Jefferson and the Lewis and Clark journals.  It takes the reader through the journey of Lewis and Clark by describing who and what they encountered. 

            The text is different from a regular picture book because it displays information in a unique way.  The book contains pictures, maps, biographies, and copies of actual journal entries.   I feel that students would really be engaged by this way of displaying the text and presentation of the information.  The book is set up wonderfully in that it allows the reader to focus on a sole topic at once and then clearly introduces a new topic giving examples of how, why, when, where, and what the purpose of the event or person is. 

Strider by Beverly Cleary

       Strider  is a chapter book geared towards upper elementary age readers.  I did enjoy the book and its overall message.  It is the story of a boy who finds a dog who he names "Strider", and unbeknown to him the dog soon becomes a big part of his life.  In the book Cleary tells the heart warming story of the boy and his relationship with the dog and how the dog truly begins to affect his life.  I enjoyed the story, its message, and its good use of high level vocabulary.  However, I did feel that the book was very slow and would not necessarily keep a reader engaged.  My personal opinion is that boys would not be big fans of this book, as it is slower and it lacks any action. I do appreciate how the author is very detailed and really paints a picture of the current scene.  Overall, I was surprised by the book, I think it is because I was anticipating such a great story seeing how Beverly Cleary is such a well -known author.

Naked Bunyip Dancing by Steven Herrick

     The text Naked Bunyip Dancing  was the first verse novel I have read.  I think the concept a verse novel is very interesting, it was intriguing to me how the story was told through a continuum of poems. The book was surprisingly cute and at times, even funny. I enjoyed the humor and the very child- like topics that were covered.  after reading the text you can tell that the students are probably in middle school.  The book is all about the start of the school year, their new teacher, and events that happen during school. It was fun to read, I feel this mainly because of its unique format. When reading the text I did feel that some of the humor was gross or just simply for kids.  For example, one verse poem talks about a student having "a bottom" with a mind of its own.  I wasn't the biggest fan of this topic but I can see how middle school students, especially boys, may be interested in this. lastly, a big aspect of the text that I enjoyed are the pictures that are placed throughout the book.  In the beginning of the book, there are two whole pages dedicated to a picture of each student in the class.  I think it's creative that there is only a few pictures, giving students a small taste of what it may look like but still allowing them to create their own picture in their heads. 

How Much Is a Million?  by  David M. Schwartz

     The text listed above is a great introduction to a math lesson.  It cold be used with a lesson focusing on counting and money.  The text is directly related to the photos in the book.  The pictures really allow for the words to come alive.  The pictures paint a clear picture for the reader of what the text is saying.  Whether they are creating a dollar using quarters or nickels, the picture is clear and detailed. The overall story is also cute and entertaining for a reader. Yes, the text is very factual and contains real information. Yet, in the story there is a wizard who is the narrator which makes the text fun for readers. 
    I would certainly use this text in my own classroom, centering it around a math lesson. I had never read the book before and really enjoyed it. Although, I had heard of David Schwartz as he is a very well - known author.  In my opinion, the text could be read independently or used during full group. 

Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat 

  I think the story itself is cute and it teaches students how to recognize between what is right and wrong when it comes to healthy eating.  The story is one that will catch a students eye as the title is unique and the story itself is different.  The overall message is about healthy eating but here we have the story focused on a goat instead of a human.  The pictures in the text are not extremely detailed yet they give the students a visual of what the goat is eating.  I feel that this type of text may be best in a classroom library or a self selected reading center.  The text itself is part of the Reading Rainbow program. In my own classroom I may choose to have students describe the feelings that the goat goes through during the story as he just wants everyone to accept that he enjoys healthy foods and not typical goat food! 

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 

Where the Wild Things Are is a wonderful and charming story for younger elementary students. It tells the story of a little boy who didn't listen to his mom and then ends up dreaming.  The boy finds monsters and forests full of wonder but he realizes that in the end he just wants to be home. I would use this text in my classroom.  Personally, I would use this text for predicting or possibly determining the lesson or moral. The pictures in the story really allow the text to come alive and I have seen first hand that the students really enjoy them. 

We  Had a Picnic This Past Sunday by Jacqueline Woodson

    I really enjoyed this story as it was very descriptive and detailed.  The illustrations have such vibrant colors and I feel the pictures would really catch a students eye.  the pictures are what originally drew me in.  The entire book is focused around the family picnic on a special Sunday and all that leads up to that time.  The author describes the picnic in great detail, all the food, people, and the setting of the picnic.  I think this would be a great book to have children "retell" and perhaps use a graphic organizer to do so.   The author certainly gives it a specific dialect and writes with an accent.  Personally, I think the story would be great for a unit on characters or character traits.  A child could gather a lot about the character from their actions and feelings in the book.   I would recommend this book to a student or teacher!

Graphic Novel: 
Into The Air: The Story of the Wright Brothers' First Flight 
By Robert Burleigh

        I must say that I really enjoyed this graphic novel.  I had never read a graphic novel before and was not anticipating much but I really enjoy how the story was laid out.  The book separates the story by scenes rather than chapters.  The story tesla is such a good ones, it really flows and is perfect if you are teaching fiction. I was intrigued that all f the text is capitalized and written in such small, crammed writing. I actually found it difficult to read due to the font. I enjoyed the speech bubbles as well as the illustrations. The illustrations truly brought this story to life.

      The entire book was about the Wright Brothers on their journey that eventually led them to taking flight. I think the story would be good for students anywhere from third to fifth grade. I feel that both boys and girls would enjoy the novel.  The pictures are very life-like and allow the reader to tie together the text with the illustration. The author compiled the story together very well making sure to tell the whole story while not skipping out on details. 

Controversial Subjects within Texts:

Who Has What? All About Girls' Bodies and Boys' Bodies by Robie H Harris

    The text Who Has What?  is certainly a controversial topic.  The book talks about a human's private parts when you are a child, boy or girl and when you are an adult.  The book is very informational and would describe the making of one's body in a respectful manner.  Yet, I am not sure that one so young should be learning about this.  My concern would be in some of the vocabulary within the text, in my opinion it is a little inappropriate for children to be learning. I feel that students should be learning about this type of material in 4th or 5th grade rather than 2nd or 3rd.  I realize that this is not a topci we can avoid talking to with our students or children but it is something that needs to be dealt with in a polite and careful manner.

and Tango make three by Justin Richardson

    The text and tango makes three is a story about two gay penguins.  I was very surprised by the text because I did not think I would read about such a topic within a children's literature book.  Although, when you think about it this is  common in todays society and children will ask questions if it has not already been explained to them.   In a very light hearted way the story says that the two penguins are both boys and how all of the other couple can have a baby penguin but they cannot.  It is interesting to me that such a topic is being brought up for elementary level students but in reality many students may have this going on in their own homes.  We should never pass by a topic because we think it is too much for children but we should expose them to such issues or controversial topics in appropriate ways such as this text. 

King and King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland

The story here is yet again, another controversial topic of gay marriage.  I feel that this text surprised me even more than the last.  As children every always thinks that the princess is suppose to find their prince but yet, here we have the prince finding a prince.  It is interesting to me that not only do they have two men together in the story but that they are marrying each other.  I feel that this may be a cause for many questions for young children, wondering why this is happening. It intrigues me that in the book they actually show the people in the crowd at the wedding being upset.  The book is very relatable to the real world yet I feel, not all students would grasp this concept.  I think that this text can teach students a lot about the topic but it is certainly something that would have to be cleared by the administration in order to discuss with students. 

Amazing You       by Dr. Gail Saltz 

Here we have a picture book about children and their bodies.  I think that at a certain age this type of book is needed and yes, some students will learn better from looking at the pictures.  I am not sure how I feel about this text being used within a classroom setting, only because I know some parents would simply not be okay with this.  Everyone chooses to approach these controversial topics in a different way. Looking at this specific text, I was surprised that in the beginning it says that the book is geared towards preschool.  Personally, if I had a child in preschool I would not want him or her looking at such a book at that young of an age.  The pictures in the text are very detailed.  yes, they are accurate but I think details can be discussed as the child gets older.  When children are young, it is fair to expose them to the basics of everyone being different but I do not think that such detailed needs to be discussed, especially within the classroom environment. 

Multicultural Texts:


Julius Lester( new berry honor book author )  Let's Talk About Race

 
   The story discussing the never ending message that beauty is skin deep. I really enjoyed this book as it gave multiple examples of how people can be different including; where they came from, favorite food, hobbies, etc.  Then the author introduces race, but he does it in such a light hearted way.  Afterwards he discusses how beneath the skin we are all skin and bones, therefore we are all the same.  It even made me think about race and how it affects people. The book teaches a lesson through text and illustrations, I would use this book in my classroom. The book could be used within multiple unit topics including families, different cultures, and friendship.

Sumptuously Silly Fantastically Funny Fables 
by Julius Lester 

 The text listed above is quite unique from other texts of its kind.  The text includes the concept of different cultures and ethnicities but in a very kid friendly way.  Julius used bugs and animals instead of people as examples of things being "different".  I love that the story starts out with a table of contents and the text is meant for upper elementary but yet, it has fun, child - like elements.   The author chose to create different texts fonts and formats, including colors and spacing.  I would certainly use this in my classroom and allow them to explore the different stories within the one book.  The story is extremely creative and imaginative, I feel that children would be hooked and engaged within each new story!

the hungry ghosts

by Julius Lester 

    The hungry ghosts is a cute story of a boy waking up to find, friendly ghosts roaming about his room.  The author renames ghosts and give them actual names of people, relating the ghosts to human beings.  The story seems to be a bit busy in my opinion, and may get a little confusing for students.  Although, one could always read this in class, in order to prompt class discussion and see how the students respond to the different types of ghosts that are introduced.  I enjoyed how the author gives the ghosts human qualities in the text.  At one point in the story the ghosts state that they are hungry and the little boy says that ghosts cannot be hungry.  When this is said, the author discusses that ghosts are very similar to humans.  The book has wonderful illustrations and has an underlying, central message that people aren't so different after all!

Blog 4

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munez

       I enjoyed the chapter book overall, and was appreciative of the overall theme.  I feel that for an elementary level or middle school age student the book is very inspiring and the author really allows the reader to see the struggle or the 13 year old girl.  The main character in the story goes through many trials and tribulations after losing her father and being forced to move.  I think the book would be great for a  guided reading lesson as you could tie many different topics into one book.  you could focus on the theme/ moral, character traits, character motivation, even point of view.  The book has endless opportunists to allow students to really dive into the text.
     I do feel that the text however me be geared more towards girls. I don't feel that young boys wold enjoy the novel as much as girls would.  After recognizing that, I think I would have to be very careful about how I approach this in my own class.  I would also need to take into consideration the fact that some of the students in my class may have gone through a similar situation as the main character. I have found that there are multiple items hat need to be taken into account when it come so choosing texts.


The Giver  by Lois Lowry

   
     The Giver is an award winning book that is known by many.  I have been told that many have read it in school and enjoyed it, even considered it a classic, therefore, peaked my interest!   The book certainly kept my attention and I feel it would of the same for a middle school or high school student.  I enjoyed the fact that it was suspenseful in a sense that I wasn't sure what was going to happen next or why Jonas was the chosen one.
   It talks about  many controversial and touchy subjects.  At first, I was surprised that it brought up such topics because the target audience for the book is a younger age.  But then, as I read further I could see how the text is a great way for teachers to bring up such topics and have class discussions.  The book dives into war, poverty, rules, and governance; all very deep and at times, controversial topics.
   The novel itself is certainly under the category of science fiction.  I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed the novel because science fiction is not something that I would look to read as a first choice. The novel really made me think with every page I turned.  Whether it was the elimination of choices, pain, or fear it kept making me think even further about that topic.  In my head I thought, "What if this is actually how our society was today?" I think it's great that the author allows you to create a picture in your head of the scenes yet still allows for a large amount of imagination and thinking into what that would really mean if this type of society or government were to come true.  The text offers up a lot of opportunities for teachers to have children expand, write an alternate ending, or even to have students choose one of the controversial topics and write further about their opinions. Overall, I enjoyed the text and think it could be used in a multitude of ways throughout the classroom. The novel certainly deserved the award!

The Ugly Duckling by Isadora

      The Ugly Duckling  is a classic picture book story with a small twist.  When anyone thinks of the ugly duckling they instantly think of the original story that most people know.  Well, this particular story has a few twists and turns which makes it a very exciting fable. The duck in the story was born ugly but then he makes a decision to flee his nest and find where he fits in.  He ends up meeting a farmer who will take care of him, along with his children.  The best part about this fable is that even though the story is not the original, it still has the great message that "beauty is skin deep".  The picture book can be used as a part of a literacy focus during a lesson on fables within a classroom.  The text allows for many ways to a teacher to expand, including; vocabulary, re-writing a new ending, and the emphasis of character traits.

Chika- Chika Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

       The picture book is an extremely fun and creative way to introduce and enhance the learning of teh alphabet.  Children will really be engaged throughout the entire story. I actually read this during a writing lesson once and the students absolutely loved it.  The phrase " chika chika boom boom" is very repetitive and therefore, there is a good amount of repetition.  It really made for a wonderful lesson because the students could chime in and repeat the phrase!  I would say this is a classic picture book and a good one for every teacher to have in his or her classroom library!


Carmine, A Little More Red by Melissa Sweet 

   The book Carmine A Little More Red is a wonderful story of a little girl and her dog on a grand journey.  They are on a journey together to get to her "Granny's house" where she had invited them for lunch.   The book takes you through their travels and the people they meet along the way.  The intriguing part about the book is that each new page starts out the first sentence with a new letter of the alphabet.  The book starts with the letter "A" and goes to "Z" in order to describe their journey together.  It is a very crafty and engaging story.  I feel that children would be able to relate to the text and it is something they would enjoy.  I personally enjoy the test because I think it can easily be integrated into multiple literacy lessons.  The text shows patterns, character traits, and the students can even pick out different text features.  The book allows for many teaching opportunities including having students use graphic organizers to outline the story or pick out specific details.

Balloons over Broadway; The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade  by Melissa Sweet
( Robert F. Sibert Medal )

     Balloons Over Broadway is a tremendously crafted informational text with incredible illustrations that really ties the story together. It is the story of the puppeteer of the ever classic Macy's Parade.  Students will be entertained while gaining knowledge when reading this text.  The text has a great layout for being able to outline facts, timelines, details, and definitions.  it is a very charming story that can be enjoyed by any age.  I think the text is interesting in a sense that it uses multiple fonts and formats on each page.  It is clear that Melissa Sweet wanted to illustrations to be just as important as the content of the book.
     In the text she takes a familiar topic and a well - known annual event to another level. Melissa introduces the story of the creation of the balloons and puppets.  She does this, while introducing and integrating valuable and worthy vocabulary.  When reading her book, I noticed that many of the vocabulary words are even italicized, therefore they are easily picked out by students. I would recommend this book to any student or teacher, looking to gain knowledge while being entertained at the same time!

Just A Second, A Different Way to Look at Time by Steve Jenkins

     When teaching students about time, never would I have thought in this manner!  The book Just A Second, A Different Way to Look At Time by Steve Jenkins is a fabulous text that takes you through a journey of time while looking at it through multiple aspects.  When someone normally thinks of time and how to tell time, one would just think about a clock and how to read it.  I feel that when many teachers teach it in a classroom, we simply teach the minute hand and hour hand and sometimes that's just where it ends.  However, Steve Jenkins takes telling time to a whole new place.  He describes what time means in various aspects of life.  For example, he notes how many times a hummingbird beats its wings in one second or how far a commercial jet cruises in that amount of time.  The text is a perfect example of how one topic can be related to multiple subjects or even, every subject for that matter. 

Blog 3

Pictures of Hollis Woods

By Patricia Reilly Griff

I enjoyed the format and layout of the actual chapter book, it was different than most others.  After every chapter there was a piece of writing she entitled “picture” each one was labeled as a different picture name.  The particular piece of writing was always written in italics as well as being very detailed.  I feel that the writing was referring to another point in time and most often in the past.  The main character in the story, Hollis, would be describing a very significant past time to her.

Hollis had a clear love of the ocean, which the author displayed every time she was given the opportunity.  The author also spoke of a boy named Steven.  When the novel first started I did not anticipate Steven being such a major character, considering it is someone that she only speaks of and who doesn’t necessarily take part in the scenes.

I enjoyed the novel; the plot is certainly something that I would be interested in.  However, I thought the text really jumped around and was slightly confusing at times.  I really had to think if I was reading something that was really happening or if the main character was having yet another flashback.

Construction Zone by Cheryl Willis Hudson

The text was very informational and good for young readers.  I was interested that the text used words and vocabulary such as “architect” but yet it would call the machine a “ yellow truck” instead of using the correct name. I like that the book gives information on what the construction works are building as well as what some of the shapes are.  When you think about it, some of the buildings in cities and other urban areas have very different architecture and you never know what shapes children may see and how they will interpret it. 

The book points out that safety is a big concern when it comes to construction.  I think it’s great that the story emphasizes this, even for something geared at such a young age.  The pictures in the book are real and not drawn out or make believe which really allows for the reader to picture it on their own.

Things that Float and Things that Don’t by David A. Adler

The text here is awesome for a science unit; it is almost a whole lesson in one simple text.  The book goes through vocabulary words, what is density, why things sin or float, and much, much more.  I like how the book even has bold words, which is something that students start recognizing in 1^st grade.  When students see bold words, they should know that the text is real and informational versus one that tells a story. The text is great for lower elementary grades. However it might make more sense to a student if a parent or teacher were to read it to them.  I can imagine that students would have multiple questions after reading even one page out of this book.  One thing in particular that I feel is really interesting is that the book starts out almost as an experiment where students could follow along at home.  It even teaches students how to record their own data.

The Science Book of Water by Neil Ardley

The informational text is very interesting considering every two pages is almost a new experiment focusing on a different topic.  It is almost a book of experiments versus a book of one topic that tells a story.  The book goes through topics that can be difficult in science such as water levels and how weight is lifted in water. 

It is clear that this text is geared for more upper elementary and even middle school age children.  I think the reader would find the text very interesting yet they would enjoy the text more if they were experimenting while reading the book and being able to actually follow along. The text would be great if a teacher had a unit on this particular topic.  He or she would certainly be able to pull an experiment from the book and use it for students to do some trial and error.

Dinosaurs by Gail Gibbons

The book Dinosaurs by Gail Gibbons certainly caught my eye because I know that I really enjoy Gail as an author.  The Dinosaurs book in particular is great for a lesson on dinosaurs or fossils.  It gives great detail and incorporates vocabulary, bold words, and even how you would phonetically say the word.   It introduces multiple types of dinosaurs giving descriptions of each. The material and actual informational text is all very real but yet the photos are more on the cartoon side.  I find it interesting that she did not use more real and life like photos to use within the text.

I like how the text will include facts such as dates and times that past events have occurred relating to fossils.  The author emphasizes that dinosaurs are different sizes and the illustrations give students an idea of what type of dinosaur is large and which kind is small. The text indirectly labels most pictures, time frames, and vocabulary.  The text really allows the reader to engulf himself or herself in the topic and gain a very large amount of information.

A Rock is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston

I love this book; it not only gives information but goes deep into the topic of rocks.  It has the most wonderful and detailed illustrations.  The book starts out with a two-page spread full of gorgeous rocks and then at the very end there is yet, another two-page spread with the same rocks but those rocks are labeled.  It has a clear layout of what rocks students will learn throughout reading this book.  The students will learn things that the rocks are similar to, where they might find the rock, and even at times how the rock may be formed.