Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost

TITLE: Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Edited by Gary D. Schmidt/ Illustrated by Henri Sorenson
PUBLISHER: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.                
PUBLICATION DATE: 1994
GENRE: Anthology          
READING LEVEL: Ages 7-9

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A collection of poems about each of the four seasons all written by the well known American author, Robert Frost.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have the students write a short poem about their favorite season or time of the year and draw an illustration.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Katie Holliday, Valdosta State University ECSE)

LABELS: Anthology, Poetry, Seasons 

Too Many Pumpkins

TITLE:  Too Many Pumpkins

AUTHOR: Linda White

ILLUSTRATOR: Megan Lloyd

PUBLISHER: Holiday House               PUBLICATION DATE:  1997

GENRE: Fiction         READING LEVEL:  1^st Grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Rebecca Estelle despises pumpkins because she grew up during the Great Depression. Well one day disaster strikes when a pumpkin falls off the pumpkin truck.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: The students will write an opinionated paper on pumpkins. They will tell why they like or dislike pumpkins.

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems

AUTHOR: Paul B. Janeckzo

ILLUSTRATOR: Melissa Sweet

PUBLISHER: Candlewick

PUBLICATION DATE: 2014

GENRE: Poetry: Anothology

READING LEVEL: Ages 6-9

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Firefly July is a collection of short poems that entertain readers by drawing attention to all four seasons.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have each student stand in front of the class and read their favorite poem in the book and then tell why.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Courtney Taylor, Valdosta State University ECSE

Junebug & The Reverend

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Alice Mead

PUBLISHER: Yearling          PUBLICATION DATE:  2000

AWARDS:  Sunshine State Young Reader’s Book Award,

GENRE: Realistic Fiction                        READING LEVEL: 3^rd  

BRIEF OVERVIEW: The book is about a boy that has a hard time adjusting but over the summer he builds character in unlikely places.

 INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have students write in their journal about bullying.

·        How to handle a bully?

·        What to do if you are bullied?

·        Have you ever been bullied, if so how did it make you feel?

·        Are you a bully?

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Daphne Wright- VSU

Weslandia

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Paul Fleischman, Kevin Hawkes
PUBLISHER: Candlewick             
PUBLICATION DATE: August 1, 2002
GENRE: Picture Book                    
READING LEVEL: 4^th grade
BRIEF OVERVIEW: Wesley is a young boy who is very smart but considered an outcast by his classmates. As a summer project Wesley grows unknown plants and creates his own world and culture.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Bring in a plant such as corn or a certain flower. Discuss and have students write about everything that specific plant can be used for—just as Wesley did in the book.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Kayla Rozier, VSU

Spring is Here!

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mary Packard/ Claudine Gevry
PUBLISHER: Scholastic Trade PUBLICATION DATE: March 30, 2005
GENRE: Realistic Fiction READING LEVEL: k-3rd
BRIEF OVERVIEW: A girl enjoys the sights, sounds, and activities of springtime. 
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: The students will make an imitation of the perfect Spring day. This picture will have to include flowers and trees. Within the petals of the flowers and leaves from the trees, the student will write in adjectives describing this marvelous Spring day!
REVIEWER'S NAME AND AFFILIATION: Jasmine Johnson, Valdosta State University
                                                      

Come On, Rain!

AUTHOR:  Karen Hesse

ILLUSTRATOR: John J. Muth

PUBLISHER:  Scholastic Press

PUBLICATION DATE:  1999

GENRE: Realistic Fiction

READING LEVEL: 3.9

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Tessie hopes for rain after a three-week drought. She finally sees storms clouds rolling in and asks her mother if she can get on her bathing suit and meet with her friends to play in the rain. Once the rain comes, the whole neighborhood joins the girls outside to enjoy the cool rain.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY:  Students will research a drought somewhere else in the world and share it with the class.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Lauren Harrold, Valdosta State University

All Year Round

AUTHORS/ILLUSTRATORS:

Ann Druitt Christine Fynes-Clinton, Marjie Rowling

PUBLISHER: Hawthorn Press     

 PUBLICATION DATE: 1995

GENRE: Non fiction/ Informational Picture books

READING LEVEL: grades K-3rd 

BRIEF OVERVIEW: All Year Round offers a friendly guide to the seasonal round of festivals. Talks about everything from Christmas to a Summer day!

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have students write about their favorite holiday or time of year, and have them include an illustration of it.

REVIEWER’SNAME & AFFILIATION: Katelynn Pappas- Valdosta State University

Snowmen at Night

AUTHOR: Caralyn Buehner
ILLUSTRATOR: Mark Buehner
PUBLISHER: Dial
PUBLICATION DATE: September 23, 2002
GENRE: Realistic Fiction READING LEVEL: 3 years and older
BRIEF OVERVIEW: Why do snowmen look so melted overnight? They come to life after dark. They play games with other snowmen all night. They get exhausted, hot and melt a little, hence the dumpy look in the morning.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Water exists as a gas, a solid and also a liquid. Explain how water vapor can turn into snow, hail, rain, or sleet.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Robert Emond, Valdosta State University

Snowy Day

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Ezra Jack Keats
PUBLISHER: Puffin
AWARDS: Caldecott Medal (1963)
PUBLICATION DATE: October 28th 1976
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
READING LEVEL: 4 years and older
BRIEF OVERVIEW: A story as told through the eyes of an innocent child. He wakes up to a blanket of snow. The only marks in the snow are his footprints and his snow angels.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have the students fold a square piece of paper in half twice. Then cut out snowflakes. Hang the flakes from the ceiling or in the hall.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Robert Emond, Valdosta State University