My Brother Martin

AUTHOR:Christine King Farris    ILLUSTRATOR: Chris Soentpiet

PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster         PUBLICATION DATE: 2005 

AWARDS:  Child Magazine Best Book

Arizona Young Readers Awards

IRA Teachers' Choice for 2004

NAACP Image Award 2004

GENRE: Biography: Intermediate    READING LEVEL:  age 8

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Christine (Martin’s sister) tells about the early life of her little brother. Then she talked about how Martin’s childhood experience made an inspirational movement. Letting the reader see Martin’s life through the perspective of his loved ones only proves a point that dreams can truly come true. All it takes is to believe really hard.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will conduct research over Martin’s childhood and his accomplishments as an adult. They can create a fold-able or a chart that includes his character traits such as: how he was inspirational, active, and courageous. Students will also have a chance to write about a dream that they have.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: (Nancy Guerrero, Valdosta State University ECSE)

LABELS: biography, History, Dr. Martin Luther King

Christopher Columbus

AUTHOR: Stephen Krensky

ILLUSTRATOR: Norman Green

PUBLISHER: Harcourt School Publishers 
PUBLICATION DATE:  1991

GENRE: Biography: Intermediate                   
READING LEVEL: Age 10

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Christopher Columbus goes on a voyage and discovers America.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Post clues around the school and guide the students on a treasure hunt.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Briana Cuyler, Valdosta State University ECSE

The Tree Lady

TITLE: The Tree Lady: The Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: H. Joseph Hopkins/Jill McElmurry
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster               PUBLICATION DATE: 2013 
AWARDS:  Booklist 2013 Top 10 Books for Youth, Science & Health; Booklist Top 10 Books for Youth 2013: Crafts and Gardening; 2014 Irma Black Award Finalist; Booklist Top 10 Books for Youth 2014, Sustainability; 2014 Amelia Bloomer Project List, Early Readers Nonfiction; Booklist 2014 Top 10 Books for Youth, Biography
GENRE: Nonfiction/informational picture book READING LEVEL: Third grade
BRIEF OVERVIEW: Tells the story of green-thumbed pioneer and activist Kate Sessions, helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Use this book to lead into a lesson about plant life cycle. 
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: (Jasmine Nall, Valdosta State University ECED)
LABELS: nature, nonfiction, science, biography

Dave the Potter

TITLE:  Dave the Potter

AUTHOR: Laban Carrick Hill    ILLUSTRATOR: Bryan Collier

PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers                  PUBLICATION DATE: September 7, 2010

AWARDS: Caldecott Medal

GENRE: Bibliography-Primary         READING LEVEL: 1^st grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This is a book about Dave—an artist, a poet, and slave. Dave cherished the clay and his work.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Bring some clay into the classroom and have the students mold something out of it.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Faith Summers, Valdosta State University ECSE

LABELS: biography, Caldecott Medal, slavery

My Fellow Americans: A Family Album

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Alice Provensen

PUBLISHER: HMH Books for Young Readers

PUBLICATION DATE: 1995

GENRE: History/Social Studies Biography

READING LEVEL: Sixth

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Various biographies telling about the exploits of well known Americans throughout history. 

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY:  Use this to review several different Americans briefly to introduce them for things such as research papers and projects.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION
: Nicole Stuart- Valdosta State University

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth

AUTHOR: Kathryn Lasky

ILLUSTRATOR: Kevin Hawkes

PUBLISHER: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

 PUBLICATION DATE: 1994

GENRE: Biography

 READING LEVEL: Third Grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A colorfully illustrated biography of the Greek philosopher and scientist Eratosthenes, who compiled the first geography book and accurately measured the globe's circumference.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Use to introduce math terms related to circumference and begin discussing how to find the circumference of an object that is unable to be measured given the technology at hand. 

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Nicole Stuart-Valdosta State University

Vincent van Gogh and the Colors of the Wind

Author: Chiara Lossani
Illustrator: Octavia Monaco
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2011
Awards: Children's Book Council Children's Choices 2012
Genre: Nonfiction Biography
Reading Level: Grade 3-4
Brief Overview: The biography of Vincent van Gogh is told in a story form so readers paint his life into a visual portrait as he once did various sceneries, surroundings, and landscapes.
Integrated Idea: Students will create a mini storybook with pictures to portray their own lives.
Reviewer's Name and Affiliation: Ashley Offenberg, Teacher Candidate, Valdosta State University

Juliette Low Girl Scout Founder

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Helen Boyd, Morrison Higgins/ Cathy Morrison

PUBLISHER: Bobbs-Merrill Company PUBLICATION DATE: 1951

GENRE: Biography READING LEVEL: 7th-9th grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This book is solely in honor of the amazing Juliette Gordon Low.  It tells Low’s life story and how she was brought up with the incentive to create a Girl’s club/society for leadership and societal skills.  Her determined dream turned into the Girl Scouts of the USA.  Since being a former Girl Scout, I found excitement when discovering this book (biography).

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Help team up with a project the Girl Scouts are involved in by helping advocate the “Be a Friend First” message.  Inform the class of the detrimental measures bullying can lead to in and out of schools.  Tell students to embrace the free life they have been given and to cherish themselves and everyone around them.  Juliette Low would fight for this and would be proud to know people still take actions to prevent it. Also tell kids to support by buying a box of yummy cookies!

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Mary Anna Dozier, Valdosta State University

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator Author: Shelley Tanaka Illustrator: David Craig Publisher: Publication Date: 2008 Genre: Nonfiction Biography Reading Level: Ages 8-12 Brief Overiew: The life of Amelia Earhart spent in the air as the first woman pilot including her disappearance caused by flight right into the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. Integrated Activity: Complete a graphic organizer of facts presented about Amelia Earhart from this biography of her life. Reviewer's Name and Affiliation: Ashley Offenberg, Teacher Candidate Valdosta State University

A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: David A. Adler (Author) John Wallner (Illustrator) Alexandra Wallner (Illustrator)
PUBLISHER: Holiday House PUBLICATION DATE: 1991
GENRE: Nonfiction READING LEVEL: age 6-11
BRIEF OVERVIEW: The book details the accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will write and present their own declaration.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Tavia Hundley  VSU

Becoming Babe Ruth

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Matt Tavares
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
PUBLICATION DATE: 2013
AWARDS: 2013 Junior Library Guild Selection, 2013 Oppenheim Gold Seal Award
GENRE: Biography: Primary
READING LEVEL: 3rd Grade
BRIEF OVERVIEW: George Herman Ruth is just a boy who lives in Maryland. Until his seventh birthday when his father takes him to the gates of Saint Mary's Industrial School for Boys, and his life changed forever.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will create a KWL chart based off of the book.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Shellena Palmer; VSU

The Extraordinary Mark Twain

AUTHOR: Barbara Kerley

ILLUSTRATOR: Edwin Fotheringham

PUBLISHER: Scholastic Press          PUBLICATION DATE: 2010

GENRE: Biography Picture Book        READING LEVEL: Age 7-10

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A humorous and intimate portrait of the most celebrated writher in America, as told by his thirteen-year-old daughter.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: I would like to explore some of Mark Twain's books and introduce the joy of reading to my students. We will have a Mark Twain week and this will be our introduction book for the week.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Azimah Caines

Sandy's Circus

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Tanya Lee Stone/Boris Kulikou

PUBLISHER: Viking Juvenile 

PUBLICATION DATE:  September 4, 2008

GENRE: Nonfiction   

READING LEVEL: 3rd-5th grade 

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A true story about Alexander Calder and his creation of making a circus out of wires. 

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: The students will create their won circus out of art materials provided by the teacher. 

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Alicia Evans- Valdosta State University 

The Boy On Fairfield Street

Author: Kathleen Krull
Illustrator: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers              
Publication Date: 2004
Genre: Non-Fiction
Reading Level: 1st-3rd grade
Brief Overview: The book describes how Ted Geisel grew up to be Dr. Seuss and his wild imagination as a child.
Integrated Idea: Have the students write what they would like to be when they grow up and draw an illustration.
Reviewer's Name and Affiliation: Shannon Haire,Valdosta State University

Harriet Tubman and the Fight Against Slavery

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Bree Burns

PUBLISHER: Bt Bound          
 PUBLICATION DATE:  1992

GENRE:Nonfiction                         
READING LEVEL:  3^rd-5^th

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This is a biography of Harriet Tubman and the work she did with the Underground Railroad.  It describes her life, escape, and work.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: The students will do a timeline report as a whole class about the life of Harriet Tubman and the major contributions she had in slavery.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Alexis Messer- Valdosta State University