A Book or Two: Children's Literature Reviews

Find a perfect children’s book to share or read, and information on new, classic, and favorite children's literature, reviewed by university professors, teachers, librarians, graduate students, and teachers-to-be! Browse A Book or Two by title, genre, or topic! HAPPY READING! This is a closed site, to prevent inappropriate postings. You won't be able to add your own comments. Communication should be sent to the site organizer, Dr. Deb Marciano (dlmarciano@valdosta.edu).

Showing posts with label bravery. Show all posts

10/20/14

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down

AUTHOR: Andrea Davis Pinkney

ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Pinkney

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

AWARDS: Jane Addams Honor Book Award

GENRE: Non-Fiction, Picture Book READING LEVEL: 4^th grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Set February 1, 1960 in Greensboro, NC at the Woolworth lunch counter, 4 African American college students staged a peaceful protest as they came in to order coffee and a doughnut—this was during a time where Blacks were segregated. This book highlights a defining moment in the quest for racial equality.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Research a person/event who w contributed to racial equality during the Civil Rights Movement, and write a one-page summary about that person/event. Must share with the class.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Ashley January, Valdosta State University ECSE

10/19/14

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

TITLE: The Legend of the Bluebonnet

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Tomie DePaola

PUBLISHER: Penguin Group USA PUBLICATION DATE: March 1983

GENRE: Folktale READING LEVEL: Grade 3

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This tale is about how the blue flowers in Texas came to be. It started with a drought in a village. They found out they had to sacrifice something for rain, so a girl gave up her most prized item, a doll with blue feathers. After is burned, the hill was filled with blue flowers and the rain came.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: For this book, students will pick out the components of the story (i.e. Main idea, details, setting). They will record this on a reading web worksheet.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: (Schuyler Kenzel, Valdosta State University ECED)

LABELS: (Folktale, foreign, children, bravery)

There's an Alligator Under My Bed

TITLE: There’s an Alligator Under My Bed

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mercer Mayer

PUBLISHER: Penguin Group USA PUBLICATION DATE: March 1987

GENRE: Fiction READING LEVEL: 3^rd Grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A story about a child who says there is an alligator under his bed. His ultimate goal is to trap it in the garage.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: The students will think back to a very interesting dream they’ve had before. They will draw it and label what is happening.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: (Schuyler Kenzel,Valdosta State University ECED)

LABELS: (fiction, adventure, bravery, children)

11/23/13

Becky the Brave: A Story About Epilepsy

AUTHOR: Laurie Lears ILLUSTRATOR: Gail Piazza

PUBLISHER: Albert Whitman and Company PUBLICATION DATE: 2002

GENRE: Realistic Fiction READING LEVEL: Ages 7-10

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Sarah thinks her sister Becky is the bravest person. But Becky has epilepsy and is afraid that her friends might find out. One day she has a seizure and refuses to go to school. Sarah tells the class about Becky’s conditions and Becky says Sarah is the bravest.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: (MCC2.MD.10): With assistance from the teacher, students will come up with 4 situations in the book they thought was the bravest and graph the responses. They will answer the questions: 1. Which category has the most; 2. Which has the least?; 3. Which are even?

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Shelby Varchmin, VSU Student