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 fear. Show all posts

10/22/14

Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Barbara Park/ Denise Brunkus

PUBLISHER: Random House Books for Young Readers

PUBLICATION DATE: 2006

GENRE: Children’s Transitional Book READING LEVEL: Ages 8-10

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This book is about Junie B. Jones and when her class goes on a fieldtrip to the farm. Junie B. Jones is afraid of many of the animals, so she is very nervous about the trip. She ends up overcoming her fears and having a fun time at the farm.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will free write how they might have related to Junie in the book. They will write a summary of what they might have once been afraid of and then how they faced their fear and wasn’t afraid of it anymore. They can also tell how they overcame their fear and if they did it alone or if they had someone help them not be afraid anymore. The students can also draw a picture to go along with their story. The teacher will post the stories and pictures and have some student read theirs aloud.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Rebecca Hasty,Valdosta State University ECSE

LABELS: fear, farm

11/22/13

Lizzy and Skunk

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
PUBLISHER: DK Children PUBLICATION DATE: April 1, 2000
GENRE: Picture Book READING LEVEL: 1^st grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Lizzy overcomes her own fears through a stuffed skunk that she takes with her. In the end, roles are reversed and Lizzy has to be the brave one for her “friend”, Skunk.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Get children to talk about who they would take with them to do something scary.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Kayla Rozier, VSU

The Spider and the Fly

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Tony Diterlizzi

PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

PUBLICATION DATE: October 1, 2002

GENRE: Fiction

READING LEVEL: Ages 5-8

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This poem is about a spider trying to convince a fly to come upstairs. The fly denies every offer because she knows whatever goes up does not come down. She left and one day returned. The spider didn’t ask to go upstairs, he captured her. From that day on the fly was never seen again.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: I would read this around Halloween, and I would have the students create their own spooky poem.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Emily Cribb, Valdosta State University

11/16/13

Go Away, Big Green Monster!

TITLE: Go Away, Big Green Monster!
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Edward R. Emberley
PUBLISHER: Little Brown and Company
PUBLICATION DATE: 1992
AWARDS: Caldecott Award
GENRE: Fiction
READING LEVEL: Kindergarten - 1st grade
BRIEF OVERVIEW: Helps young children overcome their fear of monsters
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Draw a picture of what you are most afraid of and rip it to pieces to get rid of that fear
REVIEWER'S NAME AND AFFILIATION: Kandyce Mahone - Valdosta State University