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 folktales. Show all posts

10/17/14

Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Verna Aardema/Leo and Diane Dillon

PUBLISHER: Puffin/Dial

PUBLICATION DATE: 1975

AWARDS: Caldecott Medal

GENRE: Folk Tale

READING LEVEL: 3^rd Grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: The mosquito caused a domino effect of events occurring all because of the lie she told. Her lie resulted in misinterpretations, a killing of an owlet and Mother Owl not hooting to bring back daylight.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have students become the characters in the story and reenact the book. At the end of the reenactment have a discussion about the book.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: (Andrea Joyner, Valdosta State University ECSE)

LABELS: African, award-winning, folktales

12/5/13

Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Tomie dePaola
PUBLISHER: Penguin Group PUBLICATION DATE: 2004

AWARDS: Caldecott Honor Award , Newbery Honor Award
GENRE: Multicultural READING LEVEL: 3^rd

BRIEF OVERVIEW: After Adelita parent’s death, she is badly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have students fold a large sheet of paper into six sections. They will illustrate and label the story elements in the squares: 1.Characters 2.Setting 3.Problem 4.Events 5.Solution 6.Ending

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Daphne Wright - Valdosta State University

The Girl Who Spun Gold

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Virginia Hamilton and Leo and Diane Dillon

PUBLISHER: Blue Sky Press; First Edition edition PUBLICATION DATE:2000

GENRE: Traditional Non-European

READING LEVEL: 4-8 years

BRIEF OVERVIEW:The Girl Who Spun Gold is a story about a young peasant girl who is made queen because the king believes that she can spin and weave golden objects.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will reinact the story.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Briana Henderson Valdosta State University, Section A

12/4/13

The Hunter

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mary Casanova, Ed Young

PUBLISHER:Atheneum Books for Young Readers
PUBLICATION DATE: 2000

GENRE: Traditional Non-European
READING LEVEL: Preschool-3rd

BRIEF OVERVIEW:Chinese folktale about a boy whose village needs food and so he asks a man he meets for the ability to listen to animals. The one thing is, he can never reveal his secret. He is faced with the decision to tell his secret when he realizes there is going to be a huge flood.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY:Have them write a few sentences about what choice they would make and what do they think the outcome will be. Also, have them draw a picture to go along with it.

Reviewers Name and Affiliation: Megan Fender, Valdosta State University Block A