If You Decide to Go to The Moon

AUTHOR: Faith McNulty

ILLUSTRATOR: Steven Kellogg

PUBLISHER: Scholastic Press

PUBLICATION DATE: 2005

AWARDS: Parents' Choice Award Fall 2005

GENRE: Speculative Fiction

READING LEVEL: Grade 3

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This book gives children an imaginary image of what it is like to travel to the moon. The book gives real facts like where the first explorers landed, The book also gives fictitious instructions and tips for someone who would to make that trip.  

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Each student will create their own playlist of songs to listen when the travel to the moon. 

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Shaneiga Prise, Valdosta State University ECSE

LABELS: Space, award-winning, moons, GR K-3, fun

Excuse Me, I'm Trying to Read!

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mary Jo Amani/Lehla Eldridge

PUBLISHER: Mackinac Island Press  
PUBLICATION DATE:  2012
AWARDS: 2011 winner NAESP Children's Book Competition for Picture Books
GENRE: Fiction/Picture Book    
READING LEVEL: Ages 4-8

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A girl keeps trying to read a book, but she keeps getting interrupted by crazy, wild animals. The animals end up joining her and they have their own adventures.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have the students draw a picture of their favorite animal that was in the book and an adventure that they have been on or would like to go on.

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

LABELS: Reading, Animals, Fun

Just One More

 

TITLE: Just One More

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Jennifer Hansen Rolli

PUBLISHER: Viking Juvenile    PUBLICATION DATE: 2014

GENRE: Fiction Picture Book   READING LEVEL: Kindergarten

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Ruby always wants just one more of everything. Of course if you keep giving her one more sip, one more ride, or one more scoop, she is just going to keep wanting…MORE! When Ruby drops her ice cream because she had one too many scoops, she decides she’ll be just as happy with just one of everything.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will make a list of 5 things they are grateful for and number each one. Students will then draw and color a picture of the things they have listed.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Sarah MeLinne Moon, Valdosta State University ECSE

LABELS: Fiction, Picturebook, fun

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

 

Title: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Publisher: Disney- Hyperion

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

Genre: Children's Fiction

Reading Level: 5 years old

Overview: When the bus driver goes on a break, he asks the audience to watch his bus because the pigeon always tries to drive the bus. He begs and pleads to drive the bus throughout the whole story.

Integrated Idea: Have students make their own pigeon and tell how they would try to convince the audience to let their pigeon drive the bus.

Affiliation: Bree Wells Valdosta State University ECSE

 

 

 

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

Copyright: 2012        Reading Level: PreK-3rd grade
Book Description: Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it's harder for a giraffe than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend.

Integrated Ideas: Students will describe the story’s character, Gerald, and the other jungle animals through sign based on the text and illustrations within the story. The students will explain the struggle Gerald faced when trying to dance and the effect the other animals had on his self confidence to dance on his own. As a class, the students will learn and attempt the dance styles listed within the story from each jungle animal. Each student will then create their own dance to share and teach to their fellow classmates that expresses their individuality and emotions. 

Reviewer's name and affiliation: Bethany A. Loggins, Valdosta State University

Maybe a Bear Ate It

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Author: Robie H. Harris Illustrator: Michael Emberley

PUBLISHER:  Orchard Books     PUBLICATION DATE: 2008

GENRE: Fiction Picture Book      READING LEVEL: Ages 0-4

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A small creature can’t fall asleep without his book. He wakes up and can’t find a book and makes assumptions about what animal could have eaten it

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: The students can enjoy a scavenger hunt. When they find the hidden object they get a prize.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Brooke Larsen, VSU student