Zen Shorts

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Jon J Muth

PUBLISHER: Scholastic Press             PUBLICATION DATE: 2005

AWARDS: Caldecott Medal 200, Book Sense Book of the Year Award: Children's Illustrated 2006

GENRE: Other culture picture book   READING LEVEL: 3rd 

BRIEF OVERVIEW:  A panda bear named Stillwater shows up in the backyard of three children. As the three children spend time with Stillwater, he tells them stories about giving, luck/positivity, and anger. In the end, he has taught them all valuable lessons and they become friends.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will identify where Stillwater is from. Students will draw a picture of Stillwater in his natural habitat. Students will identify the basic needs of panda bears.

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

LABELS: Animals, moral, siblings

Gobble, Gobble, Slip, Slop: A Tale of A Very Greedy Cat

 AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Meilo So

PUBLISHER: Knopf Books for Young Readers       PUBLICATION DATE: 2004  

GENRE: Fiction               READING LEVEL: Age 6

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A very gluttonous, grumpy cat eats anything that displeases him in this Indian-based folktale.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Each student will think of something that the cat could eat. They will each construct a sentence about the occurrence with a noun and an -ing verb like So does.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: (Quiana Nicole Childs, Valdosta State University ECSE)

LABELS: creative, Fiction, India, moral 

A Bargain for Frances

AUTHOR: Russell Hoban

ILLUSTRATOR: Lillian Hoban

PUBLISHER: Harper Collins Publishing          PUBLICATION DATE:  1970

GENRE: Fiction, Picture Book                          READING LEVEL:  2^nd grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Frances is told by her mother to “be careful” when playing with her “friend” Thelma.  She must get clever once Thelma has tricked her again, but now, she has a plan to get even and teach Thelma a lesson.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Choose 10 words from the story and create 2 other words that rhyme with those 10 selected words.

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

Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrison

author and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison
Copyright: 2014 Reading Level: PreK-1st grade
Book Description: A beautifully illustrated book about a little dog named Jane. Jane is an ordinary dog in an extraordinary circus. She isn't strong, graceful, or brave like her family. When she tries to be those things, Jane just doesn't feel like herself, but she also doesn't feel special. Her Ringmaster helps her to see that she is actually very special, but not for reasons that she would believe. 
Integrated Idea: In a world where we constantly praise children for being best, fastest, smartest and prettiest - it's high time we remind our children that you're unique and extraordinary just being themselves. The students will determine their most favorite aspect about themselves and present it to their classmates. Whether it be drawing, jumping, singing, dancing, etc. Whatever "it" is that makes them feel special, is exactly what makes them so special. 
Reviewer's name and affiliation: Bethany A. Loggins, Valdosta State University