Pugs in a Bug

TITLE: Pugs in a Bug

AUTHOR: Carolyn Crimi

ILLUSTRATOR: Stephanie Buscema

PUBLISHER: Dial

PUBLICATION DATE: March 15^th, 2012

GENRE: Contemporary

READING LEVEL: 5-6 years

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This book is about six pugs that go on a trip through the city. It is written in rhyming words and helps students with counting.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students can use the book to help them with counting and recognizing rhyming words.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Jenna Fielding Valdosta State University 

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Library Lion

TITLE: Library Lion

AUTHOR: Michelle Knudsen

ILLUSTRATOR: Kevin Hawkes

PUBLISHER: Candlewick

PUBLICATION DATE: June 25^th, 2009

GENRE: Fiction Picture Book  

READING LEVEL: 6-8 years

BRIEF OVERVIEW: The rules are very strict in the library this book is set in. The librarian, Miss Merriweather stays on top of the visitors about the rules. One day a lion visits the library and since there are no rules against lions in the library, the librarian lets him stay. One day Miss Merriweather has an accident and the lion goes to warn Mr. McBee by roaring. Because Mr. McBee doesn’t know why the lion is roaring he kicks him out, only to later find out that the lion was doing the right thing. 

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Teacher and students can discuss the times that are okay to be loud and warn someone that something has happened. Students can illustrate what animal they would like to take into a library but can discuss why this would not be appropriate

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Jenna Fielding Valdosta State University 

Chick 'n' Pug

TITLE: Chick ‘n’ Pug

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Jennifer Sattler

PUBLISHER: Bloomsburg USA

PUBLICATION DATE: May 7^th, 2013

GENRE: Fiction Picture Book  

READING LEVEL: 4-5 years

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Chick no longer wants to stay in the hen house. Instead he wants to meet his hero and the main character of the comics he reads, Pug, and have his own adventures. Chick sets out to find the amazing Pug to assist him in fighting evil. Soon he comes across a pug, but he is a lazy pug. After an attack from an evil cat, Chick becomes Pug’s sidekick and the two become good friends.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Children can be read this book and be introduced to sight words. Teachers can also have students learn about “adventures,” what they mean in this story, and have students illustrate their own adventure.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Jenna Fielding Valdosta State University 

Dragons Love Tacos

TITLE:  Dragons Love Tacos

AUTHOR: Adam Rubin

ILLUSTRATOR: Daniel Salmieri

PUBLISHER: Dial 

PUBLICATION DATE: June 14^th, 2012

GENRE: Fiction Picture Book  

READING LEVEL: 6-8 years

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A Dragon’s favorite type of party is a taco party, and their overall favorite food is tacos. In this book the reader learns what happens when Dragons are given spicy salsa to eat. Accidentally at the Taco Party the host gives the Dragons spicy salsa. Soon the host finds out what happens when Dragons eat spicy salsa. 

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students can write/illustrate their favorite food and can guess what it takes to make their favorite dish. This book can also open up a lesson on consequences.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Jenna Fielding Valdosta State University 

Rudy Rides the Rails

Title:  Rudy Rides the Rails

AUTHOR: Dandi Daley Mackall

ILLUSTRATOR: Chris Ellison

PUBLISHER:  Sleeping Bear Press        

PUBLICATION DATE: 2007

GENRE:  Historical Fiction                 

READING LEVEL: Grades 1-4

BRIEF OVERVIEW:A young boy during the Great Depression decides to get on a train and work his way across America in order to get money for his family.

 INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will study the Great Depression and learn what it was like to be a child during that time.
Students will write a paragraph on what they would do during the Great Depression to help their family. 

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Shayla Samaras Valdosta State Univeristy

Nine for California

Title: Nine for California
AUTHOR:Sonia Levitin

ILLUSTRATOR: Cat Bowman Smith

PUBLISHER: Orchard Books              

PUBLICATION DATE: 1996

GENRE: Historical Fiction              

READING LEVEL: Ages 5-8

BRIEF OVERVIEW:A family travels twenty-one days across the United States to California to be with their Pa. The family experiences robbers, Indians, buffalo, and other things along the way.

 INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Teach students about the gold rush to California. Discuss what times were like during the gold rush. Have students write three things they learned about the gold rush and traveling by wagons.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Shayla Samaras Valdosta State University

My Buddy

Illustrator: Ted RandAuthor: Audrey Osofsky

Publisher: Square Fish
Publication   Date:  1994
Genre: Realistic    Fiction
Reading Level: Six years old
Brief Overview: The book is about a boy who has muscular dystrophy. The young boy goes to camp and is paired with a golden retriever who will now help him get dressed  and help him perform other every day task.
Integrated Activity: Have the students as whole group discuss what muscular dystrophy is and how it can affect someone's life.
Reviwer's name and affiliation: Brittany Hutchins, VSU

Let It Fall

Author/Illustrator: Maryann Coca-Leffler
Publisher: Cartwheel Books
Publication Date: July 1, 2010
Genre: Nonfiction Informational Picture Book
Reading Level: Preschool
Brief Overview: This book follows a family through the season of fall. The book describes the changes nature makes, going to fairs, and being outside with family members.
Integrated Activity: I would read this book in the fall and as the outside atmosphere is changing. Have students observe how their atmosphere is changing, and things they do change like the children in the book.
Reviewer's name and affiliation: Brittany Hutchins, VSU

How the Turtle Got Its Shell

Author: Justine Fontes and Ron Fontes
Illustrator: Keiko Motoyama
Publisher: Golden Books
Publication Date: December 1, 2000
Genre: Traditional Non-European
Reading Level: Five years old
Brief Overview: The book is based on fun facts about real turtles.
Integrated Activity: Have the students draw and color their own turtle. Then inside the turtle shell they drew, write facts they learned from the book.
Reviewers name and affiliation: Brittany Hutchins, VSU

Labels: Non-Fiction