The Fire Within
Chris D'Lacey
Scholastic Paperbacks, 2007
Pages: 352
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
David is a college student, who moves in with Liz, and her daughter Lucy. Liz makes clay dragons for a living, and she gives one to David as a house-warming gift. Lucy realy like squirrels. She wants to save one squirrel whose eye is missing. She convinces David to help. She also convinces David to write a story about it. While writing his story, he sees his dragon, Gadzooks, writing something. David eventually learns that dragons are real and that Liz is putting a little bit of dragon fire in each clay dragon, causing them to come to live. With the help of Gadzooks, David writes his story (BEFORE it happens), and helps save the squirrel.
I would recommend this book to any children, young adults, or adults. I'm 21 and I loved it :)
I don't see this book causing any problems
My reaction: I thought this was a god book. It tied reality and fantasy together in a very realistc way
My rating: ****
Monday, February 8, 2010
Shortcut
Shortcut
Donald Crews
Mulberry Books, 1996
Pages: 32
Reading Level: 32
Genre: Picture Book
A group a children is heading home from school one day, and they decide to take the shortcut. This shortcut is actually a railroad track. They listen and look, and don't see a train, so they continue. The children are playing around and having fun, so no one hears the soft "Choo choo" in the distance. Suddenly, the train is close, and the children have to jump into the briars and snake-filled (they think) water to avoid being hit. After the train passes, they climb out and are so scared they go back to the safe pass and never take the shortcut again.
I would recommend this book to children who live near a railroad
I can't think of any problems this bok could cause.
My reaction: I think this is a good way to teach children about the dangers of trains
My rating: ***
Donald Crews
Mulberry Books, 1996
Pages: 32
Reading Level: 32
Genre: Picture Book
A group a children is heading home from school one day, and they decide to take the shortcut. This shortcut is actually a railroad track. They listen and look, and don't see a train, so they continue. The children are playing around and having fun, so no one hears the soft "Choo choo" in the distance. Suddenly, the train is close, and the children have to jump into the briars and snake-filled (they think) water to avoid being hit. After the train passes, they climb out and are so scared they go back to the safe pass and never take the shortcut again.
I would recommend this book to children who live near a railroad
I can't think of any problems this bok could cause.
My reaction: I think this is a good way to teach children about the dangers of trains
My rating: ***
WIlly's Silly Grandma
Willy's Silly Grandma
Cynthia DeFelice Illustrated by Shelly Jackson
Orchard Books, 1997
Pages: 28
Reading level: 9-12
Genre: Picture Book
Willy's Grandma is superstitious, and Willy doesn't believe any of the things that she says. She tells him things like if he sings before breakfast he'll be crying before dinner. Willy tells his dad that grandma is silly, and his dad tells him not to call grandma silly, because when it comes to things that matter, she knows a lot. Willy doesn't believe him, so whenever grandma tells him not to do something, he does it anyway. One day she tells him not to walk at the swamp at night, so something will give him a fright. So Willy goes out to the swamp at night, and this time the bogeyman yells at him. He runs home screaming, but grandma tells him it is just a willow tree and the wind. Because grandma knows the things that matter.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone
This book could cause children to think that it is okay to not do the things that their parents and teachers tell them to do, and everything will still be alright. It condones disobedience.
My reaction: I did not like this book
My rating: *
Cynthia DeFelice Illustrated by Shelly Jackson
Orchard Books, 1997
Pages: 28
Reading level: 9-12
Genre: Picture Book
Willy's Grandma is superstitious, and Willy doesn't believe any of the things that she says. She tells him things like if he sings before breakfast he'll be crying before dinner. Willy tells his dad that grandma is silly, and his dad tells him not to call grandma silly, because when it comes to things that matter, she knows a lot. Willy doesn't believe him, so whenever grandma tells him not to do something, he does it anyway. One day she tells him not to walk at the swamp at night, so something will give him a fright. So Willy goes out to the swamp at night, and this time the bogeyman yells at him. He runs home screaming, but grandma tells him it is just a willow tree and the wind. Because grandma knows the things that matter.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone
This book could cause children to think that it is okay to not do the things that their parents and teachers tell them to do, and everything will still be alright. It condones disobedience.
My reaction: I did not like this book
My rating: *
The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen
(Note: For Andersen I also read The Emperors New Clothes, The Red Shoes, and The Streadfast Tin Soldier)
Hans Christian Andersen Retold by Amy Ehrlich Illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Dutton Children's Books, 1982
Pages: 40
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale
The tale starts out telling us that long ago there were some trolls who made a mirror which made everything pretty look ugly, one day it shattered and its pieces fell around the world. If a tiny piece got in your eye, you would see ugly things instead of pretty ones. If a piece touched your heart, your heart became cold and you became cruel. One day a little boy gets a piece in his eye and heart. He becomes rude to his best friend, who is a girl. One day the boy gets picked up by the evil ice queen and she takes him to her castle. The girl is upset, and sets out to find him. He gets trapped at a witches house for a while, but eventually gets free. Then she goes to a castle, but doesn't find him. Then she gets picked up by some robbers, who end up giving her a reindeer who gives her a ride to the snowqueens castle. She finds her friends, and warms up his heart. He is so ahppy to see her that he starts crying and washes out the mirror pieve from his eye, and they leave the castle and go home and get married.
I would recommend this book to girls, because it shows that they can be brave and can do things on their own.
This book could cause children to think it is okay to be rude, because the little boy is very rude, and the little girl still tries to save him.
My reaction: This tale was okay, but not my favorite. It wasn't as gruesome as some of Andersens other stories, which is good.
My rating: ***
(Note: For Andersen I also read The Emperors New Clothes, The Red Shoes, and The Streadfast Tin Soldier)
Hans Christian Andersen Retold by Amy Ehrlich Illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Dutton Children's Books, 1982
Pages: 40
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale
The tale starts out telling us that long ago there were some trolls who made a mirror which made everything pretty look ugly, one day it shattered and its pieces fell around the world. If a tiny piece got in your eye, you would see ugly things instead of pretty ones. If a piece touched your heart, your heart became cold and you became cruel. One day a little boy gets a piece in his eye and heart. He becomes rude to his best friend, who is a girl. One day the boy gets picked up by the evil ice queen and she takes him to her castle. The girl is upset, and sets out to find him. He gets trapped at a witches house for a while, but eventually gets free. Then she goes to a castle, but doesn't find him. Then she gets picked up by some robbers, who end up giving her a reindeer who gives her a ride to the snowqueens castle. She finds her friends, and warms up his heart. He is so ahppy to see her that he starts crying and washes out the mirror pieve from his eye, and they leave the castle and go home and get married.
I would recommend this book to girls, because it shows that they can be brave and can do things on their own.
This book could cause children to think it is okay to be rude, because the little boy is very rude, and the little girl still tries to save him.
My reaction: This tale was okay, but not my favorite. It wasn't as gruesome as some of Andersens other stories, which is good.
My rating: ***
Wilma Unlimted
Wilma Unlimited
Kathleen Krull Illustrated by David Diaz
Harcourt Brace & Company, 1996
Pages: 48
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography
Wilma Rudolph was born very small. She was only four pounds, and in 1940, babies didn't usually live. But Wilma did. However, she was very very sick. She had 22 brothers and sisters, and whenever one of them got only a little sick, she would get it twice as bad. One time when she was sick, she got polio which cripped her leg. She wasn't supposed to be able to walk again, but she worked very hard. One day she took her brace off, and decided she wasn't going to wear it anymore. She practiced walking, and one day got good enough to run and play basketball. She played ball in high school, and at a state tournament a track coach saw her run and asked to to come run on his team. Wilma was the first in her family to go to college. She eventually made it to the olympics, where she won 3 gold medals.
I would recommend this book to people with physical disabilities who are feeling down.
I can't see this book causing any problems
My reaction: I was moved by this book. It made me realize that if Wilma could win the olympics, then I can do anything.
My rating: ****
Kathleen Krull Illustrated by David Diaz
Harcourt Brace & Company, 1996
Pages: 48
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography
Wilma Rudolph was born very small. She was only four pounds, and in 1940, babies didn't usually live. But Wilma did. However, she was very very sick. She had 22 brothers and sisters, and whenever one of them got only a little sick, she would get it twice as bad. One time when she was sick, she got polio which cripped her leg. She wasn't supposed to be able to walk again, but she worked very hard. One day she took her brace off, and decided she wasn't going to wear it anymore. She practiced walking, and one day got good enough to run and play basketball. She played ball in high school, and at a state tournament a track coach saw her run and asked to to come run on his team. Wilma was the first in her family to go to college. She eventually made it to the olympics, where she won 3 gold medals.
I would recommend this book to people with physical disabilities who are feeling down.
I can't see this book causing any problems
My reaction: I was moved by this book. It made me realize that if Wilma could win the olympics, then I can do anything.
My rating: ****
The Wright Brothers
The Wright Brothers
By Pamela Duncan Edwards Illustrated by Henry Cole
Hyperion Books for Children, 2003
Pages: 30
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Non-Fiction
This book is a creative way to teach kids about the Wright brothers. The main text is similar to There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, in the sense that it keeps building upon itself. But the details of what is happening is provided by three little mice on each page. The Wright brothers became curious about flying because of a toy they had as children that flew through the air. As they got older, they opened their own bike shop where they designed bikes. They continued to make more planes. They observed how some buzzards were flying, and built the planes wings to match the buzzards. It worked, but they could only fly straight. They built theie own wind tunnel and engine, and finnally invented the first airplane in 1903.
I woulod reccomend this book to young children, especially if they had big imaginations.
I can't see this book causing any problems
I liked this book. The author makes it very interesting and gives the book a beat.
My rating: ***
By Pamela Duncan Edwards Illustrated by Henry Cole
Hyperion Books for Children, 2003
Pages: 30
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Non-Fiction
This book is a creative way to teach kids about the Wright brothers. The main text is similar to There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, in the sense that it keeps building upon itself. But the details of what is happening is provided by three little mice on each page. The Wright brothers became curious about flying because of a toy they had as children that flew through the air. As they got older, they opened their own bike shop where they designed bikes. They continued to make more planes. They observed how some buzzards were flying, and built the planes wings to match the buzzards. It worked, but they could only fly straight. They built theie own wind tunnel and engine, and finnally invented the first airplane in 1903.
I woulod reccomend this book to young children, especially if they had big imaginations.
I can't see this book causing any problems
I liked this book. The author makes it very interesting and gives the book a beat.
My rating: ***
Sunday, February 7, 2010
And to Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street
And to Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street
Dr. Seuss
Vangaurd Press, 1937
Pages: 40
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
This book is about a young boy who's father asks him everyday what he saw walking home from school. This day there is only a little cart being pulled by a mule. He decides that isn't good enough, so he starts making up more things, starting with a zebra instead of a mule. Then he starting adding sleighs and elephants, and ends up with a whole parade and a prince and the police as an escort. He runs in the house to tell his father about all these things, and ends up just telling him the truth.
I would reccomend this book to children of all ages, but to the younger ones in particular. Also, I was reading this to a little autistic boy i work with, and he wanted me to read it again and again, and he does NOT like reading, so i think tyhis book would be especially good for kids who need to gain a loove for reading.
I don't see this book causing any problems, it actually teaches kids to NOT lie to their parents.
My reaction: This is a great book. Has a wonderful beat.
My rating: ****
Dr. Seuss
Vangaurd Press, 1937
Pages: 40
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
This book is about a young boy who's father asks him everyday what he saw walking home from school. This day there is only a little cart being pulled by a mule. He decides that isn't good enough, so he starts making up more things, starting with a zebra instead of a mule. Then he starting adding sleighs and elephants, and ends up with a whole parade and a prince and the police as an escort. He runs in the house to tell his father about all these things, and ends up just telling him the truth.
I would reccomend this book to children of all ages, but to the younger ones in particular. Also, I was reading this to a little autistic boy i work with, and he wanted me to read it again and again, and he does NOT like reading, so i think tyhis book would be especially good for kids who need to gain a loove for reading.
I don't see this book causing any problems, it actually teaches kids to NOT lie to their parents.
My reaction: This is a great book. Has a wonderful beat.
My rating: ****
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