WIND FLYERS

Wind Flyers

Written by: Angela Johnson

                                                         Illustrated by: Loren Long              

Simon and Schuster, 2007

30 Pages

Realistic Fiction

            I chose to read Wind Flyers due to the magnificent illustrations. Wind Flyers is a story that involves a young boy and his great-great-uncle who was a wind flyer during WWII.  The uncle shares his stories about how he, from a very young age, always dreamed of flying. The story follows the uncle’s journey in making his dreams come true and how flying makes him feel. Presently, the uncle and his nephew share flying together and their feelings about flying.

           The illustrations in this story are done with acrylic paints and are beautifully done. The art catches the history and emotion in an almost realistic form. The illustrator, Loren Long, and the author, Angela Johnson, both formed a visual setting in Barbara. While the story itself is beautifully written, I personally favor the illustrations and feel that they themselves create the story.

           Wind Flyers has not won any awards, but the author is a three-time Coretta Scott King Award-winner. The book provides many history lessons incorporated in one. The history topics this story brings for discussion are plane history, WWII airmen history, and Alabama history. Although the story’s lessons would primarily revolve around history it could also be used for adjective lessons, comparing and contrasting, relationship building, relating activities, or for lessons on poetic form. Due to the history content and higher thinking activity opportunities in the book I would recommend this story for middle elementary children, but it is appropriate for all ages. 

RHYMING DUST BUNNIES

Rhyming Dust Bunnies

Written by: Jan Thomas

Illustrated by: Jan Thomas and Ann Bobco

Beach Lane Books, 2009

34 Pages

Fiction

            This book was chosen because my sons’ kindergarten class is talking about rhymes and I was looking for a funny book to help him along. Rhyming Dust Bunnies is a very humorous story about four dust bunnies named Ed, Ned, Ted, and Bob (notice all names rhyme except Bob’s). The book follows Ed, Ned, and Ted in talking about what words rhyme with what while Bob is concerned about getting sweep up. Every time Bob yells that there is danger near, his friends only say that that word does not rhyme with theirs. However, Bob’s friends end up learning about how they should have been listening to Bob all along instead of only concentrating on their game.

            For the illustrations in the book Jan Thomas and Ann Bobco digitally created bright, simple, and primary artwork. The bright colors are eye catching for young children and the text is written in captions. The captions are also written colorfully and fun rather than simple and black.

            No awards were won for this book, but it is a wonderful book to have in preschool and 

kindergarten classrooms. The books’ main purpose is obviously to make a great lesson on rhymes for the story is written in a way that a teacher is given opportunities to pause for questioning. However, this story could also be used for teaching listening skills and phonics. There are many cute pintables available online for class incorporation.

           

            

SCARDY SQUIRREL  

Scaredy Squirrel

Written and Illustrated by: Melanie Watt

Kids Can Press Ltd., 2006

32 pages

Fiction

            I decided to choose this book to read after opening it to a random page to get an idea of the story. From the start the story made me laugh, therefore, I had to read it. Scaredy Squirrl is a story about a squirrel that never leaves his nut tree because he is too scared of the unknown. Scaredy is scared of everything such as bees, germs, poison ivy, and sharks; however, Scaredy is prepared for anything. Scaredy has a safety kit. Everyday, Scaredy follows a strike schedule and routine that ensures him that he will never encounter the unknown until one particular day. Something happened that day that was so unpredictable that it changed him forever. As it turned out, the unknown was not so bad after all.

           

            The illustrations in the book are simple and created using charcoal pencils and acrylic. The story’s text and pictures are periodically done as listings and charts.  The charts are of Scardey’s schedule which includes drawings of clocks that indicates the time and of his planning. Also, a select few pages use a picture in place of a word. I feel that the illustrations are helpful for children to get an idea as to how schedules are sometimes written and how jotting can tell a story.

           

            Scaredy Squirrel has not won any awards, but it has been recognized by many. The author, Melanie Watt, has also written other books about Scardey and his new adventures. I believe this book could create many different lessons for children such as how to write a schedule, how to tell time, the days of the week, advantages verses disadvantages, how to make lists, and how to plan. I also believe it makes for a great classroom discussion on not being afraid of taking small risks and how everyone is scared of something. I would ask students about things that might scare them to start them off in reading this story. The story is appropriate for children preschool and up. 

TEN LITTLE CATERPILLARS

Ten Little Caterpillars

Written by: Bill Martin Jr

Illustrated by: Lois Ehlert

Beach Lane Books, 2011

31 Pages

Fiction

            I chose this book because I am very familiar with the authors’ books such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? This story counts page by page from one to ten caterpillars. Each caterpillar gets one step closer to becoming a butterfly until the tenth one finally does. The story is very simple, but cute.

The illustrations in this story use bright primary colors with little curvature. If anyone has read any off Bill Martin’s books will recognize that all the illustrations are very similar and created the same way. Lois Ehlert uses watercolors in his designs.

The book has not won any awards, but the author is very well known and has won many awards. I would recommend this book for preschool and kindergarten aged children for it is written simple and lessons this book contains fits a young group. I would use this story teach coloring, counting, and the life of a caterpillar. 

THE HEART AND THE BOTTLE

The Heart and the Bottle

Written By: Oliver Jeffers

Penguin Group, 2010

31 Pages

Fiction

            I chose to read The Heart and the Bottle because I was interested to see what the story was about since the title was not display on the cover. Turned out the story heard a deep meaning that a displayed title could not have possibly captured. The book begins when the character was a little girl. As a young girl she had an open heart and mind to everything about the world until one day she comes across an empty chair. From that empty chair the little girl loses her heart and places it in a bottle where she knows it will be safe. Years later, the girl, now a woman, comes across a little girl who still has an open heart and desires again to regain her heart. However, she cannot seem to get it out of the bottle so she asks the little girl for help.

The illustrations in the story tell the depth of the story. Through the illustrations readers can see that when she had her heart free she was with her grandfather and the empty chair was where he had read to her. As the illustrations continue you can see that what makes her lose her heart is the loss of her grandfather and now his chair is empty. The illustration combined with the text is what tells the story and it brought tears to my eyes when I saw that empty chair.  

No awards were granted to this story, but it definitely won one in my mind because of how touching it is. I do not believe younger grades will grasp the meaning nor pick up on how the illustrations and text work together, but a lesson for that could be taught to them. I primarily would use this story in a classroom to character build and see if students can relate to the loss of someone very important to them. 

GUJI GUJI

Guji Guji

Written By: Chih-Yuan Chen

Kane/Miller, 2004

29 Pages

Fiction

           

This book was chosen because I thought the title sounded interesting and the cover illustrations looked as if it would be humorous. The story is about an alligator named Guji Guji who was mixed up at birth and born alongside a duck family. Even though Guji Guji is obviously different then his siblings his mother duck loves him the same. One day, while pondering, Guji Guji runs into an alligator family and learns that he is not a duck. The alligator family tries to convince Guji Guji that he is meant to eat ducks and not live with them; therefore, he should help them eat the ducks. The alligators scared Guji Guji, but he did not want to hurt his family so he comes up with a plan to get back at the alligators. Just because he is an alligator Guji Guji is a duck at heart.

The illustrations in Guji Guji are drawl in primarily browns, whites, and blacks. The text in the story are separated from the pictures, but the art does follow the words nicely.

Guji Guji has not won any awards, but is a cute quick read for children in grades kindergarten and up. I would use this story for character building and in comparing and contrasting. The book could also be used to talk about bullying and peer pressure. For a one on one lesson the story could be used as a topic for children whom are adopted so they could relate with Guji Guji.

DAVE THE POTTER

ARTIST, POET,SLAVE

Dave the Potter

Artist, Poet, Slave

Written By: Laban Carrick

Illustrated by: Bryana Collier

Little, Brown and Company, 2010

23 Pages

Nonfiction

            I chose this book because on the illustrations and because it is a nonfiction cultural story which I think all classrooms need.  The story tells the real life story of a man named Dave who was an artist, poet, and slave who lived in the 1800’s. The story begins by telling Dave’s’ perspectives on the ingredients he uses for his pottery verses everyone else’s. After the perspective, the story describes the steps Dave has to take in order to make a pot. Sometimes, Dave would even write a short poem on his pieces to make his mark on his art.

            The illustrations in the story won a Caldecott Medal for its beautiful, realistic nature. In creating the illustrations, Bryana Collier, took the time and researched Dave to ensure the pictures captured a place in time. Bryana Collier used freehand watercolors.

            For classroom use, this story could be used for a history lesson on Dave and artistry. Also the story could be used for lessons on prospection and pottery. The story is appropriate for all ages, but I would recommend it form grades second to fourth due to the history involved. 

THE BLACK BOOK OF COLORS

The Black Book of Colors

Written by: Menena Cottin

Illustrated by: Rosana Faria

Translated by: Elisa Amado

Groundwood/House of Anansi Press, 2006

22 Pages

Nonfiction

            This book was recommended to me by a friend I work with who happens to know the books I really enjoy. This book definitely fits the category and is a magnificent and poetic book. The book is a story about perceptions on colors and smells. The story is about Thomas, who is blind, and how he sees colors and smells. Each color, for Thomas, is like a taste or a texture and when they all come together a rainbow or horizon is created. Since the book has no color and only braille and lifted drawings the story is told and shown prospectively and holds deep meaning.

            The illustrations in this story are very unique because there are no colors, but instead raised textures for sensory insight. The best way to “look” at the illustrations is to close your eyes and to take in the perceptions the text holds. Without the illustrations the story would lose its meaning for most readers.

           

            In 2007 The Black Book of Colors won the New Horizons prize and it is well deserved.  I would use this book for children of all ages for it contains lessons that could appropriately fit all. For the younger grades, I would use the story for lessons on senses and on braille. For the older grade levels I would use it for comparing and contrasting, sensory, and higher level thinking on perspectives.

            

WOOLBUR

Woolbur

Written by: Leslie Helakoski

Illustrated by Lee Harper

Harper Collins Publishers, 2008

29 pages
Fiction 

            I selected to read Woolbur after seeing it displayed in the public library as a popular read. The story revolves around a little sheep named Woolbur and his desire to be his own silly self. Everyday Woolbur does something different from the other sheep while his mother and father worry about him. Woolbur would rather hang out with wild dogs, card his own wool, ride the wheel, and dye his wool blue. All his parents want is for him to do as all the other little sheep do, but every time they ask him about it he only says “Isn’t it great.” Woolbur loves being his own self and not following the crowd even if it means his parents will pull on their wool all night long with worry. In the end Woolbur’s parents finally have enough of him being different and tell him that he must do as the others. However, being the free thinker that he is, Woolbur finds a way to be himself and please his parents.

            The pastel colored illustrations throughout the book are drawn and colored with pencils by Lee Harper. Harper was able to show the expressions in the faces of the characters which enhances the understanding of the characters while adding humor. The art also follows the text descriptions and story line perfectly and beautifully. Surprisingly, Woolbur was Harper's first picture book and I can not wait to see what other stories he will bring to life. 

            Woolbur has not won any awards, but that does not make it any less worthy. I personality would use this story in the classroom and I love both the illustrations and story line. The book would create a wonderful opportunity to speak with the classroom about being ones owe self and not following the crowd. The book would also make a good lesson for vocabulary, about relating, about feelings, and about sheep.  The book’s fun nature and humor, I believe, would fit well for grades kindergarten and up.  

NOTHING LIKE A PUFFIN

Nothing Like A Puffin

Written by: Sue Soltis

Illustrated by: Bob Kolar

Candlewick Press, September 13, 2011

31 pages

Fiction

            I chose to read this book because it was recommended to me by the children’s librarian at the Anniston public library. I simply told the librarian I was looking for children’s books that have a good flow, humor, bright colors, and lesson worthy. Nothing Like a Puffin definitely fits that description. The author, Sue Soltis, compares and contrasts a puffin to other animals and objects such as a latter, a house, a fish, and a penguin. Throughout the story a puffin describes how he or she is like or not like the others. It  is not until the end that the puffins realizes that no matter how closely related he or she is to another that he or she is still one of a kind; “There’s nothing like a puffin.”

            The illustrator of the book, Bob Kolar, created his art digitally and used primary, bright colors to catch the reader attention. Bob Kolar definitely captured the events in the story through his illustrations as well as added humor to it. The text floats around and fills in the empty spaces, but it is in large print and easy to read.

            The book has not won any awards, but it is definitely award and classroom worthy. I personally love the book and the fun flow it has when reading aloud. The book would make a good lesson on comparing and contrasting. On a personal level, the book could teach children that it is okay to be different for no one is exactly alike.  The book’s flow also provides many opportunities for class to pause and have discussions on adjectives, verbs, and the different types of animals. I would recommend this book for children kindergarten and up.