I Am Jackie Robinson

I Am Jackie Robinson is geared toward kindergarten to third grade and was written by Brad Meltzer in 2015.

This is a story about a baseball legend by the name of Jackie Robinson.  He was the first African American major league baseball player.  He was a critical factor in changing the world of professional sports by making them equal for all Americans regardless of skin color or background.

Teachers and parents/guardians can use this book as a tool to demonstrate to young children that anyone can pursue their goals and make their dreams come true if they work hard. The author has also written I Am Abraham Lincoln, I Am Albert Einstein, I Am Rosa Parks, and I am Amelia Earhart just to name a few.

This book is an example of a biography.  The illustrations used are colorful and in comic strip style. Both the information and illustration allow for enhanced engagement for the reader.

Motivational Activities:

1. Students will
describe a goal they hope to achieve in the future and their plans for how they might achieve those goals.

2.  Discuss the significance of an African American playing baseball at the time in which Jackie Robinson entered baseball.

Reader Response Questions:

1. How long did Jackie Robinson play baseball in the major league?

2. What was the Civil Rights Movement and how did it affect the people during that time?

3. What statistics did Jackie Robinson hold during his baseball career?

Meltzer, B. (2015) I Am Jackie Robinson New York, Dial Books

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Where the Sidewalk Ends

Where the Sidewalk Ends is geared toward children in grades 3 through 5 and was written by Shell Silverstein in 1974.

This poem is about finding joy and passion for life just as children everywhere do.  This author wrote a book of poems entitled Where the Sidewalk Ends by which one of the poems is also named, He also wrote The Giving Tree and A Light in the Attic.   The illustrations are composed of  black lines creating comic strip style images allowing imagination on the part of the reader.

Teachers and parents/guardians can use this poem as a means to assist a young reader in building their ability to visualize the words and their meanings in their mind.

Motivational Activities:

1. Create your own poem to share with the class.

2. Discuss how the illustrations assisted in imaging the story.

Reader Response Questions:

1. What are some examples of adjectives, or descriptive words, used in this poem?

2. What elements of nature are included and de
scribed in this poem?

Silverstein, S. (1974) Where the Sidewalk Ends New York, Harper Collins

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Rapunzel

Rapunzel is geared toward children in grade 3 through 5 and was adapted by Paul Zelinsky in 1997.

This is a story of a couple expecting a child.  The child is removed from the family as a bargaining tool and is hidden away in a tower until she is rescued by a prince and returned to her parents.

Teachers and parents/guardians can use this story as an example of the whimsical ways of fairy tales. The story is set back in time when there are castles, witches, and magic spells.  All of these would seem unrealistic to children of today. This story has numerous versions and has also been made into both animated and real life motion pictures.  This author has also written Z is for Moose, and Swamp Angel. 

As an example of a fairy tale, this story maintains the essence of spellbinding tales of ties past. The illustrations included in this version are muted and appear to be watercolor.

Motivational Activities:

1. Students will work in pairs and work together to write their own fairy tale.

2. Students will create an alternative ending to this timeless story.

Reader Response Questions:

1. Why was the girl named Rapunzel?

2. Where was the girl hidden away?

3. Why did the parents have to give up their baby and who was the baby given to?



Zelinsky, P.  (1997) Rapunzel New York, Dutton Children's Books

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Because of Winn Dixie

Because of Winn Dixie is geared toward readers ages 9 to 12 and was written byKate DiCamillo in 2000.

This story tells the tale of a young girl who befriends a dog in a local Winn Dixie supermarket.  Their bond is quickly formed and the story continues with their adventures.  With the help of her furry friend the young girl is able to meet more people than she would have on her own. It is the story of true kinship between a girl and her dog.

Teachers and parents/guardians can use this book as a tool for encouraging pet ownership and significant loss through the loss of a parent.  The author has also written other books such as The Tale of Despereaux, The Tiger Rising, and The Magician's Elephant. 

This chapter book is an example of contemporary realistic non-fiction.  The cover provides muted soft transparent colors as an initial resemblance of the story to come.  This book has also been made into a major motion picture.

Motivational Activities:

1.  Discuss the responsibilities of owning a pet.

2. Describe the importance of the bond between a child and their pet.

Reader Response Questions:

1. How did the dog get his name?

2. In what state did this story take place?

3. What was the girl's father's occupation?


DiCamillo, K. (2000) Because of Winn Dixie Massachusetts, Candlewick Press

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Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus is geared toward children in grades 1 through 3 and was written by Barbara Park in 1992.

This is the first book of many in a series written by the author telling of the adventures of a little girls about to enter school.  In this story, Junie is about to begin kindergarten and ride the school bus for the first time.  After she completes her first day of school she is scared to return to the school bus and the other children so she hides in the classroom closet and roams around the school after closing.  Her adventures continue throughout her school age years.

This book is an excellent tool for teachers and parents/guardians to use to expose young children entering school to kindergarten, riding the school bus, and that it really isn't that bad at all.  Barbara Park has authored a series of 26 Junie B. Jones books in addition to other picture books and novels. Titles of her other books include The Graduation of Jake Moon and Skinny Bones.  Ms. Park passed away in 2013 at the age of 66.   There is also a Junie B. Jones website.

As an example of contemporary non-fiction reality chapter book, this book has provided many beginning readers with the confidence to do well in school.  I have included this book in my collection because it is a cherished story from my childhood.  This was the series of books that provided me with the love of reading and gave me the confidence to read.   The illustrations are simple outline drawings of black and white.

Motivational Activities;

1. Describe your first day in kindergarten.

2. Compare the first day of school in kindergarten to other grades.

Reader Response Questions:

1. What grade level was Junie entering in this book?

2. Why didn't Junie want to get back on the school bus?

3.  Where did they find Junie at the end of the story?


Park, B. (1992)  Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus  New York, Random House Books

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http://www.juniebjones.com/

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is geared toward children ranging from grades 9 through 12 and was written by Suzanne Collins in 2008.



This book tells a fictional story of children of the future in North America who are placed into ritualistic dangerous games that could ultimately result in their death.

Teachers and parents/guardians could use this book as as an example the potentially difficult choices one make for their family and the result of those choices.  This author wrote the Hunger Games Trilogy to include this book, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  The Hunger Games Trilogy has also been made into big screen movie productions. In addition, she has also written The Underland Chronicles, When Charlie McButton Lost Power, and Year of the Jungle.

This book is an excellent present day example of science fiction.  The story includes adventure, danger, and life in the future. There are no illustrations in this book as it is a novel.


Motivational Activities:

1. Write 3 to 5 paragraphs describing your strengths and weaknesses if you were a participant in the Hunger Games.

2. Divide students into small groups of 3 to 5 students and present each group with a task.  Students must then work as a group to determine the best way to complete the task both efficiently and effectively.

Reader Response Questions:

1. How far would you go for your sisters or brothers?

2. Discuss basic survival techniques.

Collins, S. (2008)  The Hunger Games New York, Scholastic Press

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https://youtu.be/SMGRhAEn6K0

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Tikki Tikki Tembo is geared toward children ranging from kindergarten through grade 2 and was originally written by Arlene Mosel in 1968.

This award winning story is an example of Asian folklore.  The story is about a woman and her two young sons, one of which has a short name and the other an extremely long name.  The brother with the long name fell into the well.  It took quite some time to get him out.  It is because of this story that Chinese people now name their children short names.  

This book would serve as an excellent tool that could be used by both teachers and parents/guardians to teach children at a young age about the Asian culture through the use of a picture book of folklore. This book employs the use of rhyming and repetition so would allow the child to easily create a connection to the story. This author also wrote The Funny Little Woman. 

As an example of multicultural folklore, this books offers young children an opportunity to experience a story from another country.  It is also most probable that this story takes place in ancient China as opposed to present day China.  The illustrations utilize lines outlines, and muted colors to assist in portraying the story. 

Motivational Activities:

1. Students can do a "repeat after me" activity with Tikki Tikki Tembo's long name.

2. Students can create a rhyme using their own name.

Reader Response Questions:

1. What type of well was being referred to in the story?

2. What do the sons names mean?

3. What character in the story helped to save the boy?

Mosel, A. (2007)  Tikki Tikki Tembo New York, Square Fish Publishing

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Number the Stars

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

This story, Number the Stars, is geared toward children grades 4 through 6 and was written in 1989   by Lois Lowry. 

This is a story of friendship and devastation.  Two ten-year old girls are best friends during World War II.  In order to provide a safe haven for one of the girls, the other girl's family offers to have her live with them.  The girls live in Copenhagen and are met with dangerous events of the war.  Prior to Nazi invasion, Annemarie is met with the challenge of saving her best friend Ellen from being sent to a concentration camp.  This is a story of true friendship, trust, strength, and faith.  

This book would be quite useful for teachers and parents/guardians to use as an example of the turmoil resulting from an historical event.  In addition, this book demonstrates a view of what children, specifically age 10, would have potentially experienced during this horrific time - World War II.  This story provides children with the opportunity to realize how horrifying the events of this time really were for children as well as adults, especially those who were Jewish.

The award winning author has written a number of other books including The Giver Quartet, Gooney Bird Greene, and Gossamer.  

As an example of multicultural historical fiction, the author provides a story allowing younger readers to better understand a part of history in a manner that is more easily comprehended.  The book incorporates historical events that actually occurred, but the characters are fictional.   

Motivational Activities:

1. Students can color and label a map of the European countries and cities involved in the Holocaust making note of those mentioned in the book.

2. Students can discuss symbols found in the book, such as the Star of David and swastika.  Then students can discuss symbols used today to designate various groups and elaborate on whether they are positive or negative in nature. 

3. Students can conduct a google lit trip into the story followed by a summary of their findings.  

Reader Response Questions:

1. Who was the leader of the Nazi troops and what was the reason for the war?

2. What was the Star of David? Who were expected to wear it and why?

3. Why did Ellen have to live with Annemarie and her family?

Lowry, L. (1989) Number the Stars New York, Scholastic, Inc.

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