A Rainbow of Friends Review

Title: A Rainbow of Friends
Author/Illustrator: P.K. Hallinan
Publisher: Guidepost Books 2005
Pages: 24
Genre: Multicultural

Rating System: Elementary 5 (recommended)
This book is for all elementary grades. With the bright-colored illustrations, it shows the reader the "rainbow" of friends. This book teachers the timeless lesson of acceptance of other no matter what they look like or where they came from. I recommend this book in every classroom because if we can teach our students the importance of acceptance at a young age, it will benefit them in their future.

Summary:
This book is awesome! It shows students how friends come in all different shapes, colors and sizes. They can be athletic, smart, funny, or musical.  We should always celebrate how different we are because that is what makes us all so special.

Educational Purpose:
I will read this book to my students. I will discuss the importance of being accepting of our friends no matter what they look like. After I read the book, we will make a "Rainbow of Friends" using the students handprints. Each student will be asked to pick a color they feel best describes them. I will paint their hands and place them on our rainbow and write their names below. This will hopefully show students that just because our friends look or seem different, doesn't mean you don't share something in common or can't be their friend. Teaching acceptance is number1!

Bug Detective Review

Title: Bug Detective
Author/Illustrator: Maggi Li
Publisher: Sterling Children's Book 2015
Pages: 28
Genre: Informational

Rating System: Early Elementary 5 (recommended)
This book is for early elementary. (K-3) This book has amazing illustrations along with interesting facts about all the different kinds of bugs. The text is very fun and easy to understand. It is written to catch the eye of the reader. One of my favorite things about this book is that it comes with a magnifying glass, which allows the students to be engaged the whole time. The students will actually feel like real "detectives".

Summary:
Any bug you can think of in the whole world is mentioned in this book. From beetles to spiders to beautiful butterflies, it's all there!  On every page there are brief introductions and facts scattered all around. This book also comes with a magnifying glass, which allows the students to be "detectives" and complete all the "missions" they find all throughout the book.

Educational Purpose:
I would use this book when learning about bugs. I will read this book to my students and allow them to come up and use the magnifying glass to find and see the different bugs. The students will all have their own copy of this book on their desk. After I finish reading the book, the students will be asked to complete all the missions throughout the book and if time permits, the students will be asked to complete some of the additional activities in the back of the book. Because of how hands-on this book is, I feel my students will learn a lot and of course, have fun!

Snowflake Bentley Book Review

Title: Snowflake Bentley
Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 32
Genre: Biography

Rating System: Elementary 5 (recommended)
This book is great for all elementary grades. The text is very easy to follow, even though there are some challenging words at times. The illustrations and photography really help make this book come alive. The photos of the snowflakes helps show students how different snowflakes really are and how no 2 snowflakes are the same. This book is a must have for a classroom, especially when incorporating art in your classroom.

Summary:
Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as little miracles every since he was a little boy. He wanted to capture these crystals with his camera. No one really understood his love for snowflakes.  He really liked how every snowflake was different and how no 2 snowflakes are the same, which not only made them unique to him but also very beautiful. What does he do with his photos? Do people finally see his fascination with snowflakes?

Educational Purpose:
I will read this book to my students. I will really spend time showing them the different pictures of the snowflakes in the book. I will emphasis how no 2 snowflakes are alike. I will ask them to go back to their seats. I will ask them to get out their scissors while I pass out blank white pieces of paper. I will explain to them that they are making their own unique snowflake. I will show them how to fold their paper and show examples of different cuts for different designs. I will give them time to make their snowflakes. When everyone has made at least two, we will do a gallery walk and look at each others snowflakes. After the gallery walk, we will hang our beautiful, unique snowflakes up in our classroom.

Queen Of The Falls Book Review

Title: Queen Of The Falls
Author/Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin 2011
Pages: 38
Genre: Biography

Rating System: Upper Elementary 4 (Recommended)
This book is for upper elementary. (Grades 3-6) This book offers really mature content. The text can be challenging but the illustrations help guide the reader throughout the book. Since this book is about someone risking their lives, make sure the students are mature enough to understand not to attempt anything that can be life threatening.

Summary:
A 62 year old, retired school teacher by the name of Annie Edson Taylor wanted to do something no one has ever done before. She wanted to go over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel.  Does she end up doing it? Does she make it out alive?

Educational purpose:
I will read this book to my class. I will ask them to go back to their desk and get out their writing journals. I will give them this prompt " I have decided to do something no one has ever done before and that is...". They will write in their journals for 20 minutes, then share their ideas with the whole class.

Esperanza Rising Book Review

Title: Esperanza Rising
Author: Pam Munoz Ryan
Publisher: Scholastic Press 2002
Pages: 288
Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating System: Middle Elementary- Jr. High 5 (recommended)
This books reading level allows many grades to partake in enjoying this book. This book offers a great insight to another culture and what Esperanza and her culture had to go through during the Great Depression. This book could be persuaded more for females but I feel both genders in my classroom would really benefit from reading this text.

Summary:
Esperanza always thought she would live on her family farm in Mexico for forever. She thought she would always live her fancy lifestyle but everything changed when her and her mother fled to California during the Great Depression. Esperanza and her mother ended up settling in a camp for Mexicans who own farms. Can Esperanza handle all this? What is going to happen to her and her mom in this camp?

Educational Purpose:
Since thus book is about another culture, I would take full advantage of having the whole class read this book. I feel it is very important for my students to learn about as many different cultures as they can. We would read this book as a class and do little assignments that involve the students to research about the Mexican culture and step inside their shoes during this time.

The Little Chapel That Stood Book Review

Title: The Little Chapel That Stood
Author: A.B. Curtiss
Illustrator: Mirto Golino
Publisher: Old Castle Publishing 2003
Pages: 40
Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating System: Elementary (5 Recommended)
This book is appropriate for all grade levels in elementary school. This book has some complicated text but the illustrations really make the book come alive. The details in both the text and illustrations, help the reader really understand what happened on that tragic day.

Summary:
This book tells a true story about a chapel right next to the Twin Towers in New York that survived the 9-11 attack. This story illustrates the bravery of the firemen who saved hundreds of lives and that terror can be overcome by bravery.

Educational Purpose:
On 9-11, I would read this book to my students. I will talk about the history of the Chapel and the Twin Towers. Then I will have them go back to their seats. I will explain to them how important our firemen are to our community and what is takes to be brave. I will ask them to write Thank You notes to our local fire department. I will emphasis that we want to thank them for all their bravery and keeping us and our community safe.

Earings Book Review

Title: Earrings
Author: Judith Worst
Illustrator: Nola Langner Malone
Publisher: The Trumpet Club 1992
Pages: 30
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Rating System: Early Elementary 3 (Recommended)
This book is for early elementary. This book is meant more for females because the main character is a girl who wants to get her ears pierced. The illustrations go along exactly with what the text says, which makes it easier for readers to understand. The text is short and has mostly sigh words within it. This book is very easy to follow along and beginning readers in elementary school shouldn't have a problem with reading it.

Summary:
This book is about a little girl who desperately wants to get her ears pierced so she can wear earrings. She wants them! She has to have them!  She goes through so much trying to persuade her mom and dad to let her get her ears pierced. But will her parents let her?

Educational Purpose:
I will read this book to my class. After I read it, I will ask them to go back to their seats and draw a picture of something they really desperately want. Then, they will paint their picture. After it dries I will have them turn it over and write what they want and why they want it. I will send it home with the students when everyone has completed it. They will give this picture to their parents for a Christmas Present wish.