Hitler Youth

Bartoletti, S. (2005).  Hitler youth.  NY:  Scholastic.

This book tells about the youth that followed Hitler and the Nazi Party.  These young people were enticed by talk of hope and adventure.  There were seven million boys and girls that belonged to this group.   Hitler counted on these young people to carry out his vision.  The photographs help tell the story of books being burned, Jewish-owned businesses being shut down by the Nazis, and the horrors of the concentration camps.    

The author, Susan Bartoletti, uses many photographs from the time period of Hitler Youth, 1933-1945.  These black and white photographs and their captions help the reader understand the content.  The reader will feel true sadness when seeing pictures of the horrors of this time period.  Bartoletti does a nice job at the beginning of a book by introducing the readers to the people in the book by including a picture and a short biography of the person.  There is a table of contents, foreword, epilogue, timeline of the Hitler Youth, Author’s Note, About the Photographs, Quote Sources, Bibliography,  Acknowledgments, and Index. 

Book trailser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQzIQQcsXcE

Information on book and author, interview with author:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/hitler-youth#cart/cleanup

We Are The Ship

Nelson, K.  (2008).  We are the ship.  NY:  Hyperion.

The Story Of Negro League Baseball  accounts the story of baseball played when African Americans were not allowed to play in Major League baseball.  It was a time of segregation in America.  These players loved baseball so much they were willing to play for little pay, travel all day on an old bus, and be treated unfairly compared to the white baseball players.  Kadir Nelson's story and paintings bring great life to this story of Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, and Josh Gibson.  This is a great read for all baseball lovers!

Kadir Nelson tells the story of the Negro League Baseball through a narrator as a collective voice.  The accounts of these African American baseball players as they ride across the country on a bus, get minimal pay, and are victims of segregation are accurate.  Nelson worked on this subject for eight years.  He interviewed baseball heroes like Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron. Nelson used many books, documentaries, and films to write this book and make it as accurate as possible.

Lesson Plans-Grade 5:
http://greatminds.net/maps/documents/SLP_05_1.pdf

Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYPxMhZMoVk

How They Croaked

Bragg, G. (2011).  How they croaked:  The awful ends of the awfully famous.  NY:  Walker.
If you want to know how the famous have died, this is the book for you!  This book details how nineteen famous people ranging from King Tut to Albert Einstein have died.  There are fun facts such as "What to Do With Old Mummies"  and "Some Famous Last Words" The black and white illustrations of each deceased person are funny.

How They Croaked has a great organization that all readers will enjoy.  There is a table of contents and an index.  The author has included information about the dead person and put it on a headstone at the top of each chapter.  At the end of each chapter, there is an easy to read chart relating to the subject of the dead person.  For example, at the end of the King Tut chapter, there is a list of things to do with mummy eyes. The author also puts cool facts in a shaded box marked with a skull and cross bones.  This organization helps the reader understand how these famous people died.


Information from Scholastic about book and author:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/how-they-croaked#cart/cleanup

Balloons Over Broadway

Sweet, M.  (2011).  Balloons over Broadway:  The true story of the puppeteer of Macy's parade.  NY: Houghton.

Tony Sarg, originally maker of marionettes, is the reason why we have been enjoying balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for more than eighty years.  Tony made his first marionette when he was six years old.  As an adult, he went to work for Macy's with his dancing marionettes in their store windows.  Then, they gave him his biggest project of all:  marionettes for a parade.  Tony turned his marionettes into balloons and the rest is history!

Balloons Over Broadway tells the story of how Tony Sarg turned his marionettes into the balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The book’s colorful pictures will draw in readers to this informational book.  It begins with a black and white photograph of Sarg so the readers know that the book is about a real person despite the fun drawings. The illustrations switch from being full page, to being five to a page (like being glued on), to being vertical, and to going across two pages. Some of the text looks like letters cut out of a magazine.   The best part is the back page which is the original advertisement from the 1933 New York Times.  All of this makes up a wonderful design that captivates its readers! 

Lesson Plans:

http://islma.org/pdf/2014MonarchAwardMasterList/Balloons_over_Broadway.pdf

It's Perfectly Normal

Harris, R. (2014).  It's perfectly normal:  Changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health. Boston, MA:  Candlewick Press.

This book covers everything about sex you need to discuss with your child about puberty, reproduction, birth control, pregnancy, STDS, and more.  The pictures are very detailed but are in comic form so nobody should be too embarrassed. Its easy to read so kids will be able to understand the important information.

Nic Bishop, author and photographer, of Spiders, has created a fascinating book about many different kinds of spiders and their amazing skills.  Bishop traveled to the rain forests of French Guiana and Costa Rica to find spiders.  Also, to insure accuracy, he has kept spiders at his house so he could watch egg laying and molting.  Because Bishop is willing to travel and take great lengths to photograph his subjects, the readers can be assured that the information is accurate.  

Rosa

Giovanni, N. (2005).  Rosa.  NY: Holt.

This informational book about the civil rights leader Rosa Parks is one that has not been told before.  We meet Rosa at her kitchen table on that deciding day when she would not give up her seat to a white man on the bus.  This story tells how a well-respected seamstress, Rosa Parks, and her twenty-five women supporters belonging to the Women's Political Council led the charge to change for equality.

Rosa is a beautifully written book about Rosa Parks.  It gives insight into what her day was like before she refused to give up her seat to a white man on the bus.  One can see Giovanni’s passion as she describes Rosa as a woman.  Rosa Parks was a well-respected seamstress, cared for her family, and that night she was planning a nice meatloaf dinner.  Bryan Collier’s illustrations are a perfect complement for Giovanni’s beautifully written story of Parks leading the country in wanting equality.

Lesson Plans:

http://www.learningtogive.org/units/heroes-and-their-impact/rosa-parks

Primates

Ottaviani, J. (2013). Primates. NY:  FirstSecond.

The graphic novel gives an account into the lives of three women scientists: Jane Goodall, Dian fossey, and Birute Galdikas.  The fieldwork of these three women is described as Dian saves gorillas, Birute studies orangutans, and Goodall researches chimpanzees. The details of the research, the excitement of new discovery, and the passion of these women for primates is shown in comic form

Jim Ottaviani has created a biography about three women scientists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas that all children will want to read.  The graphic novel format makes the reading appealing to a large group of readers.  This story is divided into three sections for each woman as they study chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.  The pictures are colorful and the text is fun and informational.

Lesson Plans:

http://www.neprimateconservancy.org/k-4-unit-1---lesson-2.html

Me...Jane

McDonnell, P.  (2011).  Me...jane.  NY:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

This is the story of Dr. Jane Goodall as a little girl.  When Jane was a little girl she loved had a stuffed chimpanzee, she loved nature, and she was curious about the world around her.  Jane dreamed of growing up and going to Africa.  Jane's dream came true.  Now, Jane Goodall wants others to live their dreams and help others.  She facilitates this with her organization called Roots and Shoots.  This is a must read, inspirational book for all.

This is an inspiring story of Jane Goodall as a little girl.  It tells of he stuffed chimp, her love of nature, and her dream of going to Africa.  The style of the book is charming and the pictures are simple and inviting.  At the end, we see a photo of Jane Goodall and learn that Jane’s dream did come true.  

Activities:

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/patrickmcdonnell/activities.html

Spiders

Bishop, N. (2007).  Spiders. NY: Scholastic.

Author and photographer, Nic Bishop, has created an amazing book amazing informational book about spiders.  Readers will enjoy reading from cover to cover or reading the highlighted text.  Bishop teaches his readers about some unusual spiders such as a Goliath bird eating tarantula and a huntsman spider.  The photographs are as educational and as fun as the text!

Nic Bishop, author and photographer, of Spiders, has created a fascinating book about many different kinds of spiders and their amazing skills.  Bishop traveled to the rain forests of French Guiana and Costa Rica to find spiders.  Also, to insure accuracy, he has kept spiders at his house so he could watch egg laying and molting.  Because Bishop is willing to travel and take great lengths to photograph his subjects, the readers can be assured that the information is accurate. 

Lesson Plans:
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/interview-with-the-spider.shtml 

The Paperbag Princess

Munsch, R.  (2012).  The paperbag princess.  NY:  Annick Press.

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Ronald were to marry when a fire-breathing dragon took Ronald away.  Elizabeth dressed in a paper bag went to find her prince.  She followed the dragon's fiery trail.  When she found the dragon, she tricked the dragon until he was too tired to breathe fire at her.  When she went to rescue Ronald, he looked at her paper bag dress and dirty hair, he did not want to marry her anymore.  She learned an important lesson:  It is what is on the inside that counts!

The theme of The Paper Bag Princess is that it matters what kind of person you are, not what you look like or what clothes you wear.

Lesson Plans:

http://www.education.com/lesson-plan/the-paper-bag-princess/

It's A Book!

Smith, L.  (2011).  It's a book.  NY:  Roaring Brook.

This clever book has a mouse, a donkey, and a monkey exploring the difference between electronics and a book.  The donkey finds it amazing that a book does not need a password, a mouse, or to be plugged in.  After hours with the book, donkey does not want to give the book back to monkey and monkey needs to go to the library to get another book.

Lane Smith uses shape in his book titled It’s A Book.  The shapes he uses includes squares, circles, rectangles, and ovals.  The main subject of the story is a book so the rectangular shape of a book is repeated over and over to carry the topic of the story.  The monkey and the donkey sit in the rectangular chair as they read so it moves the reader’s eye across the page.  The monkey has a repetitive pattern of circles by having a polka dot shirt, a round hat, an oval face, and oval nose.  Even the little mouse, is drawn with shapes.  

My Teacher Is A Monster

Brown, P.  (2014).  My teacher is a monster.  NY:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

At first, Bobby thinks his teacher, Ms. Kirby, is a monster.  Then, one day, Bobby runs into his teacher at the park.  He saves her hat from blowing away.  Bobby shows Ms. Kirby his favorite place at the park.  He flies a paper airplane with her.  Bobby starts thinking that his teacher is not a monster after all.  What happens to his opinion of his teacher when he flies a paper airplane in class and she yells his name, "ROBERT!"?

In My Teacher Is A Monster, the setting is an important part of the story.  Bobby thinks his teacher is a mean monster until he sees Ms. Kirby at the park.  Peter Brown’s illustrations of the park show Bobby and Ms. Kirby quacking with the ducks and flying a paper airplane.  The setting is a key element in changing their relationship.

Lesson Plans:
http://www.peterbrownstudio.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TeacherMonster_kit.pdf

This Is Not My Hat

Klassen, J.  (2012).  This is not my hat.  Boston, MA:  Candlewick.

In the great big ocean, there is a fearless little fish who knows right from wrong, but steals a hat from a big, sleeping fish anyway.  The little fish takes the stolen hat and thinks that he can hide in the seaweed.  The big fish wakes up and goes looking for his stolen hat. The illustrations make this a must read!

In This Is Not My Hat, Jon Klassen’s use of line conveys movement.  The little fish knows right from wrong, but steals a hat from a sleeping, big fish.  The story line is the big fish going after the fish that stole his hat.  The fish swimming in the middle of the page creates a line of movement for the reader going from left to right.  The seaweed, lines going up and down, show the end of the story and the end of the little fish.

The Three Pigs

Wiesner, D.  (2001).  The three pigs.  NY:  Clarion.

This is not the typical Three Little Pigs story that we have all heard many times over.  Once the wolf tries to blow the first little pig away, he actually blows him out of the story.  The illustrations become
three-dimensional and the pigs are flown into an imagination land.  The pigs see the cat from Hey Diddle, Diddle and a dragon.  Finally, they go back to their brick house to end the story from their point of view.

David Wiesner did not write the typical Three Little Pigs story.  As soon as the wolf blows the first house, Wiesner’s 3-D illustrations take the reader into an imaginative new storyline.  The pigs see other fairytale characters until they luckily make it back to their brick home. 

Lesson Plans:

http://www.vickiblackwell.com/lit/threepigs.html

Mirror Mirror

Singer, M.  (2010). Mirror, Mirror.  NY: Dutton.

This fairy tale book is a unique book of reversible poems, which means you can read the poems up and down.  The poems show that there is a different point of view to every classic fairy tale.  The poetry collection includes Jack In The Beanstalk, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and many more of your favorites!

This book of reversible poetry has colorful illustrations.  The bright blues, greens, and golds jump off the page.  There is a color difference as well to show the difference between the two sides of the poems.

Where The Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1963).  Where the wild things are. NY: HarperCollins.

Max goes downstairs wearing a wolf suit and is making a lot of trouble for his mother.  His mother sends him to his room without any dinner.  This imaginative boy turns his room into a forest and takes a boat across the see to where the wild things are.  After a night of playing with the wild things, he goes back home, where his hot dinner is waiting for him.

Maurice Sendak makes the Wild Things and the forest cone alive in Where the Wild Things Are by using texture.  The hair on the Wild Things, the water in the ocean, the leaves on the trees all look real because of texture.  This helps create this wonderful story about an imaginative boy taking a trip to a magical place and returning back home before his dinner gets cold.

Lesson plans including video:

http://literature-in-the-curriculum.wikispaces.com/Where+the+Wild+Thing+Are

Legend Of The Bluebonnet

dePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet.  NY: Putnam.

A Comanche girl named She-Who-Is-Alone is an orphan girl and her people are dying because of a drought.  One night she decides to give her most precious belonging, a doll made by her mother, to the Great Spirits.  Her generosity ends the famine and gives Texas the beautiful state flower called the bluebonnet.

Tomie dePaola  shows wonderful composition in the classic story The Legend of The Bluebonnet.  Line is shown through the use of the hills, land, and horizon.  The color of the story is exquisite as it shows sunset, the colors of Native American Comanche people, and the bluebonnet.  Texture is shown through the clothes, doll, and countryside.  Shape is illustrated through the triangular tipis.

Lesson plans:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/legend-bluebonnet-discussion-guide

Olivia

Falconer, I. (2009).  Olivia.  NY:  Atheneum.

Olivia is a fun-loving pig that wears her mother and everyone else out.  She tries on every outfit she has before picking just the right one.  When she goes to the museum, she thinks she can make an abstract painting so she paints one on her bedroom wall.  She dances during her nap time.  Olivia loves her family and they love her despite the fact that she wears them out!

Ian Falconer creates a fun character for all children and parents  to quickly adore.  Olivia is like most kids, even though she is a pig. She doesn’t like naps and she draws on walls.  Her mom says that Olivia wears her out, but Olivia is loved anyway. 

Lesson Plans:

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/olivia-lesson-plans.html

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Deedy, C.A. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach. Atlanta, GA:  Peachtree.

The beautiful cockroach Martina is ready to meet her husband in this multicultural folktale in Havana, Cuba.  Her wise Abuela gives her advice on spilling coffee on her suitor to test them to see if they will be a good husband.  Martina quickly finds out that Abuela advice works and she sends away several unworthy suitors.  Luckily, her coffee test proves in the end that the most unlikely candidate might make the best husband.  This folktale has a nice lesson and a fun mix of Spanish for its readers.

In this Cuban folktale, the author uses a mixture of Spanish to show the reader the setting of the story.  The illustrations are dramatic as Martina is trying to find her perfect husband.  The illustrator also shows a Spanish flare with flowers, coffee, architecture, and home décor.

Lesson Plans:

http://mdk12.msde.maryland.gov/instruction/curriculum/reading/units/gr2_the_language_of_lessons/Seed11.html