Once Upon An Alphabet

Jeffers, O. (2014).  Once upon an alphabet.  New York:  Philomel Books.

In this uniquely over-sized picture books, there are stories for each letter of the alphabet.   It is different than other alphabet books, because each letter has a 4 page mini story.  The letter "A" tells about an astronaut.  My favorite story is "L" which is titled "The Lumberjack's Light,"  He has been hit by lightning so many times, he makes his own light.  Readers of all ages will like the alliteration and pictures of this alphabet book.

Love That Dog

Creech, S.  (2001).  Love that dog  New York:  HarperCollins.

Jack's class is learning about poetry and he is resistant at first because he is a boy and thinks he doesn't understand poetry.  In this free verse and diary entry format book, Jack starts sharing his poems with his teacher and then his class. At first he will share his poems only if they are anonymous, but he gains his confidence and becomes an accomplished poet. His love of poetry motivates him to write to poet, Walter Dean Myers and invite him to be a guest author at his school.

            I would introduce Love That Dog by introducing my students to my two dogs, Sherman a schnauzer and Miley a poodle.  Students will like to have a quick discussion about dogs.  Also, students interested or learning about poetry will want to read this book.  This would be a perfect book to share during April’s poetry month because it is simple and most children love dogs. Some students will be attracted because it is a quick read.  Other books written by Sharon Creech are Hate That Cat, Heartbeat, and The Castle Corona.   Hate That Cat continues the story of Jack and his continued poetry writing in Room 204.  Heartbeat is similarly written in free verse poetry with a story line that would appeal to many girls.  The Castle Corona is very different from the others because it is a protracted fairy tale.  

Lesson Plans:
http://www.sharoncreech.com/pdfs/LoveDogHateCat_TG.pdf

brown girl dreaming

Woodson, J. (2014).  Brown girl dreaming.  New York:  Penguin.

Jacqueline Woodson in poetry tells us her story of growing up in this book.  She tells us of her parents divorce and how her grandparents took care of her and her siblings in the South.  She describes what it means to be a Jehovah's Witness child. The story is rich in family values and culture.  During her move to New York, she met her best friend Maria.

            Brown Girl Dreaming is a great book to introduce during a biography book talk.  This autobiography will appeal to girls, African American students, poetry buffs, and kids wanting to become writers.  Our school celebrates Black History Month and the principal announces a famous African American on the morning announcements.  Jacqueline Woodson would be a great author to highlight and the students would be eager to check out this Newbery Honor Book.  Her other books include Locomotion, Miracle’s Boys, The House You Pass on the Way. Locomotion is similar to Brown Girl Dreaming since it uses free verse poetry to tell a story.  The story, not an autobiography, tells of Lonnie who is an orphan and is living in a foster home.  Similar to Brown Girl Dreaming, there is loss and always a sense of hope in Locomotion.  Miracle’s Boys and The House You Pass on the Way are for middle school students and are multicultural novels.  Though these books are for older readers and are not poetry, Woodson continues to tell stories of African American children growing up with huge struggles and a focus on the importance of family.  

El Deafo

Bell, C. (2014). El deafo.  New York: Abrams.

In this graphic novel, Cece loses her hearing after having meningitis when she was four years old.  This story tells the struggles of her having to have a hearing aid she calls the Phonic Ear.  She tells the difficulty of lip reading, not being like other kids, and not wanting to learn sign language.  Cece imagines herself as a superhero named El Deafo the Listener for All.  This story is about wanting a friend who will accept her with her differences.

Book Trailer:
https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=C211US1264D20160210&p=book+trailers+for+el+deafo

Cece Bell was able to create this graphic novel El Deafo, a Newbery Honor Book, from her own struggles with being a deaf child. I would sell this book to students who are studying memoirs and graphic novel buffs.  I would also connect to readers who have read books about being different like Wonder and Out of My Mind. Other books by Cece Bell are I Yam A Donkey!, Sock Monkey Rides Again, and Itty Bitty.  She illustrated the other books as well, but they are children’s picture books.  In her picture books, Bell uses speech bubbles which is similar to the style of a graphic novel.

Crenshaw

Applegate, K. (2015).  Crenshaw.  New York:  Feiwel & Friends.

Jackson's family is in a financial crisis when his imaginary friend who is a cat named Crenshaw appears to him.  Jackson's dad is sick, they are selling their furniture at a garage sale, and have just days to pay their overdue rent.  Crenshaw helps Jackson deal with his feelings and encourages him to talk about his feeling with the people his life.

The theme is love and family is the most important thing in life.  After Jackson’s family loses most of their possessions and their apartments, there is hope.  Jackson needed his imaginary cat friend Crenshaw because he wasn’t able to communicate with his parents about their financial hardships and his feelings about the possibility of being homeless once again.  Once Crenshaw gave Jackson the power of telling the truth, Jackson’s family was able to communicate and be honest.  With the dad getting a new job and the prospect of a small garage apartment to live, the family has hope.  They know that love and family is what is important. 

Jackson is a sensitive and thoughtful fifth grader.  He has an imaginary friend who is a cat named Crenshaw.  Crenshaw is  there to help Jackson to deal with the possibility of Jackson being homeless.  Jackson tries to protect his little sister from knowing about how close his family is from being evicted. He takes care of her by reading her favorite book Lyle.   He and his sister are often hungry.  Jackson has a good friend who he walks dogs with.  He doesn’t let his friend Marisol know about being hungry or how much trouble his family is in.  It is hard for Jackson because he doesn’t want to tell the truth about his feelings to anyone not even himself. He is sad that he has to sell all of the things out of his bedroom.  Instead of running away, Jackson bravely tells his parents how angry he is feeling about their financial situation.  He feels relieved to know that his parents will start being honest with him.  Luckily, his family has a new start in a small apartment and Jackson could be thankful and hopeful. 

Book Trailer:

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=crenshaw+book+trailer

Skulduggery Pleasant

Landry, D. (2007).  Skulduggery pleasant. New York:  Harper Collins.

Stephanie's uncle, a famous author, left her his house and assets.  She quickly learns that his death might be murder and his acquaintance Skulduggery Pleasant comes to her rescue.  Stephanie learns of the Underworld and wants to find the Scepter and take down Serpine.  She goes to battle alongside Skulduggery Pleasant to discover what her uncle died protecting.

The theme of Skulduggery Pleasant is good overcomes evil.  Stephanie is a  twelve year old girl who is introduced into the ghost world when her uncle is killed over the scepter that he has protected.  She is determined to find his killer and to get back the scepter.  She becomes unlikely friends with Skulduggery Pleasant.  This duo represent the “good”.  They fighting the evil Serpine who will destroy anyone and everything in his path.  Stephanie and Skulduggery Pleasant defeat Serpine and  good prevails.

The character of Stephanie begins as a twelve year old girl who is mourning the death of her favorite uncle.  She has just inherited his house and assets.   Stephanie quickly learns to fight for her life when someone tries to kill her the first night she is in the house.  She becomes friends with Skulduggery Pleasant and wants to work with him to solve her uncle’s murder.  Stephanie does not get scared away when ghosts try to kill her.  She is eager to learn magic.  She wants to learn how to make fire with her hand.  She changes her name to Valkyrie Cain.  This brave girl defeats Serpine and retrieves the scepter. 

Book Trailer:

https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=C211US1264D20160210&p=skulduggery+pleasant+book+trailer

Comics Squad

Holm, J. (2014).  Comics squad:  recess!  New York:  Random House.

This graphic novel is an anthology of stories from favorite authors that write Babymouse, Squish, and Lunch Lady.  There are eight funny stories that reader will enjoy.  Stories include Daryl trying to get into a secret ninja club, Betty fighting the pizza monster, and cupcakes playing "freeze tag."

The style of Comics Squad is what makes it funny and so popular.  This is an anthology of stories, but the style is the same.  In “Betty and the Perilous Pizza Day,”  Jarrett J. Krosoczka, the author of the Lunch Lady books, has dialogue that captures the readers right away as Betty and the Lunch lady are talking on a headset.  There is a machine called “Pizzatron 2000” and Betty has weapons like a “trash can shield” and a “rolling pin baton” to fight a pizza monster.  Readers will connect that there could not be lunch that day if Betty doesn’t win.  The sound effects of “floop,” “bwuagh,” “whoop,” and “growr” add to the excitement of the story. 

The setting of Comics Squad is a school. In “Book ‘Em, Dog Man,” the characters teach about the importance of reading so the school setting is important.  “The Magic Acorn” occurs on the school playground when squirrels are counting acorns.  The squirrels discover a UFO and aliens.  When the recess bell rings, the squirrels and the aliens both must return to class.  In “Babymouse,”  she has fantastical problems that keep her from having recess.  Therefore, the setting is crucial to the storyline.  Readers of Comics Squad  will like the school setting because  it is one they can relate to since they are all in elementary school. 

Writing lesson:  TLW write a superhero comic strip.

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2289.shtml


Book Trailer:

http://www.randomhousekids.com/videos/uitrmugraea-comics-squad-recess-book-trailer

Rapunzel's Revenge

Hale, S.  (2008).  Rapunzel's revenge.  New York:  Bloomsbury.

In this graphic novel, Rapunzel discovers that Gothel is not her mother and her real mother is working in the mines.  Gothel holds Rapunzel prisoner in the top of a hollowed tree.  When Rapunzel finally escapes, she meets a man named Jack and they go on many adventures together.  The only thing that Rapunzel wants to do is to go back home to fight Gothel and to save her real mother.

Book Trailer:
https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=C211US1264D20160210&p=rapunzels+revenge+book+trailer

The theme of Rapunzel’s Revenge is that love conquers evil.  The evil Gothel took Rapunzel away from her mother and made Rapunzel’s mother work in the mines.  Poor Rapunzel goes through most of her childhood without knowing her true mother.  Then, when Rapunzel confronts Gothel with the truth she holds Rapunzel prisoner in a hollowed tree in the middle of the forest. On the other hand, Rapunzel uses love to try to save her mother from the mines.  On her journey she works with Jack to rescue a missing girl, save a family from coyotes, and protects a covered wagon from outlaws.  While they are doing acts of good, Rapunzel and Jack fall in love.  In the end, Rapunzel has her real mom and her husband Jack while Gothel is destroyed.  True love prevails in the end.

Rapunzel’s character changes from a naïve little girl to a woman who can take down a magic castle covered in vines protected by an evil woman with bodyguards.  At the beginning, readers feel sorry for her that she doesn’t know that she has been taken away from her mother and she is locked away in a tree.  She seems gullible when she meets outlaw Jack and gets in trouble for stealing horses.  However, Rapunzel quickly becomes more self-assured and powerful. She changes her clothes so she looks like a cowgirl and she uses her long braid as a rope to fight coyotes. She fights a sea serpent to help the fisherman.  All of her battles, prepared her for her biggest fight which was to take down Gothel so she could free her mother.  Rapunzel turned into a warrior that every reader could cheer for and the end was a happy one.  


Book Alikes according to Scholastic:

1.The Case of the Green Guinea Pig

Jack Gets a Clue , Book # 3

by Nancy Krulik, illustrated by Gary LaCoste

2. Flight of the Genie

Droon, Secrets of Droon , Book # 21

by Tony Abbott, illustrated by David Merrell

3. The Fortress of the Treasure Queen

Droon, Secrets of Droon , Book # 23

by Tony Abbott, illustrated by David Merrell

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, N. (2008).  The graveyard book.  New York:  Harper Collins.

A young boy's family is murdered in the middle of the night by a man named Jack.  The boy wanders into a graveyard and the residents of the Graveyard name him Nobody and call him Bod for short.  Mr. and Mrs. Owen become his parents and he has a guardian who feeds and cares for him.  He goes on many adventures not realizing that Jack is still wanting to kill him. 

Neil Gaiman in The Graveyard Book uses precise language to describe every action in the book so perfectly.  Gaiman’s style is a joy to his readers.  The beginning of the book quickly captures the readers as he describes the man Jack who goes into Bod’s house and kills his mom, dad, and sibling.  On the night Bod went to safety in the graveyard and his familand the author uses good detail to allow the story to be believable. y was murdered, “The knife had done almost everything it was brought to that house to do, and both the blade and the handle were wet.”  The author’s style is distinct for the characters that Bod meets in the graveyard that are from many different time periods. The conversations between Silas, Miss Lupescu, Scarlett, and Bod are all so unique

The setting of the Graveyard Book is obviously a graveyard.  What is unusual is that this is where an orphaned boy named Bod, short for Nobody, is raised by the residents of the graveyard.  When he wanders into the graveyard after his parents are murdered, the people of the graveyard give him “Freedom of the Graveyard.”  He is able to do things that other humans can’t like see in the dark.  Since Bod is so inquisitive this is where he learns to read using the headstones to look for letters and words.  When other kids his ages are learning to ride a bike, Bod is trying to learn how to fade, slide, and dreamwalk.  He knows the history of the Romans, but he doesn’t understand the dangers that face him outside of the graveyard.  

Neil Gaiman speaking at a commencement and reading the Graveyard Book:
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/gaiman.html

Rodeo Red

Perkins, M. (2015).  Rodeo red. New York:  Peachtree Publishers.

Big sister, Rodeo Red, has a favorite stuffed puppy named Rusty.  Everything is perfect until her baby brother, Sideswiping Slim, is born.  Her little brother takes her puppy and she gets put in timeout.  Then, when she gets a new stuffed animal in the mail Rodeo Red knows how to make this problem go away forever with a simple trade.

Rodeo Lesson Plans:

https://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/1977?locale=en

Wonderstruck

Selznick, B. (2007).Wonderstruck.  New York:  Scholastic.

Ben's mother passed away and he is living with his aunt and uncle.  After being hit by lightning, he runs away to find the father he has never met in the city.  Ben's search ends in a museum. His story crosses the story of Rose who is a little girl following an actress.  The stories are separated by fifty years, but they come together as Ben discovers the identity of his father.

Book Trailer:
http://www.scholastic.com/wonderstruck/?esp=KIDS/ib/20131209//nav/ba/wonderstruck

Wonderstruck can be intimidating to readers by its many pages.  I would first make the connection to Hugo Cabret.  Many of our students have read that book or seen the movie.  I think that once you have read one of Brian Selznick’s books and are amazed with his illustrations, one can’t wait to read another.  For the child that does not know Hugo Cabret, I would start with the illustrations or show a book trailer so that many will be eager to read this 2011 Booklist Editors’ Choice:  Books for Youth.  Also, many students want to read historical fiction so this might be a perfect fit. Other books by Brian Selznick are Hugo Cabret, The Boy of a Thousand Faces, and The Houdini Box.  Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck are similar as the illustrations tell a majority of the story and Selznick keeps the mystery going until the very end.    Selznick’s first children’s book, The Houdini Box is a historical fiction book about Harry Houdini. The Boy with a Thousand Faces is different because it has a ghoulish content.  It is important to remember that Brian Selznick is the author and illustrator of all the books, so his illustrations are easily recognizable to readers.  

Gregor the Overlander

Collins, S.  (2004).  Gregor the overlander. New York:  Scholastic.

Gregor and his little sister Boots fall through a grate in their laundry room and land in Regalia, the Underland.  The Underland is filled with giant cockroaches, rats, flying bats, and giant spiders.  Gregor learns that the rats are holding his missing father hostage and he is part of the Prophecy of Gray and it is up to him to lead a quest to save his father and the Underland.

Book Trailer:
https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AwrSbgnLNOdWKlQA3_lXNyoA;_ylc=X1MDMjc2NjY3OQRfcgMyBGZyA21jYWZlZQRncHJpZAM2bW5RbVl3QVMuYVVhTnBTYTRkQXZBBG5fcnNsdAMwBG5fc3VnZwMxMARvcmlnaW4Dc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAwRxc3RybAMzNARxdWVyeQNncmVnb3IgdGhlIG92ZXJsYW5kZXIgYm9vayB0cmFpbGVyBHRfc3RtcAMxNDU3OTkzMDk2?p=gregor+the+overlander+book+trailer&fr2=sb-top-search&fr=mcafee&type=C211US1264D20160210

The setting is an important part in this fantasy story.  The setting is in Regalia, the Underworld.  Gregor and his little sister Boots fall into this world and meet giant roaches and spiders, a flying golden bat carrying Queen Luxa, and rats with six inch incisors that are holding his father prisoner.  Gregor learns that in the Underworld he has to take a bath or his scent will be known by all the varmints and he will quickly be killed.  The people in Regalia are pale with violet eyes.  When Gregor agrees to go on the quest to find his father and to save the Underworld, he intelligently chooses to take a headlight.  The Underworld is dark and that makes the rats have a clear advantage over Gregor.  

The plot in Gregor the Overlander involves Gregor on a quest for the Prophecy of Gray which will save the Underland.  Gregor has a more personal goal which is to save his father from the rats so he and his sister Boots can return back home.  Gregor has read the prophecy and is unsure of what it means, but his determination leads the group forward through many scary encounters.  They fight rats, hunger, and illness along the way.  They finally find his father and realize there is a traitor among the group.  Gregor discovers the truth behind the prophecy and is able to free his father and is able to return to the king as a hero.  More importantly, his whole family is able to be reunited in New York.