Knucklehead: tall tales & mostly true stories about growing up Scieszka

Knucklehead:  tall tales & mostly true stories about growing up Scieszka
By:  Jon Scieszka
Penguin Group
Copyright 2008
Rebecca Caudill Award Winner
pp. 106

                                                 Knucklehead:  tall tales & mostly true stories
                                                             about growing up Scieszka

     This is a fun and quick autobiography to read. Jon Scieszka tells childhood memories about having five brothers and the adventures they had. For example, Jon's brother, Jim, sold Jon his own shirt with his clever trickery. Each memory has its own chapter, making the book feel like you are reading short adventure stories about the author's school and home life. Jon also includes pictures of the memories along with some comic art. It makes the reading easier and more fun to have some visuals within the chapters.
     This is a fun book for elementary students around the ages of fourth through sixth grade. Considering that it is an autobiography it would be a great introduction to having students learn to write their own autobiographies. It is not a heavy read because Jon tells stories that will make you laugh and smile. He makes you remember memories from your childhood. Knucklehead:  tall tales & mostly true stories about growing up Scieszka is a book that students and adults can relate to and enjoy.

A Birthday for Bear

A Birthday for Bear
By:  Bonny Becker
Illustrated By:  Kady MacDonald Denton
Candlewick Press
Copyright 2009
pp. 50

                                                               A Birthday for Bear
                                                               The Monarch Award

A Birthday for Bear is a fun read, for young children, looking forward to begin reading chapter books. I really enjoyed reading this book because the illustrations were adorable, funny, and told the story on their own. In each chapter, bear works on different house chores and trying to forget it's his birthday. Mouse always interrupts Bear's chores, because he will not let Bear go without celebrating his birthday. At the end of the book, Bear enjoys the birthday Mouse has thrown for him. This is a great book to discuss friendship with students. It would also be a fun way to explain the way chapter books work. A Birthday for Bear is a excellent choice for a young elementary class.