Love From Your Friend Hannah
By: Mindy Warshaw Skolsky
Copyright 1998
HarperCollins Publishers
Historical Fiction Genre
Love From Your Friend Hannah
Love From Your Friend Hannah is such a fun and fast read. The story is told through a collection of letters that 9 year old Hannah writes and receives. Hannah begins writing letters to her best friend, Angie, who has moved away, but Angie never writes back. Her teacher suggests that Hannah chooses a pen pal from drawing on her desk. Hannah picks a boy, Edward, but he is not as interested in being a pen pal as Hannah is. In her efforts to use writing letters as a hobby, Hannah writes to her grandma, aunt, President Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt, and the president's secretary (Missy LeHand). The best part of the book is when the Roosevelts write back to Hannah. I think readers of all ages would feel so excited for Hannah to receive letters from them. Through the course of the book, Hannah and the Roosevelts build a solid friendship that includes discussions of FDR's radio shows and exchange of his stamp collection.
While this is a fictional book, it tells the story of what life was like in 1937. This was the time of The Great Depression. Hannah did not have a television to watch, so she would listen to the radio. She especially liked the radio talks by President Roosevelt. Hannah talks about some of the shows in the book. I think this would be a great read for students to have fun while learning what life was like during this time.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Meet Felicity
Meet Felicity
By: Valerie Tripp
Illustrations By: Dan Andreasen
Copyright 1991
Pleasant Company
Historical Fiction Genre
Meet Felicity (An American Girl)
This is a fun book for children to read. While it is an adventurous story about 9 year old Felicity, it sets the image of what life was like in America during 1774. Felicity is expected to be prim and proper like the other girls her age, however, she very much dislikes wearing dresses, corsets, and sewing. What Felicity does like are horses. In Meet Felicity, Felicity grows fondly of a horse she names Penny. This horse is neglected and abused by Mr. Nye, a "cold-hearted scoundrel (Tripp 8)". Felicity ends up setting Penny free at the end of the book by dressing in the clothes of her father's apprentice.
What I love about this book is how driven Felicity is. It brings a connection that readers from any era can relate to. I would definitely recommend this book to my students. It's easy to build a connection with Felicity and I really like that at the end of the book they have a section that talks about what life was like in America during the 1770s. They even include some illustrations and photographs which are beautiful. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
By: Valerie Tripp
Illustrations By: Dan Andreasen
Copyright 1991
Pleasant Company
Historical Fiction Genre
Meet Felicity (An American Girl)
This is a fun book for children to read. While it is an adventurous story about 9 year old Felicity, it sets the image of what life was like in America during 1774. Felicity is expected to be prim and proper like the other girls her age, however, she very much dislikes wearing dresses, corsets, and sewing. What Felicity does like are horses. In Meet Felicity, Felicity grows fondly of a horse she names Penny. This horse is neglected and abused by Mr. Nye, a "cold-hearted scoundrel (Tripp 8)". Felicity ends up setting Penny free at the end of the book by dressing in the clothes of her father's apprentice.
What I love about this book is how driven Felicity is. It brings a connection that readers from any era can relate to. I would definitely recommend this book to my students. It's easy to build a connection with Felicity and I really like that at the end of the book they have a section that talks about what life was like in America during the 1770s. They even include some illustrations and photographs which are beautiful. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Punctuation Takes a Vacation
Punctuation Takes a Vacation
By: Robin Pulver
Illustrated by: Lynn Rowe Reed
Scholastic Inc.
Copyright 2003
Informational Book Genre
Punctuation Takes a Vacation
This book is absolutely precious. I think it is the bright and acrylic illustrations that help make the story like this. It is a different kind of informational book. It tells the story of punctuation marks going on vacation and leaving Mr. Wright's to realize how important they are in order to make sense. It is informational in the way that it is organized. When the question mark speaks, it speaks with questions. When the commas speak, they use lots of commas. This drills the proper ways to use various punctuation marks while telling a story. Even the dedication page uses a variety of punctuations. The last page of the book lists the types of punctuations and the rules that go with them.
I really like this book. While it is not a traditional kind of informational book, it can be helpful to students in various ways. I would love to read this to my class after a long lesson of punctuation. It would be a good idea to read the rules, that are in the back, before reading the book. I would then have my older students read the book and discuss the ways in which the punctuations are being used.
The author of this book does not provide way in which he is credible for writing on this topic. However, any author needs to know the proper uses of the types of punctuations. For this reason, I would say that the author is credible. This book would be a great way to reinforce the correct ways to use punctuation.
By: Robin Pulver
Illustrated by: Lynn Rowe Reed
Scholastic Inc.
Copyright 2003
Informational Book Genre
Punctuation Takes a Vacation
This book is absolutely precious. I think it is the bright and acrylic illustrations that help make the story like this. It is a different kind of informational book. It tells the story of punctuation marks going on vacation and leaving Mr. Wright's to realize how important they are in order to make sense. It is informational in the way that it is organized. When the question mark speaks, it speaks with questions. When the commas speak, they use lots of commas. This drills the proper ways to use various punctuation marks while telling a story. Even the dedication page uses a variety of punctuations. The last page of the book lists the types of punctuations and the rules that go with them.
I really like this book. While it is not a traditional kind of informational book, it can be helpful to students in various ways. I would love to read this to my class after a long lesson of punctuation. It would be a good idea to read the rules, that are in the back, before reading the book. I would then have my older students read the book and discuss the ways in which the punctuations are being used.
The author of this book does not provide way in which he is credible for writing on this topic. However, any author needs to know the proper uses of the types of punctuations. For this reason, I would say that the author is credible. This book would be a great way to reinforce the correct ways to use punctuation.
Germs Make Me Sick
Germs Make Me Sick
By: Melvin Berger
Illustrated by: Marylin Hafner
Harper Collins Publishers
Copyright 1985
Informational Book Genre
Germs Make Me Sick
This book is a factual book about how germs make you sick. It is told in a simple way but detailed enough for readers to learn a lot about bacteria. I really like this book because while it is very informative, the illustrations are cartoon-like and fun. Without the illustrations, I think that it would not hold children's interest as well.
The book does not specifically say in what ways the author has credibility for writing this book. However, it does say that the books in this series, Let's Read and Find Out Books, are checked for accuracy by experts in the specific fields. The information about germs covers, what they are, how you find germs, what germs do, and how you can get rid of germs. The information is presented like a story book, but very informational. I would definitely read this to my young students to explain why we need to wash our hands after going to the bathroom.
By: Melvin Berger
Illustrated by: Marylin Hafner
Harper Collins Publishers
Copyright 1985
Informational Book Genre
Germs Make Me Sick
This book is a factual book about how germs make you sick. It is told in a simple way but detailed enough for readers to learn a lot about bacteria. I really like this book because while it is very informative, the illustrations are cartoon-like and fun. Without the illustrations, I think that it would not hold children's interest as well.
The book does not specifically say in what ways the author has credibility for writing this book. However, it does say that the books in this series, Let's Read and Find Out Books, are checked for accuracy by experts in the specific fields. The information about germs covers, what they are, how you find germs, what germs do, and how you can get rid of germs. The information is presented like a story book, but very informational. I would definitely read this to my young students to explain why we need to wash our hands after going to the bathroom.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
So You Want to be President
So You Want to be President
By: Judith St. George
Illustrated by: David Small
Scholastic Inc.
Copyright 2000
Informational Book Genre
So You Want to be President
This is a great book to provide young readers with some facts about the United States presidents. It does a lot of comparing and contrasting, between the presidents, to show the readers that anyone really could be president. I also like that at the end of the book, St. George includes more facts about each president. The way it is written is like traditional picture books, however this one is non-fiction. The illustrations create a sense of humor to facts. They are bright, colorful, and almost like cartoons.
The author of this book includes a bibliography at the end, with credible sources. Since this book was published, there have been two new presidents. The last president this book includes is Bill Clinton. This would make the book out of date. More contrasts and comparisons could be made.
By: Judith St. George
Illustrated by: David Small
Scholastic Inc.
Copyright 2000
Informational Book Genre
So You Want to be President
This is a great book to provide young readers with some facts about the United States presidents. It does a lot of comparing and contrasting, between the presidents, to show the readers that anyone really could be president. I also like that at the end of the book, St. George includes more facts about each president. The way it is written is like traditional picture books, however this one is non-fiction. The illustrations create a sense of humor to facts. They are bright, colorful, and almost like cartoons.
The author of this book includes a bibliography at the end, with credible sources. Since this book was published, there have been two new presidents. The last president this book includes is Bill Clinton. This would make the book out of date. More contrasts and comparisons could be made.
The Field Guide to Ocean Animals
The Field Guide to Ocean Animals
By: Phyllis Perry
Illustrated By: Roger Hall & Eddee Helms
Silver Dolphin Books
Copyright 2007
Informational Book Genre
The Field Guide to Ocean Animals
This book is written like a journal. The narrator, Warren Wilmott, is a marine biologist. This book is a collection of notes he has taken on the wildlife he saw while visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Each page is a new wildlife entry. It includes an illustration, facts and descriptions, and location found. Some have puzzles so the reader can assemble the creature on their own. I like this book because I think it is interactive and interesting.
Based on information in the book, I cannot identify credibility the author for writing this book. The introduction to the narrator gives a very detailed description of his credibility for telling the story, however, he is not the author of the book. The facts in this book are up to date. The entries for the wildlife is too challenging to read. It does not go into very much depth. I think for this reason, it would be a fantastic book to have in the classroom. The illustrations, diagrams, and puzzles will definitely interest students and foster inquiry.
By: Phyllis Perry
Illustrated By: Roger Hall & Eddee Helms
Silver Dolphin Books
Copyright 2007
Informational Book Genre
The Field Guide to Ocean Animals
This book is written like a journal. The narrator, Warren Wilmott, is a marine biologist. This book is a collection of notes he has taken on the wildlife he saw while visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Each page is a new wildlife entry. It includes an illustration, facts and descriptions, and location found. Some have puzzles so the reader can assemble the creature on their own. I like this book because I think it is interactive and interesting.
Based on information in the book, I cannot identify credibility the author for writing this book. The introduction to the narrator gives a very detailed description of his credibility for telling the story, however, he is not the author of the book. The facts in this book are up to date. The entries for the wildlife is too challenging to read. It does not go into very much depth. I think for this reason, it would be a fantastic book to have in the classroom. The illustrations, diagrams, and puzzles will definitely interest students and foster inquiry.
Washington, D.C. (A Scrapbook)
Washington, D.C. (A Scrapbook)
By: Laura Lee Benson
Illustrated by: Iris Van Rynbach
Charlesbridge Publishing
Copyright 1999
Information Book Genre
Washington, D.C. (A Scrapbook)
This book is teaches about Washington, D.C. through a narrative by the main character, Danny. It also is formed like a scrapbook. There are illustrations that are similar to photographs and souvenirs. Personally, I wish really photographs would have been included, but the illustrations are bright and colorful. Each page includes, not only Danny's narrative, but also blurbs with facts about the sites Danny visited. While the narrative tells of a fictional story, it is intriguing to read and learn about the district. I really like that way this book was written because it held my interest. I think it would certainly intrigue young readers to learn more about Washington, D.C.
The author of this book includes the resources she suggests for learning more about Washington, D.C. Benson did not include where she found her research from or why it is that she knows so much about the U.S. capital. Significant facts found in the book include a Washington, D.C. timeline, its history, and how the U.S. government works.
By: Laura Lee Benson
Illustrated by: Iris Van Rynbach
Charlesbridge Publishing
Copyright 1999
Information Book Genre
Washington, D.C. (A Scrapbook)
This book is teaches about Washington, D.C. through a narrative by the main character, Danny. It also is formed like a scrapbook. There are illustrations that are similar to photographs and souvenirs. Personally, I wish really photographs would have been included, but the illustrations are bright and colorful. Each page includes, not only Danny's narrative, but also blurbs with facts about the sites Danny visited. While the narrative tells of a fictional story, it is intriguing to read and learn about the district. I really like that way this book was written because it held my interest. I think it would certainly intrigue young readers to learn more about Washington, D.C.
The author of this book includes the resources she suggests for learning more about Washington, D.C. Benson did not include where she found her research from or why it is that she knows so much about the U.S. capital. Significant facts found in the book include a Washington, D.C. timeline, its history, and how the U.S. government works.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)