Eleanor Roosevelt

1997. Eleanor Roosevelt. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Biography

This story is a biography on the life of Eleanor Roosevelt.She was the first lady of the World.  It breaks the book into different sections. The first section is the early years of Eleanor's life. The second part is Eleanor at school and the third part is Eleanor the leader. The biography has pictures of Eleanor growing up and also has a timeline of key events at the end.

I would use this book in my teaching by letting students learn about people that are in our history. This brings realism to Eleanor's life because there are real pictures and events that happened in her life. This would help students explore and learn about Eleanor Roosevelt.

Mean Soup

Everitt, B. (1992). Mean Soup. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace & Company  

Fiction

An AIGA Annual Book

A Young Hoosier Book Award Winner

Winner fo the Fiera di Bolgna Graphics Prize for Children and Young Adults

This book is about a boy named Horace. This child is having a very bad day and he feels very mean. He doesn't want to talk to anyone and is not using his manners to adults. When he gets home from riding with Miss Pearl, his mom suggests that they make soup. His mother feels the pot with water and sets it on the stove. She puts salt in the soup and the mother screams into the pot. Horace had a turn where he stood and screamed in the pot. They called this the mean soup.  

I would use this book in my classroom to show students that everyone has a bad day. You can deal with bad days in a responsible manner, instead of making wrong decisions. There are creative ways to deal with bad days. This book will show students that everyone has a bad day and everything will get better.                 

                                                                

The Hello, Goodbye Window

Juster, N. (2005). The Hello, Goodbye Window.

Realistic Fiction

The Caldecott Medal

This book is about a little girl's Nanna and Poppy. She stays with them while her parents work. The kitchen window is the Hello, Goodbye Window. The kitchen is where Nanna and Poppy spend most of their time. There are a lot of pictures on the wall from the olden days. They also like to look at stars at night. The little girl loves sitting by the Hello, Goodbye Window because she thinks its a magical window.

I would use this in my teaching because the illustrations are very clear and goes along with the text. I would ask students waht they can tell by the illustrations. I would also use this book to help children relate to their life and compare and contrast it from this little girl. This will help when learning about venn diagrams.

Let's Do Nothing

Fucile, T.(2009). Let's Do Nothing. Somerville, Massachusetts:Candlewick Press

Realistic Fiction

This book is about two boys named Frankie and Sal who has done it all. They've played every board game and read every comic book They also have painted several pictures, played every sport, and baked cookies. They decide to do nothing. They sit in chairs and imagine things they see and are doing. They pretend they are the King of the Nothing Doers. They realize that there is no way you can do nothing because eyes and ears are always doing something.

I would use this in my teaching by showing students that you can always find something to do. Everyone has a big imagination and can pretend and be anything they want. This book also shows that two boys are getting along and are best friends. This will teach students ways to get along with their classmates.

When Bluebell Sang

Ernst, L. (1989). When Bluebell Sang. New York, NY: An Affiliate of Macmillan, Inc.

Fiction

This book is about a singing cow, Bluebell. She packs concert halls, sets fashion trends, and travels in style. Big Eddie was a talent agent and asked Bluebell to travel. The cow got new clothes, hat and shoes. They traveled from state to state. Bluebell slipped away when they arrived at the farm and didn't travel with Big Eddie anymore, but continued her singing.

I would use this in my classroom because it is funny and engaging. I would show students that everyone has talent and can be successful. Sometimes you get tired of doing the same thing so you decide to switch up and do somthing different which is okay. Bluebell quit traveling, but continued her singing. This book also has good illustrations.

A String of Hearts

Elliot, L. (2010). A String of Hearts. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Realistic Fiction

This is a book about Valentine's Day. The teacher, Mrs. Wright, told everyone to write something special about each classmate. Sam wants to make a special Valentine for a girl in his class named Tiffany. Mary Ann, another one of Sam's classmates, showed him many ways to make a Valentine. Sam gave Tiffany his special valentine and she dropped it and never noticed it because she received so many. Sam picks it up and shoves it in his pocket and finds something special from Mary Ann. Sam made Mary Ann a valentine when he got home.

I would use this book with a third grade class around Valentine's Day to show students how important it is to give everyone something. Sam was probably upset when Tiffany dropped his valentine. People's feelings can get hurt easily and we should treat everyone equal. It is a great book to use to teach that you can be friends with anyone and there is always someone wanting to be your friend.

Marie Curie

2008. Marie Curie. Irvine, California: Saddleback Educational Publishing.

Biography

Graphic Biography

This is the biography of Marie Curie written in a graphic way. It tells that Marie Curie was the first great woman scientist and the first person to win two Nobel prizes. This biography gives all the events that take place in Marie Curie's life and with her family.

I would use this book in my classroom because it will give students information on new people and also people from history. The students might enjoy this better because it is written in a graphic way and is interesting. You could also ask questions about what the students are reading.