This Eleanor Estes book is a captivating fictional book. A young girl, Wanda Petronski, is the main character. She does not have many friends. The award winning book takes place during a depression when times are hard. Wanda is teased for wearing the same tathered blue dress. Then a special lesson is learned by her class mates when little Wanda moves away.
Henny Penny is and her friend are in a frenzy, they think the sky is falling and they must tell the king. This book takes on the old folk tale and brings it up to date. The illustrations are amazing and detailed.
In this book, Arthur parent’s tell him that they are having anothing child. His sister, D.W., and him are excited. He asks all his friends and they all give him different advice about ear plugs, baby sitting, and other things. When the baby is born D.W. is excited to help take care of there new sister, Kate. Authur isn’t as excited, he doesn’t even want to hold her, he just wants to look. One day their mom asks them to watch Kate while she goes upstairs. D.W. takes charge because Arthur is scared. When the baby cries D.W. doesn’t know what to do, and when she gives Kate to Arthur. He burps her and she stops crying after that.
Mo Willems, the author of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (one of my favorite books), shares his thoughts on the craft of writing books that can be enjoyed by children and adults.
Ramona Quimby thinks she is the coolest (even cooler than Beezus) because she just started Third Grade! As she goes through her “big girl” experiences, you will recall some experiences and antics you caused at this age also!
Pink and Say is a wonderful book for children of all ages. It can be used when introducing the civil war, teaching about slavery, tolerance, or just about friendship. Though it is a picture book, even older students will love it. The illustrations bring to life the story. There are so many discussions a class can have through out the story. It is a heartbreaking story of two young boys in the Civil War. It shows just how desperate the troups were during the war. Though they were to only carry the staff or such, the boys were forced to fight when so many men died. Children can see how slavery, and the Civil War affected children. This story allows children to see how wars and the ways of adults do affect them. Though it is a sad story it is one of great heart. I hope all teachers read this to their students.
Jennie Clendenin
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great book to give a child 7-10 years old. Children often experience many feelings when entering a new school or third grade. This book address some of those issues such as school bullies, clothes, and names children consider as funny. It also encourage children to communicate those concerns to their parents. It’s funny and very well written. Children will love reading it to find out how Robbie deals with his mom kissing him in front of other kids, the school bully and changing his super hero underwear.
Jennie Clendenin
Milada, a gentile girl living in Czechoslovakia in 1942, is turning eleven on her next birthday. When the Nazi’s converge upon her town, she is separated from her family and taken to a Lebensborn center in Poland for girls who have been deemed candidates to become perfect Aryans. Milada, who is not Jewish, resents her blond hair and blue eyes, knowing these are the reason she is chosen. Upon reaching the Nazi center, Milada’s name is changed to “Eva” and she and the other girls are forced to speak German. During her stay at the center, “Eva” makes a friend, but also sees girls who fall under the spell of the Nazi brainwashing. She must summon all of her emotional strength to remember her real name and family. “Eva” secretly wears a pin given to her by her Grandmother with the warning “Remember who you are. Always.” This book shows an aspect of the Nazi regime that is not commonly portrayed in children’s literature. It is a chilling account of the psychological control the Nazi’s had over their youngest victims. Milada has never met a Jewish person, so the Jewish content is limited to sympathetic references to the impact of the Nazi regime on the Jewish community. Someone Named Eva reveals evil through the innocence of a child’s eyes. This is not a Jewish Holocaust story, but would make a formidable addition to any Holocaust collection.
Jennie Clendenin
“Mirette on the High Wire” is about a little girl who lives at a boarding house. A stranger comes to visit and she catches him walking on air. She begs and pleads with the stranger to teach her how to walk on the wire but he refuses. She later learns this stranger is the Great Bellini, master wire-walker, and eventually learns to wire walk herself.
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This is a really fun collection of poems teaching about good manners. The book is very catchy because you sing the poems to the tunes of familiar songs to make the poems easier and more entertaining for young readers to read. I find the book to be very unique and good for those students whom need to learn from a whole different perspective sometimes.