Title: I Am Rosa Parks
Author: Rosa Parks and Jim Haskins
Illustrator: Will Clay
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1997
Genre: Biography
Age Range: Middle elementary
Summary: This story is about the famous event in the past when Rosa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus for a white person. She also told how she was arrested and bailed out by her husband and how one of her friends paid for her bail money. She grew up with her brother Sylvester, living with her grandparents in Alabama. She did her part, as well as others to contribute to the Civil Rights Movement that made history. With Parks' efforts, along with efforts by Martin Luther Kind Jr., African Americans gained more rights than they had ever had before.
Personal Response: I think that this book would be good to use in a classroom because it can teach students about this famous event in history. It is an easy read for elementary schoolers, but still teaches them what Rosa Parks went through and the obstacle she had to overcome against white people who were for segregation.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Realistic Fiction/ Multicultual/ Newberry Winner
Title: Kira- Kira
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004
Genre: Realistic fiction, multicultural
Age Range: Upper elementary, middle school
Summary: This book is about a girl who moves from her home in Japan to her new home in Georgia. She is very pesimistic about the move, but her sister, Lynn, sees the "glitter" (Kira-kira means glitter) in everything. Katie, the main character, feels embarrassed when she is stopped on the street by people who stare at her because she looks different. Lynn explains to her that she is unique and to "look beyond tomorrow." When Lynn becomes very sick, Katie must take on Lynn's role of the optimist and cheer Lynn up as Lynn would have done for her. Lynn dies later, but Katie is now strong enough to find the "glitter" in every situation.
Personal Response: I think this book could be used in the classroom for children to relate to it when they have similar struggles in their own families. Lynn is a younger girl, which means that children in the elementary school, especially girls, could relate to her strong personality and determination. The book could be seen as a way for children to know and understand that they are not the only ones going through something and that there are other people suffering too.
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004
Genre: Realistic fiction, multicultural
Age Range: Upper elementary, middle school
Summary: This book is about a girl who moves from her home in Japan to her new home in Georgia. She is very pesimistic about the move, but her sister, Lynn, sees the "glitter" (Kira-kira means glitter) in everything. Katie, the main character, feels embarrassed when she is stopped on the street by people who stare at her because she looks different. Lynn explains to her that she is unique and to "look beyond tomorrow." When Lynn becomes very sick, Katie must take on Lynn's role of the optimist and cheer Lynn up as Lynn would have done for her. Lynn dies later, but Katie is now strong enough to find the "glitter" in every situation.
Personal Response: I think this book could be used in the classroom for children to relate to it when they have similar struggles in their own families. Lynn is a younger girl, which means that children in the elementary school, especially girls, could relate to her strong personality and determination. The book could be seen as a way for children to know and understand that they are not the only ones going through something and that there are other people suffering too.
Realistic Fiction/ Multicultural/ Newberry Winner
Title: Moccasin Trail
Author: Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Publisher: Coward- McCann Inc, 1952
Genre: Realistic Fiction, multicultural
Age Range: Upper elementary, middle school
Summary: A runaway, Jim Keath, goes beaver trapping in the Northwest US and becomes stranded. He believes he will die from an attack of a grizzly bear, but before he faces that he is rescued and adopted by Crow Indians. He is brought into their ways and lives with them for 9 years. He then finds a letter written by his brother that points him in the direction of Oregon, where his family is currently living. His family is shocked to see him acting in his undomesticated ways, but this surprise is nothing compared to Jim and his family having to face the Columbia Gorge. What keeps the family together is Jim's younger brother, Dan'l, who is very interested in Jim's scars and stories he has to tell. The story overall is about Jim's journey back to civilization and the issues he faces with the clashing cultures.
Personal Response: Because this book was very long and the words were small, I wouldn't recommend this book for an elementary school classroom. I would classify this book as a difficult read for even a 5th grader. It could teach children (middle schoolers) about survival skills and how cultures are different around the world.
Author: Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Publisher: Coward- McCann Inc, 1952
Genre: Realistic Fiction, multicultural
Age Range: Upper elementary, middle school
Summary: A runaway, Jim Keath, goes beaver trapping in the Northwest US and becomes stranded. He believes he will die from an attack of a grizzly bear, but before he faces that he is rescued and adopted by Crow Indians. He is brought into their ways and lives with them for 9 years. He then finds a letter written by his brother that points him in the direction of Oregon, where his family is currently living. His family is shocked to see him acting in his undomesticated ways, but this surprise is nothing compared to Jim and his family having to face the Columbia Gorge. What keeps the family together is Jim's younger brother, Dan'l, who is very interested in Jim's scars and stories he has to tell. The story overall is about Jim's journey back to civilization and the issues he faces with the clashing cultures.
Personal Response: Because this book was very long and the words were small, I wouldn't recommend this book for an elementary school classroom. I would classify this book as a difficult read for even a 5th grader. It could teach children (middle schoolers) about survival skills and how cultures are different around the world.
Non-Fiction/ Multicultural/ Caldecott Winner
Title: On Noah's Ark
Author: Jan Brett
Publisher: GP Putnam's Sons, 2003
Genre: Multicultural, non-fiction
Age Range: Younger elementary
Summary: The story is about a young boy and his grandpa, Noah. Noah builds an ark because God tells him that there is going to be a huge flood in the future. Animals pile onto the ark, two by two, and stay there for 40 days and 40 nights because the rain does not stop until then. One day, the little boy looked outside and saw that the sun was shining. Noah sent a dove to find land and the dove came back with a green leaf from a new tree. The animal, the little boy, and Noah went to the new land and got off of the ark. The animals dispersed to there new homes and they prepared to settle the new land.
Personal Response: I think that this book is a subtle, good way of introducing children to the Bible. If the students do not come from Christian backgrounds, it can be an easy way for them to be introduced to the literature. The fact that the story of Noah's ark is in the form of a children's book helps make it easier for children to relate to while they are learning and reading with one another.
Author: Jan Brett
Publisher: GP Putnam's Sons, 2003
Genre: Multicultural, non-fiction
Age Range: Younger elementary
Summary: The story is about a young boy and his grandpa, Noah. Noah builds an ark because God tells him that there is going to be a huge flood in the future. Animals pile onto the ark, two by two, and stay there for 40 days and 40 nights because the rain does not stop until then. One day, the little boy looked outside and saw that the sun was shining. Noah sent a dove to find land and the dove came back with a green leaf from a new tree. The animal, the little boy, and Noah went to the new land and got off of the ark. The animals dispersed to there new homes and they prepared to settle the new land.
Personal Response: I think that this book is a subtle, good way of introducing children to the Bible. If the students do not come from Christian backgrounds, it can be an easy way for them to be introduced to the literature. The fact that the story of Noah's ark is in the form of a children's book helps make it easier for children to relate to while they are learning and reading with one another.
Non- Fiction/ Multicultural/ Caldecott Winner
Title: Moja Means One
Author: Muriel Feelings
Illustrator: Tom Feelings
Publisher: First Pied Piper Printing
Genre: Multicultural, non-fiction
Age Range: Younger elementary
Summary: This book counts from 1-10, but in the Swahili language. With each number, the book gives examples of counting that relate to the Swahili culture.
Personal Response: This book could teach children at a young age that there are other children out there who are different than they are. It shows that there are other languages spoken, and that English is not the only language in the world. Teachers could use this book in a classroom to show children the diversity that exists in our world.
Author: Muriel Feelings
Illustrator: Tom Feelings
Publisher: First Pied Piper Printing
Genre: Multicultural, non-fiction
Age Range: Younger elementary
Summary: This book counts from 1-10, but in the Swahili language. With each number, the book gives examples of counting that relate to the Swahili culture.
Personal Response: This book could teach children at a young age that there are other children out there who are different than they are. It shows that there are other languages spoken, and that English is not the only language in the world. Teachers could use this book in a classroom to show children the diversity that exists in our world.
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