Comics Squad

Holm, J. & M. (2014). Comics Squad: recess!  New York: Random House

A graphic novel full of many favorites sending kids into fits of laughter. Silliness, can't wait to read, definitely reasons to have this book in your library! It ranks up there with the Guiness Book of World Records, it's a book the kids constantly are passing around and are wanting to read. The only problem I have with this book is that there are misspelled words in the book. I realize that it was done on purpose, but if we are using this book as a tool to get even the most reluctant readers to pick up a book, then I think it would be more beneficial for the words to be spelled correctly.

Rules by Cynthia Lord



Lord, Cynthia. (2008). Rules. New York: Scholastic.
 
Catherine, age twelve, babysitting her eight-year-old brother David on the first day of summer vacation. We soon learn that babysitting David is a common task for Catherine, as David is autistic and must be watched closely at all times. Catherine constantly makes up rules for her brother, such as “if someone says ‘hi,’ you say ‘hi’ back,” and “no toys in the fish tank,” to try to help her brother behave more normally. Throughout the novel, one of these “rules” heads each chapter, and more are scattered throughout the text; we also learn that Catherine writes all the “rules” down at the back of the sketchbook she carries everywhere. On the first day of summer vacation, Catherine is watching the movers unload her new neighbors’ belongings at the house next door. She is excited because the house’s previous owner told her the new neighbors have a twelve-year-old girl. Catherine, whose best friend Melissa spends the entire summer out of town with her dad, is eager to meet the potential new friend next door. Before the neighbors arrive, however, it is time for David’s Occupational Therapy session and Catherine accompanies her mother and brother. Catherine explains that she always tags along because while David is in OT, she gets her mother’s full attention, which is a rare commodity for her. After therapy, the three return home—David and Catherine’s father is due home at five to take David to the video store, his favorite place. David, who clings to rules and exact statements such as “Dad will be home at five,” waits on the porch and counts down the seconds until his father arrives; Catherine, on the other hand, has long since stopped expecting her father to be on time. When their dad is in fact late, David begins to scream; the neighbor girl happens to be outside her house and notices. She asks “Is he okay?” then heads back inside without introducing herself or asking Catherine’s name. Catherine is dismayed that her first interaction with the neighbor, like most events in Catherine’s life, has centered on her unusual little brother. At the clinic where David attends therapy, Catherine draws a picture of another boy in the waiting room, Jason Morehouse, whom she estimates to be about fourteen or fifteen. Jason is confined to a wheelchair and, while he can understand others’ speech, he himself can only communicate by pointing at cards containing a word and matching picture. Jason’s mother notices Catherine drawing him and becomes upset, but Jason intervenes, telling her he likes the picture, and Catherine gives it to him. At the next therapy session, Mrs. Morehouse tells Catherine that Jason has the picture on his bedroom wall. In response, Catherine begins to consider Jason’s situation, wondering what it would like to “have to wait for someone to make a word” before she could use it. Catherine offers to make some new word cards for Jason, and she takes some blank cards home with her. Catherine makes words Jason can truly express himself with, like “Gross!” “Awesome!” and “Stinks a big one!” Jason is thrilled. Catherine takes an entire stack of blank cards to make more words, and she begins to collect words for the cards in her sketchbook. She finds herself writing words that reflect whatever she is feeling at the moment—for example, when she resents having to babysit David yet again, she writes “Yeah, right” and “whatever. ”Finally, the new neighbor, Kristi, comes over to visit Catherine. However, Catherine’s mom is working at home and asks her to watch David a little longer. Catherine is furious and terrified that David’s antics will ruin her potential new friendship. Sure enough, David becomes distraught because the tape has come unwound from one of his audio cassettes, and when Catherine’s guinea pigs start to squeal, David progresses to all-out shrieking. Kristi sympathizes, saying that even “regular” little brothers are difficult to deal with, and Catherine feels the word regular “snarling” in her stomach.When Catherine is torn between Jason and the new girl next door, she is forced to evaluate what friendship means. This is a good book for elementary school teachers beginning with the end of second grade up through middle school read aloud to start a discussion about treating people with respect and being true to yourself.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Kinney, Jeff. (2013).Diary of a wimpy kid : hard luck. New York: Amulet Books

This is the 8th book in the series. These books can't stay on the shelf! Elementary school students of all ages seem to love these books, even the most reluctant readers. The main character Greg is always doing something rotten. In this book, Greg uses a magic eight ball to make some decisions, like which club to join. He has to make a new friend, since his best friend got a girlfriend. But when it comes to the big decisions, Greg makes the right decisions when it really counts, like deciding not to buy another kid's science fair project and showing compassion to a friend at the right time. These graphic novels are great for elementary school readers. They bring even the most reluctant readers to the library asking if there are any Wimpy Kid books available; to me that is a success!

Rosa by N. Giovanni

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. New York: Holt.


This is a nonfiction picture book biography. The book deals with the historical realities of discrimination, focusing on Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. However, in this particular text, we truly MEET Rosa: a talented seamstress (heading home after a long day of sewing dresses), a wife (heading home planning to make a meatloaf dinner for her husband), a member of the Women's Political Council ("tired of 'separate' and definitely tired of 'not equal'"). Often in our history books and/or biographical texts of Rosa Parks, we read the facts of the bus ride; the events leading up to it, as well as what followed, are usually left out. Here we meet the TRUE Rosa, as well as the community of people who felt the same way. She was one woman who started a movement for change.This book would be an excellent resource to teach a social studies lesson about Rosa Parks and also character traits such as courage, bravery, resilient, etc. The narrative of this story is unlike the structure of history textbooks and informational texts; while the facts of the events are the same, the event is told in a story format which makes it interesting and engaging for a younger audience. Through reading this book, students may also be able to engage in meaningful conversations about injustice and the issues of segregation. When word spreads about her act of defiance, other community leaders get together to organize a boycott of the buses until the segregation is ended. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., blacks in Montgomery refuse to ride the buses for almost a year, until finally they achieve their goal.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil. (2008). The graveyard book. New York: HarperCollins

A man named Jack enters a home in the night. He has a sharp knife and he uses it to kill the mother, the father, and the older sister who live there.Now Jack is ready to finish the job and kill the baby that’s sleeping in the crib. But Jack soon discovers the baby is not in his crib. So, to be really thorough in his work, Jack leaves the house and follows the baby's smell up the hill to the graveyard.How did the baby end up in the graveyard? Flashback: a little while earlier, the baby was woken up by a bunch of noise,so he jumps out of his crib, goes down the stairs, and leaves his house, and toddles up the hill to the graveyard. In the graveyard,  the baby meets Mr.& Mrs. Owens, kind ghosts who agree to adopt him & protect him from Jack. Silas, agrees to be the baby's guardian, and he makes Jack leave the graveyard.  The ghosts of the graveyard agree that the eighteen-month-old baby will live in the graveyard with Mr. and Mrs. Owens. He will have Freedom of the Graveyard, which means he can walk through walls and graves, and that he is invisible to most humans when he’s in the graveyard. Mrs. Owens names the baby Nobody Owens (“Bod” for short).Unlike the ghosts in the graveyard, Silas isn’t dead and he isn’t alive, and he can leave the graveyard. This means he can get food for the baby and anything else the kid might need.  Bod isn’t allowed to leave the graveyard because his guardians fear for his safety, and so, the ghosts of the graveyard become his tutors and educators as well as his family. The story follows Bod as he grows into a young man and eventually has to decide how to deal with his past and the man who started it all. I think that upper elementary school children will like this. However, I was not a fan.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Landy, Derek. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant.  New York: HarperCollins

Skulduggery Pleasant tells the story of 12-year-old Stephanie Edgley, whose recently deceased uncle was a writer of fictional horror books and perhaps her closest friend. When his will is read, she learns --- much to the bother of others present --- that she is the new owner of his expensive villa. At the same time she meets the most bizarre of characters: a sly and witty detective named Skulduggery Pleasant. His investigative skills, acid tongue and dapper dressing are only outdone by the fact that he is no longer living and a skeleton. Skulduggery's involvement with Stephanie comes to life, so to speak, when she discovers that her uncle's writings were more than just scary fiction; they were a prediction of reality to come. Together they must stop a dark and evil force from recovering a hidden key and bringing an end to life on earth. Both Stephanie and Skulduggery have unusual and effective talents as well as weaknesses. Perhaps the most interesting weakness for Skulduggery is his absolute hatred and fear of being tortured. It goes to show that even skeletons have feelings. Skulduggery Pleasant is a wonderful story that works on so many levels and will appeal to everyone. The bantering dialogue between Skulduggery and Stephanie is quick witted and sarcastic. Upper elementary children will love to read this series of "scary" books.  

We are the ship: the story of Negro League baseball by Kadir Nelson

Nelson, Kadir.(2008). We are the ship: the story of Negro League baseball. New York: Hyperion Books for Children,

If you are a baseball fan this is a must read for sure! Nelson tells the story through each chapter as an inning, nine in all and the last chapter, “extra innings”. When you are a fan you never really get to see what goes on near the plate, in the dugouts, or even in the locker room or club house. This book talked about the Negro Baseball League. It was inspirational and sad at the same time to hear what the players had to go through. It took years for them to be able to play in the Major Leagues. Due to this, they created their own leagues that contained some famous people in baseball who are now in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Jackie Robinson was the first Black baseball player to enter into the major leagues. Others unfortunately, by the time this all came about and segregation was over had died or were too old to play the game. Only 58 out of 200 made it into the major leagues which isn't that many. There were some outstanding guys who were better than some of the players today but because of how they were treated and the time period they never got to live their fullest dream.
The author and illustrator tried to capture the essence and lives of those who had to suffer and be looked down upon because of their color. The book talked about the hardships of being on a traveling team, making little money and being black which brought on battles all by itself. At one point in the story, it said that even though the players offered to pay money for water which was free anyways they were denied. Because of segregation, they weren't allowed to be in the same places as whites and didn't have the same privileges. The story goes onto explain some of the players and how they got their nicknames. I would use this text in the upper grades to teach history and segregation. The text in this book would be a little more difficult for younger readers. Even though it is a very informative book and also very interesting, the words are very small. There are also pages full of text and the text is not spaced out really well which could cause some difficulties for the younger readers. I do think that the students can relate to this book because there is always a time where other students are going to pick on one another. I might try segregation in the classroom for a day and assign groups. Those who are in a certain group wouldn't be allowed to do things. After half a day, we would switch roles. At the end of the day, the students could report on how they felt and we would discuss how that relates to the story as a whole.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Paterson, Katherine.(2007). Bridge to Terabithia. New York : HarperEntertainment

The story, set in a small town in the US, is about two lonely 10 year olds, Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke who find each other's company enjoyable because they are different from the rest of the kids. Jesse is fond of drawing and he feels unappreciated. Leslie comes from the city, reads a lot of children's fantasy books,her parents are writers, and does not have television at home. Before Leslie transfers to Jesse's school, he is the fastest runner. So, their friendship starts with jealousy because Leslie runs faster than Jesse and hate but they end up as king and queen of Leslie's make believe world of Terabithia. When my 4th grade teacher read this to us, I loved it because it was enchanting, and reminded me very much of 'secret hideouts' I made with friends. I vividly remember her crying as she read the book to us.  When I read it aloud to my students, I was choking back tears to keep reading, and they were crying. It shows that kids are people too. They need to escape. Sometimes they have to go to their hideout to cope and deal with thing, but they come back stronger. All of us need a place to escape and cope with our issues in my own world, just like Leslie and Jesse do in Terabithia. Where is your Terabithia?

It's so amazing! By Robie Harris

Harris, Robie. (1999). It's so amazing! Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press
 
While this book has many benefits about reproduction and where babies come from this is definitely not a book I would suggest as a class read aloud. It is one I would recommend for parents who have young children who are about to be siblings and wonder how that baby got in mommys tummy and how it's going to get out. I would also recommend it for kids who are entering puberty and who's bodies are changing. Easy for kids to understand. The bird and the bee help keep things light and comfortable. They help guide adults in terms of approaching this topic with kids, and they help keep kids engaged.This book is thorough. You have something specific that needs to be addressed, this book will probably cover it.It was non-judgemental, acknowledged diversity, and did not pretend that human sexuality and reproduction only means natural reproduction and childbirth, and that human families are only headed by married heterosexual couples. Families of any make-up have a strong chance of seeing their family reflected here.

Magic Windows by Carmen Garza

 
 

Garza, Carmen Lomas.(1999). Magic windows. San Francisco: Children's Book Press,
 
 Every page of this book if filled with a beautiful image as if you were looking through a window.The author shares her Mexican family traditions and illustrates them with  cut paper art that she has created. The cut-paper art illustrations are almost hard for me to believe that the author actually cut them out by hand using a craft knife. The rich detail and intricate designs are beautiful! I love the last page where you can see one of her works showing her teaching paper cutting which has been passed down through generations.

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

Oppel, Kenneth, (2015). The nest. New York: Simon & Schuster

Steve has always been a worrier, but since his brother was born he's become even more anxious. His brother was born with a lot of problems with his eyes, his heart,  congenital things, not sure doctors could fix. When Steve starts having dreams about otherworldly wasps, he takes comfort in their message that everything will be okay. But the more he learns about their plan to "fix" the baby's congenital condition, the more he's conflicted. The tension and unease grow as Steve begins to wonder if the wasps are real or imagined.  All Steve must do is say yes to the offer, and his dream confidante will turn her promise of a healthy baby into reality. What would you do in this situation? This book was strange, creepy and odd. I did not like it.

The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Curtis

Curtis, Christopher Paul.(1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham--1963. New York: Delacorte Press

Fourth-grader Kenny Watson narrates this story about his  closely knit African American family: Momma, Dad, baby sister Joetta, and 13-year-old brother Byron living in Flint, Michigan, in 1963. We get to know his strict, loving parents and his tough older brother, who gets into so much trouble his parents decide to take him back "home" to Birmingham, Alabama, where maybe his strong grandmother will teach him some sense. You will laugh at the different funny incidents that happen throughout the story that will make the Watsons come to life and be real to you. The tone of the novel changes dramatically at the end of the story when an actual incident, the death of four young innocent girls in the bombing of a church, brings the struggles of the civil rights movement into the story. The fear Kenny has when he thinks Joey was one of those girls killed really hits home. It brings him in to a state of withdrawal. Ultimately, this is a family that sticks together through good times and bad. The love and support each other, even reaching out to extended family for help. It is a time where you watch the boys grow up and learn that being an adult isn't easy and that even the parents question if they are doing it right. This is a very powerful story, but is funny and easy to read. I definitely recommend this for middle and high school students. I think it's an enjoyable book yet it includes the history of the freedoms that so many people had to fight for in this country.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Sendak, Maurice.(1991). Where the wild things are. New York: HarperCollins

Max gets sent to his room for misbehaving. When he's in his room he lets his imagination run wild and he runs away where he becomes the king of all the wild things. He soon realizes that its lonely and he wants to be where he is loved. When he sails back to the real world, he goes back to the kitchen to find his dinner is still hot, waiting for him.

This book is good for all kids to hear. It's good for them to understand that they may not understand how to express their frustration and so running away where they are in charge is their escape. They learn, like Max did, that ultimately, home is their safe place, where they are always welcome. The illustrations are amazing, earning the Caldecott Medal in 1964. A classic book that belongs in every children's library!

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale By Carmen Deedy

Deedy, Carmen.  (2007). Martina, the beautiful cockroach : a Cuban folktale. Atlanta, GA : Peachtree

The retelling of this Latin American folktale begins with Martina, a beautiful cockroach, who has come of age.  The first piece of advice she receives is from her abuela, or grandmother, She is told to spill coffee on her suitors shoes to see how they react – “Then you will know how we will speak to you when he loses his temper”.  Martina has her doubts but immediately sees the importance of the Coffee Test when the rooster, the pig, and the lizard all show their true, despicable, colors.  At the end of the day Martina is disappointed in her suitor options, but soon spots a cute little mouse, Perez.  Perez not only tells her he likes her not because of her outer beauty, but also beats her at her own game by spilling the coffee on Martina’s shoes. Martina is surprised by this, but Perez tells her "I also have a Cuban grandmother."
The illustrations show the animals have realistic details although they do have human gestures and facial expressions. This story is funny and a great read aloud. It also conveys the important message that who someone is on the inside is what matters most, even when beautiful on the outside.

This is not my hat by Jon Klassen

Klassen, Jon. (2012). This is not my hat. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press

In this story a small fish steals the hat of a very large fish and isn't worried about getting caught. The little fish narrates the story telling his plan to go hide where the big fish won't find him. The little fish also justifies his actions, making it ok that he took the hat, even though it didn't belong to him. In the end, the big fish did find the little fish, and probably had a delicious snack before getting his hat back!

The text in the story is simple. Caldecott medal winner in 2013 for beautiful illustrations. The illustrations are very detailed. The illustrations are so expressive, it lets the reader know that the little fish isn't as confident as he sounds in the text. This would be a great book to read for young kids and talk about the moral of the story. I loved it!

Out of my mind by Sharon Draper

Draper, Sharon M. (2010). Out of my mind. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Melody is trapped in her own body. Born with cerebral palsy, she is unable to perform most of the basic physical functions that the rest of us take for granted. But her mind is significantly above normal. However, almost no one realizes that she has any intellectual capabilities. She attends school as part of the special education program, being partially integrated into the regular classroom, where kids are outright mean or awkwardly nice. When she gets a device that enables her to "speak" for the first time in her 11 years, people are shocked that she is like anyone else. Through her device, "Elvira" she is able to compete for a spot on the Whiz Kid team. With her photographic memory, she definitely earned a spot, which helped her school go on to be the team to compete in Washington D.C. The news media was so overtaken with Melody that the other team members felt left out. When Melody and her mom got to the airport they learned the flight had been cancelled and the rest of the team had taken an earlier flight without her. She was devastated. When Melody insisted on going to school and not take the day off feeling sorry for herself, Mom was distracted and Penny, Melody's little sister had gotten behind the car. Melody had tried to stop mom from reversing but couldn't without words, so Penny ends up being taken by ambulance to the hospital. In the end, Penny is fine, just a broken leg. The team ended up in 9th place and no one wanted to interview them without Melody. Melody faced the entire class and asked why they left her.
Overall reading this book I felt a wide range of emotions. I think it is a good book to read to upper elementary and middle school kids. It really puts in to perspective that just because someone is different than you, you shouldn't treat them with less respect.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie DePaola

DePaola, Tomie. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet: an old tale of Texas. New York: Putnam.

The is a retelling of a Comanche Indian legend of how one young girl's sacrifice saves her people. A young girl named She-Who-Is-Alone, sat by herself holding her beloved doll and watched the dancers waiting to hear the words of the Great Spirits. The Great Spirits said the people had become selfish and had taken from Earth without giving anything back, so the people had to make a sacrifice. They had to make a burnt offering of the most valued possession among them and scatter the ashes to the four points of the Earth. When that was done, drought and famine would cease and life would be restored to the Earth and the people. All the people were sure it wasn't their new bow, or their special blanket. She-Who-Is-Alone, offered her warrior doll, her most valued possession, the only thing she had left from her family who had died in the famine as the burnt offering. When she awoke the next morning, the ground was covered with beautiful blue flowers, a sign of forgiveness from the Great Spirits. From that day forward the little girl was known as "One-Who-Dearly-Loved-Her-People."
This is a great book to talk about greed and selfishness. It would be interesting in upper grades to have a discussion to see if kids thought she should have had to give up her warrior doll. What would they give up?

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

Hale, Shannon.(2008). Rapunzel's revenge. New York: Bloomsbury

Rapunzel escapes her tower-prison all on her own, only to discover a world beyond what she'd ever known before. Determined to rescue her real mother and to seek revenge on her kidnapper would-be mother, Rapunzel and her very long braids team up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) and together they perform daring deeds and rescues all over the western landscape, eventually winning the justice they so well deserve. - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/rapunzels-revenge-9781599902883#sthash.KVw4KfYA.dpuf

A long time ago, during the time of the old, wild west, a young girl named Rapunzel lives in a pleasant villa, ruled over by her mother, Gothel. But one day, curiosity gets the best of Rapunzel, and she scales the massive wall surrounding the villa, only to discover the outside landscape in ruin, and worse; Gothel isn't her real mother, but a selfish witch who controls a huge chunk of the world, thanks to her magic, plant-based powers. When Rapunzel refuses to go along with Gothel's plans of conquest, the witch imprisons her in a tower (actually a giant tree). Over the years, Rapunzel's hair grows to an enormous length, until finally, she engineers her own escape and vows revenge against Gothel. After meeting up with a snarky, but friendly thief named Jack, the two then set off on an adventure to defeat the witch and save the wild west. And fashioning her long hair into lassos and whips, Rapunzel helps various characters along the way, and makes it her mission to right all of Gothel's wrongs. Rapunzel starts off her adventure understandably naive about the world (since she was locked in a tower for years), she quickly comes into her own and learns how to survive in the rough landscape; using no guns or any other weapons, save for her hair, her bravery, and her wits. And she makes it clear she'll never stoop as low as stealing, or using any underhanded methods to get what she wants. She's incredibly kind and selfless, but won't back down from a fight either; always putting others before herself.
This graphic novel is a great way to compare/contrast the traditional story. Reluctant readers are more likely to pick up a graphic novel to read than a traditional book. Details in the pictures could lead to students making predictions or inferring how the character is feeling.

Rapunzel escapes her tower-prison all on her own, only to discover a world beyond what she'd ever known before. - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/rapunzels-revenge-9781599902883#sthash.KVw4KfYA.dpuf

Rapunzel escapes her tower-prison all on her own, only to discover a world beyond what she'd ever known before. Determined to rescue her real mother and to seek revenge on her kidnapper would-be mother, Rapunzel and her very long braids team up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) and together they perform daring deeds and rescues all over the western landscape, eventually winning the justice they so well deserve. - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/rapunzels-revenge-9781599902883#sthash.KVw4KfYA.dpuf

Nic Bishop: Snakes

Bishop, Nic. (2012). Snakes. New York: Scholastic

This book examines many different snakes around the world, and their habitats, diets, and characteristics that make them so unique.This book has captivating photographs to engage young scientists in to learning about these silent, scaly, scary predators.  Although in captivity, each snake is pictured in its natural habitat, some enlarged up to five times their actual size in order to show the wonderful colors of their scaly skins and the graceful coils of their bodies. They are photographed face-to-face, at their level, so the reader feels as if he/she is inside their world. Captions are utilized to describe what is happening in the photograph and provide astonishing facts about that particular species as well.  In this fascinating non-fiction book written by Nic Bishop, you’ll experience life as a snake, being four times longer than your current height, only a few inches thick, having poor vision, no arms and legs, hundreds of ribs, and thousands of muscles. Your sixth sense, hearing vibrations, will allow you to eat all kinds of insects, rodents, and other snakes, too. In fact, as unbelievable as it sounds, zebras and elephants may also be part of your diet! Bishop also makes some wonderful comparisons between snakes and humans that helps complete a visual picture for the reader. By describing its scales as functioning "like the tread on your shoes" is one example. Kids of all ages loved reading about snake books. Nic Bishop books were always some of the first books to fly off the library shelves!

Good masters! sweet ladies! By Laura Schlitz

Schlitz, Laura Amy.(2007). Good masters! Sweet Ladies! Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press

This book was inspired by the necessity of creating a play for  a classroom where no one wanted a small part.  This book is written by a librarian in the setting of a good-sized medieval village in the year 1255. Each of the 23 characters (between 10 and 15 years old) has a distinct personality and a societal role revealed not by recitation of facts but by revelation of memories, intentions, and attitudes.It consists of 22 monologues, each from the point of view of one member of the town, which serves to both give the reader an emotional sense of what it may have been like to live at the time, and also imparts a lot of factual information. Footnotes and sections titled "A Little Background" offer more in-depth information about the life and times. It's not something many kids would pick up on their own, I don't think, but it has the potential to be a truly invaluable teaching tool.
I think that this would be a great book for history classes. It would be great for theater classes and for reading classes working on intonation and voice. I would recommend listening to this on an audiobook.

Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's shadow by Susan Bartoletti

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. (2005). Hitler Youth: growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic 

The book is structured around 12 young individuals and their experiences, which clearly demonstrate how they were victims of leaders who took advantage of their innocence and enthusiasm for evil means. Their stories evolve from patriotic devotion to Hitler and zeal to join, to doubt, confusion, and disillusion.Formed in 1926, the Hitler Youth involved seven million boys and girls by 1939 and was instrumental in Hitler's rise to power. Bartoletti makes it clear what appealed to youth: "Excitement, adventure, and new heroes to worship," hope, power, and the "opportunity to rebel against parents, teachers, clergy, and other authority figures."

This book is unique in the fact that it shows how Hitler took advantage of young people, how he brainwashed them into following him. This book is not your typical history book, it's personal, you feel connected. It's a great beginning for a discussion, "What would you have done?". This is a great book not only for middle and high school children, but even for adults.

How they croaked: the awful ends of the awfully famous by Georgia Bragg

Bragg, Georgia. (2011). How they croaked: the awful ends of the awfully famous. New York: Walker & Co.

I loved this book! My first, and lasting, impression of it is: what a great way to trick students into learning some history! The reader is lured into the stories because s/he thinks they will be gory tales, and they are, but the reader also learns about the lives of important historical figures in the process. The book discusses 19 noteworthy people from British and American History, by using their less-than-desirable causes of death to revolve their life stories around. Students may not know or care who Marie Curie is, but they will be interested in the fact that she radiated herself to death. Likewise, they may not have much knowledge of Henry VIII, but the fact that he pretty much ate himself to death with pull students in, and then they will learn about his sad series of wives and the state off medicine in that day, which finished him off. In fact, it is a theme throughout the book that many of these people died because of lack of medical knowledge and wacky "cures" that actually made them worse. So the book teaches some history, both of the people involved, and also that of medical science.
Overall, this book is written for a middle/early high school aged students. I think this would be a great book to bring into a history class and provide students with extra information. It's the type of book many kids won't mind reading because the author's organizational style and tone is easy to follow and mixed with humor. The illustrations are great and really catch the readers eye. Even if the students do not read the whole book, they can at least skim through the book and see what catches their eye and read about them. In my opinion, it makes learning fun for the students.The end of each chapter has a 2 page spread with trivia. Bragg ends the book on a lighter note reminding her readers that even though the individuals she described died horribly they lived passionately and that readers should live their lives similarly.

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer

Singer, Marilyn. (2010). Mirror mirror. New York: Dutton Children's Books

In this beautifully illustrated book there are two sides to every poem. Read them forwards or read them backwards to reveal two very different meanings using the same words. Marilyn Singer shows her writing skills in this collection of reverso poems. Each poem has two parts to show the stories from the point-of-view of the different characters or objects in the fairytales. The illustration also shows the two sides to each poem.
This could be used in a fairy tale unit, or a poetry unit. Students could try writing their own reverso poem, or taking one of their favorite poems and writing it from bottom to top. It is also an excellent source to teach point of view. This is definitely a book for upper elementary to middle school grades with the higher level of thinking that is involved.

Balloons over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet

Sweet, Melissa. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Parade. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books

This book tells the story of puppeteer Tony Sarg, the man who first invented the helium balloons that have become the trademark of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He began when Macy's asked him to make a puppet parade for the store's holiday window. He used his marionettes and attached them to gears and pulleys to make them move. Many of Macy's workers were immigrants and missed their holiday traditions. Macy's agreed to put on a parade for their employees and they hired Tony Sarg to help make costumes and build horse drawn floats. It was such a huge success they decided to have one every year on Thanksgiving to celebrate America's own holiday. Tony Sarg worked with a company in Ohio to make balloons out of rubberized silk. His goal was to make upside down marionettes.
This book was truly fascinating. I think this a great story to teach students how the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade evolved. It's perfect for something different to add in the traditional Thanksgiving unit most teachers teach.  It shows how the innovative and dedication of one person had such an impact on something that is still so popular today.

My New Friend Is So Fun! by Mo Willems

Willems, Mo.(2014). My new friend is so fun!. New York : Hyperion Books for Children. 

Gerald, the elephant, and Snake are worried that Piggie and Brian, the bat will have so much fun together that they will no longer them as their best friends. Gerald and Snake decide that they must stop them. As they see Piggie and Brian Bat playing together, they fear that they are too late and have lost their best friends. In the end, Piggie and Brian Bat, made drawings of Gerald the elephant and Snake, their best friends. They had nothing to worry about!

This book focuses on the fact that friends can play with other friends, and enhance their social circle. It doesn't mean they aren't losing their best friend, such an important concept for many young children to understand. Simple line drawings, expressive facial expressions, colored speech bubbles, varied font sizes all make this an excellent book to use when teaching about voice. I love these books!

      

It's a book by Lane Smith

Smith, Lane.(2011). It's a book. New York : Roaring Brook Press

This book only has three characters, a donkey, a mouse and a monkey. The monkey is trying to read a book, while the donkey is fascinated with only using a laptop. The donkey continuously interrupts monkey asking him about his book. The donkey wants to know what the monkey can do with his book-can he text; scroll, tweet or blog? When he asked him where his mouse was, a real mouse popped up from the monkey's hat. The monkey was so engrossed in his book that he continued to read it. Donkey took the book away and was immediately turned off by the number of words, but he started to read it and liked it. He told the monkey, don't worry I'll charge it before I give it back to you. And the mouse pops up and says "you don't have to charge it, jackass."

Personally, I thought the book was funny. I think upper elementary/middle school grades would enjoy this book as a read aloud from a teacher. It shows that even though there are so many great things with technology, books are still important. I could see reading this book to younger  kids just leaving out the word jackass.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Alexander, Kwame. (2014). The crossover. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Josh and Jordan are twelve year old twins that are amazing basketball players each carrying a different talent to the team making them both valuable assets. Their dad, a basketball legend who had to retire due to health reasons, was one of their biggest fans. The boys worked together like a well oiled machine on the court and in life. But when Jordan starts dating a girl, Josh starts to feel abandoned and has difficulty dealing with jealousy. Josh has to deal with his father's deteriorating health and  unwillingness to see a doctor. Josh's frustration becomes evident on the court, causing him to be benched. Ultimately the family goes through lots of struggles, loss and grief. When the dad dies at a young age of 39, the brothers realize that they are all they have plus their mom and that they need to be there for each other and take care of each other.

This was written in verse and I think would be much better if it was listened to as an audiobook. I think it will appeal to middle school age students and any reluctant readers. I like that it was written in terms of a basketball game, beginning with warm ups through overtime. It also teaches ten rules that apply to life, not just basketball.

Like father, like son. Filthy is more like his father, than I think he saw himself to be. His father lived and breathed the game of basketball, his wife and family came before the sport but that was about the extent of the items that exceeded his fascination with the game. Being a basketball legend, his father led his twin boys into the court at a small age and disciplined them so that their love for the sport extended into their veins. He is their biggest fan, believing in them and pushing them to be successful. Their mother was not far behind in her love of the game and their children but it was the boys in the family who were consumed by the court, the sweat, the bouncing of the ball and the adrenaline of the game. Filthy McNasty and his twin brother J.B. were both stars on the court; both thirteen and each of them carrying a different talent onto the court making them a valuable asset to their team. Filthy is more devoted to the game though; he’s consumed by it just like his father was. Both individuals so devoted and so blind, like father, like son. J.B’s eyes begin to shift to the likings of Ms. Sweet Tea for his attention to basketball has now been diverted. J.B. realizes there is more to life than basketball and Ms. Sweet Tea starts to play an important role in his daily life. Tension starts to creep into the novel as I listened to it, slowly this shift occurs. J.B. has started to move his attention away from basketball, leaving Filthy alone for once in his life and the anger, frustration and let down you can feel in the language and the power of Filthy’s words. Filthy is not used to being alone, he’s not used to having to share his brother and this change is not welcomed. Dad’s health is deteriorating and why is all of this happening now? Mom’s the anchor in the family, her words are strong and she holds nothing back. She wants the world for them but she knows that they must do it for themselves. I think one of my favorite parts of this novel was the conversation between Filthy and his father in the hospital. Their question conversation where not one single answer is spoken was superb. The rapid fire questions, fired back-n-forth at each other, let you into the minds of these individuals and what they were really thinking. What a wonderful conversation tool, it really spoke volumes and cleared the air. I wasn’t too impressed with the ending, I don’t know what I would have done differently as an author, I just know as a reader, it didn’t settle right with me.

Like father, like son. Filthy is more like his father, than I think he saw himself to be. His father lived and breathed the game of basketball, his wife and family came before the sport but that was about the extent of the items that exceeded his fascination with the game. Being a basketball legend, his father led his twin boys into the court at a small age and disciplined them so that their love for the sport extended into their veins. He is their biggest fan, believing in them and pushing them to be successful. Their mother was not far behind in her love of the game and their children but it was the boys in the family who were consumed by the court, the sweat, the bouncing of the ball and the adrenaline of the game. Filthy McNasty and his twin brother J.B. were both stars on the court; both thirteen and each of them carrying a different talent onto the court making them a valuable asset to their team. Filthy is more devoted to the game though; he’s consumed by it just like his father was. Both individuals so devoted and so blind, like father, like son. J.B’s eyes begin to shift to the likings of Ms. Sweet Tea for his attention to basketball has now been diverted. J.B. realizes there is more to life than basketball and Ms. Sweet Tea starts to play an important role in his daily life. Tension starts to creep into the novel as I listened to it, slowly this shift occurs. J.B. has started to move his attention away from basketball, leaving Filthy alone for once in his life and the anger, frustration and let down you can feel in the language and the power of Filthy’s words. Filthy is not used to being alone, he’s not used to having to share his brother and this change is not welcomed. Dad’s health is deteriorating and why is all of this happening now? Mom’s the anchor in the family, her words are strong and she holds nothing back. She wants the world for them but she knows that they must do it for themselves. I think one of my favorite parts of this novel was the conversation between Filthy and his father in the hospital. Their question conversation where not one single answer is spoken was superb. The rapid fire questions, fired back-n-forth at each other, let you into the minds of these individuals and what they were really thinking. What a wonderful conversation tool, it really spoke volumes and cleared the air. I wasn’t too impressed with the ending, I don’t know what I would have done differently as an author, I just know as a reader, it didn’t settle right with me.

Like father, like son. Filthy is more like his father, than I think he saw himself to be. His father lived and breathed the game of basketball, his wife and family came before the sport but that was about the extent of the items that exceeded his fascination with the game. Being a basketball legend, his father led his twin boys into the court at a small age and disciplined them so that their love for the sport extended into their veins. He is their biggest fan, believing in them and pushing them to be successful. Their mother was not far behind in her love of the game and their children but it was the boys in the family who were consumed by the court, the sweat, the bouncing of the ball and the adrenaline of the game. Filthy McNasty and his twin brother J.B. were both stars on the court; both thirteen and each of them carrying a different talent onto the court making them a valuable asset to their team. Filthy is more devoted to the game though; he’s consumed by it just like his father was. Both individuals so devoted and so blind, like father, like son. J.B’s eyes begin to shift to the likings of Ms. Sweet Tea for his attention to basketball has now been diverted. J.B. realizes there is more to life than basketball and Ms. Sweet Tea starts to play an important role in his daily life. Tension starts to creep into the novel as I listened to it, slowly this shift occurs. J.B. has started to move his attention away from basketball, leaving Filthy alone for once in his life and the anger, frustration and let down you can feel in the language and the power of Filthy’s words. Filthy is not used to being alone, he’s not used to having to share his brother and this change is not welcomed. Dad’s health is deteriorating and why is all of this happening now? Mom’s the anchor in the family, her words are strong and she holds nothing back. She wants the world for them but she knows that they must do it for themselves. I think one of my favorite parts of this novel was the conversation between Filthy and his father in the hospital. Their question conversation where not one single answer is spoken was superb. The rapid fire questions, fired back-n-forth at each other, let you into the minds of these individuals and what they were really thinking. What a wonderful conversation tool, it really spoke volumes and cleared the air. I wasn’t too impressed with the ending, I don’t know what I would have done differently as an author, I just know as a reader, it didn’t settle right with me.

 

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Cleary, Beverly. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: Morrow

This book consists of letters from the main character, Leigh Botts, to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw, beginning when Leigh was in the second grade. The bulk of the letters are when he is 10 years old and dealing with things like his parents divorce, being the new kid at school, having someone steal his lunch, a dad that doesn't always follow through. He writes to his favorite author who replies and he seems to turn to him as a father figure for advice. He questions his mom about the divorce. He starts to question if he was the reason for the divorce. He thinks no one notices him. In the end, his dad comes back, asks him mom if there is a chance and when mom says no because she was tired of not being able to count on him, Leigh seemed to understand. He knew it wasn't because of him, it wasn't because his parents didn't love each other, they just didn't fit together anymore.

This book is great for any kids struggling with not fitting in, feeling isolated, coping with new family arrangements. It shows how writing about things can help a person through those difficult times. Any person can write and can write about anything, it doesn't always start as "Dear Diary". I liked how this book starts out showing his letters being very short from the second grader who really licked his books to the longer more involved letters of the sixth grader.

The Three Pigs by David Wisener

Wiesner, David. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion Books.

The three pigs begin by searching for something to build their homes with. The wolf comes and huffs and puffs and blows down their house, but instead of eating the pigs, the pigs fly off the page and into other stories. The pigs meet the cat and the fiddle, see the cow jump over the moon, dish and spoon and a dragon. When they are ready to go home they use the page they flew off of as a paper airplane to go back and they all live together. Instead of wolf stew, they eat alphabet soup.
This story won the Caldecott Medal in 2002 for the brilliant artwork. The colorful, detailed art is one of my favorite parts of the book. It seems with each re-reading, I notice another detail in the illustrations. The book is good for middle grades and would be great for inspiring students to write their own “fractured fairy tales”. Additionally, it might be fun to have them write the story from the perspective of the wolf to help them learn about point of view.