Abe Lincoln at Last! Magic Tree House Series #47

Written by: Mary Pope Osborne

Illustrated by: Sal Murdocca

Age Level: 6+

Themes:

Adventure, Government Structure, Fictional Biography

Summary:

Annie and Jack are in search of the third item which will help them bring Penny back. The next item they must find must come from President Lincoln. They travel back in time to when President Lincoln was in office. They meet Tad and Willie along the way and form friendships. They travel even farther back in time and meet Sam, who promises to take them to meet Lincoln. After helping Sam, they travel to the time when Lincoln was president and finally meet the President. It runs out Sam was the president and they have already received their gift from Lincoln. 

Pre-Reading Activity:

Students will complete a graphic organizer of the parts of government.

Post-Reading Activity:

Students will use the graphic organizer to write an essay of the parts of the US government, Students will write a one page paper on the parts of the government.

About the Author:

MARY POPE OSBORNE is the author of the New York Times number one bestselling Magic Tree House series. She and her husband, writer Will Osborne (author of Magic Tree House: The Musical), live in northwestern Connecticut with their three dogs. Ms. Osborne is also the coauthor of the companion Magic Tree House Fact Trackers series with Will, and with her sister, Natalie Pope Boyce.

SAL MURDOCCA has illustrated more than 200 children's trade and text books. He is also a librettist for children's opera, a video artist, an avid runner, hiker, and bicyclist, and a teacher of children's illustration at the Parsons School of Design. Sal lives and works in New York with his wife, Nancy.

From: Amazon.com

Reflection:

This is a great book for kids to read because they are entertained and captivated by the story while gaining insight into historical facts. It is a great way to get kids interested in history. There is also another Tree House Series  book which mirrors this book in an autobiography of Abe Lincoln.  

Peaceful Pieces

Written by: Anna Grossnickle Hines

Grade Level: 1-5

Themes:
Peace, understanding, tolerance and friendship

Summary:

This book was written over a period of months and inspired by all of Anna's friends. This book shows all different perspectives, for instance the story of the father who came back from war a changed man. Children will be fascinated by the illustrations showing the intricate stitching, bold colors, and poignant imagery. This book is a collection of poems about peace. The illustrations are made of homemade quilts. Quilts representing peace at home, to peace on the world wide scale, to peace in oneself. Pondering the meaning of peace and all of its nature this book compels us to discover and try to find peace ourselves.

Pre-Reading Activity:

What is a poem? Have you ever read one? Have you ever written a poem. What does it look like?

Post-Reading Activity:

Have the students write a poem about friendship or peace. Make a quilt of the final products to be displayed in the classroom.

About the author:

Anna Grossnickle Hines started drawing as a little girl, and as early as 1st grade was getting recognized for her drawings by her teachers. She recalls telling her mother that she wanted to write children's books when she grew up, and her mother telling her that if that is what she really wanted to do she should persue it.

Reflection:

This was a wonderful book which would be a great addition to a lesson on poetry or peace. It is very well written so students will engage in it. The illustrations are beautiful and captivating. A great addition to any classroom library.

Feathers For Lunch

Written by: Lois Ehlert

Ages Level: Preschool-Grade 2

Themes: Exploration, Perseverance, Different types of birds, Cats

Summary:

The house cat got out and is trying very hard to get a bird to eat. The birds know he is coming and keep getting away. The cat keeps trying over and over, but all he gets are feathers. The end of the book includes a guide to all the birds included in the book. 

Pre-Reading Activity:
Discuss different types of birds the students know. What do you know about this bird? Where does it live? Have you seen it around your house?

Post-Reading Activity:
Pick a bird from the back of the book and do some research about it. Write a research essay about this bird and include: where it lives, what it eats, how big it gets and a picture. The essay should be 3-5 paragraphs.

About the Author:

LOIS EHLERT has created many picture books, including Leaf Man, Pie in the Sky, In My World, Growing Vegetable Soup, Planting a Rainbow, and the bestselling Waiting for Wings. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

From Amazon.com

Reflection:

This is a great book with excellent illustrations. The colors and layout are so inviting to students. The story is interesting to students and they want to see if the cat ever gets a bird. It is a nice example of how the cat does not give up even though he keeps failing! The collection of birds in the back of the book is an excellent reference for students to use.

Tough Boris

Written by: Mem Fox

Illustrated by: Kathryn Brown

Themes: Everyone has feelings, crying is ok

Age Level: 4+
Summary: 
This is a simple story which tells about how tough and brave pirates are. Until Tough Boris' parrot dies, and he cries. Pirates cry and so does everyone. Sweet story to show kids that it is alright to cry.

Pre-Reading Activity:

Talk about how you would describe a Pirate. Write the words in your journal. Have the students share the list and write this list on the board.

Post:Reading Activity:
Complete a character web of Tough Boris. Compare and contrast, using a Venn diagram,  the list we made as a class to the character web of Tough Boris. Write an essay using the Venn diagram.

About the Author:

MEM FOX is the author of many acclaimed books, including Possum Magic, Koala Lou, Time for Bed, and, for adults, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. She lives in Adelaide, Australia.

From: Amazon.com

Reflection:
This is a sweet book which any child can relate to. It contrasts the stereotypical pirate behavior to the sad pirate in the book. It is a nice book to draw from using the characteristics of pirates and how this book shows another side.

Nobody Knew What to Do: A Story about Bullying

Written by: Becky Ray McCain

Illustrated by: Todd Leonardo

Age Level: 7-9
Grade Level: 2-4

Theme: Trust an adult, Help friends

Summary:
When Ray gets bullied in school, a classmate watches but doesn't know how to stop it. Ray didn't show up to school and the bullies were proud of themselves. The classmate decides to tell the teacher about Ray getting bullied. The teacher took action and the bullies were sent to the principal and Ray was protected from the bullies. 

Pre-Reading Activity:
Write down a time when you have seen someone being bullied. What did you do? What could you have done?

Post Reading Activity:
Act out the scene of telling a bully to stop. Practice telling a teacher someone is being bullied. Write down in your journal 4 things you can do when you see someone being bullied.

Reflection:
I think this is a wonderful book to use during a lesson on bullying. Sometimes kids don't know they can stand up for themselves and friends. This gives students the information that they can go to an adult and this will help. I will use this in my classroom.

Not Norman: A Goldfish Story

Written by: Kelly Bennett

Illustrated by: Noah Z. Jones

Age level: 4+

Themes: Friendship, Don't judge

Summary:

When the boy gets Norman, the goldfish as a present, it wasn't the pet he wanted. He kept thinking about how he wanted a different kind of pet that would run and play. Eventually, he decides that Norman is a wonderful pet and he grows to love him.

Pre-Reading:

Discuss: Have you ever received a gift you didn't like? How did you react? What did you do with the gift? Did you eventually grow to love it?

Post-Reading:

Draw a picture of your pet or favorite stuffed animal or toy. Write a sentence about what you like to do most with it.

About the Author:

Kelly Bennett writes for children--both fiction and non-fiction--mostly picture books. A native of California, Kelly graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 1976. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College.

"I write what I know about--friendship, pets, family life, adventure," says Kelly, "But I also write about things I want to know about. While I'm writing, every story is a mystery--a mystery waiting to be solved. And who doesn't love a good mystery?" Sometimes, the real mystery is what name will Kelly use on this book? Her bylines include: Kelly Goldman, Kelly Goldman Bennett, Patty McAndrews, Kate Donelly, and Jill Max, the pseudonym used for work co-written with Ronnie Davidson. (For more about "Jill Max" go to www.jillmax.com.)

Kelly divides her time between Port of Spain, Trinidad; Westhampton Beach, New York; and Houston, Texas.

From: Amazon.com

Reflection:

I found this book and fell in love with it. I brought it home and my kids loved it. I brought it to my classroom and the kids loved it. They like to talk about pets and can relate to getting a gift they did not want. The repeating of Not Norman through out the book is fun for the kids. The happy ending of the boy loving Norman is delightful for all!

Cora Cooks Pancit

Written by: Dorina K, Lazo Gilmore

Illustrated by: Kristi Valiant

Themes: Helping, Family, Cooking, Growing up, Independence

Summary:

Cora wants to help her mom, but always gets the kid jobs. When her siblings are all out, her mom asks her to help make her favorite dish, pancit, a Filipino noodle dish. She gets to do the grown-up jobs of shredding chicken and stirring the noodles in the pot. She is so excited to hear what everyone thinks of her cooking!

Pre-Reading Activity:

Have a discussion about things the students wish they could do at home. Talk about how some things are dangerous and kids can't do them. Show pictures of dangerous things that only adults can do and have the students talk about why it would be unsafe for kids to do. Examples: fire, cooking on stove, swimming alone, driving!

Post-Reading Activity:

Students will list the ways they help out at home. They can write a sentence and then illustrate with a picture of what they wrote. These papers will be displayed around the room.

About the Author:

Dorina Lazo Gilmore grew up in a Filipino-Italian family in the kitchen with her mama, aunties and grandmas. She loves to create healthy recipes and share stories in the kitchen with her friends and daughters. Dorina has a B.A. in English and Journalism and is completing an M.F.A. degree in Children s Literature at Hollins University. She is also the author of two other children s books, Children of the San Joaquin Valley and Stone Soup: A Hmong Girl s Journey to the United States. Dorina is originally from Chicago and lives with her husband and two daughters in Fresno, California.

Reflection:

This is a lovely book about families that all children can identify with. Wanting to help out, and then waiting to hear everyones reaction to what one did is a universal theme. Wanting to be grown up enough for big-kid jobs is a theme all kids can relate to. I think this is a nice way to bring in another culture into the classroom, while identifying all the similarities we all share.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

Written and Illustrated by: Mo Willems

Age Level: Preschool- Grade 1

Themes: 

Communication, Family, Neighborhood

Summary:

Pre-Reading Activity:
Have students bring in their favorite stuffed animal or blanket they adore. Students will use it for show and tell. Students will be encouraged to tell why they love it, where they got it, and/or how long they have had it. For students who have difficulty speaking in front of the class, or who may not be able to speak, have the parents supply this information so the teacher could help share.

Post-Reading Activity:

After reading the book, the students will make a class book about things they could not do when they were younger and things they can now do.
Students will be given 2 papers with these sentences on the bottom, allowing for illustrations to be drawn by the students.

When I was little, I could't: ___________________
Now I am big and I can ________________________

The papers will be collected an put together to make a class book.

Reflection:

This is a silly story kids love! It is funny to hear kids try to tell the dad he forgot Knuffle when he can't understand Trixie.

About the Author:

A three-time Caldecott Honor winner for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, Mo Willems has also won two Geisel Medals for There is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside? And his books are perennial New York Times bestsellers. Before he turned to children's books, Mo was a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards. Mo lives with his family in Massachusetts.
From: Amazon.com

Mmm, Cookies!

Written by: Robert Munsch

Illustrated by: Michael Martchenko

Age level: 4+

Theme: Giving

Summary:

This is a silly story about a boy who makes cookies out of playdough and tricks his parents, teacher and friends into taking a bite. The story is repetitive in nature which makes it predictable and easy to read. The illustrations are funny to look at as the characters turn from happy to bite the cookie, to being sick from tasting the playdough. 

Pre-Reading Activity:

Students will discuss the book cover. Why does Christopher look so happy? Why does his dad look like he is going to get sick? What kind of expression does his mom have?

Post-Reading Activity:

Have students in stations:

~Students will use playdough to make their own silly cookies, adding glitter and other art materials to decorate them.

~Students will make real cookies to enjoy.

~Students will listen to the story on tape read by the author.

~Students will sequence the story using pictures.

Reflection:

Robert Munsch stories are so fun to read to pre-schoolers! When I was teaching preschool, I would have a whole unit on Robert Munsch. His stories delighted every time with humor and silliness that kids just love. The other benefit is that he reads many of his books and this is so enjoyable. He can make his stories even better when he rads them! I just love this book and will use it in my classroom in the future!

About the Author:

Biography

Robert Munsch is the author of more than 25 books for children including The Paper Bag Princes and Stephanie's Ponytail. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied to be a Jesuit priest before deciding to work with children instead. He taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centers while he earned an MA in Early Childhood Education. In 1975, Munsch and his wife, Ann, moved to Guelph, Ontario. The Munschs have three children: Julie, Andrew, and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!).

From: Amazon.com

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Written by Don and Audrey Wood

Illustrated by: Don Wood

Theme: Sharing

Ages: 5+
Themes: Problem-Solving, Sharing

Summary:

The little mouse has a beautiful strawberry he has brought home. The author "speaks" to him about how the bear is coming and really wants the strawberry. After much convincing, the mouse shares the strawberry with the author, keeping it safe from the bear.

Pre-Reading Activity:
Have the students look at the cover of the book. Discuss what they think the story will be about. What do you think the mouse is going to do? What do you think will happen. The students will make predictions of what they think will happen in the book,

Post-Reading Activity:
This is a fun book to act out. Have the students be the mouse with the strawberry and have one child put a disguise on it, or try to hide it. It would be a hands-on creative lesson that kids would enjoy and love the book even more.

About the authors:

Audrey Wood started her career with Child's Play, and is now one of this country's best-known authors for children. Often, she works with her husband, Don, as the illustrator, and their recent books are published by Simon & Schuster and HBJ. Audrey and Don live with their son Bruce in Santa Barbara, CA.

From: Amazon.com

Reflection:

This is a much loved favorite of my children. We must have read this book thousands of times! The silly theme and the trickery involved kept my children amused every time. I will definitely bring this into the classroom to enhance a theme about sharing or helping friends.

A Friend Like Simon

Witten by: Kate Gaynor

Illustrated by: Caitriona Sweeney

Age level: 6-9

Grade level: 1-3
Theme: Friendship, Acceptance

Summary:

A child with autism, Simon,  joins a mainstream classroom. Many children can find it difficult to understand and cope with a student who is somewhat different. This story encourages children to be aware of and patient with differences in others. Emphasis is placed on appreciating the positive contributions that Simon can make to the group. This book is a Moonbeam children's book award winner in 2009.

Themes:

Acceptance

Belonging

Appreciating Differences

About the Author:

Kate Gaynor is the author of 11 children’s books which address the issues of children with special educational needs, or health and social problems. Karen is the managing director of Special Stories Publishing and began work on the ‘Special Stories’ series in 2005, drawing on the personal experiences of friends, relatives and healthcare professionals. Kate is an English and Sociology graduate of University College Dublin.

Pre-reading activity

~ What makes a good friend? (5 minutes)

Make a list on the board

~Ask the students if they each have a good friend.

~Tell them that you will read a list of things that a friend may do and they will need to decide if it describes a good friend or a bad friend. Tell them that if the action describes a good friend, they should put their thumbs pointed up, and if the action describes a bad friend, they should put their thumbs pointed down. Have them practice doing both motions (without talking!) before you begin.

Then, list the following actions and have the students decide whether the action would be done by a good friend or a bad friend.

~Someone asks you to cheat on a test

~Someone hits you

~You tell someone a secret and they tell the whole class

~Someone shares their new toy with you

~Someone invites you to play a game with them

~Someone doesn’t like you, so they tell the whole class not to like you either

~Someone tattles on you when you weren’t doing anything wrong

~Someone helps you up after you’ve fallen down

~Someone calls you a mean name

~Someone invites you to come over to their house to play

~Someone takes your pencil without asking first

~Someone tells the class something about you that isn’t true

~Someone laughs at your joke

~Someone tries to look at your test in order to cheat

Afterwards, explain that in order to get a good friend, we have to be good friends ourselves.

Q. What we can do that would show that we are good friends? A. share, listen, help them out, give them gifts, encourage them, etc.

Post reading activity:

Recipe for being a good friend – work together with a partner and write a recipe for being a good friend.

Example:

Ingredients: Kindness, friendly, nice, sweet, honest, funny, etc....

Mix together for: fun, friendship, and good times

Blend in: music, activities, walks, good stories

Follow up: Have students take the recipe and write a 3 paragraph essay on what it takes to be a good friend.

What does the President do?

Written by David J. Jakubiak

Ages: 8+

Grades: 3-5
Themes: US Government, President Obama

Summary:
This book is a factual book which gives information about Barack Obama and his job as president. It explains the electoral college and the election process. The author describes the duties of the president, including how the president works with other world leaders to solve problems. There is a description of Cabinet and Congress. A tour of the White House is given with details of all the rooms in the house.

Pre-Reading Activity:
Ask the students to fill out a K-W-L chart about the US government.

Post-Reading Activity:

Revisit the K-W-L chart and fill in what the students learned. Also, have them come up with questions that they still have about the government they would like to learn. Students could research these questions to find the answers in different books or online.

About the Author:

"I am a content strategist, a writer, a husband, a father, a gardener, a brewer, and a lover of food.

My goal is to capture voices in stories that are true to those who tell them, and to offer readers experiences when they take in my words. I work each day to be a better husband and dad. I weed, I compost, I brew, and I cook." 

taken from: http://www.davidjakubiak.com/about-me/

Reflection:

I like this book and would use it in the classroom. I think it provides good explanations of the parts of the United States government. It has great photos and is layed out in a way which is visually appealing to children. It is divided into different topics which would make it easy for students to use as a reference. This author has written other informative books which would be good references for any classroom.

Level Up

Written by: Gene Luen Yang

Illustrated by: Thien Pham

Ages: Middle School
Theme: Family wishes versus individual goals

Summary:

Dennis Ouyang, a Chinese kid growing up in America, is obsessed with video games. He fights with his father, who wants him to grow up to be a doctor. When Dennis' father dies of stomach cancer, Dennis flunks out of college and unexpectedly receives several signs from his father to study hard. These signs are in the form of a group of angels who appear on his doorstep and announce they are there to help him fulfill his destiny: to be a gastroenterologist. Dennis recognizes the angels as ones from a greeting card his father had given him. The angels are helpful to Dennis. They get him reenrolled in college and push him until he graduates and is admitted into medical school. Once Dennis is in medical school, he begins to realize his destiny is not what he wants from life. He struggles between what is expected of him and what he wants. He finally settles his struggle by becoming a surgeon because it utilizes his video gaming skills.

Pre-Reading Activity:

Have the students write a journal entry answering what is more important....doing what you want to do in life or fulfilling your parents dreams for you?

Post Reading Activity:

Think about your hobby. Write about how this hobby can turn into a career. In this story, Dennis took his gaming skills and utilized them in his surgeon skills. What are your hobbies and how can they be used for your career in the future? Write a 3-5 paragraph essay.

Reflection:

This was my introduction to graphic novels and I really liked how this was a fast read with a lot of pictures. The story was a good one, but became too detailed  in medical information, which could be difficult for middle schoolers to understand. It was a good story of the conflict students can have about their career goals versus what their family wants for them. Also, the debate between what a hobby is and when it becomes an obsession would be a fun activity to do with middle-schoolers.

About the author:

Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the 5th grade. In 1997, he received the Xeric Grant for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comic works as an adult. He has since written and drawn a number of titles. His 2006 book, American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award. Gene currently writes the graphic novel continuation of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

 From Wikipedia

Dare

Written by: Erin Frankel

Illustrated by: Paula Heaphy

Reading Level: Grades 2-3

Interest level: Ages 5-9

Theme: Standing up for one self and others. 

Summary:

Jayla feels threatened by her classmate Sam, who has bullied her in the past.  Sam is now bullying Jayla’s friend Luisa, and she enlists Jayla to participate. Jalya reluctantly joins in but soon realizes it is wrong. With the help of caring adults and friends, Jayla comes to sympathize with Luisa and finds the courage to dare to stand up to Sam and put an end to the bullying.

Pre-Reading Activity:

Ask students to think of a time when they saw someone being bullied. What did you do? What could you have done differently if you didn't help? Have them draw a picture of helping a friend being bullied.

Post-Reading Activity:

Complete a graphic organizer listing all the ways to help a person being bullied. Some ideas are: tell an adult, stand up with them, get other friends to help, tell them to stand up for themselves. Use the graphic organizer to write an essay of how to stand up to a bully. 

About the author:

Erin Frankel has an M.A. in English education and is passionate about teaching and writing. She taught ESL in Alabama before her recent move to Madrid, Spain, with her husband and three daughters. Erin knows firsthand what it feels like to be bullied, and she hopes her stories will help bring smiles back to children who have been involved in bullying. In her free time, Erin loves hiking in the Spanish mountains and kayaking in her hometown of Mays Landing, New Jersey.

Reflection:

I strongly feel this book, along with the other 2 in this series would benefit every classroom. It does a great job of bringing out the issues and reasons for bullying. It explores these characters and the feelings in depth. Also, it tells the way in which to deal with the problem, giving students the skills to end bullying. 

Cosmic Carol Adventures in Color

Written by Lawrence Pitonza

Ages: 5-8

Theme:

Acceptance, Everyday Heros

Summary:

Cosmic Carol is a Dream Glider who is sent to earth by her dad, Father Star, to test if she is ready to use her magical skills. When she doesn't listen to him, he punishes her, and she loses her ability to see color. While on Earth, she meets Bailey and Brittany. She learns about friendship and families. She is successful because of her disability and saves the day. 

The message is that anyone can be a hero and successful, despite a having a disability.

Pre-Reading Activity:

Have students write in their journal what they think it would be like to not be able to see colors. Discuss their ideas.

Post-Reading Activity:

Work in groups to make a time-line of the events in the story. Have the students re-write the story in their own words. They can illustrate the pages. 

About the author:

Lawrence Pitonza has a B.A. in Visual Arts from Purchase College. In working with high profile A-listersin the movie industry in Hollywood, he has done photo shoots, commercials, special effects and prosthetics, costume and mask design, wig creations, and set and prop fabrications. Cosmic Carol is his first children's book. He lives in Metropolitan New York.

Reflection: 

The story in this book is a great story. While it has nice illustrations, it is very wordy. I think it could be shortened and keep the integrity of the story and draw more kids in. It would be a great story for many kids to read.