Erin's Reading Blog

  Title: Leaves Author: Janet Lawler illustrator: Lindsay Dale-Scott Paper engineered by: Yoojin Kim Genre: informational nonfiction and paper engineered   Teacher evaluation: this is a very fun book to read. it is also very informative about what leaves are and how they add to our environment. this is a great book to read in the classroom, and it helps for us to show our students facts with it still being fun.  Summary: A leaf does many things even if it seems simple. It has chlorophyll. When fall comes the leaves change colors. With less daylight the colors change. Critters hide in the leaves, and they also eat the leaves. Leaves rustle while animals run over them for food. Chipmunks go all over the leaves getting food for winter. Mushrooms come on the floor from leaf covered locations. Deer eat mushrooms because they are sometimes poisonous. They use leaves to burrow. When animals go into their deep winter sleep they get cozy with leaves, and the leaves change colors....

Title: If I Built a School Author and Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen Genre: fantasy and Science Fiction Awards: Bluebonnet Award Teacher evaluation: I would read this book in the classroom. Not for a lesson, but just because it is very funny and entertaining. It is important for us to read books like this because it gives the children more things to imagine.  Summary: Jack thought the playground was plain and the school was boring, and he had a plan. It would have puppies at your feet, and a zoo to greet you. It would have a tube where you would get right to the room. The rooms would be made of towers. and the roofs who open up. You would also write in the air. You would have hover desks that did not touch the ground. There would be holograms that would have the guests. the library would come to life. In the gym there would be a pool with submarines a bounce house, rock wall and sky diving wind tunnels. There is a robot chef to make whatever you want. The playground has ziplines, twi...

Title: Ways to Make Sunshine Author: Renee Watson Illustrator: Nina Mata Genre: Realistic fiction Awards: Bluebonnet Teacher evaluation: This is a good book to read as a class or alone. It is very easy to read, and it has a great story line. the main character is a great friend who is very understanding.   Summary: Ryan and her family moved to a new home. Her dad lost his at the post office, and his new job doesn't make him much money. Ryan misses her old house, and she is not happy about all the changes that are happening. She says her house is smaller than a bungalow, and that there are no stairs for her to play on. She did not change school, so she has a lot of her old friends. They sold one of their cars, and are having a lot of struggles financially, but Ryan learns how to make sunshine out of the hardships that she is going through. Ryan is very nice to anyone, and she ends up being the hero at the end of the story by 

Title: The Crossover Author: Kwame Alexander Genre: realistic fiction Awards: Coretta Scott King Award and a Newbery Award Teacher Evaluation: This is a great read that is written in poems, so it is good when teaching poetry lessons. I would use this book and read excerpts in the book. It is a really nice book with a lot of details. It is also Hard to read because it is a bit sad towards the end. It will get the students thinking.   Summary: Josh is narrating his day through his basketball Game. He calls himself Josh Bell, but he is called Filthy McNasty. He is tall and wants to be a basketball star. His dad has a favorite Jazz Artist Horace Silver. Josh is not interested in his work, so his dad dedicated a song to Filthy McNasty. Josh did not like the nickname, but when he started doing very good at basketball, he began liking it. Josh has a twin who goes by JB. He likes to bet. Their dad was a professional player, and Josh wants to know if Dad misses playing. Dad really like...

Title: Sarah, Plain and Tall Author: Patricia MacLachlan Genre: Historical Fiction Awards: Newbery Award winner Teacher Evaluation: I love this story. It was very interesting and a pretty easy read for 5th-6th graders. I think it is a great book to do a read aloud with in class, but it also has an interesting message since they found Sarah through an Ad in the newspaper. I would read it but also make a lesson about life and how to be truly happy out of the lesson.  Summary: This story is about a Family searching for their mom. They live in the country with their father. They are very isolated because their neighbors are so far away by wagon. Anna and Caleb's mother died when giving birth to Caleb. Caleb always asks Anna about having a mom and Anna feels so bad when that happens. Their dad then puts an ad in the newspaper looking for a mom. A woman from Maine replies. Sarah loves Maine but she wants a home of her own. Anna Caleb and her father write to Sarah and she replies saying t...

Title: The Giver Author: Lois Lowry Genre: Fantasy and science fiction Awards: Newbery award Teacher Evaluation: This is a great book. It could definitely not be read in elementary school because they will probably not be able to fully comprehend it. When i first read this book, it was in 6th grade, so if I teach 6th grade then I would probably read this book. It also has a movie that you can watch towards the end of the book.  Summary: The Giver is about Jonas a boy who lives in a society that has no war, fear, pain or hate. Each family has two children, and they are born from someone else. The person who births them is a full-time pregnant person. everyone functions as a society with jobs that are assigned to them. Jonas lived with his mother and father. Jonas did not care what job he was going to have. His society is black and white because color represented pain. They get assigned jobs at 12 and Jonas got assigned the Giver. The giver gets memories from the past good and bad. W...

Title: Fry Bread Author: Kevin Noble Maillard Illustrator: Juana Martinez- Neal Genre: Historical Nonfiction, multicultural Teacher Evaluation: This is a great book and it has such great explanation explaining the Native American culture, and their food. The illustrator I have seen images from before and she does a great job. I really enjoy this book, and it could be read when you are in the classroom learning about America's history, because Native Americans are an important part of America's history.  Summary: Fry Bread is a Native American story. It is a food made of flour, salt, water, cornmeal, baking powder, milk and sometimes sugar. It is mixed all together. It is shaped by hands in any shape. They then fry it in oil. It makes a loud sound. It is a golden brown and warm. It is flavor which brings people together. It is when you can spend time with your family. while making and eating it. It is also art. It has history of how it evolved. It is from all over the place in A...

Title: What If We Were All the Same Author: C.M. Harris Illustrator: Eric Everett Genre: Multicultural, informational nonfiction Teacher Evaluation: This is an amazing book that shows all different types of people and why it is so important that we are all different. This is a great book for us to read in the classroom because everyone that is in your classroom will be different. We should tell everyone and explain how everyone is different and why that is special. It is a great book that we can read.  Summary: what if everyone's houses cars and stars were all the same, if we only had beets. All animals are different with different characteristics. Differences is what makes us fun. Everyone has different characteristics. We can know and love everyone who is unique. It is good, exciting and different abilities. everyone can make new friends. different is beautiful while the same would be lame, everyone is beautiful and different. 

Title: La Princesa And The Pea Author: Susan Middleton Elya Illustrated by: Juana Martinez-Neal genre: Fantasy, multicultural Teacher evaluation: This is a great book with beautiful images. It uses English and Spanish to complete the story. It is a good story, but is a deceiving story. It sort of allows lying to happen, so I probably would not read it in my classroom. I would also consider reading a different version of this book because there are multiple versions, but I would need a better version without so much deceit.  Summary: There was a prince and he wanted a wife. But a specific wife. The prince was lonely, and his mom needed him to be married. A maiden moved into the castle and the prince fell for her. He knew she was the one. His mother had to test her. She got a pea fit for a queen. She came in with 20 mattresses for the maiden to choose from they were very different. There were 20 mattresses with 1 pea down below. The prince practiced i dos. The girl did not like ...

Title: A Girl Named Rosita Author: Anika Aldamuy Denise Illustrated by: Leo Espinosa Genre: Realistic nonfiction; based off a true story,  Teacher evaluation: This is a beautiful book with an amazing story. It is about a woman who overcame a lot. It is a great book to read because sometimes students do not understand why others are different and we can read this book to be able to understand more. This is a really good book to be able to read with the class especially during Spanish Heritage Month.   Summary: This book is about Rita Moreno she is an actor, dancer, and singer. She was born in Puerto Rico. She loved to dance all around and sing everywhere. Her mom then told her they are moving, without "Fransisco" her baby brother. She waves goodbye to her baby brother as she leaves on a boat. After days of a hard trip, she sees New York, the Statue of Liberty. Rosita is confused where the flowers are, but she dreams she is home. Rosita then cries because she misses home. S...

Title: Binny's Diwali Author: Thrity Umrigar Illustrator: Nidhi Chanani Genre: Realistic fiction Teacher evaluation: I think this is a great book if we are learning about India and their religion, but you do have to be careful talking about religion in school. It could be used to teach students new things about their classmates and friends. This is a really great book with very detailed images to see the clothing, food and culture.   Summary: Binny was excited because she was teaching her class about Diwali, her favorite holiday. She got all ready in her traditional Indian clothing. everyone would shop for diwali, and exchange gifts. She ran downstairs for breakfast. When Binny got to school ready to share she got scared and shy. Her teacher got up to try to help her and calm her down. She then told the class you need, oil lamps to guide luck home. It marks goodness. it is a festival of lights. with large fireworks and sparklers. The class used an oil lamp. She said on Diwali ...

Title: I love Boba Author: Katrine Liu Illustrator: Dhidit Prayoga genre: Informational nonfiction, multicultural Teacher evaluation: This is a great book to learn about something from another culture. It talks all about boba, and you could bring the popping bubbles for the class to try. you can also relate it to a geography lesson when learning about Taiwan.  Summary: Boba was created in Taiwan. there are many different ways to call boba, but its always delicious. They have shiny tapioca pearls. They have juice soaked into them. You have to drink it will a big staw. They are very chewy. When theyre not cooked they are soft. It is classic with Milk, but you can have other flavors as well. The girl dreams of Gluten free bba. It is amazing, we should try it. 

      Title: Amina's Voice Author: Hena Khan Genre: Realistic Nonfiction, multicultural Awards: Bluebonnet Award Winner Grade level: 5-8 grade Teacher Evaluation: This is a very good book for a classroom to read because it really helps to expand what they know about all of their classmates. It can also be used when teaching a lesson in Geography of South Korea, or Pakistan. It is very important for students to know the cultures of others, because it is hard for them to understand why others are different from them.  Summary: Amina just started school with her bestie Soojin. They are beginning 6th grade. Amina's dad is from Pakistan and her and her older brother were born in America. She loves to sign and play piano. Soojin is from South Korea, and her family moved to Greendale. Her family owns a deli in downtown. And Soojin is becoming an American citizen. Emily is one of Amina and Soojin's classmates. She is always being mean to the friend. Amina does not trust Emil...

  Title: The Snowy Day Author: Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats Genre: realistic fiction Grade level: k-5 awards: Caldecott award winner Teacher Evaluation: This is a great book to read during winter at school. While we do not have much snow. We could all imagine we lived somewhere snowy, and we could make up a fun game to play, or an activity in the classroom. We could also learn about snow in science class, and then we could watch some cool videos about that and read the story.  Summary: Peter woke up on day, and he saw everything covered in snow! He put on his snowsuit, and he went outside to see the snow piled up everywhere. He walked around watching the marks that his feet left. He grabbed a stick and started smacking a snow-covered tree. The snow fell right onto his head. He also made a snowman and snow angels. He went up a large pile of snow, and he slid allll the way down. He went back inside to warm up. And while he slept, he dreamt that the snow was all g...

title: Babymoon Author: Hayley Barrett Illustrated by: Juana Martinez-Neal Genre: Realistic Fiction Grade levels: k-5  Teacher Evaluation: This is an amazing story to communicate with students especially if one of their families has a new edition. It is a very special book explaining the joys of the first days with your new baby. I really like this book to be read, so that the student with a new sibling does not feel any less special with a new baby.  Summary: The book is about the first couple of days when you just arrive home with your baby. They are enjoying the happy moments where they are just settled in. The new baby is settling in the quiet home. they are reading stories and playin games, admiring everything the baby does. They share rest and bath time, they have so many things they are trying to learn. 

Title: We Are Water Protectors Author: Carole Lindstrom Illustrator: Michaela Goade Genre: fantasy or science fiction.  grade level: 2nd- 6th Teacher Evaluation: The story is about a pipeline that is now poisoning the water in Dakota. The book is a clean way to explain the harmful actions that occur on the Earth, in a science class. So it would be a good idea to use this book because it tells it in a "happier" way.  Summary: Water is the first medicine, The grandma is saying we are nourished by water, and it is sacred. We stand with songs; the river goes through their veins. They think a snake will poison everything in its path. They thought it wouldn't come for many years, but it arrived. They must take the snake away from their village. They want to stand against the black snake. They will fight for the animals, and nature. The snake makes them cry. They stand with their songs, and their spirits are there. 

  Title: In Plain Sight Author: Richard Jackson Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney Genre: Realistic Fiction Awards: Coretta Scott King Grade level: 1-4  Teacher Evaluation: This is a great book to read, but I am not sure how it could be used in the classroom. It could be used for a fun adventure in the classroom, or on the playground for a scavenger hunt.  Summary: Sophie lives with her parents, and grandpa. He watches Sophie all the time through the window. After school she looks in and talks to her grandpa. Her grandpa each day gives her a scavenger hunt. First a paper clip, then a rubber band, a drinking straw, his favorite painting brush, a lemon drop. Each time it is in plain sight. Grandpa is sleeping and Sophie has a plan. She then goes quietly and Sophie is hiding in his curtain. And her grandpa sees her like always.