Karen's Blog

Title of book: New Kid Author: Jerry Craft Awards: Newbery Genre: Graphic Novel Age group: 8-12 years old Summary: This book is about a middle school boy named Jordan Banks who instead of going to the school that he's zoned to, he goes to a private school known for its academics. Jordan then goes from being someone constantly picked on by his classmates, and all the troubles he goes through throughout his time at the new school, we see the type of character Jordan becomes.  Teacher Evaluation: I loved reading this book, I personally loved Jordan Banks character and the story felt very real considering these are problems that still happen today.

Title of the book: Where The Wild Things Are Author of the book: Maurice Sendak Genre: Children's literature/ fiction Awards: Caldecott Age group: 4-8 years old Summary: This book is about a little boy named Max who gets into some trouble and is sent to bed for misbehaving. Max in his dreams start going things his way and he finds himself being ruler of an island. But soon as everything is going his way he realizes its time to go back and he realizes he misses his home. Teacher Evaluation: I loved this book and not only the story behind it but as well as the book was made. The closer we got into Maxs imagination/ dream, The picture was bigger than the writing on the pages, but as soon as things turned reality, the word page would get bigger and the picture would take up less space than before. 

Title of the book: Let it Shine Author: Ashley Bryan Genre: Fiction Awards: Coretta Scott King 2008 Age group: 4-8 years old Summary: This book is about songs and all the colorful pictures in it allow the readers to grasp and enjoy reading the song better.  Teacher Evaluation: I think this is a great book for students who are learning to read and also brings attention to them by showing them that songs can be turned into books. I loved the pictures in this book I loved how much color it brought to the pages. 

Title of the book: Odette's Secrets Author: Maryann Macdonald Genre: Historical Fiction Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award 2014 Age group: 10-14 years old Summary: Odette is a Jewish girl living in Paris who is moved to the countryside during a very dangerous time and she is made to act like a normal girl out on the countryside even though she is full of secrets of her past life in Paris that she does not talk about.  Teacher Evaluation: Although I have not gotten through the whole book, I loved reading through the book and I think this is a very good book for people to read but for students of a little more of a mature age. This book is very good and has a meaningful story behind it. 

Title of the book: El Chupacabras Author: Adam Rubin Genre: Fiction/Picturebook Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award 2020 Age group: 4-8 years Summary: This book is about a girl named Carla who lives on a farm with her father, her father notices one night that a goat has disappeared off their farm. The next day they see the goat flat, it has been sucked dry! Supposedly, El Chupacabras is a very scary person, supposedly, but is he really? Teacher Evaluation: This book is a very good book for read aloud to read to my students. I loved how the book is about a scary scary Chupacabras but in reality isn't. I loved reading this book and I loved the meaning and lesson behind it. 

Title of the book: The Uglified Ducky Author: Willy Claflin Genre: Fiction Awards: Bluebonnet Award 2011 Age group: 4-8 years old Summary: This book is about a moose who wonders away from home and is mistaken as a baby duck. As he tries to do what ducklings do, the moose is very humiliated and embarrassed because he cannot do anything that the other ducks do. The moose ends up finding out his own characteristics that he can accomplish and finds his own form of skills and beauty. Teacher Evaluation: This book is such a cute read that I would definitely buy myself to keep in my classroom. I would read this book to my students as a read a loud. It has such a cute message behind it and I think students should learn from this book.

Title of the book: We Are Grateful Otsaliheliga Author: Tracy Sorell  Genre: Multicultural Awards: N/A Age group: 3-7 years old Summary: The Cherokee Tribe is grateful all year round especially when talking about what each season brings to the tribe. The world Ostaliheliga is a term used by the tribe to express their thankfulness/gratitude.  Teacher Evaluation:  This book was a very cute book and it shows students on one of the tribes that we introduce during school. I would definitely read this to my students and I love how it is a wonder book meaning that you could press a button and it'll read it to the class as well.   

Title of the book: Ming's Adventure in the Forbidden City Author: Jian Li Genre: Multicultural Awards: N/A Age group- 4-9 years old Summary: Xiao Ming loses his dad in the Forbidden City and is trying to look for him, along the way he finds many things and finds himself exploring the Dynasty. Teacher Evaluation: I loved reading this book I think it is a great book for students to read on other cultures and I loved the illustrations of the book. I would definitely read this to my class while were learning about cultures or even to touch up on the Qing Dynasty.  

Title of the book: Mango, Abuela, and Me Author: Meg Medina Genre: Multicultural Awards: 2016 Pura Belpré Author Award Honor Book                    2016 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor Book Age group:5-8 years old Summary: This story is about a young girls grandma who moves in with her and her parents house in the city. Her grandma does not speak Spanish so they are teaching each other Spanish and English. The little girl, Mia, gets a parrot and learns how to communicate better while using the parrot. Teacher Evaluation: I think this was a cute story about a hispanic household trying to communicate with each other while learning the other family members language, I would definitely read this to my students during an interactive read aloud. I also enjoyed how there was a button on the book that would read the book for you.   

Title of the book: The Crossing Author: Donna Jo Napoli Genre: Multicultural Awards: N/A Age group: 4-8 years old  Summary: This book is told from the point of view of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, Sacagawea's baby and it is over the adventures of Lewis and Clark.  Teacher Evaluation: I love this book and I would read it to my class during a read aloud. I definitely love how it is in the point of view of a child instead of an adult and that allows students to relate to the child instead of the adults during these adventures.   

Title of the book: My Sister Abby Author: Allison Barberi Genre: Multicultural Awards: N/A Age group: 4-8 years old Summary: This book is basically about a family adopting a child of another race and basically saying that even though they may not look alike, have the same skin color, or be the same race, they are sisters no matter what. The book talks a lot about having fun with your other sibling. Teacher Evaluation: I loved reading this book and I would read this book to my younger students as a read aloud because many may not have someone of a different race as their sister but it could be their cousin.   

Title of book: The Cloud Artist Author: Sherri Maret Genre: Multicultural Books Awards: Writers League of Texas Book Awards Age group: 4-9 years old Summary: Leona, a Choctaw girl, paints with clouds in the sky, the sky is her canvas, and she is invited to join the carnival and she must decide what kind of artist she wants to be.  Teacher Evaluation: I loved reading this book and I loved the tale behind it, this is something I actually would enjoy reading to my students during a read aloud.   

Title of book: How to Talk to an Autistic Kid Author: Daniel Stefanski Genre: Special Needs topic book Awards: N/A Age group: 9- all ages Summary:  Daniel Stefanski is a 14 year old boy with Autism and he answers some common questions on autistic people and how you should approach and handle situations.  Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher I really enjoyed reading this book because it provided super helpful information especially to teachers who may experience teaching to someone with Autism.   

Title of book: Big Nate: Payback Time Author: Lincoln Peirce Genre: Graphic Novel Awards: N/A Age group:8-12 years old Summary: Nate is a six grader who seems to get into some fun but unfortunately also gets into some trouble. He is a good kid who is going on adventures! Teacher Evaluation: I loved reading Big Nate series during my free time and would definitely have my students do the same. 

Title of the book: Alphabet Street Author: Jonathan Emmett Genre: Paper Engineered Book Awards: N/A Age group: 4-6 years old  Summary: This book is a perfect pop up book for kids to play with while learning their ABC's in a fun way. Teacher Evaluation: I would definitely provide this book for my students I loved reading it myself it was super fun to play with and I know they would enjoy it as well. 

Title of the book: Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker Author: Megan McDonald Genre: Audio Book Awards: N/A Age group: 6-10 years old Summary: This audio book is actually about Judy Moodys brother and his letter to the Jawbreaker supplier after he buys a Jawbreaker and it doesn't break his Jaw. He ends up trying many different things that don't actually say what they're going to do and ends up with a bunch of free things.  Teacher Evaluation: I would recommend this book for my students as a free read/listen just because it takes on another character in Judy Moodys house that maybe other students would like to read/listen to instead.   

Title of the book: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 1: Locker Hero Author: Rachel Renee Russell Genre: Audio Book Awards: N/A Age group: 9-13 years old Summary:   Max Crumbly is at a new school and at the school he is getting bullied. The bully is someone who bullies the entire school and Max Crumbly is trying his best to be the type of person the school needs to stop the bullying from continuing. Teacher Evaluation: Rachel Russell is actually one of my favorite authors growing up. She wrote the series Dork Diaries and that was one of my favorite series to read! I really recommend these type of books for students because it keeps them interested in books because of how the stories picture highschool, something they'll one day be in.   

Title of the book: Unstoppable Octobia May Author: Sharon G. Flake Genre: Audio Book Awards: N/A Age group: 8- 13 years old Summary: This book is about a girl named Octobia May who has a heart condition and who moves in with her Aunt. This gives her the freedom to do whatever she wants and she explores many things and realizes a little about her culture herself. Octobia may learns about racism and who is white "passing" and how communities tend to set these rules on their own people.  Teacher Evaluation: I really enjoyed listening to this book. I did not myself get to listen or read this before so I really enjoyed it. I believe it would be a perfect free read for my students and would definitely be something that I have in my classroom.   

Title of the book: Judy Moody Declares Independence Author: Megan McDonald Genre: Audio Book Awards: N/A Age group: 6-10 years old Summary: This audio book is basically about Judy Moody learning about the American Revolution and then deciding herself that she should be allowed to have more freedoms since she believes she herself is responsible. Teacher Evaluation: This series of books were actually my favorite to read so I was not surprised when they had it on audio as well. I believe this is such a good alternative for students who have a hard time grasping onto books or don't enjoy reading as much as others do. I would recommend this audio book to my students because although it is a fun read/listen, Judy Moody learns a lot about Independence and the students would learn things as well.   

Title of the book: Toby Alone Author: Timothee de Fombelle Genre: Audio Book Awards:N/A Age group: 8-13 years old Summary: This book is about a kid named Toby who is really tiny and lives in a tree. His father ends up finding out that the tree is alive and that their may be a world outside of living in the tree and the branches. Something occurs where Toby and his families lives are all at danger and he escapes the tree all alone.  Teacher Evaluation: I really enjoyed listening to this book but I read this book before. Its a good story and has a good plot and is told very well so I would love for my students to read this during a free read or maybe as a class.

 Title of the book: I Survived The Joplin Tornado, 2011 Author: Lauren Tarshis Genre:Historical Fiction Awards: N/A Age group: 7-12 years old  Summary: This book is told from 11 year old Dexter who joins Dr. Norman Rays storm chasing. He loves tornados and is excited to get to know more about them, but while he is doing so, the tornado switches directions and puts Dexters life in danger.  Teacher Evaluation: I loved reading this book and just like the other one in this series, this book is for students who want to know more about a historical event that took place but in a fun suspenseful way. I would have this book in a reading corner or somewhere in my classroom for students to access it. 

Title of the book: This is the Feast Author: Diane Z. Shore Genre: Historical Fiction Awards: N/A Age group: 4-8 years old Summary: This book is about the first Thanksgiving and the story of how Pilgrims came into the "New World" and what the Native Americans taught them and how they both shared cultures to teach each other new things. Teacher Evaluation: I liked reading this book because it has a lot of information over what happened when there were colonizers in America and how Native Americans shared their culture. 

 Title of the book: Hooray for Women! Author: Marcia Williams Genre: Historical Fiction Awards: N/A Age group: 7-12 years old Summary: This entire book is basically like a huge comic strip about the historical accomplishments of women! I loved reading this book because it was very informational about a different woman on each other page. It gives a summary of the important women in history and then talks about their lives and what they did to contribute to history.  Teacher Evaluation: I loved this book and the way it was organized! It was such a cute, fun, informational book and I would definitely use this book in my classroom for my students. I was thinking of a fun project where they could choose an important women in history and make a cute poster board project over that person. They could even use the information from the book help them. 

Title of the book: I Survived The Eruption of Mount St. Helens 1980 Author: Lauren Tarshis Genre: Historical Fiction Awards: N/A Age group: 7-10 years old Summary: This book is from the point of view of a 14 year old girl name Jessie Marlowe and she lives right by Mount St. Helens. Although this Mountain is a Volcano, it was told that it was not an active Volcano but in 1980, the Volcano erupted and left thousands of people in shock and danger. This book allows students who are interested in learning about this Historic Event have some more details about the situation.  Teacher Evaluation: This book would definitely be a book that either I would have my students read as a class when learning about Historical Fiction. I really enjoyed reading this book and it creates enough suspense and unfortunately real events that happened. 

Title of the book: In the Land of Milk and Honey Author: Joyce Carol Thomas Genre: Historical Fiction Awards: N/A Age group: 4-8 years old Summary: In this book, the author Joyce Carol Thomas is actually writing a story of what took place when she went to California with her family after World War II. Joyce Carol Thomas is explaining all the beautiful things she saw as she was on the way to California where there was freedom and opportunity.  Teacher Evaluation: I loved reading this book, not only did I enjoy the message behind the book but I also loved the illustrations by Floyd Cooper. In the book, everything is explained with such passion and everything is dramatized with how good it will be once Joyce and her family get to the 'Land of Milk and Honey.' I would enjoy reading this book to my students especially when talking about the aftermath of World War II.