Picture Book 15: Ox, House, Stick:

Author: Don Robb
Title: Ox, House, Stick:
Illustrator: Anne Smith
Genre: Informational Books
Sub-genre: History
Theme: Creating new language, keeping history
Primary and secondary characters:
Award(s):
Date of publication: June 1, 2007
Publishing company: Charlesbridge Company
Brief summary: This is a wonderful book that tells of the development of the alphabet and writing! It covers so much information that is broken down in such a way that it is easy to understand. The book touches on why it's important to write things down.

How you would use the book with students.: I would use this with students of all ages. I would use it to show the progression of the written letter from what used to be drawings! I could use this book to teach students the importance of writing things down to keep track of actual evens and when they occurred so future generations would know about the events.

Picture Book 14: The Creation

Author: James Weldon Johnson
Title: The Creation
Illustrator: Carla Golembe
Genre: Traditional Literature
Sub-genre: Religion
Theme: Different beliefs, the creation of the world
Primary and secondary characters: God
Award(s:
Date of publication: 1993
Publishing company: Little, Brown and Company
Brief summary: This book was originally written in 1927 but was completely redone in 1993 with new illustrations by Carla Golembe This is a children's story derived from the Biblical book of Genesis. This is one of the original tales of how the world was created, by whom, and why. The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous and has truly added a new angle to the story.

How you would use the book with students.: I could not use this book in a public school setting because it is a religious book but I would could use it in a private school setting. I would use this to begin telling younger students about the first story in the bible, the creation of the world.

Picture Book 13: Sparrow Girl

Author: Sara Pennypacker
Title: Sparrow Girl
Illustrator: Yoko Tanaka
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre:
Theme: Love for animals, the importance of all animals in the world,
Primary and secondary characters: Ming-Li
Award(s):
Date of publication:February 17, 2009
Publishing company: Hyperion Books
Brief summary: Ming-Li is a young girl who wishes to be a farmer, like so many where she lives. The problem is that no one takes her seriously. Everyone sees Ming-Li as a little girl who could not possibly help plow the fields or with any other tasks that a farmer must completely. But soon she will prove herself, her worth, and her wisdom!
How you would use the book with students.: This book is geared toward younger readers close to kindergarten or second grade. I would use this book to show my students the aspect of another culture. I would also use this book to show students that no matter how little they are, there are still many ways that they can help during a big probables!

Chapter Book 11: Diamond Willow

Author: Helen Frost
Title: Diamond Willow
Illustrator: None
Genre: Poetry
Sub-genre:
Theme: Friendship and family
Primary and secondary characters: Diamond, Roxy, and Willow
Award(s): 2009 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
2008 Mitten Award--Michigan Library Association
The Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry: 2009 Honor Book
2009 Winner of Best Books of Indiana, Children and Young Adult Book
2009 CCBC Choices List

Date of publication: 2008
Publishing company: Frances Foster Books
Brief summary: Willow is a young girl who lives in Alaska with few friends. She is smart and has a loving family and loves her sled dogs. She begs to take three of her sled dogs on a twelve mile trip to her grandparents and after much convincing, her parents allowed her to. Unseen events leads to Willow having to make hard decisions and discovering more about her life that change everything.

How you would use the book with students.: I would use this book to discuss different aspects of life such as sled dogs. This book is a great introduction to different social structures and the roles friends play in one's life.

Chapter Book 10: A Single Shard

Author: Linda Sue Park
Title: A Single Shard
Illustrator: None
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: Korean History
Theme: Achievement, Perseverance
Primary and secondary characters: Tree-ear, Crane-man, and Min.
Award(s): Newbery 2002
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature honorable mention
Date of publication: April 23, 2001
Publishing company: Clarion Books
Brief summary: A Single Shard presents a young character named Tree-ear who was orphaned at a very young age. He was shuffled around a bit until he met Crane-man, a homeless man who lived under a bridge. The older man and Tree-ear became very close while doing their best to survive. Tree-ear develops a fascination for pottery and after breaking a piece of Min's pottery, Tree-ear agrees to work for Min for free to pay for the broken pot. During his time he discovers just how hard the art of pottery is.

How you would use the book, with students.: This book would be great to introduce different culture and setting to students. I would also use it as an example to students that if they work hard, there is not much they could not achieve.

Chapter Book 9: The Midwife's Apprentice

Author: Karen Cushman
Title: The Midwife’s Apprentice
Illustrator: none
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre:
Theme: Self-discovery
Primary and secondary characters: Alyce (brat)and Jane.
Award(s) date of publication: 1996 Newbery
Publishing company:Clarion Books
Brief summary: This lovely book tells of a young girl known as "Brat" who has no family or friends. She is found sleeping in a pile of dung by the local midwife, Jane. She begins to work as Jane's apprentice. She begins to find friends where she least expects to. Through many hardships Brat (later renamed as Alyce) discovers who she is and what she truly seeks from life. She discovers who she is, is more than she ever gave herself and much more than anyone else gave her.

How you would use the book, with students?: This book is set during medieval London so this would be a great way to introduce children to a different time era. I would use the theme of "self-discovery" as inspiration to students. I would also show the students through this book, that it does not matter where you come from, it's who you chose to be that is important.

Picture Book 8: The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

Author: Peter Sis
Title: The Wall: Growing up Behind the Iron Curtain
Illustrator: Peter Sis
Genre: Autobiographical
Sub-genre:
Theme: European History
Primary and secondary characters: Peter Sis
Award(s): 2008 Caldecott Honor Book
2007 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year
2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year
2008 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Nonfiction
Date of publication: August 21, 2007
Publishing company: Frances Foster Books
Brief summary: The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron curtain is wonderfully self-told and illustrated book about the author's, Peter Sis, life. He was raised in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. He has collected his own drawings, maps, and memories to create his story. During this time the Soviet Union had taken over Czechoslovakia. As a young child he was obedient and asked no questions but as he grew so did his questions. In this book he highlights his actual life and then goes on to discuss what was happening around him.

How you would use the book with students.: This book can be geared toward so many different age and developmental groups. I would use this book to discuss many different topics such as European history and the Cold War, communism, censorship, and oppression.