Genre: Children's Fairy Tales
Subject: After Humpty Dumpty has his fables fall, he gains the courage to climb again
This was recommended by another student, and I'm sure they've logged it as well, but it was too fun to pass up. This story is so much more than a silly look at Humpty and his "great fall." This story is all about finding the courage to get up and go again after you've failed. Horowitz's illustrations are simple but fun, and they definitely help the story flow. This would be a fun one to read to younger kids or allow those beginning out to read for themselves. It might fit well in a unit designed to look at fractured fairy tales or something similar.
Genre: Children's Realistic Fiction
Subject: Words of an old spiritual put on page with illustrations
This book is exactly what the subject says it is. It's an old spiritual put down on paper with some fantastic pictures to go along with it. I saw the boy on the front cover from across the library and had to pick this one up. Nelson mentions trying to create a multi-ethnic family within the pages of this book, giving more strength to the notion of the song he uses. The pictures are vivid and bright and really reinforce the story as it is told. This is a great book that emphasizes the diversity of the world and the people within it.
Genre: Children's Historical Fiction
Subject: A look at the important role that members of the Iroquois tribes played in the construction of large cities
This is a neat story about a young boy whose father is working as a steelworker on the Empire State Building, which was to be the largest building in the world at that time. The family, descended from Iroquois tribes, have a long history of working on steel projects such as building and bridges. The story gives a lot of historical information in a fun way that helps to see the important role that Native Americans played in the construction of some of America's greatest buildings. It also gives insight into why they were so fearless atop the buildings and what traditions they held that made them so. The illustrations by Christy Hale are very good and give extra insight into the words that Kirk writes. This is a definite recommendation for anyone studying American History, Native American History, or just looking for a good read.
Genre: Children's Fairy Tale
Subject: Retelling of a Japanese tale about three cats who try to rid a castle of a horrible rat
This is a great combination of a retold folk tale from Japan and some wonderful illustrations by Mordicai Gerstein. The story is retold in a way that makes it exciting and enjoyable and the illustrations complement the story. This tale has a strong message within the story about patience, rash judgements, and the Samurai way. It was fun for me to read as an adult, and I certainly believe it would be a fun read for kids. It might be an interesting alternative to standard fairy tales as a class, or a good book to look at when studying the past culture of Japan.
Genre: Beginning Children's Fiction
Subject: Duck and Goose find a mysterious egg and decide what to do with it
This is another cute young children's book that takes one the idea of differences between kids. This particular book uses the differences between a duck and a goose to help kids understand that everybody is different. When Duck and Goose find what they think is a spotted egg, they get into a heated debate about whose egg it is and what they should do with it. Each makes arguments about who should be right, and in the end, they come to the realization of what kind of "egg" it is. Hills' illustrations are cute and help the flow of the story. This is another good book for reading to young kids as well as for beginning readers.
Genre: Beginning Children's Fantasy
Subject: Several short tales about a domestic dragon and his chores
My son actually picked this one out at the library. It's a very cute book of stories about a dragon doing his household chores. The clever artwork, by Pilkey as well, is fun and colorful, and I know from firsthand experience that it is fun for young children. The stories are simple but good for a laugh. It's a good choice for reading to small children or for those just starting to read for themselves.
Genre: Children's Nonfiction
Subject: Following a group of scientists to New Guinea to study the Tree Kangaroo
The first thing I have to mention in this book, because it was the most successful part to me, is the photography by Nic Bishop. The nature shots, especially those of the forest, are absolutely stunning. It makes me want to visit New Guinea. That being said, I feel like that was pretty much the only really successful part of this book. The text was excessively wordy and included much more information than was necessary to create an enjoyable work of nonfiction. Most of the experiences described were either too vague or too personal to make any sort of connection with the reader. Perhaps, because reading is such a personal thing, there may be kids who would really get into this. For that reason, I might recommend it for personal reading, but as a group read, it's just too much to take on.
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Subject: A young boy finds out he is a wizard and enrolls in a school of magic
I am already a huge Harry Potter fanatic, so when I say this book is great, I've had years to formulate that opinion. That being said, I am prepared to defend my opinion with reasoning. Rowling does an amazing job of world-building right within modern Britain. Rather than creating a new world where all that happens in this book could happen, she throws it right into modern society and has some very clever ways of making it work. The story is fun and exciting, and even though Harry isn't perfect, he is driven by an overall drive to do good, and for that he becomes very relatable. Controversy has surrounded this book, and others in the series, because of its use of magic. I say that if it gets kids reading and helps them enjoy books, I am all for recommending this book. It would be fun to work with as a group, and I would definitely recommend it to kids as a personal read.
Genre: Children's Biography
Subject: A look at the life and music of Duke Ellington and some members of his orchestra
I found this book to be a little bit disappointing for several reasons. I am a jazz music fan, and Ellington is one my favorite musicians. I also enjoy learning the history of great people. However, the style in which this story was written was very distracting. The book was written with a lot of jazz slang thrown in. I assume this was an attempt to make it feel authentic, but I think it did just the opposite. Using slang like that was acceptable during the jazz era, but this book was written in 1999, and I feel that the language is somewhat patronizing. The illustrations by Brian Pinkney are bright and vivid, but they essentially follow the story, which I've already said I wasn't fond of. I can't recommend this for a class reading, as I believe there are better examples of biographies about jazz musicians.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Subject: Story of a young Ojibwe girl and her family during the mid-1800s
This is a very interesting look into the life of an Ojibwe family trying to peacefully coexist among white settlers around 1850. Erdrich does a great job of writing this story in a way that it both addresses the Ojibwe traditions and lifestyles as well as looking at the truth that they are simply people like any other group. The characters are unique and fun, and they are definitely relatable. This is a great look at another culture and would be a good classroom read. The story is solid and the message is a positive one of pride and love.
