Chapter Book #11

Title:  Marvin Redpost: Class President

Author:  Louis Sachar

Illustrator: Amy Wummer

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction 

Subgenre:  Realistic Fiction 

Themes:  classroom interaction, themed dress-up days at school, the president of the U.S., citizenship importance

Primary and Secondary Characters: Marvin Redpost, Nick, Stuart, Mrs. North, Clarence, Judy Jasper, Casey Happleton, Mr. McCabe and the president of the U.S.

Awards:  New Orleans Times - Picayune and Children's Book Award 2000

Date of Publication:  1999

Publishing Company:  Random House, Inc.

Summary:
Marvin Redpost is excited that today is "holes day" at school.  That means that everyone in the school gets to wear a piece of clothing with holes in it.  Marvin has 2 holes in his jeans!  As fun as this day begins, Mrs. North is excited to get the day started, but is asked to go to the principal's office.  As the students begin to wonder why, she returns with a very surprised and questionable look on her face.  The students ask her if she is feeling alright, and Mrs. North stutters as she tells them the news.  But finally she manages to get out, "The president will be coming here today."  Marvin and the rest of his class looked confused and even unsure.  Their school was in Maryland and was only about twenty miles outside of Washington, D.C. so it was reasonable for him to come, but why to their school is what baffled Marvin and the rest of his classmates.  As the truth sank in, everyone was excited and nervous. Mrs. North had everyone come up with a few questions that they would like to ask the president.  As the news came in that he was at the school, Marvin heard a knock on the door.  Low and behold, if it wasn't the president himself that walked through the door!  Marvin had been at the front of the class working on a math problem on the chalkboard when the president walked in.  He had introduced himself but had insisted that Marvin finish the problem he had been working on.  Marvin finished, but had the first honor of shaking the presidents hand!  After everyone asked their questions, the president stressed how important it was to be an outstanding American citizen.  The president had used Marvin as an example and he felt honored that the president knew him by name.  After the president left, Marvin went home to describe his day at school.  As his dad turned on the news, there was Marvin shaking hands with the president!  Marvin was over thrilled!

How it will be used in the classroom:
This book is a great book to read for students who are in grades 2nd to 4th.  It's an easy read but it also consists of great vocabulary words that could be used to further educate students.  I would really like to read this story during a patriotic time of the year like Flag Day or President's Day.  I am sure students would like to be able to imagine themselves as Marvin Redpost!

Chapter Book #10

Title:  Zero Grandparents

Author:  Michelle Edwards

Illustrator: Michelle Edwards

Genre:  Youth Fiction 

Subgenre:  Realistic Fiction 

Themes:  grandparents, grandmothers, bringing visitors to school

Primary and Secondary Characters: Calliope James, Mrs. James, Howie, Pa Lia, Mrs. Fennessey, Matthew Stern, Flory Sophia Turnipseed

Awards:  2002 Parent's Guide to Children's Media Awards

Date of Publication:  2001

Publishing Company:  Harcourt Books

Summary:

Calliope is sad and down because she won't be bringing a grandparent to the school's Grandparent's Day.  As her other classmates get excited about bringing their own grandma or grandpa, Calliope is searching to find some way to bring a memory of her late grandmother, Flory Sophia Turnipseed.  She searches through pictures and boxes of her grandmother's old things.  She finds a shawl that her grandma made and she decides to take that and some pictures to class.  Calliope can't help but to realize that she looks exactly like her grandmother.  Calliope finally feels excited to share the great memories of her grandma.  As the day approaches, Calliope is nervous because she realizes that she is the only way who didn't bring along a grandparent or visitor to Mrs. Fennessey's class.  As it becomes Calliope's turn to show her "visitor" to the class, she takes out the shawl and pictures and describes her grandmother in ways that are special to Calliope.  With great courage and honor, the grandparents in the class give Calliope a big round of an applause, but all her classmates just stare.  With the day closing in, many of the grandparents approach Calliope and tell her how special her grandmother must feel that she described her to the class.  Calliope realizes that today wasn't a bad day after all and she was glad she "brought" Grandma Flory Sophia Turnipseed to class.

How it will be used in the classroom:
This is a great beginners chapter book story for as early as second graders to fourth graders to read.  This could be a great story to read if the school I was teaching at had a Grandparent's Day scheduled.  It could also let the students know that they should be thankful to have grandparents, or to be respectful of those who don't.  This is a great realistic fiction novel that would be great to have in the classroom!

Chapter Book #9 - Coretta Scott Kind Honoree

Title:  The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

Author:  Christopher Paul Curtis

Illustrator: Jacket photograph by: FPG International

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction 

Subgenre:  Realistic/Historical Fiction 

Themes:  family relationships, 1960's and racism, misbehaviors, friendships and learning lessons

Primary and Secondary Characters: Kenny Watson, Byron Watson, Joey (Joetta) Watson, Wilona Watson, Daniel Watson, the Brown Bomber, Buphead, Rufus, Cody, Grandma Sands and Mr. Robert

Awards:  Coretta Scott King Honoree 1996, Newbery Honoree 1996

Date of Publication:  1995

Publishing Company:  Delacorte Press

Summary:

The Watsons are from Flint, Michigan and it is normal to wear seven layers of clothing.  This story is from the view point of Kenny, who is the middle child of the Watson family.  His older brother, Byron, is a huge trouble maker and regularly picks on his little brother.  Byron and his best friend, Buphead, are the two biggest bullies in the school and even Kenny gets a handful of the teasing.  Byron is constantly getting trouble by his parents for playing with matches, picking on Kenny, coloring his hair and last but not least for not behaving at school.  Joetta or "Joey" is the youngest of the three and she is the only hope sometimes of getting Byron out of trouble.  She doesn't like to see her parents upset so she always begs them not to get angry with him.  However, Wilona (the mom) can only take so much.  After Byron colors his hair, his father shaves it off and they come up with the ultimate resolution to put Byron in his place.  They decide to take the family to Birmingham, Alabama where daily activities are completely different.  There's country life where fishing and hunting are a big deal, it's warm and that's where Grandma Sands and Mr. Robert live!  Kenny, Byron and Joey were a little terrified of their grandma because she is strict and stubborn.  Byron is to stay with her for the rest of the summer or until she felt like he was straightened out.  After being in Birmingham, a catastrophe occurred with Joey so the visit was cut short.  After being back home, Byron had changed while they had gone to Birmingham.  Byron forms a better relationship with his family and everyone stops taking each other for granted.

How it will be used in the classroom:
This would be a great book to have with a classroom of fifth or sixth graders.  I think this could be a very relatable book for those who have been bullied and it shows the importance of not bullying, as there are consequences that are shown in the book.  I really think students could be able to take the underlined message out of this book to relate to their own personal lives inside or outside the classroom.

Picture Book #22 - Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner

Title:  Balloons Over Broadway

Author:  Melissa Sweet

Illustrator: Melissa Sweet

Genre:  Youth Informational Book 

Subgenre:   Informational Book/Realistic 

Themes:  Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NYC, puppets, entertainment and inventions

Primary and Secondary Characters: Tony Sarg, his marionettes and parade floats

Awards:  2012 Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner

Date of Publication:  2011

Publishing Company:  Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Summary:

This informational book is inspired behind the creative mind of Tony Sarg who has made a remarkable tradition of New York City's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  As a kid, Tony was wanting to create easier ways to work around the house.  He invented a device that would feed the family's chickens without Tony even having to get out of bed.  So, it was obvious at a young age that Tony was going to develop into quite the inventor!  As he got older, his interests with puppets grew and he became a popular marionette in London.  His popularity brought him to New York City where he was hired by Macy's to develop a "puppet parade" that would be displayed in their holiday windows.  The feedback from the window displays were so successful that Macy's further hired Tony to make puppets for a parade that Macy's was having for their employees.  That parade was such a huge success that the parade become a tradition, but further spread out to the entire community.  With each year the parade was held, Tony Sarg improved his puppets to evolve into big, fancy balloons that flew through the sky.  After the first couple parades, Tony's parade floats were so advanced, that people could hold them by a string as they floated through the sky.  From there on, Tony's parade floaters were the prime entertainment behind the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The tradition still holds true to this day, so the next parade that performs, you'll know the history behind the scenes!

How it will be used in the classroom:
As informational books are important to have within a classroom, I think this books is no different than any other informational book.  Students will be able to learn about a topic that they may have never thought about learning about.  That's my favorite part about informational books, is that not only are the student's improving their reading skills, they are also learning valuable and interesting information that they can use within the real world.

Picture Book #21 - Caldecott Honor

Title:  Henry's Freedom Box

Author:  Ellen Levine

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Genre:  Youth Fiction 

Subgenre:   Realisitc/Historical Fiction

Themes:  Slavery, slavery life, Henry "Box" Brown, Underground Railroad, 1800's, African Americans, finding freedom

Primary and Secondary Characters: Henry Brown, Henry's brothers and sisters, Henry's mother, Henry's masters, Nancy, Henry's children, James and Dr. Smith

Awards:  2008 Caldecott Honor Book, Comstock Honor Book

Date of Publication:  2007

Publishing Company:  Scholastic Press

Summary:

Based on the true story of Henry "Box" Brown, Henry had never known a birthday until he "delivers" himself to freedom on March 30, 1849.  When Henry was a boy, he was traded to his master's son to work in his factory.  That was the last time he would see his mother, brothers and sisters.  When Henry was a teenager, he met Nancy, who worked for a different master.  Soon, they would be married and their masters agreed that they could live together as long as it did not interfere with their work.  Together they had three children and they were happy considering their enslavement.  Until one day, Henry heard from his friend, James, that his wife and children were being sold at a slave market.  As soon as Henry arrived at the market, he already saw his children and wife being taken in a wagon far down the road.  Henry was depressed.  He no longer sang and he no longer hummed.  As weeks passed, Henry envied a bird that was flying free through the sky.  Henry wished that was him, and he had an idea.  He asked his friend James and Dr. Smith (who had helped slaves and thought that slavery was wrong), to construct him a box that he could fit in, and then be mailed in.  Dr. Smith agreed and would send Henry in the box to his friends in Philadelphia, where slaves were free.  As Henry was being shipped, he tried to withstand all the arrangements the box put him in.  He would be upside down, sideways, and finally, if it were a good day, he would be upright.  As he was finally delivered, Henry felt free as soon as he climbed outside the box.  Henry was then given the nickname Henry "Box" Brown.

How it will be used in the classroom:
Since this is based on a true event, I think this would be a great book to have in the classroom for children to get a true glimpse at history.  I also really liked how the pictures in this book help show what the 1800's looked like.  A great activity for children with this book would be to teach them about the Underground Railroad and other events that occurred with slaves.  This book would then act as a great resource for that lesson.

Picture Book #20 - Coretta Scott King Award

Title:  Uptown

Author:  Bryan Collier

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Genre:  Youth Fiction 

Subgenre:   Modern Fantasy Fiction

Themes:  Harlem, NY, city life, African Americans, being aware of your surroundings

Primary and Secondary Characters: boy (narrator of the story), his grandfather, and girls walking on the street

Awards:  Coretta Scott King Award Winner 2001, Ezra Jack Keats Award 2001

Date of Publication:  2000

Publishing Company:  Henry Holt and Company

Summary:

A boy observes his city and neighborhood and compares them to similes and metaphors.  "Uptown is a caterpillar.  Well, it's really the Metro-North train as it eases over the Harlem River."  He enjoys to observe and think of them as things that he personally knows.  The illustrations within this book are phenomenal and they look like the objects that the little boys describes.  For instance, he says that when the apartments are lined up, they look like a bunch of chocolate bars, and that's exactly what the illustrations are showing, chocolate bars.  This book is a really easy read and describes what life really could be like to a child.  It almost shows Harlem from a realistic point of view and really lets you see what Harlem could be like if you planned a visit!  "Uptown is Harlem...Harlem world, my world."

How it will be used in the classroom:
This is such an inspirational book that really captures life within Harlem, and from a little boys perspective makes it all the worth more while to read!  This book has been recommended by Scholastic to be a pre-k through 3rd grade reading level.  This is also a great book to show immaculate illustrations.  It would be a great activity to have students make their own book describing what their neighborhood and city is like.

Picture Book #19

Title:  The Babe & I

Author:  David A. Adler

Illustrator: Terry Widener

Genre:  Youth Fiction 

Subgenre:  Historical/Realistic Fiction 

Themes:  The Great Depression in the U.S. during the 1930's, money making projects, Babe Ruth, baseball, family loyalty, fathers and sons, teamwork, unemployment 

Primary and Secondary Characters: a boy (main character), his father and mother, his friend Jacob, Mrs. Johnson and Babe Ruth

Awards:  Golden Kite Honor Book, Jefferson Cup Honor Book

Date of Publication:  1999

Publishing Company:  Voyager Books, Harcourt, Inc.

Summary:

Just a boy living in New York City, he is dealing with the Depression just as much as anyone else.  For his birthday, his dad gives him a whopping ten cents.  Terribly disappointed, he tags along with his friend Jacob to go and spend it.  The boys noticed a woman selling apples for five cents a piece on the sidewalk, and decided to buy themselves apples from the birthday money.  As they both turn the corner, the boy notices that his father is selling apples too.  Surprised, the boy feels bad that his dad is having to work this dreadful job.  But, his friend Jacob invites him to tag-along with his newspaper selling.  Going just to see what it's all about, he realizes that he too, can sell newspapers.  He helps his friend Jacob sell many newspapers when they go close to Yankee stadium.  Jacob tells him to pitch the latest Yankee baseball news to customers and they will buy newspapers like they're going out of style.  And was Jacob right!  As him and Jacob sell newspapers one day, a man buys a newspaper for five dollars, which was way over the asking price.  Jacob excitedly runs towards the boy and tells him that Babe Ruth just bought a newspaper from him!  From there on, the boy is a huge Yankee's fan.  And as for his newspaper business, he contributes Babe Ruth for his newspaper success.  He was now able to become a team with his dad so they could both make enough money to support their family.  They were both getting through the hard times, but now, they were together.

How it will be used in the classroom:
I really enjoy how historical fiction books can be read in the classroom to help teach reality in the past. This is a great example of that and this can show students in grades 1-4 that girls and boys their age in the 1930's were living completely different lives at a different time in history.  This would be a great book to show them how differently their lives could be if they lived during that time in history.