The Giver by Lois Lowry

Author: Lois Lowry

Genre: Science Fiction

Awards: Newbery Medal (1994), ALA Best Books for Young Adults (1994), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1994), Booklist Editors' Choice, Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice (1996), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (1996), ALA 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000-2009, William Allen White Children's Book Award (1996), Garden State Teen Book Award (1996), Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee (1994), ALA 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000, ALA 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999, 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up (2009), Sequoyah Book Award (1996), Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Nominee (1996), Wyoming Soaring Eagle Nominee (1996), NE Golden Sower Award (1995), Golden Duck Award (1994), Buckeye Children's Book Award (1997), The 100 Favorite Novels of Librarians, Maine Student Book Award (1995), TLA Texas Lone Star Reading List, CCBC Choices (1993), Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (1995), Grand Canyon Reader Award (1995), Virginia Readers' Choice Award (1996), Land of Enchantment Book Award (1997), Wisconsin Golden Archer Award (1996), Wisconsin Battle of the Books List (2016), Nevada Young Readers' Award (1995), Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (1997), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (1993), Sequoyah Book Award Nominee (1996), Hawai'i Nēnē Award Nominee (2002), Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Nominee, IRA Teachers' Choices Reading list (1996), IRA Children's Choices Reading List (1992), ALA Notable Children's Book (1994), NCTE Adventuring With Books (1997), School Library Journal Top 100 Children's Novels (2010), School Library Journal Top 100 Children's Novels (2012)

Grade(s): 5th-8th

Summary: This classic by Lois Lowry starts off with an 11-year-old boy, Jonas, who is apprehensive about his "Ceremony of 12." This ceremony is the one where children are assigned their respective professions in the community. Jonas lives in a Utopia where everyone is assigned a job and everyone has a duty at every age. There is no war, no hunger, no inconvenience, no emotion, and no color. At Jonas' Ceremony of 12, he is assigned the role of Receiver. After he is assigned this role, he meets with the former Receiver, the Giver. The Giver shows him happiness and excitement, but also pain and sadness. Although he isn't allowed, Jonas struggles with keeping this new information private as he wants to tell everyone. However, Jonas and the Giver hatch a plan for Jonas to leave his community and all of the memories would be spread amongst everyone. Later, Jonas begins using his new memories to help a newborn, Gabriel, that was brought into his family. The community was going to release Gabriel because he was not able to sleep. After learning that Gabriel would be released, Jonas speaks to the Giver, who tells him that being released is to be killed, so Jonas knew he had to help him with his new found position. The plan that the Giver and Jonas come up with, means that Jonas must leave quickly with Gabriel in order to stay safe. While fleeing the community, Jonas gives Gabriel memories of warmth and happiness in order to sooth Gabriel while they travel through the freeing wilderness. They arrive at a snow-covered hill where Jonas sees a sled that he remembers from one of his memories. The book ends when Jonas rides the sled down the hill and he sees a lit-up house where he has a feeling that someone is waiting for him there. 

My Thoughts: This is one of my favorite Lois Lowry classics. I feel that it has such a deep meaning and insightful approach to how a world of Utopia would be. This book offers a lot of room for discussion amongst classmates as many controversial topics are introduced. Although I would not be able to read this book to my lower elementary grade classes, I would definitely use this book if I ever found myself teaching upper elementary grade students. This book will always have a place on my bookshelf!!

Horton Hears a Who Pop-Up! by Dr. Seuss

Author: Dr. Seuss

Pop-Ups by: Davis A. Carter

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: None

Grade(s): K-3rd

Summary: This is a pop-up classic Dr. Seuss book about an elephant, Horton, who hears small voices coming from a speck of dust. Even though Horton tries everything to keep The Who's of Whoville safe, the animals of the jungle where Horton lives thinks he is going crazy. They even give the speck of dust to an eagle who takes the clover where the speck of dust rests and drops it in a huge field of clovers, thinking that Horton will never find it. However, Horton spends many hours and on his three-millionth flower, he finds The Who's!! He vows to protect them no matter what, but the jungle animals just won't give up. So Horton tells the mayor that he must make every Who in Whoville make the loudest sound they can in hopes of letting the other animals hearing them. Finally, when the mayor finds that the smallest Who isn't trying to help, he pleads with him to make the loudest sound he can. Finally the other animals can hear the Who's!! Horton sticks by his motto that "A person's a person, no matter how small." This helps him get the other animals to help protect The Who's too.

My Thoughts: Like all Dr. Seuss books, I love this one!! I especially love that this book was made into a pop-up because I really feel like, with any pop-up, it really brings the story to life. I will definitely use this book in my classroom to teach the ultimate lesson this book provides: "A person's a person, no matter how small." This book, and many other Dr. Seuss books, will forever be apart of my classroom library!!

The Battle of the Alamo by Kerri O'Hern and Janet Riehecky

Authors: Kerri O'Hern and Janet Riehecky 

Illustrator: D. McHargue

Genre: Non-Fiction, Graphic Novel

Awards: None

Grade(s): 1st-5th

Summary: This book is a graphic novel that tells the historical story of the Battle of the Alamo. It starts with how Native Americans lived on the land that would later be fought for by the Mexicans and Texans. It continues its timeline explaining how the Mexicans began to build missions throughout San Antonio and one of the missions they built was later closed and used as a military fort and named "The Alamo." Mexico's government desperately wanted to settle land in Texas, making it their own. However, the Texans were not going to let that happen without a fight. This book details important landmarks and historical events leading up to, during, and after the Battle of the Alamo. 

My Thoughts: If you know anything about me, you would know that history is my least favorite subject. However, I know that there are many history lessons ahead of me during my years of teaching. I enjoyed this book because I felt that it offered an engaging way to learn something that I otherwise would not enjoy reading about through its graphic novel qualities. I will definitely use this book to read to my class during a lesson over the Alamo and hope to gain their interest using the brightly colored pages and storyline of this book. I hope to add more books like this to my library!!

Rude Ramsay and the Roaring Radishes by Margaret Atwood

Author: Margaret Atwood
Illustrator: Dušan Petričić
Read By: Margaret Atwood
Genre: Fantasy
Awards: None
Grade(s): 1st-4th

Summary: This book is a book of alliterations of the letter "R." Ramsay decides he is sick of living in his "ramshackle rectangular residence" and decides he needs to find something more. He ventures out with his friend rat and together they begin to explore life outside of eating horrible things for dinner and being tormented by his brothers. Eventually, adventure shows Ramsay and his rat friend to another realm: a huge garden with a river. Ramsay was so happy to have found a garden full of food because he was so hungry!! However, when Ramsay tried to eat a fresh radish, all of the radishes came to life and began roaring at him that he was a thief who was trying to steal from their garden. Then Ramsay met a girl named Rillah who ended up being rich. Although she was from a rich family, she still longed to be with Ramsay in his ramshackle residence. The two of them decided to go back to Ramsay's house and they ended up falling in love. Ramsay, Rillah, and their pet rat lived happily under a rainbow.

My Thoughts: I liked that I could use this book during an alliteration lesson, but I found it very difficult and frustrating to get through. As ridiculous as it sounds, it was hard for me to keep up with the constant alliteration of "R" and many words were difficult to decode. I would read this book in my younger classes to explain alliteration and to get a laugh. In my older elementary classes, I would read this book to help with alliteration and vocabulary as this book introduces quite a few new words. This book is also an audio book, so since it is difficult for me to get through myself, I would probably, most definitely use the audio CD provided. 😜

The Grasshopper and the Ants by Jerry Pinkney

Author: Jerry Pinkney

Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Genre: Traditional Literature

Awards: New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing (2015), ALA Notable Children's Book (2016), Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year (2016)

Grade(s): K-3rd

Summary: This book was written and illustrated by a Laura Ingalls Wilder Award winner of 2016. It is a classic from Aesop's fables with the moral being, "Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today!" Jerry Pinkney beautifully illustrates this classic that tells the story of a grasshopper who wants to play and enjoy each day as it comes. The ants, on the other hand, feel that it is important to work and continue to keep on top of their work. The grasshopper continuously tries to convince them otherwise to do things like fish with him in the spring and make snow angels and snow hoppers in the winter. The ants insist on working knowing it will pay off in the end. In the end of the book, Pinkney shows how generous the ants become by allowing the grasshopper live off of all of their hard word, but the grasshopper realizes that he should not have put off his work and he should have gotten it done. 

My Thoughts: First of all, I absolutely love Jerry Pinkney's works and will definitely have them in my classroom. I feel that he is able to illustrate in great detail to bring any story to life. This story will be used in my classroom to teach my students of this valuable lesson of not procrastinating. I love the version of this book because I feel that it is one of the best representations of this story and its moral. You will definitely find this book on my bookshelf!!

Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

Author: Patricia Polacco

Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Genre: Non-fiction, Special Needs Topic

Awards: ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award (1999), Emphasis on Reading (2000), Keystone to Reading Book Award (2000), South Carolina Children's Book Award (2001), NCTE/CLA Notable Children's Book in the English Language Arts (1999), AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss (1999), CCBC Choices (1998), Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award (2000), IRA Teachers' Choices Reading List (1999), NCTE Adventuring with Books (2000)

Grade(s): 2nd-5th

Summary: Tricia was a young girl who had been given the wisdom from her grandfather that knowledge had to be found within the pages of a book. She loved books and couldn't wait to start reading them. However, when she got into the first grade, she noticed that she was not on the same level as her peers. This began to scare her because she wanted so bad to learn to read. Soon, the older she got, more and more people were beginning to take notice that she wasn't able to read, but she was a very good artist. After her grandparents had passed away, her mother had gotten a new job in California and Tricia realized that she would have to attend a new school. She was hoping that none of her new classmates would be able to tell how she couldn't read, for this made her feel dumb. Unfortunately, quite the opposite had happened. Everyone began to make fun of her. That was until Mr. Falker started his new job at her school. Mr. Falker put an end to Tricia's classmates' mockery very quickly. All except for one student continued to mock and ridicule Tricia. Tricia ended up hating school and was bullied everyday. Soon, Mr. Falker realized that Tricia was far from "dumb." He realized that she was dyslexic. With this new knowledge, he worked with Tricia rigorously for 3 months and without realizing it, she was able to read when he put a book in front of her. She was elated!! She rushed home and found the book that her grandfather had given her long ago and remembered what he had told her. The book ends with an author's note stating that the story is her own. She explains how she had run into Mr. Falker many years later and was able to thank him for helping her get to where she is today, an author and illustrator.

My Thoughts: This book is a wonderful book dealing with a special needs topic that many find difficult to deal with. Going into the special education field myself, I have always been intrigued by disabilities that are not necessarily seen, and how to reach those learners. This book teaches a valuable lesson to not only students, but also for teachers!! Teachers can learn from this book that it is extremely important to know your students so that they can reach and help them in any of their weak spots. This also teaches teachers to be aware of how your students are being treated. As a teacher, you should always be able to pick out small indicators that allow you to know when you need to step in. This teaches students not to bully their classmates no matter what they think or feel. To embrace the diversity in their classrooms and to help their classmates in need instead of bringing them down. I will definitely be reading this book in my classroom for years to come!!

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick

Author: Lindsay Mattick

Illustrator: Sophie Blackall

Genre: Non-fiction

Awards: Caldecott Medal (2016), New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing (2015), ALA Notable Children's Book (2016), Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year (2016), CCBC Choices (2016), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2015), NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (2016)

Grade(s): K-4th

Summary: Finding Winnie is a true story about a man who was a veterinarian that was being sent off to care for the sick animals of World War I. This man happened to come across a live bear cub at a train station that a man had captured. Knowing that he shouldn't, he still could not leave the bear behind knowing it would be killed. He had felt something special about that bear. So instead, he had bought the bear for $20 and it came along with him and the troops. Despite protests from the commanding officers, the man showed them what a special bear it was. The man named the bear "Winnie" after their hometown, Winnipeg, so they would all feel like a little piece of home was with them. Eventually, the bear was trained and it was actually able to help the men during the war by sniffing out bombs and intruders. Later, the bear had to be given to a zoo since he had gotten so big, they could no longer take him along. Years later, a little boy had been given a stuffed bear, but didn't know what to name it. His father had taken him to that zoo and the boy had, had a connection with Winnie, so he decided to name his stuffed bear "Winnie the Pooh." Winnie and the boy had a very strong connection and the boy was actually able to go and mingle with Winnie at the zoo. The boy's name was Christopher Robin Milne and his father was named Alan Alexander Milne. Alan Alexander Milne went on to create "The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh." The man who had originally bought Winnie came back from war and saw how happy Winnie was in his new home. He returned home and started a family of his own. The family ended up being the author's own. The book ends will real photos of the author and her family tree, as well as photos of Winnie the bear.

My Thoughts: Out of all of the books I have read, this has to be my all-time favorite. If you know anything about me, you would know that I grew up with more of an unhealthy love for Winnie the Pooh and it wasn't until I had read this book did I realize the true story behind everything. I love that the author decided to publish this book as I feel it makes a great story that should be shared again and again. Although my students may be a little bit too young to know about Winnie the Pooh, I will definitely share this story with them as I feel it really showcases a small wonder of this world. I may also use this book to have my students write their own story about something that has been passed down in their family. This book will always be on my bookshelf!!