Illustrated Treasury of Aesop's Fables by Miles Kelly

Author: Miles Kelly
Illustrators: Melanie Mikecz, Frank Endersby, Marco Furlotti, Jan Lewis, Natalie Hinrichsen, Tamsin Hinrichsen, Marcin Piwowarsk
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: None
Grade(s): 1-4

Summary: This book is a 384 page collection of stories that have been around for many generations. Although the illustrations and publishing of this book is fairly new, Aesop's fables have been told for many years. Aesop's fables are believed to be some of the first stories that were written for children and each story contains a valuable lesson for children to learn. Some of the more popular/recognized stories contained in this book are: The Lion and the Mouse, The Hare and the Tortoise, The Wolf and the Lamb, The Dog and his Reflection, and The Boy who Cried Wolf.

My Thoughts: I have grown up listening to a number of Aesop's fables. My parents and my teachers used many of these stories to teach myself and my peers valuable life lessons. This treasury is definitely something I will have in my classroom in hopes of passing down the same lessons that were taught to me. The copy of this book in particular will become a great resource in my classroom. It is large and the illustrations are captivating. I can see this book something that is easily loved by my students and myself.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin Retold by Renate Raecke

Author: Retold by Renate Raecke from an old legend collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Illustrator: Lisbeth Zwerger
Translated by: Anthea Bell
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Medal, Pied Piper Literary Prize
Grade(s): 1-3

Summary: This legend was originally collected by the Grimm brothers and it depicts a dark story about a town called Hamelin that is overrun by rats. One day the pied piper comes to Hamelin promising to rid the town of the rats for a large sum of money in return. Reluctantly, the townspeople agreed and allowed the piper to rid the town of the rats. The piper pulled out his pipe and began playing a tune that was never heard before. However, all of the rats were very attracted to this tune and followed the piper out of the town. The pied piper led all of the rats to the river where they all drowned. When the pied piper returned to the town to collect his pay, the townspeople felt they had agreed to pay too much for such a simple deed, so they all came up with excuses not to pay him. The pied piper had left the town, but later returned dressed as a huntsman so he wasn't recognized. He, again, pulled out his pipe and began to play an unfamiliar and unusual tune. This time, all of the children in the town were attracted to this tune and blindly followed the piper without turning back. The piper ended up leading 130 children to a mountain where they were never found again. After this, music was not allowed to be played on that street and it was later named the Drumless Street.

My Thoughts: Although I have heard this story before, I do not believe that I would ever use this book in my classroom. I feel that it is a bit inappropriate for children even though it could be for grades 1-3. However, I wouldn't necessarily discourage children from reading it simply because it teaches them to never follow a stranger. But they would not find this book to read in my classroom.

The Tale of Three Trees Retold By Angela Elwell Hunt

Author: Angela Elwell Hunt
Illustrator: Tim Jonke
Awards: None
Genre: Traditional Literature, Religious
Grade(s): Pre-K-2

Summary: In this classic folktale, three little trees were growing on top of a mountain. The first tree dreamed of growing up to become the most beautiful treasure chest to hold the most beautiful treasure. The second tree dreamed of growing up to become a strong sailing ship that would sail kings through the ocean. The third tree dreamed of growing up to be the tallest tree ever so that when people looked up to her, they would think of God. One day, three woodcutters came up the mountain looking for trees to cut down. The first woodcutter cut the first tree down, took it home and turned it into a feed box for animals. The second woodcutter cut down the second tree and took it to the shipyard to make it into a small fishing boat. This tree was so small, it could only go on rivers and it only brought back dead, smelly fish. The third tree was cut down and chopped into lumber and left in a lumberyard. Needless to say, none of the trees were happy with what they had become. However, the first tree ended up becoming Jesus' manger when he was a baby. The tree was so happy because she felt she ended up holding the most beautiful treasure in the world. The second tree ended up becoming a boat in which Jesus rode in when he calmed the storms in the sea. This tree also became very happy because she felt she was carrying the king of all kings across the sea. Lastly, the third tree became the cross that Jesus hung from. Although she felt bad for this being her use, she quickly grew happy when Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday and she ended up being the tree that reminded everyone of God.

My Thoughts: Although this is a religious book about Jesus and Easter, I feel that I would most definitely use this in my classroom if I teach in a school where reading religious material is permitted. I feel that this book allows children to learn about Easter from a different point of view. Additionally, I feel that the story of Easter is essential when teaching children about Jesus, so this book would definitely be used in a lesson about the meaning of the Easter holiday.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Author: R.J. Palacio

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: Bluebonnet Award, #1 New York Times Bestseller, One of Time Magazine's 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time, A Parents Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year, An NPR Outstanding Backseat Book Club Pick, An Entertainment Weekly 10 Great Kid's Books Selection, An E.B. White Read Aloud Award Winner, A USA Today 100 Best Seller, An ALA-ALSC Notable Book, A Washington Post Best Kid's Book, An IRA-CBC Teachers' Choice

Grade(s): 4-6

Summary: Wonder is a wonderful novel about a boy named August (Auggie) Pullman, who is not only physically deformed, but is also dealing with the troubles of attending middle school. Attending middle school for the first time is hard enough, but Auggie seems to have a more difficult time because of the way he looks. You see, August was born with a rare condition which caused him to look very different from his peers. Throughout the first part of his life, he was homeschooled and heavily protected by his parents. However, the older he got, the more his mother felt it was necessary to attend a school. Auggie happened to be accepted by a somewhat prestigious private school and was originally on the fence about attending. After careful consideration and a tour of the school, Auggie decided it was time for him to go to a real school. During his first year of middle school, Auggie makes some great friends, Summer and Jack, who see past his deformities and become August's first real friends in this scary place called school. Unfortunately, Auggie runs into some trouble with the school bully, Julien. Since Julien was a popular kid, he was able to influence the way August's best friend, Jack, thought about August. Auggie came to school on Halloween day dressed as a different character that he originally planned and had overheard Jack say some hurtful things about him in hopes of fitting in with the "cool" kids. Throughout all of his drama at home, August's sister, Via, was also going through a lot too. The two of them became "rocks" for each other. After some dispute, Auggie, Mom, and Dad attended a school play that Via was performing in. At the end, the audience gave Via a standing ovation. This made August believe that "everyone should get a standing ovation once in their life." Though things were rough for August during his fifth grade year, he pulled through and became stronger. He made many friends and received his very own standing ovation as he went and collected and honorable award at school. August Pullman had a lot to learn and a lot of growing up to do, and he did it with pride. At the end of the book, his mother told him, "You really are a wonder, Auggie. You are a wonder."

My Thoughts: Wonder is an outstanding novel that I will have in my library for years to come. It showcases exactly how difficult it can be for children with disabilities, deformities, or any abnormality that classifies them as "different" to society. Not only does it showcase the difficulties of growing up with these things, but it shows how the struggles and perseverance are all worth it in the end. This novel is a work of art and is definitely something every child should read. It is a wonderful example of how we all work in society together and that letting something that makes you seem different from everyone else, should not hinder you from shooting for the stars and living your dreams.

Chicken Little Retold By Ronne Randall

Author: Ronne Randall

Illustrator: Nicola Evans

Genre: Traditional Literature

Awards: None

Grade(s): K-1

Summary: Chicken Little was walking down the street when an acorn fell out of a tree and hit him in the head. He didn't know what had happened, but then he assumed that the sky was falling. To Chicken Little, this was a big deal so he had to run to tell the king. On the way to tell the king, Chicken Little runs into his friends Goosey Loosey, Drakey Lakey, Ducky Lucky, Cocky Lucky, Henny Penny, and Turkey Lurkey. They all decide that they want to go with him to tell the king. However, Chicken Little and his friends run into Foxy Loxy who makes a good point that none of them know how to get to the king's palace. They all agree to allow Foxy Loxy to show them the way to the king's palace. Foxy Loxy ends up having other plans and leads them all to his den where his family is waiting to eat them!! Chicken Little and his friends try to hurry away as fast as they can and they never get to tell the king that the sky was falling.

My Thoughts: Like The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Chicken Little was also one of my favorite stories. This book will most definitely be included in my classroom library!! At a young age, this book taught me to be careful with who I trust. Although I would want my students to stay as young and naive for as long as possible, I know that is not possible and I think this book teaches a valuable lesson.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff Retold By Ronne Randall

Author: Ronne Randall

Illustrator: Gavin Scott

Genre: Traditional Literature

Awards: None

Grade(s): K-1

Summary: In this classic tale, three billy goat brothers are eating grass on the side of a hill. One day, they run out of good grass to eat, but they notice that there is more grass on the other side of the river. However, there is a big, nasty troll that lives under the bridge that they need to cross to get to the other side of the river. They seem frightened, but the smallest billy goat decides he is going to cross over first. As he is going over, the troll confronts him and threatens to eat him. The smallest billy goat convinces the troll to wait for his brother who is bigger and fatter. The troll agrees and allows the smallest billy goat to cross over to the other side. When the middle billy goat tries to cross over, the troll, again, stops him threatening to eat him. As before, the middle billy goat convinces the troll to wait for his bigger brother who is the biggest and fattest billy goat of them all. The troll agrees and allows the middle billy goat to pass. When the biggest billy goat tries to pass over, the troll stops him and threatens to eat him. However, the biggest billy goat was not frightened and he stood his ground. The biggest billy goat used his horns to throw the troll off of the bridge and into the river. The troll was never seen again.

My Thoughts: The Three Billy Goats Gruff has been one of my favorite stories since I was a little girl. I will definitely include this book in my classroom library in hopes of inspiring my students to enjoy it as I have. Additionally, I would use this book to read to my students using different voices for each size billy goat, and encouraging my students to do the same to make predictions about what is to come.

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

Author: Watty Piper
Illustrator: George & Doris Hauman
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: None
Grade(s): 1-2

Summary: This book is about a train that is pulling all different kinds of toys and good food for children who live on the other side mountain. The train was so happy that she could bring all of the little boys and girls these good things. Suddenly, the train could not go on any longer. All of the toys jumped out of the broken down train to try to ask other trains for help. The first train they stopped would not take the toys and food to the other side of the mountain because he was a passenger train. The second train would not take the toys and food because he was a freight train and only hauled papers and books. The third train was too old and tired to take the toys and food. Just when they felt like no one would help them, they noticed a tiny, happy engine coming down the tracks. This engine was happy to help, but was afraid she wouldn't be big enough to take all of the toys and food over the mountain. She had never been over the mountain before. However, the little engine believed in herself and was determined to help her friends and the little boys and girls over the mountain. She gave it her all and was able to take the toys and food to the children over the mountain.

My Thoughts: I would definitely use this book in my classroom. I feel that it is appropriate for first or second grades because it includes several more advanced vocabulary words such as "indignantly." I feel that I would be able to include this book in a character lesson that teaches students to believe in themselves and to not give up. This book teaches children that they can do anything they set their mind to.