The Unforgettable Season by Phil Bildner

Author: Phil Bildner

Illustrator: S.D. Schindler

Genre: Non-Fiction/Biography

Awards: Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year (2012), Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee (2013)

Grade(s): 2nd-5th

Summary: This book is about the record setting baseball season of 1941 when Joe DiMaggio had a hit for fifty-six games in a row and Ted Williams hit a batting average of .406. This book is wonderfully illustrated is is very exciting to read how these two amazing baseball players set records that no one thought was possible. It details how each player got to where they did and how the world responded to their record breaking.

My Thoughts: I loved reading this book because I am a huge baseball fan. Although it is not about the Houston Astros, it is about baseball, which is still exciting to read about. My dad often talks about Joe DiMaggio so it was also interesting for me to read about his milestones. I would be able to use this book in my classroom for research purposes as well as reaching my baseball loving readers. However, like me, my Children's Literature professor, Dr. Giles, would agree that the Astros are still much better. I still can't wait to add this to my classroom library. Hopefully, I will soon be able to add a similar book about our record setting Astros!!

Machines by Chris Oxlade

Author: Chris Oxlade

Consultant: Graham Peacock

Genre: Non-Fiction

Awards: None

Grade(s): 3rd-5th

Summary: This book is an informational and educational book about machines, what they are, and the different types. The book is sectioned off into 29 different sections that go into detail about levers, wheels, axles, ramps, wedges, screws, planes, pulleys, gears, power, engines, motors, home machines, work machines, farm machines and the future of machines. Each section is detailed and includes experiments that can be done in the classroom or at home.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed going through this book because I felt like it offered a lot for me as a teacher. There is so much to learn from this book, but there is also so much to do in the way of experimenting. I could definitely see myself using this book during science lessons and even letting students use it to learn certain things about a particular science experiment they are working on. I think this book will be a wonderful and fun book to add to my classroom library!!

Air and Weather by Delta Education

Published and Distributed by: Delta Education

Genre: Non-Fiction

Awards: None

Grade(s): K-1st

Summary: This is an educational book that teaches students about air and weather. It begins by talking about air and how we know what air is. Then it talks about weather and how the weather is in the air. It describes different kinds of weather and how we identify them. In the third section of this book, it describes how we understand our weather using meteorologists. It details how meteorologists know what kind of weather we are going to have and how they help us to prepare. The last section of this book describes the seasons and how we know what season we are in. The book ends with four pictures of the same area taken during each of the four seasons and asks if the reader can identify what season is depicted in each picture.

My Thoughts: This will be an excellent book to use in my classroom when I teach a lesson over weather. It is written very well and is easy for younger readers to understand and grasp the concepts taught in the book. I also like how this book teaches every aspect of weather and how it is in the air, which is all around us. It also includes a glossary of terms that may be difficult for younger readers to understand or for readers that need a refresher on difficult terms. I love how this book includes real images as well to help readers connect what they are learning to their real world. I definitely can't wait to add this book to my classroom library. 

Stone Giant by Jane Sutcliffe

Author: Jane Sutcliffe

Illustrator: John Shelley

Genre: Non-Fiction/Biography

Awards: Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year (2015), NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (2015)

Grade(s): 2nd-4th

Summary: This book is about how the city of Florence had a huge piece of stone that they had wanted carved into a David from the Bible's story David and Goliath. However, every artist that the city hired either grew too tired or had died before they were able to finish. Then the city began to hear about the work of Michelangelo, who was from Florence, but had been away working in Rome. They called for Michelangelo to come and help them with their David. When he arrived, he had saw his David in the stone and new he could do it. Michelangelo worked for three years and finally finished his David. The city of Florence wanted this David statue because they felt like they, too, have had to fight many "giants" to keep their city alive. They wanted this David to be a symbol that like David, they too could conquer any giant that comes their way. The book ends with the unveiling of Michelangelo's David in the middle of the city and the celebration and admiration of Florence's people.

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book and feel like it will be an enriching story to use in future lessons about art or biblical stories (if I end up teaching at a christian school). I would have to be careful because this book does show the whole David statue, which I would need to cover parts of it up during my read aloud. However, I love the illustrations and the message behind this story. It shows determination and good reason just from a statue. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library!!

Wonder Horse by Emily Arnold McCully

Author: Emily Arnold McCully

Illustrator: Emily Arnold McCully

Genre: Non-Fiction/Biography

Awards: South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee (2012-2013), Florida Reading Association Children's Book Award (2012), Vermont Red Clover Award Nominee (2012), CCBC Choices (2011), Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year (2011), Treasure State Award (2012), Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Book Award (2010)

Grade(s): K-3rd

Summary: This book tells the true story of Jim Key, the world's smartest horse. His owner, Bill "Doc" Key grew up in slavery, but always knew how to help and tame animals. When the slaves were freed, Bill became a veterinarian where be began to teach people that animals have feelings and need to be treated with kindness. He ended up creating a medicine that treated colic, lameness, cramps, and headaches in both animals and people. Selling this medicine made him rich. When he heard about the circus selling their animals, he wanted to go and try to find a racing horse. He had bought his horse, Lauretta, and was happy that this horse could father a foal that had just been born at his farm. When Lauretta passed away, Bill was struck with grief and felt he could not go on. However, the little foal was determined to make Bill see that he was a good horse despite not having a good start. Soon, Bill realized that the foal, Jim, was actually extremely smart. He began to teach him how to do math, spell, and recognize colors. They travelled around to put on shows to audiences big and small. Everyone loved Jim. Finally, Bill and Jim retired together on a ranch where people still came from all over to meet Jim and see how brilliant he really was. The book ends with real photographs and an author's note about Bill and Jim.

My Thoughts: I loved this book and honestly couldn't believe it was true!! It really shows how amazing animals can be and how with just a little love, they could go really far. I will absolutely use this book in my classroom!! It is a good story on its own, but I feel I could really use this story to start a research project. I could use it to teach my students about how to research properly as well as give them a good and fun topic to research. This book will be a great addition to my classroom library!!

Our Texas by Jackie Mims Hopkins

Author: Jackie Mims Hopkins

Illustrator: Craig J. Spearing

Genre: Nonfiction

Awards: None

Grade(s): K-2nd

Summary: This book details important facts about Texas. On each page, the author talks about a major part of Texas and certain facts that make it important. Our Texas also lists all of our state symbols from the state gemstone, to the state bird, to the state dish. At the end of the book, the author re-lists all of the cities she had used throughout the book and goes into further detail about the things she mentioned previously. 

My Thoughts: I love this book and will definitely use it in the lessons I teach about Texas. It also rhymes which I could use in a rhyming cross lesson. Additionally, I feel like I could use this book to open up lessons on certain history lessons over major things that happened in Texas. For example, it talks about how San Antonio is famous for the Alamo and then in the back of the book, it goes into more detail about the battle of the Alamo. So, I would be able to use this part of the book to open a lesson I teach over the Battle of the Alamo. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library!!

Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Authors: Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Illustrator: Ted Rand

Genre: Historical Fiction

Awards: Reading Rainbow Program Selection (1989), AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss (1992), William Allen White Children's Book Award Nominee (1990), NCTE Books That Invite Talk, Wonder, and Play (1996)

Grade(s): 1st-4th

Summary: This book is is set back to the time when Native Americans were settled peacefully in the land of America. It is about a Native American boy and his grandfather who tells him the story of the day he was born. The little boy loves to hear this story and asks his grandfather to repeat it to him many times. The grandfather tells the story about how the little boy was born, but almost didn't make it. Until one day, the little boy came across two horses who had given him the will to live. The little boy was blind, but he never let that stop him. Instead, the grandfather shows him how he "sees" using his other senses like feeling the trotting of his horse allows him to know where he is going. The story ends when the grandfather ties a knot on the counting rope and explains that when the rope is full of knots, the boy will be able to tell the story himself, even when the grandfather is no longer around.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed reading this book and I feel it will be a good book to use when doing a lesson over Native Americans. I feel that it shows the way they live and how they handled difficult situations. I also feel that it shows the strength and endurance that they had during different and difficult times. I will be happy to add this book to my classroom library!!

John Henry by Ezra Jack Keats

Author: Ezra Jack Keats

Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats

Genre: Historical Fiction

Awards: None

Grade(s): 1st-4th

Summary: This story is set during the times of when the railroads were being built. This is the story of John Henry who was a man who worked very hard and proved his strength and hard work when he was tested against a machine. Machines were becoming something that people feared because they feared it would replace their jobs. However, John Henry proved that he could beat any machine because he had the power of himself and his strength. John Henry proved this when the machine had ended up dying, but he powered on and made it through the tunnel. When other people saw this, they were happy that the power of man had still won. When John Henry had made it through the tunnel, that was his last step. He had died with the hammer in his hand and the proof that any man was better than a machine. 

My Thoughts: I could see myself using this in my classroom during a lesson of the times of the railroad building and the coming up of machines. I would have my students compare and share their opinions on which type of work is better and why, manpower or machine. Although this wasn't one of my favorite stories, I still think it shares a good lesson and it will be something I can use in my future library.

Uncle Jed's Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell

Author: Margaree King Mitchell

Illustrator: James Ransome

Genre: Historical Fiction

Awards: Reading Rainbow Program Selection (1996), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1994), Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (1995), Coretta Scott King Honor (Illustrator, 1994), Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee (1996), Shalom Readers Club Book List (Grade 3-5), CCBC Choices (1993), Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (1996), ALA Notable Children's Book (1994), NCTE Kaleidoscope: A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8 (1997), NCTE Adventuring with Books: A Booklist  for Pre-K--Grade 6 (1997)

Grade(s): 1st-5th

Summary: This book is set in the south in the 1920's during the time of segregation. Sarah's uncle, Jed, would go around the county to cut people's hair. He had always dreamed of having his own barbershop one day and he was saving up for it. However, Sarah had gotten really sick and when her parents took her to the hospital, the doctors wouldn't give Sarah the operation that she needed until her parents gave them $300. When Uncle Jed had heard about this, he offered his savings so that Sarah could get her operation. Then he began to save again. No one believed that he would ever get enough money to open his own barbershop. When Uncle Jed had over $3,000 in the bank, his friend had come to give him the bad news that the banks had failed and that he had lost everything. Despite not having anything, he still went and cut peoples' hair even though they couldn't always pay him since there was now a depression. They paid him in other ways with food and crops until they could begin to pay him again. Finally, Uncle Jed saved up enough money and was able to open his barbershop on his seventy-ninth birthday. He had everything he had ever dreamed about and everyone had come to celebrate with him. Uncle Jed had died shortly after that, but he had died a happy man.

My Thoughts: This is another book that I will definitely love to add to my classroom library. I feel that it not only shows the struggles of African Americans during the times of segregation, but it also shows the struggles of all during the time of the depression. This will be a great book to use to teach my students that their dreams and aspirations are important and that just because others don't think you can do it, doesn't mean that you shouldn't try. I can see me using this book in many different ways from teaching a lesson of the times of segregation, to teaching a lesson over the depression, to teaching my students to set goals and always strive to reach them. This book will really be a wonderful addition to my classroom.

John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith

Author: Lane Smith

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Genre: Historical Fiction

Awards: New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book (2006), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2006), BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (2006), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2006), Great Lakes Great Books Award (2009), Connecticut Book Award (Children's Author, 2007), AISLE Read-Aloud Books Took Good To Miss (2006), Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens (2007), CCBC Choices (2007), Virginia Readers' Choice Award (2008), California Young Reader Medal (2011), Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee (2008)

Grade(s): 1st-4th

Summary: This book is a hilarious tale of the young lives of 5 very important historical figures, John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. This book goes through each character and plays on what each person is best known for. It starts off talking about how John Hancock would always write his name so large on the chalkboard that his teacher would say, "we don't need to read it from space!" Then it talks about how Paul Revere would play the bells and practice for hours in the belfry tower. He played so much that all he could hear were "bings" and "bongs" and he couldn't even hear himself talk, so he yelled everything. Thats why he became the person who yelled, "THE REDCOATS ARE COMING!" George was named honest and ended up cutting down his father's cherry tree... and his apple orchard, barn, and carriage. Ben was listed as clever and would tell all kinds of people his opinion, even if it wasn't very nice. Tom was the independent man who eventually wrote the Declaration of Independence. At the end of the book, the author uses these hilarious tales to share how and why these people are historically famous. To make this book even more fun, the author added a page of true or false statements and their explanations of statements that are often told throughout history. For example, "George had wooden teeth." (This is false by the way!)

My Thoughts: I absolutely love this book!! It kept me laughing and made learning about these historical figures fun!! I will definitely be using this book in my classroom when doing a lesson over the Declaration of Independence and other related topics. I enjoyed the humor of this book, but I also appreciated it's witty and hilarious spin-off of commonly told tales. I also loved that this book included real facts at the end as well as a true or false section. I feel like this would be a fun book to read with my students, especially having them participate in the true or false section!! 

When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest

Author: Amy Hest

Illustrator: P. J. Lynch

Genre: Historical Fiction

Awards: Kate Greenaway Medal (1997), Sydney Taylor Book Award (1997), Christopher Award (Books for Young People, 1998), Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (1999-2000), VDL Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Nominee, Sequoyah Book Award Nominee (2000), Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee (2000)

Grade(s): 1st-2nd

Summary: This book is about an orphaned 13-year-old girl named Jessie who lived with her grandmother. Her grandmother sewed lace while Jessie learned to read and write. They both taught each other their skills in case they needed them in the future. When the town's rabbi learns that his brother had passed away, he had a ticket to America that he couldn't use because he couldn't stand to leave his town and people. Therefore, the rabbi decided that he was going to choose someone to go to America in his place to help his widowed sister-in-law, Kay, in her dress shop in New York City. The rabbi ended up choosing Jessie to go. Jessie reluctantly left her grandmother and headed for America. On the ship, Jessie met a boy named Lou. However, when she arrived Kay met her and began to show her around the city and she had never gotten the chance to say goodbye to her friend Lou. Jessie continued to work for Kay in her dress shop where she sewed lace and eventually started sewing wedding dresses that became very popular. Meanwhile, Jessie ended up running into Lou in a park and the two of them fell in love. Lou asked Jessie to marry him, but she said, "soon." When Jessie saved up enough money from the dress shop, she went and bought her grandmother a ticket to America. When her grandmother arrived, she had given Jessie her mother's wedding band, which she was keeping safe. When Jessie received her mother's wedding band, she knew there was going to get married... to Lou.

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book!! Not only was the story amazing, but the illustrations were outstanding!! I will definitely be able to use this book to teach my students about immigration and Ellis Island, which is where Jessie's ship docked in America. I think this will be an excellent addition to my library. It is a lovely story of the realities of immigration and the way it was back then for people to come to America, the "promised land." It also shows the value of hard work and having to work to make your way in life, which I feel is a lesson that is becoming less and less taught these days. I can't wait to add this story to my library!!

Vera Runs Away by Vera Rosenberry

Author: Vera Rosenberry

Illustrator: Vera Rosenberry

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: None

Grade(s): Pre-K - 1st

Summary: Vera had gotten her report card and realized that it was all A's. Her friend, Norman, told Vera that if he had gotten a report card that good, his mother would make him a special dinner and take him to the circus. This made Vera excited to show her own parents. However, when she got home, her parents were very busy with a big mess that Vera's sister had made and they had no time to look at Vera's report card. Vera's older siblings also acted like it was no big deal that she had gotten all A's in first grade. This made Vera sad and angry and she decided to run away to find a new family who would appreciate her and her all A's report card. However, when she was all alone in the forest, she got very hungry and decided to go back home. Then she realized that everyone had been looking for her and that they had missed her. Her parents apologized to Vera for not looking at her report card, but reminded her that she is working to get good marks for herself, not for anyone else. Since it was so late, the family decided to eat at a pizza restaurant for dinner and Vera got her special dinner after all. 

My Thoughts: I think this book is a great book to add to my collection. It teaches a couple of valuable lessons to not only children, but adults too. I would use this book in my classroom to teach my students that working on doing well in life is for yourself and that they shouldn't rely on the reaction and praise from others to do well. However, I do think this book teaches adults to be sure to encourage children to do well and not to just push their achievements aside. I think this book would make a great read for an interactive read-aloud in my classroom because there are many things to think about with this book and many opportunities for students to share their input. Definitely going into my classroom library.

The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric

Author: Katie Couric 

Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: None

Grade(s): 1st-3rd 

Summary: The Brand New Kid is a wonderful book about the struggles a child faces when moving schools. It is set in Brookhaven School and is centered around a little boy named Lazlo. The book starts off with a pair of best friends, Ellie and Carrie, who are hoping to get the same teacher. When they do, the story shifts over to Miss Kincaid's classroom where she begins to call out roll. She then announces the new kid in the school, Lazlo, to the rest of her class. Because Lazlo seems different from the other students at the school, he gets picked on and tormented. When Ellie noticed Lazlo's mother was upset because of the troubles her son was having at his new school, she knew just what to do. She befriended Lazlo, which helped other students to accept Lazlo into their school. At the end of the book, everyone wanted to be friends with Lazlo.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book because I feel like it teaches an important lesson. A lesson of acceptance. It's scary to be a new kid in a new place and many students don't realize the impact they have on others. I would definitely use this book to teach this valuable lesson to my students. This would also be an excellent book to read if I do acquire a new student. I will absolutely be adding this book to my classroom library.

The Flower by John Light

Author: John Light

Illustrator: Lisa Evans

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: None

Grade(s): Pre-K - 1st

Summary: This book is about a man named Brigg who lived in a tiny room in a big city. He worked in a library that housed books that were not supposed to be read. One day, Brigg was looking through the books that were off limits and came across a book with a flower on the cover. He snuck it out of the library and took it home to read. He realized that it was not supposed to be read because it described all different kinds of flowers, something unknown to the city he lived in. Brigg went on a search to try to find a flower in the city. He came across a junk shop that had a picture of a flower in the window. After he bought it and took it home, he saw that there was a small packet of seeds on the back of the picture. When he followed the directions, he was able to grow a beautiful plant that finally flowered. Then one day, the city's room cleaning system sucked the flower away while Brigg was at work. He was so upset, but became determined to find another flower picture containing a packet of seeds. On his search, he came to the edge of the city where the dust piles were. On top of one of the dust piles, he saw his flowering plant. When he thought it was dead, he noticed it had grown more. He sat and wondered how many flowers it would take to fill up the city. The book ends with Brigg sitting in his window with several flowering plants in flower pots lining his windowsill. 

My Thoughts: This was one of my lesser favorite books and I don't really see myself using it in my classroom. I wouldn't mind having it in my classroom library for my students to read, but I don't really see any use for it in any type of lesson. I had thought of the possibility of using it to create a writing prompt for older students to think of something that we may take for granted and write about how and why they think we take it for granted. However, the vocabulary and writing style of this book is for younger children, so I am not sure how I would incorporate it into any other lesson.

A Sister for Matthew by Pamela Kennedy

Author: Pamela Kennedy

Illustrator: Amy Wummer

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: None

Grade(s): Pre-K - 3rd

Summary: A Sister for Matthew is a story about a family who is going to adopt a little girl from China. Matthew, the little boy of the family, found out that he was getting a little sister one day when he went and got the mail for his mom and saw a letter containing a picture. When Matthew's mom opened the letter, she showed Matthew the picture and explained that he would be getting a new little sister named Mingmei. Matthew had many doubts and questions about how and why he was getting a little sister. His parents explained what adoption was and reassured him that he was still a very special part of their family that no one could replace. The day came for Matthew's parents to fly to China to pick up Mingmei while Matthew stayed back home with his grandparents. When Matthew finally met his new sister, Mingmei, she realized that he loved her and was so happy that she was coming to be a part of his family.

My Thoughts: This book hits home for me in more than one way. I can relate to this book because I had went through the adoption process when my family decided to adopt my little brother when he was three. I also relate to this book because I have lived in China and was able to see the need for adoption while I was there. I think this book is going to make a wonderful addition to my classroom library, especially for my students who may be going through the adoption process themselves. I can also use this book in my classroom to explain the importance of not judging someone, but instead to try to get along with many different people. In this book, Matthew realizes that MingMei was different and that worried and scared him. So I could use this book to teach my students to accept all kinds of people, no matter how different they are from you.

Hide!!! by Jeff Foxworthy

Author: Jeff Foxworthy

Illustrator: Steve Björkman

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: Mother's Choice Award

Grade(s): Pre-K - 2nd

Summary: Hide!!! is a fun, interactive book that is about a group of children who were stuck inside on a rainy Saturday. When the rain finally stopped, they decided to play hide-and-seek. As the book progresses, it describes each child's hiding spot and why they chose that spot. Also, each page becomes more and more filled with hiding spots, making it difficult for the seeker to find her friends. As all of the children were waiting for Rachel Green to find them, it started to pour down rain again and all of the children had to run inside. Except for one child, Tommy Smith, who had chosen to hide in a dog house and was "dry as a bone."

My Thoughts: This book is fun and I would use it in my classroom in many different ways. Since this book rhymes, using it in a rhyming lesson would be one way. Additionally, this book is interactive and each page asks you to find a small list of things on that page. I feel like I could use this during an interactive read-aloud or with a small group of students to find each item on each page. I cannot wait to add this to my collection of books for my classroom library!!

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Author: Ryan T. Higgins

Illustrator: Ryan T. Higgins

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: TLA Texas 2x2 Reading List (2016), Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year (2016), IRA Teachers' Choices Reading List (2016), Wyoming Buckaroo Nominee (2016-2017)

Grade(s): 1st-2nd

Summary: Mother Goose Bruce is a hilarious tale of a bear who loves eggs, but pretty much dislikes everything else, especially cute little animals. He finds many recipes on the internet of how to prepare eggs many different and special ways. One day he finds a recipe that calls for geese eggs. So Bruce goes to a mother goose to get the eggs for his recipe. When he goes to cook them, they end up hatching into 4 baby goslings. Bruce tries everything to get rid of them, but the goslings think that Bruce is their mother and won't leave him. However, Bruce finally realizes that he is stuck with them. Although he is unhappy, he ends up taking the (now older) goslings to Miami every winter for their migration and his hibernation. Bruce's hibernation now consists of lazing on a beaching, relaxing and "dreaming of new recipes. Recipes that don't hatch!" 

My Summary: I fell in love with this book after reading it!! I will definitely have this in my classroom and I feel like it will be a good book to use for an interactive read-aloud. Although this is a silly story, I definitely feel like it shares a deeper message with students that even though you may have plans in your life, sometimes things come up and your plans will change drastically. It will be good for me to use this book to explain to my students that it's okay to have to change your plans, big or small, and not to get upset about it, but rather find a better way to make the change work.

Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman

Author: Ame Dyckman

Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino

Genre: Science Fiction

Awards: AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss (2013), Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens (2013), SCBWI Crystal Kite Award (Atlantic, 2013), Please Touch Museum Book Award (2013), Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee (2014)

Grade(s): Pre-K - 1st 

Summary: This book is about a little boy who becomes best friends with a robot. One day, the robot fell in the forest and hit a rock that flipped his power switch to "off." Since the robot was not talking or moving, the boy thought the robot was sick or that something was wrong. So as the boy had always known, he took the robot home and fed him apple sauce, read him a story, and tucked him into bed. When the boy's parents came in to check on him that night, they did not see that Robot was behind the door and ended up hitting Robot's power switch with the door. When the robot powered on, he saw the boy was sleeping. He thought something was wrong with the boy since he was not talking or moving. So Robot did what he knew to do when something wasn't working quite right. He took the boy home and oiled him up and tried to give him a spare battery. The inventor came into the room and explained to the robot that the little boy was a human and did not take oil or spare batteries. When the boy woke up, he saw that Robot was okay and they gave each other a big hug. Then the inventor drove the boy home and the robot invited the boy to play again the next day. And they did. They became the best of friends.

My Thoughts: I loved this book and would definitely use it in my classroom to inspire my students. It is a cute tale that suggests to children that you can have many different types of friends. Well, maybe not robot friends, but definitely all different kinds of friends. I don't think I would be able to find a way to incorporate this book into any of my lessons, but I definitely think it would be a good book to enrich my classroom library with. 

Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen

Author: Hans Christian Andersen

Illustrators: Eva Montanari and Nicoletta Oeccoli

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: NCTE Adventuring With Books: A Booklist for Pre-K - Grade 6 (1993)

Grade(s): 1st-2nd 

Summary: Thumbelina is a story of a woman who wanted a daughter so very badly that she went to an old witch who gave her a magic coffee bean. When the woman planted the bean in a pot and watered it, her wish came true and she grew a tiny little girl that she named Thumbelina. Thumbelina was so small that she slept in a bed made out of a walnut shell. One day, a frog came and kidnapped Thumbelina to make her his son's wife. A fish helped her break free and she began floating down a river. Soon, a beetle swooped down and took her away to show his friends his new treasure. When his friends made fun of him, he let Thumbelina go free because he became embarrassed. As Thumbelina tried living on her own, she later fell into a hole that led to a mouse's den. Mouse's friend, Mr. Mole came over and found Thumbelina to be very attractive and wanted to marry her. When Thumbelina went to Mr. Mole's house to prepare for her wedding, she met a swallow who was hurt in Mr. Mole's house. Without Mr. Mole knowing, Thumbelina nursed the swallow back to health and she was able to let him fly free. Later, the swallow ended up coming back to rescue Thumbelina from having to marry Mr. Mole. She was taken to one of her favorite places, the meadow. Here she met many other tiny people and a prince just for her. Thumbelina was finally able to live a happy life with the Flower King among the flowers and other tiny people.

My Thoughts: Although I enjoyed reading this book, it wasn't one of my absolute favorites. I do feel like it would be a good book to use in my classroom to inspire my students to think outside of the box when writing fantastical stories. I do understand that just because it wasn't one of my favorites, doesn't mean that it won't be a favorite of one of my students. I will always include a wide variety of books in my classroom library, including this one.

A Halloween Scare in Texas by Eric James

Author: Eric James

Illustrator: Marina Le Rey

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: None

Grade(s): Pre-K - 2nd 

Summary: This book is about a little boy who was scared to go out on Halloween night because of all of the monsters, goblins, ghosts, and vampires that are roaming about on the streets of Texas. In a rhyming fashion, the boy describes how the creatures are roaming about and how its terrifying to him. Then, while the boy was hiding out in his house, he hears a noise downstairs and decides to check it out. When he gets downstairs, he sees the monsters having their Halloween ball. He notices one big monster that stands out and sees that the monster is coming for him. He pleads with the monster not to eat him, but instead the monster wrapped him up in a big monster cuddle. The monster gave him a prize for having the best and scariest costume of all, being a child. After this, the little boy decided to have fun with the monsters at their ball because he isn't scared of them anymore. He realizes that he scares them more than they scare him.

My Thoughts: I think this book will be a cute addition to my classroom library as I can use it for a fun Halloween themed reading. This book also offers students with a lot of familiarity as it talks about Texas and different parts of Texas. We all know that stories that incorporate students' real lives are always a winner. Also, this entire book rhymes so I would definitely incorporate it into rhyming lessons. I definitely feel like if Halloween came much later than my rhyming lesson, I would be able to activate my students' prior knowledge and lessons to reiterate what rhyming is and how they know the book rhymes. 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Author: Beatrix Potter

Illustrator: Cyndy Szekeres

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: Waterstones The Nation's Favorite Children's Books (1997, No 41), 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up (2009, Ages 3^), New York Public Library's Books of the Century, 501 Must-Read Books (Children's Fiction), Growing Good Kids Book Award (Classics)

Grade(s): Pre-K-2nd 

Summary: The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a well known classic that features a rabbit named Peter who is mischievous and ends up learning a lesson. Peter lived with his mother and 3 sisters. Peter's mother told her children that they were allowed to go outside to play, but instructed them to stay away from Mr. McGregor's garden. She even mentions that their father had an "accident" there and was put into a pie. When Peter's mother went shopping and his sisters went to pick blackberries, Peter decided to visit Mr. McGregor's garden, just as he had been instructed not to. While there, Peter ate many different things that Mr. McGregor was growing. Mr. McGregor ended up spotting Peter and went to chase him. Peter's jacket button ended up getting caught in a net which resulted in him having to leave it behind in order to escape Mr. McGregor. Eventually, Peter had been chased all around the garden and had gotten lost. He was so scared he began to cry. However, Peter finally spotted the gate where he had come in and was finally able to escape back home. When he had returned home, he had fallen ill and had to go to bed early while his sisters enjoyed a nice, delicious supper. 

My Thoughts: I have read this book many times growing up and it still continues to be a favorite classic of mine. I definitely feel like this would be a good book to use in my classroom to teach my students the importance of following the directions given to them. Just as in the story, not following directions can result in becoming lost or even becoming sick. This book is a good book to use to teach this lesson and I feel like it will be enjoyed by my students just as it was enjoyed by me.