Catch the Wind! All About Kites
by Gail Gibbons
32 Pages
Sam and Katie go to Ike’s Kite Shop in order to find the perfect kites to buy and then fly. While they are there, Ike tells them all about the history of kites. He explains how the kite helped lead Benjamin Franklin to discover electricity and how kites also helped the Wright Brothers fly an airplane. Ike also explains to Sam and Katie that there are several different types of kites. He tells them about each one. At the end of the book, there are directions provided in order for the reader to make his or her own kite to fly.
Personal Rating- 5
This book is a really good source to use to learn about kites. There is a brief history provided and all of the different types of kites are explained. I personally did not know that there were 5 different types of kites! I also liked how the author provided instructions on how to design your own kite because after you read this book you really wish you had a kite to fly!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Cars and Trucks and Other Vehicles
Cars and Trucks and Other Vehicles
by Gallimard Jeunesse and Claude Delafosse
Illustrated by Sophie Kniffke
This informational book teaches the readers about different means of transportation. A few of the pages contain “transparencies” and when you turn those pages you are able to see inside the car, under the hood, or even see how to repair a bicycle. This book tells about cars, race cars, dump trucks, delivery trucks, buses, and bicycles.
Personal Rating- 5
This book gives just enough information for young readers to learn about means of transportation. The transparencies are really neat because they provide the reader with another way to learn about the vehicle. A wide variety of vehicles are discussed in this book so young readers can easily learn that there is more than one way to travel somewhere.
by Gallimard Jeunesse and Claude Delafosse
Illustrated by Sophie Kniffke
This informational book teaches the readers about different means of transportation. A few of the pages contain “transparencies” and when you turn those pages you are able to see inside the car, under the hood, or even see how to repair a bicycle. This book tells about cars, race cars, dump trucks, delivery trucks, buses, and bicycles.
Personal Rating- 5
This book gives just enough information for young readers to learn about means of transportation. The transparencies are really neat because they provide the reader with another way to learn about the vehicle. A wide variety of vehicles are discussed in this book so young readers can easily learn that there is more than one way to travel somewhere.
Chicken Sunday
Chicken Sunday
by Patricia Polacco
32 Pages
This book is about a little girl who had “adopted” a lady as her grandmother. The lady’s name was Eula Mae Walker. The little girl wanted to save her money to buy a really nice gift for Mrs. Walker. Mrs. Walker really liked to wear fancy hats to the chicken dinners that were held every Sunday so the little girl planned to go to Mr. Kodinski’s shop and buy one for her. Well, one day a group of evil little boys through eggs at Mr. Kodinski’s shop and Mr. Kodinski believes that Winston and Stewart, and the little girl were the ones that trashed his store. The three children want to prove to Mr. Kodinski that they are innocent so that he will allow them to purchase a hat for Mrs. Walker. The three children decorated what they call Pysanky eggs and gave them to Mr. Kodinski. He realized that the children were innocent and decided to make them a deal on a hat for Mrs. Walker.
Personal Rating- 3
The pictures in this book are amazing. I wish the story was better though so that it did the pictures some justice. The book had a good meaning to it, but I found it to be boring.
by Patricia Polacco
32 Pages
This book is about a little girl who had “adopted” a lady as her grandmother. The lady’s name was Eula Mae Walker. The little girl wanted to save her money to buy a really nice gift for Mrs. Walker. Mrs. Walker really liked to wear fancy hats to the chicken dinners that were held every Sunday so the little girl planned to go to Mr. Kodinski’s shop and buy one for her. Well, one day a group of evil little boys through eggs at Mr. Kodinski’s shop and Mr. Kodinski believes that Winston and Stewart, and the little girl were the ones that trashed his store. The three children want to prove to Mr. Kodinski that they are innocent so that he will allow them to purchase a hat for Mrs. Walker. The three children decorated what they call Pysanky eggs and gave them to Mr. Kodinski. He realized that the children were innocent and decided to make them a deal on a hat for Mrs. Walker.
Personal Rating- 3
The pictures in this book are amazing. I wish the story was better though so that it did the pictures some justice. The book had a good meaning to it, but I found it to be boring.
Thunder Cake
Thunder Cake
by Patricia Polacco
32 Pages
This is a story about a little girl and her grandmother that decide to bake a cake. They are not just baking any ordinary cake. They are baking Thunder Cake. The little girl is very nervous about the storm that is approaching and the grandmother explains to her that this weather is perfect weather for baking this cake. The grandmother explains to the child that when you see lightening, you are supposed to count up until you hear the thunder. This tells you how many miles away the storm is. The storm starts ten miles away. The storm grows closer as the two gather their materials to make the cake. In the end, the girl ends up not being afraid of storms anymore.
Personal Rating-5
This is another one of my favorite books because it gives the idea that everything is safe in grandma’s arms. Grandmothers just have a way about them to make everything seem less scary. I like how the grandma distracts the little girl from the storm and teaches her about the history of Thunder Cake. It is one of life’s lessons that she will remember forever and be able to share with her children and grandchildren.
by Patricia Polacco
32 Pages
This is a story about a little girl and her grandmother that decide to bake a cake. They are not just baking any ordinary cake. They are baking Thunder Cake. The little girl is very nervous about the storm that is approaching and the grandmother explains to her that this weather is perfect weather for baking this cake. The grandmother explains to the child that when you see lightening, you are supposed to count up until you hear the thunder. This tells you how many miles away the storm is. The storm starts ten miles away. The storm grows closer as the two gather their materials to make the cake. In the end, the girl ends up not being afraid of storms anymore.
Personal Rating-5
This is another one of my favorite books because it gives the idea that everything is safe in grandma’s arms. Grandmothers just have a way about them to make everything seem less scary. I like how the grandma distracts the little girl from the storm and teaches her about the history of Thunder Cake. It is one of life’s lessons that she will remember forever and be able to share with her children and grandchildren.
Pink and Say
Pink and Say
by Patricia Polacco
48 Pages
Sheldon Russell Curtis is a soldier fighting in the Civil War. He is injured in the battlefield and is laying on the ground in a great deal of pain when Pinkus Aylee comes to his rescue. Pinkus took Sheldon to his mother’s house in order for him to get well. Sheldon recovered from his injury. In the meantime, it grew very dangerous for the two boys to be staying at Moe Moe Bay’s house (Pinkus’s Mother) because the war was going on and it was just not safe for the family to have the two boys there. One day, the boys were getting ready to leave the house to go back to the war and mauderer’s shot Moe Moe Bay. The two boys were captured and taken to Andersonville where they were kept as prisoners of war for the rest of their days. They nicknamed each other Pink and Say.
Personal Rating – 5
I had never read this book until now. I really enjoyed it. It was an account written about the Civil War that was “kid friendly”. This would be a good book to use in an early elementary classroom to teach students about the war. The pictures were really amazing as well.
by Patricia Polacco
48 Pages
Sheldon Russell Curtis is a soldier fighting in the Civil War. He is injured in the battlefield and is laying on the ground in a great deal of pain when Pinkus Aylee comes to his rescue. Pinkus took Sheldon to his mother’s house in order for him to get well. Sheldon recovered from his injury. In the meantime, it grew very dangerous for the two boys to be staying at Moe Moe Bay’s house (Pinkus’s Mother) because the war was going on and it was just not safe for the family to have the two boys there. One day, the boys were getting ready to leave the house to go back to the war and mauderer’s shot Moe Moe Bay. The two boys were captured and taken to Andersonville where they were kept as prisoners of war for the rest of their days. They nicknamed each other Pink and Say.
Personal Rating – 5
I had never read this book until now. I really enjoyed it. It was an account written about the Civil War that was “kid friendly”. This would be a good book to use in an early elementary classroom to teach students about the war. The pictures were really amazing as well.
The Trumpet of the Swan
The Trumpet of the Swan
by E.B. White
275 Pages
Louis was not a normal trumpet swan. When he was born, he was different from his brothers and sisters. He was unable to talk. Therefore, he could not communicate with anyone. His parents feared that he would never be able to fall in love or do anything since he could not talk to others. Louis decides to go to school and learn how to write so he can talk to others. This was a good idea expect for the other swans did not know how to read. Next, Louis learns how to play the trumpet and that is where his journey begins. He gets a job, finds love, and has many, many adventures.
Personal Rating-1
I give the book a one because I guess it was somewhat unique because of the “creative” idea behind it. I honestly thought his book was very dry. It was hard to read and took me a long time to complete it. I do not have anything positive to say about this book.
by E.B. White
275 Pages
Louis was not a normal trumpet swan. When he was born, he was different from his brothers and sisters. He was unable to talk. Therefore, he could not communicate with anyone. His parents feared that he would never be able to fall in love or do anything since he could not talk to others. Louis decides to go to school and learn how to write so he can talk to others. This was a good idea expect for the other swans did not know how to read. Next, Louis learns how to play the trumpet and that is where his journey begins. He gets a job, finds love, and has many, many adventures.
Personal Rating-1
I give the book a one because I guess it was somewhat unique because of the “creative” idea behind it. I honestly thought his book was very dry. It was hard to read and took me a long time to complete it. I do not have anything positive to say about this book.
Stuart Little
Stuart Little
by E.B. White
165 Pages
Stuart Little is a mouse that lives with a human family. He has his own little clothes, bed, and car! He helps out around the house doing tasks that a normal person would not be able to do. One day, a bird named Margo stops by the Little’s house to rest. Stuart and Margo become fast friends! Margo finally decides that she is rested up and ready to head back out into the real world. She leaves before Stuart can say goodbye. Stuart decides to go out and look for Margo so he can be with his friend. While trying to find her, he meets a few good people and a few bad people. This book is all about staying determined. Stuart wants to find Margo and even though things got difficult, he kept searching for her.
Personal Rating- 3
I did not find this book very exciting. The storyline is kind of cute but it was really not all that appealing to me. The message in the book is good though. It demonstrates that even though we are all different, we are all important. We cannot all do the same things, but the things that we are able to do are what make us great. Also, the book demonstrates that when you set your mind to accomplish something, you should try to stay determined and reach your goals.
by E.B. White
165 Pages
Stuart Little is a mouse that lives with a human family. He has his own little clothes, bed, and car! He helps out around the house doing tasks that a normal person would not be able to do. One day, a bird named Margo stops by the Little’s house to rest. Stuart and Margo become fast friends! Margo finally decides that she is rested up and ready to head back out into the real world. She leaves before Stuart can say goodbye. Stuart decides to go out and look for Margo so he can be with his friend. While trying to find her, he meets a few good people and a few bad people. This book is all about staying determined. Stuart wants to find Margo and even though things got difficult, he kept searching for her.
Personal Rating- 3
I did not find this book very exciting. The storyline is kind of cute but it was really not all that appealing to me. The message in the book is good though. It demonstrates that even though we are all different, we are all important. We cannot all do the same things, but the things that we are able to do are what make us great. Also, the book demonstrates that when you set your mind to accomplish something, you should try to stay determined and reach your goals.
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