Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson

 

Summary:

A memoir written in verse that depicts the author, Jaqueline Woodson, growing up in different places during a unique time in American history.  She is an African American girl that was born in Ohio, but raised in the South with her grandparents during the Jim Crow era.  She then moves back to the North to a much harder place, but is able to meet friends.  Jaqueline has to learn how to manage two very different worlds. 

• beautiful memoir written from a child´s point of view
• you are able to learn about the Civil Rights movement through a child´s point of view
• addresses growing up in the segregated South, Christianity, divorce, sickness, and deaths of family
• each poem is emotional as it allows you to catch a glimpse into a child´s soul as she struggles to find her place in the world
• Awarded the Newberry Medal and National Book Award

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. NY: Penguin.

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The Three Pigs by David Weisner

 

Summary:

Witty and imaginative version of The Three Little Pigs.  When the wolf comes a-knocking and a-puffing, he blows the pigs into a whole new landscape where they go flying through other stories.  Some of their adventures include encountering a dragon and a cat with a fiddle.  Readers will find a humorous spin to this familiar tale.

• witty dialogue and comedy are use to retell this familiar tale
• illustrations are clever and whimsical
• allows your imagination to soar
• awarded the Caldecott Medal

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. NY: Clarion.

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

 

Summary:

At eight years old, Bea finds out that her parents are getting a divorce and that her dad is gay.  She learns that she will have to go back and forth between two seperate apartments.  Her parents give her a list of ¨things that will not change.¨  Bea struggles to come to terms with the divorce and the fact that her dad is gay.  She begins to act out and begins to feel bad on the inside.  With the help of her new therapist, Bea begins to learn how to recognize and handle her emotions.  She begins to accept gaining a new family and trying to find happiness.

• a unique story of loss, change, and hope 
• emotional story about changes in family
• acknowledges that not every problem can be solved and that doing a bad thing does not mean you  are a bad person

Stead, Rebecca (2020). List Of Things That Will Not Change. NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

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It´s a Book by Lane Smith

 

Summary:

A laptop doting donkey is baffled by a monkeyś unrecognizable possession - a book.  The donkey asks many questions to figure out what he has, ¨What do you have there?¨ or ¨How do you scroll down?¨  The monkey repeatedly responds with, ¨It´s a book¨.

• hilarious and witty
• connects with today´s digital age
• beware uses the term jackass when addressing the donkey

Smith, L. (2011). It's a book! NY: Roaring Brook.

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Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer

 

Summary:

A book of reverso poems that combine fairytales with poetry with a fun twist, from Cinderella to Beauty and the Beast. Each page is filled with poems that mean one thing on the way down and another on the way back up offering different perspectives and meanings depending on the direction you read.  

• each poem is illustrated with colorful pictures showing both perspectives of the poem
• a celebration of imagery, language, and perspective

Singer, M., & Masse Josée. (2010). Mirror mirror: a book of reverso poems. Dutton Children's Books, an imprint of Pinguin Group (USA) Inc.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendack

 

Summary:

Max gets to sent to bed without supper for dressing as a wolf and causing trouble. When in his room he uses his imagination and a forest grows.  Max boards a ship and sails across oceans to an island where the wild things live.  At first he is frightened by the wild things, but Max hypnotizes them and they then reign him King.  Then far away Max smells something good, and sails back home where he finds hot supper in his room.

• a classic of children´s literature
• even though Max misbehaves, the reader can learn of parental love
• the story, writing, and art will have kids asking for repeated readings
• awarded Caldecott Medal

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. NY: HarperCollins.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

 

Summary:

Jess is excited to start 5th grade and to become the fastest runner at school.  He has been practicing all summer.  However on the first day the new girl, Leslie, comes in and beats everyone in the school, including Jess.  Soon they become inseperable friends and together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods in their imaginations.  Terabithia is a place where they learn and accept each others differences.  Suddenly a terrible tragedy occurs and Jess must  find strength and courage that Leslie had taught him.

• an honest, moving story about friendship and loss
• a story of a boy and a girl who became friends despite their differences
• Awarded the Newberry Medal

Paterson, K. (1972). Bridge to Terabithia. NY: Crown.

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