Title: Apple Pie 4th of JulyAuthor: Janet S. Wong
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Copyright: 2002
Summary: This story if about a little girl whose parents own a Chinese food restaurant. It is the 4th of July and she does not understand why her parents keep making food, because "No one wants Chinese food on the 4th of July". She thinks her parents don't get what it means to be American. But then after the parade at nighttime, lots of people come in to eat. SO she sees that the 4th of July is not just for apple pie.
Strengths: This is a great story that puts your in the place of a child whose parents were born in another country. And it shows how America really is a melting pot and not as traditional as many may think.
Age level: k-3
Classroom use: Individual reading. When teaching about different cultures.
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Title: Harriet the Spy
Author: Louise Fitzhugh
Publisher: Yearling
Copyright: 2001
Summary: The story of an eleven year old spy who writes about everything and everyone in her journal. But what happens when her classmates find her journal and read about all the things she writes about each and every one of them?
Strengths: Many students can relate to this book, because everyone has known a time when a friend was mad at them. This book also talks about the myriad of issues student can have, from issues with parents to trying where they fit in.
Age Level: 9-12
Classroom Use: Independent reading. To introduce how to keep a diary.
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Title: Holes
Author: Louis Sachar
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Copyright: 2000
Summary: Instead of getting sent to jail for stealing a famous baseball player's old sneakers, Stanley Yelnats get sent to Camp Green Lake. Camp Green lake, which is really in the middle of the desert with not lake in sight, is where they beleive that by digging holes troublesome young boys will learn to be better citizens. After being their Stanley realizes what that they are really there to dig for the missing fortune of Kissing Kate Barlow, an outlaw who buried her treasure in the exact spot where Camp Green Lake is located.
Strengths: I loved how this book kept flashing back to the past, to give the reader information about the history of Camp Green Lake. This book is also a great adventure story, that kept me on the edge of my seat and would be a perfect book for all students, especially boys.
Age Level: 4th grade and up
Classroom Use: independent reading
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Title: Fly Away Home
Author: Eve Bunting
illustrator: Ronald Himler
Publisher: Clarion Books
Copyright: 1991
Summary: depicts the life of a child and his father who live in the airport. They are constantly moving around so they are not noticed. One day the child sees a trapped bird, who finally gets out and finds freedom it gives him hope that eventually things will get better
Strengths: Illustrations tie in well with text. Leaves reader with hope
Age Level: k-2
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Title: The Hatchet
Author: Gary Paulson
Publisher: Bradbury Press
Copyright: 1987
Summary: After dealing with his parent's divorce, Brian is on his way up to stay with his father in a small plane when suddenly the pilot has a heart attack and dies. Brian manages to get the plane down, but it is in the middle of the woods. This is a survival story of his time spent in the forest all alone
Strengths: Easy read. Great adventure story for boys.
Age Level: 11-13
Classroom Use: Independent reading
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Title: Fly Away Home
Author: Eve Bunting
illustrator: Ronald Himler
Publisher: Clarion Books
Copyright: 1991
Summary: depicts the life of a child and his father who live in the airport. They are constantly moving around so they are not noticed. One day the child sees a trapped bird, who finally gets out and finds freedom it gives him hope that eventually things will get better
Strengths: Illustrations tie in well with text. Leaves reader with hope
Age Level: k-2
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Title: The Hatchet
Author: Gary Paulson
Publisher: Bradbury Press
Copyright: 1987
Summary: After dealing with his parent's divorce, Brian is on his way up to stay with his father in a small plane when suddenly the pilot has a heart attack and dies. Brian manages to get the plane down, but it is in the middle of the woods. This is a survival story of his time spent in the forest all alone
Strengths: Easy read. Great adventure story for boys.
Age Level: 11-13
Classroom Use: Independent reading
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Title: Everything On a Waffle
Author: Polly Horvath
Publisher: Square Fish
Copyright: 2008
Summary: This book is about a young girl named Primrose Squarb whose parents go missing out to see. The entire time she still believes that her parents will come back, despite what everyone else telling her they are dead. For all practical purposes, at least for the time being, Primrose is an orphan, and there's no great clamoring of prospective adopters. After realizing the impracticality of continuing to pay Miss Perfidy an hourly wage to baby-sit her, the town council is able to locate a relative, Uncle Jack, who reluctantly takes Primrose into his care. But true sanctuary can always be found at a restaurant called "The Girl in the Swing", where everything — including lasagna —is served on a waffle.As she waits and navigates through a series of adventures, Primrose observes all sorts of human qualities in the people who come into her life: an elderly neighbor, the school guidance counselor, her wheeler-dealer uncle, a childless couple, and the always ready to listen restaurant owner, who serves everything on a waffle.
Strengths: I enjoyed this story so much because of the message it sent out, that some times you know something can't be true according to whatever one else is telling, but you never give up and it comes true! Like most children's book this one had a happy ending. I also enjoyed how at the end of each chapter Primrose included a recipe for some type of food she talked about in the chapter.
Age Level: 5th-8th grade
Classroom use: Independent reading.
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