Title: Zen Shorts
Author: Jon J. Muth
Illustrator: Jon J. Muth
Publisher: Scholastic Press, First Edition
Copyright: 2005
Summary: This story is about three children who find a panda named Stillwater in their backyard. Each day one of the children goes out to spend time with Stillwater, and he tells them each a unique Zen story that they can relate to.
Strengths: I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book, they were two page spreads in beautiful watercolor. This book also taught lessons through the use of Zen stories (Zen is a Japanese word that simply means mediation. In zen the teachings of Buddah have always been passed down from teacher to student.
Age level: k-2
Classroom use: This can be used during individual reading time.
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Title: Where the Wild Things Are
Author: Maurice Sendak
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Copyright: 1963/1991
Summary: Max is looking for a little fun, so he dresses up in a comical wolf suit. Unfortunately, his mother is tired of his antics, and sends him to bed without any supper. But unexpectedly a forest grows in his bedroom and Max is taken away to a land of Wild Things. Fortunately, the Wild Things do not eat Max; instead they make him their king. And lucky Max is allowed to continue his romp. Will Max return to his mother and finally eat his dinner?
Strengths: this book allows children to use their imagination. The illustrations are also interesting because as Max gets closer and closer to the island of the wild things the illustration takes up more of the page until eventually it is a two page spread. Then on his way back the illustrations take up less and less of the page. There is also an happy ending, where Max's dinner is waiting for him when he gets back, still hot. I also enjoy how the monsters are not too scary looking, they all look some what comical.
Age level: k-3rd grade (4-8 years old)
Classroom use:During independent reading, to show how illustrations can show story development, also so rhyming is used.
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Title: The Paperboy
Author: Dav Pilkey
Illustrator: Dav Pilkey
Publisher: Orchard Books
Copyright: 1996
Summary: When the whole neighborhood is still asleep, the paperboy is in the garage, rolling papers and filling his red bag to the top. With his faithful dog at his side, the paperboy sets off in a mood of contentedness and confidence.
Strengths: This is a simple story of the life of a young paperboy, and everything he does before the rest of the world is awake. The pictures are rich in color. And shows children what it would be like to be in the shoes of another. It also shows them an example of a service that is done by another person in the community.
Age Level: k-2
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Title: Fancy Nancy
Author: Jane O'Connor
Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
Publisher: HarperCollins
Copyright: 2006
Summary: Meet Nancy, who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. From the top of her tiara down to her sparkly studded shoes, Nancy is determined to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy.How Nancy transforms her parents and little sister for one enchanted evening makes for a story that is funny and warm -- with or without the frills.
Strengths: This book has wonderful elaborate illustrations and humorous text. This story shows children that no matter if you are fancy or "normal" your family will always be by your side.
Age Level: k-2
Classroom Use: Independent reading. Can be used to give example of synonyms.
______________________________________________________________________ Title: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type
Author: Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division
Copyright: 2000
Summary: Farmer Brown's Cows have some how learned to type. After not receiving electric blankets, they go on strike. What will Farmer Brown do?
Strengths: Humorous, great illustrations. I enjoyed how the illustration on the last page tells how the story ends, and no text is needed
Age Level: 4-7
Classroom Use: We used this book to show A,B,C patterns(click, clack, moo).
________________________________________________________________________ Title: Flotsam
Author: David Wiesner
Illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Copyright: 2006
Summary: A science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam — anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds.But there's no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share ... and to keep.
______________________________________________________________________ Title: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type
Author: Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division
Copyright: 2000
Summary: Farmer Brown's Cows have some how learned to type. After not receiving electric blankets, they go on strike. What will Farmer Brown do?
Strengths: Humorous, great illustrations. I enjoyed how the illustration on the last page tells how the story ends, and no text is needed
Age Level: 4-7
Classroom Use: We used this book to show A,B,C patterns(click, clack, moo).
________________________________________________________________________ Title: Flotsam
Author: David Wiesner
Illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Copyright: 2006
Summary: A science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam — anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds.But there's no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share ... and to keep.
Strengths: Excellent pictures with great detail and show a great amount of imagination
Age Level: 5-9
Classroom Use: Wordless picture books are great to use in the classroom. You can use them when teaching prediction, story structure, or it can be used a a writing prompt for students to add their own text.
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