Paul

Reading Log **// Reading widely and extensively in children’s literature is the most important part of this course. You will need to read a combination of 21 picture books; 6 intermediate books; and 3 young adult books from the following genres: folklore and fairy tales, fantasy/science fiction, realistic fiction, historical fiction, biographies, multicultural books. You will need to complete a Reading Notes Entry File for each book you read. The well-written, thoughtful Reading Long annotations should be approximately 100 words in length. //**    Picture Books ** #1 The Golly Sister Go West (Winning Author of the Newbery Medal) By Sue Truesdell ** // The Golly sisters sat in their wagon, they were going west. "Go" May-May said to the horse. The horse did not go. "This makes me mad," May May said.” Our wagon is ready. Our songs and dances are ready. And the horse will not go." "It makes me mad too," said Rose. "Something is wrong with this horse. //   This little book is comprised of 6 corresponding short stories of May May and Rose's Westward adventures. May May and Rose are sisters who love each other, but who also love to fuss between themselves. The Stories can easily be used to teach moral object lessons to the children. In the first adventure they are united under the cause of fixing their broken horse who will not budge. In second adventure the Golly sisters get into a fight over who gets to wear the blue dress during their short song and dance show. In the third adventure the sisters get lost and come up with a creative way to get found and so on and so on. They love each other deeply and the little stories always have happy endings, but those sisters are tricky, silly, sassy, sulky, and stubborn along the way. ** #2 Ducks Don't Get Wet By Augusta Goldin Illustrated by Leonard Kessle ** r  // Ducks are water birds. All day long they go in and out of the water. In and out, in and out. No matter how many times they go into the water, ducks don't get wet. Ducks are waterproof. //   This children's book is a learn as you read book. It explains many different types of ducks and all sorts of interesting facts, such as how some ducks can dive down into the water over 100 feet and some ducks can swim underwater over 300 feet. What I loved about this book as a little child were the illustrations. Each page is wonderfully illustrated and corresponds perfectly with the information being presented. This is a great book to read to your children because of both its entertainment and educational value. I can personally testify that children interested in animals will love these illustrates and desire for you to re-read this book to them over and over again. ** #3 The Treasure Tree Written by John and Cindy Trent and Gray and Norma Smalley, Illustrated by Judy love ** // All the forest animals had gathers for the biggest, bestest birthday party ever. There were four birthday cakes and four birthday places of honor. And four best friends were sitting in those special places, all cheering and laughing. //   The Treasure Tree is a wonderful story about four very distinct friends who must all work together and rely on each other's strengths in order to find all four of the golden keys which will in turn unlock the treasure tree. They begin the adventure when the wise old owl gives them a special old map with clues to where each key is located. Lance the Lion is bold and brave, Honey the Golden Retrieve is loyal and thoughtful, Chewy the Beaver is a brilliant problem solver, and Giggles the Otter is a fun loving, playful ball of energy. All four friends play a key role in finding the keys, and in the end, through all the adventure and mystery, the four friends find their treasure and so much more. ** #4 The Giving Tree by Shel SilverStein ** // Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into a crown and play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. //   The giving tree is a classic story about a tree that loves a boy and a boy who loves a tree but takes her for-granted. The boy starts off playing with the trees leaves and eating her apples, but time marches on. The boy grows older and desires money, and the tree gives the boy all her apples to sell in the city. The Boy then comes back a long time later and asks for a house. The tree lets the boy cut off her branches and take them away to build a house. Again a long time later the boy comes back and asks for a boat. The tree still loves the boy and suggests that the boy take her trunk to make a boat. The boy, who is now a very old man does this and sails away. The story ends with the old man returning once more and simply asking for a place to sit. The tree straightens up as best she could and offers him the only thing she has left, a place to sit and rest on her stump. I have always loved and hated this story. It seems so sad for the giving tree to love someone who is never there. She gives everything to the old man and in the end she gets what she wants, but she has suffered all her life desiring to be with the boy. The story is wonderfully simple and I would suggest it to all expecting mothers and fathers. ** #5 Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman ** A mother bird sat on her egg. The egg jumped. "Oh oh!" said the mother bird. "My baby well be here! He will want to eat." Here is a popular story about a mother bird who fly’s off to find her baby some food, only while she is gone, the little baby bird hatches. This little baby bird is all alone and wants his mother, and so he sets out to find her. He asks kitten, a hen, a dog, a cow, a boat, a plane and a crane, but none of those things were his mother. The story ends happily as the mother and baby are reunited and the baby bird finally knows whom his mother is. ** #6 Inspector Peckit by Don freeman ** (On a personal note... 2 thumbs way up) High atop a chimneystack, a bight-eyed pigeon named Peckit stood gazing out over the rooftops of Paris, cooing to himself in French. Inspector Peckit is a French bi-lingual private eye Pigeon who happens per-chance to spy a little girl crying at her window. As an investigator, he knew something was a miss and came to the rescue. The little girl had lost her Grandmother's birthday present; a little soft white round yarn woven purse. Now he had a case to investigate, but not before he spied a cat in her room, of whom he immediately became suspicious. The rest of the book talks about the adventures and innocent mistakes Peckit makes in search of the little girl's purse. In the end Peckit finds the purse in a most unexpected place and is able to return it for a wonderful reward, at least in the mind of a bi-lingual French pigeon. ** #7 The League of Unusual Animals by Priscilla and Otto Friedrich illustrated by Carol Rogers ** "I growl at everybody because everybody hates me and so I hate everybody", growled the wolf. Here is a children's book with a sad ending about animals that try to be nice, but are laughed at and treated cruelly by those they are trying to serve. The wolf, the rat, the toad, the weasel, the vulture, the spider, and the snake set out to create a charter which they shall post upon the large important oak tree for all the other forest animals to see, that describes their new resolve to act in a friendly manor towards those they once hunted. The other creatures however do not respond in kindness, but rather mock them, and strew the league of unusual animals picnic food all across the meadow. Because of this maltreatment the rabbit, lamb, calf and chicken are once again put back on the menu for one hour as the league moves that the rules of their new charter be placed on hold for one hour. Just then a farmer shows up with a gun and tells them all to get of his land or he will shoot them. The book ends, much like it begins with a wolf growling at the snake and the snake hissing at the wolf. ** #8 Forever Laughter by Don Freeman ** Once upon a throne there sat a very sad King. This is the King. This book is almost wordless. It is a story about a sad king who demands his court jester make him laugh or be banished from the kingdom. After this dialogue the book almost ceases entirely to use text to move the story along. The Court jester pulls out a mirror, the king looks into the mirror and begins to laugh, they then switch hats and roles, but the former jester becomes sad and depressed and "banishes the king" the king then gives the former jester the mirror and the jester begins to laugh. Finally the book ends with both the king and the jester with their original hats back on laughing on the ground slumped together as best friends forever. ** #9 Hello, Cat, You Need a Hat by Rita Golden Gelman Illustrated by Dana Regan ** Just look! Your head is bare. I have some hats that you can wear. Come over hear. I'll give you some. I do not want one. Hats are dumb. I like this book allot. The book is all about a little girl that wants to dress up her kitty. The cat is grumpy and responds in rhyme with what the girl says. The book read much like green eggs and ham, in that there is a very clear meter. The pictures are great as they depict the innocent pestering little girl, seeking to find a hat that her cat will wear, and how they depict the frustration of the kitty as it continues to deny the pleas of it's master to wear a hat of any kind. The book ends with the little girl asking if the cat would like to try on shoes and the cat leaves her, in my mind, for good! ** #10 Never Tease A Weasel by Jean Conder Soule Illustrated by Denman Hampson ** You can knit a kitten mittens And perhaps that cat would purr. You could fit a fox with socks That exactly matched his fur. This book is funny. It teaches that children should to be nice to weasels. The whole book is composed of witty couplets and quatrains split apart on different pages, which are creatively illustrated. The book suggests many different funny things one could possibly do with all sorts of animals, but through repetition, reminds children over and over again that one should never tease a weasel. This book is an oldie but a goody. I really enjoyed reading it, for the literature is well written, but it is still fun and appropriate for children. ** #11 Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! words and pictures by Mo Willems ** Hi! I'm the bus driver. Listen, I've got to leave for a little while, so can you watch thing for me until I get back? Thanks. Oh and remember: Don't let the pigeon drive the Bus! Here is a book that allows the listeners to respond with the word "NO! This book sets the stage with the author asking the listeners to make sure the pigeon does not drive the bus. The rest of the story is the pigeon pleading with you to drive the bus. Finally the bus driver returns and asks if you allowed the pigeon to drive the bus. Thankfully, all though you were continuously pestered you resisted the pigeon and earned the gratitude of the bus driver.   I like this book and could possibly use it as part of an anticipatory set in which I explained to my students that whining and pleading to get there way will not work. I enjoyed this book and think that children would as well. The pigeon uses some pretty common, and creative means of persuasion, which children will recognize and relate to. Great easy read!   ** #12 Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs Written by Judi Barrett and Drawn by Ron Barrett ** We were all sitting around the big kitchen table. It was Saturday Morning. Pancake morning. Mom was squeezing oranges for juice. Henry and I were betting on how many pancakes we each could eat. And Grandpa was doing the flipping. This story consists of a Grandpa's bedtime story to his two grand children. It takes place in a land called chewandswallow where everything is the same except the weather. In the land of chewandswallow it rains orange juice, milk, and soda. Hamburger storms frequent its shores, and everyone carries around their own plates, and sliver ware just incase the weather begins to act up. Suddenly out of no where, the food portions begin to grow, a single pancake soon covers the school, and the seas are filled with rolls of bread. The people are forced to abandon their homes on ships made of stale bread and pizza slices in search of a new town. This story is quite creative and the illustrations are engaging. I enjoyed reading this book and would suggest it to anyone who loves children's books. ** #13 I know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson Pictures by Judith Byron Schachner ** I know an old lady who swallowed a pie, a thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry. Perhaps she'll die. Here is a classic re-telling of the wonder children's tale, I know an old lady who swallowed a fly. In this story the Grandma gets fatter and fatter until she turns into a fat balloon that eats bread to make her feel full. She eats a pie, a cake, a squash, a roll, and even a pot, and a turkey whole. She is a big fat woman by the end of the book, but she does not die. It is a clever retelling that will make all those who enjoy the original chuckle. The illustrations are well done, and really add to the story. I found the book to be quite enjoyable and would recommend the book to all those who enjoy this genre of literature. ** #14 Testing Miss Malarkey by Judy Finchler Illustrations by Kevin O'Malley ** Miss Malarkey is a good teacher. Usually she's really nice. But a couple of weeks ago she started acting a little weird. She started talking about THE TEST: This children's picture book is all about standardized testing. It is written from a child's perspective, and illustrates many of the observations children must make during these weird testing procedures. The story starts a couple of weeks before the test, and ends with all the teachers celebrating in the teacher's lounge, leaving the students unsure about the importance or impact of this great "TEST". The illustrations are great and children will able to relate well to this story, recalling similar situations they experienced during their own standardized test sessions. This book is not a home run, but it is not a pop fly out either. ** #15 The Golden Christmas Tree by Carole Gerber Illustrated by Unada ** Long ago, an old-fashioned Christmas tree stood in a parlor. Frosted cookies and popcorn balls dangled from its long needles. Candy canes and paper snowflakes hung from its sturdy branches. And draped around it, like bright necklaces, were strings of ripe red cranberries. Here is a story about a family of spiders who longed to see the beautiful Christmas tree. They had been chased out of the parlor by the humans, and forced to take refuge in the attic. Never the less the whole spider family risks the trip to go down at night to see this beautiful Christmas tree. When they arrive it is disappointing because of how dark it is. Then the mother spider gets and Idea, and the story fast forwards to Christmas morning. Mamma and Pappa spider had wrapped the whole Christmas tree in beautiful golden silk and the sight amazed the humans. They saw the spiders above the tree but were so thankful for the gift they forgot to be scared and let them dangle there above the tree in their newly formed web. The End. ** #16 Sweet Dream Pie by Audrey wood and Mark Teague ** It was almost dawn on Willobee Street when Pa Brindle lit the lantern and led Ma Brindle up to their dark attic to an old trunk draped in cobwebs. Too many sweets can sour your dreams. This children's book warns many children not to eat too much sweet dream pie. Old Pa Brindle never did have too much self-control, but he got a taste inside his head he just had to experience again. So Ma warned him and he promised to behave, but when the time came you know that he caved. And the entire town came out to eat the pie too, you see it had baked all day long, and they had nothing better to do, then to shade themselves from the sun and dream of the pie until it was done. No one ate supper, they thought of nothing else but Ma's pie. But the dreams that followed were as dark as the night. Thankfully Ma held fast to her broom and swept all those monsters away from every bedroom. This book was a fun book fill with funny pictures and ridiculous concepts. ** #17 King BIdgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood illustrated by Don Wood ** "Help! Help!" Cried the Page when the sun came up. "King Bidgood's in the bathtub, and he won't get out! Oh who knows what to do?" Ever wanted to read a story about a king who was constantly naked and telling his subjects to get into the tub with Him? If so, read this story. The pictures add to the story, as the facial expressions tell the reader countless details about the story which the text neglects. The king is in the bathtub and much to the dismay of all his subjects he won't get out of the tube, until the servant pulls the plug. The knight battles the king with army men, the duchess dines with him in her formal gown, there is even a masquerade inside the tub before the story finishes. This book is weirder then most publishers today would allow, save those looking to push the envelope. But still I thought is a funny ridiculous story I wouldn't mind reading my kids. ** #18 Gary and the Very Terrible Monster by Barbara Williams ** When Gary was five he had a pet monster. A VERY TERRIBLE MONSTER. His name was Mr. green nose. He had a green nose and long black hair and red eyes and seven yellow horns and a tail that could throw rocks. Gary is a good boy, after my own heart. He never throws rocks or burps, or leaves nails in the street. But he has a bad friend who follows him around, a terrible monster named Mr. Green Nose. Mr. green nose throws rocks belches and leaves nails in the street. He can grow as tall as a house or as small as a mouse, and he is always getting Gary into to trouble at home, and school, until, one day Gary goes into a pet store. It is here the Gary meets Cookie the watchdog and it is soon after that Mr. Green Nose meets his demise. Cookie is still thought of as a terrible monster by one of the neighbors who owns a cat. ** #19 The Toll-Bridge Troll by Patricia Rae Wolff illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Ro ** ot   Today was the first day of School, and Trigg didn't want to be late. He gobbled his breakfast, grabbed his books, and gave his mother a good-bye kiss. "Have a good day," she said, and be careful of the troll." "Yes, Mother." said Trigg.   To trick a troll she earn you a cent, but keep tricking that troll and cause much decent, among other trolls who are wiser and strong, so choose wisely your words and do nothing wrong. Trolls can be tricky, butt are not naturally smart. Trolls like children need much school at the start. Give a troll a penny and he'll snatch it up, Give him a book, and he'll probably throw up. Trolls want things to come easy like riches and wealth, and care nothing for working, or little boy's health. I enjoyed this story and how the little boy kept tricky the troll. They story even had a positive ending, stressing the importance of a good education. I would recommend this book to all children who are not overly frightened of trolls.   ** #20 The Runaway Roller Skate verses and pictures by John Vernon Lord **    Into the country far away Mr. Ellwood went on a holiday to roller skate was his delight If possible, from morn till night. I enjoy reading poetry with rhyme and meter. This children’s picture book has both. It is all about a man who loves to roller skate, but early in the morning before he is awake a rat sneaks into his room and rides his roller skate away into the yonder. Panicked and perplexed, Mr. Ellwood makes his way across countless landscapes in search of his lost skate. He talks to fishes, bosses, and all sorts of other creatures, with his faithful rooster beside him all the way. The story ends in a humorous way, for in it we can infer that Mr. Ellwood is in store for another great chase across the many landscapes in an attempt to rescue his shoe from a joy junky rat. ** #21 Giant John story and pictures by Arnold Lobel ** Long ago in an enchanted forest living a large giant named John. Fairies are evil. I hate them more then common people hate clowns. Oh sure Tinkerbelle is a beloved little winged firefly of Peter Pan, but I do not trust her, she is a fairy and can be up to no good. In this book John is lovable giant who seeks out a job to take care of his mother. He cleans the castle of a king, keeps it dry, and earns a large bag of money. But then the fairies come and wreck everything. They play their horrible music, which makes john dance uncontrollably. In doing this they make John kill the dong's tail crush all the flowers and knock over the castle. The fairies only stopped their evil selfish music after all this destruction had been done. They tired to help pick everything up but they did a terrible job and then went back with john to his forest house and freeloaded of his gold until they died. That is what happened, and it should come as no surprise to you because fairies are wicked. Intermediate Books ** ﻿ **** #1 The House of Cats and Other Stories by John Hampden ** There was a time long ago when the animal people could talk, just like human people, and some were rich and some were poor, just like human people. Here is book filled with short stories, ranging from a Cat who dipped girls in gold and oil and makes stars of donkey tails grow out of their heads, to a stupid price who surrounds himself with those who can do impossible things, to fairies turning an old woman into the perfect princess, to all sorts of other fanciful things, all with happy endings. This book contains many great weird creepy stories, which are sure to entice even the most affluent readers. The stories are weird, and a little scary, and should probably not be read to the littlest of children, or those whose spirits are timid. I quite enjoyed this book, and though some of the expressions used in the texts are dated, I for one personally find enjoyment in reading them. Great book for someone who enjoys fables and fiction to pick up and read on the road or during a flight. ** #2 THE JATAKAS Tales of India re-told by Ellen C. Babbit ** A monkey lived in a great tree on a riverbank. In the river were many Crocodiles. A crocodile watched the Monkeys for a long time, and one day she said to her son: "My son, get one of those Monkeys for me. I want the heart of a Monkey to eat." From the Monkey and the river, to the turtle who tricked the king, to the merchant carried away by demons, to the temperamental Ox, to the quarrel of the Quails, to the noble Banyan’s deed, to wise crab's kill, this little book contains many funny short stories that intermediate readers can enjoy, imagine and learn a lesson from. These tales speak of treating people rightly, being rewarded for doing the right thing, suffering for being stupid, and so much more. Teachers can easily use these short stories in their anticipatory sets to set the mood of their desired learning environment. I liked reading all these stories, as they will add to my personal inventory of ideas to tell my own children when I grow older. ** #3 Three Apples Fell From Heaven Armenian Tales Retold by Virginia A. Tashjian Illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian  ** Once there was and was not in ancient Armenia a woman whose husband Hagop was the laziest man in the world. Ah husband go to the woods and bring back some faggots for fire! This book is a completion of many different short Armenian tales. Some are funny, some are witty and some are just plain dumb. Almost all of these stories have never been heard by American children and may or may not disturb them to a slight degree. Now this book was and was not written a long time ago, for children of all ages, to teach them how to go. Drop one apple from heaven and you will find, a boy asking for wisdom divine. Drop two apples from heaven and you will see, two little people trying to speak. Now drop three little apples from heaven above and the three little people as white as doves shall soon appear upon this heard, for one has asked, one has spoke and one has heard. ** #4 How to Write Codes and Send Secret Messages by John Peterson Illustrated by Bernice Myers  ** “What does this note say?” Says mother. “I can’t read it,” says little brother. “Look at the funny words,” says big sister. “You better tell me what this secret message means, or else!” says a bully. Here is an intermediate book written all about secret messages. There are countless ways to hid and encode messages. And this book tells many helpful hints, like how to create your own invisible ink, and how to combine two different codes, and how to pass on messages secretly. I enjoyed reading this book and wished I had as a child, for then I would have bought some lemons and written my own secret code, that could only be read in the fire. Seriously this book gives great ideas on how to keep a message secret, like an old Greek trick of wrapping a thin piece of paper around a stick and writing a message on it. Two thumbs way up from this reader. Good job! ** #5 Three Terrible Trins authored by Dick-King Smith illustrated by Mark Teague  ** At six O’clock in the morning of her birthday, Mrs. Grey’s husband was killed and eaten. It was her first birthday, and he was her third husband. There was a mother who had three little sons, and three late husbands by the time she was one. She was a mouse who lived with two cats in the house. The farmers wife loved the all creatures great and small, the farmer hated everything but his alcohol. He had one eye and one made of glass. And those two house cats didn’t last. You see mama mouse had a plan, and her three little mice did all that she willed. Even tho time after time it could have gotten them killed. The story ended up happy, for they found a new ball, and 5 new baby mice to born to an attic and celler mouse home. ** #6  ****  Book 2: //Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane// (2004). **  Gregor is lured back to the Underland to slay a rat called The Bane. The second series of the book, Gregor is called back into the underland much to his mother’s chagrin. He must go upon a quest to kill the bane, according to a second prophecy. Now Boots is just as important and is also trust right into another adventure. It is during this book that we are introduced to Ripred and another outcast Rat, whose kid despise her because of her “gifts”. Through out this book, we are all on the edge of our seats hoping that boots not die, and I will leave it to you to find out by reading the story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this second edition to the series. This book can easily be used in 5th grade up. The book is long but it is engaging. Young Adult Books ** ﻿ **** #1 ** ** Book 3: ** **//Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods//** **(2005).** A plague comes into the Underland and infects Gregor's mother, and the Regalians must quest to find the cure. The book takes of expected and unexpected turns all to find an answer to the prophecy unlocked inside the mind of the roach. This book engages the reader with action and suspense. It is an excellent novel for 5th graders and up. ** #2 ** ** Book 4: ** **//Gregor and the Marks of Secret//** **(2006).** The Bane takes control of the rats, and Gregor and his friends must fight to stop him. Gregor falls in love with Luxa, having nearly done so in the first book. Here is the first book in a two part finally which proves to be worthy of the intricate and wonderful world painted by Sussan Collin in the first three books. Within this book the prophecy of time is revealed in part, and simple children's songs tell of great sufferings by the innocent mice. ** #3 ** ** Book 5: ** **//Gregor and the Code of Claw//** **(2007).** The prophecy in the story is the Prophecy of Time. It says that both the Bane and the Warrior will die, and that the Underlanders must break the cipher called the Code of Claw in order for humanity to survive. Gregor's attraction and consequent relationship to Luxa increases. Not much more can be said, for in this book it is foretold that the warrior must die, and time and time again within this fanciful world these prophecies have proved to be true. As a final note I must confess that Ripred the Ragger Rat has become one of my favorite fictional characters of all time.