The Menagerie

Week 1 Series Novel:
The Menagerie 
Written By: 
Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland
Published: 2013

The Menagerie is the first book in a trilogy centered around a sixth grade boy named Logan and his discovery of The Menagerie, which is a protection center for mythical creatures. The book has a bit of a choppy start. It took me a good 150 pages before I found myself actually enjoying and fully experiencing the story. The premise of this particular book is Logan and his two new friends Zoe, daughter of the owners of The Menagerie, and Blue, a merfolk (don't you dare call him a merman!!) are tearing through Xanadu, Wyoming to locate the six griffin cubs that have escaped from the protection center. Along the way, we learn a lot about all of the different creatures that take up residence at The Menagerie. This graphic really helped me with coming up with a better idea as to what these creatures looked like and how they might move or interact with each other. 

While the writing in this book did not really live up to the other children's novels I have read recently, the Sutherland sisters did an excellent job crafting a plot full of exciting twists and turns. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, there would be another aspect to the mystery to try and solve. I think this novel would be best saved for a fun read aloud, a mentor text, or a pleasure book recommendation rather than being used for a lesson. I am hoping to get around to the other two books in the series at some point this year. I give this book three stars.

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear

Week 1 Picture Book 3:
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear
Written By: Lindsay Mattock
Illustrated by: Sophie Blackall
Published: 2015

Wow. Just Wow. I haven't been this is love with a nonfiction picture book since Mercedes and The Chocolate Pilot, which I read in the fourth grade. Finding Winnie is a beautifully written story and when you pair it with the immaculate illustrations, it really can't be beat. It tells the story of the real life bear that inspired AA Milne's beloved Winnie-The-Pooh. I am not going to describe the story of how this happened because it is such a special one and any brief summary I would come up with would not be able to do it justice. 

I will be using this book in my classroom no matter what. There are some books that you need to use as a backbone for your planning. It could be used as a companion to a lesson on World War I, as this is the time period of which a majority of this story is based. It can also be used to show that life inspires fiction and there can be a story hiding behind everyday experiences. I give this book a well deserved 5 stars.

Meet the Dullards

Week 1 Picture Book 2:
Meet the Dullards
Written by: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by: Daniel Salmieri 
Published: 2015

Meet the Dullards is a book that many kids can relate to. Many people have experienced the annoyance that comes with growing up with parents who tell them they cannot do something because it is too dangerous, too loud, or too anything else. This book is essentially one huge hyperbole of this common experience.

The Dullards are the dullest family to ever walk the planet. They all wear monochromatic outfits and for fun they watch paint dry and tune into their favorite programs on the unplugged television set. However, when the parents backs are turned, the three children try to have their own fun by reading books or playing outside. The parents respond to these "outbursts" by replacing their books with plain paper or moving to a new house. 

Personally, this book was not one of my favorites. It would not by my first choice to use in a classroom, but could be used when introducing the concept of hyperbolic writing. It could also just be used as a funny, silly read aloud when the class needs a break or a pick-me-up. I give this book 3 stars.

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haikus

Week 1 Picture Book 1:
Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku
Written By: Lee Wardlaw 
Illustrated by: Eugene Yelchin
Published: 2011

For those who may be a bit more reluctant towards poetry, Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku, is an excellent entry point. The author, Lee Wardlaw, has crafted a story that all pet owners can relate to. We follow Won Ton on his journey of being adopted by a little boy and going home to live with him. As all cats do, Won Ton has a very interesting way of thinking. He will have the reader laughing the whole way through.

I would definitely use this book in my classroom during a poetry unit. It would be a great introduction to the concept of haikus and students could use it as a mentor text of sorts while creating their own poems. Wardlaw does an excellent job of getting creative with his use of words to fit the syllable   criterion.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading about Won Ton's antics and would definitely want to read the sequel, Won Ton and Chopstick. I give this book 3.5 stars.