In The Cow's Backyard

Week 7 Picture Book 3
In the Cow's Backyard
Written By: Alma Flor Ada
Illustrated by: Vivi Escriva
Published: 1996

I appreciated this book much more after I read the author's rationale behind writing it. The first time I read it, it appeared to be just another silly beginning reader book. There was a lot of repetition and very little content. The story is simple. It starts off with an ant hanging out in a cow's backyard. The ant is laying on a hammock, enjoying the shade on a nice day. The ant is visited by many of it's friends and they all decide to hang out on the hammock together, because there is always room for one more friend. In the end, they think that there is no way to fit one more friend, but the animals find a way for everybody to enjoy the hammock together. 

Ada wrote this book, taking inspiration from her family's Thanksgiving gatherings. She says she has a very big family, but many of their friends liked to join them. Even though their table was crowded, her family could not imagine having the holiday meal without each one of those people so they found a way to make everybody fit. Alma Flor Ada uses a lot of strategies that support beginning readers in their development of strong reading skills. She uses a lot of repetition and animal noises to help students make sense of the story. The illustrations are simple and bright, making comprehension through pictures fun and easy.

Since I hope to be teaching in an upper elementary classroom, this book probably will not be in my library. If I were to be teaching a younger grade, I definitely would want this in a big book format. That way the students would be able to follow along and make connections between the text they are seeing and the animals on the page. I give this book three stars. 

Me Gustaría Tener...

Week 7 Picture Book 2
Me Gustaría Tener...
Written By: Alma Flor Ada
Illustrated by: Vivi Escriva
Published: 1989

Me Gustaría Tener... is written entirely in Spanish, so I am not going to pretend that I completely understood every single part of it. I thoroughly enjoyed reverting back to my basic reading skills and using context and picture clues to determine what unknown words meant. This book is very funny and had me laughing the entire time. While the Spanish edition may be unconventional for a classroom similar to the one I am currently placed in for my internship.

This book is incorporates the use of repetition. The same phrase is repeated over and over again every other page. This is great for beginning readers so that they can become familiar with basic words when they are just starting out. The illustrations are whimsical and vivid. While the illustrator, Vivi Escriva, does a great job depicting accurate representations of the animals she is mentioning in the story, she adds a silly portion to each drawing to keep the reader giggling and entertained. 

This is a great book to have in a lower elementary grade classroom, both in Spanish or in English. By reading this book and looking at it, students will be able to pick up on patterns and repetition. Me Gustaría Tener is a very cute and sweet book that is well deserving of these four stars. 

ME GUSTARIA Tener ... está escrito enteramente en español, así que no voy a fingir que entendía completamente cada parte de ella. Disfruté muchísimo de volver de nuevo a mis habilidades básicas de lectura y el uso de contexto e imagen pistas para determinar lo que significaban las palabras desconocidas. Este libro es muy divertido y me tenía riendo todo el tiempo. Mientras que la edición española puede ser poco convencional para una clase similar a la que actualmente se coloco en mi prácticas.

Este libro se incorpora el uso de la repetición. La misma frase se repite una y otra vez cada dos páginas. Esto es grande para los lectores principiantes para que puedan familiarizarse con las palabras básicas cuando se les acaba de empezar. Las ilustraciones son caprichosa y viva. Mientras que el ilustrador, Vivi Escriva, hace un gran trabajo que representa representaciones precisas de los animales se está mencionando en la historia, se añade una porción tonta a cada dibujo para mantener el lector de risas y entretenidos. 

Este es un gran libro para tener en un salón de clases de grado elemental inferior, tanto en español o en Inglés. Al leer este libro y mirando a ella, los estudiantes serán capaces de recoger en los patrones y repetición. ME GUSTARIA Tener es un libro muy lindo y dulce que es bien merece una de estas cuatro estrellas.

Seedfolks

Week 7 Novel
Seedfolks
Written By: Paul Fleischman
Published: 2004

While Seedfolks has not been my favorite book by any means, it sure does a lot of things right. In my opinion, one of the biggest requirements for a high-quality story is having high-quality, well developed characters. Fleischman does this and he takes it to the next level. For me, this book was not about the story. It was about the characters who are involved in it. 

Seedfolks didn't have one distinct plot. Instead, we learned about the thirteen characters and their lives. We met people of all different ages, backgrounds, and cultures. These people are so different, that would not have been connected if it weren't for the community garden. Not all of the characters directly interact, but they are all working together to protect and strengthen this little garden. With a funnel here and a trash pickup there, piece by piece the garden comes together to become something beautiful.

This would be a great mentor text for older students to refer to when learning about developing rich characters. Fleischman does an excellent job of giving the reader a strong idea of who each person is, what their story is, and how the garden is impacting them. While I probably would not use this as a class wide read or read aloud, I will definitely keep this book in mind when crafting writing lessons based on the needs of my students. I give Seedfolks 3 stars. 

I Love Saturdays y domingos

Week 7 Picture Book 1 
I Love Saturdays y Domingos 
Written By: Alma Flor Ada
Published: 2002

I absolutely adored this book. The story is so beautifully simple, that readers of all ages will be able to relate to the young narrator and her explanation of why she loves Saturdays y domingos. The girl focuses on her two sets of grandparents and shows how they are alike and different. Her father's parents are of European descent, while her mother's parents are Mexican-American. Ada does an excellent job of showing the reader how her two sets of grandparents are different instead of telling. She uses an assortment of vivid colors in the illustrations used to describe the paternal grandparents. For the maternal grandparents, Ada used warm, earthy colors to set a different tone for this side of the family. The reader can tell that the young narrator loves all of her grandparents equally and appreciates and celebrates the unique qualities that each set brings into her life.

The use of Spanish in this book added a unique touch to this book. It really helped the reader "feel" the story and learn about each side of the narrator's family. This would be a great book to use for a lesson on using context clues to determine what unknown words in the text mean. The illustrations also aid the reader with decoding what the Spanish terms might mean.

I Love Saturdays y domingos is a book that every teacher should have in their library. It is an excellent representation of the Mexican-American culture and does a great job of demonstrating that even though two people may be different, similarities can be found that bring everybody together. Definitely a new found favorite book that is very deserving of a 4.5 star rating. 

Return to Sender

Week 6 Novel
Return to Sender
Written By: Julia Alvarez
Published: 2010

Well... I really don't have much to say about Return to Sender except for I tried. Boy, did I try with this book. I tried and failed four times to get past the first fifty pages and finally, I did it on the fifth try. I'm going to be completely blunt. Attempting to read this book was like gnawing on lumber. Incredibly unpleasant and not at all enjoyable. As a big writer myself, I really struggle with certain styles because they use some of my biggest writing pet peeves. Return to Sender really pushed a lot of buttons, which resulted in me not enjoying this book in the slightest. 

It has a great story that focuses on an issue that is quite prevalent in many areas across the country. It also focused on an American demographic that is not commonly discussed in realistic fiction, which is the farming demographic. It also addresses a topic that is considered a bit taboo, which is illegal immigrants living in America. Media has made them out to be criminals who are exploiting the resources that America has to offer, but Return to Sender makes them more human by creating a family that many people can relate to. 

The writing style is what killed me. There was little to no variation in sentence structure and it felt like I was reading a science textbook. There was an extreme lack of music of language. It was predominantly written in subject-verb simple sentences. This is not how I would want my students to be writing, and writers often draw inspiration and advice from the books they read. The characters were all a bit one dimensional. Tyler was made out to be this excellent friend, when in reality, he was not all that nice to Marí. I could go on and on,  but for the sake of all of our sanity, I won't. I do not intend on using this book in my classroom and it will not be present in my classroom library. 

Last Stop on Market Street

Week 6 Picture Book 4:
Last Stop on Market Street
Written By: Matt De La Peña
Illustrated By: Christian Robinson
Published: 2015

It is very rare that I come across a Newberry Award winning book that I am disappointed in. Unfortunately, Last Stop on Market Street was one of them. I can't quite put my finger on why it just didn't "do it" for me, which is frustrating because it is a quality book. It tells the story of a young boy named CJ and his Nana as they make their way across town one Sunday after church. CJ, like many young children, does not understand why he can't live a material rich life like many of the people around him. He is constantly mentioning his observations and asking questions to Nana about what he sees and wants. He wants to know why they don't have a car and wishes he could have an MP3 player. His Nana encourages him to have a positive outlook on life and to always remember "sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt... you're a better witness for what's beautiful". 

The illustrations are interesting. They fall on the more abstract side of the art spectrum when they are zoomed out views, but when they are close ups on a character, the details are quite a bit sharper. The colors used are warm and engaging, which makes the visual experience pretty pleasing. De La Peña and Robinson do a great job of creating a vivid personality for each color using brief descriptions and a detailed images. For example, the reader can tell that Nana is a caring and generous woman. However, this is expanded on in the illustrations. You can tell through her meaningful touches and careful body language that she is very considerate of the individuals around her and their needs. 

I feel obligated to have Last Stop on Market Street in my classroom library. While it may not have been a personal favorite, it is still a quality book that will have a lot of use. I would definitely use this book during a lesson on points of view. We would be able to discuss the difference between CJ and Nana's perspectives throughout the story. This  book could also be used to inspire a writing activity. The students could write a backstory for one of the characters on the bus or at the last stop on Market Street. I give this book three stars. 

Brothers

Week 6 Picture Book 3:
Brothers
Written By: Yin
Illustrated By: Chris Soentpiet
Published: 2006

Brothers was by far my favorite book I read for this week. It tells the story of two boys from different cultures and their unlikely friendship. The text and illustrations work together seamlessly to create a moving tale of friends supporting each other through the ups and downs that come with the roller coaster of life. Ming is a young boy who recently immigrated to San Francisco from China. He speaks little English, but his older brother expects him to contribute to their family store in Chinatown. During this time period, the Chinese immigrants were not highly thought of in society, so Ming was told to never leave Chinatown. Days passed at the store without any customers and the young boy grew bored. He ventured into town and met another little boy named Patrick who was playing in the schoolyard. Ming continued to visit Patrick at school and eventually the two became friends. They worked together to bring American customers into their failing store by teaching each other how to speak both languages. 

The illustrations in this book pack a serious punch. They are warm and vibrant, just like the story. It shows the excitement that comes with exploring a new place and learning new cultures. You can feel the strong, brother-like connection between Ming and Patrick through their facial expressions and the way they interact with each other. Brothers has a great message. Friendship can surpass all barriers. It also encourages the readers to remember that you do not know everything about everybody. Ming believes that Patrick is just an average American boy. It turns out that Patrick's family has overcome a multitude of hardships, as they had immigrated from Ireland. 

This book will definitely be present in my classroom library. It is an excellent example of friendship and acceptance. I look forward to reading the companion book, Coolies, sometime in the near future. I would love to use this as a read aloud to discuss immigration. I give Brothers four stars.

The Origami Master

Week 6 Picture Book 2:
The Origami Master
Written By: Nathaniel Lachenmeyer
Illustrated By: Aki Sogabi
Published: 2008

This book was just fine. Will I remember it in like two years? Probably not. 

Was it a cute fable about being a good friend? Absolutely! 

While the writing and story fell a bit flat for me, the illustrations of The Origami Master completely stole the show. The illustrations are vibrant and exact, which makes for a pretty magical experience. Shima, the Origami Master, lives alone in the mountains of Japan with only his origami to keep him company. He befriends a bird, who also enjoys origami, and has to learn an important lesson about friendship.

Sogabe does an excellent job of capturing the Japanese culture through his illustrations. My favorite illustrations in the book were those that where views of the outside. The illustrator used vibrant colors and an abundance of details in his pictures to give the reader a feel for the remoteness and serenity that were present in our setting.While the author never comes right out and mentions it, the reader can tell that Shima is sad and lonely. He never makes eye contact with the reader, but you can tell based on his facial expressions and actions.

This is a great book to be used as a read aloud for a Japanese culture lesson. Origami is a pretty big staple, and Shima is clearly very passionate about it. The book also includes instructions for creating certain origami figures. While I didn't love this book, I think it is a solid representation of the Japanese culture. It wouldn't be the first book to add in my library, but I hope to have it present at come point. I give this book three stars.

Ling and Ting: Twice as Silly

Week 6 Picture Book 1:
Ling and Ting: Twice as Silly
By: Grace Lin
Published: 2014

Yes, I completely understand that there is a need for early reader books such as this one. Yes, I understand that plots in books such as these need to be kept simple so they can be easily comprehended. This book was just miserable. Ling and Ting: Twice as Silly is pretty much a glorified "Bob Book". There was no plot and no content, making it a painful and somewhat pointless read. Honestly, none of the recently published early reader books I have come in contact with can hold a candle to the classics like Green Eggs and Ham and Cat in The Hat. Yes, these books have few words and the words they do have are very simple, but at least the plot is enjoyable and entertaining.

Ling and Ting: Twice as Silly is a compilation of six short stories about a set of Asian American twins named Ling and Ting. The two girls do everything together and find themselves getting into all kinds of silly shenanigans. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging. Lin did a great job of carefully incorporating every detail in the text into the illustrations so that her young readers would be able to make meaning of the text with the help of the pictures. The twins are always either looking at each other or at the reader, which makes the text engaging and inviting.

I am going to have to pass on owning this book and the rest of the series. There is such a lack of representation of the Asian demographic in children's literature, so it is a colossal bummer that this book did not live up to the high standards that the early reader "greats" that came before it set. I personally choose not to rate books below two stars, just because I know it is a dear favorite to somebody out there. Personally, I would give this book one star, but the reading advocate and future teacher within me gives this book two stars.

Elvis: The Story of the Rock and Roll King

Week 5 Picture Book 3:
Elvis: The Story of the Rock and Roll King
By: Bonnie Christensen
Published: 2015

Beautifully written, flawlessly illustrated, and wonderfully informative. I'm not going to lie. I wasn't really exposed to Elvis and didn't know much about him or his music other than the fact that he sings about hound dogs and blue suede shoes. Well, this book did an excellent job of introducing somebody who had little to no knowledge about the King of Rock and Roll to his inspirational and dazzling story. Christensen formatted this biography like a narrative. This is a great way for students who may be reluctant towards reading biographies or informational texts to get their toes wet in the genre. 

The illustrations are very raw and very powerful. You can feel Elvis's emotions towards moving to Memphis and singing in front of his church congregation for the first time. Christensen uses the artistic choice of demand quite frequently. When Elvis's daddy is sent to prison for check forgery, you can see the fear and sadness in his expression so boldly that you can't help but empathize with him. You can also see the stars in his eyes as he drives through Memphis and stares longingly at the recording studios. This story is also a great inspirational one. Elvis had been dealt a pretty poor hand and had many odds stacked against him. However, he was able to make an incredible career and life for himself, despite those circumstances.

While this book may not be the most informational biography out there, it is a child friendly story that could be used in any age classroom. Using a household name like Elvis Presley is a great way to hook students into learning about this time period as well as biographies and informational texts. You would definitely need to play some of his music during any lesson that this book is used for to put it into context for those who may not be familiar with his work. Four bright and shining stars for this star studded biography on the  King of Rock and Roll!!

Glow: Animals with Their Own Night-Lights

Week 5 Picture Book 2:
Glow: Animals with Their Own Night-Lights
By: W.H. Beck
Published: 2016

Good night and little fishes... This book is sure to give people nightmares! I am absolutely terrified of fish and all things that lurk in the depths of the ocean. While this probably was not the best choice of book for me, I can safely say that I'm happy I happened upon it. Glow: Animals with Their Own Night-Lights is definitely a book that will satisfy kids who are looking for that gross-out factor. Beck has compiled a work that includes many of the bioluminescent (makes their own light) creatures of the air, the land, and of the deep. The illustrations are in the form of photographs that are so clear, it feels like the creatures are going to slither, slide, and swim off the page and nibble on your fingers for a mid-day snack.

W.H. Beck has paired each photo with an introductory caption and an explanation as to why they need their bioluminescent ability. He spends a majority of the book focusing on the creatures of the deep, which will have readers flipping back through the pages for a second look at their favorite squeal-inducing critter.

I will never use this in a lesson because I personally think this book should come with a warning label. However, it will have a place of honor in my classroom library in the "Gross Out Factor/Squeal Worthy" section. It is an excellent informational text that will definitely hook students who are reluctant to read informational texts that are so factually heavy. This book has plenty of factual information, but it is written in such a way that it feels more like you are reading a narrative about these creatures. Now I am going to go return this book to the return slot at the library and will hopefully never have to open it again, but I will gladly have it in my class library. Four stars and countless nightmares from this book!!

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean

Week 5 Picture Book 1:
Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean
Written By: Sarah Stewart Taylor
Illustrated by: Ben Towle and Eileen Collins
Published: 2010

I'm sorry, I just can't keep myself away from the graphic novels. Again, this one is very brief, so I don't feel bad classifying it as a picture book as well. Amelia Earhart has always been a person of interest for me, so I obviously was on cloud nine when I discovered this little treasure. It is a biography, but it is a biography told through the eyes of a small girl who is an aspiring journalist. She finds herself following Amelia Earhart's journey across the Atlantic Ocean after she has the opportunity to briefly meet her. I found this perspective to be a very interesting concept. Usually, child narrators can be a bit unpredictable and unreliable when it comes to telling a truthful and straightforward story. However, this child's middle name is pretty much "Hard Hitting Story" and she wants to be the first to report all of the recent events in the newspaper she created. Due to this and her critical eye, we get accurate and detailed information about Amelia and her journey. 

The illustrations took some getting used to. Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean was created at The Center for Cartoon Studies, which is a college of sorts for cartoonist located in Vermont. All of the illustrations were created in a blue/black color scheme, as many cartoons are. This made the story a bit tricky to follow at points because there were not any bold focal points in the pictures to help you figure out what was happening if you did not understand the text. Once you get used to the pictures and the characters, the story runs a bit more smoothly. 

While this book may have been a bit tricky to follow at points, I thought that it did an excellent job of portraying the excitement and need for adventure that many probably felt when Earhart was soaring through the skies. It also mentioned and explained the competition she had, in form of other women attempting to beat her across the Atlantic. This is something that I never thought about when learning about her through books and lessons in school. 

I would definitely recommend this book to any child who is interested in biographies. It is a solid biography with the twist of an unexpected narrator, which is a nice change from your typical biographies that just spit facts left and right. I will also have this book in my classroom library for anybody who has a taste for adventure and excitement. I give this book 4 stars.

Moo

Week 5 Novel:
Moo
By: Sharon Creech
Published: 2016

This book just gets me. No, I cannot relate to tending for cows and livestock on a rundown farm owned by an old woman, but I can relate to the words. True to form, Sharon Creech has created a story that is not only entertaining and meaningful, but she also has crafted a story that you feel. Creech has a very distinctive way of writing. She always utilizes varying forms of typography to emphasize how the words "feel". 

It's almost as if you can feel the story 

d

       r

            i

                 p

                      p

                           i

                               n

                                    g

out of the pages and consuming you until you are forced to empathize with Reena and her little brother, Luke, as they rebuild their lives in Maine after moving cross country due to their Mom's new job. Reena and Luke were expecting a summer full of    l   a   z   y    days at the beach, stuffing themselves with lobster and blueberries. What they weren't expecting was was to fall in love with a temperamental cow named Zora. 

            ^__^
            (oo)_______
            (__)       )\/\
                ||----w |
                ||     || 

This book is definitely one that needs to be experiences first hand because the typography truly makes the story. 

While it can easily stand on it's own with its poetic prose, Moo really deserves to be felt. 

While Reena and Luke's living situation may not be the most relatable, their positivity towards moving to a new place is a great example that any child who is coping with being uprooted and relocated. This book should be required reading for students in the 3-5 grade range solely because it is such a unique way to look at story writing. Moo is bound to inspire young storytellers to think outside of the box about their writing. 

I know I have been using this idea a lot recently, but I hope to use this book as a book club option in my classroom. Simply reading this story aloud does not do it justice. Students need to read along and feel the story in order to gain the full experience. I give Moo 5 incredibly well earned stars for it's beautifully simple story that conjures up some not so simple feelings.