books4kidz

Croco'nile

2012-04-10T19:29:00.001-07:00

By: Roy Gerrard

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd. Excellent for storytelling and easy for children to follow.

Plot: A brother and sister, Hamut and Nekatu, became friends with a baby crocodile. One night they stowed away on a boat and before they knew it, they were hundreds of miles away from home. The captain left them with trusted friends and they became very skilled and popular at young ages. They were captured by slave traders. When the ship capsizes, the crocodile is there to save them and take them home.

Characters: Hamut, Nekatu, and the crocodile.

Setting: Ancient Egypt

Theme: Friends are always there to help you when you least expect it.

Illustrations: By Roy Gerrard. Paintings.

A Pocketful of Poems

2012-04-10T18:51:00.001-07:00

By: Nikki Grimes

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 2nd - 4th. The poems are short and easy to follow with simple rhyme schemes making it simple for kids just being introduced to poetry to get into it.

Plot: Short poems describing everyday things that children can encounter everyday.

Characters: Tiana, Mama, Daddy

Setting: Harlem

Illustrations: By Javaka Steptoe. Two page illustrations accompanying each poem. Mixed media.

Gingerbread Days

2012-04-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

By: Joyce Carol Thomas

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 3rd - 5th. There are varying rhyme schemes which can help kids new to poetry recognize that poetry is different. The styles vary but are not too difficult to follow.

Plot: This book of African-American poetry has a poem for each month of the year. Each poem reflects traditions or activities that are associated with the month.

Setting: 1960's/70's

illustrations: By Floyd Cooper. A full page illustration accompanies each poem using colors often associated with that month or celebration. Painting.

Equity Issues: No gender-bias or stereotypes.

A Suitcase of Seaweed

2012-04-10T17:50:00.001-07:00

By: Janet S. Wong

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 4th - 8th. The poems have no clear rhyme scheme and have varying styles that can confuse younger kids who are just being introduced to poetry.

Plot: The poems are divided into three groups: Korean, Chinese, and American. Each section describes a certain part of the author. Mother is Korean, father is chinese, and the author is American.

Characters: Author, Father, Mother, Grandfather.

Equity Issues: No stereotypes or gender bias

Deep Blues: Bill Traylor, Self-taught artist

2012-04-04T14:49:00.001-07:00

By: Mary E. Lyons

Genre: Biography Nonfiction

Age Range: 3rd-6th. An easy read for fluent readers but not challenging enough for older readers.

Content: The story of Bill Traylor, a former slave with no formal art training. Contains photos of him, his work, and some depicting what life was like back then. The end of the book contains an index and a sources list for those who would like to learn more.

Organization: It begins with Bill's childhood going to the time he passed all throughout showing various painting and drawings that are related to those events.

Ilusstrations: Bill Traylor's works of art, photos of himself, and various photos showing what life was like. Photo credit given in captions.

Norman Rockwell: Storyteller with a Brush

2012-04-04T14:09:00.001-07:00

By: Beverly Gherman

Genre: Biography Nonfiction

Age Range: 4th- 6th. The reading isn't difficult but it is lengthy and younger readers may have difficulty paying attention or remaining interested.

Content: Story of Norman Rockwell and how he became an artist. The back of the book contains a bibliography and an index for all his paintings.

Organization: It begins in Norman Rockwell's childhood and explains how became interested in drawing. From there describing the different events that influenced his art, his family life, and how they all tied together.

Illustrations. Norman Rockwell's paintings and photographs of his family and himself.

Seeing the Circle

2012-04-04T13:30:00.002-07:00

By: Joseph Bruchac

Genre: Biography non-fiction

Age Range: K - 2nd. Easy read with short simple sentences and little writing on each page.

Content: A short story of Joseph Bruchac and how he became a storyteller and writer.

Organization: It begins with Joseph Bruchac explaining his daily activities, then his Native American heritage, his childhood and how these events influenced him to become a storyteller and writer.

Illustrations by: John Christopher Fine. Photographs of Joseph Bruchac doing daily activities.

Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin' Cowboy

2012-04-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

By: Andrea D. Pinkney

Genre: Biography Nonfiction

Age Range: 2nd - 4th. Easy read with clear text. Little writing on each page.

Content: The story of Bill Pickett and how he became famous for "bull-dogging". At the back of the book more information about black cowboys is given. A list of books relating to cowboys and Bill Pickett is also given.

Organization: Starts from Bill's childhood and ends with his elder years. It tells of how he began bull-dogging, his family, and how famous he became because of his fearlessness.

Illustrations by: Brian Pinkney. Drawing Materials.

Outbreak: Plagues that Changed History

2012-04-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

By: Bryn Barnard

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 4th - 8th. The book is lengthy and has a large amount of print on each page. The subject itself is dark often describing how many people died and how they died.

Content: The book discussing six major epidemics that changed history: The bubonic plague, smallpox, tuberculosis, cholera, yellow fever, and influenza. Describing the conditions causing such epidemics to occur, the chaos they caused, how people died, and how they may have come to an end. A glossary full of terms from the book is given in the back of the book.

Organization: The book introduces microbes and the epidemics. Each epidemic is it's own chapter giving descriptions of what happened, how people reacted and how people suffered from it.

Illustrations By: Bryn Barnard. Showing what the individual cell of the disease looked like, maps showing how the epidemics spread and paintings and drawing of those that it caused so much pain.

Pterosaurs: Rulers of the Skies in the Dinosaur Age

2012-04-04T11:24:00.001-07:00

By: Caroline Arnold

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 1st - 6th. This book is excellent for introducing Pterodactyls. Fantastic and beautiful illustrations along with accurate terminology make it entertaining for younger kids to learn about them and provides a decent read for older kids.

Content: The book explains what a Pterosaur is and various types found all over the world. It describes various physical features of them as a whole and then of individual species. It also stresses that what scientists know is based upon evidence and tested theories, not assumptions.

Organization: It begins with explaining what a Pterosaur is, when they lived, and then describes the different species based on location, physical features and diet.

Illustrations: By Laurie Caple. Mixed Media. The full page illustrations show beautifully what they Pterosaurs may have looked like with color and also shows very well the huge array of differences between them.

The Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America's Lost Grasslands

2012-04-04T10:58:00.001-07:00

By: Sneed B. Collard III

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 3rd - 6th grade: It is organized to read as a story but the length and wording suggests it to be for fluent or independent readers.

Content: In this book Pauline Drobney and her team attempt to reconstruct North America's tall grasslands in Iowa. The book starts off with an explanation of a tall grassland and the dangers. It moves to introduce Pauline and her plan. It goes onto describe a few plants and animals living on the prairies. Next, the book follows Diane Debinski who is on a mission to save the Regal Fritillary butterflies and help them return back to Iowa's prairies. At the end of the book, there is a list of more books and websites on prairies, also a glossary of all the terms in the book and an index.

Organization: Starting with Pauline and her team beginning to reconstruct the prairie, moving to Diane bring back the Regal and finishing with the Prairie Learning Center.

Illustrations: Photography by Sneed B. Collard III. Photos of Pauline and Diane, the various plants and animals, and the steps everyone took to make it all possible.

Shadows of the Night: The Hidden World of the Little Brown Bat

2012-04-04T10:36:00.001-07:00

By: Barbara Bash

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 1st-6th; The text is easy to read but the sentences are more for fluent readers and there is little repetition. It can be used as an excellent story time book as it is organized to read like a story.

Content: This short book is about the Little Brown Bat living in North America. It provides information on feeding, breeding, and living. At the back of the book it has pictures and descriptions of other bats around the world. As a whole the book spas positively of bats and how they should be respected.

Organization: The book itself is organized starting with the bat migrating to breed, baby bats growing and learning to survive, and then hibernating in winter.

Illustrations: Mixed Media, accurate and full page drawings/paintings of bats.

Love to Mama: A tribute to mothers

2012-03-21T20:06:00.001-07:00

Edited by: Pat Mora
Ilustrations: Paula S. Barragan M.

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 4th - 5th, Many of the poems have Spanish vocabulary integrated and can confuse younger children if not introduced to it beforehand.

Plot: The book is a collection of Spanish poems dedicated to mothers or mother-like figures. Some of them describe what they are like, what they do, and even how they dress. Some also describe the relationship between the author and them. There is also a good amount of Spanish vocabulary used in the poetry.

Characters: Daughters, nieces, mothers, aunts, grandmothers.

Theme: How important mothers and similar figures are.

Illustrations: Mixed Media

Equity Issues: I found no negative stereotypes or gender bias in the book.

Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems

2012-03-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

By: Kristine O'Connell George
Illusttrations: Debbie Tilley

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 5th - 6th because of the theme of the poems.

Plot: The poems start from the first day of middle school and works through the year following a young girl. There are poems for the first day of school, lunch period, band class, gym class, the infamous school dance and many more.

Characters: The narrator, Sumako, Ryan, and Zach.

Setting: A middle school.

Theme: Middle School.

Illustrations: Sketches.

Song of the Water Boatman & other pond poems

2012-03-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

By: Joyce Sidman
Illustrations: Beckie Prange

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 3rd-5th.

Plot: The book is composed of poems based on various pond dwelling animals. From tiny larvae to wood ducks, they're all explored in poems and then various facts about the animals are given in shorts paragraphs on the side of the pages.

Characters: N/A

Setting: A pond

Theme:

Illustrations: Done by Beckie Prange, They look computer generated and reflect the natural beauty of the creatures inhabiting ponds.

Many Moons

2012-03-16T16:35:00.001-07:00

By: James Thurber

Illustrated by: Louis Slobodkin

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-4th. The length is appropriate for an older age but the small amount of words on each page and wonderful illustrations can be used to attract younger readers and be used for storytelling.

Plot: The princess falls ill and tells her father the king that the only way she'll be better is if she can have the moon. The king calls upon the Lord High Chamberlain, the Royal Wizard, and the Royal Mathematician to make it happen. None of them found it possible and the king was nothing short of frustrated. The court jester walks in and asks what is wrong. The king explains and the jester asks if the princess knows any of what they told the king. The king answered no and the jester went to find what the princess knew of the moon. She explains that is made of gold and no bigger than her thumbnail. The jester has a piece of gold forged and attached to a chain so the princess may take it everywhere. But now the king is distressed because the moon will be out again. The Chamberlain, Wizard, and Mathematician come up with silly impractical ideas. The king was devastated again and the jester went to ask the princess once more how this could be. She explains that a new one grew in its place when he gave her the one she has.

Characters: The king, Princess Lenore, Lord High Chamberlain, Royal Wizard, Royal Mathematician, and Court Jester.

Setting: In a kingdom far far away.

Theme: Think outside of the box.

Illustrations: By Louis Slobodkin. Watercolors with a mix of sketches.

The Reluctant Dragon

2012-03-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

By: Kenneth Grahame

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 5th - 7th. Though the book isn't long, the language of the book and lack of illustrations suggests difficulty for younger readers.

Plot: A shepherd finds a dragon sleeping in a cave near where his sheep graze. He runs and tells his wife and son. His son being the book reader convinces his mother and father to allow him to speak to the dragon before they do anything rash. The next day he goes to speak to the dragon and the dragon does not want to leave. Turns out he is rather lazy and apathetic and does not want to leave. He would much rather recite poetry and discuss things of that nature. Soon, the townsfolk hear word of the dragon and call for a knight. St. George shows up and the villagers tell him how violent and evil the dragon is and he believes them. The boy meets with him trying to convince him otherwise but St. George's prejudice is strong and would like to meet the dragon himself. When meeting they become friends and would like to peacefully resolve but cannot agree upon how. The dragon refuses to fight because he sees no point but the boy and the night crave a fight. After acting out a fight for all the villagers to see, the dragon is brought back alive and everyone loves him. Solving all their problems.

Characters: The dragon, the boy, the shepherd/father, mother, St. George, the villagers.

Setting: Long ago it was seems to be Britain

Theme: Looks can be deceiving

Illustrations: Ernest H. Shepard. Sketches that simply assist in what the characters look like.

Winnie-the-Pooh

2012-03-14T14:15:00.001-07:00

By: A.A. Miline
Illustrations: Ernest H. Shepard

Genre: Fantasy because Christopher Robin's dolls come to life and have adventures.

Age Range: 5th-8th grade. Even though this is a fantasy book revolving around a stuffed bear and his friends, the writing style and chosen language of the book promotes challenges for young readers. Their is also a variety of personalities which young readers may also have difficulty understanding.

Plot: The book is a collection of adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Kanga, Baby Roo, and Owl. Many resulting in Pooh and his friends getting in some sort of situatuion which Christopher Robin helps them.

Characters: Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, the narrator, Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Kanga, Baby Roo, and Rabbit.

Setting: Christopher Robin's house and The Hundred Acre Wood.

Theme: Friends are very important.

Illustrations: Sketches done by Ernest H. Shepard add to the reasoning of why this book is for older readers. The sketches are simple outlines simply aiding the imagination of the reader as to what was going on or how things looked.

Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine

2012-03-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

By: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 5th - 8th grade; The page length and lack of illustrations move this book to the older kids section.

Content: The book discusses life before, during, and after the potato famine of Ireland.

Organization: The book is a narrative. The information is clearly presented with appropriate text. A timline, bibliography, and index are all provided.

Illustrations: Sketches drawn by various artists. Credit is given in the book.

Awards: Robert F. Sibert Medal 2002

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea

2012-03-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

Text: Sy Montgomery
Photographs: Nic Bishop

Genre: Informational Nonfiction

Age Range: 4th and up. Good introduction book for new independent readers, despite page length it is an easy and fun read.

Content: The book shows the journey of a group of scientists going to New Guinea in search of the Tree Kangaroo. Along the way, they interact with locals, discuss their ways of life, elaborate on the environment and other local animals.

Organization: The book is a narrative with interactive reading and text appropriate for the varying audiences.

Illustrations: All pictures in the book are photographs of the actual expediton.

Equity Issues: Shows how another culture lives.

Awards: Orbis Pictus Award 2007

Wringer

2012-03-07T08:27:00.001-08:00

By: Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 5th - 8th grade; The amount of peer pressure and concept of death make this a great book for new independent young readers.

Plot: Palmer just turned nine years old and was finally accepted by Beans, Mutt, and Henry as their friend. They were all excited though to turn ten. In the town they lived in, when a boy turned ten he was allowed the opportunity to be a wringer in the local pigeon shooting contest. Any pigeons that were injured, their necks were wrung by the boys. The only one not excited was Palmer. He didn't understand why the pigeons had to die and didn't want to kill anything. Things only became more complicated when a pigeon landed just outside his window not just one night but every night. Palmer ends up keeping him but this only causes more problems with his friends as Beans, the leader, hates pigeons. He wants nothing more than to be a wringer and he'll stop at nothing to get that bird. Palmer realizes this and gets rid of Nipper, the pigeon. However, on the day of the shoot, Nipper has somehow ended up with all the other pigeons and Palmer begins his frantic search for him. Nipper flies out of a box, the shooter misses, and he lands on Palmer's head. Beans tries to kill him but fortunately Palmer is able to save him and they head home with everyone knowing Palmer has a pet pigeon.

Characters: Palmer, Beans, Mutt, Henry, Dorothy, Nipper, Palmer's Mom

Setting: A rural community in present day.

Theme: Never give in to peer pressure.

Award: Newbery Honor 1997

Pink and Say

2012-02-22T12:48:00.000-08:00

By: Patricia Polacco

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Range: 5th-8th. Even though this is a picture book, the vivid illustrations and dealings with death and costs of war make for a book fit for older children.

Plot: This is the story of Sheldon Russell Curtis. When he left for the war at the young age of 15, he was wounded for two days in Georgia with a gun shot just above his knee. Pinkus Aylee found him and while avoiding marauders, attempted to reunite with his company but ended up back home where his mother, Moe Moe Bay, was staying. She fed and cared for them until they told her they need to leave. She didn't like it but understood. The day they were to leave marauders came and shot Moe Moe Bay while the boys were hiding in the cellar. They buried her and set out for the Union camp. They were captured by marauders on their way and taken to Andersonville, one of the worst confederate camps. Sheldon Russell Curtis was rescued months later and lived a full happy life. Pinkus Aylee is believed to have been hanged some hours after arriving.

Characters: Sheldon, Pinkus, Moe Moe Bay, marauders

Setting: Georgia during the Civil War

Theme: It isn't the color of your skin that matters but how you choose to carry yourself.

Equity: Language, issues, and controversies of that time period are depicted with accuracy and without bias.

Illustrations: Illustrations by Patricia Polacco. Watercolor. Excellent in telling the story. Neutral colors

The Old Man and His Door

2012-02-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

By: Gary Soto

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 2nd - 6th. Easy to read and excellent as an introduction to Spanish.

Plot: The old man's wife asks him to bring el puerco, pig, to the barbecue but instead he brings la puerta, door. Along the way he sees to young children and one is crying. He cheers the crying child up by playing hide and go seek using the peephole on the door. Next he bumps into a bees' nest and hides under the door until they are gone. Seeing the honey drip, he stores it in his hat and places it on the door. Continuing along, a goose rests on the door and leaves behind an egg. He then sees a boy drowning in the lake, uses the door to paddle to him and save him. A fish is stuck in the boys pocket and the old man decides to keep that as well. Then he comes across some folks moving furniture. He helps the young man and uses the door as a ramp to get everything in the truck. The young man gives him two watermelons in return and the old man finally makes it to the party. His wife is confused but happy with what surprises the old man has brought. The barbecue proceeds and everyone is happy with the stories the old man has.

Characters: The old man, the old woman, the dog, the two children, the goose, the young boy, and the young man.

Setting: Present day in a Spanish speaking community or country.

Theme: Think outside of the box.

Illustrations: By: Joe Cepeda. Mixed media:

Shrek

2012-02-22T10:51:00.000-08:00

By: William Steig

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 2nd-5th. Repetition in the text as well as some challenging words. The illustrations take up more space than text and is separate.

Plot: After Shrek is forced to find his own way in the world, he comes upon a which who tells him his fortune. She tells him he'll soon meet a princess and marry her. Having heard this, Shrek began looking right away. As he walked he came across a peasant and took his pheasant and Shrek warmed it simply with his glare. It began raining and lighnting stuck Shrek but he simply ate it and moved on. He came to a warning sign but merely ignored it. Suddenly a dragon pinned Shrek to the ground but he knocked him unconscious. He came upon a castle with a knight on guard and defeated him easily. He saw the princess and they both fell in love and lived horribly ever after.

Characters: Shrek, the witch, the donkey, the princess.

Setting: A fairy tale land.

Theme:

Illustrations: By William Steig. Water color, separate from text. Assist perfectly in portraying the characters and scenes.

Where the Wild Things Are

2012-02-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

By: Maurice Sednak

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd. The text is separate from the illustrations and takes up less space than the illustrations. There is some repetition.

Plot:: Max is sent to bed without dinner for causing mischief and suddenly a forest begins to appear in his room. He finds his own personal sail boat and sails to where the wild things are becomes their king. Playing and sleeping all day but Max begins to miss his home. He decides to leave the wild things and sails home to his room where his still warm dinner is waiting.

Character: Max, his mother, the wild things.

Setting: Max's room and then an imaginary forrest.

Theme: Imagination can take you to impossible places.

Illustrations: Done by Maurice Sendak, they are mixed media. They assist perfectly in telling the story and showing the wild things Max encountered.