Module 15 - The Golden Compass

Lyra, a young child, starts on a journey, meets friends and enemies and begins to understand the power she has over them.

Pullman, P. (1995). The golden compass. Knopf Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 0679879242

Impressions: This is a great fantasy book. It is the first book of a series and now I want to read the rest of the series! There is just enough fantasy and science fiction to make it appealing without annoying.

Review:

Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)

Phillip Pullman has begun a new fantasy trilogy with The Golden Compass, a book that's been selling well to both child and adult readers. The story takes place on an alternate earth in a time that seems similar to the late 19th century. In this world, science and magic vie for power and each human possesses a daemon, a being in animal form who is powerfully linked to its owner. The main character is Lyra, an innocent, who is determined to rescue children who have been snatched for mysterious scientific purposes. She also wants to free her father from a race of warrior polar bears, and discover her place in the world. The story's cast is varied, but always fascinating, including witches, poor folk with rich hearts, and protective academivs. Pullman unites adventure, scientific inquiry, and magic in ways that are fresh and thought provoking. 1996, Knopf, $16.00 and $5.99. Ages 12 up.

(Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for library/classroom use:

This would be a good book to use in a fantasy unit. A library could have a movie night and show the movie adaptation of this book. The patrons could either read this book before or after they watch the movie.

Module 14 - Once I Ate a Pie

This poetry book for young readers, showcases 17 dogs and their unique personalities through fun text and illustrations.

MacLachlan, P. and MacLachlan, E. (2006). Once I ate a pie. Joanna Cotler Books, New York, NY.

Impressions: The paintings of dogs are charming and the poems fit the breed of dog perfectly! Being a dog-lover myself, I enjoyed this book. The text of the poems can help children understand what the poem means, with words such as "big" written in big text, and "running" written spread out across the page.

Review:
Nancy Krial (Kunztown University Book Review, Spring 2007)
This book contains free verse poems about fourteen different dogs which are all different breeds. Each page is highlighted with a beautiful illustration and an engaging poem told from the dog's point of view. The fonts and type size change to reflect the poet's words. This book gets its title from the poem about a pug called Mr. Beefy who relays that he is not thin but he is beautiful and once he ate a pie! The illustrations alone are reason enough to buy this book but the verse holds up its end as well. Open the pages and meet Darla, Maude, Abby, Wupsi, etc. each page makes you laugh at the mischief and movement of these canines. I recommend this book strongly as a read aloud for the very young and as a must have for elementary libraries! Category: Animal Story-Poetry.. 2006, Harper Collins Publishers, $12.95. Ages 5 to 9.
(Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Ideas for classroom or library use:
This would be an excellent book to use as part of a poetry unit. The children can read the poems out loud in a reader's theater setting. This book could also be used for an animal unit, such as learning about different types of dog breeds or animals.

Module 13 - Rapunzel's Revenge

Rapunzel, after being locked up and away from the world for years and years, finally takes matters into her own hands and, with the help of a friend, rescues the town and her mother from the wicked step-mother and finds love in the end.

Hale, S. and Hale, D. (2008). Rapunzel's ravenge. Bloomsbury Children's Books, New York, NY.

Impressions: The illustrations of this graphic novel are great! I loved the twist on the traditional fairy tale of Rapunzel. Shannon and Dean Hale did an excellent job of writing a graphic novel that is appropriate for all ages.

Review:

Phyllis Thompson (The ALAN Review, Winter 2010 (Vol. 37, No. 2))

If you loved The Goose Girl and Book of a Thousand Days, you are in for another treat. In Rapunzel's Ravenge, author Shannon Hale partners with Dean Hale and Nathan Hale to retell the Grimm's classic as a graphic novel. This is definitely not your grandmother's Rapunzel - the quietly submissive, longsuffering princess, waiting for the prince to rescue her. The Hale's updated teenager-in-a-tower has a big heart, strong braids, and a swashbuckling, high-energy, big-adventure story to tell. This Rapunzel is "WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE for horse thieving, kidnapping, jail breaking, and using her hair in a manner other than nature intended!" While Rapunzel's Revenge is definitely the stuff of high adventure and the old West, it is very much a story about growing up female, taking chances, negotiating potentially dangerous landscapes, confronting cruelty and loss, and re-finding the nurture and comfort that can be had in love. Category: Adventure/Growing Up/Self. YA - Young Adult. 2008, Bloomsbury, 144 pp., $14.99. Ages young adult. Johnson City, TN

(Retrieved from Children's Literature Review, Children's Literature Database)

Suggestions for classroom/library use:

This book would be a great source for a fairy tale unit, especially one that showcases stories that are a twist on fairy tales.

Module 12 - The Wall

Peter Sis explains through pictures and text about growing up in Czechoslovakia.

Sis, P. (2007). The wall: growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Frances Foster Books, New York

Impressions:I was very impressed with the detail of illustrations and the symbolism of drawing in his book. He includes portions of his journal and his actual childhood drawings, which add to the effect of a autobiography. Not only are there illustrations, but actual photographs from Sis's life as well.

Review:

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2008)

Renowned author and illustrator Peter Sis' brilliant authobiographical exploration of the creative spirit offers his trademark blend of intricate visual images and narrative. Sis was born in Communist-controlled Brno, Czechoslovakia, in 1949 and displayed artistic interests from very early on. His talents were indulged and encouraged within his home. At the same time, creativity and freedom of thought were being repressed in his school and throughout his homeland as the Iron Curtain rose and the Cold War escalated. Sis beautifully outlines the tension between socio-political repression and creativity through journal excerpts, actual drawings from his developing years as an artist, and hauntingly complex images outlining the historical context of turbulent times in Eastern Europe. Each image underscores how he questioned the world around him as a developing child and adolescent, especially as news of Western popular culture filtered through the curtain. Creative expression and opportunity exploded for the author in the spring of 1968, only to be crushed quickly by the totalitarian strong arm. Sis was able to hold on to his dreams, however, fueled by his indomitable spirit and the force of his own imagination. CCBC Category: Historical People, Places. and Events. 2007, Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus and Giroux, 48 pages, $18.00. Age 9 and older.

(Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for classroom/library use:

I would use this book for older readers, middle school or high school students, when teaching about the cold war. It would be a great resource for personal insight into how people lived in the Eastern Bloc. It would also be a good book to use when introducing graphic novels.

Module 11 - An Egg is Quiet

The characteristics of an egg are shared in this book through gentle illustrations and informative text.

Aston, D.H. (2006). An egg is quiet. Chronicle Books.

Impressions: This is a gentle book that is great for young readers and also for older readers looking for something easy yet informative to read. The illustrations are amazing and life-like. However, some of the wording can be confusing, such as "an egg is noisy!" once the egg hatches. It's actually the chicks that are noisy, not the egg, but children will probably not be confused by this oversite.

Review: From School Library Journal
Kiindergarte-Grade 2-An exceptionally handsome book on eggs, from the delicate ova of the green lacewing to the rosy roe of the Atlantic salmon to the mammoth bulk of an ostrich egg. Aston's simple, readable text celebrates their marvelous diversity, commenting on size, shape, coloration, and where they might be found. The author occasionally attributes sensibilities to eggs (An egg is clever, for example). Still, her quiet descriptions of egg engineering and embryo development (no mention of mating) are on the mark, and are beautifully supported by Long's slendid watercolor depictions of a wide variety of eggs. (One teeny carp - Steller's jays are not spelled with an ar, though they are stellar performers when wheedling for your lunch at a campsite!) A beautiful guide to the unexpected panoply of the egg - Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copright (c) Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Suggestions for use in a classroom/library setting:
Good for a life-cycle unit, for reptiles or birds, in a biology class.
Could also be read in the spring time, when eggs and baby animals are more prevelant.

Module 10 - Apples to Oregon

A father loads up his precious fruit trees and vines and travels across five states to settle in Oregon. His children help protect the trees when storms and drought threaten the flora.

Hopkinson, D. (2004). Apples to Oregon: being the (slightly) true narrative of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, peaches, pears, plum, grapes and cherries (and children) across the plains. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, NY.

Impressions: This book made me want to eat apples! The illustrations are delightful, simplistic and show the spirit of the book. There is an "author's note" at the end that explains the story behind the story.

Review:

Emily (BookHive (http://www.bookhive.org/))

What happens when a family with eight children travel from Iowa to Oregon with small apple, peach, pear, plum, grape, and cherry trees? Not only must the family and the plants fight the elements of drough and frost bite, but they also must deal with other travelers who insist the plants will not survive the journey. Can the family make it to Oregon with the plants intact? Detailed end pages add to this story and show the trip from Iowa to Oregon that the family traveled. Humorous illustrations show the various antics of the family as they climb over rocks and swim across rivers. Category: Humor; NCCBA. Grade Level: Primary (K - 3rd grade); Intermediate (4th - 6th grade). 2004, Antheneum Books for Young Readers. Ages 5 to 12.

(Retrieved from Children's Literture Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for classroom/library use:

This would be an excellent book to use while studying the Oregon trail or pioneers. Also, agriculture or farmers in America.

Module 9 - Down the Rabbit Hole

Ingrid is a girl who can't seem to stay out of trouble. First with her parents, siblings and then with the neighbors. But when she stumbles across the murder of the town's crazy lady, she decides to put her own sluething skills to use.

Abrahams, P. (2005). Down the rabbit hole: an Echo Falls mystersy. HarperCollins

Impressions:
I wasn't super sold on this book. It was ok, but I got bored half-way through. Since it's a series, it probably gets better, but I think a middle-school-aged child would enjoy this book.

Review:
Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
It is hard for adult writers to make the leap to children's book. Abrahams, a best-selling author, has made a graceful entry with his first young adult novel. He develoips an intriguing character in Ingrid, an eighth grader who is obviously brilliant and , just as obviously, stubborn about where she is going to focus her mind. While she devours and thinks about Sherlock Holmes constantly, she is not going to buckle into the authority of a math teacher who seems pleased to give her failing grades. Not is she going to admit to a police chief (and father of her first potential boyfriend) that she was at a crime scene just before a woman was murdered. When she discovers she left her red track shoes at the scene, she steals out of the house to reclaim them, linking herself to the crime and strengthening her resolve to discover the real culprit. There are lots of questions, some innocent sleuthing, and action from beginning to end. 2005, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 11 up.
(retrieved from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, Children's Literature Reviews)

Library or Classroom Use:
What makes a mystery?
Sherlock Holmes.

Module 8 - James and the Giant Peach and Princess Academy

Miri is sent to a Princess Academy with hopes of proving to her father that she is capable of something worthwhile. However, once there, she learns it maybe wasn't quite what she thought it would be.

Hale, S. (2005). The princess academy. Bloomsbury Children's Books. ISBN: 978-1599900735

Impressions: Hale creates a magical and lyrical story with great characters and a happy-ending story line. This is a great book to read out loud in a classroom or as a book-club read!

Review:
Rebecca Moreland, Teen Reviewer (VOYA, August 2005 (Vol. 28, No. 3))
Princess Academy is a delightful read with everything you need in a good fantasy book: action, adventure, romance - and a good kidnapping. Although many people who read this book will not have any connection to Miri's way of life (people usually don't tend goats high on a mountainside their whole lives), Hale's writing places you in the book, so you feel you can relate. The plot seems predictable, like any other book of its genre, but it has a twist that sets it apart and makes it all the more enjoyable. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapes; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2005, Bloomsbury, 300p., $16.95. Ages 11 to 15.
(Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for classroom/library use:

This book is an adaptation of an old fairy-tale. Reading the original version then comparing the two would be great for a book club or English class.


James escapes from his evil aunts and finds friends living in a peach that grew to enormous sizes due to a mishap with magic. The friends include a giant ladybug and spider. They have great adventures together!

Dahl, R. (1961). James and the giant peach. Puffin, ISBN: 978-0142410363

Impressions:

This is a classic children's book that is a great read-aloud as well. The illustrations, both in the original version, and new illustrations from Lane Smith, complement the storyline of fantasy and imagination. I love this book!

Review:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1996)
This newly illustrated edition of an avowed children's favorite has all the makings of a classic match-up: Milne had Shepard, Carroll had Tenniel, and now Dahl has Smith. Yes, there is a movie tied in to all of this, but more importantly, author and illustrator were mde for each other, and it's of little consequence that it took almost 35 years for them to meet. 1996, Knopf; Puffin/Penguin, $16.00 also available in paper; $4.99. (C) 1996 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for classroom/library use:

It would be fun to do a movie/book comparison, either for a family night at the library or on a school day in the classroom!

Module 7 - Stargirl

Stargirl moves into town and is immediately classified as "wierd" and "bizarre." Leo, a young boy, sees something different in her and ends up falling in love with her, but not after much pressure from his peers. Stargirl become popular, but falls from the throne quickly.

Spinelli, J. (2000). Stargirl. Knopf Books for Young Readers, New York. ISBN: 978-0375822339

Impressions:
This book is heart-wrentching and heart-warming at the same time. I could relate to both characters, Stargirl and Leo, even though they are so different from each other. Spinelli writes in a lyrical, soothing way when he writes about Stargirl, adding to her ephemeral character.

Review:
Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature)
The new girl at high school is different and full of pluck, but the other students don't know how to take her - so they shun her. The first-person narrator, Leo, is crazy about Stargirl but can't handle the ostracism, and so he starts asking her to change. Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli has created a situation familiar to teenagers and provided a thought-provoking conclusion. 2000, Knopf, $15.95. Ages 11 up.
(Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for classroom/library use:
A good book to use when talking about indiviuality and treating others with respect. Students or patrons can write down ways that they are unique and share them if they'd like.

Module 6 - Ivy & Bean

Bean is a wild child always getting in trouble. Ivy is the quiet, girl-next-door. Can these two become friends?

Barrows, A. (2006). Ivy and Bean. Chronicle Books, San Francisco. ISBN: 978-0-8118-4903-6

Impressions: This is a fun book for young readers. There is a map of the neighborhood and Ivy's bedroom which make the story come to life. I liked the conclusion (and moral, if you will) of the story; two very different people can end up being friends if they just learn about each other.

Review:
Amazon.com
Barrow's debut children's book energetically kicks off a series about two seemingly unlikely plas, just right for kids moving on from beginning readers. Bean's mother suggests that she play with Ivy, the new girl across the street, "She seems like such a nice girl." Seven-year-old Bean says she already has plenty of friends ("Nice, Bean knew, is another word for boring"). After all, Ivy's long , curly red hair is neatly pushed back with a sparkly headband, and she always wears dresses and reads books; headband-, dress- and book-shunning tomboy Bean muses that Ivy "had never once in her whold life climbed a tree and fallen out." But when Ivy offers to get Bean out of a jam with her older sister, Nancy, Bean takes Ivy up on it. Bean discovers that the not-so-boring, wand-toting Ivy is in training to become a witch, and working on a spell that keeps its victim dancing for life--which sets Bean thinking about the ideal fate for bossy Nancy. Blackall's (Ruby's Wish) half tone spot art and full-spead illustraions deftly capture the girls' personalities and tale's humor, while also filling out fun details about Ivy's room and the neighbor's backyards. Barrow's narrative brims with sprightly dialogue and tidily ties everything together both Bean and Ivy find a fast friend and set the stage for Ivy and Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go, scheduled for the fall. -Publishers Weekly, starred review
(Link to review)


Suggestions for library or classroom use:
Teaching young children about Sibling relations. Also would be a fun story to read and teach about ways to pretend.

Module 5 - Strega Nona

A tale of a magic witch with a magic pot. A greedy boy wants to have his turn with the pot, but to his dismay, he doesn't know the words to stop the pot from cooking pasta. The town is overflowed with pasta. He learns his lesson when he has to eat his mess.

de Paola, T. (1975). Strega nona. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York. ISBN: 0-671-66283-x

Impressions:
The illustrations really make this story stand out. This would be a fun book to read as a family tradition then make pasta together! Even though Strega Nona is a "witch" she is nothing but endearing.

Review:
The New York Times Book Review "De Paola's illustrations aptly capture the whimsy of this ancient tale... simple line drawings clearly reveal the agony and ecstasy of pasta power, the muted colors create just the right ambiance for a Medieval village." (retrieved from Amazon.com at this product review.)

Suggestions for library and classroom use:
How to make pasta
Have an evening of Italian culture
Use when teaching a unit on fairy tales

Module 4 - Daniel Boone and Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village

Several stories, monologues, and poems are put together to tell the story of a medieval village and the townspeople who live there.

Schlitz, L.A. (2008). Good masters! Sweet ladies! Voices from a medieval village. Candlewick Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. ISBN: 978-0-7636-1578-9

Impressions:
I thought this book would be more stories, but I was pleasantly surprised when it was written as plays almost. The reader is introduced to the human side of a medieval town.

Review:
Shelley Glantz (Library Media Connection, November/December 2007) Readers are introduced to the entire strata of an English medieval town by 22 villagers from all walks of life, from the lord's nephew and daughter, apprentices, trades people, and artisans, to the lowliest beggar. Most of these characters are children or young people. Characters describe themselves through first-person monologues that are written to be read or recited by students. Annotations and notes are included on page margins to explain factual information and old English terminology, a feature that gives the book a scholarly feel, but which are very age-appropriate. Monologues are followed by straighforward informational text, "A Little Background," written in a narrative style. Color illustrations in the style of medieval tapestries or panels illuminate the text. Margin borders are each a different pattern reminiscent of the age. Depending on the grade level of students using this title, it will make a valuable supplement to history classes, English literature studies including Chaucer, and as an unusual variation on reader's theatre. Art classes can also use the illustrations to supplement any study of medieval art. Recommended. 2007, Candlewick Press, 96 pp., $19.99 hc. Ages 10 up.
Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for use in a library or classroom setting:
This would be an excellent book to use for reader's theater. Students can choose whether they want to read a monologue or in a group or pairs. They can dress up, study their character, study the circumstances surrounding their character.



The tale of Daniel Boone, written by James Daughtery, won the 1940 Newbery Award. This story is about Daniel Boone and the land he loved - Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee.

Daugherty, J. (1939). Daniel Boone. Viking Press, New York.

Impressions:
The illustrations are lacking, romantisizing Boone and making the "savages" look especially savage. The story was long and tedious to read. I didn't especially like this book.

Review:
Michelle F. Bayuk (Review found here)
"Daniel Boone (1940 winner, James Daughtery, Viking) is fortunately out-of-print, but it was(and it) a real travesty that an apparently intelligent committee would choose a book of dubious scholarship and horrible insensiticty as something good for children to read. The book is racist, misogynistic, and quite frankly, not a work of nonfiction. It is the glorification of a man who, according for the author, never does anything wrong. When bad things happen to him (like losing his land - twice - because he fails to file the paperwork), it's not his fault. Daniel Boone, after all, is a man's man and a great hero. Why should he have to deal with little things like seeing to his own future? What is interesting is that the immediately proceeding Newbery winner is Thimble Summer (1939 winner, Elizabeth Enright, Holt) in which a girl acts with equality with the boys in the story. The book immediately following, Call it Courage (1941 winner, Armstrong Sperry, Simon & Schuster) is a fine attempt at presenting an island culture to a young audience. Given that the children's literature of the time was fairly progressive, we can't blame the pre-World War II isolationism or rhetoric for the committee's incongruous choice. Daniel Boone is both a travesty and a conundrum."

Suggestions for library and classroom use:
This book could be used when discussing Newbery Award winning books, shown as an example. Maybe ask the children why they think it won the award. Also can be used when talking or teaching about the colonization of America.

Module 3 - The Little House and Ox-Cart Man

A father prepares his wagon of goods made throughout the year to sell in the market in Portsmouth. He sells everything he has, buys new things for his family and heads home. Through the winter, the family sets again making things to sell next year in the market.

Hall, D. (1980). Ox-cart man. Viking Press, New York. ISBN: 0-670-53328-9

Impressions: I loved this book. The simplicity of the story and illustrations is charming and poignant. The author points out at the end of the book that this story is an oral tradition. It would be a great tradition to read with children.

Review:
Jill Bennett (Books for Keeps No. 25, March 1984)
Set in 19th century rural New England, this award winning picture book from The States gives a fascinating glimpse of a farmer's year in a bygone age and shows how a whole family is involved in the business of survival. A book to extend children's horizons in both place and time. All ages. Category: Infant/Junior. . ...., Picture Puffin, D1.75. Ages 5 to 8.
(Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for use in library or classroom setting:
Teaching about seasons or living on a farm.



The Little House lives in the country, but she wants to find out what the city is like. When the city is built up around her, she misses the country and yearns to go back. Will she regret wating to live in the city?

Burton, V. L. (1943). The little house. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. ISBN: 0-395-18156-9

Impressions: I loved the illustrations in this book, especially the difference between the country and the city. By the end of the book, I was rooting for the Little House to make it back to the country!

Review:
Seth Greenstein (Children's Literature)
The little house lives happily in the country, surrounded by apple trees, flowers, and a happy family. But she always wonders what life would be like living in the city. As the years pass, the city moves to her. Soon the little house is abandoned between two high rises, and she is certain she does not want to live in the city any longer. The city continues to grow and grow, and nobody notices the little house. At night, the little house dreams of apple trees, rolling hills, flowers, and a happy family that she may never see again. The colored illustrations contrast with the lush countryside and the smoky city perfectly. The story in this book is timeless and gives a gentle lesson on urban sprawl as well. This book is enjoyable for all ages. 1998 (orig. 1969), Houghton Mifflin Co, $14.95, $5.95 and $9.95. Ages 4 to 8.
(Retrieved from Children's Literature Reviews, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database)

Suggestions for library or classroom use:
This book won the Caldecott Medal, so would be a good source when teaching about that. It would also be a good book to have in a rural community, to use when teaching about the importance of rural communities.

Module 2 - George and Martha Rise and Shine and The Story of Ferdinand

Two friends, George and Martha, share their days together laughing, experiementing, and going on picnics. In this book, there are five short stories about George and Martha's friendship.

Marshall, J. (1976). George and martha rise and shine. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. ISBN: 0-395-34738-1

Impressions:
Younger kids may need help realizing what is going on, since the plot of the book is heavily supported by the illustrations. I enjoyed the humor and tongue-in-cheek play on words, but young readers may need to have explained to them that George and Martha are friends. Older readers may wonder if they are boyfriend and girlfriend. There is not any indication either way in this book, so a discussion about friendship may be appropriate.

Review:
Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature)
...The illustrations provide moderate support, and the story moves along on the dialogue of George and Martha. Readers may need support understanding the interferences in the story and the twist of the endings. Fans of the "George and Martha" series will continue to love the humor, and those that are new to George and Martha stories will find additional books to enjoy with laughter. 1976, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, $15.00. Ages 5 to 7.
(Retrieved from the UNT Electronic Libarary, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database,

Suggestions for library use:
Unit on friends and friendships. Kids could be asked about their friends or what makes someone your friend. Since the last story is about the "Martha Fan Club" there could be a project about fan clubs and kids could come up with ideas about making fan clubs.



A shy, gentle bull is taken to Madrid for the bull fight. He just sits and smells the flowers instead of fighting the matador and is taken back to his cork tree.

Leaf, M. (1936). The story of Ferdinand. The Viking Press, United States of America.

Impressions: I've always loved this classic book with its simple pencil drawings and heartwarming story. This book is well written and a favorite amoung children.

Review:
"Ferdinand's day in the arena gives readers not only an education in the historical tradition of bullfighting, but also a lesson in nonviolent tranquility. Robert Lawson's black-and-white drawings are evocative and detailed, with especially sweet renditions of Ferdinand, the serene bull hero. The Story of Ferdinand closes with one of the happiest endings in the history of happy endings - readers of all ages will drift off to a peaceful sleep, dreaming of sweet-smelling flowers and contented cows." (Amazon.com Review, http://www.amazon.com/Story-Ferdinand-Puffin-Storytime/dp/0142409529/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285117884&sr=1-1)

Suggestions for library use:
If there is a large Spanish culture in the area, this would be a great book to involve those patrons and chidren. Questions such as "What is a bull fight?" and "Who are all the characters?" would be appropriate. Another aspect of the books is non-violence. Children could talk about bullies and how Ferdinand is an example of not being bullied.

Module 1 - Once Upon a Cool Motocycle Dude

This twist on a fairytale tells of a forlorn princess, a muscle dude and their battle with an ugly giant. It's told as a book report from two elementary school kids.

O'Malley, K. (2005). Once upon a cool motorcycle dude. Walker & Company, New York. ISBN: 0-8027-8947-1

Impressions:
I enjoyed this book. It moved quickly, the illustrations were bright and fun.

Review:
Brenda Dale (Library Media Connection, August/September 2005)
A girl and boy create a fantasy for their library report. The girl's character is a damsel-in-distress and the boy's character is a motorcycle-riding "cool muscle dude." When the boy narrates, the "mucle Dude" is rewarded with gold thread that the damsel spins, then the girl transforms her damsel into "Princess Warrior" who tells the muscle dude to make his own thread. While there is some attempt to dispel stereotypes, the message is confusing as only the Princess changes. The value of this story might be in discussion of plot development and choices writers make at various junctions in a narrative. Additional Selection. 2005, Walker & Comany, 32 pp., $16.25 hc
(Taken from the UNT Electronic Library, Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~q2aRxx:1

Suggestion for library use:
This book would be a great catalyst from more traditional fairytales to modern ones. Children could read this book, then practice writing their own fairytale. They could also work in pairs or in groups, like the girl and boy in the book.