Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by: Jarrett Krosoczka

1. Bibliographic Data
Krosoczka, Jarrett. Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print.

2. Plot Summary
Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians is a humorous comic about lunch ladies who are also part time heroes and crime stoppers. Dee, Terrence, and Hector are three young students who get in on the action too. This installment of the Lunch Lady series involves the librarian stealing money from fundraisers, banding together, and trying to put a stop to all the new video games and gaming consoles coming out. The lunch ladies figure out what is happening through a spy cam and go to the rescue. The three students figure out what is happening too, and come just in time to rescue the lunch ladies when they are almost defeated by the librarians. The librarians are caught red handed trying to destroy the video game consoles and arrested. The lunch ladies come up with a plan in the end to combine reading and video games within the library. They save the day once again.

3. Critical Analysis
Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians is a great book for readers who enjoy comics. The book is in a comic book format as it tells the stories. The black and white pictures accompanying the comic help to explain the story, and help the reader visualize the story line. The theme of the book is a light-hearted story of unsuspecting heroes, the lunch ladies and a group of kids. Krosoczka does a good job of evolving the story just through short sentences or phrases in the comic bubbles. A great, short read for any reader interested in comics and heroes.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Choices Best Book List, 2010
*Childrens Literature..."Inspired by author/artist Jarret J. Krosoczka’s crazy ideas about his own elementary school lunch lady, much of the book’s humor comes from Lunch Lady’s cafeteria-themed gadgets, including the Spork Phone, Hairnet Nets, and Sonic Boom Juice Box."

5. Connections
*Read the other Lunch Lady books within the series.
*Have the kids create their own superhero comic strips.

"Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians." Children's Literature Reviews. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. .

When You Reach Me by: Rebecca Stead

1. Bibliographic Data
Stead, Rebecca. When you reach me . New York: Random House, 2009. Print.

2. Plot Summary
When You Reach Me is a confusing story at times that all comes together in the end. Miranda and her best friend Sal are enjoying their regular teenage lives when strange things start to happen. Sal is first punched by a kid they don't know, and then begins to ignore Miranda. Miranda spends her time helping her mom prepare to be on the game show "The $20,000 Pyramid", and making new friends. Then Miranda receives a mysterious note from what seems like the future that is warning her about saving her and a friends life. Miranda is thrown in to a desperate search of trying to discover who the author of the note is before it is too late. She then meets Marcus, perhaps a man from the future. The end brings the three people together that all makes sense in the end. The book cross-references the ever popular A Wrinkle in Time that also deals with the concept of time travel. This a good books for kids who enjoy books about the future, past, time travel, and everything in between.

3. Critical AnalysisRebecca Stead does a wonderful job of conveying her own writing style through Miranda's narration. The book is not your common teenage story of normal kids, but deals with time travel and mystery. The theme of the book is futuristic and eccentric that keeps the reader wondering how all the pieces are going to come together. A great book for readers who enjoy other time travel books, like A Wrinkle in Time. A light-hearted, intriguing book for all ages.

4. Reviews and Excerpt(s)
*Andre Norton Award, 2009
*Indies Choice Book Awards, 2010
*Childrens Literature.."Charmingly eccentric and impossible to categorize, this middle grade novel pays homage to Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time while employing many of that book’s elements as it crisscrosses the boundaries between reality and fantasy, time travel and mystery."

5. Connections
*Suggest reading A Wrinkle in Time to the kids, a great read!
*Have the kids create their own short futuristic stories.
*Discuss what they thought of the story, and how they all thought it was going to play out and come together.

"When You Reach Me." Children's Literature Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. .

The Book Theif by: Markus Zusak

1. Bibliographic Data
Zusak, Markus. The book thief . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print.

2. Plot Summary
The Book Thief is an extraordinary story about a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany. The stories tells the simple pleasures of friendship, family, and learning knew things to keep the sad story entertaining at times. Liesel Meminger moves to Molching, Germany to live with foster parents when she is a young girl. Along the way she loses her brother, buries him, and steals her first book that later gives her the name "the book thief". She meets her best friend Rudy Steiner who lives next door , and learns to love her foster parents as her real mama and papa once she gets to Molching. As Nazi Germany is prevailing, Liesels papa has to live up to a promise he made years ago and harbor a young jew in his basement, Max. Throughout the story, Liesel learns to read and write and steal books from the rich familes with her best friend to read to Max in the basement. A series of events leads to Max having to leave, and eventually leads to her papa having to leave to join the war. Bombing is becomes a recurring event in the small town of Mulching that leads to Liesel losing everybody, including her foster parents and Rudy. Liesel thinks she has lost everyone and is devastated, only to find Max standing at her door one day. The story ends with Liesel living her life out in Sydney with a family, kids, and grandkids.

3. Critical Analysis
The Book Thief is a wonderful story that shares the other side to Nazi Germany. Books based during this time period usually focus on the Holocaust and are told from a Jewish child's point of view, but this story tells the story of a young German girl dealing with her anger towards Hitler. The story has a light-hearted plot of children being children that kids can relate too, but also has a good balance of the hard times during this period and what it was like. The theme accompanies the plot by being happy at times, but extremely sad at others. Marcus Zusak does a great job of incorporating his writing style into the book. The story is narrated by "death". The paragraphs are not always simple, and include pictures that Max drew, or notes and clarification spoken by "death" that are in bold through the story. The Book Thief is a good story for yougn adults that can understand and deal emotionally with the hard topics during Nazi Germany.

4.Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Cybil Award, 2006
*Michael L. Printz Award, 2007
*Parents' Choice Award, 2006
*Kirkus Reviews..."This big, expansive novel is a leisurely working out of fate, of seemingly chance encounters and events that ultimately touch, like dominoes as they collide. The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it's a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important."

5. Connections
*Read other books that deal with Nazi Germany, try a book through a Jewish child's point of view.
*Discuss the hardships and history of the Holocaust and Nazi Germany.
*Have the teens write short stories about their lives like Liesel Meminger did.

"The Book Thief." Children's Literature Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. .

Chains by: Laurie Halse Anderson

1. Bibliographic Data
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains . New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008.

2. Plot Summary
Chains starts out with Isabel and her little Ruth preparing to be freed now that their master had died, Miss Finch. Miss Finch's nephew has other plans and sells them immediately after the funeral to a rich, evil couple, the Locktons, who take them to New York. Isabel is treated very poorly by Mrs. Lockton, while Ruth was treated better because she thought she could manipulate her. Ruth was prone to episodes, and Mrs. Lockton finally experienced one, which ends with Ruth being taken away from Isabel and sold to another family. Isabel finds herself so lost and angry until she meets Curzon. Isabel does not care about the Revolutionary War going on, and all she worries about is being free. Curzon encourages Isabel to spy on her Loyalist masters, and tell what she knows to the Patriots. Isabel is torn between the decision, but knows this is her only way to freedom and finding her sister. Her missions are dangerous and end up tearing her and Curzon apart.

3. Critical Analysis
Laurie Halse Anderson creates and intriguing story that will leave the reader wanting to know what is going to happen next. The story is told through a young, slave girl in the 1700s so children can not really relate to all of the problems Isabel has to deal with, but the story is so entertaining. Children could relate to her bravery, and wonder if they would be as brave as Isabel to gain freedom. The setting of the book is in New England in the thick of the Revolutionary War. The facts and a few characters are real, which Anderson explains at the end of the book. The theme of the story revolves around Isabel's struggle for freedom. The reader will get lost in the story, and not even realize they are learning about a very important war in American history, and the struggle of many slaves during this timer period. Chains is meant for the young adult crowd because of its content and length, but is very highly recommended book.
*Readers can now read Forge which picks up where Chains left off, and tells the story through Curzon.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Cybil Award, 2009
*Scott O'Dell Award, 2009
*Childrens Literature..."Once she throws her lot in with Curzon, the die is cast, and Isabel finds herself fighting colonial apathy and Mrs. Lockton’s cruelty as she strives to help Curzon and the revolutionary spirit of those around her. The sequel to this novel is coming, and if it is half the book this one is, it will be well worth the wait."

5. Connections
*Ask the children what they would have done if they were in Isabel's place. What do they think about the Locktons? Curzon?
*Read or recommend Forge the sequel.
*Discuss the questions and Anderson's answers at the back of the book. Discuss what was fact and what was not.

"Chains." Children's Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2245/cgi-bin/member/search (accessed November 11, 2010).

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by: Karen Cushman

1. Bibliographic Data
Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple . New York: Clarion Books, 1996.

2. Plot Summary
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is about a girl and her family moving West to California during the Gold Rush. Lucy lost her dad and a younger brother before they left for California, but her mom, brother, and two little sisters make the trip with her. Lucy is really unhappy about moving away from Massachusetts and her grandparents, and hates Lucky Diggins, California and all of its dirt. Throughout the book Lucy dreams about moving, and saves her money to move back East. The only thing that keeps her going is her books. The Whipples go tough a time when they lose Butte, the only boy left in the family. Lucy makes many friends while living in Lucky Diggins, but she doesn't know at the time. After long summers and winters, and a devastating fire Lucy's mom and new husband decide to move to the Sandwich Islands. Lucy makes the choice to stay behind to move back East with another family that is leaving. When it is finally time for her to go, she can't. She realizes she loves this place, and writes to her mom telling her "home is where I am loved and safe and needed. And that's Lucky Diggins". Lucy ends of living happily ever after in Lucky Diggins as the librarian at the new library.

3. Critical Analysis
Karen Cushman does an excellent job of describing the hard times during the Gold Rush in California, but keeps it interesting through Lucy Whipple's story. The story is humorous and sad at times, but is a good read for a child. Lucy Whipple is easy to identify with for children because she goes through the same things a child would go through today, like doing chores or finding new friends. The description of the setting is accurate in explaining the long winters and summers that plagued the miners during this time. The theme of the book touches on dealing with loss, moving, getting along with your parents, and making new friends, all of these being issues a child could deal with today. Cushman's style of writing is present through out the book, and the reader is exposed to how people spoke then, like the terms ma and pa, which kids don't hear often today.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*John and Patricia Beatty Award, 1997
*ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Awards, 1997
*Lots of interesting characters and descriptions of the hard life facing the miners and others whose livelihoods are part of the gold fever make for an amusing and informative look at California and the struggles of one girl to find herself and a place to call home."

5. Connections
*Lucy often discusses some of her favorite books, ask the children what some of their favorite books are. Have them write down the books they would like to take with them if they had to move away to a place with no library.
*Ask the children questions about the time period, and use the small history lesson at the back of the book to explain to them what the time were really like.
*Have the children draw a picture of what they envision Lucky Diggins to look like.

"The Ballad of Lucy Whipple." Childrens Literature . ezproxy.twu.edu:2245/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~dHoznf:2 (accessed November 11, 2010).

Al Capone Does My Shirts by: Gennifer Choldenko

1. Bibliographic Data
Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone does my shirts . New York: G.p. Putnam's Sons, 2004.

2.Plot Summary
Al Capone Does My Shirts is about a young boy, Moose, and his family moving to Alcatraz, so they can afford to send his sister to a special school. The story is set during the thirties when popular cons are living on Alcatraz, like Al Capone. Moose is angry at first that he had move away from his home and friends, but he quickly finds himself with a new group of friends who all live on the island. Piper the warden's daughter is always up to trouble, and bringing Moose in to the middle of it, like charging kids at school to have Capone do their laundry. Meanwhile, his family is dealing with his sister, who we now know has autism, and getting her in to this promising school in San Fransisco. After twice getting turned down, Moose takes matters in to his own hands. He knew if he could get a message to Al Capone that he could help him out, and talk to the headmaster at the school. Moose writes Capone a letter explaining everything, and one afternoon he comes home to find out his sister has been accepted. Moose's parents just think life is so unexpected sometimes, but Moose thinks differently, especially when he finds the wrinkled note in his freshly laundered shirt saying "DONE".

3. Critical Analysis
Gennifer Choldenko's portrayal of Alcatraz during the thirties is accurate and information, but is entertaining as well as the reader embarks on the complicated relationship between Moose and his sister, Natalie. The children in this store are all fictional, but they all portray what children were like during this time period. Moose, for example, loves baseball and would play everyday, and this was when baseball was considered the American past time. The description of the children's clothes that they pay to have laundered by Al Capone are also a reflection of the time period. The setting of the story is set on Alcatraz island when they had the most famous cons living there. The plot of the story could be realistic because Choldenko writes a few pages at the end of the story explaining how worker's families did live on the island, and come in to close contact with the prisoners. The prisoners really did do the families laundry. The book captures Choldenko's creative voice, but the reader also gets to read how people spoke during the thirties through the dialogue of the families in the story. Al Capone Does My Shirts is an entertaining, and emotional at times, story that children can relate to while learning about the history of Alcatraz and its inhabitants.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Carnegie Medal, 2004
*John Newbery Medal, 2005
*Young Adult Book Award, 2006
*Childrens Literature..."This is an incredibly readable book; its chapters are short, its plot driving, its characters well-rounded and intriguing, and the setting fascinating."

5.Connections
*Have the kids discuss what they think life would be like on Alcatraz island.
*Let the children choose another book by Gennifer Choldenko, like Notes from a Liar and her Dog
*Ask the kids if they have ever had to move away from a friend, or had a friend move away from them, and how they felt.

"Al Capone Does my Shirts." Childrens Literature. ezproxy.twu.edu:2245/cgi-bin/member/search (accessed November 11, 2010).

Dogs and Cats by: Steve Jenkins

1. Bibliographic Data
Jenkins, Steve. Dogs and Cats. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.

2. Plot Summary
Dogs and Cats is an informational book about where dogs and cats came from, different breeds, facts, and other interesting information. The book is about dogs on one cover, and then the reader flips the books and reads about cats. The dog side of the book explains how dogs evolved from wild animals, and how the different breeds are created. The author explains how they get along with people and other dogs. There is a section that tells about puppies, and their behavior and eating habits. The author then provides a picture that points out all the dogs senses, and which ones they use best. The book meets in the middle with the cat section by explaining how dogs and cats interact. The cat side of the book points out of all the same characteristics and the history of cats.

3. Critical Analysis
Dogs and Catspresents accurate facts about the lives and characteristics of dogs and cats. The organization of the book is split up into two parts through its flip book format. The reader can pick which animal they want to read about first, then flip the book over to read about the other animal. The book has cute, colorful pictures that depict the different breeds of dogs and cats. This is a great informational book for children who are interested in animals. The information flows nicely, and the author makes it interesting for the child.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Mind the Gap Award, 2008
*Childrens Literature..."Cat and dog aficionados alike will be pleased with this artistic yet factual rendering of their favorite four-legged companions. Readers who start the book from the gold endpapers are treated to a wealth of information about man’s best friend; those who flip the book and start from the red endpapers enjoy pages about their independent felines."
*Booklist..."Award-winning illustrator-author Jenkins offers readers a delightful and insightful grab bag of facts about a human's best friends."

5. Connections
*Take a poll of which animal the children like best, a dog or a cat?
*Have the children share stories about their animals.
*Let the children draw pictures of them and their fury friends to accompany their stories.

What to do About Alice? by: Barbara Kerley

1. Bibliographic Data
Kerley, Barbara. What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008.

2. Plot Summary
What to do About Alice? is a cute story of Alice Roosevelt and her childhood, teen, college, and adult years. Alice had been a mischievous, bright child all her life. She was a tomboy who loved exploring and being outside. Alice attended a boarding school briefly, before she came back home to finish her studies. Her father, Theodore, soon became president, and Alice had the entire White House to wonder around, and of course get into to trouble in. Alice traveled all over the world, and everybody she met loved her. She was outspoken, and had a passion for politics. She married a congressman, and continued her wild ways.

3. Critical Analysis
What to do About Alice? portrays accurate events in Alice Roosevelt's life. It recounts her father's second marriage, his presidency, and her marriage to a congressman. The organization of the book chronicles Alice's wild childhood to her adult years. The illustrator, Edwin Fotheringham, provides color and illustrations that compliment the story, and make it entertaining. The text also makes the book appealing because of its bold words, different font, and text in different areas of the page. This short information book is a great read for children about one our great president's daughters, who was just like them.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Cybil Award, 2008
*Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, 2009
*Childrens Literature..."Social Studies teachers of primary classes will find Alice an interesting subject that kids will admire as they learn about a family that lived in the White House in 1901."

5. Connections
*Read stories of other president's children, and their experiences in the White House.
*Have the children discuss or write down some of the things they would like to do in the White House if they lived there.
*Ask the children what they would do if their parent was president.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by: Phillip Hoose

1. Bibliographic Data
Hoose, Phillip. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. 1 ed. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009.

2. Plot Summary
Twice Toward Justice is about a young girl, Claudette Colvin, growing up in Alabama during segregation. Claudette knew she was different when she didn't care about the way she wore her hair, or the clothes she wore. She knew she wanted to make a difference in the South after learning about her rights from an influential teacher. Claudette made an important impact that started the move toward desegregation in Alabama. She refused to move from her seat in the city bus, was arrested, and went through trial to clear her name. Along her journey she met civil rights activist just like her, such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., and did anything she could at such a young age to help the movement. Twice Toward Justice tells the story of a girl who was not as popular in our history books, but made a large impact on the desegregation of city buses in Alabama that led to many other important events.

3. Critical Analysis
Twice Toward Justice conveys accurate information about the civil rights movement in Alabama. The story is lesser known then the stories of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., but is accurate in the series of events and these more popular figures' roles in the movement. The books chronological story line of Claudette Colvin's life helps the reader understand her background, feelings, and how she came to be the strong, young individual she was. The book interchanges between Claudette's words and the authors', which engages the reader because they can read her actual recollection of the events in the book. The author included actual photographs of Claudette, her family, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and other important people in the story. The photographs complement the story because the reader can have a mental image while reading through the story. Twice Toward Justice is a fresh new look at the hard times in Montgomery, Alabama. Children can relate toward the story because Claudette is their age.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Cybil Award, 2009
*Jane Addams Children's Book Award, 2010
*John Newbery Medal, 2010
*Childrens Literature..."Hoose has done a remarkable job researching and obtaining first person accounts of the bus incident involving a teenager named Claudette Colvin. Her bravery in the face of bullying from the bus driver and the police officers was remarkable. So was her agreement to be one of the ones to testify in Browder v. Gayle, a major Civil Rights case."

5. Connection
*Read stories of other lesser well-know civil right's activist.
*Read about Rosa Parks and her not giving up her seat.
*Ask the children to reflect on how they would have felt, or what they have done.
*Share a brief history either before or after the story that explains what segregation is, and how times were in Alabama.

City Lullaby by: Marilyn Singer

1. Bibliographic Data
Singer, Marilyn. City Lullaby. New York: Clarion Books, 2007.

2. Plot Summary
City Lullaby is charming book about the many noises in the city as a baby is sleeping in their stroller. Marilyn Singer uses numbers and counting to carry the story along. The reader starts with ten horns beeping, and ends the story with one bird tweeting. There are many sounds in the city that are very loud, but the baby continues sleep in the stroller. Finally, "one small bird, for goodness sake, Chirpity-chirps, ...and Baby's awake. This is a very cute story that allows the reader to count along with the many city noises that the baby sleeps to until the one chirping bird.

3. Critical Analysis
City Lullaby rhymes very smoothly with rhyming words at the end of each sentence. It is easy to read aloud, and to make a rhythm so that children can follow along. Carll Cneut provides illustrations that compliment the story. On each page there is a different city noise, and there is a picture that matches the noise. At the end of the story, the reader goes through all ten sounds again, and there is ten cars, nine phones, eight dogs, seven trash cans, and so on. The words and illustrations in this book help the young reader learn how to count from one to ten through a fun, happy story about about a baby being pushed through the city.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Booklist..."Singer writes in infectious, rhyming poetry that scans smoothly to a rapid beat, which is echoed in the busy, densely populated, color-saturated scenes of cars, buildings, and city dwellers, rushing, eating, and playing."
*Kirkus Reviews..."Cneut's full-bleed mixed-media paintings dispatch traditional perspective: Orange buildings lean, box-like yellow cabs careen and a multiethnic crowd works and plays, jammed up against the picture plane along with garbage cans, cell phones, pets and signs."

5. Connection
*There are many sounds in this book that children can act out. Have the children say or make the sound while going through the book to help them interact with the story.
*Have the children talk about sounds they hear when they walk through the city, grocery store, library, school, etc.
*Have the children make up ten sounds they hear around town, and to draw a picture that corresponds with that sound.

"City Lullaby." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2130/cgi-bin/member/search (accessed October 14, 2010).

Diamond Willow by: Helen Frost

1. Bibliographic Data
Frost, Helen. Diamond Willow (Frances Foster Books). New York: Farrar, Straus And Giroux (Byr), 2008.

2. Plot Summary
Diamond Willow is about a girl named Willow who lives in Alaska with her mom, dad, sister, bestfriend Kaylie, and her sled dogs. After an unfortunate accident leaving her favorite dog Roxy blind, Willow decides to flee to her grandparents to save Roxy's life. Willow and Kaylie find themselves lost on their journey in the middle of a snow storm. After many animals intervene to save their lives, Willow makes it to her grandparents. Willow's parents are happy she is safe, and decide to bring Roxy back home because she means so much to them. Willow finds out about her twin that died when she was a few days old, and also finds out that her lost twin, Diamond, is now present in her dog Roxy. Willow and Roxy grow even closer, and develop a special bond that allows them to communicate. "I feel like I am flying with them, like my twin sister Diamond is alive inside me saying, Willow, this is happiness.

3. Critical Analysis
Diamond Willow is a touching story of a girl, her dog, and the discovery of her twin. Diamond Willow is a novel written in verse. Helen Frost, who lived in Alaska for sometime, designed this story around a diamond willow walking stick. Each paragraph is shaped into a diamond, and has little hidden messages in bold. This story sad at times, but turns out to be a happy ending. There are no illustrations in this novel, but Helen Frost's imagery allows the reading visualize the snow covered trails that Willow and Roxy follow. Diamond WIllow is a wonderful book about family and unexpected friendships.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Cybil Award, 2008
*Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2009
*Mitten Award 2008
*Childrens Literature..."This is a strong, independent, and engaging female protagonist who struggles with the common issues around popularity, growing independence from family, and personal responsibility."

5. Connections
*Have the children name one of their favorite pets, and tell a favorite story about them.
*Have the children draw a picture of their favorite pet, and their favorite activity they share with them.
*Ask the children to describe what they would have done, or how they would have felt, if they were lost in the woods without their parents.

"Diamond Willow." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2130/cgi-bin/member/search (accessed October 14, 2010).

Button Up! Wrinkled Ryhmes by Alice Schertle

1. Bibliographic Data
Schertle, Alice. Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes. New York: Harcourt Children's Books, 2009.

2. Plot Summary
Button up! is a collection of poems by Alice Shertle. The poems all include items that a child would wear, such as their galoshes, coats, sweaters, and swimsuits. Alice tells a cute story for each clothing item that shares what each character does while wearing them. "Bob skins his elbow. Bob scrapes his knee. Bob doesn't hurt his head- Bob's got me" tells the story of Bob and his biking helmet. Alice's short poems describe a piece of clothing for all weather and many occassions that children will relate to.

3. Critical Analysis
Button up! has a catchy rhythm to it with its rhyming words at the end of the sentences. Children can remember these short poems and read along. The book has illustrations for each poem that compliments the imagery created by Alice Shertle. The words and illustrations take the reader through the everday experience of each item. These poems are happy and light-hearted, like "Joshua's Jammies". The illustration shows all of Joshua's animal toys, and the poem describes how Joshua's jammies are the perfect fit just for him. This book of poems would be a great addition to any child's bedtime story collection.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2010
*Best Childrens Book of the Year, 2010
*Childrens Literature..."Rollicking poems told in the “voices” of articles of clothing make up this fun collection. Rhymes are in couplets or quatrains, with some internal rhyming, and there is a well-defined rhythm that will appeal to children. The silliness of talking clothes adds to the overall appeal."

5. Connection
*Ask children to come up with there favorite piece of clothing, and to make up a funny story about that item.
*Bring in props that compliment the story, so that the children can see and touch them. This could be a bike helmet, an itchy sweater, an old t-shirt, a soccer jersey, etc.

"Button Up!." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2130/cgi-bin/member/search (accessed October 14, 2010).

Noah's Ark by: Jerry Pinkney

1. Bibliographic Data
Pinkney, Jerry. Noah's Ark (Caldecott Honor Book). San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2002.

2. Plot Summary
Noah's Ark tells the story of God's displeasure with the earth, and how he instructed Noah to build an ark for his family and two of every animal. Noah trusts in the Lord, builds the ark, and then the animals come two by two. People mock and question Noah, but Noah takes him family on the ark. God then sends rain to flood the earth for forty day and forty nights. Noah, his family, and all the animals are kept safe so that they can walk on the earth again. God rids all the water, and promises to Noah "never again will I send a flood upon the earth to destroy it. From this day forward, life on earth will grow and prosper."

3. Critical Analysis
Jerry Pinkney's beautiful illustrations compliment the wondrous words God spoke to Noah. His use of soft colors with bits of bright color tell the story of Noah and the Ark. Pinkney describes the great flood in a simple manner for young children, but still includes all the important details of the story. Each page could tell the story itself as Noah listens to God, builds the ark, brings his family aboard, and welcomes all the pairs of animals. A great read for any family or Sunday school class.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Randolph Caldecott Award 2003
*Sydney Taylor Book Awards 2002
*Childrens Literature..."The illustrations are detailed tapestries of pencil and watercolor, faultless and immensely lovely."

5. Connection
*Read other popular Bible stories like David and Goliath.
*Ask the children to help you name some of the animals that all boarded the ark and are here today.
*Discuss why God flooded the earth, and chose Noah to build and live on the ark with his family.

"Noah's Ark." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2291/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~sXnOhO:1 (accessed September 30, 2010).

The Three Little Pigs retold and illustration by: James Marshall

1. Bibliographic Data
Marshall, James. The Three Little Pigs (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Reading Railroad Books (Pb)). New York: Turtleback, 2000.

2. Plot Summary
In The Three Little Pigs the mother pig sends her three young pigs out to live on their own. The three pigs decide to build houses for themselves. The first chooses to build his house out of straw. A hungry wolf notices the house, blows it down, and eats the pig. The second pig build his house house out of sticks, and the hungry wolf does the same thing. The third pig builds his house out of bricks very carefully to make sure it is sturdy. When the hungry wolf comes to eat the third pig and blow his house down he can't blow it down. After many tries of trying to entice the pig out of the house, the pig gets the best of the wolf, and "cooked the mean old wolf and gobbled him up."

3. Critical Analysis
James Marshall's retelling of The Three Little Pigs takes a more modern approach through his vocabulary. He also extends the story to include more effort by the wolf to get the third pig out of his house. Marshall conveys the first two pigs as not being very smart. They are not smart in their building supplies, and they are both mean to the people they buy the supplies from and the wolf. He makes the third pig more intelligent with his "capital decision" in building his house out of bricks. The pig then out smarts the wolf time and time again. Marshall not only conveys this through their demeanor, but their attire as well. His illustrations are bright and colorful, and the reader can see how casually dressed the first two pigs are, and how nice the intelligent pig is dressed in a suit and tie. Marshall uses up-to-date vocabulary that will carry this story on into future generations.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator
*Childrens Literature..."His retelling minimizes the gruesome aspects of traditional versions but still portrays the three pigs building their respective houses out of straw, wood and bricks and then tricking the Big Bad Wolf."

5. Connections
*Give the children straw, sticks, and legos to build the three houses in the story. They can then try blowing down each out like the wolf. The legos will pose as bricks and the children can see how sturdy the third pigs house was.
*Ask the children what they would build their house out of to protect them from the Big Bad Wolf.

"The Three Little Pigs." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2291/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~4lctJR:1 (accessed September 30, 2010).

Let it Shine by: Ashley Bryan

1. Bibliographic Data
Bryan, Ashley . Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals. New York: Atheneum, 2007.

2. Plot Summary
Let it Shine is a book of three popular songs: "This Little of Mine", "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In", and "He's Got the Whole Worlds in His Hands". These three classic songs are sung in churches and sunday schools rooms all around the world. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, hide it under a bushel 'OH NO!' is a favorite among children who chant "OH NO!" back.

3. Critical Analysis
Ashley Bryan's use of African colors in the illustrations remind the reader of where these three favorite spirituals orginated. He uses vivid, bright colors in cut-page collages on every page that make the reader happy and excited about these three songs. These songs are meant to be sung outloud and danced to, and his illustrations show how the people of Africa enjoy them. His use of color reminds me of "Jesus Loves the Little Children", and how he loves them no matter what color they are. Bryan uses black, red, orange, brown, purple, and white to show all the different children within the book.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Coretta Scott King Award 2008
*American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2008
*School Library Journal..."Bryan again proves himself a maestro with scissors (depicted on the endpages) in a series of arresting, kaleidoscopic cut-construction-paper collages that interprets three beloved spirituals."

5. Connections
*Teach the children the different dances that go along with each song, so that they can dance and sing along. In "This Little Light of Mine", teach them to use their pointer finger as the candle, and then to cover that finger with their other hand when you sing the part about hiding the light under a bushel.
*Have the children cut out pictures from colored construction paper and create their own collages to go with the songs.

"Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals." Books in Print. ezproxy.twu.edu:2214/merge_shared/details/RecordDetails.asp?item_uid=54621420&viewItemIndex=0&navPage=1&FullText=&BipAlertQueryString=&BipAlertDisplayQText= (accessed September 30, 2010).

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by: Judith Viorst

1. Bibliographic Data
Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. New York: Atheneum, 2009.

2. Plot Summary
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is about a boy name Alexander who wakes up with gum in his hair and realizes it's going to be a horrible day. His bad starts out with his brothers getting toys in the cereal boxes, and then getting carsick in the car. Once he gets to school, his teacher doesn't like his picture, his best friend said he wasn't his best friend anymore, and then his mom forgot to pack him dessert. After school the dentist found a cavity, he got in trouble for fighting, and they were out of his sneakers at the store. Finally when he got home, he had to eat lima beans, his brother took his pillow, and the cat wouldn't sleep with him. He figured he would move to Australia after this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

3. Critical Analysis
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day describes everybodies day every once in a while. Children will connect with this story because they feel like everything won't go their way sometimes. All of his problems through out the day are something that will happen to any kid, like your best friend picking on you or getting a cavity. The illustrations in the are sketched and in black and white. This leaves the imagaination to come up with colors and picture those in their heads. This book is a classic that any parent can share with their child, and tell them about how it used to be their favorite book.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Smart Book Award 2005
*Best Books List...Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages 2003
*Children's Literature..."Cruz captures the mood of the story in his black and white illustrations, which feature creative use of patterns and crosshatching to compensate for the lack of color."

5. Connections
*An activity to do with this book is to ask the children what happened on the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. What did they do to make it better?
*A good idea would be to tie in other classic books like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Where the Wild Things Are, or Caps for Sale.

"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Children's Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2095/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~1N2QzZ:18 (accessed September 15, 2010).

Dooby Dooby Moo

1. Bibliographic Data
Cronin, Doreen. Dooby Dooby Moo. New York: Atheneum, 2009.

2. Plot Summary
Dooby Dooby Moo is about farm animals that compete in a talent show at the local fair. The cows sang, the sheep sang, the pigs did an interpretive dance, and the duck directed them all. The grand prize at the fair is a trampoline that he really wants. Farmer Brown thinks something is going on with the animals, so he listens to them every night. He doesn't want to leave them alone, and he decides to take them to the fair. The duck sings in the talent show, and ends up winning the trampoline. The farm animals do the talent show and win all with out Farmer Brown finding out.

3. Critical Analysis
Dooby Dooby Moo is an adorable, entertaining read for young children. The story line is fun loving, and allows children to sing along. The songs the farm animals sing are set to tunes from familiar songs. The text in the book is very appeasing, and will keep the child's attention with its different font, text all over the page, and little footnotes. The illustrations are full of color, and compliments the text wonderfully. The story line will teach children that if they want something bad enough, and they practice, practice, practice, that they can get it.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Golden Archer Award 07-08
*National Parenting Publications Award 2006
*Kirkus Reviews..."Lewin's watercolors delightfully extend Cronin's text."

5. Connections
*A good idea would be to pair this book up with other Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin books. They have multiple other books about these farm animals.
*You could ask the children what some of their talents are, and hold an impromptu talent show like the in the book.

"Dooby Dooby Moo." Children's Literature Reviews. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2095/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~yST1wj:1 (accessed September 15, 2010).

Caldecott Medal Picture Book

1. Bibliographic Data
Wiesner, David. Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books, 2006.

2.Plot Summary
Flotsam is about a young boy who goes to the beach with his family. He discovers a camera that has washed to shore, and decides to develop the film inside. The film inside the camera holds a picture of a child holding another child's picture, that child holding another child's picture, and so on. He finds the picture of the very first child when he zooms in on each picture. The boy decides to carry on the tradition, and takes a picture of him holding the picture of the person who had the camera before him. He throws the camera back out to see for more children to find and enjoy it.

3. Critical Analysis
David Wiesner created a wonderful book full of pictures. There is no text in this picture book, which invites children to use their imaginations. The boy in the story seems to be a loner, but it is exciting to follow him on his journey to discovering who was the first child to use this camera. The book is a child's version of message in a bottle. This camera has traveled across the world to very different children and culture, which introduces children to diversity. While they are all different, they all have the camera in common. The illustrations are full of color and large in size, which makes it easy for children to see and come up with their own story.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s):
*Caldecott Medal
*New York Times..."Wiesner’s detailed watercolors make the absurd wonderfully believable, his graphic storytelling sense is sure and swift, and children will surely love “Flotsam” from start to finish."

5. Connections
*A good connection to make with Flotsam is to read and introduce other David Wiesner books to children. He has won the Caldecott Medal for his other picture books.
*The New York TImes suggested incorporating other books about sea life (Dear Fish by Chris Gall, Sea Horse by Chris Butterworth).

Small, David. "Fish in Focus - Books - Review - New York Times." The New York Times . http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/books/review/Small.t.html?_r=1&ref=bookreviews (accessed September 15, 2010).