Pink and Say

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

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

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

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. 

Coraline

By: Neil Gaiman.

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 5th-8th. Even though this book does not have any situations with physical development, has conflicts with adults and many problem solving situations enticing the readers to figure out what Coraline will do next.

Plot: Coraline is bored with her life. Her parents do not listen and her neighbors cannot get her name right. On a rainy day that forces her to stay inside, Coraline begins exploring the house. She finds a door which wasn't supposed to go anywhere but this time, it did. Crawling through the door she walked back into her home but it wasn't her home. This other home was much more exciting. The food smelled delicious and the garden was magnificent. Her other parents wanted her to stay very much but she must sew black buttons over her eyes. Coraline refuses, hurriedly climbs back through door and closes it behind her. She arrives back in her real home but cannot find her parents. She discovers her other mother has taken them and she must get them back. With help from the cat, she manages to defeat the other mother, save her parents, and the souls of others the other mother has captured. Coraline and everyone escapes safely to her home. However, the souls she saved tells her it isn't over. The other mother's great right hand is after the key to the door that hangs around Coraline's neck. She lures the hand to the deep, deep well in the garden. Laying a trap, she places the key on a table cloth over the well. Without hesitation the hand jumps for it, tumbles far down the well and Coraline quickly boards up the well preventing it from ever escaping.

Characters: Coraline, Mother and Father, Miss Spink, Miss Forcible, Mr. Bobo, Cat, Other Mother/beldam, Other Father, Other Miss Spink, Other Miss Forcible, Other Mr. Bobo, the rats.

Setting: It gives no mention of time but I'd guess present day in a suburban/rural area in England.

Theme: "When you're scared but still do it anyway, that's brave." A direct quote from the book.

Equity: No stereotypes or gender bias.

Illustrations: By Dave McKean. Sketches that help show both worlds Coraline is in.

The Apprentice

By: Pilar Molina Llorente

Genre: Historical Fiction. Set during the time of the Renaissance in Florence, Italy. This story offers a glimpse of how people lived and worked in that time.

Age Range: 4th-6th. While giving a peek into what life was like back then, this books has moral dilemmas, conflicts with peers, parents, adults, and internal conflicts that the young main character must go through in order to achieve his dream of becoming a painter.

Plot: Arduino does not want to become a tailor like his father, brothers, or his other ancestors. He wishes to painter. His father isn't happy about it but allows him to have an apprenticeship with a master painter, Cosimo di Forli. After one day of being there, Arduino is treated like garbage. After a few weeks, he is still only cleaning and fears he may never learn anything. One night ventures to the attic where the housemaid has been making recent trips. He finds a young boy named Donato, a former apprentice of the master chained like an animal. After the master had fallen ill, Donato was set free in order to finish the master's commission and continure painting with Arduino at his side.

Characters: Arduino, Father, Maestro Cosimo di Forli, Melania, Donato, Duke of Algora, Marco, Piero, Baldo.

Setting: The Renaissance in Florence, Italy.

Theme:

Equity: Stereotypes are avoided and the culture is accurately and appropriately represesnted.

Illustrations: By Juan Ramon Alonso. Sketches helping depict various characters.

The Arrow Over the Door

The Arrow Over the Door

By: Joseph Bruchac

Genre: Historical Fiction. Set in 1777 in colonial America, it accurately portrays how people lived, spoke, and felt about current events of that time.

Age Range: 4th-6th grade. Children are beginning to develop empathy for others, have a better understanding of time and a highly developed sense of justice. This book offers language development and offers situations where the children are challenging their parents.

Plot: The book goes back and forth between the stories of Samuel, a Quaker who's family and fellow Quakers are ridiculed for choosing not to fight in the Revolutionary War and Stands Straight, a 14 year old Abenaki boy whose family is chosen to by King George to help the British. Neither one of them are comfortable with the actions their families have chosen to take. Samuel does not understand how peace can do any good against muskets and arrows. Stands Straight did not want to die for those whom caused him so much pain. As the stories progress, they collide. Stands Straight's scouting party comes across the settlement of Samuel's people. There is growing tension between the two but seeing the Quakers open door and without weapons, the scouting party puts down their weapons and they quickly become friends.

Setting: 1777 in what is now New York

Theme: Peace can do greater good than a gun or any weapon.

Illustrations: James Walting. Sketch and shading. The illustrations, though few, greatly help picture how the people lived and dressed adding the the historical value of the book.

Equity Issues: All characters are portrayed in a positive manner without any stereotypes. The cultures and lifestyles are portrayed accurately and showed from different viewpoints of various characters.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkings

By: Barbara Kelley

Genre: Biography

Age Range: 2nd - 4th. This can be used as an introduction to discussing dinosaurs and the process of trying to figure out what they look like. Also good for independent readers.

Content: This book is for children to peer into the life of the first man to construct enormous models of dinosaurs and how he did it. It shows his process of making models but also his reasons why he believed they looked like how he modeled them. It also shows what he went through in order to make his dream a reality.

Organization: Information is clearly presented appropriately for the audience in order from beginning to end. References are at the back of the book along with a glossary.

Illustrations: By Brain Selznick. Mixed media with pencil drawings, charcoal or chalk, and possible computer generation. They clarify what the author is writing and a re separate from the text allowing clear focus on each.

The Library Card

By: Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 4th-6th grade. All four separate stories deal with growing up and changing but not in a physical way. Some have the main characters being made fun of, leaving everything they've known behind, giving up something they thought they couldn't live without, and not even having a home.

Plot: All four stories are different and not related. Each of the characters has it's own unique story of how reading books affected them positively. The first story is about Mongoose.  A young boy who began to steal and vandalize various spots in the city with his friend Weasel. He stumbles into the public library, begins reading, and cannot stop. The second story is of Brenda. A young girl who has becoming addicted to television. When the school and parents decide to participate in a television blackout, Brenda cannot seem to function. After a few days, she finds her old library card after years without using it. After days without television and now reading books, Brenda begins to change in a positive way. The third story tells about Sonseray. He lives with his Uncle Jack in an old Cadillac Elderado that they drive from town to town when they need to leave. Sonseray cannot seem to control his temper or actions. When Sonseray stumbles into a library and finds the book his mother wold read to him as a child, he finds peace in knowledge that he never made it up and that she was real. The fourth is about April. Her family moves from News York City to a mushroom farm. She hates everything about it. They worst part is she cannot find a library. That is until, she stumbles upon the book mobile. In it she meets Nanette, a teenage girl hijacking the bus to get to her fiance. By the end of the trip, April gives Nanette to her address and they begin to write each other letters becoming the best of friends.

Characters: Mongoose, Weasel, the Masked Man, Brenda, Brenda's Mom and Dad, Sonseray, Uncle Jack, Edwina, April, Nanette, and the driver of the bookmobile.

Setting: First story is in the city, second in a suburban community, third in a city, fourth in a rural community.

Theme: Books have different affects on different people. They mean more than just knowledge.

Illustrations: None

Spider and the Sky God

Retold by: Deborah K. Newton Chocolate

Genre: Traditional Folk tale: Beast tale. A small spider out smarts animals much larger then himself.

Age Range: K-3rd. It is an easy read and not challenging for older readers. Excellent for story time with younger readers.

Plot: Ananse the Spider goes to the Sky God high above to become a great story teller. The Sky God tells him he must bring him Onini - the Python, Mmboro - the Buzzing Hornets, Osebo - the Leopard, and Mmotia - the Fairy. After outsmarting all four and capturing

Characters: Kwansu Ananse, Sky God, Aso, Onini - the Python, Mmoboro - the Buzzing Hornets, Osebo - the Leopard, and Mmoatia - the Fairy.

Setting: The forests of West Africa

Theme: Little things can accomplish big tasks.

Illustrations: Dave Alders; Lots of geometric shapes and vivid colors which is part of African Culture.

Equity: Derived from traditional African folklore, this tale is good representation of a culture and is excellent for introduction into a culture.

Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella

By: Robert D. San Souci

Genre: Traditional Folktale

Age Range: Independent K-3rd. This is a great storytelling book and also introduces a different language. This may prove challenging for young readers but serves as great introduction to a new language.

Plot: It is your basic Cinderella story with the French-Creole culture instead of English.

Characters: Nannin', Cendrillon, Madame Prosperine, Vitaline, Paul

Setting: An island in the Caribbean.

Theme:

Equity: Appropriate with culture. Names, language, dress, and food represented in a respectful way.

The Girl Who Spun Gold

By: Virginia Hamilton

Genre: Traditional Folktale

Age Range: Independent K-3rd. This is a fantastic storytelling book similar to the popular "Rumpelstiltskin". The language varies challenging third graders while still offering a good variety for Kindergarten through second.

Plot: One day, Quashiba and her mother were spinning thread and laughing while working. Young Big King came through the trees angry at all the noise. Quickly Quashiba's mother ran to the king trying to calm him down. She lies, saying they are rejoicing for her daughter is weaving gold thread. The king soon marries the daughter, giving her anything her heart desires. After a year and one day, the king decides he wants his golden thread. He locks Quashiba in a room as large as a playing field. Lit'mahn, a tiny magical creature shows up. He offers to help but if she cannot guess his name within three days having three tries on each day, then he will change her to creature smaller than her. After the second night passes, the king tells her a story of how he ran into Lit'mahn and told her his name. That night she guessed his name correctly and was allowed to stay with the king.

Characters: Lit'mahn, Quashiba, Quashiba's mother, Big King

Setting: West India

Theme:

Illustrations: Done by Leo and Diane Dillon. There is a large use of gold reflecting the title of the book. The illustrations are strictly paint

Iron John

By: Eric A. Kimmel

Genre: Traditional: Folktale

Age Range: Independent 1st-4th. It is longer than an average children's literature book and is adapted from a larger story from the Brothers Grimm. Because of it's length and challenging words, for first and second graders it would be useful in story time as the illustrations can assist in keeping their attention. In third and fourth grade, the more independent readers will find it challenging enough without discouraging them.

Plot: This adaptation begins with Iron John locked in a cage in a king's collection of wild beasts. One day, the king's son Walter is playing in the collection and his ball bounces into Iron John's cage. Asking for the ball back, Iron John makes a deal that he will give the ball back if Walter releases him. Once releasing him, Walter asks to come with Iron John out of fear of his father. Iron John takes him and has him guard his hidden spring making sure nothing falls in. One day a hair falls in, the next Walter sticks his finger in, and the next, his hair. Iron John and Walter must part ways and Walter finds a king and asks for work. He gets work in the garden with Elsa under the name Walter-in-the-mud. One night the king throws a masquerade ball and Walter attends with the help of Iron John, throwing flowers to Elsa. Next with the help of Iron John, he disguised himself as a knight and won the jousting tournament giving the garland to Elsa. After the tournament, robbers ambush and kill the king and take away the princesses. Iron John helps Walter save them but Walter is badly wounded. Iron John, with his curse lifted, reveals himself a king to the weeping princesses and explains the only way for the golden knight to live is the with the tears of the maiden who loves him. Once the princesses find out it is Walter, they refuse! Elsa rushes to his side and cries relentlessly. Walter takes her as his bride and rides off with Iron John to their lands far away.

Characters: Iron John, Walter, Elsa, the Princesses.

Setting: Woods/countryside

Theme: Looks can be deceiving. Walter turned out to be a strong, brave knight but was disguised as a filthy worker and the princesses wrote him off as such.

Illustrations: Done by Trina Schart Hyman. The illustrations are mixed media using charcoal and water color. Realistic drawings help describe the scenes of the story.

Maniac Magee

By: Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 5th - 7th grade. Expressions of prejudice, becoming more independent with reading and challenging themselves, enjoys stories of survival, increased understanding of time, highly  developed sense of concern for others, rich and complex story, and abstract relationships.

Plot: As a baby, Jeffrey Magee's parents died in a terrible accident. He is sent to live with his Uncle Dan and Aunt Don, who despised each other. After eight years of the silence and hate, Jeffrey ran away and  met Amanda Beale in the West End of Two Mills which was blacks only. Jeffrey didn't understand and didn't care. He continued along in the West End having various run-ins with Mars Bar Thompson and a few high-schoolers. When he goes to the East End which is whites only, he runs into John McNab, a pitcher for a little league that seems unbeatable. When Magee beats him and performs other crazy stunts, he earns the title "Maniac Magee". However, after living in the West End, prejudice takes over and runs Magee out of town where he meets Grayson, a down out pitcher from the minor leagues. He lives with Grayson for many months and they become somewhat of a family. Sadly, Grayson dies shortly after Christmas and Magee feels lost and hopeless. He comes upon two young boys trying run away to Mexico named Russell and Piper. Finding out they are also from Two Mills he takes them back and as luck would have it, they are the little brothers of John McNab. He stays with them off and on and reunites with Mars Bar Thompson and eventually comes to stay with Amanda Beale. Jeffrey Magee finally has a home.

Characters: Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee, Amanda Beale, Mars Bar Thompson, Mrs. Beale, John McNab, Russell and Piper, Hector and Lester, and Grayson.

Setting: Late 1960's or early 1970's Pennsylvania

Theme: Overcoming differences and prejudice

Award: John Newberry Medal 1991

The Gardener

By: Sarah Stewart

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 1st - 4th grade. This book reflects the need for for families felt by young kids, increase in attention span, and students are beginning to feel empathy for other people.

Plot: Lydia Grace must go live with her Uncle Jim in the city because her father cannot find a job and her mother is no longer making dresses. When she arrives, she is ecstatic to find out she is still able to garden even in the city. As time goes on she realizes her Uncle Jim doesn't smile very often and sets out to change that with her secret place. Near the end of the book, every window of her uncle's building has flowers and the bakery below is busier than ever. She reveals her secret place to her Uncle Jim as the rooftop of the building and there are flowers everywhere! The next day Uncle Jim presented her with a cake covered in beautiful flowers and new that she was finally able to head home.

Characters: Lydia Grace, Uncle Jim, Grandma, Ed and Emma Beech, Mama and Papa

Setting: 1935 in a city.

Theme: Even though Lydia Grace was away from her family for quite a while, she stayed positive and made the best out of her situation. Keeping a positive attitude can make a huge difference.

Illustrations: By David Small. Lots of bright colors and use of mixed media make for excellent pictures to help tell the story and grab attention.

Award: Caldecott Medal 1998

John Henry

By: Julius Lester

Genre: Traditional Folklore

Age Range: 1st-4th grade. Children will be able to tell fantasy from reality and can strengthen their imagination through the use of personification in the book, allows children to become familiar with death, and the vivid illustrations assist in keeping attention.

Plot: John Henry is tall-tale in American history. He was born and immediately began to grow and grow, and in the days that followed proved to be larger than life. He first beat Ferret-faced Freddy in a race around town, then with his two twenty pound sledge-hammers swung his way through a boulder that not even dynamite could blow though. Next, came a difficult challenge for John Henry. While working on the railroad the boss brought in a steam drill to get through the mountain that stood in front of them. John Henry challenged the steam engine to a race and won. Sadly, John Henry worked his big heart too hard and had died. The morning after, John Henry was placed on a flatbed railroad car and taken to Washington D.C. with crowds of people cheering and crying as he passed.

Characters: John Henry, the Sun

Setting: Virginia in the late 1800's

Theme: Near the end of the book there is quote. It reads: "Dying ain't important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living." This reflects the story well because John Henry helped when he could and worked hard with a positive attitude.

Illustrations: Done by Jerry Pinkney. Vivid enough to keep the attention of younger kids attention and good use of color.

Award: Caldecott Medal 1995