My Best Space Pop-Up Book

My Best Space Pop-Up Book

Author: Caryn Jenner  

Illustrator: Clare Lloyd 

Genre: Non-Fiction 

Awards: None

Grade Level: PK-K

This book incorporates both pop-up images and sounds to teach children about the planets. Each planet has a page within the book along with the sun, the moon, the stars, and space travel. This book demonstrates and explain the facts about our solar system. 

I would use this book during a science lesson. This book can be used as a focusing event and to draw the attention of the students. 

Sisters

Sisters 

Author: Raina Telgemeier

Illustrator: Raina Telgemeier and Braden Lamb

Genre: Graphic Novel 

Awards: Will Fisher Award

Grade Level: 3rd-7th 

This book is about Raina, a young girl who can not wait to be a big sister. Once her sister is born, Raina is disappointed because things are now how she expected. Raina and Amara have had a rocky relationship since Amara was born. As they get older, things do not seem to get much better.  When their baby brother is born and when their parent's marriage begins to crumble, they join forces to get through these hard times. The entire book takes place in a car during a road trip to Colorado. 

I would use this book to teach about flashbacks. The entire books is told through present day events but also a lot of flashbacks. This book can also be used to teach about the hardships that come with growing up. 

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio 

Author: Peg Kehret

Narrator: Susan Boyce

Genre: Autobiography

Awards: None

Grade Level: 4th-8th 

This book is about a teenager, named Peg, who gets diagnosed with polio. Unfortunately she is diagnosed with three types of polio. She then heads to Sheltering Arms, which is a rehab center. Due to her needing a respirator, she is transferred to University Hospital. After a few days of her being in an oxygen tent, she is allowed to be moved into a regular room. Even though she is able to be moved out of isolation, all of her belongings must be burned because they may have the virus on them. Her new roommate is Tommy. Due to Tommy being put into an iron lung, Peg reads to him on the days that she is feeling okay. The two begin to listen to a radio show called The Lone Ranger, which aids in their recoveries because it gives them both something to look forward to. As a result of the many treatments that Peg is receiving, she begins to get better and is transferred back to Sheltering Arms. With a lot of rehabilitation, Peg recovers and is able to learn to walk again. 

I would use this book in my classroom to teach students about courage and how to find hope in the toughest circumstances. Personally, I would bot use this book as an audio book because it is long. I would rather have my students use the paper copy. 

My Name is Sangoel

My Name is Sangoel 

Author: Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed

Illustrator: Catherine Stock 

Genre: Realistic Fiction 

Awards: None

Grade Level: 1st-3rd 

My Name is Sangoel is about a refugee from Sudan. After his father dies in the war, Sangoel flees to the United States with his mother and sister. When they arrive in their new home, Sangoel finds everything strange. Shortly after his arrival, Sangoel realizes that nobody can pronounce his name and he begins to work on a solution to this problem. Sangoel ends up making a t-shirt to help others pronounce his name. 

I would use this book in my classroom to show students that they should not give up on someone. If they do not know how to pronounce their name, they should work to find a way to learn how to do it correctly. I would also use this book to provide a variety of books with different characters in my classroom library. 

Bud Not Buddy

Bud Not Buddy 

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis 

Illustrator: Christopher Paul Curtis

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Awards: Coretta Scott King Award, Newbery Medal 

Grade Level: 4th-7th 

Bud Not Buddy begins with Bud meeting his new foster family, the Amoses. One of the children in the family accidentally calls Bud, Buddy. After the two get into a fight, Bud is punished by having to sleep outside in the shed. After getting stung by hornets, Bud escapes the shed. Bud then causes Todd to wet his bed. After sleeping under the Christmas tree, Bugs wakes Bud up so that they can head west. The two try to catch a ride on a train but after Bud misses the train he is left behind and heads to Grand Rapids, Michigan in order to find his dad. Bud catches a ride with a man named Lefty Lewis. After staying with Lefty for a small amount of time, Bud leaves to find his father. The man that Bud thought was his father is actually his grandfather. Once Bud tells his grandfather that his mom has died, he gets overwhelmed with grief. The novel ends with Bud receiving a horn as a gift and is hopeful that he will have a successful future. 

I would use this book in my classroom to teach about overcoming challenges. This book could also be used to teach students about relationships within a family. 

Hannah is My Name

Hannah Is My Name 

Author: Belle Yang 

Illustrator: Belle Yang 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: None 

Grade Level: 1st-4th 

Hannah Is My Name is based on a true story. This book is about a young girl, Hannah, and her family who move to the United States from Taiwan. When they arrive in San Francisco, Hannah changes her name and starts acclimating to the new culture. While, the family adjusts to their home, they remain hopeful that their green cards will come and that San Francisco will become their permanent home.

 I would use this book to teach my students about the challenges of coming to a new country. I believe that this book, along with others like it will help students grasp the idea that not everyone's journey to success and happiness is the same. 

The Other Side

The Other Side

Author: Jacqueline Woodson 

Illustrator: E.B Lewis 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Awards: None

Grade Level: K-3rd

The Other Side is about a little girl named Clover. Her and her mother live in a town in which there is a fence that separates the African-Americans from the whites. One day Clover sees a young girl, Annie, outside by the fence. Annie is always there, even in bad weather, and is said to look lonely. Since, Clover and Annie have both been demanded not to cross the fence they choose to sit on the fence together. Clover, Annie and Clover's friends begin to realize that the fence, which symbolizes segregation in their town, should not be there. 

I would use this book in my classroom to teach about the time in history when segregation was common and how it is not right. This book could also be used to teach about acceptance.