Shiloh

Shiloh 

Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Illustrator: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Genre: Realistic Fiction 

Awards: Bluebonnet Award, Newbery Award

Grade Level: 4th-7th 

In West Virginia, a young boy named Marty finds a stray puppy and takes him home. Marty chooses to name the dog Shiloh and does not want to return him to his abusive owner. When Marty's father demands that Shiloh be returned to his own, Judd, Marty his him in the woods. When Shiloh is hurt by another dog, Marty's family must take him to the vet. After the vet visit, they are forced to return the dog to Judd. Marty attempts to convince Judd to let him keep the puppy. They negotiate a deal, which resulted in Marty working for Judd to pay for Shiloh. After a little bit of time, Judd lets Marty know that he will not keep his end of the bargain. Even though Marty has been told that he will never get Shiloh, he continues to work for Judd. After the two talk about Judd's troubled past, Marty is allowed to keep Shiloh. 

I would use this book to teach students about relationships with people. This book can be used to teach students that they can always fix their choices, even if one or two of them were bad decisions. 

Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn Dixie

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator: Kate DiCamillo

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: Bluebonnet Book Award, Newbery Honor

Grade Level: 5th-7th 

This book is about a young girl named Opal, who has just moved with her father to Naomi, Florida. During a trip to the grocery store, the Winn-Dixie, she sees a dog running around the store. Even though the dog does not belong to her, Opal takes it home. She names the dog Winn-Dixie after the grocery store. During her adventures in Naomi, she meets several people. She becomes extremely close to Gloria Dump. The two decide to through a party and Opal invites all of the other people she has met. During the party, it begins to storm and Winn-Dixie is nowhere to be found. After a search for the dog, they return home to find Winn-Dixie hiding because he was afraid of the storm. Because of Winn-Dixie ends with Otis playing his guitar and all of the party guests are singing Opal's father's songs. 

I would use this book to teach students about conflict. There are several types of conflict in this book including man vs self and man vs man. 

Poems in the Attic

Poems in the Attic

Author: Nikki Grimes 

Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon 

Genre: Poetry 

Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award

Grade Level: 2nd-4th 

While she is visiting her Grandma's house, a young girl find a box of poems that her mother wrote as a child. When her mother was a young girl, she was an air force brat resulting in many moves. Whenever her family got to a new place, she would write a poem. On each page of this book their is a poem written by the mother and a poem written by the daughter. Having the two poems side by side on each page allows the reader to see the differences in the two childhoods. 

I would use this book in my classroom to teach about poetry. There are different types of poems included in the book. This book could also be used as a read aloud.