Jackrabbit Goalie

Jackrabbit Goalie

Author: Matt Christopher
Illustrator: Ed Parker
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: None
Grade Level: 2nd-4th 

Jackrabbit Goalie follows Pepper Pride after her moved from Columbus, Ohio to a brand new neighborhood. He overhears some young boys talking about their soccer team. Pepper Pride ends up lying about his abilities in order to gain a spot on the team as their goalie. When practice gets hard, he begins to wonder if the effort is really worth it. He decides that it is simply because he had made new friends. When his new team has a tough game coming up, he thinks about either admitting to his team that he isn't a real goalie or about ditching the game. Pepper lies about an injury so that he does not have to play in the big game. When he is fishing he realizes that he should be there with his team and try his very best. Pepper Pride ends up going to the game and his team ends up winning. 

This book can be used in the classroom to teach about teamwork. One could use it to show students how you often can not accomplish a large goal without the help and support of your friends. 

Mama Zooms

Mama Zooms

Author and Illustrator: Jane Cowen-Fletcher
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: None
Grade Level: K-2nd

Mama Zooms is about a little boy telling about his adventures with his mom, who is in a wheelchair. He compares her to his race car, spaceship, wagon, and many other things. At the end of the day when their adventures come to an end, the little boy says that she is just his mom and that he likes her the best when she is just his mom. 

This book could be used in a classroom to teach about acceptance. It can show that just because someone happens to be in a wheelchair, they are still fully capable of going on adventures. Mama Zooms can also be used to teach about the dynamic of the mother and child relationship. 

The Quilt Story

The Quilt Story 

Author: Tony Johnston 
Illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: None 
Grade Level: 1st-3rd 

The Quilt Story is about a little girl names Abigail. Her mother had made her a quilt. When Abigail received her quilt, she took it everywhere with her. When it tore her mother would always restitch it.When Abigail and her family moved, she took her quilt with her. Even though she gets a new house, a new bed, and a new toy horse Abigail still does not feel at home. Her mother then decides to tuck her in with the quilt and Abigail feels at home again. Abigail puts the quilt in the attic and creatures sure as cats, raccoons, and mice find the quilt. When Abigail finds it again, she notices that it is all torn up. Her mother once again fixes the quilt. Abigail and her family move once again, she needs the quilt to once again feel at home. 

This book can be used to teach students about patterns. I say this because each quilt has a different pattern on it. This book could also be used to teach about the importance of family heirlooms. 

Goodnight Moon

Goodnight Moon 

Author: Margaret Wise Brown 
Illustrator: Clement Hurd 
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: None
Grade Level: PK- K

Goodnight Moon is about a bedtime routine that involves saying "goodnight" to several objects. In the book, the bunny says "goodnight" to objects such as a red balloon, the cow jumping over the moon, a comb, mittens, chairs, and finally to all of the noises in the world. 

 

This book could be used in a classroom to teach about rhyming poems. One could also use Goodnight Moon to teach about routines and patterns. 

Love You Forever

Love You Forever 

Author: Robert Munsch
Illustrator: Sheila McGraw
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: None
Grade Level: PK-1st grade

Love You Forever is about a mom who sings a song to her baby boy while rocking him to sleep. Throughout his childhood, she would continue to sing to him. He often did things to drive her crazy, but she would always be reminded of the song. One night when the little boy was a grown man, his mom called and told him to come see her since she was old. When he got to her house, she tried to sing him the song but was unable to finish it. He went to his mom's side and sang the song to her. That night when he got home, he went to his baby girl's nursery and picked her up and sang her the song that his mother had sung to him for many years.

This book can be used in a variety of ways in a classroom. One could use this book to teach about love, family relationships, and the cycle of human growth. With older readers, this book can also be used to make connections between books and personal experiences.