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. 

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web 

Author: E.B White 

Illustrator: Garth Williams

Genre: Fantasy 

Awards: Newbery Award

Grade Level: 3-6

The book begins when Fern's father wanted to kill Wilbur's life because he was the runt of the litter, but he decided to spare his life. Fern begins to nurture Wilbur until he is sold to her uncle. At his new farm, Wilbur meets a spider named Charlotte. After Wilbur and Charlotte learn that he is going to be slaughtered they begin to work to save his life. Charlotte begins to weave praises about Wilbur into her web. Wilbur gets entered in the state fair but unfortunately does not win anything. Charlotte stays behind at the fair because she is tired and she later dies. Wilbur chooses to protect Charlotte's offspring and it is revealed at the end that several more generations kept him company. 

I would use this book to teach students about the value of friendships. This book could also be used to teach a lesson on the importance of helping each other and being there for each other in time of need. This book could also be used as a book club book. 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Author:  Beatrix Potter

Illustrator: Beatrix Potter

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: None

Grade Level: K-4

One day Peter's mom tells him to not go to Mr. McGregor's garden. He chooses to not listen and goes to his garden and enjoys a quick snack of several vegetables. Mr. McGreggor catches Peter and begins to chase him throughout the garden. Peter manages to escape but he realizes he is lost and can not find his way home. Peter eventually finds his way home and his mom gives him tea and he is off to bed. 

This story could be used to teach students about following rules. A teacher can use this book to teach students about the consequences of stealing. 

Doña Flor

Doña Flor

Author: Pat Mora

Illustrator: Raul Colon 

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: Pura Belpré Award 

Grade Level: PK-3rd

Doña Flor's mother used to sing to her when she was younger and with each song that was sung Doña Flor would grow just a little bit more, she became a giant. The people in her village would make fun of her due to her height but the shortly began asking for favors. Everyone begins to respect her and every morning Doña Flor would make tortillas for the whole village. One day her neighbors hear a mountain lion nearby and because they are scared they choose to stay inside. Doña Flor tries to do things to convince them to feel safe to leave their homes but nothing works. She decides to go find the mountain lion and the one she finds is a small baby. She shows the other villagers that they are not in danger and then she guides them all back home. 

This book could be used in a classroom as a tool to teach about respecting other people's unique characteristics because you never know when someone else's gift can help save you. I would also use this book to teach about how everyone should use their strengths to help others. 

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

Author: Madeleine L'Engle

Genre: Science Fiction

Awards: Newbery Award 

Grade Level: 6-10 

A Wrinkle in Time is about a teenage girl named Meg Murry. Meg's father mysteriously disappears while investigating something called a tesseract. Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O'Keefe head out on a mission to rescue her father. The three of them are transported to several different planets during their search. Calvin and Meg rescue Meg's dad but her brother, Charles Wallace, gets left behind because he is under the influence of "IT". When the three of them are safe, Meg is given the responsibility to save her brother. In order for her to do this, Meg receives three gifts. She is given love, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, and she is told that she has one thing that "IT" does not have. Meg saves her brother all four of them return back to earth safely. 

This book could be incorporated into a lesson about themes and theme analysis. Teachers can also use this book in their classrooms as a book to have discussions or book clubs about.