Ms. Tointigh's Book Blog

Title:  Knuffle Bunny Genre:  Realistic Fiction Author /  Illustrator:  Mo Willems Major Awards:  Caldecott Award Age group : PreK-1st Summary  This is the story of a poor girl Trixie who loses her favorite stuffed rabbit on the way to the laundromat.  She is trying to convey to her father wat is wrong however it all comes out as gibberish. She tries and tries and finally she gets lucky when her dad understands the words Knuffle Bunny.  After he figures out what is wrong he now has to track down the bunny.  Thank goodness after retracing their steps they are able to find knuffle bunny! Evaluation I think this story would be really good to use as a teaching moment to students about retracing their steps.  It teaches them to be able to encode and store long term information by practicing the reflection that happens when thinking about what you have previously done.  And once they learn that then they will be able to reflect even if it...

Title:   Green Eggs and Ham Genre:  Poetry Author /  Illustrator:  Dr. Suess Age group : PreK-2nd Summary This is a classic Dr. Suess story of Sam I am trying to give the Speaker Green eggs and ham.  The speaker is not having it at all either he will not eat them on a bus or plane not even a car or a train.  He will not have them here or there, he will not have them anywhere. Evaluation I believe that Dr. Suess is timeless and his stories are many of the first ones that new readers tend to pick up.  I think this story in particles provides a value of determining things like opposites.  A teacher could have her student act out in like a whole brain teaching scenario using gestures what the difference are between here and there or over and under.  Personally because of the younger reading level this is targeted for I probably will not use this story in my high school classroom.

  Title:   The New Kid on the Block Genre:  Poetry Author : Jack Prelutsky Illustrator:  James Stevenson Age group : 1st-5th Summary This book is another collection of poems all written by Jack Prelutsky.  The unique things about these poems is the perspective they are written in.  They are all written from the perspective of a school kid! Evaluation Again I get up on my poetry soapbox, I loved these books growing up and there are so many activities teachers can utilize poems for.  These activities include; teaching rhyme scheme, poem analysis, quick writes, brain dumps, showing form differences.  I think a good place to start for younger children are collections of poems like this one.

Title:   A light in the Attic Genre:  Poetry  Author /  Illustrator:  Shel Silverstein Age group : 2nd-6th Summary This is a collection of short poems by Shel Silverstein.  These poems themes are to help students remember to be creative and innovative. Evaluation One of my favorite things about English has always been and will always be poetry.  This was one of the first poetry collections that I read cover to cover when I was in Elementary school.  I think I might utilize these in my classroom as quick write topics for bell ringers or exit tickets.

  Title:   The Youngest Marcher Genre: Nonfiction Author : Cynthia Levinson Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton Age group :2nd-5th Summary This story is about nine year old Audrey Fay Hicks.  Audrey goes to school and listens, she goes home and listens, and she most definitely goes to church and listens.  One morning at church Aubrey hears her Pastor talking about picketing in white stores or marching in the streets and even filling up the jails.  Upon hearing this Audrey knew that that is exactly what she wanted to do and so she did that.  She picketed and marched and when it came to it she was the youngest protestor to get arrested for protesting civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama. Evaluation I think this story is very inspirational and would be a valuable tool in the classroom.  I think teachers should utilize the meaning and the message that Audrey stands for which is in two parts.  One stand up for what you believe in and to the injustices ...

Title:   Guinness Book of World Records 2011 Genre:  Non-Fiction Author : Guinness World Records Age group : 4th-8th Summary This book is a collection of all the Guinness world records that were set in the year 2013.  The records can be sport based, music based, science based, architecture based, technology based, the list goes on and on. Evaluation I felt like I had to include this in my blog because I owned every single one of these book from 2011 to 2017.  I remember randomly grabbing one in the library one day in 4th grade and I never wanted to put it down.  There was so much variety in a singular book and records that I would not have even thought to exist.  So during this assignment pulling out my first book in this series I owned and reading through it again made me feel so nostalgic.  I think this would be good for children to just look at and see how the possibilities are endless, I would say more likely to be an independent type read.  I...

  Title:   The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body Genre: Nonfiction Author : Joanna Cole Illustrator:  Bruce Degen Age group : 1st-3rd Summary Ms. Frizzle and the gang are back on their quirky adventures once again.  This time they take the magic school for a ride around Arnie's body! Miss Frizzle boards up the students onto the bus except for Arnold of course and shrinks the bus down to microscopic level.  The bus then sits on top of Arnies lunch and once he takes a bite the class is in.  They travel around Arnold's body going through all the different systems of the body.  They start in the bloodstream, then head for the nerves, and then go through the digestive track, but before the digestion completely finishes Ms. Frizzle drives the bus up to the nasal cavity which causes Arnie to sneeze and out pops the microscopic bus in the parking lot which grows back to normal size in the blink of an eye. Evaluation The magic school bus series was always ...

Title:   Martin's Big Words Genre:  Nonfiction Author : Doreen Rappaport Illustrator:  Bryan Collier Major Awards:  Caldecott Award Age group : 3rd-8th Summary This book is a biography about Martin Luther King Jr.  He is unarguably one of the most iconic African American leaders that has been.  A lot of his teachings and preaching still ring true in todays society.   This biography goes through his life and his accomplishments all the way up into his death. Evaluation I think this book is a very useful book for students.  It is full facts about Martin Luther King Jr.'s life all in one package which makes it easier to digest.  I think if I were teaching middle school level I would definitely find a way to incorporate this in one of my lessons.  It uses parts of his speeches and also gives the context of the time that he is talking in that help to justify his words.  I think I would have students identify different rhetorical app...

  Title:   Snowflake Bentley Genre: Non Fiction Author : Jacqueline Briggs Martin Illustrator:  Mary Azarian Major Awards:  Caldecott Award Age group : 4th-6th Summary This story is a biography about the man nicknamed snowflake Bentley because he was the first man to photograph actual individual snow crystals.  willy had always been fascinated by snow and one day he notices how beautiful the individual crystal were.  He spent three winters trying to draw each crystal but they melted so quickly.  when he was sixteen he begged his family for a camera in order to effectively capture the crystal and share them with others.  At the age of seventeen Willy finally received his wish and got the most expensive camera out on the market from his parents.  The first images were busts and nothing more than shadows but he would not give up.  He worked through very storm and finally during the second winter he figured out how to photograph snowflakes!...

Title:   Mr. Wuffles Genre:  Science Fiction / Fantasy Author /  Illustrator: David Wiesner Major Awards:  Caldecott Award  Age group : 1st-5th Summary This graphic novel follows a day in the life of a house cat named Mr. Wuffles.  In Mr. Wuffles house there's a whole space ship full of little green men, they even speak their own language made only of symbols.  Mr. Wuffles attempts to play with these aliens as he's not interested in any other normal cat toys and definitely not interested in his owner.  The only thing he's interested in is a small silver spaceship that houses these small little aliens.  Then the story cuts to the aliens developing a plan that will help launch their spaceship back into the atmosphere.  They work along side the insects such as ants and lady bugs and when the time comes they get Mr. Wuffles to jump on a platform that launches them out the window and back into the atmosphere.  Then Mr. Wuffles is left al...

  Title:   April and Esme Tooth Fairies Genre:  Fantasy Author /  Illustrator:  Bob Graham Age group : 2nd-4th Summary In this story the reader gets to follow two sisters who also happen to be tooth fairies on their first lost tooth mission.  April and Esme are in a family of tooth fairies and usually it's their parent picking up teeth however for Daniel these girls were specifically requested.  after getting a pep talk from mom and dad the sisters are off.  The one rule is that Daniel cannot see them or else it ruins the magic.  April and Esme get to Daniel's house with no problem and then they make their way up to the bedroom.  There they find Daniel sound asleep and look for his tooth.  it is sitting on a dresser inside a cup of water.  So April takes the dive in the cup and gets the tooth but as she gets out Daniel wakes up.  Both girls fly over the Daniel and pull his eyelids closed.  After getting a text from th...

  Title:   Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Genre:  Fantasy Author : Judi Barrett Illustrator:  Ron Barrett Age group : 2nd-4th Summary Grandpa tells the children a bed time story about a town where food falls from the sky.  The tiny town of Chewandswallow was like any other town but the had no food stores in this tiny town.  The weather happened three times a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Each meal time the people of the town would head outside with silverware and a plate or bowl so they would be ready to catch all the food the sky had to offer.  The sanitation workers of this town had to clean up any left over food or food that fell on top of houses that the people could not eat.  Then suddenly the weather began to turn violent one day of nothing but gorgonzola cheese fell and the next after that the was a fog of pea soup.  Then came a storm of bread rolls of all sizes from breadstick to giant car sized rolls.  It was li...

  Title:   The Thanksgiving Story Genre:  Historical Fiction Author : Alice Dalgliesh Illustrator:  Helen Sewell Major Awards:  Caldecott Award Age group : 2nd-4th Summary This is a story of the origin of Thanksgiving and how it became a tradition.  The story starts off with a bunch of pilgrims setting sail on the Mayflower to find the new land.  The boat have very crowded and dirty conditions.  So they are more than exciting to finally be off the boat.  Unfortunately worse challenges come to light.  The pilgrims face thirst and hunger and sickness if they cannot find shelter and food.  Luckily they are found by native people of the land they have just arrived on.  The natives give them food and show them how to farm that way they can survive the new land.  And then harvest day arrives both groups get together to celebrate all the food and growth that has happened and that is what we know today as Thanksgiving. Evaluation ...

Title:   Ox-Cart Man Genre:  Historical Fiction Author : Donald Hall Illustrator:  Barbara Cooney Major Awards:  Caldecott Award Age group : 1st-4th Summary This story follows a farm families throughout the year.  Specifically the father of the family and how he journey's ten whole days with his ox into the harbor market.  He is carrying all the goodies that his family has collected over the past year using his ox and cart.  when he get to the market one by one he sells all the goodies and then the cart and then the ox and last the ox's yoke and harness.  The father then buys in the market a kettle for his wife, a needle for his daughter, a knife for his son, and a bag of peppermint candy for the whole family to share.  Now the father returns home on foot where he gives out the gifts to his family and then the story takes us through the year again in cyclic form until right before it is time for the father to head on back to the market. Evalu...

  Title:   Young Zeus Genre:  Traditional Literature Author / Illustrator:  G Brian Karas Age group : 2nd-4th Summary This story tells about the great Greek God Zeus and where he got his humble beginnings from.  Through the help of monster friends as well and other Gods Zeus is able to navigate Athens and lead him and his family to victory.  He starts off by learning how to master the lightning bolt and from there the sky is literally the limit. Evaluation for some reason this children's book reminds me of a coming of age novel.  That is exactly what is happening for Zeus!  I feel like this book has a heavy emphasis on team work and letting your friends help you out when you need it.  So i can see this book being used in a unit based on friendship.  Since this book is targeted at younger readers I personally do not see myself using it in my classroom.

  Title:   Hansel and Gretel Genre:  Traditional Literature Author / Illustrator:  James Marshall Age group : PreK-2nd Summary This is a retelling and illustration by James Marshall of the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel.  A brother and a sister venture out into the woods where the find a house made of every delicious desert you can think of.  However, the children are in for a shocker when they find out the witch whom inhabits the magical cottage of sweets likes to eat little children for dinner.  fortunately the duo is able to outsmart the witch and escape the cottage to return safely home. Evaluation I feel that this retelling is definitely more kid friendly than the harshness of the original brothers Grimm.  I feel like this would help aid younger students imaginations.  Because the reading level is so low I personally would not use this book in my own class.

Title:   Godilocks and the Three Bears Genre:  Traditional Literature Author /  Illustrator:  James Marshall Major Awards:  Caldecott Award Age group : Kinder-2nd Summary This is a classic retelling of the story of Goldilocks and the three bears.  She finds herself at the bears cottage and helps herself to their porridge, and their chairs, and finally to their beds.  The bears return home to find their house in disarray, they are unable to enjoy their porridge or sit properly and then they find a girl sleeping in Baby bears bed.  Goldilocks awakens with a fright and before the bears can say anything she bolts out of there. Evaluation This story is such a classic tale that is told across elementary classroom everywhere.  I think an interesting thing this story uses  is repetition in order to really get across the meaning of big, medium, and small.  I think that size would be a great unit of study that this story could be told in....

  Title:   Last Stop on Market Street Genre:  Realistic Fiction Author : Matt De La Pena Illustrator: Christian Robinson Major Awards:  Caldecott Award & Newberry Award Age group : 1st-4th Summary This story follow CJ and his Nana on a day in their lives.  CJ is constantly comparing himself to others on the street and asking his grandma things like why they don't have a car or why he can't have a bike.  The two of them load the bus and even here CJ is comparing himself to the older boys on the back that have headphones and music players.  His Nana tells him to ask the guitarist on the bus to play a song, and he does.  So in that moment CJ is taken into his imagination with bright colors and is relaxed because of the guitarist singing and playing.  Finally the bus driver calls out "last stop on Market street" and CJ and his nana get off the bus.  He asks his nana why the graffitied area they're in is so dirty.  And his nana says ...

  Title:   Lon Po Po Genre:  Traditional Literature Author/ Illustrator:  Ed Young Major Awards:  Caldecott Award Age group : 1st-3rdth Summary This story is a retelling of the famous tale Little Red Riding Hood from China.  The story has three sisters named Shang, Tao, and Paotze who are left home alone by their mother who goes to run their grandmother some items.  A cunning wolf in the forest watches the mom leave the children their and makes its plan.  The wolf dresses up like the  children's Po Po and gets the children to let her in the house.  Things seem normal until "PoPo" suggests they all go to sleep.  The children feels how hairy the wolf's paw are and then the oldest Shang catches a glimpses of the wolf's reflective eyes.  She is the most clever and tells the wolf about a Gingko nut and how its so tender and tastes as soft as baby's flesh.  This excites the wolf so the children go outside and climb the tree to p...

  Title:   Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears Genre:  Traditional Literature Author:  Verna Aardema Illustrator : Leo and Diane Dillon Age group : 1st-4th Summary This story is the origin story of why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears.  It all started in West African when a Mosquito told an iguana such a huge lie that the iguana did not want to listen to it and plugged his ears so he did not have to hear it.  The iguana goes about his day and then the snake tries to tell him good morning and when the iguana does not answer the snake he assumes he's plotting mischief on him.  So that causes the snake to hide and the nearest hiding place is the rabbit hole so the snake enters.  as the snake enters the rabbit becomes frightened and takes off running in broad daylight.  The cow sees the rabbit running in broad daylight and sound the alarm for danger.  This alarm is heard by the monkey who begins running away from the supposed danger an...

Title:   Anansi the Spider Genre:  Traditional Literature Author/ Illustrator:  Gerald McDermott Major Awards: Caldecott Award Age group : 1st-3rdth Summary This is the story of Anansi the spider and his six sons.  Anansi's sons are named, See Trouble, road builder, River Drinker, Game Skinner, Stone Thrower, and last Cushion.  Their names were indicative of their jobs and what they do in life.  One time Anansi traveled so far and fell into trouble.  Thankfully his first born See Trouble alerted the rest of the brothers.  Then road Builder built the road to get there so all six sons traveled it.  Here they saw a huge river which River Drinker fixed promptly.  There was a fish left flopping about and Anansi was inside the fish so Game Skinner freed him.  But just as Game Skinner freed his father a huge falcon swooped Anansi away! Stone Thrower came to save the day and pelted the bird with a stone but Anansi was now free falling from ...

  Title:   Because of Winn-Dixie Genre:  Realistic Fiction Author : Kate DiCamillo Major Awards: Newberry Award  & Texas Bluebonnet Age group : 4th-6th Summary This story follows the move of a young girl named Opal.  her and her father who is a preacher move to small town Naomi, Florida.  Opal like most children when they move and leave behind any familiarity they know is the opposite of thrilled.  Luckily she meets a street dog while he's  ransacking a Winn Dixie Grocery store.  She brings the dog home and her dad agrees to let her keep it.  Through the help of Winn Dixie, Opal is able to make friends that she probably would not have made.  She meets friends like the librarian, or the pet shop keeper, and even the alleged witch!  Each time she makes a friend the sit and tell each other so many stories.  In the back of Opal's mind she is longing for storytime with her mother who left her when  she was young. ...

  Title:   Fry Bread Genre:  Realistic Fiction Author : Kevin Noble Maillard Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal Major Awards:  Sibert Medal Age group : 1st-4th Summary In this story we learn about fry bread and what exactly it is.  However it's not an instructional book on making fry bread it's so much more than that.  It's showing what fry bread is outside of being just a food.  In the form of a "what is" poem the author writes about the meaning frybread holds to Native American families.  Fry bread is family or Fry bread is sound or Fry Bread is places or Fry bread is nation are just a few examples. It ends with the saying Fry Bread is You acknowledging the reader. Evaluation I think this book can be used in so many different ways in the classroom.  The amount of diversity that it captures and representation it gives to Native American tribes is rich.  Maillard did a great job of incorporating all the meaning of fry bread by using lots o...

  Title:   A Bad Case of the Stripes Genre:  Fantasy Author/Illustrator : David Shannon Age group : 2nd-5th Summary  This story follows a young girl named Camilla.  She is very nervous to start school and of course the morning of school she wakes up covered from head to toe in rainbow stripes. So the family physician comes in and checks out Camilla and says she's well enough to attend school.  And at school everyone laughs and makes fun of her stripes.  Then things get worse than she could imagine when based on whatever is happening in the room Camilla's stripes change!  Students begin shouting out random things in order to get her appearance to change.  Doctors and scientists alike are unable to figure out why Camilla has stripes and most certainly are unaware of why they are changing.  They suggest a virus and viruses begin to appear on Camilla's body.  Same thing with bacteria and fungus.  Then an environmental therapist tel...

  Title:   Esperanza Rising Genre: Realistic Fiction Author:  Pam Munoz Ryan Illustrator : Joe Cepeda Major Awards:  Pura Belpre Age group : 4th-7th Summary This is the story of a girl named Esperanza.  She lives a lavish comfy life in Aguascalientes, Mexico.  Esperanza can have anything she wants just by asking for it.  Her father is a wealthy landowner who spoils Esperanza because she is his only child.  Unfortunately tensions still run high since the Mexican Revolution has ended.  There is a lot of resentment from poor people to the landowners and Esperanza's father is tangled up with it.  Her father is killed as he's working on his land and that leaves the land open for his evil brother to take over.  Esperanza's mom is given the choice to marry this evil man or flee the country before he can catch them.  So in that instance they choose to flew to America.  Their they join a family friends company and work on their far...

  Title:   Henry's Freedom Box Genre:  Historical Fiction Author : Ellen Levine Illustrator: Kadir Nelson Major Awards:  Caldecott Award Age group : 4th-8th Summary This is a story about a boy named Henry.  He is born into slavery and just as his master is uping in age Henry gains a little ounce of hope that he will be freed.  Unfortunately his master gives Henry to his son because he is such a hardworking, loyal slave to the family.  Henry then grows up still working as a slave for the family and he meets another slave that the family hires and they fall in love.  His new master allows them to be married and have children. Unfortunately the plantation starts losing money and the owner has no choice but to sale Henry's family to other buyers.  henry is heart broken after this takes place because he knows that he will never see his family again.  Henry goes back to working on the plantation afterwards but he grows restless to the point wh...