Grandy Thaxter's Helper

Rees, D. R. (2004). Grandy thaxter's helper. New York City: Atheneum.


Grandy Thaxter's Helper was written by Douglas Rees. It was published in 2004. Douglas Rees was also well known for his series Vampire High. Douglas only wrote one other picture book it was called "Jeanette Claus Saves Christmas." 
In this fun picture book for little kids, Grandy Thaxter cheats death by asking him to help her do a simple chore before he takes her away. But washing clothes or making food is not all that easy in Colonial times, as Mr. Death soon finds out. It was funny and cute. And a great way for children to learn how tough life was before computers and smart phones. I liked this story a lot it reminded me a lot of myself. I am a lot like Grandy Thaxter. This book does deal with the topic with death which in my opinion is a little harsh for young children to be learning about. The illustrations in this book were amazing so life like. It was like looking at a photograph. The illustrations were very detailed, which I liked. This story is a fictional fantasy. It was a supernatural fantasy and a humorous fantasy. It convinced the reader of the impossible, death will not come to your house and help you do chores. The setting was established well. It took place at Grandy's home. The characters were all well developed. The balance between real and fantasy was perfect. Some activities for students to do is to write a what if poem and write what they would do if death came for them. The students could also make up a different ending to the story, what if Grandy went along with death. This book is intended for younger children ages three to six years old. As a teacher you could ask your students how they reacted to this book? It may not be an easy topic for some students to enjoy. Ask them why do you think Grandy asked the man to help her do all the chores? Did she know what he was there for? How would you rate this book? What was your emotional response to this book? I really enjoyed this book. It was not what I thought it would be. It had me very interested and I kept wanting to turn the page to find out what would happen. I loved this book and will keep it with me to share with my future students. 

My Teacher My Friend

Hallinan, P. K. (2001). My teacher my friend. Nashville, TN: Ideals Pubilcations.

 My Teacher My Friend was written by P.K. Hallinan and published in September 2001. Hallinan is an award winning children's author. He has written many children's books. He is well known for the series of "My ... and I " books. He has won awards for many books including "The Kids Multicultural Cookbook." My Teacher My Friend is a very well written short story for children five and up. The book shows how a teacher help their students throughout the day. This book really stuck out to me after reading it because I plan on becoming a teacher one day. I hope that I can be just as good as a teacher as the one in this book is to her students.This short story is a rhyming book. This book is realistic fiction it has a good story that engages it's readers. The characters and the situations are realistic. The character grows and learns about himself and his teacher. The story shows a different view from the eyes of a child. As a teacher you could have your students write a short poem about what they like about their own teacher. The students can share their poems with the rest of the class if they wish too. The teacher could also ask the students what they like most about their own teacher or teachers that they have had. The teacher could also have the students draw a picture of their favorite part of the day with their teacher, (example like story time.) The students can share these pictures with the rest of the class if they would like too. The teacher could ask questions like what was there favorite part of the story? Have you had a teacher who did the things in this book for you? What are you feeling after reading this story? Why do you think the author choose to write in a rhyme? The illustrations in this story were wonderful.They reminded me of the characters from charlie brown. This was a very heartwarming book and I recommend this story to anyone planning on teaching at the elementary level. 

Cousin John Is Coming

Broach, E. B. (2006). Cousin john is coming. New York City: Dial

           This book is written by Elise Broach. It was published in 2006. This book is about a young boy named Ben and his nameless cat. mother announces Cousin John's upcoming visit, Ben and his cat flash back to all their previous encounters with this obnoxious relative and immediately start worrying. The lively text consists entirely of Mom's happy chatter about the fun the boys will have playing cowboys…and superheroes… and magicians, but the accompanying illustrations tell a very different story, in which Ben usually plays John's hapless victim. Just as Ben and his cat are heading for the door, planning to escape, they learn that poor John has developed a violent allergy to felines and suffers terribly if one so much as approaches him. Ben and his cat come up with a plan to make sure that John's visit is anything but fun. This story is for kindergarten till about grade 3. This book is a humorous picture book. The language quality is perfect for young readers. The illustrations are just amazing. They really invite response. The illustrations enhance and extend the meaning of the text on each page of the story. The illustrations in the story present things in a new way. This book is just so great for little kids. It has a wonderful story and meaning. The students could read this book independently and then discuss how they feel about it what they liked and did not. The students could also write a comic strip about what they would do to get rid of a cousin like cousin John and then share their comic with the class. As a teacher you can ask your students why cousin John tortures Ben like that? Is John what they consider a bully? How do you think cousin John gets away with treating Ben and his cat like that in their house? Is Ben's mother clueless? and what would they do if they were Ben? I liked this story I picked it up just because of the illustrations on the cover and I ended up really enjoying this book. The author is very well known for her works in children's books. She is recognized by the New York Times best children's author.  This book will be in my book collection forever. I will read it to my future students and even my children. I loved this book. 

The Bluest Eye

Morrison, T. M. (1970). The bluest eye. New York City: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.




The Bluest Eye was written by Toni Morrison. First published in 1970. 
Every night Pecola, unlovely and unloved, prays for blue eyes like those of her white schoolfellows. She becomes the focus of the mingled love and hatred engendered by her family's frailty and the world's cruelty. This novel is a coming of age, tragic tale. This story reminded me a lot of Judy Bloom's "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret" This novel is very tragic and probably would not be used in any education lower than high school. The content that it deals with is hard for some readers to understand at a young age. This book also dealt with a lot of controversy if it should even be allowed in the schools, because of the topics that are discussed in it. There are no illustrations in the novel. This book is an contemporary realistic fiction. The story engages readers. The characters are real and the situations are real. The main character grows and learns about herself. This novel gives a very optimistic view into the eyes of a young black girl in an all white community. Some activities that the students could do is to have a class discussion on what they like or do not like about the book. Also for the students to put themselves in the main characters shoes and write an essay on how they would feel if they were in her situation. Some questions the teacher could present to the class are why do you think the  main character felt the way that she did? What do you think she could have done to make herself feel better? Why do you think Toni Morrison wrote this book?  I really enjoyed this book. At times it was hard to read, because the things that were happening were hard to read. I did enjoy this book. It offered a different view of how young African American women felt back then in a time where white was the only beautiful thing. I feel that this book would be wonderful for students that are having trouble with their own feelings of their own appearance. This book is a classic, and I believe it will be around for a long time to come. 

Rumpelstiltskin

Grimm, B. G. (1812). Rumpelstiltskin. Germany: Grimm's Fairy Tales.




I love the short story of Rumpelstilskin. This is a classic story. This story was written by the Grimm brothers. It was first published in 1812. This story is a folk tale, fairy tale. This tale has been told for many years. The story is about a young girl who is made to spin straw into gold for a king. The girl cannot do this task. While she is locked away in the tower a strange creature comes to her and tells her if she trades him something he will spin the straw into gold. The girl agrees. The young girl then makes a horrible deal with this creature and most stand up for herself and beat him. This story is such a classic story and is told all over the world. The story has also been translated into every known language. The brothers Grimm were very famous writers. They are known for writing Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White. This story is age appropriate, it has very high quality illustrations and it does retain the oral tradition of the tale. There are many things you can do with your students using this traditional tale. You can have your students make up another ending to the story. By writing an essay. The students can then share their endings with the rest of the class. The students can also all participate in a play or skit of the classic tale. You can ask some questions about how the students feel about the story? Who do they see as the bad guy in the story, the young girl or the strange creature.What were their emotional responses after reading the story? Why do you think this story has stayed around for so many years? I have read many versions of this classic tale and I always love the books. The illustrations really make this story come to life. The strange creature is always different looking in every story. Sometimes he is terrifying! Other times he looks friendly! This is a classic story that will be around forever. 

Speak

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.


Speak is a novel written by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book is a realistic fiction novel. I recently re-read this book. Speak was introduced to me when I was in middle school by a friend. This book is a childhood favorite of mine. Speak is about a young girl named Melinda Sordino. The summer before her freshman year in high school, Melinda is date rapped at a party. Melinda calls the cops after this incident. Everyone ends up being mad at her and thinks that she is a snitch because the cops break up the party. No one knows why Melinda truly called the cops that night they are all just mad at her. Melinda suffers a lot through high school her freshman year. This novel shows you how it is like for her through her eyes. I loved this book it got me through a lot of hard times and I was also a fan of the movie that was made from this book. Laurie Halse Anderson is a wonderful writer she is well know for many books. Almost every book she has written there has been some controversies that arise from the books. These controversies are because the topics she writes about are tough topics to hear about. Regardless Laurie does a wonderful job writing these books. Winter girls is also another well known book of hers.  Speak is a book that I would recommend for middle school students and above. The date rape is not in detail but it is a topic that I feel is not appropriate for elementary children. This book is a great book for realistic fiction you can help your students if you feel that they may be going through something like this or maybe just a hard time. This book will show your students that they are not alone they can relate to the character in the book. Some activities that students can do are, read the book independently and have a book circle to discuss how they feel about the book. The students can also make a play about the book. The students can portray each character and the rest of the ones who do not want to be in it can play the play critics. 

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret.

               Blume, J. (1970). Are you there god? its me, Margaret. New York: Yearling. 
      
    Are you there God? It's me Margaret was written by Judy Bloom. This book has always been my favorite book.
 I read this book when I was ten years old. I recently read the book again this year and fell in love with it all over again! This book is about a young girl named Margaret Simon, she is almost twelve, and has just moved from New York City to the suburbs. She in anxious to fit in at her new school. When she is asked to join a secret club of girls she jumps at the chance. This book is all about the troubles of growing up as a girl and the things that girls go through. Margaret's friends wonder what kind of religion she is because her parents come from different religious backgrounds. Margaret keeps it to herself that she has someone to talk to when she is having trouble. She talks to God. Throughout the whole book we as readers see things through Margaret's eyes as she talks to God and asks for advice. This book is amazingly well written. It is not difficult to comprehend. I was only ten years old when I read this for the first time and I had no problem. I recommend this book to all teenage girls to read. This book is relate-able, and funny. Because of the time period of when this book was published it can be considered a Historical Fiction book. This book was published over thirty years ago in 1971. Another great book by Judy Bloom is the book called Blubber. Judy Bloom has written many books some more famous ones are, Forever, Double Fudge, and Freckle Juice. For some classroom activities with the students it may be challenging to focus on this one book because the book is aimed more towards girls. What a teacher can do is have the girl students read "Are you there God? It's me Margaret" and have the boys read another one of Judy Bloom's books like "Freckle Juice". The students can do literature circles so they can discuss the books. Also the students could write an essay about there most embarrassing moment as a teenager. Also as a teacher you can help your students talk about the book by asking them what they liked most about the book or what part stuck out to them the most. This book may be old but it sure is a classic for all ages!