The Thing's They Carried

O, T. (1990). The things they carried. (1st ed ed., Vol. 15). New York: Broadway.

The Things They Carried was a novel written by Tim O'Brien. It was published in December 1990. The book is a collection of short stories. It is about a soldier who served in the Vietnam War. O'Brien himself served in the Vietnam War. While some parts of the book are about himself he claims some of it is fiction. 

Even though the characters are based on a work of fiction, they show similarities to real soldiers that O'Brien knew during his time in the war. This being a war story, there are some truly disturbing, graphic, and violent scenes. But there are also scenes that are haunting, funny, surreal, or ironic. This
book is recommended for ages ten and up. This novel is a Historical/Realistic Fiction, Memoir. Some activities for the students to do are Identify the protagonist and antagonist of each story. Write an essay on how O'Brien's writing reflects the surreal nature of war. Discuss the symbolism in the book and have your students write an essay on the symbolism in the book. Some questions the teacher could ask is why do you think each man carried certain things? What about these things helps represent each character? Discuss the structure of the work. Do the stories progress in a linear manner? How does the work’s fragmented style contribute to the themes that run through the stories? What were your emotional reactions after reading this book? What was your favorite part and what was your least? Tim O'Brien is a very well known author. He has won numerus awards. Like the National Book Award in fiction -Going After Cacciato. One of his books was also named best novel of the year by Time magazine - In The Lake of the Woods.
The Things They Carried fits perfectly in the historical fiction genre. The story is interesting. The setting is integral to the story. The characters are believable. It is historically accurate. The book is authentic to the time period through dialoge and setting. The book presents a different point of view when learning about the Vietnam War. The readers see the view from a soliders eyes. The readers learn about the time and place better. This book is a classic that will be in schools for a long time to come. It is a wonderful book for older children. This is an unforgettable book. 

Tom's Tail

Jennings , L. J. (2003). Tom's tail. Wilton, CT: Tiger Tales. 


Tom's Tail was written by Linda Jennings. It was published in September 2003. This book is for ages three and up. This book is about Tom, a cute and playful pig, has a problem with his tail--he doesn’t like its curl. He wants to wag his tail like Sam the sheepdog, or swish his tail like Henry the horse. But because his tail is short and curly, he can’t. So, the other farm animals try to help solve his problem. And with the help of some mud, Tom’s tail becomes long and straight. But it’s also sharp! When Tom wags his tail, it pokes anyone standing by him. His brothers and sisters kick him out of the sty because they’re tired of being poked. In the middle of the night, as Tom’s sleeping outside, it begins to rain. Luckily the rain washes away the mud on Tom’s tail, making it soft and curly again! This book a animal fantasy picture book. The illustrations are just perfect. I loved looking at how detailed they were. The text and pictures work together in perfect harmony. The story follows all the needed curriculum for an animal fantasy. The setting is known. The story convinces the reader of the improbable. The story has compelling characters. There is a balance between the real and fantasy. Seeing as pigs do not talk. The teacher can read aloud this story to younger children and then ask them what they liked about the story. Also the children can make tails out of paper and colored pencils and then attach them with tape. The students can see how it would feel to have a tail. The teacher can ask them how they would feel if their tail was different from everyone else's. Also the teacher can have the class draw something that they worry about, that is different about themselves. The teacher can then give the students feedback about what it means to be different and that each and everyone of them is unique and special in their own way. The teacher can ask the students what was their emotional response to the book. Do they feel bad for Tom?  If so why? The author Linda Jennings is a well known children's author. She has written many children's books. She is also known for her Spooky pop up books. 

I Love My Hair!

Tarpley, N. (1998). I love my hair!. New York,NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.


I Love My Hair, was written by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley. It was first published in 1998. This book is about a young girl named Keyana. Keyana's mother combs her hair every night before bed. Keyana hates it because it hurts so bad. Keyana's mother reminds her just how beautiful her hair is, and how many ways her hair can be fixed. This book teaches young students to appreciate where they come from and who they are. The may not be the same as everyone else but they are special. This book is a fictional multicultural picture book. The book is easy to read for young readers and the illustrations are full of life and color. This book is intended for ages three till eight years old. This book is culturally accurate and authentic. There is a lot of cultural details. This book honors and celebrates diversity and common bonds. For activities in the classroom you could have your older students try on different color nylons to feel as though they have different colored skin. Ask you students how they feel about each nylon. Emphasize that skin color differences are desirable. Now your students know that skin color is not really black, white, red. For younger students the teacher could read the book to the class and wear a silly wig while reading the book. Point out all the different kinds of hair. You can ask your students to draw a picture of themselves and explain what they like most about themselves. You can also have your students bring in something from their culture and explain it to the class. Like a show and tell. You can ask your students what their reaction to the book was, have they ever felt this way about themselves? Also what is their favorite part about being different?  I really enjoyed this book. This book is especially empowering for young African American girls, but the imaginative elements in this book make it appeal to a larger audience. Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, is a well known children's book author. Her books are on the recommended reading list of schools, and library systems worldwide. Another book she is well known for is Royal Ball, which is another picture book. 

What's The Big Idea, Ben Franklin

Fritz, J. F. (1996). What's the big idea, ben franklin. New York City: Puffin.


What's The Big Idea, Ben Franklin was written by Jean Fritz. It was published in 1996. This book is a children's biography book.  This book is about Ben Franklin. No matter how busy he was, Ben Franklin always found time to try out new ideas and he was also a man of many talents. He was also an ambassador to England, a printer, an almanac maker, a politician, and even a vegetarian. This story is a wonderful biography of a great man. The book is accurate and authentic. The writing style and organization is perfect for the age group it is desired for. There is so much information about Ben Franklin and it is very appealing for children. This book is aimed for a second grader and up. About seven years old and up. This is a fun book that should help your youngster develop an interest in American History. It is easy to read an has great illustrations. You will not be disappointed. For children reading this book they can make a KWL sheet before reading the biography. What they know about Ben Franklin, what they want to know, and what they learned after reading the biography. The students can then share what they wrote on their KWL's. Also the students could role play Ben Franklin's life. The students could get into costume and present it to their fellow classmates. The teacher can ask the students response after reading the biography. The students can also come up with a list of questions they would ask Ben Franklin if they could interview him. The teacher can ask the students how they felt about the biography, do they think Ben Franklin would approve of it? How about what they liked most about the story? And What else they would have put into the story if they were the author. What other aspects of Ben's life would they have included. This book is a wonderful biography and a great way to get students interested in American History. 

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.