The Story of the Jumping Mouse

The Story of the Jumping Mouse  

Author: John Steptoe  

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published Date: 1985

Number of pages: 36

Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade
Genre: Western
Caldecott Honor Books, Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration

This book is about a mouse and his journey to reach the far-off land. This journey will be challenging and he will need to seek help along the way. At the beginning of the story the mouse meets a frog who gives him magical powers to help him jump. This is how he gets his name Jumping Mouse. 

I would rate this book an ADVISABLE. I enjoyed this book and I feel that it would be a challenging book for readers. I thought it was interesting how the illustrator chose not use color in his images. I am not sure that this would be a popular book for the students to choose. I think that this book would serve a great purpose in teacher Native American history. I appreciated that the story did not give the ending away.

I would use this book while talking about Native American history. This is a Native American Legend and reveals several signs of the Native culture. I would read this book to the students to get them thinking about different aspects of Native culture. I would instruct students to construct a double journal entry. On one side of the paper I would have students list what they already know about Native culture. On the opposite side I would have them list things that they think relate to Native culture from the story.

Ratings

ESSENTIAL: It would be beneficial if the school library had at least one copy of this book. This is a book that students could find interest in, and also serves an educational purpose. This book may be challenging for the students, but it will help them grow academically and help them improve their education skills.

ADVISABLE: 'ESSESNTIAL' books are the most important and these books are next on the important list. These books are still beneficial to the students and could also be a popular genre, but it may lack in in the substance for educational purposes. The education purpose would focus more on students reading and comprehension, whereas an advisable book would be more for the enjoyment.

OPTIONAL: Books are interesting for the teachers and would follow the curriculum. This book would not support the students and their growth as readers. These books would help provide students with a variety of options, but they are not common or the most popular books.

NOT RECOMMENDED: These books would not be appropriate. The writing, theme, or plot should not be supported.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

The Three Billy Goats Gruff 

Author: Stephen Carpenter  

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published Date: 1998

Number of pages: 20

Reading Level: Second Grade
Genre: Fables, Folk Tales and Myths
No awards noted

This book is about three bill goats who run into a troll along their travels. They need to figure out a way to cross the bridge without getting eaten by the mean, hungry, green troll.

I would rate this book an ESSENTIAL. This book provides a good story with vivid details and dialogue. There are several examples of onomatopoeia words throughout the book. I think that this book would challenge and be interesting for new readers. The story does not give away the ending and provides great illustrations.

Before reading the story, I would give the students background information on the billy goats and how they run into a troll who lives under the bridge, that they need to cross. Then, I would have students create their own plan to try and get across the bridge without getting eaten by the troll. Finally, I would read the story to the students, or have them read the story on their own to find out what happens in the story.

Ratings

ESSENTIAL: It would be beneficial if the school library had at least one copy of this book. This is a book that students could find interest in, and also serves an educational purpose. This book may be challenging for the students, but it will help them grow academically and help them improve their education skills.

ADVISABLE: 'ESSESNTIAL' books are the most important and these books are next on the important list. These books are still beneficial to the students and could also be a popular genre, but it may lack in in the substance for educational purposes. The education purpose would focus more on students reading and comprehension, whereas an advisable book would be more for the enjoyment.

OPTIONAL: Books are interesting for the teachers and would follow the curriculum. This book would not support the students and their growth as readers. These books would help provide students with a variety of options, but they are not common or the most popular books.

NOT RECOMMENDED: These books would not be appropriate. The writing, theme, or plot should not be supported.

Of African American Poetry

Of African American Poetry

Author: Ashley Bryan

Publisher: Atheneum Books

Published Date: 1997

Number of pages: 26

Genre: Poetry, ABC book, Informational

Runner up on the Coretta Scott King Awards with one Honor Book as both writer and illustrator

I would rate this book ADVISABLE. I feel that the students would still benefit and obtain information. This book gives good examples of poetry, but I don't think that the education purpose of this book would focus more on students comprehension.

This is an ABC book, and throughout the book the author talks about the history of African Americans. Each page talks about a character in the book and describes their life or something about them. The illustrations are amazing and are catching to the eye.

I would use this book to introduce African American history. This book does not go into great details, but gives good points in history. Students would be able to relate to some of the characters and make connections in their own life. I would read this book to the class and have them listen to the words used. The words in this book create imagery for the students, and can help encourage their poetry skills.

Ratings

ESSENTIAL: It would be beneficial if the school library had at least one copy of this book. This is a book that students could find interest in, and also serves an educational purpose. This book may be challenging for the students, but it will help them grow academically and help them improve their education skills.

ADVISABLE: 'ESSESNTIAL' books are the most important and these books are next. These books are still beneficial to the students and could also be a popular genre, but it may lack in in the substance for educational purposes. The education purpose would focus more on students reading and comprehension.

OPTIONAL: Books are interesting for the teachers and would follow the curriculum. This book is would not support the students and their growth as readers. These books would help provide students with a variety of options, but they are not common or the most popular.

NOT RECOMMENDED: These books would not be appropriate. The writing, theme, or plot should not be supported.

Barnyard Banter

The Barnyard Banter

Author: Denise Fleming

Publisher: Scholastic

Published Date: February 1995

Number of pages: 29

Reading Level: Kindergarten Read Aloud

Genre: Poetry and Rhymes

The Denise Fleming was Caldecott award-winning author. 

This book is about a goose who chases a butterfly. This goose chances the butterfly all through the barn. It is an adventurous book, and will keep you wondering where the goose will be next.

I would use this book in a kindergarten classroom. This book is great for identifying different animals that could be seen on a farm. This book provides students with the noises that the certain animals might make. I would use this book to help identify and connect the appropriate sound with the correct  animal.

I would rate this book advisable. The book provides a great learning atmosphere and would be beneficial. Although, I do not feel that this book would challenge students compared to other books.

Ratings

ESSENTIAL: It would be beneficial if the school library had at least one copy of this book. This is a book that students could find interest in, and also serves an educational purpose. This book may be challenging for the students, but it will help them grow academically and help them improve their education skills.

ADVISABLE: 'ESSESNTIAL' books are the most important and these books are next. These books are still beneficial to the students and could also be a popular genre, but it may lack in in the substance for educational purposes. The education purpose would focus more on students reading and comprehension.

OPTIONAL: Books are interesting for the teachers and would follow the curriculum. This book would not support the students and their growth as readers. These books would help provide students with a variety of options, but they are not common or the most popular.

NOT RECOMMENDED: These books would not be appropriate. The writing, theme, or plot should not be supported.

The Cloud Book

The Cloud Book

Author: Tomie dePaola

Publisher: Scholastic

Published Date: 1975

Number of pages: 31

Reading Level: 3rd

Genre: Informational

Tomie dePaola has published over 200 children’s books over the past 35 years, and has won numerous awards, including both a Caldecott Honor Award and a Newbery Honor Award. He also has written up to four children's books in a single year.

This book is about clouds and all the different kinds of clouds that a person could see in the sky. There are several different ways to characterize clouds, and this book addresses those different ways. Even though this book is informational, it still engages the reader and makes it interesting.

I would use this book in the classroom when talking about the sky. After reading this book I would love to take the class outside and see what kinds of clouds we could find. I would rate this book advisable. I think it would be great to use for teachers, but I think that it lacks the ability to push the student as a reader.

Ratings

ESSENTIAL: It would be beneficial if the school library had at least one copy of this book. This is a book that students could find interest in, and also serves an educational purpose. This book may be challenging for the students, but it will help them grow academically and help them improve their education skills.

ADVISABLE: 'ESSESNTIAL' books are the most important and these books are next. These books are still beneficial to the students and could also be a popular genre, but it may lack in in the substance for educational purposes. The education purpose would focus more on students reading and comprehension.

OPTIONAL: Books are interesting for the teachers and would follow the curriculum. This book is would not support the students and their growth as readers. These books would help provide students with a variety of options, but they are not common or the most popular.

NOT RECOMMENDED: These books would not be appropriate. The writing, theme, or plot should not be supported.