"Stellaluna"

Stellaluna
Author: Janell Cannon
Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Informative, Animals
Theme: Differences between bats and birds
Primary/Secondary Characters: Mother Bat, Stellaluna, Flap, Flitter, Pip, Mother Bird
Date of Publication: Year 1993
Publishing Company: Harcourt, Inc.

Summary: Stellaluna, a young bat flies with Mother Bat one night when an owl attacks them and they are separated. Stellaluna still does not know how to fly, and falls into a nest of birds: Flip, Flitter and Pip. The birds teach Stellaluna their ways, and Mother Bird makes Stellaluna eat bugs, sleep right side up, and fly during the day. Stellaluna teaches the birds her ways, as the birds learn how to hang upside down but cannot do the rest of what bats can do, such as flying at night. Stellaluna is reunited with her mother, and introduces the bird family to Mother Bat. Mother Bat teaches Stellaluna to eat fruit, not bugs, and to perform the ways all bats do, and Stellaluna is a very happy being a bat.
This should be taught in a classroom, as it teaches the differences of birds and bats in a creative way. Many children may be under the assumption that since birds and bats both fly, that they live the same ways, which is not true. This clears up the confusion and students are able to identify each animal as being different in many ways, and similar in some.This could be used in a classroom, and have students fill out a venn diagram of the similarities and differences. There are also bat facts in the back to the book that could be useful in teaching students, as well.

"Stone Soup"

Stone Soup
Author: Marcia Brown
Illustrator: Marcia Brown
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Folktale
Theme: Soldiers from War, Village Bonding
Primary/Secondary Characters: Three Soldiers, Village Peasants
Date of Publication: Year 1975
Publishing Company: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division
Award: Caldecott Honor Book

Summary: Three soldiers returning from war approached a village very hungry and tired. they stopped at the houses of three different peasant families, asking if anyone had any food to spare. The peasants all hid their food and apologized saying that they did not. One day in the center of the village, the three soldiers announced that they were about to make soup from three single rocks. They kept asking for different ingredients, and the peasants hurried to get them from their houses to experience this magic happen. Little did they know that the soldiers were outsmarting them and knew that they had been lying to the soldiers. All three were humble as they shared the soup and had a feast with all the village people. The village people then offered them each a bed to sleep in, and they woke up in the morning and continued on their journey.
This can be used in a classroom as it shows children to share what they have, whether or not the receiving person is less fortunate or not. It shows them to always tell the truth and to be humble when an issue arises. the three soldiers are role models as they shared and cared for the village peasants that did not care for them in the first place. This can be taught to any aged child, as this folktale is enjoyable for all.

"Bad Dog, Marley!"

Bad Dog, Marley!
Author: John Grogan
Illustrator: Richard Cowdrey
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Picture Book
Theme: Misbehaving Pets, Dogs
Primary/Secondary Characters: Marley, Mommy and Daddy, Cassie, Baby Louie
Date of Publication: Year 2007
Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishers

Summary: The family had all different kinds of pets, but did not have a dog. Cassie and Baby Louie begged and begged until one day their Daddy came home with a yellow lab named Marley. Marley got into everything and tore up everything in the house, and the family always scolded her saying, "Bad dog Marley!" After Marley tore up the whole couch, Mommy and Daddy had had enough, and put an ad in the newspaper trying to sell Marley. One day, Marley was barking and wouldn't stop, and Mommy came to see what all the noise was about. Baby Louie had gotten on top of the refrigerator to get the cookies and Marley climbed up and saved Baby Louie. The parents then realized that Marley was part of the family, and had to stay.
This could be used in a classroom as many children have experiences with misbehaving pets. It shows them to always scold a dog when it is wrong so that it learns from it's mistakes. It also shows children what great things pets can do, and that they really are a part of the family. The colorful pictures and action within the story are sure to provide a good read for a student of any elementary age.

"In The Small, Small Pond"

In The Small, Small Pond
Author: Denise Fleming
Illustrator: Denise Fleming
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Informative, Animals
Theme: Introduction to pond life, What different animals do
Primary/Secondary Characters: All Pond Animals
Date of Publication: Year 1993
Publishing Company: Henry Holt and Company
Award: Caldecott Honor Book

Summary: This story tells of the activities of animals living in and around a pond. The rhyming text and colorful pictures adds to the depth of the story. It tells what moves and sounds each animal makes, and has their picture with the text.
This book can be used in a classroom of young children as it teaches them of the different animals in and around a pond in the environment. This book shows them pictures of each animal so they will be able to identify a name with the animal. In just a few words, the actions and activities of the animals are told, which keeps children's attention and keeps them interested.

"The Princess Knight"

The Princess Knight
Author: Cornelia Funke
Illustrator: Kerstin Meyer
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Fairytale, Fiction
Theme: Gender differences, Determination
Primary/Secondary Characters: Princess Violetta, The Brothers, King Wilfred
Date of Publication: Year 2001
Publishing Company: Scholastic Inc., The Chicken House

Summary: Princess Violetta was teased by her brothers ever since she was a small girl that she would always be little and girlie to them. They always bullied her saying they would always be stronger, and that she could never joust as well as they could. When Violetta turned 16, her father, King Wilfred, held a competition to see who could win the jousting event, and whomever did was to take her hand in marriage. Violetta did not like this idea, and dressed up as one of the men in the competition and ended up winning it all. Her father gave her a beautiful black horse for her accomplishment, and she ended up marrying the rose gardener's son.
This could be useful in a classroom as many girls are told that they are inferior to boys, and that they cannot do the things that boys can. It will aid them in knowing that they have someone to relate to, as Princess Violetta overcame this stereotype. This will also inform boys that girls can do the things that they can, and that bullying them saying that they are inferior is hurtful. Violetta was determined to be better than her brothers, and practiced and practiced until she accomplished her goal. This book teaches determination, and to fight for something you believe in, not just to believe stereotypes.

"The Web Files"

The Web Files
Author: Margie Palatini
Illustrator: Richard Egielski
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Young Children's Mystery, Fiction
Theme: Robbery, Hygiene, Doing the right thing
Primary/Secondary Characters: Ducktective Web, Bill, Hen, Sheep, Horse, The Dirty Rat
Date of Publication: Year 2001
Publishing Company: Hyperion Books For Children

Summary: Ducktective Web and his partner, Bill, got a call that the Hen had a problem on the farm. They visited the farm and the Hen had told them that her perfectly picked peppers had been stolen. The Horse also had his tomatoes stolen, and the Sheep had her lettuce stolen. The clues led to the fact that someone had stolen all these from the farm to make a salad. Ducktective Web and Bill went to their most Dirty suspect, the Dirty Rat, and found him guilty of committing the crime. The Dirty Rat had lettuce under his chin, and it was clear that he was the burglar. The Dirty Rat got convicted of stealing, poor hygiene, no manners, and not cleaning under his chin after he ate.
This comical story can be used in an elementary classroom, as it provides mystery and comedy to the ready. Ducktective Web and Bill had admirable determination for solving the crime, and when they did, they found the suspect guilty. Children can look to this to remember to always do the right thing, and not touch others' belongings. The Dirty Rat was also convicted of poor hygiene, as this was how he was convicted of the crime. It hints to the child to always have good hygiene and good manners, as Ducktective Web always said "yes ma'am" and was courteous in his actions.

"If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Author: Laura Joffe Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Genre: Picture Book, Young Children's Literature
Subgenre: Comical Children's Novel, Fiction
Theme: Being Needy, Greed, Asking for more
Primary/Secondary Characters: The Mouse, The Boy
Date of Publication: Year 1985
Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishers

Summary: A mouse asks for a cookie from his owner, a young boy, and the boy gives him a cookie. He then asks for a glass of milk, then keeps asking for more and more after that. The mouse never seems satisfied, and the boy keeps getting him what he asks for. The mouse cleans the floors, trims his hairs, draws pictures, and in the end just ends up getting another cookie.
This can be used in a classroom full of young students, as it teaches them not to be needy, and that being greedy is not nice. They are able to put themselves in the young boys shoes, and see how they would feel if someone was never satisfied and kept asking for more. Students would enjoy the colorful pictures, and look forward to what the mouse would ask for next. When children go to ask for something more, they would reflect back on this novel and second guess their next request.

"Junie B., First Grader. Boo...And I Mean It!"

Junie B., First Grader. Boo...And I Mean It!
Author: Barbara Park
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Young Adolescent Chapter Book, Fiction
Theme: Halloween, Dressing Up, Being Scared
Primary/Secondary Characters: Junie B. Jones, Mother, Daddy, Ollie, Grandma & Grandpa Miller
Date of Publication: Year 2004
Publishing Company: Scholastic Inc.

Summary: Junie B. Jones is afraid of Halloween and all the costumes that children will wear that night. She does not want to dress up and just wants to stay home all night and play by herself. One of her classmates told her five scary secrets about Halloween, and told Junie B. that if she told those secrets, her head would turn into a giant wart. Junie B. finally tells her Grandma Miller those secrets, and got reassurance that they were not true. Junie B. got the great idea to be Squirty the clown, so she could scare the other kids on Halloween and they could not scare her. She went costume shopping with her mother and found clown parts to make her costume. Halloween night Junie B. named herself "Screamy the Clown" and tried to scare all of the kids around the block, but nobody was afraid of her. That night, she went home upset and went straight to bed, as she had not scared a single soul. Her father had been on a business trip and came home to Junie B.'s dark room and saw her with all her makeup on in the dark, and she scared him "right out of his pants." Junie B. accomplished her mission, and had a great Halloween after all.
This would be useful in the classroom in the fall, right before Halloween. It ensures students that there is nothing to be afraid of, as costumes are just fake and supposed to be fun. It gets children in the Halloween spirit as it talks about the costumes, candy, and fun. As Junie B. talks back to her mother and to adults in her life, she is quickly corrected. This could be useful to children as well, as they learn not to talk back and listen to their elders.

"Junie B., First Grader (At Last!)"

Junie B., First Grader (At Last!)
Author: Barbara Park
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Young Adolescent Book, Fiction
Theme: Fitting In, Elementary School Friends
Primary/Secondary Characters: Junie B. Jones, Mr. Scary, Herb & May
Date of Publication: Year 2001
Publishing Company: Scholastic Inc.

Summary: June B. Jones is finally a first grader, she has been waiting for this day for a very long time. As she is shy at first, she enters her class and sees fellow students she had in her kindergarten class. Unfortunately, all the students have made other friends and want nothing to do with June B. Jones. Junie B. struggles with having no friends, until she meets a boy named Herb on the school bus who talks with her and becomes her friend. Her fellow classmate, May, always makes fun of Junie B. in class and always tells her that she is better than her, which makes Junie B. mad and upset. Mr. Scary, her first grade teacher, notices one day that Junie B. cannot see the board in class and brings her to the nurse. Junie B. ends up getting glasses, and is nervous that everyone in class will make fun of her. When she brings them to class for show and tell, May makes fun of Junie B., but Herb defends her and the rest of the class side with Herb. This makes Junie B. feel accepted and she then enjoys first grade.
This can be used in a classroom in many ways. Many children have trouble fitting in, and want something or someone to relate to. Having a character from a novel will aid children with their personal issues of fitting in or being "popular" and help them cope with those issues. The comedy in this book is great, and every child will grow to love Junie B. Jones. As this novel is part of a large series, children will want to follow Junie B. in all of her adventures.