"Over A Thousand Hills I Walk with You"

Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You
Author: Hanna Jansen
Illustrator: Elizabeth D. Crawford
Genre:  Chapter BookNonfiction
Subgenre: Nonfiction, Real World Issues, History
Theme: Rwandan Genocide
Primary/Secondary Characters: Jeanne, Adoptive mother, Hutus, Tutsis
Date of Publication: Year 2006
Publishing Company: Carolrhoda Books
Award: Mildred L. Batchelor Award Winner

Summary: This nonfiction book is based on the true story of Jeanne, who is caught in a war of ethnicities in Rwanda. She was only eight when the Genocide occurred. Jeanne experiences the deaths of her mother and brother in the Genocide, and is forced to take on life by herself. The main reason for the Rwandan genocide is ethnic violence ­between the Tutsis and Hutus, and Jeanne is thrown into the middle of it, all by herself. The Tutsis were hunted down and betrayed by their neighbors and friends, the Hutus. Jeanne is not sure who she can trust, and has nobody there to stand by her side. Jeanne becomes wise as a young girl, and knows how to keep herself alive. The story is told by Jeanne’s adoptive mother, who becomes her guardian and mother figure, since her mother had passed away.Jeanne deserved a positive future, just like every other girl her age, and the Genocide was something that scarred her life forever. It tells of the detailed acts of Genocide happening in Rwanda in 1994, and the emotional, italicized dialogue from her real mother speaking to her tell of the feelings during this time. This novel can be used in the classroom when teaching about the Rwandan Genocide, but definitely not in a younger classroom. The gruesome details and truth to the event are descriptive, and would frighten young children. The thoughts felt and the actual historical truths in this book would teach children about this important fraction of history, and enable them to put themselves in the shoes of the characters.

"Dory Story"

Dory Story
Author: Jerry Pallotta
Illustrator: David Biedrzycki
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction, Adventure
Theme: Food Web, Sea Life, Imagination
Primary/Secondary Characters: Danny, Sea Life, Mom
Date of Publication: Year 2000
Publishing Company: Charlesbridge Publishing

Summary: Young Danny decided he wanted to learn more about the life of plankton in the sea, so he rowed his dory out into the middle of the ocean to find them. His mother always told him not to go out alone, but he figured he would be alright. Soon, the animals started a chain reaction and demonstrated the food web, as the sand eels were eating the shrimp, the mackerels eating the sand eel, and the bluefish eating the mackerel. Killer and humpback whales were in the food web, as well, and they knocked the dory right over, and Danny had to swim to safety. He made it on top of a huge rock, away from all the danger, when he heard his mother's voice. Danny had been using his imagination the whole time, and in reality, was playing with his toys in the bathtub. This story could be used in a classroom as it teaches about the food web in a fun and adventurous way. Children will learn what eats what, and just how the web functions. This could be used in an ocean and animal unit, and also keeps students attention with the action and twist at the end of the book.

"Where's My Teddy?"

Where's My Teddy?
Author: Jez Alborough
Illustrator: Jez Alborough
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Fiction
Theme: Comfort, Child's Toys
Primary/Secondary Characters: Eddie, Freddie, Big Bear, Small/Large Teddy
Date of Publication: Year 1992
Publishing Company: Candlewick Press

Summary: Eddie loses his teddy bear Freddie somewhere in the woods. As he searches to find Freddie, he comes across a huge teddy bear, that just could not be his teddy bear. He hears a loud crying, to realize it is a big live bear holding a tiny teddy bear, wondering why his teddy bear got so small. He sees Eddie holding the huge teddy bear, and realize that they have each others' bears! They each swap teddy bears, and go to the homes to cuddle with their rediscovered teddy bears. This could be used in the classroom as the rhythmic words can be easily understood and paid attention to by young readers. Children will learn to love this book, and the fast paced action really keeps children's interest.

"White Socks Only"

White Socks Only
Author: Evelyn Coleman
Illustrator: Tyrone Geter
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Realistic Nonfiction
Theme: Discrimination and Racism
Primary/Secondary Characters: Grandma, Young Girl, Chicken Man, Big White Man
Date of Publication: Year 1996
Publishing Company: Albert Whitman and Company

Summary: A young girl asked her Grandmother is she could go into town by herself, when in turn her grandmother told her a story from her childhood. She had gone into town alone, with 2 eggs in her pocket. She had passed the house of the well-known "Chicken Man" who was known to do great things, and nobody ever dared to mess around with him. She made it into town, and decided to test to see if eggs could really fry on the hot pavement, and they did. She was ever so hot, and decided to take a drink of water at the drinking fountain, yet it had a sign on it that read "whites only." Not knowing any better, she took off her black shes and exposed her white socks, and began to drink. A big white man came over and shoved her off and began to beat her, when more black people approached and started drinking from the fountain. More white people showed up and the big white man began beating the black people with his belt. At this time. the Chicken Man pushed through the crowd and drank from the water fountain, and all of the uproar grew silent and everyone left. He helped her back up, gave her a chicken feather from his hat, and took her back to her house. The sign on the fountain was then removed, and never appeared ever again. This book can be used in a classroom when teaching students about racism and discrimination. Children need to learn about how strong discrimination was in the past, and how some still exists today. They will become more familiar with how blacks felt at that time, as the viewpoint of the story is told by an elder black lady with a loving granddaughter.

"The Ugly Duckling"

The Ugly Duckling
Author: Hans Christian Anderson, Adapted by Jerry Pinkney
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Fiction, Acceptance
Theme: Not fitting in, Judgement
Primary/Secondary Characters: Mother Duck, 4 Ducklings, the Ugly duckling, Old Woman, Hen and Cat, Good man and his Family, Swans
Date of Publication: Year 1999
Publishing Company:  Harper Collins Publishing
Award: Caldecott Honor Book


Summary: Mother duck had hatched 4 beautiful ducklings, and came to realize that the fifth egg would not hatch.
When it did eventually hatch, the duckling was not beautiful, but a brown ugly duckling that did not look like the rest. Every animal at the pond made fun of the Ugly Duckling, even his brothers and sisters. A hunter attempted to shoot the flock, and everyone flew away, but the Ugly Duckling could not fly. He hid in the brush and was discovered by a hunting dog, who thought him too ugly to pay any attention. The Ugly Duckling was very sad, and found a cottage where an old woman and a hen and cat resided, and those animals made fun of the duckling, as well. The duckling stayed there 3 weeks, and was actually welcomed, but all he wanted to do was swim, so he fled from the cottage into the real world. A good man and his family found the Ugly Duckling stuck in ice in the pond, and rescued him and brought him back to his family. His family took care of the Ugly Duckling, who came to realize he was not ugly anymore, but a beautiful, flying swan. This novel can be used greatly in the classroom when teaching acceptance and the impact of negative words on others. Students can see how hateful words effected the Ugly Duckling, and see how they can adapt their attitudes towards their fellow classmates. They can also realize that looks are not everything, and that everyone is a beautiful human being.

"Nobody Likes Me!"

Nobody Likes Me
Author: Raoul Krischanitz
Illustrator: Raoul Krischanitz
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Fiction, Animals
Theme: Friendship and Loneliness
Primary/Secondary Characters: Buddy the dog, Rabbits, Mousey, Sheep, Cats, Fox
Date of Publication: Year 1999
Publishing Company: North-South Books

Summary: Buddy the dog is sad that nobody wants to be his friend. He asked Mousey to play with him, and Mousey ran back inside his hole. He asked the rabbits, sheep, and cats to play with him, and they all ran away from him. Buddy cried and cried because he thought that nobody liked him, until the Fox came along and asked Buddy why he was crying. Buddy told him that nobody liked him and that everyone ran away from him, and the Fox asked Buddy if he had asked the animals why they all ran away. Buddy and the Fox went and talked to all the animals, and the animals stated that they were all afraid of him, and that they actually wanted to be friends. All the animals were happy, and Mousey had run away because he was making a cake for everyone to enjoy, together. This book can be used in a classroom as it teaches of loneliness and how people feel if others ignore them, or run away form them. Children can relate as they are worried about what others may think of them, when they are just wanting to make friends. It teaches children of acceptance, and being a friend to everyone that they encounter.

"Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters"

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, An African Tale
Author: John Steptoe
Illustrator: John Steptoe
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Folktale, Culture
Theme: Greed, Sibling Rivalry, Marriage
Primary/Secondary Characters: Mufaro, Manyaya, Nyasha, Nyoka
Date of Publication: 1988
Publishing Company: Scholastic Inc.
Award Winner: Caldecott Honor Book

Summary: Mufaro was the father of two daughters, Manyara and Nyasha in Africa. His goal was to find a man to be the King of the Empire, and one of his daughters to be the queen, Manyara was very greedy, and wanted the Kingdom all to herself, and felt as though she needed to be the queen. Nyasha was very humble, and knew what would happen would happen for the best. Nyasha tended to her garden and cared for the snake within it, fed the hungry children, and cared for the elders. At the same time, Manyara ignored the hungry children, did not have her own garden, and was so certain she would be the queen that she told everyone to bow down to her. As Nyasha was admiring the Kingdom and it's beauty one day, the snake from her garden, Nyoka, approached her, and told her that he was the King in disguise, and that he had seen all her good deeds, and she deserved to be the queen. Manyara became the servant and Nyasha rose as the Kingdom's queen. This book can be used in a classroom in many ways, as books of culture are not abundant in the curriculum. When learning about different cultures, this book could be used to set the scenery and demonstrate the qualities of other cultures, as well as provide entertainment at the same time. Children could learn from this book and the cultural value that comes along with it.

"Lunchtime for a Purple Snake"

Lunchtime for a Purple Snake
Author: Harriet Ziefert
Illustrator: Todd McKie
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction,Art
Theme: Creativity, Learning from Elders
Primary/Secondary Characters: Grandpa, Jessica
Date of Publication: Year 2003
Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin Company

Summary: Jessica is a young girl who visits her grandfather, who is a painter. Her grandfather instructs her how to paint, and just how to make the perfect picture. He teaches Jessica what colors mix together to make other colors, and what colors mix together to make a not so pretty color. He teaches Jessica how to not ruin her pictures by adding too much paint, and then tells her to create her own masterpiece. She creates a picture of a snake, and her grandfather adds his own personal creativity to it, and then tells her to title her own picture. She names it "Lunchtime for Purple Snake", as it is a photo of a snake in the garden, eating a big green insect. This book can be used in the classroom, especially in an art setting where students are learning colors and what mixes together. It can be used alongside an art project, as its concepts easily relate. It also teaches students how their elders can teach them life lessons, and talents that they possess, as well. Students can identify easily with this book, and it's concepts should be addressed in the classroom.

"Hoot"

Hoot
Author: Carl Hiaasen
No Illustrator
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction, Mystery
Theme: Crime and Vandalism, Bullying, Suspense
Primary/Secondary Characters: Curly,Officer Delinko, Roy Eberhart, Mr. & Mrs. Eberhart, Dana Matherson, Beatrice, Mullet Fingers
Date of Publication: Year 2002
Publishing Company: Random House Children's Books
Award: Newbery Honor Award Winner 

Summary: Officer Delinko was a police officer in Florida and got a call that the site for the future home of "Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House" had been vandalized, by a local man named Curly. Delinko checked out the site and Curly had informed him that there were owls living there, and their home was about to be destroyed. The next day, alligators has been found in the port-a-john and it was apparent that someone was trying to hurt the workers and protect the owls. In the meantime, Young Roy Eberhart recently had moved to Florida from Montana, and absolutely hated it. She did not like his school, Trace Middle School, and constantly got bullied on the school bus by a fellow classmate, Dana Matherson. One day,  Roy spotted a boy with no shoes sprinting down the sidewalk, and it appeared he had no destination in mind. Roy grew curious and he saw it the next day, and decided to follow the boy. As he went to exit the schoolbus to follow the running boy, the bully Dana began to choke Roy, and Roy bunched him and broke his nose, then sprinted after the boy. Later in the story, Roy met the boy, and he eventually found out he was the individual attempting to save the owls. Roy decided to help him and petition, with a few of his classmates: Soccer player and bully Beatrice, Dana, and the boy, who was named "Mullet Fingers". The group was successful, saved the owls, and Roy grew to love Florida and look at the positive side of things.
This is a great novel to use in the classroom. It teaches children determination, and to fight for what they believe in. It also teaches them about conservation, and saving the homes that animals reside in, not building and destroying natural habitats. It also touches upon bullying, and how to deal with it, as Roy wrote and letter and apologized to Dana in person for the violent act he put on him. This novel could be used when teaching about animal conservation, especially with older elementary-aged students. The mystery within the novel will keep children wanting to read more, and the happy outcome in the end results in an overall great evaluation for this book.

"Saran, Plain and Tall"

Sarah, Plain and Tall
Author: Patricia MacLachlan
No Illustrator
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Theme: Family Loss, Hope for a new future
Primary/Secondary Characters: Anna, Caleb, Papa (Jacob), Sarah
Date of Publishing: Year 1985
Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishers
Awards: Newbery Award Winner & Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award Winner

Summary: The mother of young Anna and Caleb died when Caleb was born. The two children were left to grow up motherless, with a single father who had an entire farm to care for in itself. Papa is lonely as he tries to take care of the two children, but a mother figure was definitely needed in the household. Their neighbors are far away, and the farm seems lonely and isolated, so there are no women for papa to potentially meet. Caleb always asks Anna what life was like when Mama was around, and she wish he had gotten to know her, just as she had. Papa puts an ad in the newspaper for a potential wife, and gets a response from a woman from Kansas, named Sarah. Sarah writes the family letters, as they ask her questions; Anna even asks Sarah if she can braid hair! Sarah is a lanky woman who considers herself "plain" and fairly simple. Sarah moves to the farm with the family, but grows homesick. She returns to Kansas for a short trip and the children are worried she will never return, as they had grown close to Sarah as she treated the children as their own. Papa ends up marrying Sarah and the children have a woman figure to love and care for them, even if she is just "plain and tall".
This novel could be used in the classroom in a variety of ways. I, personally, was motherless as a child and know what it is like. Many children experience the loss of a parent, and are left with an empty void that only a mother figure can fill. This book allows children to relate, as Anna and Caleb are young like many other children, and feel the same feelings many children may be feeling. As this book takes place in the early 1900's, some history shows through, which can be informative to the young reader, as well. This short chapter book is an easy read, and many children will be able to relate to the circumstances present.