MEENA

 Author (last name first):
Wiffles, Caranne
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Erdmands Books for Young Readers/ 2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
Kindergarten- 3rd
Classification: Fiction 


Klaas, Christa and Thomas, the children of the neighborhood, think Meena is a mysterious neighbor. The children actually believe her to be a witch who eats children. After observing seemingly suspicious events, the kids fear that they may be Meena's next victims. Klaas, Christa, and Thomas soon learn that Meena is a cheery grandmother who loves to bake. The "imprisoned" girl is actually Meena's granddaughter and the "blood" is really cherry pie filling. The children learn that things are not always what they seem, and friends come in all sizes and ages. "Meena" is an entertaining read and could be used for a read-aloud with younger children. Older children would enjoy making predictions about Meena's character.

Reviewed By: Angelina Chapa (Graduate Student, West College of Education)

FROGGY GOES TO HAWAII

Author (last name first):
London, Jonathan
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Viking Juvenile / April 14, 2011 
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

2nd and Up 
Classification: Fiction 


Review Text: Froggy and his family are headed for a dream vacation on the famous island of Hawaii. Froggy's got big plans: e.g. swimming with the sea turtles, seeing a volcano up close, and surfing in giant waves. When Froggy goes on vacation to Hawaii, he is too excited to pay attention to his parents. At the airport, Froggy leapfrogged over others and falls flat on his face. In Hawaii, Froggy sets out to find his own adventures. He attempts a ninja fight with a coconut tree. He also does a hula dance and makes mynah birds laugh. Froggy's fans will laugh out loud at his hilarious antics. 


Activities:

• Children can talk about their personal experiance while on vacation or plan an imaginary vacation to Hawaii. 
• The teacher can make a lesson plan to teach students about different aspects of the airport.
• The teacher can talk about using different outfits on different occasions. Students can draw a suitcase with different garments and label them.
• The teacher can bring different garments to school and have the students learn how to name each one.  

Reviewed By: Maricela Rivera (Graduate Student)

THE LAND OF LOST THINGS/ EL PAIS DE LAS COSAS PERDIDAS

Author (last name first):
Bursztyn, Dina
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Arte Pulico Press/ 2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Kindergarten-3rd
Classification:Fiction 


This is an imaginative story of a boy who loses his blue pencil and wonders where it has gone. His wonderings lead him through another world, i.e. a world of the lost things. Along his imaginary trip in the world of the lost, the boy finds other items that he has lost in the past: e.g. a gold button, a pair of scissors, a mitten, and a sock. These items take on different forms and functions in the land of the lost, but the boy recognizes each one. Although the boy encounters familiar belongings, he does not find his blue pencil. The book ends with the boy choosing to continue his drawing with a brown pencil and his wonderings and make-believe worlds aloud, in writing and though drawings. There are endless possibilities for lesson applications and the use of this book. 

Reviewed By: Angelina Chapa (Graduate Student, West College of Education)

MONTONES DE MARIQUITAS! / LOTS OF LADYBUGS!

Author (last name first):
Dahl, Micheal
Publisher, Date of Publication:  
Picture Window Books/2011 
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

3rd and Up 
Classification: Non-fiction 

The author utilizes ladybugs in a delightful method of skip counting by fives. Even though the numerals which indicate the total number of ladybugs dots are hidden within the pages of the book, the author has used this strategy to provide a learning activity for the listener. However, the activity is not explained until the end of the book. In my opinion, the hidden numerals seem too obscure, making the concept of skip counting more difficult and unclear as are the reader's instructions. The author has inserted the numeral and quantity representation at the lower left corner of the pages, but this visual does not explain or connect the process of skip counting and are rather small for the audience to see. The ladybugs are playfully depicted in descriptive terms along with a short repetitive sentence at the end of each numeral page, which makes the written text attractive to the listener. Another feature of this book is that it is written in Spanish and English making this book easily understood for speakers of both or either language. The author has also included internet sites and reveals the placement of each hidden numeral within each page at the end of the book. Overall, I liked the concept of a book that introduces skip counting; however, an explanation of the process could have been included and demonstrated within the text of his book's story.

Reviewed By: Katie Chavez (Graduate student for Dr. Prieto) 

CERCA Y LEJOS/ NEAR AND FAR

Author (last name first):
Jonson,Tami
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Capstone Press; Bilingual education/August 1,2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

5th and Up

Classification: Non-fiction 

Review Text:This book is intended to introduce vocabulary of space in English and Spanish. The colorful pictures illustrated the nonfiction format of both English and Spanish. Cerca y Lejos/ Near and Far were desighned to be ready independently by an early reader or to read out loud to pre- readers. The book The book encourages further learning by including: a table of contents , fun facts, glossary, internet sites, and an index. Students will be able to activate prior knowledge vocabulary like clown fish, buffalo, and spaceship.

Activities: 

• Children can talk about objects in the classroom that are near or far away from them.
• Students can draw objects and label them to learn new vocabulary.
• The author of Cerca y Lejos / Near and Far uses uses near and far for balloons to illustrate the vocabulary; teachers can utilize and let go of helium balloons to make the vocabulary more meaningful for students.  

Reviewed By Maricela Rivera (Graduate Student)