JONATHAN AND THE BIG BLUE BOAT

Author (last name first):
Stead, Philip
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Roaring Brook Press/2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
Kindergarten-5th
Classification:  
Fiction  

This book is full of alliteration, similes, and onomatopoeia. It tells of a boy whose parents give away his stuffed bear. The boy goes sailing on the big blue boat searching for the bear. This is an add on book that adds characters and has a repeated line that makes for a pattern book loved by young readers. The artwork is unique combining illustrations with decoupage prints. This would be cute to use for pattern writing in a language arts class. There is an AR test for this book.

Reviewed By: Nikki Byrd (E.J.H.S. Teacher 7/8 SS) 

WORMS FOR LUNCH?

  Author (last name first):
Gore, Leonid
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Scholastic Press/2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
1st grade
Classification: 
Fiction  

This is a really cute book with die cut illustrations. Different animals tell what it is they like to eat. The story is easy to read and the color makes it fun while flipping the die cuts.

Reviewed By: Patty Bruce (Electra I.S.D. Title I / Social Worker) 

THE HONEYBEE MAN

Author (last name first):
Nargi, Lela
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Schwartz&Wade Books/2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
3rd-8th
Classification: 
Fiction  

WOW! This is an amazing book! Fred lives in New York and keeps bees on his roof. The beautiful illustrations follow the bees in their quest for nectar. The author uses many literary devices: similes, onomatopoeia, and imagery. She weaves factual information into the story line. The inside covers have detailed illustrations of the queen, worker, and drone bees along with the inside of hives. The book ends with a two page spread of information about beekeeping and honey collecting. This would be great with a science unit or a biome/life interaction unit.


Reviewed By: Niki Byrd (E.J.H.S. Teacher 7/8 SS)

EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE I'M FIVE

Author (last name first):
Fisher, Valorie
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Schwartz&Wade/2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
Pr-Kindergarten 
Classification: 
Fiction  

This book teaches concepts of numbers, alphabets, seasons in very colorful pictures. It is great for teaching young ones these concepts.

 Reviewed By: Patty Bruce (Electra I.S.D. Title I/ Social Worker)  

WITHOUT YOU

Author (last name first):
Cote, Genevieve
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Kids Can Press/2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
1st-3rd
Classification: 
Fiction  

Pig and Rabbit are friends. Like all friendships, they have a falling out and go their separate ways. Each one finds things they can do alone. About halfway through the book, they realize they miss each other and how much better life is with friends. This would be good for a counselor to use to settle friendship fights. It is also a cute book about being alone and also playing with others. The text has rhyming pattern. The illustrations are simple so the focus is on the storyline. 

Reviewed By: Nikki Byrd ( E.J.H. S. Teacher 7/8 SS)  

HAPPY 100TH DAY!

Author (last name first):
Milord, Susan
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Scholastic Press/2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
1st-4th
Classification: 
Fiction  

Grahams birthday falls on the same day the school celebrates the 100th day of school. With all the activities going on, he is worried they will not have time to celebrate his birthday. All the students are given activities to complete and his is to read 100 books. When the day comes, the school is having an assembly and Graham is sad because he thinks no one remembers his birthday. The principle tells the students how proud she is of the school and reading but as the year progresses to the 100th day and his birthday his reading improves and he likes school.

Reviewed By: Patty Bruce (Electra I.S.D. Title 1/Social Worker) 

HORRIBLE HARRY AND THE SECRET TREASURE

 Author (last name first):
Kline, Suzy
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Viking Children's Books/2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
3rd-6th
Classification: 
Fiction  

Like the other Horrible Harry books, this involves a case to be solved by the students. The Major topic of discussion is joining the school orchestra and which students will or won't join. In this story though, Harry poses a mystery to his classmates with a secret treasure as the reward. Mary has wanted a certain toy from the school toy store and that toy will be the reward if the mystery is solved. Harry provides clues to his friends. By the end of the week, they discover that Harry's clues lead them to realize that Harry will be in the orchestra and Mary receives her special toy as a reward. There is an AR test for this book.

Reviewed By: Nikki Byrd (E.J.H.S. Teacher 7/8 SS)