Kaylee’s Comments (group member since Aug 19, 2024)

Kaylee’s comments from the 5183 Fall 2024 Information Resources and Services for Children group.

Raczka, B. (2010). Guyku: A year of haiku for boys. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

If this puddle could
talk, I think it would tell me
to splash my sister.

This poem uses personification to show playfulness with a touch of ornery.

I would recommend using this poem when teaching poetry and haikus. It can also be used as an example of personification. I think students would enjoy it because it's short and silly. Haikus are typically about nature. I think it would be a fun idea to take students on a nature walk to observe and write down what they notice. Afterwards, they could create their own haikus, incorporating human characteristics and personification into elements of nature. If this is too advanced, students could create simple nature haikus or haikus on any topic, This would be a fun way to teach students to be mindful of syllables and learn how words work together.

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid. Amulet Books.

In his diary, Greg Heffley shares his awkward journey through middle school, navigating friendships and family drama. When he and his best friend Rowley have a falling out, Greg faces a tough choice to save their friendship.

This book brings humor to issues that real life middle schoolers often face. While some events are dramatized, middle schoolers themselves often see their world in a heightened way. In my opinion, there’s a delicate balance in how closely a children’s book should mirror reality. Realistic portrayals can help children relate to others' experiences or reflect on their own, while also showing them truths about the world. In books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the blend of reality and humor helps make these lessons enjoyable and easy to understand.

Haddix, M. P. (2000). Among the Hidden. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

In a world where the government forbids third children, Luke has spent his life in hiding. Can he and others like him find the courage to step out of the shadows?

The story "Among the Hidden" takes place in a dystopian future where the government enforces population control laws and imposes other restrictions on the working class. The majority of the story takes place at Luke's family home and farm, where he spends his life in hiding. This futuristic setting is important, as it reinforces the oppressive laws and surveillance that force Luke and other "shadow children" into secrecy. While this society contrasts with the freedoms we have today, the story serves as a reminder of how easily our society could slip into something similar in the future.

Osborne, M. P. (1993). The knight at dawn. Random House.

With their magical treehouse, Jack and his sister Annie travel back to a time of castles and knights, where they soon find themselves in a tricky predicament. To return to the treehouse, they’ll need quick wit, clever thinking, and a little help from a knight in shining armor.

The book "A Knight at Dawn" is a fantasy novel, featuring a time traveling treehouse and magical elements throughout the series. However, each book includes elements grounded in truth. In this particular story, an example would be when Annie uses her flashlight to trick the guards into thinking she possesses a magical wand, which fits the historical setting since flashlights hadn’t yet been invented. This also shows her cleverness. The reader is often learning about true facts mixed with the fantasy of time travel. Additionally, the relationship between Jack and Annie reflects realistic traits. Annie’s impulsiveness contrasts with Jack’s more rational, protective nature. These qualities make the characters relatable and lifelike.

Jones, C. F. (2016). Mistakes that worked: The world’s familiar inventions and how they came to be. Random House.

This book shares the fascinating stories behind everyday items and how many were invented, often by accident. The humorous illustrations highlight how mistakes can be embraced and transformed into opportunities for something special.

There were many things I did not know from this book. I did know, however, that Coca-Cola was first invented as a medicine, but I didn't realize how it changed into a soda. After reading this book, I want to learn about other inventions that have been accidentally created since the book has been published. While reading the book, I discovered that many things were made either accidentally or unintentionally. I think it's interesting that this typically occurred when people were doing their ordinary tasks, yet something changed, leading to the creation of something entirely new!

Talbott, H. (2021). A walk in the words. Nancy Paulsen Books.

This story is about a little boy for whom drawing comes naturally, but reading—not so much! Being a slow reader makes him feel different, but throughout the story, we see that taking your time and moving at your own pace can be a wonderful thing.

This book doesn't provide a lot of specific information on reading disabilities or dyslexia, but it emphasizes that everyone is unique and should read and learn at their own pace. By allowing ourselves to take our time and focus on making small improvements, without worrying about how others are doing, we can recognize the wonderful things we can achieve. The book fosters a positive attitude about learning differently or having a reading disability. One of my favorite parts is towards the end, where the illustrations show that, over time and with lots of practice, his drawings of horses improved. By using words, he was able to bring his illustrations to life. Another interesting page showed the "Slow Readers Hall of Fame," highlighting famous, brilliant people who were also slow readers. I love the message that being slow or different doesn’t mean being less capable or less intelligent. Everyone learns at their own pace, and learning shouldn’t be a race or comparison.

Stevens, J. (1995). Tops & bottoms. First edition. San Diego, Harcourt Brace.

After losing a bet with Tortoise, Hare loses his land. When his family begins to go hungry, he strikes a deal with lazy Bear. Bear allows Hare to plant crops on his land, on the condition that Hare does all the work and Bear gets to choose whether he wants the tops or bottoms of the harvest.

This story states on both the cover and title page that it is an adaptation, but it does not specifically cite the original source of the tale. In very small print, it mentions that the story is a trickster tale inspired by various European folktales and African-American folktales from the American South. Based on Hearne's source note ranking, I would rate this a 4. The information provided is vague and offers only general details about the cultural origins of the story. Overall, I find the source note to be not very informative. This is surprising because it is a Coldecott Honor Book. It was published in 1995, I wonder if it was published today if it would have a better source page.

Antony, S. (2017). Please, Mr. Panda. New York, Cartwheel Books.

2.  Mr. Panda appreciates good manners, but will he ever find anyone worthy of his donuts?

3.  The story "Please Mr. Panda" uses repetition, color words, and simple text. The pages are not overwhelming, and the font is clear and easy to read. I believe this book is highly effective for beginning readers. Beginning reader stories should aim to build the reader's confidence while also being entertaining and enticing enough to make the reader want to continue. This story does that by keeping the reader wondering who will be worthy of the donuts. Although Mr. Panda never says that he changes his mind due to a lack of manners, this provides excellent practice for the reader to infer and make connections based on their own understanding of politeness.

I want to add that three of my favorite series for beginning readers are Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie series, as well as The Adventures of Otto and The Adventures of Zip, both by David Milgrim. I love reading these books with my first graders at school and with my six year old, who is a struggling reader.

1. St George, J. (2000). So you want to be president? Philomel Books.

2. In this Caldecott award winning book, we take a look into the lives and characteristics of previous presidents. Instead of looking at the presidents in chronological order, we group and compare them in random, quirky ways that show their humanity.

3. This book, which won the 2001 Caldecott Medal for David Small's humorous and highly expressive illustrations, brilliantly combines art and storytelling to engage readers. While I loved the silly illustrations, what really kept me hooked were the interesting tidbits about various presidents and how they compared to one another. The story humanized these historically significant men, with the artwork adding a lighthearted tone to the facts. For example, did you know that there are six presidents named James, or that presidents had come in all shapes and sizes and that looks don't matter much?The book reveals that some presidents loved the job, while others hated it; some excelled in their role, while others struggled. The illustrations perfectly capture these contrasting personalities and make the historical facts both memorable and entertaining.

1. Ho, J., & Ho, D. (2021). Eyes that kiss in the corners. Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

2. Golden Kite Award, 2022, Charlotte Zolotow Award, 2021-2022, Golden Poppy Book Awards, 2021

3. A young girl of Asian descent notices that her eyes are different than others but are the same as some of her favorite people. We catch a glimpse into her life as she paints a picture of the beauty and heritage that they represent.

4. In my opinion, this is a beautifully written book that deserves many awards. While it has already been recognized for its illustrations and its incredible ability to act as both a mirror and a window for readers, I believe it should also be celebrated for promoting positive self-talk. This is a story about self-affirmation and finding beauty in everyday life and from the people you love. The meaningful way this story is written is powerful and builds emotion and appreciation for one's own unique qualities. It also allows children to see and find joy in something they may not have or understand. For this reason, I would highly recommend it to every child, regardless of their heritage.