Final Blog: LSSL 5360 · How they Croaked is a book that includes the unusual deaths of important...

Final Blog: LSSL 5360 Sandra Lumbreras

Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler Youth. NY: Scholastic.

Hitler Youth is a great book to talk to our kids about. It is about a youth

movement that followed Hitler’s principles of ruling. Hitler used

advertisement and incentives to incorporate young teenagers to his cause.

School teachers were force to taught Hitler’s way of thinking to students in

order to keep their jobs. Many members of Hitler Youth fought during the

war and helped persecute many Jews.

Hitler ruling started during the 1920’s and 1930’s a period of desperation and

hunger. People needed a ruler to save the country's economy from the

poverty they were in.

Image retrieved from amazon.com

Bishop, N. (2007). Spiders. NY: Scholastic. (or any Nic Bishop

book on animals, etc. )

Spiders is an informational book that defines the different body parts

of the spider and what it is used for. It includes beautiful pictures of

each spider with an important fact that characterizes that insect.

Students are exposed to different vocabulary words that are defined

on the book.


Bragg, G. (2011). How they croaked: The awful ends of

the awfully famous. NY: Walker

How they Croaked is a book that includes the unusual deaths of

important historical figures such as: Cleopatra, Pocahontas,

Elizabeth I, Christopher Columbus, Julius Cesar, and many others. It

provides readers with informational facts about their life and how

they ended dying.

How they Croaked is an interesting book to read and share to others.


Brown,P. (2014). My teacher is a monster. NY: Little, Brown

Books

The book is about a little boy named Bobby and his teacher Ms. Kirby.

In Bobby’s eyes Ms. Kirby is a mean monster. She is always yelling

and getting after him for throwing paper airplanes in the classroom.

In the course of the story, Bobby sees Ms. Kirby sitting on the park.

He approaches her and spends a good time together with her in the

park.

My teacher is a monster is a humorous book that students will have

fun reading and would relate to. Things are not always as they

seem.


Cleary, B. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. NY: Morrow.

Leigh Botts is a little boy that suffered the separation of his parents.

He was able to over come the pain and conflict he had towards his

dad by writing in his journal to his favorite author: Mr. Henshaw. At

the beginning it starts with Leigh being in 2nd grade and writing a

letter to his favorite author. To his amazement the author responded

back. Leigh bonded with Mr. Henshaw and continue writing to him.

As the years passed by he learned to write his feelings and in a way

forgive his dad for leaving them.


Collins, S. (2004). Gregor the overlander. NY:

Scholastic.

Gregor is a boy that lived in New York City. He had to take care of his

2 year old sister, Boots, and his grandma after the disappearance of

his dad. One hot day his mom left him alone with his youngest sister

and his grandma. During laundry, Boots and Gregor fell to the

underground where he meets new friends and a completely new

world. Gregor becomes the undergrounds savior and in his journey

finds his dad and saves him from the rats.


Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. New York: HarperCollins.

Jack is an elementary boy that starts writing poetry with the help of

his teacher. He realizes that he actually enjoys writing. Jack writes

about an incident that happen to his dog and puts it in writing.

“Love that dog” is a great book to use with our children to encourage

them to write and read poetry.


Curtis, C. P. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham,

1963. NY: Delacorte.

“The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963” is a humorous book that talks

about racism and segregation through the eyes of Kenny a nine year

old boy. Kenny has a brother named Byron. Byron calls himself a

teenage delinquent. Their parents decide to make a trip to

Birmingham to leave Byron with his grandma in hope to straighten

him up. In their journey, both Kenny and Byron can see the hate and

segregation towards black people.

Deedy, C. A. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach.

Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

Martina the cockroach is at the age of getting married. In her search

for the right groom, Martina’s grandma gives her some advice. To

spill a cup of coffee to her admirers to find the right husband. At

the end Martina finds her true match when she realizes he also has

the same cultural customs as her.


dePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet. NY: Putnam.

The story starts with a tribe in the need of rain. They asked the

Great Spirits for help. The Great Spirits informed them that in order

to be rain they needed to give away something precious to them. A

young girl gives her most valuable possession to the Great Spirits. A

doll, the only possession she had left of her death family. This is how

the bluebonnets came to be born according to the legend.


Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. NY: Atheneum.

Melody is an eleven year old that cannot speak, write and walk. She can

remember every single detail she sees and is smarter than her classmates.

Melody is a strong little girl that demonstrates to her parents, teachers and

fellow classmates that she is capable of learning and doing what they do just

in a different way.

It is an amazing book to read that will change the way we see people that

have some kind of disability.


Falconer, I. (2000). Olivia. NY: Atheneum

Olivia is an energetic little pig with a great imagination. She is so full of

energy that she tires her mom out. Olivia likes to jump, run, paint, and sing

out loud. The pig enjoys changing into different outfits and is over prepared

to go to the beach.

I love to read this book to my daughter. She is as energetic as Olivia the pig

with a great imagination .


Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. NY: HarperCollins.

Nobody, Bod, Owens was found and saved from being killed by ghosts and

raised in the Graveyard. Bod was raised and lived in the graveyard since he

was a baby until he became a teenager. Bod learned to appreciate life and

not to take it from granted when he was old enough to leave.

It is a book filled with mystery and adventure for readers to enjoy.


Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. NY: Holt.

Rosa Parks story starts with her daily routine at home and her job as a

seamstress. One Thursday, she leaves early from work and decides to ride the

bus. Rosa sat in the neutral part of the bus (either black or white could seat

there). She was told by the bus driver to move. Rosa refused to give her seat

and was arrested. Her courage contributed to part of black change in history.


Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel’s revenge. NY: Bloomsbury.

This story gives it a twist to the fairy tale we are used to hearing. Rapunzel

is a brave young lady that frees herself from the castle she was in. She uses

her long braid hair to fight against injustice with his partner Jack. Rapunzel

is in a journey to find her mom and seeks revenge towards whom she taught

was her mother.


Harris, R. (1999). It’s so amazing. Boston,

MA: Candlewick Press.

A great book to have to inform our children about their young curiosity

concerning pregnancy, sexual intercourse and the human body. The book has

a table of contents that allows parents and readers to select a section of

interest to speak or read about.

“It’s so amazing” is an excellent informational source to have handy.

Image retrieved from barnesandnoble.com

Holm, J. (2014). Comics Squad: Recess! NY: Random House Books

This graphic novel provides different comics with different sense of humors

that make it an enjoyable comic to read. Secret Ninja clubs!, Pizza Monsters!

and talking desserts! All cover a common theme: Recess!

“Comics Squad” is such a hilarious book to have if you want to have a good

time and some laughter.


Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Boston, MA: Candlewick.

“This is not my hat” is about a small fish stealing Big fish’s small

hat. The small fish keeps justifying his reason for taking it away

and at the end thinks he got away with it. But to his dismay, he

didn’t. Big fish found out and was able to trace his steps back.


Landy, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant NY: HarperCollins.

After Stephanie’s favorite uncle death’s. She meets Skulduggery whom she

finds out knew her uncle. Skulduggery becomes Stephanie’s protector and

mentor. Stephanie gets to meet a new world she wasn’t aware off.

Skulduggery presents her to characters like Ghastly Bespoke, a boxer, and

China Sorrows. Stephanie works together with Skulduggery to find out the

mystery of her uncle’s sudden death where she begins a journey of adventure

and danger.


Lord, C. (2008). Rules. NY: Scholastic.

Catherine is a 12 year old girl that has a brother, David, whom has autism.

She spends most of her time trying to teach her younger brother how to

follow a list of Rules she created for him. In her quest to find some sense to

her life, she meets Kristi her next door neighbor whom she tries hard to

impress. Furthermore, in her brothers therapy sessions Catherine meets

Jason. A teenage boy in a wheel chair that is physically deformed. Catherine

has to make a decision whose friendship is more important to her: Kristi or

Jason.


McDonnell, P. (2011). Me…Jane. NY: Little, Brown Books

Jane is a little girl that along with her chimpanzee stuffed animal Jubilee

loved to observed nature. She learned about birds building nests and spiders

spinning their webs. Jane will read about all the animals she studied on her

backyard. She had a great curiosity to find out everything about animals.

Along with her companion Jubilee, Jane will climb her favorite tree and

dream about living in Africa. A dream come true when she grows up.


Munsch, R. (1992). Paperbag Princess. Canada: Annick Press

Elizabeth was a princess that lived in a castle. She was going to marry her

enchanted prince, but was attacked by an evil dragon that burned her castle

down and the clothes she was wearing. Elizabeth decided to save her prince

and tricked the dragon into playing her game. At the end she tries to save

her prince, to find out he wasn’t whom she expected. Elizabeth decides not

to marry him.


Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship NY: Hyperion

We are the ship is a great book to read about Negro League Baseball. It

informs readers about the players passion to play ball. How they faced

racism, underpay, and other hardships just to be able to play professionally.

Negro Baseball made it through out history and open the door to Negro

players playing professionally among white players.

Ottaviani, J. , & Wicks, M. (2013). Primates: The fearless science of

Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas. First Second.

Primates is an informational book about three famous primatologists: Jane

Goodall, Dian Fossey and Galdikas. All three researchers students of Louis

Leakey. In this book we are able to see the work of each researcher in

action. The vivid pictures make it a fun book to read and inform of ourselves

of the beauty of Primatology.


Pastis, Stephan. (2013) Timmy Failure. Somerville, Mass. : Candlewick.

Timmy is a little boy that lives with his single mom Segway. Timmy has an

imaginary friend a large polar bear whom he calls Total. Together with his

friend he created a CEO detective agency to help his mom pay the bills.

Timmy’s mission always ends up in a failure. A comical novel to read and

laugh.


Paterson, K. (1972). Bridge to Terabithia. NY: Crown.

Jesse is a 10 year old boy that wakes up early every morning to run to be able to win his school race.

One day he meets Leslie Burke, his neighbor from across her house that just arrived from the city.

Together Jesse and Leslie build their own magical place: Bridge to Terabithia. A place where he is the

King and Leslie the Queen. A tragical event happens were Leslie hits her head and drowns. Jesse has to

overcome the death of his best friend and move on.


Schlitz, L. A. (2007). Good masters, sweet ladies Boston,

MA: Candlewick Press.

“Good masters, sweet ladies” is a book that informs us of the inner voices of the villagers that lived

during the medieval times. It tells the story of each villager life along with a short explanation of the

vocabulary used in the book.

Each story is written in poetry style. I really enjoyed finding out the way they lived and felt during that

time.

Selznick, B. (2011). Wonderstruck. New York: Scholastic.

Ben’s mom died and now he has to live with his aunt and uncle. Ben is deaf

from one ear. He constantly has dreams of wolves. One day he finds a letter

written to his mom from his dad. As Ben goes for the search of his dad, there

is a flash back of a mute little girl in search for her mom. Both Ben and Rose

are in search to find the love of their parent. At the end, they found each

other grandma and grandson. A beautiful book to see and read.


Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. NY: HarperCollins.

Max wears a wild costume and does all kinds of mischiefs and calls

himself the wild thing. His mom gets after him and sends him to his

room. Max travels in a boat to a far away island where the wild things

are. He becomes their king, he roars and stumps and when he is tired

decides to go back to his home. When he gets there his mom left him

a plate of warm food in his room.


Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, Mirror. NY: Dutton.

Mirror, mirror is a book full of poetry of the best known classical stories we

know: Goldilocks, Snow White, Red Riding Hood and many more. What makes

it a wonderful book to read is that you can read the poem up and down.

Giving it a different meaning when you read it backwards.


Smith, L. (2011). It’s a book. NY: Roaring Brook

Donkey is sitting down using his laptop and monkey is reading his book.

Donkey starts asking all types of questions dealing with technology (laptop).

He asks monkey if what he is reading needs a password, can you twit with it,

does it need Wi-Fi. Monkey says no, it’s a book. Donkey takes away the book

and starts reading it for a long period of time. Donkey ends up enjoying

reading the book.


Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of

the puppeteer of Macy's parade. NY: Houghton

The book talks about Tony Sarg childhood. He enjoyed making marionettes

since he was six years old. As he grew up, Tony decided to move to New York

City where he got hired by R.H. Macys Department Story. The owner of the

store asked him to design a puppet parade. On Thanksgiving Day, Tony will

always design the best parade ever. His last parade consisted of Huge

Balloons that could be moved as marionettes.


Urban, Linda. (2007). A Crooked Kind of Perfect. Orlando: Harcourt.

Zoe is a ten year old girl that loves piano music and dreams to go to

Carnegie Hall; a music school. Her dreams start to crumble when her dad

buys her an organ instead of a piano. Zoe’s mom is always working and her

dad is afraid to leave home. At school she befriends a boy called wheeler,

whom is always at her house. Towards the end of the story Zoe learns to use

the organ and enters the Perform-O-Rama. She learns to value what she has:

A crooked kind of perfect.


Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. NY: Clarion.

“The three pigs” is based on the classical story of the three little pigs. It starts with the the wolf

blowing and puffing the straw house away and eating the little pig. But guess what, the first pig blows

out of the story and decides to save his two other pig brothers by taking them with him. The three pigs

fly away in a paper airplane that was part of the story book into a different story: Diddle , the cat and

the fiddle. The cat followed the three pigs, the dragon from a different story does too. At the end the

three pigs, the cat and the dragon lived happily ever in the brick house.


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