Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine

Hardcover, 40 pages

Published January 1st 2007 by Scholastic Press 

 

A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom.

 

This amazing picture book tells the amazing story of Henry Brown and his quest for freedom. This story, along with so many others, are the ones that show true American spirit. While telling the story, readers are treated to the amazing artwork of Kadir Nelson (AMAZING) which add utter magic to the story. This book is a fantastic read and one that can be used for a multitude of reasons. 

 

 

 

 

Lesson Ideas and more: 

- Teachers can use this book a Read Aloud to add to curriculum when teaching about this time period in American History. 

 

- Check out this great lesson from Melissa at Got to Teach! that uses Henry's Freedom Box to review plot elements. 

 

- This book is also a great piece for teaching the Notice and Note signposts or reviewing the signposts in context.  

The Little Snowplow by Lora Koehler, Jake Parker (Illustrations)

Hardcover, 32 pages
Published: October 2015

Big trucks may brag and roar, but small and steadfast wins the day in this cheerful story with timeless appeal.

On the Mighty Mountain Road Crew, the trucks come in one size: BIG. That is, until the little snowplow joins the crew. None of the other trucks think that the little snowplow can handle the big storms, but he knows that he can do it—and just to be sure, he trains hard, pushing loads of gravel, pulling blocks of concrete, and doing plow lifts to get ready. But when a blizzard arrives, will the little snowplow’s training be enough to clear the streets and handle unexpected trouble? Taking its place beside classics such as The Little Engine That Could and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, this tale of a plucky little plow will find a clear path to readers’ hearts.

This adorable book reminds us not to judge a book (or in this case, a snowplow) by its cover. While the other big trucks mock him, the little snowplow doesn't let that deter him as he prepares for what he knows he is capable of! The illustrations in this book along with the story itself are definitely catching. The story itself is one that we all need to remember- don't judge and in the same sense, don't give up on your dreams!

Super cute book with a heart-warming message!


Mentor Text Suggestion:
This book would be ideal to use to teach or review the Notice and Note signpost Again and Again. 

Counting Lions: Portraits from the Wild by Katie Cotton, Stephen Walton (Illustrations)

Hardcover, 40 pages
Published: October 2015

Exquisite charcoal drawings of ten endangered creatures—lions, elephants, giraffes, pandas, tigers, chimpanzees, penguins, turtles, macaws, and zebras—startle the viewer with their size and astonishing detail. A poetic text notes each creature’s particular qualities and behavior, while providing a quiet counting exercise and a reminder that these animals must be cherished and protected.

This exquisite book takes readers from one lion all the way to ten macaws all the while enchanting us with the art work, poetry, and knowledge. The book is HUGE (it is considered an "oversized" book) and allows the reader to really experience the art along with the beautiful words on the page.

Another of the amazing parts of this book are the last few pages which give the reader more information about each of the species being counted and their danger of possible extinction. Both of my children poured over this book (we laid it out on the floor and truly experienced it) and it prompted them to go look for the animals and research more about each one. That alone thrilled my nerdy heart!

This book is a fantastic addition to a home or classroom library!



Ideas for the Classroom:

This book is ideal for the Science classroom when talking about endangered species and habitats. Students will be able to get a glimpse into the life of the species through the pages and gain additional information through the final pages. After this introduction, teachers could break the class into pairs or small groups and have each one research further the species they are assigned. Using technology such as Google Earth to locate the animal could also be a lot of fun! Check out this amazing pack on TeachersPayTeachers from Meridian which has an Endangered Species activity using Google Earth already created (along with some other cool ones).

Students could also research an endangered species not featured in the book (the teacher may want to come up with a suggested list) and have your class create their own book using Counting Lions as a model. Have the students complete their research, write their poems, create their own art, and compile them all into a class book. If you can, give each child in the class a copy of the book. Staples and Office Depot both bind books if your school doesn't have a binding machine. Partnering with the art teacher would also be fantastic with this project so that they can analyze the book from an art standpoint and help the student with their art. Cross-curricular collaboration is a fantastic way to show your students the importance of all classes and to support each other!

Happy reading!

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

Hardcover, 40 pages
Published January 2013

One day when Nelson Mandela was nine years old, his father died and he was sent from his village to a school far away from home, to another part of South Africa. In Johannesburg, Mandela saw fellow Africans who were poor and powerless. He decided then that he would work to protect them. When the government began to keep people apart based on the color of their skin, Mandela spoke out against the law and vowed to fight hard in order to make his country a place that belonged to all South Africans.

Kadir Nelson tells the story of Mandela, a global icon, in poignant verse and glorious illustrations. It is the story of a young boy's determination to change South Africa and of the struggles of a man who eventually became the president of his country by believing in equality for people of all colors. Readers will be inspired by Mandela's triumph and his lifelong quest to create a more just world.

Kadir Nelson has a way of not only empowering us with his words but leaving us in awe of his artwork. This is one of my favorite books not only because it is about one of my heroes, but also because the artwork is worthy of hanging on my walls. As with all of his books, I find myself staring at the art long after I have finished reading the words on the pages.

With the issues that our country is facing today, Nelson Mandela's story is a way for the door of conversation to be opened. Not only is this book written to tell us the story of Mandela's life, but also what he stood for and fought for. The last two pages give us more detailed information about Mandela's life, his marriage to Winnie, life in prison, and his life after (including his presidency).

I have to brag a little because I was able to meet Kadir this past November at the NCTE Convention in Minneapolis and had his sign my book! He is a quiet force to be reckoned with. I did not feel worthy.   

This book is a must read for all ages!


Ideas for the classroom: 

When teaching the Civil Rights Movement, use Nelson Mandela as a read aloud to compare and contrast what was going on in South Africa and in the American South. Have the students discuss and create a Vin Diagram in small groups. Meet together with a class and expand your Vin Diagram to include recent events of racial discrimination that have occurred in present day America. Present articles for students to complete close reads with to research these events. Newsela.com is a great resource for articles which also allows to you level the articles for your students (hello differentiation!). 

Students could then write a research paper, paragraph, or blurb comparing and contrasting each of these. You could also assign certain students to compare/contrast specific events. You know your students, so adjust your lesson accordingly!

Happy Birthday America! by Mary Pope Osborne

Paperback, 32 pages

Published June 1st 2005 by Roaring Brook Press

Mary Pope Osborne celebrates July 4th, the most American of holidays, with a warm family story. Three generations enjoy parades, popcorn, "Yankee Doodle," and at the end of the day, lightning bugs and fireworks. "Then I blow out the stars, as if they were candles on a giant birthday cake"--a glorious image in Peter Catalanotto's glowing and buoyant watercolors.

This is one of my favorite picture books that shows how one family celebrates the holiday which celebrates our country and our freedom. July 4th is always one of my favorite times to reflect on what amazing things we have been given thanks to all of those who have fought for our freedoms. This great book allows us to reflect on how we spend the holiday. 

Don't forget to thank all of those who served so that we can celebrate this day!! 

 

Jaxon's Picks- Week 1

One of our favorite things to do during the summer is to visit the library. My four year old son, Jaxon loves to read and begged that he get to have some fun with the blog this summer. So, of course, I agreed! Here are his first weeks picks and his reviews. 

FUNdamental Experiments: Motion

 by Ellen Lawrence

This was about how cars go and I love cars so it was great.

Following Papa's Song
 by Gianna Marino

We are going on a cruise and we might see whales. You should listen to your parents.

Truck Stuck

by Sallie Wolf

I liked this book. It was about a truck that got stuck under a bridge and nobody could get it out. It was funny.

Dinosaur Thunder
 by Marion Dane Bauer

I really liked this book. I don't like storms that much, but now I know that it is just a dinosaur playing.

The Wildest Brother

 by Cornelia Funke

This book was one of my favorite book. It was funny!

Bluebird by Bob Staake

Hardcover, 40 pages

Published April 9th 2013 by Schwartz & Wade 

 

In his most beautiful and moving work to date, Bob Staake explores the universal themes of loneliness, bullying, and the importance of friendship. In this emotional picture book, readers will be captivated as they follow the journey of a bluebird as he develops a friendship with a young boy and ultimately risks his life to save the boy from harm. Both simple and evocative, this timeless and profound story will resonate with readers young and old.

Bob Staake has been working on this book for 10 years, and he believes it is the story he was born to write.

This book is one of the ones that I hadn't read from the list of 2013 Nerdy Book Clubs winner list, so I was excited to find it at the library. There are no words to describe this book... literally, there are no words in it at all. The story is all in the pictures. It is utterly beautiful (and so well deserving of the award!). Telling the most beautiful story in the simplest way, I couldn't help but pull my kids over (and maybe some others... I cannot confirm or deny this though) and we read it and talked about it. It was the greatest conversation with a few kids aged eight and under. Fantastic book!!

Teaching Ideas: 

This is a fantastic book to teach the concept of reading pictures. It lends itself to being a prime mentor text for this with the beautiful story told throughout the novel with only pictures. You can't really call this a "Read Aloud" since there are no words, but it would make a great book to look at and analyze. This one will definitely be used with my middle schoolers because after the picture analysis, the discussions that will be had will be amazing! 

Happy reading!

Night of the Moon by Hena Khan

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published September 1st 2008 by Chronicle Books

Yasmeen, a seven-year-old Pakistani-American girl, celebrates the Muslim holidays of Ramadan, "The Night of the Moon" (Chaand Raat), and Eid. With lush illustrations that evoke Islamic art, this beautiful story offers a window into modern Muslim culture—and into the ancient roots from within its traditions have grown.

This book was beautifully written and illustrated. Over the past year, I have read more and more about the Muslim community. It is utterly fascinating. This beautiful story does just what the review says... opens a window into modern Muslim culture while weaving in the traditional roots. My daughter enjoyed learning about Ramadan from Yasmeen (my daughter is 8, so it was completely relate-able to her). Simply beautiful! 



Teaching Ideas:
This is a great text to pair in a Social Studies class when you are discussing modern cultures. It could also be paired when discussing the events of September 11 while discussing the differences in the Taliban and the Muslim community (which many assume are related). This text would also be a good read aloud for younger students when discussing different holidays or cultures as well.

Here are links to some of the other books that I have read about the Muslim community and the Middle East:

The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman's Journey to Love and Islam by G. Willow Wilson

Words in the Dusty by Trent Reedy

Torn by David Massey

Happy reading!

Ish by Peter H Reynolds

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published August 19th 2004 by Candlewick Press 

 

A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right" in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book THE DOT.

Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere.

Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right." Combining the spareness of fable with the potency of parable, Peter Reynolds shines a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care.

 

 

When I took the kids to the library the other day, apparently the books I went after had the same thing... remember The Blue Ribbon Day?  "Ish" is a fantastic book that shows how we take in what others say and how it can impact our success or failure at whatever it is we are doing. Ramon thinks that he will never do anything since he can't draw, until his little sister sheds light on what he believes are his failures.

Teaching Ideas:

Another great read aloud for all ages. With the younger students this could be used to discuss the language that you use with others, how you talk to your friends, and the impact of your words even if they are in jest. You could do the same with the older students as well. You could also incorporate role playing so that the students can see harmful words in action along with the resolutions or even the "what should have happened" in the situation. 

Happy reading!

The Blue Ribbon Day by Katie Couric

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published October 19th 2004 by Doubleday 

Everybody’s a star, a brilliant creation.
The trouble is finding the right constellation!

Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O’Toole, the winning pair of friends from The Brand New Kid, are back in a new adventure. Ellie and Carrie decide to try out for the school team in their favorite sport, soccer. But when only one of the girls is selected, the inseparable pair faces a challenge (what do you say when your best friend is terribly disappointed?).

But while some disappointments can’t be avoided, Carrie learns (with some help from her mother and her old friend Lazlo) that while she may not be good at everything, she has undiscovered talents waiting to bloom, if she has the courage to try something new.

For every reader who has ever set his or her heart on joining a sports team, getting a part in the school play, or winning a class election, and been let down, Katie Couric’s reassuring and inspiring story gives a charming lesson in confidence.

As a parent, it is hard for me to watch my children struggle with anything, but I know that I have to let them fail sometimes no matter how hard it is (for both of us). This book is great for teaching us all that though we may be disappointed at what we view as failures, we learn that it is those things that allow us the opportunities to find what we are good at!

Teaching Ideas:

This is a fantastic read aloud for any age group. With younger children, you can use it at face value and discuss why it is important to keep trying. Middle and high school students can bring in more personal reflections, research people or companies who didn't succeed but kept trying, or even interview someone older than them about the things they learned from the things they weren't able to accomplish. The possibilities are endless!! 

Happy reading!  

Friday's Finds at the Library

I have made it a point this summer to take the kids to the library. I am not sure why I haven't in the past. Maybe it was because Jaxon was under two and the thought of a toddler in the library was a bit more than I can handle (remember.... I teach middle school, not the little ones). But this year, we have been all over it!  


I knew I had created monsters when I took them for the first time. There was no doubt. The sweet old lady at the counter told us that we could check out 20 books at a time and Jaxon promptly looked up at me and said, "I'm sorry but 20 just isn't enough!!!" (He is 3.) I was so proud and the the little old lady snorted (I gave him a high five for making the old lady snort!). 


So on Friday's I will feature what we have checked out for the week and give a little blurb about each. By the way... I did tell the kids that I get at least 4 of those check outs so I will have some others to review too! Here is what we are reading this week...

 Bright and Early Thursday Evening by Audrey Wood

This book was (in a word) ... interesting. The kids loved it and thought it was hilarious. It was highly imaginative, but I am still trying to figure out what the heck happened! :)

How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

My son loves dinosaurs so when he saw these, we had to have them. Along with the cute story of what dino's do and don't do at Christmas, we also had a lot of fun attempting to say the scientific names of all of the dinos!

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Another dino book! This one brought about lots of discussion of what Chanukah is and surprisingly my 7 year old was able to answer. She learned about it in Montessori! Such a smartie pants!!








How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Dinosaurs are not unlike little children I have learned... and are seemingly much better patients! This one (as with the others) brought about lots of laughs and even some comparisons of them as the sickly ones!

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

Such a classic. This was a Jaxon pick and come to find out they had read it at school, so he "read" it to us! It was the greatest and cutest thing ever!

Solo by Paul Geraghty

We are penguin lovers, so this one jumped right into our basket! Solo is born and when her Papa penguin doesn't return from finding food, Mama has to go out to find it. There was a lot to learn along with this heartwarming story which led us to looking up more about penguins after we finished it!

No Haircut Today! by Elivia Savadier

This book had us all laughing. The tantrum Dominic throws and the mom's reaction are spot on! We loved the drawings too. Kylie is even trying to copy them now. Such a little artist!

Hans My Hedgehog: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm by Katie Coombs (retelling)

Hans is half boy, half hedgehog and when you mix in a little bit of fairy tale (including the kings and the issues that come with them) hilarity is sure to unfold! We had fun making predictions as to what was going to happen next with this one and the kids got a big kick (rolling on the floor laughing... literally) when all was revealed! Loved it!

Grumpy Goat by Brett Helquist

Grumpy Goat is, well, GRUMPY! He has a change of heart though and learns that he has friends even when he doesn't necessarily deserve them. This book lead to a great discussion on how to treat others no matter how they treat us!

A Wild Father's Day by Sean Callahan

When these kids give their dad a card, he takes the writing seriously and takes them on a super fun day full of WILDNESS!! This book is full of fun and laughter and leaves you wondering what would happen if you took words seriously inside a card!

Jag by LeAnn Rimes

This book is all about conquering your fears. Sometimes we are scared to do something and it hinders us from seeing the big picture and then, hopefully, we learn from that fear and find the good that comes from conquering it. Jag helps us see that sometimes we aren't alone in that fear and we have someone there who will help us... in the most unlikely place!




We are off to the library today for more so I will let you know what other gems we find next week!!

Happy reading!