Gingersnap
Written by Patricia Reilly Giff
2013
Jayna lives in a small town in New York during World War II. After growing up in foster homes after her parents were killed, her brother Rob is the only family that she has; and he has been called up for duty. After hearing that Rob is missing in action, Jayna travels alone to Brooklyn in search of Elise, who may be her only other relative, with just a small suitcase and her turtle. Jayna instantly feels as though she belongs in Brooklyn with Elise, although she is not who she once thought. Although she originally went looking for her grandmother, Jayna finds much more than that...she finds an entire family.
Admittedly, I did not initially think that I would enjoy reading this book. Books dealing with history generally do not hold my interest. I was pleasantly surprised however, when I read this in one sitting. Giff did an amazing job of painting a picture so clear that I felt as if I were right there with Jayna in 1945. The historical events and storyline were woven so well into the fictional storyline, that it was easy to get lost in. This would be a great read for middle school students, and even some upper elementary students. It made even me want to do some further reading on World War II in order to get a better idea of the timing of the events in relation to this story.
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Written by Ellen Levine and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
2007
This is the inspiring story of Henry "Box" Brown's life. He grew up a slave and eventually met and married Nancy, who was also a slave. Together they had three children, but they began to worry when Nancy's master lost a lot of money. The next day, Henry learned that his wife and children were sold at the slave market. He arrived in time to see his family disappearing down the road. Many weeks later, and with the help of his friend James and Dr. Smith, a plan for Henry's freedom was enacted. Dr. Smith and James shipped James in a wooden box to friends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On March 30, 1849, Henry made it to Philadelphia, with a new middle name..."Box."
Henry's story is a great way to teach students about slavery, the Underground Railroad, as well as perseverance and the importance of never giving up on what you truly want. Both the dialogue and illustrations help to enhance the story and give you the feeling that you are watching the events firsthand.
Mudball
Written by Matt Tavares
2005
Mudball tells the story of Minneapolis Miller, Little Andy Oyler, during one of the muddiest games of all time. The Millers were playing against the St. Paul Saints and Little Andy Oyler was at the plate...the shortest player in the whole league. He could not seem to get a hit. Oyler was beginning to doubt his abilities to be a productive part of the team, and was even contemplating quitting. As the game went on, it began to pour. Once again it was Little Andy Oyler's turn to bat. There was one out left in the game, and the Minneapolis Millers were down by three. As the pitcher threw the ball, it slipped as it left his hand. The crowd heard the unmistakeable sound of the ball hitting the bat. What happened next would amaze and astound players, coaches, umpires, and fans alike. The game went down in history, and the events of the game seemed to be all that was needed to break Little Andy Oyler out of his slump.
Mudball is a suspenseful page turner that is sure to keep the attention of young sports fans. It's the story of the underdog who is beginning to doubt his abilities...something that many students deal with at some point in their lives, whether it's in sports or academics. I had never heard of Little Andy Oyler before reading this book, but it has led me to do further research on the history of baseball in America, and I have no doubt that it will do the same for many young children and adolescents.
Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad
Written by Henry Cole
2012
This
wordless story tells of a young girl that discovers a runaway slave
hiding on her family's property. She begins to sneak food to take to the
runaway, who has taken up residence in the family's barn. When the
family learns of a reward being offered for an escaped slave, the girl struggles with what to do...should she do what is expected by her family, or should she instead follow her heart.
Each time that I looked at the pages, I discovered new details hidden in the illustrations that helped to further deepen my understanding of the story. The graphite illustrations hold so much detail, that there is no need for words to tell the story. This book would be a great way to discuss the Underground Railroad with younger students, but it could also ignite some deeper conversations and understanding by older students and even young adults.
Rose's Journal: The Story of a Girl in the Great Depression
Written by Marissa Moss
2001
Written in the format of a young girl's journal, we learn about Rose's life in Dust Bowl Kansas during the Great Depression. We read of the day to day events of Rose and her family, and the struggles and hardships that they endure in order to make ends meet. The descriptive entries are further enhanced by the drawings, as well as the photographs, letters, postcards, and comics that look as if they've been taped into the journal.
I absolutely loved this book! The story itself was interesting, but even better is the format in which it was written. The look of the pages helps to draw in young readers because of the handwritten look of the text, as well as the bright colors and variety of illustrations. The text type was even hand-lettered by Marissa Moss. The language of the entries clearly appears to be that of a young girl, which helps to make the story that much more relatable to young readers. As I read the book, I could almost hear the words in Rose's voice.
I Scream Ice Cream
A Book of Wordles
Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrated by Serge Bloch
2013
This book is packed full of silly sentences and phrases that have nothing to do with each other, except that they sound the same. The creative illustrations pair very well with each of the "wordles" and certainly add to the entertainment.
I would use this book in my classroom to talk about different words that sound the same. We had a great time as adults trying to figure out how each phrase to be transformed into something new, and I have no doubt that my students would enjoy it as well!
September 12th
We Knew Everything Would Be All Right
Written and Illustrated by first-grade students of H. Byron Masterson Elementary in Kennett, Missouri
2002
Instead of focusing on the tragic events that occurred on 9/11, this book talks about what happened the day after September 11, 2001 from the point of view of first grade students. The students write about all of the positive things that happened on September 12th, and that will continue to happen in the days that follow.
This book would be a great way to introduce and discuss some of the events of 9/11 with younger students. It doesn't dwell on the awful events of that day, but rather talks about all of the positive things that happened afterwards, and how Americans came together to unite. Since the book was both written and illustrated by first grade students, it could be extremely motivating to students by showing them that their work is important. I will definitely be using this book with my students next fall.
I Need My Monster
Written by Amanda Noll and Illustrated by Howard McWilliam
2009
One night, a boy looks under his bed for his monster, only to discover a note that says he's gone fishing for a week. The boy knows that Gabe is his perfect monster, but tries to find a substitute anyway. We meet Herbert, Ralph, Cynthia, and Mack, but they all determine that the boy is way too picky! The boy had all but given up home when he hears some familiar creaking and scratching coming from underneath his bed.
I absolutely loved this book! Monsters under the bed is definitely something that most kids can relate to. While reading it to myself I could hear all of the different monster voices in my head. This would be a great book to use with a writing lesson on adjectives because of all of the great descriptions. The illustrations are great, and leave just enough up to the imagination.
Clementine (Novel Series)
Written by Sara Pennypacker and Illustrated by Marla Frazee, 2006
Clementine is a somewhat quirky third grader who is definitely NOT having the best week! It all starts when she gets sent to the principal's office after trying to help her friend Margaret. Each day seems worse than the one before, with more visits to Principal Rice, Margaret not speaking to her, her mother being mad at her, and gross eggs. This book takes us through Clemetine's disastrous week and shows us that things really can get better.
This would be a good first chapter book for young students. The illustrations help to make it a good transition from picture books. Since Clementine is portrayed as a somewhat typical third grader, it helps to make her relatable to students of the same age group. This story would be very useful when discussing a character's response to different events and challenges, as well as when teaching the overall structure of a story.
