Coraline by Neil Gaiman (2002)

This book is about Coraline. She has moved into a new house that has a mysterious door that leads to no where. Her parents are very busy and Coraline gets extremely bored on her own. One day, the mysterious door opens and it leads to a life that is much better than her own. As she spends time there, she begins to find out that something strange is going on and that the new parents want to permanently change her. She fights back to save herself and the other children that are trapped there.

I really enjoyed this book. I had seen this movie and thought it was okay, so I was looking forward to reading this book. I liked the book much better than the movie. I thought it was written very well and I really liked the illustrations at the beginning of every chapter. Having the image before the chapter made it fun to try to predict what would happen next.

I would use this book in my classroom. I think it would be good to use as a free read book. I also think it would be a good book to read out loud. When reading out loud, students could look at the pictures given at the beginning of each chapter to predict what would happen next. I would also use this book to compare it to the movie so students could compare and contrast.

What's Special About Me, Mama? by Kristina Evans (2011)

This book is about a little boy that wonders about what makes him unique. He asks his Mama to tell him what makes him special and hears about all of the things that he shares with his family member and things that are unique to himself.

I thought this book was okay. I really like the concept of the book and how it names many things that make this boy special. I especially liked the mixed media used for the illustrations.

I could see myself using this book in my future classroom. I think it would be fun to read to the whole class and have everyone name off things that make them special.

Harry and Hopper by Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood (2009)

This book is about Harry and his dog Hopper. Harry and Hopper do everything together. One day, Harry comes home to find out that there was an accident and Hopper was dead. For the next few nights, Harry dreams of Hopper, but his memories begin to fade until he finally feels it is time to say goodbye.

I think this is my favorite picture book that I have read during this class. I am a huge animal lover, so I can easily relate to the love that Harry has for Hopper. Through the text, you really feel the emotions that Harry feels (and I'll admit it, I teared up a little bit.) The illustrations also brought the text to life. As Harry's memories of Hopper start to fade, you see the image of Hopper fade as well. I plan on reading this book again in the future.

I think this would be a great book to have in the classroom. Many students deal with the loss of a pet, and sometimes it is hard to console them. I think this would be a great book to read to a student individually if you know that an important pet has passed away. That way you can talk to them about their feelings and give them a character they can easily identify with.

One More Acorn by Don Freeman and Roy Freeman (2010)

This book is about a squirrel finding his acorns after the winter. He lives in Washington D.C. so it is always full of people. One day while he is searching, he runs into a parade and has to be creative with finding a way home.

I thought this book was okay. The text wasn't anything exciting to me, but I thought the illustrations were great. I just went to Washington D.C. over spring break, so it was fun to pick out the monuments that were shown in the book. The illustrations also complimented the text very nicely.

If I were to use this book in my classroom, it would be for a read out loud book. I think it would be good to use this book for a social studies class because then you could talk about Washington D.C. and the students could identify the monuments within the book.

Mudkin by Stephen Gammell (2011)

This is a wordless book about a girl and her imagination. After the rain, she meets Mudkin and goes off on a magical adventure to create her own kingdom.

I absolutely loved the images in this book! They were very creative and told the story without needing any words. The text that was included in the book was scattered through out and didn't make much sense to me. I think this book would have been better if there were no words in this book.

I'm not sure if I would use this book in my classroom. I think it would be a good book to have available for students to read on their own. I really enjoy the illustrations and think it could be fun to use this book to develop an art project to create an imaginary place.

The Talent Show by Jo Hodgkinson (2010)

This book is about four friends wanting to enter a talent show. As they begin to practice, they realize they are missing a lead singer. The put out an ad to have auditions. The first one to come audition is a bird and the band laughs, saying he is too small. He comes back later in a disguise and the band thinks he would be a perfect fit. When they find out he is a bird, they realize they shouldn't have judged based on size.

I enjoyed this book. The text was a lot of fun and rhymed. It was also written in a unique way to help it flow through the pages. The illustrations were very colorful. I really liked the layout of the book and how some pages had multiple images.

I would love to use this book in my classroom. It has a great message to not judge someone by the way they look and I think that is an important lesson for all kids to know. I think this would be a very fun book to read out loud.

Brontorina by James Howe (2010)

This book is about Brontorina, a dinosaur that dreams of being a dancer. When she goes to the local dance school, she is welcomed in but soon realizes she is too big for their dance studio. The entire studio goes on an adventure to find a studio that will fit Brontorina.

I thought this was an extremely cute book. I love to dance and that is one reason why I love this book. I also thought it was silly, but that it still had a good message. The text flowed really well and the illustrations were very cute.

I would definitely use this book in my classroom. It has a great message about doing anything you dream. I think this would be a great read out loud book. I could also see a fun lesson branching off of this book where students can figure out a silly thing for an animal to do, and how they can overcome the obstacles.

My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete (2002)

This book is about Callie and her twin brother Charlie. Charlie was born with autism and is different from other children. You see Charlie's life through Callie's eyes and she realizes that even though her brother is different, he still loves his family in his own unique way.

I loved this book. I am interested in teaching special education and it is nice to find a book that embraces students with special needs. The text is written in a way that students will understand. The illustrations are complimentary to the text and emphasize certain points of the book, which I really liked.

I would definitely use this book in my classroom. I could see using it as a free read book. It would help students understand that although their peers have special needs, they still have feelings and express them in a different way than most people. I also think it would be a good book to share with students and parents that have family members with special needs.

Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson (2002)

This book is about a girl that lives with her grandmother because her father is in prison. She makes gifts to bring him on visiting day. Her grandmother explains to her that he will be home one day and they won't always have to go and visit him.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it handled a tough issue in a student friendly way. The text was age appropriate. I also loved the illustrations. They were very colorful and emphasized the mood of the book.

I think this would be a great book to use in the classroom. I think that it would be good to use because there may be students that are in this type of situation and can relate to the main character. This would give them a chance to know that they aren't the only one going through this type of situation.

The Misfits by James Howe (2001)

This book is about the "Gang of Five" working to make a difference in their school. They see themselves as misfits and outcasts and want the teasing and tormenting to stop. In order to get the school's attention, they run as a third party on the student council ticket under the No-Name Party. Although they loose in the election, they all feel like they have made a difference in the school.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more when I was younger. I noticed several grammatical errors and the way it was written seemed extremely juvenile. Although I am critical of the way the book was written, I think that the message about loving who you are is much more important. I thought it was interesting that there were several characters that were homosexual. I had never read a young adult novel that addressed this issue. I think that these characters, along with the others are very relatable to students at this age because most people tend to feel like they are on the outside.

I would like to use this book in my future classroom. Since I do have criticism with the grammatical errors, I may not use it in that particular subject area. I think it would be a good book to read aloud to a class so you can stop and have a discussion at any point. I think it is important to have students talk about the large issues that are presented in this book.

The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)

This book is about a boy named Jonas that lives in a community of sameness. He has reached the age of Twelve, where he will be placed in his Assignment, his future career. He is Assigned as The Receiver of Memories for the community. As Jonas gains more memories, he begins to see the flaws in the sameness of the community and ends up understanding the power of choice.

I absolutely loved this book! My sister was a huge fan of this book and always tried to talk me into reading it, but I refused because I thought it was going to be about an old man. (Yes, I was judging a book by its cover.) I am glad that we were assigned this book because I have been missing out on some great literature. I loved the story and how a lot of it was open to interpretation.

I would love to use this book in my classroom. I think it addresses a variety of issues and topics that would be good for students to discuss. I have also heard how a lot of students create their own 'ideal' world of sameness to go along with reading the book.

King & King & Family by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland (2004)

This book is about King and King taking their honeymoon. On their honeymoon, King and King see all kinds of animals and animal babies. They begin to dream of a child of their own, and end up adopting a baby girl.

I thought this book was okay. I thought it was sending a great message, but it wasn't executed in the best way. The text didn't seem to flow and the story was choppy. I also thought that the illustrations were too overpowering to the words. Although the illustrations were great, they distracted from the text and were very busy.

I could see where I would use this in my classroom. I think it would be a good book to have out in a free read book shelf. If I had a student that had a specific question about the topic, or if a student is in this type of situation, I think it would be a good idea to read this book out loud to the class. This way, we could talk about the situation with an example to refer to.

The Un-Wedding by Babette Cole (1997)

This book is about Demetrius and Paula and their problem parents. Their parents fight and disagree about everything until Demetrius and Paula suggest holding an un-wedding.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the illustrations were a lot of fun and they fit the humorous tone of the book. I think this book addresses a heavy issue in a lighter way that many students can relate to.

I would definitely use this book in my classroom. Like I mentioned, it covers the heavy topic of divorce in a way that many students could probably relate to. It also emphasizes the message that the children are not the reason for the divorce, but that the parents just don't get along. This book also showed the aftermath of the divorce in a positive light, saying that the children got two of everything. I think this would be a good book to use if you know an individual student is going through a divorce, or even to open up a small group discussion about divorce and how to deal with it.

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl by Rachel Renee Russell (2010)

This book is about Nikki Maxwell and her experience planning the junior high Halloween dance. She runs into several problems due to her rival, Mackenzie. She also has a few scheduling conflicts and costume changes the night of the dance, but ends up having a blast with her friends and her dream date.

At my age, I didn't really enjoy this book. As an older elementary/junior high student, I probably would have loved this series. I can remember these silly issues that seemed so big at the time that Nikki deals with. One part of the book that I loved were the references to current popular media, such as Justin Beiber. This book was also accompanied by illustrations that helped emphasize certain points in the book. I also liked that the text changed sizes to create more focus on certain emotions.

I don't think I would use this book for an entire classroom since it very much is written towards the pre-teen female crowd. I think this would be a great book to have in a classroom library as an optional read for students interested.

If I Were a Mouse by Karma Wilson (2010)

This book is about a child that dreams of the possibilities of being many different creatures. As he explores the creatures he could be, he decides he likes being a child the best, but is thankful for his imagination that can help him pretend to be all of the creatures he is not.

I enjoyed the rhythm of this book. I thought it used a lot of creative language to describe each creature. I also liked the illustrations. They were colorful and really filled every page. Although I liked most of this book, I am critical of the ending where it refers to God as the creator. These few lines cause the book to not be universal to all students.

Although I think this book could be enjoyable for some students, I would not choose to use it in my classroom. I strongly favor no religion in schools, and that is why I would not use this book. Although I think it is a good idea for students to be aware of other cultures, I would feel uncomfortable using a religious book in my classroom because it is not something that I believe. I also don't want to start any problems with students or parents that are of a different religion than the one the book refers to.

Curious George and the Pizza Party by Cynthia Platt (2010)

This book is about Curious George at a pizza party. The pizza is divided into individual serving sizes, but George thinks it would be better if they made one large pizza. As he rolls out the dough, he makes quite the mess. In order to restore the dough to new, he begins to cut out unique shapes that his friends end up loving.

I enjoyed this book. I haven't read a Curious George book in a long time, so I forgot how much fun they were. I really enjoyed looking at the illustrations along with the text. I think this book is a great example of illustrations that could stand alone and you would know what the book is about.

I think this book would be good for younger elementary school grades. A great project that would go along with this book would be creating your own pizza out of construction paper. That way, students could experiment with different dough shapes and include all of the toppings they would like.

Gabby & Grandma Go Green by Monica Wellington (2011)

This book is about Gabby and her Grandma thinking of ways to go green. Some of the ways include using cloth bags, going to a local market, and recycling used items.

This was a cute book. I like that it had such a positive message. Even though it had a good message, it broke one of the rules about incorporating lessons into stories. Lessons are supposed to come secondary to the story, but I thought that the lesson was what pushed the story along. Although I have the criticism of the text, I thought the illustrations were great and fit the 'go green' theme. The artist used several different mediums to create the illustrations. Some of the images are created from magazine/print out images which would be a great way to recycle used media.

This would be a great book to use for a young elementary class because it teaches children the importance of going green. This book also mentions ways you can achieve a more green world. I think this would be a great starter for a 'go green' unit because it gives many good examples of how to go green, and students can build off of that to give their own examples. Also, there is a guide of how to make a cloth bag in the back of the book that would be fun to do as a class.

Yoko's Show-and-Tell by Rosemary Wells (2011)

This book is about Yoko receiving a doll named Miki from her grandparents to celebrate girls day. She decides to bring the doll to school for show-and-tell against her mothers wishes. While on the bus, a few boys accidently ruin Miki. Yoko takes Miki to the doll hospital and she is repaired in time for her grandparents visit.

I thought this was a cute book. I liked that it incorporated a Japanese holiday into an American world. The text was fairly well written, but at times it seemed choppy and incomplete. I really liked the illustrations. Several of the images included the iconic goldleaf used in many Japanese woodcuts. I also loved the patterns used for Yoko and her families kimonos.

I could see this book being used in younger elementary classrooms. It could also be used in a variety of ways. It could open up a class discussion about what is important to each student. This book is also about another culture and another holiday they celebrate. It would be good to use this book to help teach students about different cultures and holidays. This would be a good time for students to share their own cultural holidays that are different from others.

Snow Happy! by Patricia Hubbell (2010)

This book is about children playing in the snow. It is written in poem form and lists all of the activities they like to do while in the snow.

I thought this was a cute book. I enjoyed the way it was a poem that was weaved throughout the book. The illustrations emphasize the carefree way the text is written. They compliment the story and are extremely cute.

I would use this book for a young elementary class. I could see them really enjoying this book. I think it would be a fun book to use in a lesson about rhyming and helping children identify what rhymes. I also think it could inspire a creative writing segment about what the students like to do in the snow.

Mali Under the Night Sky: A Lao Story of Home by Youme (2010)

This book is about Mali and her family escaping their country. Once they escape, they are arrested, but Mali is able to tell them about their memories to comfort them.

This book was okay. The text includes words written in the language used in Laos. I thought this was an interesting way to tie in another culture. My favorite part of the book was the illustrations. I liked the borders around the images. Color was very bold in the images and helped set the mood.

I think this would be a great multi-cultural book to use in my future classroom. As I mentioned before, Lao words are used through out the book to involve another culture. This book also mentions the hardships a family must go through to escape war. This would help give children insight to what goes on in other countries.

Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door by Adam Rubin (2011)

This book is about Old Man Fookwire and his annoyance of the neighborhood squirrels. That is until his new neighbor, Little Old Lady Hu and her cat Muffins, move in next door. Muffins begins torturing the squirrels until they execute a plan that leads Muffins to spend the rest of his life indoors.

This book was very enjoyable. The language was creative and the text really flowed. The illustrations were spunky and gave the story a lot of style. One thing I really enjoyed about this book is that they text wasn't always found in the same spot on each page. The changing of the text location gave the book flair and seem to help the text flow in a creative way.

I think this would be another fun read book for lower to mid elementary grades. I could see students drawing images along with the story to create their own solution to the cat problem. You could also have the children creatively write about how they think the best (and most unique) way to get rid of Muffins would be.

Socksquatch by Frank Dormer (2010)

This book is about a monster named Socksquatch that is on a quest to find his missing sock. He roams through the castle asking his friends if they have his sock until he finally finds another sock to keep his foot warm.

I thought this book was very cute. The language and writing was simple, but in a fun way. The illustrations fit perfectly with the style of writing and added a lot to the story. I really liked how there were talking bubbles used throughout the book. I also liked how the font changed to emphasize certain parts of the book.

I think this would be the perfect fun read book for a younger elementary class. I think it would be one that would be easy to get into and to have creative voices for each character. Since it is about monsters, it would be fun to read it around halloween time.

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt (2011)

This book is about Scaredy Squirrel planning a birthday party with only one guest, himself. He is prepared to avoid any surprises until he receives a birthday card from his friend, Buddy, and decides to invite him to the party as well. All of the party plans are executed as unexpected as could be, but Scaredy Squirrel ends up having a lot of fun.

This book was a very enjoyable read. One great part of the book was the way the text flowed. The font used for the text was also spunky and helped create a mood for the book. My favorite part was the way the illustrations were interactive. There were several lists and schedules that were actually displayed and illustrated throughout the book instead of simply being written within the text.

I think this would be a fun book to use in a younger elementary classroom. I could see this being a fun read book because of all of the interactive illustrations. I could also see where a lot of fun projects, such as planning a party in Scaredy Squirrel fashion could be used alongside the book.

Buy My Hats! by Dave Horowitz (2010)

This book is about duo Frank and Carl and their attempt at selling hats. They wait each day for their customers to come, but it seems like there is a new product to beat them out each day. By the end of the story, the weather causes everyone to want to buy hats.

I picked out this book based on the title. I thought it seemed like it would be clever and funny, and it did not disappoint. The text was fun and easy to read. Although the language seemed simple, it was never condescending and was always enjoyable. I also liked the illustrations. As we have discussed in class, good illustrations should add to the text. There were many details and side comments found in the illustrations that made the book that much better.

I think this is a great book to use for a younger elementary class. I think many students will find it humorous and really enjoy looking at the illustrations to try to find something they missed before. This story also has a lesson to be learned without being preachy. Both of the characters are determined and keep up their faith of selling hats until it pays off.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (2003)

This Newberry Award winning book is about a mouse named Despereaux, a rat name Chiaroscuro, a girl named Miggery Sow and a princess named Pea. Despereaux is a unique mouse that finds himself in the presence of Princess Pea. He allows her to pet him and for that he is sentenced to death by the Mouse Council. Miggery Sow is a girl that is sold to be a slave, and when this is found out, she is sent to live in the castle. She is excited to live in the castle because she one day dreams of becoming a princess. While she is in the castle, she meets Chiaroscuro who was the one responsible for the Queen's death and wants to get revenge. He tricks Miggery into bringing the princess down to the dungeon where she will be chained up forever. Despereaux escapes from the dungeon after hearing Chiaroscuro's plan and ends up saving the princess.

I absolutely loved this book. The way the author changed perspectives gave the story a lot of life and made it more interesting. I also liked how it was a story written for students, but it is one that adults could easily enjoy. There were several adult-directed parts such as the art terms "Chiaroscuro" as the name for the main rat, and "Botticelli" as the name for the evil rat. Although it is a typical story where a hero saves a damsel-in-distress, there are a lot of exciting events that keep you guessing along the way. One thing I noticed that this author did well, was the introduction of new vocabulary. The way it was introduced, the word wasn't always defined, but it gave enough clues within the context to help the reader figure out what it means. The author also 'talked' directly to the reader at certain points in the book. This really helps to draw you into the story so you feel like you really are taking part in the plot. The book has several illustrations through out, all of them complimentary to the text. The illustrations also help you create a vision of the characters and setting.

I think this book would be great for almost any grade. I could see it being a read aloud book to younger elementary and an independent read for older elementary grades. I could also see where it could create some interesting projects and group work through the use of different character perspectives. Since this book has been adapted to a movie, I could see a project where the class would read the book and watch the movie to compare and contrast.

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis (2000)

This book is about Parvana and her family living in Afghanistan. Her family has been affected by several bombings resulting in the loss of a brother and her family having to live in a one room apartment. During this time, women are seen as a much lower class than men. When Parvana's father is arrested for his foreign education, Parvana must take on the role of the head male of the family to make money. While making money she stumbles upon a good friend and goes through some tough jobs to help ends meet. As the book progresses, the women of the family begin to show their strength by opening a secret school and creating a magazine to show the world what life is really like in Afghanistan. Parvana's sister gets a marriage offer and the women travel to accept. Eventually Parvana's father returns, but only in time to find out that the area the rest of their family traveled to is under attack.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. I thought there were some loose ends in the plot that never got tied up. I am curious to know if they flow into the next book since this is the first book of a trilogy. Aside from that, I think this book covers a tough issue but through vocabulary that elementary students can understand. There is one scene where Parvana and her friend are collecting bones to make money. Although this is a very mature thing to write about, it wasn't gory or too descriptive, but it still made a point. The cover art is a great representation of the story. If you refer to the glossary in the back, you see several words that are unique to Afghanistan culture. Even though they are defined in the glossary, if you look at the cover art, you see several of the new vocabulary being depicted through art such as the burqa. The book is written from Parvana's perspective, which is easy to believe through the way her thoughts are written. The language used in the book is versatile enough that this book could be used among a range of grades.

I could see many uses of this book in my future classroom. I think it would be most appropriate for mid to upper elementary grades. I think this book would also need to be accompanied by a background lesson on the Taliban/Afghanistan area. It would also require a lot of teacher instruction and check for understanding. This book could be used to help students understand more of why the Middle East is in the state it is in, and why we have military over in that area. It also helps students see what another culture is like and addresses the issue of sexism. I could see this book having very unique lesson plans and activities to help students understand what that culture really is like. One activity idea my group had was to have the students experience the act of carrying a water pail like Parvana does in many parts of the book. This would help them understand a little bit of what it would be like to be in Parvana's shoes.

The Scarves- Daniela Bunge (2006)

This book is about a child's grandparents separating. The child sees how each grandparent experiences a range of emotions, ultimately ending up lonely. Once the child sees how much each grandparent misses the other, he knits them both a scarf and sends them notes so they can meet up and rekindle their love for one another.

I found this to be a very enjoyable book, although I have one criticism. Since separation is somewhat of a common theme in our society, this book may give children the idea that they will always be able to fix the problem. The character in the book was right in the middle of the separation and ended up bringing the grandparents back together. Even though it is a great ending to the book, it seems like it may put unrealistic expectations on a student that may be going through something similar. Although I have this criticism, I enjoyed how it was written. The language seems to be appropriate when talking about a mature subject. My favorite part about the book was the symbolism I found in the color of the illustrations. When the grandparents separate, the grandfather paints his house red and the grandmother paints her house blue. Whenever each one is mentioned, all you see is their favorite color. As the author moves on to describe them missing each other, you slowly start to see hints of the other ones color in their house. I thought this was a clever use of symbolism and I enjoyed that although it was subtle, it helped emphasis a point that was made in the text.

Even though I am slightly critical of this book, I think it could still be useful in teaching separation. I could see this book being used to explain this topic to younger elementary students. Separation is becoming more common and it is important for all students to understand. If there is a student going through this type of situation, the character is easy to relate to and they may be able to identify themselves in the story.

The Wednesday Surprise- Eve Bunting (1989)

This book is about a surprise that Anna and her grandmother plan for her father's birthday. They work on keeping the surprise hidden so it will be special for everyone. The surprise turns out to be that Anna has been teaching her grandmother how to read.

With most children's books, you always know what the climax is going to be. This one was a pleasant surprise to me. As you read the book, you assume Anna is the one that is learning to read for the surprise. I thought that this book was very charming. As I have mentioned in other blogs, Eve Bunting has a fantastic way of transporting you into a young child's mind. Her writing really feels as if it is expressing the ideas directly from a child. The illustrations subtlely compliment the text without being too bold.

This is another book that I would use as a fun read. Although I would mostly use it as a fun read, it could also be used to address the issue of illiteracy. It is important for students to know the power of being able to read, and that you can learn to do new things no matter what age you are. It could also be a good book to use to describe grandparent/grandchild relationships.

Night of the Gargoyles- Eve Bunting (1994)

This book is about gargoyles coming to life at night. It expresses how bored they become during the day, just waiting for the night life they enjoy. Only one human knows about their escapades, but no one else believes him.

I think this book was alright. Although I didn't really enjoy it at my age, I know I would have loved it as an elementary student. I would have enjoyed the way everything was described and how mischievous the gargoyles were when no one was looking. The adjectives used to describe the gargoyles really help you to envision gargoyles roaming the streets. Instead of just telling the reader about gargoyles, Eve Bunting went into enough detail to show the reader exactly what the gargoyles are doing. The illustrations in this book capture a lot of emotion through the intense shading. Although I enjoy the images, I think that they would catch a students attention more so if they were in color.

I believe the best way to apply this book in my future classroom would be for a fun read book. I could also see where this book would be a good example for a lesson on adjectives because the descriptions in the book are so vivid. I have also seen this book used in art classrooms to help explain art elements such as shading.

A Perfect Father's Day- Eve Bunting (1991)

This book is about Susie throwing the best Father's Day for her dad. They take part in many events that both Susie and her Father love.

This was a very sweet book. I was humored by the activities that Susie chose as her father's favorite, when they very clearly were activities she loved to do. It reminds me of all of the times my father put up with doing silly things because he knew how much they meant to me. I also thought the illustrations complimented the quirky personality of Susie by being cartoon-like. It is fun to examine the images to see the little things that are hidden that many children would enjoy finding. The dialogue in the book helped you gain a sense of character and had defining lines that were easy to identify with the characters personality.

I don't see as much of an application of this book as I do the others. Most of Eve Bunting's books cover difficult topics and I could see utilizing those books more often. What I could see myself using this book for would be a fun read book during class. I could see a younger elementary crowd enjoying this book very much. Although I don't see as much of an application for this book, I could see it leading to good discussions about activities students like to do with their families.

So Far From the Sea- Eve Bunting (1998)

This book is about a family that is visiting a Japanese relocation camp. They are visiting because their grandfather is buried at the camp. They must visit him one last time before they move across the U.S.

I thought that this book was enjoyable. I am impressed with the way that Eve Bunting is able to address tough issues in a kid friendly way. She was able to communicate both sides of the issue without pressing too much of her own opinion on the subject. The part of this book that impressed me the most was the way that the illustrations really emphasized what was being written through the text. The illustrations flip between the present with images in color, and the past with images in black and white. The contrast of color helps the reader to grasp the change in time without being lost. The images are realistic and where color is used, it is all very bold. I am drawn to the images which help hook me into the rest of the story.

This book would be useful in my future classroom when covering the topic of World War II and what happened to Japanese-American citizens. Although this isn't a current event, it is important to teach and to know about problems such as these to be able to avoid them in the future. This book also communicates a serious problem in a way that students can understand.

The Memory String- Eve Bunting (2000)

This book is about a young girl, Laura, and a family keepsake referred to as a memory string. This keepsake was passed down to her when her mother died. Each button on the string represents an important moment in time. While Laura is describing each one to her cat, he breaks the string and the buttons scatter everywhere. Laura's stepmother works hard to find all of the buttons to help bring their relationship closer.

I really enjoyed this book. I am very into preserving family keepsakes so I could easily relate to Laura and how important this memory string was to her. I also enjoyed the subtle way Eve Bunting wrote about the relationship between Laura and her stepmother. The text seems to capture how a young girl would speak and act towards someone they aren't particularly fond of. The illustrations complimented the text well. The images are full and aren't always limited to simply one page. They often times flow into the page of text, bringing a little more life to the words.

One of the topics covered in this book is the loss of Laura's mother. This book could be used as a tool to help students that may be grieving to be able to appreciate the special moments they shared with the people they have lost. It also addresses the resistance Laura originally has with creating a relationship with her stepmother. Mixed families among school children are increasing, so this could help to assist students in bridging the gap with a step parent. I think it is also a great example of teamwork because her family comes together to try to find the missing buttons.

The Mother's Day Mice- Eve Bunting (1986)

This book is about three mice finding gifts for their mother for Mother's Day. Each mouse wants to find the best gift to please their mother. In the end they realize that it doesn't matter who has the best gift because they all share the gift of love.

I thought this book was very cute. The illustrations took up the entire page and really brought the story to life. I also enjoy the story because all of the mice come together and realize that love is the most important gift they could give each other. I could see myself really liking this book as a young elementary student. Although this book was cute, the text and storyline didn't seem to flow as well as other books written by Eve Bunting. The transitions seem to be bounce around instead of smoothly flow into the next line.

This book may be useful in a future classroom if you know about issues with sibling rivalry because this book helps to demonstrate sibling competition that gives way to teamwork. It could also be helpful if you have a student that is raised by a single mother because no father figure is mentioned in the book. It depicts the mother as being the head of the household, which I have yet to find in another book. I also think this book would be a great choice for a fun read because the text and illustrations are very vivid and would easily draw students in. I think this book is best suited for a younger elementary crowd.

Fly Away Home- Eve Bunting (1991)

This book is about Andrew and his father. They live in an airport because they are homeless. They spend their time moving around the terminals so they don't get noticed by airport security. Both Andrew and his father work hard to save money to one day own an apartment.

From looking at the cover of this book, I would have no idea it was about a homeless boy and his father choosing to live in an airport instead of on the streets. This has been my favorite Eve Bunting book so far. I really like the way she tackles a hard topic. This book addresses a mature topic, but the language used is still appropriate for a younger audience. This book also addresses a variety of emotions felt by Andrew and how he must appropriately deal with them. As you read the book, it really seems as if you are hearing the voice of a young boy through the way his thoughts are written. The illustrations also reinforce the most important aspect of Andrew and his father's lives, not getting caught. If you study the illustrations, you notice that
Andrew and his father are generally found in the background and their features are less defined as others. This helps the viewer get the feel that they blend into the background instead of stand out among a crowd.

This book could be used in my future classroom to help explain some tough topics. One of my concerns as a teacher is being asked questions about tough topics. Having this book as a reference would help guide me to give an appropriate answer. It could also be a reference if parents would like to know how I would address questions that students would have. Homelessness is a well known topic, especially to those who live in big cities. Although it is a tough topic to teach, this book gives a softer view of the issue.  The main character is a young boy, which is more relatable for elementary students. This would be a good book to refer to if students have any questions about homelessness. Andrew would also be a character that a student could relate to if they are living in a similar situation so they know that they are not alone in what they are dealing with.

One Green Apple- Eve Bunting (2006)

This book is about a young girl that is new to America. She is very shy and feels as if she doesn't fit in so she is hesitant to talk. By the end of the book she feels more confident and optimistic about finding a place among her peers. This book won the Arab American Book Award.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it is a realistic view on a student that feels like an outsider. This books seems to be more directed at younger students through the language used. Even though there is very little dialogue, it is easy to get to know the characters. I enjoyed the look inside of Farah's mind, and the text makes it easy to put yourself in her shoes and experience what is going on.You are able to feel the triumph Farah experiences by the end of the book when she realizes that what makes her different is what makes her special. The illustrations are also a great part of this book. The images are depicted realistically with very soft edges which I think helps enforce Farah's personality.

I could see using this book in my classroom in several ways. It would be a great tool to have if a new student from another culture transfers in. It would also be beneficial to share with students that are shy, hopefully giving them a character to identify with. Through out the story, Anna shows Farah a large amount of kindness. It would be good to share this story with students so they could model Anna's actions if they would like to connect with another student but are unsure how. An important aspect of this book is Farah realizing that what makes her different from the other students is what makes her special, and I think it is an important lesson to share with all students.

I Have An Olive Tree- Eve Bunting (1999)

This book is about a young Greek girl that wants a skateboard from her grandfather for her birthday. He ends up giving her an olive tree that is  located in Greece. At first she is disappointed, but then realizes that it is important to learn about where your family comes from and to be proud of your heritage.

As an adult, I enjoy this book. I think that if I was a child reading it, I may get bored because the plot isn't very climatic and I wouldn't be familiar with the Greek culture. It is a very good story about another culture, and I think it is something more students should be exposed to. One thing I enjoyed about this book is the use of symbolism such as the grandmothers beads the the olive tree. The art in the book is also fantastic and compliments the story. Although this book was enjoyable, I think I was drawn more to the art than the words. The illustrations were able to carry the text. It is a perfect example of illustrations that could tell the story if the text was missing. The illustrations are also very bold and colorful and can easily grab a students attention. There is one point where the orientation of the text changes. I found this to be extremely unique and it helps the book stand out on its own.

This book could be used in my future classroom to help children identify with different cultures. It could also open up a discussion about where the students ancestors are from, what things are important to their family, and what traditions their family has.