Science Fiction Book Blog- If You Decide to Go to the Moon

If You Decide to Go to the Moon

Written by Faith McNulty and Illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Scholastic Press, 2005

Science Fiction

     Have you ever thought about what you would do if you ever got to go to the moon? This fun and exciting children's book almost serves as a guide for students to get to the moon. Also, the book gives examples of all of the things you can do once you make it to the moon. This book teaches kids how to prepare for their trip to the moon, and most importantly, how to make it back home. This lightheart story is such a fun way to engage student's in learning, especially about space travel. Do you want to know how to prepare to go to the moon, or even what to do once you get there? Go check out "If You Decide to Go to the Moon" and you will see how to all from a kid's perspective.

     The illustrations in this children's book are incredible. The artist used lots of watercolor and pastels for the drawings. Many of the pictures on earth have bright and vibrant colors. The pictures in space have more dark and muted colors. The pictures themselves tell another story, and it is very obvious that the author and illustrator worked together to create symbolism behind the pictures. Most of the illustration stake place on Earth, the moon, or the rocket to get to the moon. The illustrations capture the reader's eye with its' constant variation of shapes and colors. 

     I would use this book in a second grade classroom for a science lesson. I would allow the students to read this book and then let them research ways to actually get to the moon. They could learn all about space travel and America's firs space travel from this children's book. This book is a great way to incorporate reading into science, but also a fun way to stir creativity within the students. The students could learn about astronauts that have gone to the moon and what they actually did once they got there. You could even tie in a compare and contrast component for students to do with the book and real life. Overall, your students will love reading this book about space travel. This is such a fun book for you to read to your students during a science lesson.

As always, go check this book out! 

Modern Fantasy Book Blog- Flotsam

Flotsam

Written and Illustrated by David Wiesner

Clarion Books : Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006

Modern Fantasy

     Have you ever read a book that had no words? If you had to re-read that question again then you might be thinking exactly the same thing that I was when I heard of this book. I knew there were picture books that had very little words in it, but I did not know that there were books for older students that had nothing but illustrations. In "Flotsam", a young boy finds an underwater camera while on a beach trip with his family. He asks around to see if anyone knows where this mysterious camera appeared from, but no one was claiming it. Intrigued by this mystery camera, he takes the film from the inside of the camera to be developed. Little does he know the journey that these pictures are about to take him on. Check this book out to see what new and unknown places these pictures transport the young boy too.

      The illustrations in this book are incredible because they tell the whole story. There is so much detail poured into these pictures with many muted colors and many different drawing devices. Many of the illustrations are boxed in with lines. Also, there are many drawings that look very realistic. Each picture is symbolic to the story and is important because it tells the story. The setting in these illustrations mainly take place on the beach or in the ocean. However, they also take place in the mysterious realms that  the pictures transport the young boy to. 

      I would use this book in a fourth grade classroom for a reading unit. You could teach about the deeper meaning behind illustrations and how sometimes you don't need any words to tell a story. This book would challenge student's to think critically and creatively. After reading the story, they could create their own story using nothing but illustrations. This would be a great way to incorporate art standards into a reading lesson. I would also suggest talking with your students as they read through the book. Get them to explain what they think is happening in each picture. Overall, this book would be a great way to challenge your students and introduce them to new forms of literature.

I highly encourage you to go check this book out!

Nonfiction Book Blog - How Much is a Million?

How Much is a Million?

Written by David M. Schwartz and Illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Harper Collins Publishers, 1985

Nonfiction

     Nonfiction books make up a large part of today's literature. These books include real life facts and information about real people, places, and events. In the book "How Much is a Million?", there is wizard who is trying to teach children how big the number a million is. This wizard uses multiple examples to connect real life to number amounts. The author uses picture examples to show that one million things combined can be higher than the mountains. He even gives examples of the quantity of a billion and trillion. This book does a great job of helping students understand numbers through real-life connections. Check this book out to find out how big a million, billion, and trillion are!

     The illustrations in this book were done primarily with watercolors. The pastel pictures bring so much vibrant energy to the book. These illustrations help the reader visualize the concept of a million, billion, and trillion. There are many straight lines and repetitive shapes throughout the book. The pictures take place in a ton of different places like the mountains, city, football stadium, the moon, and even in a different galaxy. Each picture is a new example portraying one of the three numbers. Also, there are illustrations of children in every picture.

     I would read this book to my third grade students for math and reading. I would do a cross-curricula lesson to incorporate both content areas. First, I would allow the students to read the book and then I will focus on the quantity examples for each number. You could use this book with your students to help them understand the concept of a million. This book gives multiple real-life examples that students can connect to their everyday learning. You could do multiple math activities and practice using this book in your classroom. 

If you are interested in "How Much is a Million", go check this book out today for you and your students!

Book Talk

Click on this link to check out my book talk on "The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark"

International Literature- You Hold Me Up

You Hold Me Up

Written by Monique Gray Smith and Illustrated by Danielle Daniel

Orca Book Publishers, 2017

International Literature

     International Literature is a great way to teach your students about different cultures, perspectives, and countries. In this book, children are encouraged to "hold each other up" through many different ways. This book teaches children the value of friendship, kindness, and encouragement. The author does a great job of conveying a sense of accountability among students. This book gives many examples of how we can hold each other up in the good times and bad. Check this book out if you want to build a strong community of encouragement in your classroom!

     The illustrations in this book have very bright and colorful drawings. The pictures are very simple with many straight lines and circles. The illustrator used watercolors and acrylics for the pictures in the book. Each picture promotes diversity by including children from different countries. These illustrations showcase different cultures by portraying a family meal in a different country. Each pictures focuses on one person helping another person. The illustrator did such a wonderful job of promoting empathy and support through every single picture.

     I would read this book to Kindergarten for an English lesson. This would be a great book to read at the beginning of the school year to help create a safe and supporting learning environment. The students could learn about concepts of print or retelling of story details. This would also be a great lesson on ways to support each other in the classroom. The bright and touching pictures captivate the children and let them think about the way they treat others. You could let your students come up with ways to hold each other up in and out of the classroom. Also, this book allows the students to see a new culture and how to accept those different cultures. This book is a great way to introduce inclusion to your students.

Here is a picture of the book! I encourage you to read it to your students!

Diverse Perspectives- The Name Jar

 The Name Jar

Written and Illustrated by Yangsook Choi

Dragonfly Books, 2003

Diverse Perspectives Book

       Many books today are promoting diversity and inclusion in the classroom. In this book, Unhei is a new student from South Korea. She is nervous that her Korean name will be too difficult for her fellow classmates to pronounce. She decides that she is going to wait to tell her new classmates her name until she creates a new name. Her classmates help Unhei try to find an American name by creating her a name jar. Unhei is trying to find her place in her new class, and her classmates are welcoming her with open arms. Check this book out to see what name Unhei chooses!

       The illustrations in this story includes many straight lines and muted colors. There are lots of shapes such as squares, rectangles, and circles. The characters are all colored with pastel and watercolors. There are a variety of light and dark colors. The illustrations are in various locations like the school yard, classroom, at home, and in Korea.

      I chose Social Studies as my content and 2nd grade for the grade level. I think this book is a great way to spark the discussion on different cultures, diversity, and inclusion. For this lesson, we could talk about different countries and how they have different cultures. We could discuss how even names are different in other countries. Students could learn about different cultures and how to embrace their cultures in their own society. This will also help promote inclusion and break down cultural barriers in the classroom. I definitely would encourage you to read this heart-warming book to your students one day!

Here is a picture of the cover!

Picture Book Blog- Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

Written by Carol McCloud and Illustrated by David Messing

Ferne Press, 2006

Picture Book

     Did you know that you had an imaginary bucket that you carry with you everywhere you go? In this heartfelt book, children are being taught about their imaginary buckets and how this bucket affects their daily life. This book is all about promoting kindness and how kindness can fill up not only someone else's bucket, but how it can fill your own bucket as well. This book teaches children ways to be a bucket filler but also ways to be a bucket dipper. Do you want to learn new ways to be a bucket filler? Check out this book to learn how!

     The illustrations in this book are very bright and colorful. The pictures promote diversity and inclusion by using many different ethnicities, cultures, ages, and abilities. The pictures are from many different places such as the classroom, bus, soccer field, and neighborhood. The illustrator used cartoon drawings with many different drawing utensils.

     I chose English as my content area and Kindergarten for my grade. I actually read this book to my kindergarten class for practicum last semester and they LOVED it. For that lesson, I used this book to teach my students about friendship, kindness, and positive relationships. You could also use this book to help Kindergartner's practice directionality, left to right progression, and the return sweep. This could be a reading lesson and friendship lesson combined into one. Overall, this book is perfect for this age group. The bright and fun pictures mixed with the many examples of bucket fillers are a perfect way for students to learn about concepts of print. Plus, they will learn some valuable life lessons and skills. You definitely get the best of both worlds!

Also, here is a picture of the book in case you wanted to check it out!