Daily Dose of Books with Em

Front cover of "Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries" Title:  Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries Genre: Fantasy Author: Mark Teague Awards: N/A Age Group: 4-11 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would read this book but most likely as a fun read-aloud. It's because I wouldn't say there's much of a lesson being taught with this book besides having patience when waiting for things to grow. I think kindergarteners through second graders would really enjoy this book because it's a funny twist on the original Jack and the Beanstalk story. Summary: In this book we meet Jack and his mother who are struggling to find food to eat, so Jack's mom sends him off to go sell the cow for as much as they'll but it for. Instead of coming back with money Jack comes back with three magical beans which his mom throws out the window. The next morning a giant beanstalk has grown which is beneficial because now they have food to eat. But after a whi...

Front Cover of "Monster Academy" Title: Monster Academy Genre: Fantasy Author: Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple Awards: N/A Age Group: 4-9 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would read this book as a read-aloud but I would probably read it as a fun choice because it of the overall message. IThe overall message would be to not judge a book by its cover and to always try to be kind to others. Which would be a good book to read for fun or if there's conflicts between students like trying to help each other in the classroom or just making friends.  Summary: In this book we are in Monster Academy in Miss Mummy's class with all these other monster children. They just had a new student join Tornado Jo, who the class decides is the worst monster ever because as soon as Jo enter the classroom they start to go as fast as a tornado and destroy the class and throw people around. The class if filled with trouble makers in their own way who are honestly just monster ch...

Front Cover of "The Three Swingin' Pigs"   Title: The Three Swingin' Pigs Genre: Fantasy Author: Vicky Rubin  Awards: N/A Age Group: 4-9 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would read this book to a kindergarten or first grade class. I wouldn't say there's a particular lesson to the book but perhaps if we were learning about music this would be a cute book to read because it's about a jazz band.  Summary: In this book we meet Satch, Mo, and Ella the Swingin' Pigs and we meet Wolfie who has the stinkiest breath ever. Wolfie was the big bad wolf of the town and he decided to target Satch, Mo, and Ella because of their uncles who escaped him when he tried blowing their houses down. While trying to eat the three swingin' pigs Wolfie realizes he actually enjoys their music even though he is trying to make himself not react to it. He finally is able to get into one of their concerts and gets to the front row by breathing out on the people so th...

Front cover of "Magic Hat Shop" Title: Magic Hat Shop Genre: Fantasy Author: Sonja Wimmer Awards: N/A Age Group: 4-10 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would definitely read this book to 4-10 year olds. It has such a cute message at the end about not being afraid to be yourself and welcoming change and growth. It was also really cute because of its magical aspect it had with the hatter just knowing exactly what kind of hat each townsperson needed to help them become their better self. Which would be a good book to read when learning about loving yourself and learning that growth is good. Summary: In this book one day a hat shop mysteriously appears in the main square of a small town. At first the townspeople don't trust the store or whatever is inside it. But finally after a townsperson Timid Tom enters and then comes out like a changed person with his new hat more townspeople start going to the store. Once more people kept going into the hat store and getting...

The front cover of "The Princess and the Warrior" Title:  The Princess and the Warrior Genre: Legend, Folklore Author: Duncan Tonatiuh Awards: Texas Bluebonnet 2017-2018  Age Group: 6-10 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would read this book to my class because it teaches a nice message about hope and always remaining hopeful even when things don't turn out well. It is also a nice story about love and doing things for the ones you love. Which I think would be a cute story to read to 6-10 year olds.  Summary: In this book it talks about two characters Princess Izta and the Warrior Popoca. The princess is having to meet many suitors that propose marriage to her but she continues declining every offer until she meets Popoca who talks to her from the heart and says he wishes to marry her. She feels like he's finally the only one that has been sincere about his proposal and instantly falls in love with him. While this happening there is a war going on that lead...

  Front Cover of "The War that Saved my Life" Title: The War that Saved my Life Genre: Historical Fiction Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Awards: Newbery Medal 2016 and Golden Kite Award for Middle Grade Fiction 2018 Age Group: 10 to 15 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would love to read this book to students in grades 4-8. i think this novel would be a good book to read when we are learning about the World Wars, since this book is set in the time when Hitler was going to invade Germany. This book would help the students understand and connect the events of the book and what really happened because it's happening to and is written about a girl around their age.  Summary: In this book it follows Ada and her brother Jamie as they escape London because there is word that Hitler is going to bomb them. This book is set during the time of World War 2 and is written through the eyes of Ada a disabled girl who is eager to escape her abusive and neglectful mother in...

Front Cover of "Just Like Me"   Title: Just Like Me Genre: Poetry Author: Vanessa Brantley-Newton Awards: Nerdy Book Club Award 2021 Age Group: 5 to 12 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would love to read this book to students from grades kindergarten to 6th grade. I think this poetry book is a great example of diversity that is becoming more prominent in children's books now a days. Which is something beneficial for students of all ages to see themselves depicted in the the books they read.  Summary: In this book the author writes a collection of poems about girls who feel sad, happy, scared, and powerful. As well as girls who love their bodies or don't, city girls and country girls, girls who love their mom, and girls that wish they had a dad.  One of the poems included is called "I am a Canvas" which is about a girl who feels her families, friends, and communities words whether they're hurtful, loving, or supportive being painted on. She d...

  Front Cover of "Anna Banana" Title: Anna Banana  Genre: Poetry Author: Joanna Cole Awards: N/A  Age Group: 6 to 11 year olds Teacher Evaluation:  As a teacher, I would read this book to kindergarteners through fifth graders. This would be a good read-aloud or poem to out in an assignment if were going over rhyming and poetry. I think since these are pretty easy poems about jumping rope and things to sing.   Summary: In this book it is a collection of poems to sing while jumping rope. One of the poems is called "Straight Jumping" which is about mistakes this girl keeps making. Instead of baking a pie she baked a fly or how she went to make her bed and ended up bumping her head. It just continues like that with the ending words rhyming . It ends with the two people in the middle of a jump rope because it's a jump rope rhyme. Then in another poem "Red-Hot-Pepper"  it talks about Mabel setting the table as fast as she can and then Johnny breaking a ...

  Front cover of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" Title: Row, Row, Row Your Boat Genre: Poetry Author: Joanne Oppenheim Awards: N/A Age Group: 4 to 7 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would read this book to lower elementary grades like kindergarten and 1st grade. I think this poem is a good way to show the students how far ones imagination can take them. Which is something kids around this age have started to do a lot which is beneficial in their development as children. Summary:  In this book while singing row, row, row your boat in the bathtub, a boy starts using his imagination to take him on many different types of boats and places. He imagines himself on a river raft, a canoe, a ferry,  a boat, and etc. In these many different vessels he explores different places and gets to see many sights. He sees the many sights the city has to offer on a ferry boat and goes on a submarine and sees the deep ocean. The story ends with him back in his bathtub singing "Row...

  Front Cover of "The Dog Ate My Homework"  Title: The Dog Ate My Homework Genre: Poetry Author: Sara Holbrook Awards: N/A Age Group: middle grades (8-12) so 15-18 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would read this book to middle schoolers and maybe high schoolers if we're going over poetry section in english. I think since these particular poems are about school the kids might find some of the poems relatable depending on the topic being talked about. I also think since these poems include funny teen moments/ actions the kids of these ages will find them entertaining.  Summary:  In this book it is a collection of poems about school. One of the poems included is named after the title of the book, "The Dog Ate my Homework" which is about a student who comes to class and says their dog ate their homework, their table, and even chewed through the door. The student continues to list things the dog did and says if they don't believe them ask their mom ...

Front Cover of "Care Bears Book of Bedtime Poems" Title: Care Bears Book of Bedtime Poems Genre: Poetry Poems selected by: Bobbi Katz  Awards: N/A Age Group: 4 to 7 year olds Teacher Evaluation:  As a teacher, I would read this book to kindergarteners and maybe first graders for a read aloud when we're learning about poetry. I think the poems are easy beginner examples of poems. Which I think will be a nice and helpful way of introducing poetry and poems to younger kids. I also think since it has illustrations that go with each poem it'll help with keeping the children's attention.  Summary:  In this short book of collections of bedtime poems it begins with the first poem called "A Visitor" by Bedtime Bear. It is about a visitor, Bedtime Bear coming to visit you when it's time to go to bed. After dinner is over and all your toys have been put away and you're wearing your pajamas, it's time to say goodnight and go to sleep Bedtime bear comes t...

Front page of "The Princess and the Pea"    The Princess and the Pea adapted by Lisa Harkrader is a traditional literature book which is a fairy tale. This could be read to children of ages 4-8 because of the many adaptations of the story and the message it sends.  In a kingdom lived a King, Queen, and their son Prince Phillip and one day when he was old enough the King and Queen decide it's time that their son finds a wife. So the King and Queen decide to throw a grand ball and invited princesses from all of the surrounding kingdoms. Prince Phillip greets every princess and talks and dances with them but by the end of the night he hadn't found a princess he liked enough to marry. After all the princess had left it started to storm and the family started talking about how Phillip didn't like any of the princesses because of how boring and selfish they were. As the storm continued there was a knock on the palace door and the kind sent his guard to open it and in wa...

  Front page of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" Goldilocks and the Three bears adapted by Jennifer Boudart is a traditional literature book which falls under fairy tales. This book has been passed down and adapted by many different authors. This book has won a Caldecott Medal which is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.  Goldilocks and the Three Bears is about a family of three bears who live in a cozy cottage in the forest. When Mama Bear makes their morning oatmeal they let it cool by going on a family walk. One morning there was a girl named Goldilocks walking through the forest. She had been following butterflies in the forest and eventually became very tired and hungry and after walking a long time she came across the three bears lovely house. After waiting a bit after asking if anyone was home, she decided to let herself in. When she walked in she saw the three bowls of oatmeal and realized she was hungry and proceeded to t...