Daily Dose of Books with Em

Title: Families around the World Genre: Non-fiction  Author: Margriet Ruurs Awards: N/A Age Group: 3 to 7 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a good book to look at because of how it takes us around the world looking at all of the different families and how they spend their weeks. It gives us and inside of how every family has different traditions they may do on the weekends or who lives in one house and how sometimes families move far away to other countries so you have to learn another language. This is a really nice book because it shows all of those different cultures and lifestyles.  Summary: In this book we are introduced to many children and their families like Ming Chieh who's from Canada or Baatar who's from Mongolia. The book goals all around the world talking about many different children and their families. We meet Zofia and her family who live in a small town on Poland. We learn that Sunday is her favorite day because they w...

Title: The cart that carried Martin Genre: Historical Fiction Author: Eve Bunting Awards: N/A Age Group: 6 to 9 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a good book for students to read because it shows something related to Dr. King that I hadn't even known about, the cart that pulled him during his funeral. It gives us a feeling of how people felt after he was taken and how they knew that the missions he was fighting for weren't finished yet. That is something inspirational that I think the students would benefit from reading.  Summary: In this book we see a cart on the streets by an antiques store that nobody wanted because of how old it looked with its faded paint. These men want to buy it but every time they come by the store is closed so instead they just decided to borrow it and just bring ti back once they're done with it. There is great sadness at this man's funeral and great sadness as the mules carry him in the coffin which is on ...

Title: Overground Railroad Genre: Historical fiction Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome Awards: Audie Award for young listeners Age Group: 4 to 7 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a good book to show what the Overground railroad was since I mostly knew about the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman. This book definitely shows a different side of how slaves escaped from states that still had slavery. So it would be a good book to read if we were learning about slavery and segregation and how the lives of African Americans were back then.  Summary: In this book we see how many different African American families escaped the south during the Great Migration. Some of them walked, drove, or took the train in this story the family takes the train north and left so early so no one would see them. They left before her dad's boss could realize they had left and said their good-byes to her grandma and uncle and she promised to take care of her parents. As they...

Title: Let the children march  Genre: Historical fiction Author: Monica Clark-Robinson Awards: Coretta Scott King award Age Group: 6 to 9 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be such a good book to read or have the students read because it shows how big of an impact kids like them can make in the world. Just like the huge difference the Birmingham children made by deciding to march for freedom when the adults couldn't. It such a good way to show this time in America because it shows it in a way a child could understand through the illustrations and even the way it is written.  Summary: In this book we see the segregation between black and white people and how they wish they could just play in play ground they wanted to, drink from any water fountain, and so much more. So they go to listen to Dr. King and his plan to march with peaceful protesters to fight for freedom. The adults had so much to lose if they marched like their job and their ab...

Title: Freedom's school Genre: Historical Fiction Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome Awards: N/A Age Group: 4 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be such a beautiful book to read it shows the reader a look on how it was for slaves who had just been freed who wanted to get educated or for their children to be educated. It shows how important education can be for someone who hasn't had much freedom over what they could do.  Summary: In this book we meet Lizzie, who's parents have just been granted freedom from slavery. Her parents mostly her mama decide that Lizzie and her brother need to work just like her and their dad, of course their work though is making sure they learn and get an education and go to school. So that's what they do, they go to the schoolhouse that is new and that's where they begin to learn their letters and they go home and continue to practice their letters even after dinner. The school got so empty sometimes especia...

Title: The Water Princess Genre: Realistic Fiction Author: Susan Verde Awards: ALA Award for Notable Children's books  Age Group: 5 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a good eye-opening book to read. It shows that sometimes people have to journey hard and long for things we can find a minute away. This shows such an important lesson for young children because sometimes it may be easy to forget how fortunate we are here with things so close in reach.  Summary: In this book we meet Princess Gie Gie her kingdom is the African sky and she can tame the wild dogs with her song, make the tall grass sway with her dance, and can make the wind play hide-and-seek but the one thing she can't do is bring the water closer. She is woken up by her mother early the next day so they can go get some water. She doesn't want to get up to go walk to the water so she tries to command it once again but nothing happens. When the finally reach the water she s...

Title: A Bad Case of Stripes Genre: Realistic Fiction Author: David Shannon Awards: N/A Age Group: 5 to 9 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a cute book to read because it teaches such a good lesson about being true to yourself and try not to care too much about other people's opinions. Which is such a good lesson especially because kids most of the time are just trying to find their place and usually adapt to the what the people around them are like. Which is why this would be good book to read aloud because it to shows that everyone should be themselves no matter what. Summary: In this book we meet Camilla Cream a girl who loved lima beans but since all her friends hated them she never really ate them. When she was trying to find something to wear to impress all the student son the first day of school she realized she was completely covered in stripes. Her mom decided to keep her home but Camille was relieved since she didn't want her first...

Title: Chicken and Cat clean up Genre: Realistic Fiction Author: Sara Varon Awards: N/A Age Group: 4 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a cute book for a student to look at on their own since it is illustrated like a comic with no words at all. You just have to be able to follow along with the pictures to understand how the story is progressing.  Summary: In this book we see that Chicken has their own housekeeping service and that Cat works with them. The first go to clean an Elephants apartment, things are going well until the first incident where Cat breaks a dish. Then the second incident that happens is Cat puts too much soap in the washer so it starts bubbling up and creates a bubbly mess. Chicken sees that Cat is just making a bigger mess while trying to clean the soapy bubbles up so Chicken takes Cat to take a break in the living room area. But while sitting there Cat starts to get hungry and decides to take a bite out of the tre...

Title: Alexander, who's not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to move Genre: Realistic Fiction Author: Judith Viorst Awards: N/A Age Group: 5 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a good book to read to a class if they are going through a hard time adjusting to something new and hard. It could be a good book to read on the first day to show the kids that sometimes change is good and that no matter how much things change the people that care for you will still be there.  Summary: In this book we meet Alexander who is angry at the moment because he doesn't want to move away because that means he has to leave his best friend Paul, his favorite sitter Rachel, his soccer team. He really doesn't want to move a thousand miles away from everyone and everything he knows. He just keeps thinking of all of the people he could possibly stay with instead of moving like all his neighbors. He starts reminiscing and visiting all the places he's goi...

  Title: From Far Away  Genre: Realistic fiction Author: Robert Munsch  Awards: N/A  Age Group: 4 to 7 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be such a good book to read to a class. It teaches about how hard things may be for other people around the world like Saoussan. It also teaches a good lesson about how things may seem scary at first but eventually things will get better and easier. Which could be a good lesson for a class or students that may be struggling with either adjusting to school or making friends, really any type of adjustment that can be happening.   Summary: In this book we meet a little girl, Saoussan, who is writing a letter to her reading buddy about herself and where she came from. We see that her and her family used to live in a place that had a war going on and at one point part of their roof fell in. It talks about how her dad leaves for a while and then they receive a letter with tickets for Canada and ...

Title: How I became a Pirate  Genre: Fiction Author: Melinda Long Awards: Indies Choice Book Award: Children's Illustrated  Age Group: 3 to 7 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a cute read-aloud book it teaches that while sometimes you may want to grow up because you don't love someone telling you what to do doesn't mean you won't miss it. It's a pretty quick read with cute illustrations throughout the audio and even singing which I think the kids would like. After reading the book a fun little activity could be to make/draw a pirate outfit.  Summary: We see that Jeremy Jacob is in the beach with his family and then he sees some pirates come by and he decides to say yes to their invitation of joining their ship.  That's when he knows he's become a pirate and as a pirate he notices al of the things he can do now that now one is telling him not to do something. Then while he's still on the ship he starts playing soccer w...

  Title: Sisters  Genre: Autobiography, Graphic Novel  Author: Raina Telgemeier Awards: 2015 Eisner Award  Age Group: 9 to 12 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a cute quick read for students to read if they want a cute and funny graphic novel to read about two sisters. I don't think I would read it for a class or anything but it also has a cute lesson about not being alone and that you can handle and navigate issues with others.  Summary: In this book we meet the Telgemeier family and the book is more so focused on the two sisters Raina(the oldest sibling) and Amara(the middle sibling) and at first Raina couldn't wait to be a big sister. This all changes once she actually becomes a big sister after her little sister, Amara, is born and from there she realizes how they don't have much in common and are arguing all the time. When they have to spend three weeks traveling and one of those weeks is being spent in a car Raina knows...

Title: Radiant Child  Genre: Biography  Author: Javaka Steptoe Awards: Caldecott Medal  Age Group: 4 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a good book to read if you're doing a biography on Jean-Michel because it gives the reader a nice biography over his journey to becoming a famous artist. It also shows a different type of picture/illustration style while showing us Jean-Michel''s art style.  Summary: In this book we learn about Jean-Michel and how he started off as a little boy with a dream to become a big artist. We learn that his art inspiration comes from his mother, Matilde, a Puerto Rican woman and how she draws with him. She is the one who taught him that art isn't just the normal things we think about like books, museums, theaters but it's also in the games children play or the words they speak. With his mom while visiting museums Jean-Michel learns the most important thing, what it means to be a famous artist. Along t...

  Title: Not Quite Snow White  Genre: Fiction Author: Ashley Franklin Awards: Texas 2x2 Age Group: 4 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be such a good read-aloud for a class of students because it shows such an important message. It shows that you are perfect just the way you are no matter your skin tone, ethnicity, wight, or height. It also shows that we need to just love ourselves and be true to ourselves and all will be fine.  Summary: In this book we meet Tameika a little girl who thought it was always the perfect time to dance and sing and she would put on special performances for her stuffed animals. She really enjoy's being the star of every show and has been so many different characters like a cucumber all the way to a singing mermaid. One thing she's always wanted to be is a princess so she auditions for the Snow White Musical at school. After day one of auditions she starts to hear people whispering all their reasons why she...

  Title: When the Cousins Came  Genre: Fiction  Author: Katie Yamasaki  Awards: NAPPA Age Group:  4 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a cute book to read about how everyone is different and do things differently. The book did a good way of showing how even within families there will be differences in the way things are done and what someone may be used to.  Summary: In this book we meet Lila who's cousins Rosie and Takeo come and visit her. Right away they start noticing the differences between each other but they expose each other to their differences. For example, Rosie and Takeo bring skateboards and Lila has her bike but the teach each other how to skate and balance on a bike. As the cousins visit wen ton they kept getting exposed to each other's lifestyles like being able to go on walks at night, painting, and fireflies. On the final night they decide to try camping and at first Lila is sad because she ends up ...

  Title: Ruth and the Greenbook Genre: Historical Fiction Author: Calvin Alexander Ramsey Awards: N/A Age Group: 7 to 11 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be an educational book for the kids on how black people found innovative ways to travel safely. It would be such a good book to read if we are learning about segregation and what it was like for black people during that time.  Summary: In this book we see as Ruth and her family travel from Chicago to Alabama to visit Ruth's grandma. As the travel they have to make stops along the way but no one wants to allow them to rent a hotel room or use the restroom. When they stopped at one of Ruth's dad's friend's house and when they are about to leave the friend warns her mom and dad about what lies ahead, Jim Crow laws, and that they must be careful as they continue their journey forward. They are told to look out for Esso gas stations and that's where they will find people who will be ni...

  Title: The Hanukkah Mice  Genre: Fiction  Author: Steven Kroll  Awards: N/A Age Group: 4 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a good entertaining book to read to the class about all the different holidays that people celebrate. It's written in an entertaining and cute way with the mouse family celebrating alongside the human family. It teaches about the nights of Hanukkah in a easy to understand way.  Summary: In this book we see a family of mice run down the stairs on the first night of Hanukkah where the see the "Big People" lighting the first Hanukkah candle. That's when they see Rachel's first Hanukkah gift, a dollhouse that Mindy Mouse and her brother see is perfect for them. After the family has gone to sleep the mouse family scurries to the dollhouse to explore. Then on the second night of Hanukkah Rachel opens her gift and sees that she got some tiny furniture which the mouse family visit at night. On the thi...

  Title: The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver Genre: Biography/Nonfiction Author: Gene Barretta Awards: Bluebonnet Age Group: 4 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be a good book to read about an important person in history and the impact they had on the world. In this case it would be the agricultural world, it would help us learn more about how farmers learned to tend to their crops.  Summary: This book is about George Washington Carver and the impact he made on the agricultural world and how he was a voice for racial harmony. The book starts with George in front of a bunch of representatives where he's talking about the value of the peanut. He takes this time to talk about his secret garden that he made and kept for himself and where he learned more as he kept experimenting on the flowers growing there. After a while he became known as the "Plant Doctor." After that though he set out on a journey to see more of the world, t...

  Title: This is not my Hat  Genre: Fiction Author: Jon Klassen Awards: Caldecott  Age Group: 4 to 8 year olds Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would be good book if we are discussing topics of stealing since that is the main theme of the book. It would help teach the students that while stealing may seem fun in the moment it isn't good. Summary: This book is about a small fish that steals a hat from a big fish. He decides to swim away to somewhere he thinks the big fish and no one else can find him. At the end of the book we see what looks like the big fish who has found the little fish who stole his hat.