Picture Book #10 "Fathers, Mothers, Sisters and Brothers

Written by Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Marylin Hafner
Published by Little, Brown and Company 1991
Genre: Picture book          Poems
Theme: Family, teasing

Summary: A collection of witty poems that pokes fun at being a member of a family. It uses humor to express how children feel in certain roles they experience while growing up.

Book usage: Use this book as an introduction to poetry or just as a part of family reading time. Read with enthusiasm, they may cause giggles so I recommend choosing a time when it can be read out loud.

Picture book #9 "Grandfather's Journey"

                            Written and illustrated by Allen Say
                     Published by Houghton Mifflin Company 1993
                                                    Picture Story book
                             Caldecott Medal Winner 1994
                                       Theme: Travel

Characters: Grandfather and his grandson (narrator)
Summary: A japanese boy speaks of the places his grandfather visited and came to love. The boy picks up the same desire as his grandpa and learns how it feels to long for something old and new.
Book usage: This is a good book to use for young readers, to introduce them to different cultures. For children who are a little older the pictures in the story can be used to briefly touch on different occurrences in Japanese and American history.

Chapter book #4 " The Last Dragon"

Written by Silvana De Mari
Jacket illustrated by Chelushkin
Translated by Shaun Whiteside (originally in Italian)
Published by Miramax books 2006
Genre:Fiction   Fairy Tale
Theme: Dreams of freedom
Characters: Yorsh, Sajra, Monser, Erbow, Robi, judge administrator, Cala, Phlesh, Slump 

Summary: This is the story of an elf persecuted for what he is and a people who are persecuted by a terrible ruler. Orphans who find happiness and hope in discovering each and the desire of a better life. Through sacrifice and belief in each other they are able to make their dreams come true.

Book usage:  This is a great book for older kids who believe in dreams. It allows readers to explore their minds and imagine a world where dreams come true. Stories become real and hope is everlasting. 

Chapter Book #3 " Bud, Not Buddy"

Written by Christopher Paul Curtis
cover illustrated by Ernie Norcia
Published by Delacorte Press, division Of Random House
Genre: Chapter book- Non Fiction
Awards: Newberry Medal-Honor Book Winner 2000
             Coretta Scott King Award Winner 2000
Themes: Foster care; Family; tragedy
Characters: Bud, the Amoses, Lefty Lewis, Deza, Herman E. Calloway, Miss Thomas, Mr. Jimmy, DooDoo-Bug, Thug, Steady Eddie and Dirty Deed

Summary: A young boy decides to set off on his own, in search of his father, after another bad experience with a foster family. Along the way he is guided by a set rules he created through his own experiences. Each of "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself" is entertaining and are words to live by.

Book usage: This book is a very enjoyable one to read. It uses comedy to lighten moments of difficulties that people may experience in their lives. Even though it was set in a difficult point in U.S. history it shows how compassion can be found even in the midst of hardships.

Chapter Book #2 "Wringer"

                                  Written by Jerry Spinelli
                       Published by HarperCollins Publishers 1998
                              Genre: Chapter book- Fiction
                        Awards: Newberry Medal Honor Book 1998

Themes: Friendship, Moral dilemma
Characters: Palmer, his mom and dad, Friends- Beans, Mutto, Henry, Dorothy and Nipper

Summary: A young boy is dreading reaching puberty because it will force him to particpate in a tradition that scarred him along time ago. Before he can figure out a way from being involved, he first has to discover the true meaning of friendship. Along the way, he discovers the people who would help him decide were a couple he dreaded sharing his secret with.

Book usage: This book will help teach the process of choosing between the moral right thing to do or easy wrong. It teaches how someone can stand up for themselves and others, even if it is not popular to do so. 

Chapter book #1 " Heaven"

       
                              Written By Angela Johnson   

                       Published by Simon & Schuster 1998 
                       Chapter Book- Fiction
                       Awards: Corretta Scott King 1999

Themes: Family and relationships
Characters: Marley, Momma & Pops, Uncle Jack, Shoogy, the Maples, Bobby and Feather

Summary: A story of a teenage girl who discovers those around her may not be who she think they are. While trying to make sense of things she draws upon the experiences she viewed from watching her friends as they deal with issues of their own.

Book usage:  This book gives insight to why people may make decisions and some of the affects of those decisions. It alludes to some of the emotional pain and suffering that is prevalent in some people's lives, even today.
           

Picture Story #7 " Gone Wild; An Endangered Animal Alphabet"

                                       
Picture Book authored and illustrated by David McLimans
Published by Walker Publishing Company 2006
Awards: Caldecott Honor book
Theme: Alphabet
Characters: Endangered Animals
Summary: Illustrations, drawings or computer representations of animals representing each letter of the alphabet.
Book usage: A way to help young kids learn the alphabet by giving them animals to associate with them. Will also foster an interest in learning more about wild life.

Picture Book #8 "Leonardo the Terrible Monster"

Picture story book written and illustrated by Mo Williems
Published by Hyperion Books 2005
Theme: Friendship
Characters: Leonardo, Sam

Summary: Leonardo is having a hard time figuring out what is more important in life. On his journey to find a way to be more like his brother and sister, he finds something a whole lot better.

Book usage: A simple way of promoting good behavior towards each other.

                                  

Picture Book #6 " He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"

Picture Story Book of a Spiritual
Author: Unknown                                      Illustrated by Nadir Nelson
Published by the Penguin Group 2005

Summary: A spiritual brought to life through the usage of drawings of an African American family's experiences.

Book usage: A pictorial tool used to help kids learn a song by giving them something visual while they learn the words.

                                

Picture Book #5 "The Top Job"

Written by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Illustrated by Robert Neubecker
Published by the Penguin Group 2007
Picture Story Book
Theme: Story telling, show and tell.
Characters: a little girl, her dad, Mrs. Feeney-teacher, little girl's classmates.

Summary: This is a story about children telling the exploits of their parent's jobs. Some of the parent's jobs are unique, but one in particular is extraordinary because of its unique environments.

Book usage: It will help children learn that even things that looks and sound ordinary, can be full of adventure. They can find a source of pride in anything, when seen through the right perspective.

Picture Book #4: "Henry's Freedom Box"

written by Ellen Levine                               illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Picture story book- Historical Non-fiction
Published by Scholastic Inc. 2007
Theme: Slavery
Characters: Henry Brown, his mother, Wife-Nancy, three children, friend James, Dr. Smith.

Summary: Based on a true story about a young slave boy and the things he endured before experiencing freedom as an adult. It demonstrates the length or extremes people were willing to attempt in order to become free.

Book usage: A simplified way to introduce young readers to the tragedy of slavery and African American history. It briefly touches on the Underground Railroad as well.

Picture Book #3 " Polar Bear Nights"

Picture Story book
written by Lauren Thompson           illustrated by Stephen Savage
published by Scholastic Inc. in 2004 
Theme: adventure
Summary: A young polar cub sets out to explore the world around her.
 A good bedtime story to help a young child explore their own world through dreams, in the comfort of home.

Picture Book #2 In Daddy's Arms I AM TALL

Picture book of Poetry
Written by various African American Authors like Dakari Hru, Dinah Johnson and including Illustrator Javaka Steptoe.
Published and Edited by Lee and Low books in 1997.
Awards: Corretta Scott King Illustrator 1998
             1997 Reading Magic award

Theme: Dedication of poems to positive fathers and those who are willing to assume the role in children's lives.

Summary: A wonderful assortment of poems written in a variety of styles. The illustrations are amazing in form and context. They make the book worthwhile all by themselves :o). While several of the poems are geared towards African American fathers they really are an appreciation of strong father figures everywhere.

Picture Book #1  

Grandfather Buffalo by Jim Arnosky

Illustrated/designed by Gunta Alexander

Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons  2006

Genre: Picture Book      Youth Fiction.

Theme: Dealing with the elderly.

Characters: Grandfather Buffalo, newborn calf

Summary: This is a story about an elderly buffalo that still travelled with a herd. Due to his age he often lagged behind while the herd moved on. He displayed determination and that he was still capable of fulfilling a role within the herd.

Book use: 

This book will help children learn that because someone is older or elderly, they can still be helpful. Instead of pushing the elderly aside they can be turned to as a source of comfort and wisdom.