Book Trailer

Traditional Literature #2

Book Title: "Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story"Author: Tomie dePaolaIllustrator: Tomie dePaolaPublisher: Puffin Books, Copyright 2004Number of pages: 40Genre: Traditional Literature

Much like our American Cinderella, a beautiful young girl named Adelita lives with her evil stepmother and stepsisters. There is a young Prince, Javier, that is in search of a wife. Adelita loses her rebozo - shawl - while rushing out of the fiesta at midnight, and this is the only clue that can can help the young Prince find the beautiful Adelita! This is a beautiful Mexican twist on the popular fairy tale we call Cinderella.

dePaola does an exquisite job with the paintings in this story. He really showcases the folk art of Mexico.

Grade Level: KContent Area: 6 ) Compare cultural similarities and differences in individuals, families, and communities.Examples: celebrations, food, traditions

I would do a comparison of both stories, American and Hispanic, of Cinderella. The students could talk about things that are the same and things that are different. This would take quite a bit of prompting from the teacher, but I believe that the kids would enjoy it. This would especially help you connect with your ELL's in the classroom. 

Traditional Literature #1

Book Title: "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs"
Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Lane Smith
Publisher: Puffin Books, Copyright 1996
Number of pages: 32
Genre: Traditional Literature

Just when you think you know the story of the three little pigs...you don't. "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" is a comical twist on the original fairy tale often told to young children. This particular version is told from the wolf's point of view. It turns out that those three little pigs may not be as innocent as we thought!

The illustrations are very simple and maybe even a little wacky, but they do an awesome job telling the story.

Grade level:1st
Content Area: ELA
Standard: 2) Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. [RL.1.2]

I chose to use this book with 1st grade because I saw it done in my practicum classroom this semester. I would read the story aloud and then use it for a retell. The students would be able to use retell cards, sticks, or even digital storytelling apps.

Poetry #2

Poem Title: "Dust of Snow"
Author: Robert Frost
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: London Mercury, Copyright 1020 (Original)
Number of pages: 1
Genre: Poetry

"The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued."

Grade level: 5th
Content Area: ELA
Standard: 20) Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words [RF.5.3] 

a. Use combined knowledge of all letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morphology (e.g., roots and affixes) to read accurately unfamiliar multisyllabic words in context and out of context. [RF.5.3a]

I would use this for 5th grade as a reading activity. I would introduce the new vocabulary word, "rued," read the poem aloud using different modes of reading (i.e. choral reading and partner reading), and follow up with a class discussion. I would be able to hear them read aloud and listen for fluency in their reading.

Poetry #1

Poem Title: "Twas The Night Before Christmas"
Author: Clement C. Moore
Illustrator: Elena Almazova & Vitaly Shvarov
Publisher: Grafton and Scratch Publishers, Copyright 2013 (Reprint edition)
Number of pages: 32
Genre: Poetry

"Twas the night before Christmas and all throughout the house.." is a classic children's poem about the excitement of Santa making his visits on Christmas Eve night. This is a 21st century edition that is made a little more child friendly for today's young readers.

The illustrations are so much fun and inviting! Almazova and Shvarov did an amazing job providing the pictures for this 21st century version of a very old, but classic children's poem.

Grade level: 2nd
Content Area: ELA (Writing)
Standard: 24) Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure. [W.2.3]

I would read this with 2nd grade as a read aloud. I would then have them write their own poem about the night before Christmas in their own house. This would allow them to get creative in their writing and practice creating poetry of their own.

Historical Fiction #2

Book Title: The War the Saved My LifeAuthor: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group, Copyright 2016
Number of pages: 352
Genre: Historical Fiction

During WWII, a young girl named Ada has been cooped up in their tiny one bedroom apartment her entire life. Her mother is too embarrassed of her twisted foot to let her go anywhere, but she quickly steals her chance to sneak away. Her brother is going to be shipped out of the country because of the war and Ada finds herself sneaking with him. They meet a woman named Susan and develop such a loving relationship. Will the bond between Susan, Ada, and her brother, Jamie be strong enough to withstand the war?

There are no illustrations, being that this is a chapter book, but the picture on the cover is intriguing! The reader is able to see a little girl staring off in the distance, and the twisted foot that is responsible for keeping her captive.

Grade level: 4th
Content Area: ELA
Standard: 3) Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions). [RL.4.3]

I would use this in a fourth grade classroom as a read loud. This book may be a little above some of the students' independent reading level, but I feel as though the content would be enriching for them. I would hold discussions with them daily as we read through the book, as well as have them create journal entires to organize their thoughts as we read. After reading the story, I would have them choose a character (Ads, Jamie, or Susan) and analyze them on their own. They would then have the opportunity to create some kind of presentation on the character, digital if they have access to iPads, and then share their presentations with the class. They can also post it to SeeSaw, class Facebook or Instagram pages, or even a class blog.

Historical Fiction #1

Book Title: Bud, Not BuddyAuthor: Christopher Paul Curtis
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Delacorte Press for Young Readers, Copyright 1999
Number of pages: 256
Genre: Historical Fiction

Bud, Not Buddy is about a young African American boy that happens to be an orphan during the Great Depression. Bud lives in Flint, Michigan and quickly learns that things will not work in his favor simply because of the color of his skin. He's on a journey in search of his birth father, who he seems to think he's found in a band. Bud learns the true meaning of family and love in this historically rich novel for young readers.

There are no illustrations, but the cover of the book does a great job depicting the main character of the story, Bud.

Grade Level: 5th
Content Area: ELA
Standard: 2 ) Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. [RL.5.2]

I would use this book in a 5th grade classroom for both ELA and a short Social Studies lesson on the Great Depression. The characters, setting, and events could all be compared and discussed throughout the novel. I would read this book with my students aloud daily and hold discussions from there. I would be able to listen to their responses and provide them feedback on the responses they provide, right then and there. 

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Contemporary Realistic Fiction Blog #2

Book Title: "No, David!"
Author: David Shannon
Illustrator: David Shannon
Publisher: Blue Sky Press, Copyright 1998
Number of pages: 32
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction 

When David Shannon was just a young boy, 5 years old to be exact, he just could not stay out of trouble. He broke every single one of his mom's rules. All he ever heard his mother say was, "No, David!" He did everything from showing a mouth full of food at dinner to breaking his mother's vase. He sees at the end, however, that his mother only does it out of love!

The illustrations are so fun and colorful! They are hysterical to look at and do an excellent job of illustrating the events of the story. The reader will always get a kick out David Shannon's accurate picture of David breaking all of the rules.

Grade Level: 1st grade
Content Area: ELA
Standard: 2) Retells stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

This would be a great story for retell with 1st grade! They could recount the events that took place in the correct order. They could do this in a number of ways- retell cards, popsicle stick retell with picture clues glued on them, digital storytelling apps, and even through simple discussion.

Contemporary Realistic Fiction Book Blog #1

Book Title: Because of Winn-DixieAuthor: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Candlewick, Copyright 2009
Number of pages: 288
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

One day a young girl named Opal heads down to the grocery store to get some groceries and she stumbles upon a new friend...a dog that she decides to take home and name Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie became her very best friend and was the reason for several things- Opal finally made new friends and got the courage to ask her father about her mother that abandoned them when she was just 3 years old. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal learned true friendship and had the Sumer of her life!

Because of Winn-Dixie is a chapter book, so there are no illustrations. However the cover to the book is so child friendly and inviting. The original publication pictures a little girl walking along with her dog, Opal and Winn-Dixie.
Grade Level: 5th grade

Content Area: ELA
Standard: 2) Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in a text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. [RL.5.2]

In my classroom, I would use this to help my students practice determining the theme of a story and summarizing the text. They could do a writing assignment for summarizing the text and publish it on some kind of digital platform when finished. This book could be a part of a Literature Focus Unit in which the students are working with the book in small groups. They would each have a specific job and rotate each day. Within these groups, they can work together to determine the theme of the story.