Some Birthday!

Polacco, P. (1993). Some Birthday!. New York, New York: Aladdin.

Brief Annotation: Everyone has forgotten Patricia's birthday and she is very upset over it. Her dad decides to take the kids for an evening at Clay Pit which is rumored to have a monster living there. They hear a noise and the dad goes to check out what is up. When their dad is gone the kids swear they come across the Clay Pit monster.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: K-4

Readers who will like this: Anyone who likes adventure and monster, scary stories around a campfire with friends or family.

Response/Rating: 3; This book was alright but it wasn't as interesting as other books by Patricia but it was still a cute story.

Question: Does anyone know any ghost or monster stories?

Bun Bun Button

Polacco, P. (2011). Bun Bun Button. New York, New York: Putnam Juvenile.

Brief Annotation: Paige loves going to her grandmother's and being with all her different pets while listening to stories. Her grandmother decides to make her a special bunny she names Bun Bun Button. She ties him to a balloon one day and he is off on an adventure through some tough times. The love of a little girl helps to bring him home to her.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: K-2

Readers who will like this: Someone with a stuffed toy they cherish just as much as Bun Bun Button and like adventure.

Response/Rating: 4; This book was adorable! I could relate to love of a stuffed toy like Paige did. A very cute story that was heart warming.

Question: Who has stuffed animal or toy that means a lot to them and why?

Thank You, Mr. Falker

Polacco, P. (1998). Thank You, Mr. Falker. New York, New York: Philomel.

Brief Annotation: A story of the author's own personal struggle with dyslexia and the teacher who finally took notice and helped with her struggle. Tricia is taunted and tormented until 5th grade by the other students with her struggle to read well like the rest. When her family moves she has the teacher named Mr. Falker who recognizes what is wrong and helps her get better with her reading.

Genre: Autobiographical

Grade Level: K-5

Readers who will like this: Anyone who is going through their own person struggles in school and can relate to this book.

Response/Rating: 4; This book was truly inspirational and loved all of it. All of Patricia's books make me want to cry and this was no exception!

Question: Has anyone ever struggled with school or reading and felt left out because of it?

Knuffle Bunny Free

Bibliography: Willems, M. (2010). Knuffle Bunny free: an unexpected diversion. New York: Balzer + Bray

Annotation: Knuffle Bunny Free, is Trixie’s final story with her precious bunny. Trixie and her parents go to Holland to visit her grandparents Oma and Opa. Trixie has a wonderful time on the plane and train to her grandparents. However once she arrives she gives her dad one look and he knows that Knuffle Bunny is missing. He calls the airport and explain that plane is on its way to China. Trixie’s parents explain to her that she is growing up and maybe she doesn’t need the bunny. Trixie tries her best to be happy and move on yet still it is very difficult for her until one night she has a dream about Knuffle Bunny’s adventures with other children and she begins to feel better. When she takes her seat on the plane to go home she notices something small in the pocket of the seat. There was her Knuffle Bunny. Trixie turns around to the crying baby behind her and asks the mother if her baby would like the bunny. Of course everyone is astonished. Trixie hands the baby Knuffly Bunny and everyone is happy. A few years later Trixie’s dad writes her a note saying how proud he is to watch her grow. When Trixie begins her family she receives a package from her dad and inside is Knuffle Bunny.

Genre: Fiction

Grade: K-4

Readers: Readers that like the series and Mo Willems books. Readers that have a special belonging that they had to part with.

Rate/Response: 10 I loved this book. This book is a really good book at teaching children how to become older with their decisions and letting go of something special to them.

Question: Has anyone every given up something that was important to them? Have you ever lost a special item on an airplane?

The Legend of the Poinsettia

Bibliography: DePaola, T. (1994). The legend of the poinsettia. Barcelona: Putnam.

Annotation: A young girl named Lucida and her mom are asked to make a blanket for baby Jesus for the manger for Christmas at their church San Gabriel. Lucida’s momma becomes very ill before Christmas and won’t be able to finish the blanket in time. Lucida begins to weave the yarn herself, however the yarn becomes tangled. Lucida takes the unfinished blanket to Senora Gomez. Lucida felt very sad and would not go to celebrate Christmas with the others because she did not have gift for baby Jesus. She met an old woman who told her that her momma will be fine and her papa will bring her home soon She also told Lucida that any gift will be good for baby Jesus, so Lucida picked some weed. Lucida asked if they would be alright but the woman was gone. Lucida placed the weeds on the manger and suddenly they burst with red stars. These plants are now known as the Flower of the Holy Night the poinsettia.

Genre: Fiction

Grade: K-4

Readers: Readers that like DePaola books will love this book. Readers that enjoy reading books about holidays and traditions will also love this book.

Rate/Response: 10 I loved this book. It was very interesting to see a story of how we received the poinsettia. I also enjoyed this book because I loved the message that it brought to children. I feel this is a great cultural book to read around the holiday season.

Question: Who has heard of a plant called the Poinsettia? Who places these plants out around the holiday season?

Babushka's Mother Goose

Bibliography: Polacco, Patricia. BABUSHKA’S MOTHER GOOSE. Philomel, 1995

Annotation: This book consists of Mother Goose stories that are the stories Patricia’s Babushka from the Ukraine. These stories are similar to Aesop, Mother Goose and Moldavain folk tales. Instead they are transformed from Patricia’s Bubushka’s memories of her home. Some of the stories are Three Babushkas, The Clay Pot, and Billy Goat.

Genre: Fiction

Grade: K-4

Readers: Readers that have Ukraine, Polish, or Russian heritage would enjoy this book. As well as other children that enjoy various culture books.

Rate/Response: 8 I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to read a different perspective of the mother goose stories. The illustrations are very playful and enhance the story for young readers.

Question: Who knows a Mother Goose story? Who knows a Mother Goose story from their Heritage that might be different from other Mother Goose stories?

The Lion & The Mouse

Bibliography: Pinkney, Jerry. The lion & the mouse. New York: Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers, 2009. Print.

Annotation: This book is a picture book with only words that are the noises of animals. The story begins with a mouse that hides form a hooting owl. The mouse then finds himself on top of a strange object. Little did he know he was on a lion. The lion growls and the mouse squeaks. The lion lets the mouse go and the mouse tells other mice what occurred by squeaking. Within in the jungle there are poachers that capture the lion in a net. The mouse hears the lions roar and comes to his aid and scratches and nibbles away the net. The mouse heads home with a piece of the net and squeaks to other mice.

Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

Grade: K-2

Readers: Beginning readers would love this book as well as children that like books with animals. Children that like to draw and enjoy picture books would also enjoy this book.

Rate/Response: 10 The illustrations in the book are phenomenal. I love how children can place their own story to the book.

Question: Who likes to draw? Are mice and lions normally friends?

2009 Caldecott Winner