Hedgie's Surprise

Bibliographic Information: Brett, Jan. (2000). Hedgie's Surprise. Jan Brett. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Brief Annotation: Tomten grows tired of eating porridge every day and decides to eat Hen's eggs. Hen knows that Tomten is stealing potential chicks and she doesn't know how to get Tomten to stop taking her eggs. She and Hedgie come up with a plan and they definitely surprise Tomten!
Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: Pre K-2
Readers who will like this: Readers who enjoy stories of farm animals and Tomten will enjoy this story.
Response/Rating (1-4): I rate this book a 4! I love Jan Brett's work. The illustrations are so detailed, authentic and full of life. Her stories are true to the culture and location in which they take place, so-much-so, that the reader feels like they are in the story!
One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you think Hedgie's surprise will be? Who do you think will be surprised? Where do you think this story takes place? How have you been surprised?

Thunder Cake

Bibliographic Information: Polacco, Patricia. (1990). Thunder Cake. Patricia Polacco. New York, NY: Putnam & Grosset Group.

Brief Annotation: A little girl discovers her own strength when she faces her fear, the storm, as she bakes a cake with her Babushka.
Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: Pre K-4
Readers who will enjoy this book: Anyone who has been afraid of the storm and have confronted that fear will enjoy this story. Readers who enjoy stories of life on a farm will also enjoy this book.
Response/Rating (1-4): I rate this book a 4! This book is sweet and it reminds me of my own Abuela's (Grandma) wisdom and quiet strength. I love how Polacco mixes and combines different patterns, colors and textures to this book. And, although the faces of Babushka and the girl are done in black and white, they are full of expression. I can't wait to use this in a read aloud!
One question you would ask before a read aloud: What is a Babushka? Can anyone guess what is a Thunder Cake? What do you think the Thunder Cake is made of?