Traditional Literature
Bagels from Benny - Aubrey Davis
Reading level - 3.0; Interest level - K-5
from Angela Burgess
It could always be worse - Margot Zemach
Reading level - 4.9; Interest level - 2nd-4th
from Nicole Guifarro
Fantasy
Stellaluna - Janelle Cannon
Reading level - 4.9; Interest level - pre K - 5th
from Kammie Ruth
Runaway Ralph - Beverly Cleary
Reading level - 4.1; Interest level - 3rd-5th
from Jessica Williams
Oh my, Baby Bear! - Audrey Wood
Reading level - 4.5; Interest level - K-2nd
from Roxi Harp
Multicultural
My diary from here to there - Amada Irma Perez
Reading level - 4.0; Interest level - K-5th
from Frances Phan
First day in grapes - L. King Perez
Reading level - 3.2; Interest level - 2nd-6th
from Keri Bass
Dona Flor - Pat Mora
Reading level - 3.6; Interest level - K-2nd
from Angie Selig
Realistic fiction
Love, Ruby Lavender - Deborah Wiles
Reading level - 4.2; Interest level - 3rd-5th
from Laura Cochrane
Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha! - Barbara Park
Reading level - 1.9; Interest level - K-2nd
from Cindy Brown
Biography
Helen Keller: Her life in pictures - George Sullivan
Reading level - 5.8; Interest level - 2nd-5th
from Melinda McLaughlin
Informational
Rain and shine: A first look at seasons - Sara Lynn and Dianne James
Reading level - 3.8; Interest level - K-6th
from Kristy Hollar
The Bermuda Triangle - Aaron Rudolph
Reading level - 5.0; Interest level - 5th-8th
from Angie Blair
Showing posts with label Informational. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Informational. Show all posts
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Take a Look at Snakes
BOOK ENTRY FORMAT FOR GENRE PROJECT
Information for students
Author: Betsy Maestro Title: Take a Look at Snakes
Book Genre: Informational Publishing Info: Scholastic Inc., 40
Summary: This book contains information on a variety of snakes. It tells about their habitat, food, anatomy, and their way of life. Snakes shed skin, eat live or dead prey, and have special censors that can let them know when an enemy is coming. Poisonous snakes hold their poison in their mouth and let it drip through their veins.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: lots of great information but still on a child’s level, great illustrations
Information for teachers
Reading level: 3.1 Interest level: 1.5
Thematic Areas: family, snakes, nature
Content Areas: science
Potential Problems or Difficulties: pictures of snake laying eggs and giving live birth may be not appropriate for some
Possible use in classroom: have a rat-snake for a classroom job, visit a zoo to look at the snakes, hatch snake eggs in incubator, take a hike through the woods to look for a snake skin, make a map or chart comparing and contrasting the different characteristics of the different species of snakes
Information for students
Author: Betsy Maestro Title: Take a Look at Snakes
Book Genre: Informational Publishing Info: Scholastic Inc., 40
Summary: This book contains information on a variety of snakes. It tells about their habitat, food, anatomy, and their way of life. Snakes shed skin, eat live or dead prey, and have special censors that can let them know when an enemy is coming. Poisonous snakes hold their poison in their mouth and let it drip through their veins.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: lots of great information but still on a child’s level, great illustrations
Information for teachers
Reading level: 3.1 Interest level: 1.5
Thematic Areas: family, snakes, nature
Content Areas: science
Potential Problems or Difficulties: pictures of snake laying eggs and giving live birth may be not appropriate for some
Possible use in classroom: have a rat-snake for a classroom job, visit a zoo to look at the snakes, hatch snake eggs in incubator, take a hike through the woods to look for a snake skin, make a map or chart comparing and contrasting the different characteristics of the different species of snakes
Toys! Amazing Stories Behing Some Inventions
Author: Don Wulffson
Title: Toys! Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions
Book Genre: Informational
Publishing Info: Rigby, 137 pp
Summary: This book covers the idea, creation, invention, and history of toys and games such as Mr. Potato Head, Twister, the bicycle, and Pinball. It includes pretty much every famous and loved toy and game created. Children and adults both would love to read this book!
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: This book is very interesting for children of all ages. I actually learned a lot from reading it – like in the beginning, Play-Doh only came in the color white. Children will love to get into this book and learn where their favorite toys and games came from.
Reading level: 7.8
Interest level: all ages
Thematic Areas: art; entertainment; creation
Content Areas: history; science; art; language
Potential Problems or Difficulties: No potential problems or difficulties.
Possible use in classroom: Children could write down some of their own ideas for great games and toys – and could maybe create them at home and bring them for show and tell. Class could divide up and play some educational games that are in the classroom. Older children could pick a favorite inventor and write a short paper on him/her.
Title: Toys! Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions
Book Genre: Informational
Publishing Info: Rigby, 137 pp
Summary: This book covers the idea, creation, invention, and history of toys and games such as Mr. Potato Head, Twister, the bicycle, and Pinball. It includes pretty much every famous and loved toy and game created. Children and adults both would love to read this book!
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: This book is very interesting for children of all ages. I actually learned a lot from reading it – like in the beginning, Play-Doh only came in the color white. Children will love to get into this book and learn where their favorite toys and games came from.
Reading level: 7.8
Interest level: all ages
Thematic Areas: art; entertainment; creation
Content Areas: history; science; art; language
Potential Problems or Difficulties: No potential problems or difficulties.
Possible use in classroom: Children could write down some of their own ideas for great games and toys – and could maybe create them at home and bring them for show and tell. Class could divide up and play some educational games that are in the classroom. Older children could pick a favorite inventor and write a short paper on him/her.
Food
Author: Williams, Brenda
Title: Food
Book Genre: Informational
Publishing Info: Raintree Steck-
Vaughn Publishers, 32pp.
Summary: This book provides resourceful information about various foods in a manner that is easily understood by students. A range of topics are discussed including: various types of food, organic farming, methods of farming, preserving foods, and transportation of food. All of the illustrations are actual photographs, which help students further relate to the various topics being discussed. Each page contains a short statement which suggests activities relating to nutrition or further explains particular topics. I particularly found the information about where various foods are grown and ways to preserve them as important facts that many students may be unaware. This book provides a wealth of vital nutrition information that would be helpful to any student.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: Well-written; beneficial information for students; illustrations are very realistic or actual photographs
Reading level: 3.8 Interest level: K-4th
Thematic Areas: Healthy lifestyle; nutrition
Content Areas: Health
Potential Problems or Difficulties: N/A
Possible use in classroom: Have students complete the activity as described in the text, involving making a list of foods eaten daily, followed by placing each food under its proper food group; students could research to find where many of the crops we eat are actually grown; students could create their own healthy menus, for several days, which should include only healthy foods they enjoy
Title: Food
Book Genre: Informational
Publishing Info: Raintree Steck-
Vaughn Publishers, 32pp.
Summary: This book provides resourceful information about various foods in a manner that is easily understood by students. A range of topics are discussed including: various types of food, organic farming, methods of farming, preserving foods, and transportation of food. All of the illustrations are actual photographs, which help students further relate to the various topics being discussed. Each page contains a short statement which suggests activities relating to nutrition or further explains particular topics. I particularly found the information about where various foods are grown and ways to preserve them as important facts that many students may be unaware. This book provides a wealth of vital nutrition information that would be helpful to any student.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: Well-written; beneficial information for students; illustrations are very realistic or actual photographs
Reading level: 3.8 Interest level: K-4th
Thematic Areas: Healthy lifestyle; nutrition
Content Areas: Health
Potential Problems or Difficulties: N/A
Possible use in classroom: Have students complete the activity as described in the text, involving making a list of foods eaten daily, followed by placing each food under its proper food group; students could research to find where many of the crops we eat are actually grown; students could create their own healthy menus, for several days, which should include only healthy foods they enjoy
Tsunami Monster Waves
Information for Students
Author: Mary Dodson Wade Title: Tsunami Monster Waves
Book Genre: Informational Publishing Info: Enslow pp. 48
Summary: Although
Personal Rating: ****
Rationale: Well-written, descriptive illustrations and photographs, problems related to tsunami disasters, descriptive and informational plot
Information for Teachers
Reading Level: 5.7 Interest Level: 4th-6th
Thematic Areas: Waves; earthquakes; death; destruction of land; troughs; crests
Content Areas: Oceanography; meteorology; history; science
Potential Problems or Difficulties: Children could develop fear of the ocean because the death and destruction of land that the tsunamis created. Information is a little “jumpy”, not sticking to certain topics.
Possible Use in Classroom: Read about Tsunamis on the internet, good site for this would be the National Geographic WORLD site. Discover how Tsunamis or formed. Find an eyewitness account from someone who survived a Tsunami (in either a newspaper or a real survivor) and have a class discussion. Have a discussion on what causes waves and tsunamis, and list ideas. Search the internet and discover facts about how waves and tsunamis are developed. Construct a Venn diagram, compare, and contrast tsunamis and waves.
Blair
Cnameleons Are Cool
Author: Martin Jenkins Title: Chameleons Are Cool
Book Genre: Informational Book Publishing Info: Candlewick Press, 29 pp
Summary: The book brings to life the appealing aspects of one of the 4,000 lizards around the world, the chameleon. The book uses great illustration and data to enlighten young readers. The young boy narrating the story talks about the chameleon being the coolest reptile in the world because of their different sizes, features, and appetites. This is a great informational book that will attract young readers!
Personal Rating: ****
Rationale: Well-written, great illustrations, accurate info, text is clear and interesting
Reading Level: 4.8 Interest Level: K-3rd
Thematic Areas: Chameleon’s, reptiles, habitat, survival
Subject Content: Science, Art, Geography
Possible problems or difficulties: N/A
Possible uses in the classroom: Art: In the book there are many physical characteristics mentioned about the chameleon. Have the students list some of these characteristics on the board and them have them draw their own chameleon, including the characteristics.
For a geography lesson, have the students locate Madagascar, Africa, where the chameleons come from. After they have located it on the map have them use the Internet to find one small fact about this area and share in a discussion circle.
For a Science lesson on reptiles use this book to read aloud to the class before starting the unit. I think this book will really get their attention.
Book Genre: Informational Book Publishing Info: Candlewick Press, 29 pp
Summary: The book brings to life the appealing aspects of one of the 4,000 lizards around the world, the chameleon. The book uses great illustration and data to enlighten young readers. The young boy narrating the story talks about the chameleon being the coolest reptile in the world because of their different sizes, features, and appetites. This is a great informational book that will attract young readers!
Personal Rating: ****
Rationale: Well-written, great illustrations, accurate info, text is clear and interesting
Reading Level: 4.8 Interest Level: K-3rd
Thematic Areas: Chameleon’s, reptiles, habitat, survival
Subject Content: Science, Art, Geography
Possible problems or difficulties: N/A
Possible uses in the classroom: Art: In the book there are many physical characteristics mentioned about the chameleon. Have the students list some of these characteristics on the board and them have them draw their own chameleon, including the characteristics.
For a geography lesson, have the students locate Madagascar, Africa, where the chameleons come from. After they have located it on the map have them use the Internet to find one small fact about this area and share in a discussion circle.
For a Science lesson on reptiles use this book to read aloud to the class before starting the unit. I think this book will really get their attention.
Monday, July 28, 2008
I Pledge Allegiance
Information for students
Author: Bill Martin, Jr. /Michael Sampson Title: I Pledge Allegiance
Book Genre: informational Publisher: Candlewick Press
Summary: So often children memorize the Pledge of Allegiance and have no idea what they are pledging to. This is a great book that breaks down the Pledge by phrases and words, and tells exactly what these words and phrases mean. Even adults will have a better understanding of the Pledge of Allegiance after reading this book.
Personal rating: *****
Pages: 40
Rationale: wonderfully written book, easy to read, illustrations match the text
Information for teachers
Reading level: 2.6 Interest level: ages 4-8
Thematic Areas: the pledge of allegiance, flag, promise, loyalty, states, United States of America, God, liberty, justice
Content Areas: social studies, history, state history, geography, art
Potential Problems or Difficulties: I do not foresee any problems
Possible use in classroom:
· Further explain to students what pledges mean, ask children to think of examples of other pledges that people make, such as marriage vows, Girl and Boy Scout pledges, pledge to do their homework; have them write down or read aloud a pledge that they have made
· Some of the concepts of the Pledge of Allegiance are connected with famous symbols, including the Statue of Liberty. Discuss these symbols and have your students to draw one of their choice
· Revisit the page that describes the United States. Together, list your own state’s name, song, bird, flower, favorite food, flag and anything else your state is known for. Have students to draw pictures of your state based upon the items on your list.
· Find a book about Betsy Ross and teach children her story of how the first American flag was made. Give students red, white and blue strips of paper and let them make their own flag.
Author: Bill Martin, Jr. /Michael Sampson Title: I Pledge Allegiance
Book Genre: informational Publisher: Candlewick Press
Summary: So often children memorize the Pledge of Allegiance and have no idea what they are pledging to. This is a great book that breaks down the Pledge by phrases and words, and tells exactly what these words and phrases mean. Even adults will have a better understanding of the Pledge of Allegiance after reading this book.
Personal rating: *****
Pages: 40
Rationale: wonderfully written book, easy to read, illustrations match the text
Information for teachers
Reading level: 2.6 Interest level: ages 4-8
Thematic Areas: the pledge of allegiance, flag, promise, loyalty, states, United States of America, God, liberty, justice
Content Areas: social studies, history, state history, geography, art
Potential Problems or Difficulties: I do not foresee any problems
Possible use in classroom:
· Further explain to students what pledges mean, ask children to think of examples of other pledges that people make, such as marriage vows, Girl and Boy Scout pledges, pledge to do their homework; have them write down or read aloud a pledge that they have made
· Some of the concepts of the Pledge of Allegiance are connected with famous symbols, including the Statue of Liberty. Discuss these symbols and have your students to draw one of their choice
· Revisit the page that describes the United States. Together, list your own state’s name, song, bird, flower, favorite food, flag and anything else your state is known for. Have students to draw pictures of your state based upon the items on your list.
· Find a book about Betsy Ross and teach children her story of how the first American flag was made. Give students red, white and blue strips of paper and let them make their own flag.
Rain Forests
Information for students
Author: Osborne, Will & Osborne, Mary Pope Title: Magic Tree House Research Guide:
Rain Forests
Book Genre: Informational Publishing Info: Random House; 119 pp.
Summary: Rain Forests is a book children will enjoy reading, as well as learning about many rain forest species, such as Goliath Beetles, Army Ants, Tropical Pitcher Plants, and the People of the Rain Forest. Jack and Annie will guide you through your reading adventure with interesting facts, maps, diagrams, and pictures. The authors suggest additional books to read, websites to visit, and videos to watch about the rain forest. The reader will learn the answers to questions like: How much rain falls in the rain forest? What is the world’s heaviest insect? Let the learning begin!
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: excellent display of information; information is organized in a logical sequence; clear and interesting text; appropriate vocabulary; glossary; maps; reference aids; uncluttered visuals
Information for teachers
Reading level: 5.0 Interest level: 1st-6th
Thematic Areas: animals; rain forest; exploring;
Content Areas: science; mathematics; computers; art; language arts
Potential Problems or Difficulties: black and white pictures
Possible use in classroom: use in a science unit about the rain forest; do this unit near a field trip to the zoo; explore activities at www.randomhouse.com/magictreehouse during computer time; make a booklet of rain forest animal (draw or use picture clipping) with facts; experiment how long it would take for a sloth to move across the classroom (sloths can cross a living room in one hour); find products in the classroom/school that came originated from the rain forest; use various Magic Tree House Research Guide books for literature circles
Teachers can access activities to all Magic Tree House Research Guide books at http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/magicth/guides/researchguide.html
Author: Osborne, Will & Osborne, Mary Pope Title: Magic Tree House Research Guide:
Rain Forests
Book Genre: Informational Publishing Info: Random House; 119 pp.
Summary: Rain Forests is a book children will enjoy reading, as well as learning about many rain forest species, such as Goliath Beetles, Army Ants, Tropical Pitcher Plants, and the People of the Rain Forest. Jack and Annie will guide you through your reading adventure with interesting facts, maps, diagrams, and pictures. The authors suggest additional books to read, websites to visit, and videos to watch about the rain forest. The reader will learn the answers to questions like: How much rain falls in the rain forest? What is the world’s heaviest insect? Let the learning begin!
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: excellent display of information; information is organized in a logical sequence; clear and interesting text; appropriate vocabulary; glossary; maps; reference aids; uncluttered visuals
Information for teachers
Reading level: 5.0 Interest level: 1st-6th
Thematic Areas: animals; rain forest; exploring;
Content Areas: science; mathematics; computers; art; language arts
Potential Problems or Difficulties: black and white pictures
Possible use in classroom: use in a science unit about the rain forest; do this unit near a field trip to the zoo; explore activities at www.randomhouse.com/magictreehouse during computer time; make a booklet of rain forest animal (draw or use picture clipping) with facts; experiment how long it would take for a sloth to move across the classroom (sloths can cross a living room in one hour); find products in the classroom/school that came originated from the rain forest; use various Magic Tree House Research Guide books for literature circles
Teachers can access activities to all Magic Tree House Research Guide books at http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/magicth/guides/researchguide.html
Friday, July 25, 2008
How Do Frogs Swallow With Their Eyes?
Author: Berger, Melvin and Gilda
Title: How Do Frogs Swallow With Their Their Eyes?
Genre: Informational
Publishing Information: Scholastic Reference, 48 pp.
Summary: This colorful book is filled with all kinds of information about amphibians. Just about anything that you would ever want to know about amphibians can be found in this book. The book gives information such as what amphibians eat, where they live, what sizes they are, and how they camouflage themselves from their enemies, the life cycle of a frog. If you are interested in these creatures this book is for you.
Personal rating: **** Great
Rationale: Well written, great illustrations, great questions and answer format
Reading level: 3.9 Interest level: 2nd – 5th
Thematic Areas: Nature, Environment, Natural Habitats, Amphibians
Content Areas: Animal Science, Math, Language Arts, Movement, Research, Art
Potential Problems or Difficulties: length, sophisticated vocabulary
Possible use in classroom:
Content Areas: Animal Science, Math, Language Arts, Movement, Research, Art
Potential Problems or Difficulties: length, sophisticated vocabulary
Possible use in classroom:
*Students could make a chart comparing and contrasting different characteristics of amphibians mentioned in the book. (length, weight, colors, habitats) Students could cut lengths of yarn to represent the varying lengths of amphibians in the book. Then they could compute the length of one amphibian compared to the other. For example how much longer is the Japanese giant salamander compared to the African Goliath frog?
*The teacher could do a unit study on amphibians and use this book as a resource.
*The teacher could list several different amphibians on separate slips of paper and have students pull out of a “hat” to select which amphibian to conduct research on. Students could even create an art project to go along with the information they find on their subject. Students would pick a method of presenting their information to the class.
*Students could play a game where they move like a certain amphibian (i.e. frog, caecilian, salamander)
*Students could make a poster that showed the life cycle of a frog from egg to adult stage. They could have tadpoles in the classroom so they could watch them grow over time.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Look, Listen, Taste, Touch, and Smell
Author: Pamela Hill Nettleton Title: Look, Listen, Taste, Touch, and Smell
Book Genre: Informational
Publishing Info: Picture Window Books, MN, 2004 (24pgs)
Summary: The story uses the person reading the book as the main character. This is an introduction of the five senses and the parts of the body that performs sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. It goes through the five senses and how you use them. It makes you think of times and ways in which you use your senses.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: This book is very helpful in explaining how each one of the senses are important and giving details of how people use them. The pictures are very helpful in getting the authors story across.
Information for teachers
Reading level: 3.1 Interest level: Pre-K thru 4th
Thematic Areas: the five senses, learning about yourself
Content Areas: Health, senses that humans possess
Potential Problems or Difficulties: If some students are not able to use or do not have one of the senses.
Possible use in classroom: Have students look at a picture of people using their senses and make a list of ways that he or she sees people using their senses. Compare list with a friend.
-Have students take a taste test. Prove that a person’s nose and tongue work together to help taste. Plug the nose, and take a bite of a warm chocolate-chip cookie. Now, unplug the nose and take another bite. Does the cookie taste better the first or second time?
-Have students feel in a bag to see if they know what an object is. Have students look at an object and tell what it is. Have students taste an object and see if they know what it is. Have students listen and see if they know what certain objects are. Have students smell and see if they know what certain objects are. Have the students write about their experience, maybe they saw that they like using several senses together or that they prefer a sense over another. What it was like not to be able to use the other senses while figuring out the objects.
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