Pinky and Rex and the Bully By James Howe and illustrated by Melissa Sweet (1996)

As a reader I liked how this book pointed out a different kind of bullying. The gender roles that are challenged in this book are what make it interesting. Pinky is a boy whose favorite color is pink and his best friend is Rex, who is a girl. The author picked names that were very opposite, but I think that it did a good job making the point for younger readers.

As a teacher I would use this beginners chapter book in small groups. I want kids to understand that anyone can like the color pink, no matter what their gender. I would use this book as a way to discuss with students what they think of gender roles, and to make sure that they understand that they are all free to be individuals. I think that this would also be a good opportunity for students to role play what they would do if they were confronted by a bully.

Betty Lou Blue By Nancy Crocker and Illustrated by Boris Kulikov (2006)

I really enjoyed this book. The whole book was written as a rhyme, which made it flow off of the tongue and made it enjoyable to read. I enjoyed the message behind the book, about how some people can't control their differences so they shouldn't be bullied for them. I also liked how they pointed out that some differences can end up helping a person.

As a teacher this might be a book that I would start a bullying unit with. I think that students would like how the whole book rhymed. I would want the students to take away the fact that Betty Lou may have had big feet, but that was something that was out of her control, and so that was not something they should bully her for. She overcame her bullys by being the better person and saving them all from the snow storm, which should show students that people have so much more to offer. I think that this would also be an interesting book to do a reader's theater with. Since the words rhyme, it could help with their fluency when they perform it. A poetry lesson could also come from this book where students could write a poem based on this story.

Quiet in the Garden Written and Illustrated by Aliki (2009)

I really enjoyed this book. I think that it is a book that many children would love to read, because the pictures were colorful and the book was informative, but it was told in a way that made learning fun. I liked how at the end of the story the author included how the reader could plant their own garden.

As a teacher I would use this book for younger grades. I would probably use it to tie into a science lesson about plants and gardens. I think that it would be a great resource to talk about how to plant a garden, and what certain animals eat in gardens. In the back of the book the page on how to create a garden would be a good way to tie the science lesson in. Students could plant a flower, grass, a vegetable or something else and watch it grow, just like the boy in the story watches his garden grow and learns about what the different bugs eat.

Lilly's Big Day Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes (2006)

As a reader, I enjoyed this book. I could definitely see loving this book when I was younger, since I always dreamed of being a flower girl. I thought that the book used a lot of humor when Henkes made Lilly act as though the whole day was about her. I think that a lot of little girls and adults can relate to this story because being in a wedding is something many people think about.

As a teacher I would use this book in a small reading group. I think that this book would really get girls who may be reluctant to read, interested in reading. The books are funny and colorful with a story that many young girls can relate to. There are also other books about Lilly written by Henkes, and so this might spark an interest in students going out on their own and reading other books about Lilly or other picture books with similar plots. I think that this book could really help young readers get interested in reading and learning more.

Spuds By Karen Hesse and illustrated by Wendy Watson (2008)

As a reader, I found the language of this book to be hard to follow. The characters talked in broken English, which was what made it harder to follow. However, I did enjoy the plot of the story. The children all had to go out to pull their weight in the family so that they might enjoy a meal. They try to help their mother out, only to find they have collected mostly rocks instead of potatoes. Although the language was hard to follow I enjoyed the book overall.

As a teacher, I might use this book as an accompaniment to a social studies lesson. This book shows a family that is struggling financially when the children decide to go harvest potatoes. The farmer could have turned them away, but he says that if they pick up stones they can keep the potatoes they find. This could be linked to a lesson on the Great Depression to relate it to the struggles that families went through at that time.

Chrysanthemum Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes (1991)

I thought that this book was a cute children's book that I think a lot of kids would like. It used language that could be read by early readers, but the themes explored in the book were ones that could be used for any age level. I liked how it showed a different side to bullying besides physical and verbal abuse. This shows classmates making fun of Chrysanthemum for her name, something that she can't change, and how they eventually learn that all names should be appreciated.

I would use this in a classroom either in a small reading group or as a read aloud book. I think this would be a good book to help introduce the topic of name calling and making fun of others for things that they cannot control. A good writing lesson could also come from this book. Students could write about their name and what it means to them or write a story about their name. This might also be a good opportunity for them to research the actual meaning of their names and share it with the class. This book could help create a good classroom community.

Hook Written and Illustrated by Ed Young (2009)

As a reader I found this book confusing at first, but after reading it a second time it became more clear. The illustrations in this picture book are amazing and really help to tell the story since there aren't as many words. I really enjoyed the message in this book about how persistence can get you where you want to be.

As a teacher I would use this book as a read aloud book. Since it is about an eagle, it could be tied into a social studies lesson. This book would also be a good lesson on persistence. The eagle doesn't learn to fly the first time it tries, it takes a few trys and a lot of persistence for the eagle to fly. This can help teach students that not everything will come easily to them, but if they keep trying they will eventually reach their goals.

Chester the Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully By Audrey Penn and illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson (2008)

As a reader I thought that this was a good book that spreads a good message. Chester's mother tells the animals at school that in order to overcome their bully that they need tobefriend him. She compares the bully to a rough blue stone, and to get it like the other stones soft and smooth, that everyone needed to work together to work away the rough spots. As I said, I really liked the message behind this book and think that it could be useful to a lot of children who are bullied.

As a teacher I would use this book to either start or end a unit on bullying. It puts the serious issue of bullying and puts it into words and an analogy that a child would understand. I would use this book as a read aloud book, and then discuss other strategies besides asking the bully to play ball that might work to get the bully to stop. Students might like this book because it makes solving the bullying problem seem like it could be done easily, which is why it would be important to discuss other strategies and tell them that it might not be as easy as this book lets on.

Never Take a Shark to the Dentist (and other things not to do) By Judi Barrett and illustrated by John Nickle (2008)

As a reader I really enjoyed this book. There wasn't much text, but the pictures did a lot of the talking. The book is a silly book that tells you what not to do, like never knit a hat for a moose or take a giraffe to the movies. My favorite illustration was the never take a giraffe to the movies, because the page folds open until you finally see the top of his head. Although this is such a simple book, the idea behind it is really cute and I could see a lot of people enjoying it.

As a teacher I would love using this book. I think that the students would really enjoy being read to and taking time to look at the pictures. One activity that could come out of this is having students think of their own page to add to the book, much like what we did with the book "If..." in class. Students could write their own page and then draw their own pictures to go along with their phrase. I think that this book would be a good book to use as a break from the normal lessons when there is free time available.

Beany and the Meany Written by Susan Wojciechowski and Illustrated by Susanna Natti (2005)

As a reader I really enjoyed this book. At first I thought that it might not be very good, but I really thought the message behind it was great. Many books that deal with bullying ignore helping the bully and focus on the target. In the case of this book, the reader sees the tremendous amount of responsibility that is placed on Kevin. This gives some insight into why some bullies behave the way that they do. Once Beany befriended him and he finally found a friend, he began to open up.

As a teacher I would definitely use this book. I would probably use it in a reading group where we could go chapter by chapter and discuss waht is happening. I want students to realize that although bullies may be mean sometimes, they also might have some really hard stuff they are dealing with at home. To better understand how to stop bullying we need to look at what the bullies are going through, and this book gives us a good opportunity for that. This book could spark discussions about other books about bullying and we could look more indepth as to why other bullies might be acting out.

Emmet Written and illustrated by Leo Politi (1971)

As a reader, I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the illustrations were wonderful and really liked how he would include smaller illustrations on one page, and on about every other page there was a two page spread of what the story was telling. Even though this book is older, I think that a lot of today's children and adults would enjoy it. I also think that one message that could come from this book is that you shouldn't count someone out as being useful even if they might seem to be in the say, they eventually may really help you out. I think that this lesson would come to be really useful for students and adults.

As a teacher I think that I would use this book with a small group. On some pages there is a lot of text, which could help kids fluency if they read it aloud. I would also do this with a small group because it would be easier for each student to take the time to look at the illustrations in depth. Since there are pages of text followed by an illustration of what happened on two full pages, the illustrations really require students to study them carefully. One activity that could be done with this is having students write a one page story and then draw a full page illustration of what is happening in their story.

The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide Book 1 By Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

This book was definitly a quick read. It had a hint of mystery throughout it, which made me want to keep reading to see what was going to happen in the end, however, it never really takes you anywhere in the first book so in order to find out what happens you have to read the whole series. Althought the book was interesting, I don't see myself seeking out the other five books to see what will happen, but I could definitly see why a student would enjoy reading the series.

In a classroom, I would probably use this book as a free choice book or as a small reading group book. It might become useful if there is a student who doesn't enjoy reading, because they might be interested in more mysterious types of books. Reading this book might also create an interest in other similar books, so if it gets uninterested kids engaged, that is a good thing. I also think that if children pick this as a free choice book when they finish early, it will help them to practice their reading skills by starting with a smaller chapter book and eventually having them move on to bigger, more complex ones.

The Misfits By James Howe

I really enjoyed this book. I thought that it dealt with a lot of major issues that kids face today. In the media we hear of more and more suicides from young children and teenagers, and part of the root problem lays in students getting picked on in school. The issues that this book brings out I believe are really important and need to be addressed. The name calling and picking on kids really needs to stop in schools and can't be ignored anymore by administration or teachers. Just like the principal and teacher in this book, other school officials need to realize that bullying is a problem in schools. I really enjoyed this book just because of that fact, it brings a tough issue that people don't enjoy discussing out in the light for others to see.

As a teacher I would definitly use this in my classroom if I taught upper elementary or junior high. This deals with a lot of issues that many of these students are going through and so I'm sure a lot of students will be able to relate to the story. Since this book deals with homosexuality, I think that I would want to send a letter home to parents to let them know that we are reading this book and also why we are reading it. I would want them to be on my side while reading the book and I want them to understand the importance of the messages throughout this book and how reading and discussing the book will help their children in the future. If I brought this into the classroom I would make sure that the students are aware of the issues that are going to be addressed in this book, and for them to gain the most from it they need to be mature while reading and discussing it. Also, I would assign a few chapters a night and have a discussion the next day about what they read the night before. One activity that might be helpful while reading this book, is when we get to the chapter where the characters make a list of the names they have been called to have students make their own lists. Once their lists have been made they can make signs like the characters in the book with the names crossed out, and then hang them around the room. Overall, this book had a lot of great lessons that could really help to create a better environment in classrooms for a lot of students.

The Giver By Lois Lowry

As a reader, I found this book to be confusing at points throughout. Once I got the hang of what was going on, I caught on fairly quickly, but then the end left me wondering again what happened. That is also part of what made this book a good one to read though. It keeps the reader engaged by making them wonder what is going to happen next, and makes it so you want to continue turning the page to see what happens in the end. I noticed this when they skipped his name in the ceremony. Instead of stopping at the end of the chapter you just had to keep reading to find out why it got skipped. Same with when he meets the giver and starts his training, you want to see how the giver is going to train him and the things that he will pass on.

As a teacher I could see myself using this book. I would use it for upper elementary or junior high school because I'm not sure how well it would go over with younger kids. I think that reading this book with students would require a lot of discussion and clarification. I would assign a few chapters a night and discuss them the next day, so that everyone gets the chance to see what is happening in the book. This book might also carry over to a social studies lesson where kids could describe their perfect world. Discussions about utopian and dystopian societies could cross over to social studies as well. A thought provoking discussion could be started by asking students if they would like a world like this, where they are sheltered from everything, or if they would rather have the freedom to choose what they want to do like when they get a bike and when they cut their hair, etc. It would also be interesting to have students draw what they think this society looks like, and then  make another drawing or model of what their perfect society would look like. Overall, I think that this book would be a good one to use with older students and would initiate conceptual thinking about the world they live in.

Ginger and Petunia (2007) By Patricia Polacco

I thought that this book was pretty good, and very imaginative by having the pig pretend to be a human. I can definitly see a child enjoying reading this book and hearing all the crazy things that Petunia does as she pretends to be Ginger. The illustrations were really good and told a lot of the story beyond the words, and gave a good visual as to what was going on in the story.

As a teacher I would use this book to talk about friendships. Since Ginger did so much to take care of Petunia, Petunia felt that she needed to do all that she could to fulfill Ginger's obligations while she was away, even if it meant putting aside her own needs. It would be a good opportunity to talk about not being selfish and to help out your loved ones who do so much for them, and it does so in such a cute way by using a pig pretending to be a human to get the point across. Each child could take time to think about who their Petunia is, and who they would do anything for.

Emma's Turtle (2007) By Eve Bunting Illustrated by Marsha Winborn

This is a good book to read to anyone who might have a pet. I'm sure many children read to their pets and tell them their secrets and many other things, so a lot of people can probably relate to this story. I actually had a turtle when I was younger, and remember always taking it everywhere, and so this book reminded me of when I was younger and loved having a pet.

As a teacher I would use this book to tell students it is okay to follow their dreams, like the turtle did. He heard so many great things from Emma and one day he decided he needed to see them for himself. Although he didn't make it past the second tree in the yard, he still took a risk and followed his dream and met some other animals along the way. It could also be a good book to show that people from other places aren't that different from you, and to not be afraid of meeting new people and discovering new things. After reading this story it might be a good writing project for the students to write about one of their dreams they want to pursue when they get older.

Black and White (1990) By David Macaulay Caldecott Award Winner

This book was confusing at first, even to an adult, so I could definitely see a child sitting down with this trying to figure it out for awhile. Once I got the hang of it, I saw how each of the four stories all intertwined with one another, and found that very clever and creative, not like any other book I have ever seen before. This is one of those books that reading it multiple times would bring out more of the story each time.

I would use this book in my classroom as a free choice book. I could see students partner reading, trying to connect the stories and using the illustrations to guide their way through the stories. It would be a good early finisher book, since it takes thinking to go through the pages. Each page has so many different details in each picture, which requires attention to each page and so it could really capture a young reader’s attention.

The Alphabet Tree (1968) By Leo Lionni

I really liked this book from first glance, because it looked like a good book to use for early childhood or younger elementary aged students. The pictures were simple, yet visual so auditory and visual learners’ needs could be satisfied. The storyline also makes something like the alphabet seem fun and exciting, as the letters come to life.

As a teacher I would use this book to introduce writing to younger kids. It is a good tool to show them how a bunch of jumbled letters can become words, and later a sentence. It can also be a good way to show them the process of writing and how you can start with small words, and get bigger, until you have formed a word, and then put together small sentences to form larger ones. Together after reading this book, each child could have a set of cut out letters and work with a partner to make their own words, and then color their own tree and attach the words or sentences that they make to their own alphabet tree. It would be a good way for early elementary students to get used to working with letters and experimenting until they form a word or sentence.

Why? (1998) By Lindsay Camp and Tony Ross

Working at a daycare, I really found a lot of truth in this book. When a child constantly asks why, no matter what you say or what answer you give, can be a little frustrating much like her father felt in the story. Kids are just naturally so curious, and so most of the time they don’t ask you why to make you mad, they genuinely want to know why. That’s why I like this story because most kids and adults can relate to what it is like to want to know the answer to something, and so you just have to ask why?

As a teacher I would use this to teach students that it is okay to ask questions. I would also make sure each of them know that there is no stupid question, while at the same time do the best I can to find an answer to their questions, which at times I’m sure will be difficult. I would use this book to tell them that in our classroom they should feel comfortable asking why, because like in the story it might really help out their peers. What some students don’t realize is that the student sitting next to them or across the room might want to ask the same question, and so they should all feel comfortable to ask.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (1969) By William Steig Caldecott Award Winner

I remember this book from when I was a kid, and so when I saw it I had to read it again to refresh my memory. I really enjoyed rereading this book, because even though I recognized it by the cover, I couldn’t remember what it was about so it was great to have a book bring me back to my childhood. There are definitely little details that you pick up as an adult when you go back and read books you read as a child. Such as how the police officers are pigs, and how he wishes of all things to be a rock, which literally made me laugh out loud.

As a teacher I might use this book as a way to teach a lesson about thinking through your decisions. Even though this book was published in 1969, the lesson throughout it could still hold true in today’s society. Teaching students about the importance of every decision they make and ways to think about them, before you make a brash decision. It would also be a fun book to kick off an art project. First you could start by reading the book to the class, followed with a discussion and then have students paint their own magic pebble, and then write a story about what they would wish for.

A Tree Is Nice (1956) By Janice May Udry Illustrated by Marc Simont Caldecott Award Winner

This book was a nice child-friendly book about trees. It shares all the important things that trees are used for, and why they are nice to have. The book is a Caldecott Award Winner with pictures that add a lot to the words. Every other page is colored, and so when it is a colored page it is really accentuated. The author uses simplicity to convey to a child the importance of a tree and their usefulness.

As a teacher I might use this book for an Earth Day project, or if we were talking about the environment. Every child has seen a tree, but many might not have thought about all of their different uses. A teacher could read this book to introduce a lesson about trees and nature and have students come up with their own list of uses for trees. Since the book tells the readers how they can plant a tree and watch it grow, it might be a fun class project for each student to plant their own type of plant so they can observe how they grow.

I Never Knew Your Name By Sherry Garland Illustrated by Bryan Langdo

I found this book to be a really big wakeup call to society. It seems like in the news more and more often there is another teen suicide that has one way or another been connected to bullying. In this book, the narrator watches his neighbor until the day that they find his body. People walk by and say what a shame, but no one seems to ask why it happened. This book takes the major issue of suicide and tells it through the eyes of a child. Although we might not like to think about it, suicide does happen, it needs to be addressed, and it does affect children.

As a teacher, I think that under the right circumstances I would use this book, followed with a discussion to be sure no one is left frightened or confused. It is important as a teacher to understand that any student might be affected by suicide, and so to have a book on hand that addresses this topic could be useful and is important to have. If something like death or suicide does become an issue that needs to be addressed this book would be a good place to start a discussion. Also talking about the narrator’s sister who made fun of the boy who dies would be important. Having students look at the issue of bullying and the major affect it has on some people’s lives might be a hard topic to have, but it will benefit them in the end.

Do You Sing Twinkle? By Sandra Levins Illustrated by Bryan Langdo

I really liked this book. I think that this book is an important one to have since it is about divorce, which is such a huge issue in so many people’s lives. I’ve encountered so many people who have been affected by divorce, and I think if they had someone sit down with them and read this book it might have helped them get through their tough time. It also puts divorce into a child’s perspective. Instead of an adult telling a kid it is going to be okay, the child in the story goes through and explains the changes that might happen to them.

As a teacher I would definitely have this book in my classroom. Sometimes it seems like when children struggle with divorce, they blame themselves for what is happening. This would be a good book to show children that it isn’t their fault and that even though their mom and dad aren’t married anymore, that they both still love them and that divorce didn’t change any of that. It is also a good way to talk with children who might not have their mom or their dad close by, and it might help them cope with that. This book also shows what it might be like for them to be introduced to a new family with step parents and siblings, and that it might be tough at first, but eventually it will be okay. In the back of the book it also has tips for parents, and that could be useful as a teacher if you see a family struggling with divorce and you could refer them to this book.

White Wash By Ntuzake Shange Illustrated by Michael Sporn

The author of this book was clearly trying to address a serious issue in a way that a child could understand it. I thought that showing a hate crime to a child might be hard for them to deal with, but for all I know, something similar could have happened to anyone. I think the author did a good job of showing an adult issue to children, by making it relatable to them. It also did a good job of discussing family relationships; between the brother and sister and the grandmother and her grandchildren. Although this is a tough topic to discuss, it might be a good way to show children the serious problems with racism around the world.

As a teacher I think that using this book would depend very much on the circumstances. If I was teaching in a school where gang violence might be a problem, then I would definitely bring this book into the classroom. It shows how family bonds can help keep you strong, and how friends will still be there for them if something like this happens to them. It also shows how gang violence is unnecessary and can be overcome. It might also be helpful to read this book as a lesson on bullying, to show that it isn’t okay for students or anyone else to treat their peers like the boys in this book treated the little girl.

The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph

As a reader, I thought that this book was great. It really brought the reader into the character's world. Even though it takes place in the Dominican Republic, there are things that could relate to many people, or students. Even though this is a children's novel, it deals with very adult issues, such as murder, fighting, losing your home, discovering secrets about your family, and being ruled by a strict government. Even though it deals with adult issues, it does so from the perspective of a child which makes it such a good book for many ages.

As a teacher I would definitly use this book. It not only could be used in a language arts class, but it could also cross over to social studies. It teaches about the culture of the Dominican Republic, and the family dynamics and government influences that exist there. It does a good job of using the young girls perspective and making it relateable to students. There are many relationships within the book, and so mapping them out might be a good activity for students as they read the book. Also mapping out her progress as a writer, where she starts and where she ends up. Each chapter begins with a poem, and so discussing this poem and predicting what might happen in the chapter would be a good way to walk children through this book.

The Tale of Despereaux By Kate DiCamillo (2003) Newberry Award Winner

As a reader I thought that this book was great. It was very captivating, even to an adult reading it. The book was a fast read, that was able to hold your attention the whole time. The story of the small mouse was intriguing, and I imagine many school-aged children would enjoy reading it by themselves, or in groups, and both boys and girls. The story had so much going on that it held your attention, yet it was still easy to follow. The writer wrote the novel in such a way that it really got the reader involved which made it really interesting.

As a teacher I think that this book would be a great read aloud book, or a book for small reading groups. The book was separated into four parts, each focusing on a character, and then having them all come together in the end. This would be a good opportunity for students to break up into groups and explore each character more closely. The novel is also split up into shorter chapters, which makes it a good way to assign chapters each night without overloading students. Overall this was a great children's book and I could definitly see myself using it in my future classroom.

One Smart Goose By Caroline Jayne Church (2003)

Reading this book, I thought it was very clever. This story is about a very clever goose who, although different from others in the gaggle, he always manages to stay out of the way of the wolf who chases them at night. Once the others realize that this goose doesn't get chased, they ask him to tell them how he does it. They stay safe for awhile, but when winter comes, this clever goose is yet again one step ahead of the gaggle.

As a teacher this would be a very cute book to share with a class or in a small reading group. It has lessons throughout it teaching readers that everyone has good ideas and good qualities, even if they might be a little different from you. It teaches them that if you listen to others, you may discover that their ideas could help you out, and if you choose to exclude them, it could in turn hurt you instead.

Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to be Noticed By J.C. Phillipps (2009)

As a reader this book is a neat childrens book that many children can probably relate to. It reminded me of some children I work with that love to play around and pretend to be ninjas and pretend to do karate.

As a teacher this book could be used to show that everyone has their own contributions, and unique qualities. Wink couldn't quite find his niche, and it took a little playing around and experimenting to discover his true talents. This book is a good tool to read to a class if there are problems with kids who aren't fitting in, to show the class that everyone has their own special qualities.

Do Not Build a Frankenstein! By Neil Numberman

As a reader this book is very cute and I would imagine many young children would enjoy having this read aloud to them. The new kid in town, who many children may be able to relate to, warns his new classmates about not building a Frankenstein. He tells them all the things that Frankensteins do and why not to build them, and then discovers that his followed him to his new home. It is a cute story many readers would enjoy.

As a teacher this book could be used to teach about responsibility. The boy in the story had to move homes, and discovered the hard way that you must be responsible for your actions because things may follow you, no matter where you move. His Frankenstein was his responsibility, and this could be a cute way to teach children about their own responsibility. Some questions to ask the class might be: why did he build the Frankenstein in the first place? Should he take responsibility for his creations? Why does he go back with the Frankenstein in the end?

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff (1985)

This is a great book that tells a story in a unique way about chain reactions. If you give a mouse a cookie, then what will he ask for next? It also shows how any simple action can lead to many other requests, consequences, or actions. The illustraions are very good, and take you through the story, and important to the telling of the story.

This book could be used in a classroom for younger grades. This book could be used for small reading groups to be read aloud together and then discussed. It is a cute book that many children would find enjoyable. It can teach them chain reactions, and even how to treat guests in your home.

The Sign Painter By Allen Say (2000)

As a reader it was interesting to read this book, and then find out that it is based on the author's life. This book shows the author's passion in life for art, but that doing your own art is more fulfilling. The illustrations, also done by the author show the author and the characters real passion in life, and that he fulfilled his dreams.

This book could be used in the classroom to talk about students strengths and what their dreams in life are. They could write about what they want to be when they grow up, and how they might attain these dreams. The author writes about a job his character took as a sign painter and how he discovered he wasn't happy making other people's art and ideas. This is a good book to share with children to show them to follow their dreams and do what they love and enjoy.

The Bicycle Man by Allen Say (1982)

This is an older book, but still has some good, useful lessons within it. The illustrations are more old fashioned, but unique and descriptive. The illustrations really help to tell the story. As a reader the story was enjoyable and gives a good description that a child can understand of the fear that existed after the war.

As a teacher this would be a great book to have for a social studies lesson. The book shows that it doesn't matter what language a person speaks, because you can still communicate through other ways. It showed the fear between Japanese people and American soldiers, but it also shows how language barriers and cultural barriers could be broken. Some questions to ask might be: why did the men perform for the crowd? Why did the Japanese people fear the soldiers at first? How did they come to find out they were friendly?

Home of the Brave by Allen Say (2002)

This book is a little more abstract than some of Allen Say's other picture books. It is one that may need to be read a few times to fully understand the meaning of the text. It is a good description of the effects of World War Two on Japanese people. The illustrations really help to tell the story of the characters.

Teachers could use this book in multiple lessons. In particular it could aide in a social studies lesson. A teacher could read the book to the class and then discuss World War II and it's implications. Follow up with reading the book again may be useful, and the symbols present in the book could be addressed. The book does a good job taking the serious issue of Japanese internment camps and makes it an issue that can be discussed by younger children.

Allison By Allen Say (1997)

This is a great children's book that deals with a very important issue, adoption. Many people know someone who has been affected by adoption, which could make this book very helpful to many people. This picture book does a good job of taking a serious issue and making it relateable to school-aged children.

This book could be a useful tool for any teacher.  Discussing adoption in a classroom might be a sensitive subject for some students, and so it is good to be aware of this when discussing the topic. This book could be read aloud to a class followed with a discussion about adoption and what the class knows about it, and how it affects peoples lives. Questions to ask might be: What does Allison see in the mirror? How did the cat help her understand her own family?

Kamishibai Man By Allen Say (2005)

This story is full of tradition and storytelling. I enjoyed reading about the tradition of the kamishibai man who rode his bike into town to tell stories to local children and sell them sweets. The author's note about his memories of the kamishibai man was neat to read to see where the story had come from.

As a teacher I would use this book to discuss traditions in other cultures. In older classrooms you could discuss the history of Japan and of the kamishibai man, and the role it played in the authors life. Discussing the history of Japan and kamishibai men could lead to good discussions in the classroom. In younger classrooms you could discuss any traditions they have and talk about the traditions in Japan. Some questions to ask the class could be: why did the children stop coming to the kamishibai man and how did he feel about it? Why did he decide to go out after so long? What impact on the children did he have?

Emma's Rug by Allen Say (1996)

Emma's Rug is a story that would remind any reader of where our creativity comes from and places where we might get inspiration. Most children have a blanket, a doll, or a stuffed animal that they carry around with them everywhere they go, just like Emma and her Rug. Many adults can probably remember when they had one too, which makes this story resonate with many adults and children.


As a teacher this book could be used to get children thinking about where they get their inspiration for their artwork or stories or anything they need to be creative for. It would be helpfult to define words in the story that students may not know; such as: tapir, pangolin, or maestro. Some questions to ask the students may be: Why did her inspiration come from this rug, why was it so special to her? How did she get her inspiration back? Do you have something special to you?