Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book

Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book

by

Lucy Cousins

Summary:

 The lovable little mouse, Maisy, embarks on a wonderful science adventure and teaches the reader all about different kinds of weather. 

Evaluation:

 This is a wonderful book for children ages 3-5 years to help them understand the weather. It is very interactive which holds their attention even longer because they have to use the pull tabs to help Maisy see what is happening weather wise. For example, when it is sunny and hot Maisy changes from her clothes to her bathing suite by having the child pull the tab. On the windy day the child has to turn the wheel to make the leaves blow in the wind along with Maisy's hat and kite. There are very few words on a page and the pictures relate fabulously. The topic is great for young children because no matter where they are weather is happening all around them every day. Many children at this age also have many questions about the weather and this helps them to begin to understand what is going on. The pictures are very bright and colorful and the tabs and wheels are easy for small hands to work. 

The only downside of this book is if you have a rough child the pull tabs are not very sturdy and do rip if pulled to hard. But all in all I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a preschooler!

Nonfiction Mondays

Annie Oakley: Young Markswoman

Annie Oakley: Young Markswoman

by

Ellen Wilson

Summary: This is a wonderful biography of Annie Oakley. It focuses mainly on her childhood but does end up diverging into her adult life. Annie was a young girl of many talents but her best one was hunting. When she was only 7 years old, she built a trap to get dinner for her family. Then another night a wolf was terrorizing her families chickens. She ran inside got her gun and CRACK! The wolf was dead in front of them. Annie was from a very poor family and the children had to live in other houses. Annie was never able to go to school even though she wanted to very much. Instead she was stent to a home where she worked around the clock. Things were so terrible for her that she ended up running away. It was in Cincinnati when she was living with her sister that she entered a shooting contest and became the most famous female shooter in the country. She ended up marrying the most famous male shooter in the country who she met and beat at the same contest. 

Evaluation: 

 This is a must read for children ages 9 years and above!  There are quite a few words on a page but they are interspersed with pictures. The pictures clearly show what Wilson is talking about. Growing up I use to love reading about Annie Oakley. She was such an inspiration and I believe children today will still see her as that. Children, especially girls, will love Annie Oakley because she defied all odds and was a true female American hero. She was unable to go to school like many young girls today but she was so determined to beat her odds and became a legend. Both girls and boys will be able to relate to her because she is from a poor family and was an avid hunter. Today there are many children who hunt, those it isn't necessarily to put food on the table many times that is what happens. Wilson clearly explains everything and the biography reads easily like a narrative keeping the reader engaged and interested in her life. 

The only part of this book that I would consider being a negative aspect would be the illustrations. They are all in black and white ink drawing. They do seem to convey what the author is talking about but are not very captivating. They could use a little more work and then this book would be all and all amazing!

I would still recommend this to anyone age 9 years and older because it is a great book and biography!

Nonfiction Mondays

The Story of Italian Immigration Passage to Liberty and the Rebirth of America

The Story of Italian Immigration Passage to Liberty and the Rebirth of America

by

A. Kenneth Ciongoli and Jay Parini

Summary: 

This is a wonderful nonfiction book about how Italian's have influenced and changed America. It tells the story of how Italians became America citizens and accomplished their dreams of rebuilding the image of Rome. Ciongoli and Parini focus on important Italians who have shaped America. For example, Cesar Rodney and William Paca who were two Italians who signed the Declaration of Independence. Woven into the famous historical facts throughout the book is the story of Antonio, grandfather of one of the authors. Making this not only a wonderful resource of history but a narrative that brings to life the experiences of a people whose talents, self-sacrifice and contributions helped shape America. 

Evaluation: 

This is a must read for the target reading age level group for this book of 12-15 years and up. There are a log of words on each page but they are not overwhelming and every page includes either a picture of the person they are talking about, an illustration of an event, or replicas of old passports, hand-written recipes, coupon books from an old immigrant mutual-aid insurance policy, and even the jury's verdict form from a trial of Al Capone. This book truly brings history to life in more ways than one. It is keeps its readers engaged because it becomes a personal experience through the story of Antonio. 

Young readers who are of Italian heritage would find this book extremely interesting because it shows them what their ancestors went through. Each page has an attention catching title and does not labor on one topic for too long. Some examples are: Pasta and Pizza and Evolving Italian-American Cuisine, Hostility and Hangings From New Orleans to Sacco and Vanzetti, etc. The following  paragraphs keep the reader engaged with their living words. 

For example on the page of Hostility and Hangings it starts out with, 

"Let's get those dirty dagos."
"Those black guinea bastards are gonna get what they deserve."

"Not guilty! Is that jury crazy? Those lazy, ignorant wops-let's get 'em!" The mob came into being, and a crescendo shook the ground. It was a terrifying sight.

A shrill voice cried out: "Billy O'Connor heard the superintendent whisper, just as he died, that the dagos did it. Right O'Connor?"

A tall, pot-bellied, orange-freckled man, William O'Connor, nodded.

The voice continued, "There is no room in New Orleans for these criminals. The wops are an inferior race. They get along with the Negroes because they're just like them. I say, lynch them all now!"

The crowd turned and rushed the jailhouse. Without resistance, they emptied the cells and hung all the occupants.

As you can see from this small selection the topic and the way the author reveals America's history keeps the readers engaged and interested.

There is nothing negative about this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone age 12 years and above!

Nonfiction Mondays

On Beyond Bugs! All About Insects

On Beyond Bugs! All About Insects

by

Tish Rabe

Summary: This is a very cute nonfiction book all about insects. The Cat in the Hat and his friends give readers an up close view of life as a bug. Readers learn how insects see, communicate, smell, and pollinate. They also see how much of a pests some bugs can be but all in all make life better for us here on earth.

Evaluation: This is a wonderful nonfiction book about insects. It teaches young children interesting facts about insects through rhyme and bright illustrations. For example,

Watch these honey bees and I am sure you'll agree that these bees are as busy as busy can be! Worker bees collect food and they keep the hive clean. They protect it from danger and wait on their queen. She must stay in one place. It is her job to lay dozens and dozens of eggs every day.

The pictures do an amazing job of depicting what the words are saying. The illustration that goes along with this picture is of a big bee happily laying on her side eating while she is surrounded by smaller bees with fake stick guns and other bees are cleaning up with brooms around her.

It is a great beginning middle reader because it has minimal words on each page, which are larger print  and they are spread out so the child will not get over whelmed when reading. When it comes to the hard words such as chrysalis it has a glossary in the back to help them understand and pronounce the word. 

The topic is right on target for its age group of 5-8 years old. Most boys and some girls are fascinated by insects. Even my 4 year old has asked me why fly's buzz. This book gives the young reader the interesting facts without boring them. Being a Cat in the Hat book also might capture the attention of young readers who normally would not read a book about insects. The pictures draw the reader in and rhyme keep the reader engaged. 

Overall there is nothing negative that I can say about this book. I would highly recommend it!

Nonfiction Mondays

Knots in My Yo-Yo String

Knots in My Yo-Yo String

by 

Jerry Spinelli

Summary:

This is a autobiography about Jerry Spinelli, a Newberry Medalist and excellent children's author. In his book he takes the reader from his first memories as a child to high school. He has the reader reliving his first kiss, first fight, first trip to the principal's office, first humiliating sports experience, and overall life growing up in the 1950's. Even though he only read comic books and cereal boxes as a child, he shows the reader how the seeds of a great writer were planted.

Evaluation:

 I would highly recommend this book to anyone ages 10 years and up. Though this is his autobiography it engages the reader as much as his fictional books do. He writes in a warm conversational tone, making the reader feel as though he is right beside them telling his life story. The black-and-white pictures are engaging and amusing images from his past that help to capture what he is telling his readers about his life. Being a famous and well published children's author Jerry Spinelli's autobiography is both interesting and relevant for his target audience. The issues and events that he relives in his book are very relatable to children ages 10 and up because they are for the most part a universal part of growing up. His side-splitting recollections of preadolescent and adolescent events are sure to keep the reader engaged. 

Spinelli talks about how his dreams and accomplishments as a child effected and shaped him as an adult and writer. Young readers are sure to relate to this and feel empowered by their dreams and accomplishments. He also gives the reader a sense of hope. Having so many relatable childhood and adolescent experiences lets the young reader feel that even if there are some painful, embarrassing, or not so nice things going on in their life right now that in the end it might all be ok.
A definite must read for all!

Classroom Extension Activities:

Language Arts Classroom

• Have students write a journal about their dreams and aspirations and the obstacles they might have to over come to accomplish them.
•  Compare growing up in the 1950's to today

Math Classroom

• Compare the price of living from the 1950's to today (price of bread, gas, etc.)

History Classroom

• Expand upon topics from the 1950's such as the Cold War, communism, capitalism, Space Race, nuclear weapons, etc.

Nonfiction Monday's