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From: Lisa Von Drasek <lisav>
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 15:51:31 -0500
For our Mock Newbery read, to be discussed and voted on with some comments from our 6th graders
Sword of the Rightful King, Jane Yolen , " I liked the author's choice of words and it kept me interested" Scott
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, Sharon Creech "Mediocre..It didn't have anything but people talking." Ethan
Minn and Jake, Janet Wong "It was a very interesting book but went too fast" Jacob
The Way a Door Closes, Hope Anita Smith " Good... It was poetry which is sort of complicated" JJ
Meanest Doll in the World, Ann Martin, Laura Godwin
" I think the author wrote this book because she wanted to let the readers know that power means nothing if you have no one. " Dane
East, Edith Patou " adventurous and exciting" Hanna " It was really exciting, and always a page-turner" Grace
Tale of Desperaux, Kate Di Camillo " "a good idea... and exciting adventure, fun to read..I think Kate DiCamillo wrote this book because she was trying to say that a little creature can still do a big thing" Nona
"excellent... there was nothing I didn't like" Zachary " I loved the was DiCamillo narrated. It was as if she was there telling me the story." Audrey
Olive's Ocean- "I couldn't put it down" Clio "I like how it had a quiet voice" Hannah "Excellent... a very interesting book and a fresh, original plot. Even though it is a little creepy, it is very good."
The river between us, Richard Peck "Suspenseful and realistic..without too much on unimportant details" Alison
Picture books that we are loving and sharing this year are
I KISSED THE BABY! Written and illustrated by Mary Murphy, Candlewick Goofy, recurring text and a perfect first book with its large pages, all black and white but for a single touch of color, enthusiastically welcome the new arrival.
WHEN EVERYBODY WORE A HAT Written and illustrated by William Steig, Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins When children's book author and New Yorker illustrator William Steig was 8 years old "there were almost no electric lights, cars, or telephones--and definitely no TV." Sure to spark families sharing their own ,when I was little stories.
ACHOO! BANG! CRASH! : A NOISY ALPHABET written and illustrated by Ross MacDonald, Roaring Brook From A ACHHOO to Z-- ZIP! ZAP! ZING! ZOOM, this book wins the prize for the most raucous, onomatopoeia alphabet.
THE RACECAR ALPHABET Written and Illustrated by Brian Floca. Atheneum One hundred years of race cars from the Ford 999 to the Ferrari F1 are featured in this alliterative alphabet. "Eyes in the audience, each open and eager, expecting excitement (enduring exhaust)"
DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS Written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Hyperion An oddly appealing, whining, wheedling, bribing pigeon that kids can't wait to say no to. and
TIME TO PEE! Written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Hyperion ($12.99) Hilarious, deadpan, essential toileting instructions with a chorus of slapstick mice and a handy success chart with stickers.
WHAT JAMES LIKES BEST Written and illustrated by Amy Schwartz. Atheneum
Schwartz is right on target for preschoolers with these four short stories of James's simple adventures. Children will enjoy responding to the author's queries at the end of each experience and sharing their own.
TWO OLD POTATOES AND ME Written by Jon Coy. Illustrations by Carolyn Fisher, Knopf A daughter works with her divorced dad to grow potatoes from sprouting pieces as they piece their new lives together.
EMMA'S STRANGE PET Written by Jean Little. Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas. HarperCollins Emma and her adopted brother Max enjoy an unusual lizard in this easy-to-read early chapter book. (Ages 5-8)
THE DOT Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds Candlewick Vashti is stymied when asked to draw a picture, but with the help of her teacher she eventually finds her own special talent.
RULER OF THE COURTYARD Written by Rukhsana Khan. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Viking Saba, a young Pakistani girl, conquers her fear of the family's aggressive chickens when she battles a snake in the bathhouse.
HOW I BECAME A PIRATE Written by Melinda Long. Illustrated by David Shannon. Harcourt Jeremy Jacob joins Braid Beard and sets sail on high seas. As a member of this rowdy, dirty crew he learns to sing sea chanteys, and talk with his mouth full. Silly cartoonish art features a pop-eyed boy and his colorful companions with visual jokes throughout.
DIARY OF A WOMBAT Written by Jackie French. Illustrated by Bruce Whatley. Clarion Deadpan humor and the daily grind of a sweetly engaging, manipulative Australian marsupial will keep kids (and parents) giggling.
THUNDER ROSE Written by Jerdine Nolen. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Harcourt. In this original African-American tall tale, Rose was "as pretty as a picture, had the sweetest disposition, but don't let yourself be misled, that child was full of lightning and thunder."
THE JOURNEY OF OLIVER K. WOODMAN Written by Darcy Pattison. Illustrated by Joe Cepeda, Harcourt Tameka Schwartz's uncle sends a wooden man on a cross-country adventure which is related in letters by those he meets.
ELLA SARA GETS DRESSED Written and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Harcourt "One morning, Ella Sarah got up and said, 'I want to wear my pink polka-dot pants, my dress with orange-and-green flowers, my purple-and-blue striped socks, my yellow shoes, and my red hat.'" Four-year-old style with luminous color and creative use of white space.
MY NAME IS YOON Written by Helen Recorvits. Illustrations by Gabi Swiatkowska.. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux . Surrealistic paintings depict the inner heart of a Korean immigrant girl's adjustment to life in the United States.
TANUKI'S GIFT: A JAPANESE TALE Retold by Tim Myers. Illustrated by R.G. Roth. Cavendish A Buddhist Priest meets Tanuki, a small raccoon-dog, and learns the true meaning of friendship in this spectacularly illustrated, mixed-media adaptation of a traditional Japanese folk tale.
YESTERDAY I HAD THE BLUES Written by Jeron Ashford Frame. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Tricycle Press A poetic stroll through a family's feelings. "Everybody has had the blues. The rain on the sidewalk, broken skateboard blues"... But Sasha had the pinks: the glitter on your cheeks pinks." Expressive and illuminating.
Lisa Von Drasek, MLIS Children's Librarian Bank Street College of Education School for Children Pre-K- 8 610 West 112th St NY NY 10025
lisav at bnkst.edu
212 875 4452
Teaching pre-K-8 Teaching Editor/Children's Books Best Children's Books of the Year Nick Jr.
Received on Tue 02 Dec 2003 02:51:31 PM CST
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 15:51:31 -0500
For our Mock Newbery read, to be discussed and voted on with some comments from our 6th graders
Sword of the Rightful King, Jane Yolen , " I liked the author's choice of words and it kept me interested" Scott
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, Sharon Creech "Mediocre..It didn't have anything but people talking." Ethan
Minn and Jake, Janet Wong "It was a very interesting book but went too fast" Jacob
The Way a Door Closes, Hope Anita Smith " Good... It was poetry which is sort of complicated" JJ
Meanest Doll in the World, Ann Martin, Laura Godwin
" I think the author wrote this book because she wanted to let the readers know that power means nothing if you have no one. " Dane
East, Edith Patou " adventurous and exciting" Hanna " It was really exciting, and always a page-turner" Grace
Tale of Desperaux, Kate Di Camillo " "a good idea... and exciting adventure, fun to read..I think Kate DiCamillo wrote this book because she was trying to say that a little creature can still do a big thing" Nona
"excellent... there was nothing I didn't like" Zachary " I loved the was DiCamillo narrated. It was as if she was there telling me the story." Audrey
Olive's Ocean- "I couldn't put it down" Clio "I like how it had a quiet voice" Hannah "Excellent... a very interesting book and a fresh, original plot. Even though it is a little creepy, it is very good."
The river between us, Richard Peck "Suspenseful and realistic..without too much on unimportant details" Alison
Picture books that we are loving and sharing this year are
I KISSED THE BABY! Written and illustrated by Mary Murphy, Candlewick Goofy, recurring text and a perfect first book with its large pages, all black and white but for a single touch of color, enthusiastically welcome the new arrival.
WHEN EVERYBODY WORE A HAT Written and illustrated by William Steig, Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins When children's book author and New Yorker illustrator William Steig was 8 years old "there were almost no electric lights, cars, or telephones--and definitely no TV." Sure to spark families sharing their own ,when I was little stories.
ACHOO! BANG! CRASH! : A NOISY ALPHABET written and illustrated by Ross MacDonald, Roaring Brook From A ACHHOO to Z-- ZIP! ZAP! ZING! ZOOM, this book wins the prize for the most raucous, onomatopoeia alphabet.
THE RACECAR ALPHABET Written and Illustrated by Brian Floca. Atheneum One hundred years of race cars from the Ford 999 to the Ferrari F1 are featured in this alliterative alphabet. "Eyes in the audience, each open and eager, expecting excitement (enduring exhaust)"
DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS Written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Hyperion An oddly appealing, whining, wheedling, bribing pigeon that kids can't wait to say no to. and
TIME TO PEE! Written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Hyperion ($12.99) Hilarious, deadpan, essential toileting instructions with a chorus of slapstick mice and a handy success chart with stickers.
WHAT JAMES LIKES BEST Written and illustrated by Amy Schwartz. Atheneum
Schwartz is right on target for preschoolers with these four short stories of James's simple adventures. Children will enjoy responding to the author's queries at the end of each experience and sharing their own.
TWO OLD POTATOES AND ME Written by Jon Coy. Illustrations by Carolyn Fisher, Knopf A daughter works with her divorced dad to grow potatoes from sprouting pieces as they piece their new lives together.
EMMA'S STRANGE PET Written by Jean Little. Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas. HarperCollins Emma and her adopted brother Max enjoy an unusual lizard in this easy-to-read early chapter book. (Ages 5-8)
THE DOT Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds Candlewick Vashti is stymied when asked to draw a picture, but with the help of her teacher she eventually finds her own special talent.
RULER OF THE COURTYARD Written by Rukhsana Khan. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Viking Saba, a young Pakistani girl, conquers her fear of the family's aggressive chickens when she battles a snake in the bathhouse.
HOW I BECAME A PIRATE Written by Melinda Long. Illustrated by David Shannon. Harcourt Jeremy Jacob joins Braid Beard and sets sail on high seas. As a member of this rowdy, dirty crew he learns to sing sea chanteys, and talk with his mouth full. Silly cartoonish art features a pop-eyed boy and his colorful companions with visual jokes throughout.
DIARY OF A WOMBAT Written by Jackie French. Illustrated by Bruce Whatley. Clarion Deadpan humor and the daily grind of a sweetly engaging, manipulative Australian marsupial will keep kids (and parents) giggling.
THUNDER ROSE Written by Jerdine Nolen. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Harcourt. In this original African-American tall tale, Rose was "as pretty as a picture, had the sweetest disposition, but don't let yourself be misled, that child was full of lightning and thunder."
THE JOURNEY OF OLIVER K. WOODMAN Written by Darcy Pattison. Illustrated by Joe Cepeda, Harcourt Tameka Schwartz's uncle sends a wooden man on a cross-country adventure which is related in letters by those he meets.
ELLA SARA GETS DRESSED Written and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Harcourt "One morning, Ella Sarah got up and said, 'I want to wear my pink polka-dot pants, my dress with orange-and-green flowers, my purple-and-blue striped socks, my yellow shoes, and my red hat.'" Four-year-old style with luminous color and creative use of white space.
MY NAME IS YOON Written by Helen Recorvits. Illustrations by Gabi Swiatkowska.. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux . Surrealistic paintings depict the inner heart of a Korean immigrant girl's adjustment to life in the United States.
TANUKI'S GIFT: A JAPANESE TALE Retold by Tim Myers. Illustrated by R.G. Roth. Cavendish A Buddhist Priest meets Tanuki, a small raccoon-dog, and learns the true meaning of friendship in this spectacularly illustrated, mixed-media adaptation of a traditional Japanese folk tale.
YESTERDAY I HAD THE BLUES Written by Jeron Ashford Frame. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Tricycle Press A poetic stroll through a family's feelings. "Everybody has had the blues. The rain on the sidewalk, broken skateboard blues"... But Sasha had the pinks: the glitter on your cheeks pinks." Expressive and illuminating.
Lisa Von Drasek, MLIS Children's Librarian Bank Street College of Education School for Children Pre-K- 8 610 West 112th St NY NY 10025
lisav at bnkst.edu
212 875 4452
Teaching pre-K-8 Teaching Editor/Children's Books Best Children's Books of the Year Nick Jr.
Received on Tue 02 Dec 2003 02:51:31 PM CST
