Book Write Up #3: Chapter Book #6

Author: Bodil Bredsdorff

Title: The Crow-Girl

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Young Adult

Theme: Bravery and courage is within our soul.

Primary and Secondary Characters: Crow Girl, her grandmother, Rossan, and Eidi.

Awards and Date of Publication: Winner of the Mildren L Batchelder award, published in 2004.

This book is about a girl named Crow Girl, she gives this name to herself. She loves looking at crows, and she feels that they will guide her through her life. She lives with her grandmother, who is real old and is dying. They live in a cottage by the sea. They live all by themselves, and they live off the land eating claims, and fishes. Crow Girl collects all the food, does all the cleaning, and cooking. She is very strong and has a peaceful soul. Crow Girl's grandmother eventually dies, and Crow Girl has no other family or friends. She has to fin for herself at such a young age. When her grandmother dies, she is alone and leaves the cottage. She comes across this little boy who is two years old, his name is Doup. She takes Doup in and cares for him and herself. She eventually makes a friend named Eidi. Eidi's father beats her mother. One time he beat her mother real bad, and they decided to stay with Crow Girl. However, a man named Rossan takes them all in. He sells mostly everything he has, to feed them all. Eidi and her mother eventually leave Rossan's house. About a year later Eidi and her mother come back to see Crow Girl. By this time Crow Girl and Doup are still staying with Rossan, and they are doing real well. Crow girl went through a lot, but now things are looking up.

This book is a good book to read to children to show them that through bad times people grow, and to show that we all have control of our own destinies.

Book Write Up #3: Chapter Book #5

Author: Judy Blue

Title: Are You There God: It's Me Margaret

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Subgenre: Young Adults Book

Theme: Adolescents is made easier when you get to talk to someone, even if that someone is God.

Primary and Secondary Characters: Margaret, Nancy and Laura

Date of Publication: 1970

Publishing Company: A Dell Yearling Book

This book is about a girl names Margaret who is in sixth grade. She grew up with no religion since her mother is Christan and her father is Jewish. She has to do a year long project in school, and she decides to do it on different religions. Margaret also confronts many other pre-teen female issues, such as buying her first bra, having her first period, and having jealousy towards another girl who has developed a womanly figure earlier than other girls, liking boys, and whether to voice her opinion if it differs from those of her friends. She gets comfort from spending time with her grandmother on her father's side, who is Jewish. On Margaret's quest of finding a God, she also finds herself. This quest helps her deal with the real life issues that are going on around her. At the end of the story she believes there is a God, but just not sure what kind of God. But, she knows there is a higher power.

This is a good book for pre-teen girls to read. This will help them adapt to the changes that are going on with themselves from puberty.

Book Review #3: Chapter Book #4

Author: Mary Borsky

Title: Benny Bensky and the Perogy Palace

Illustrator: Linda Hendry

Genre: Fiction (mystery)

Subgenre: Children's Book

Theme: The bad guy always gets caught.

Primary and secondary characters: Benny, Rosie, Fran, and their parents.

Date of Publication: 2001

Publishing Company: Tundra Books

Benny Bensky used to be a happy dog living with his humans, Rosie and her parents. But things are not happy in the Bensky house. Rosie’s mom and dad operates the most popular restaurant in town, the Perogy Palace. At least, it used to be popular. Now customers are staying away in droves. Even Benny will not eat there anymore. Benny, Rosie, and Fran try to solve the mystery, on why people are not coming to the restaurant anymore. They use their detective skills, but get into a little mischief, and Benny gets sent to obedience school. This stalls their mystery, but when Benny comes back they are better then ever. They realize that someone is switching out the labels to the ingredients, and putting different stuff in each container. Benny catches Ms. Viola Pin, and traps her. Mrs. Viola gets startled and falls into a bucket of soapy water. The cops come in, and they were about to take Benny, when Rosie and Fran tell them what happened. They take Viola instead.

This book is a good book to read to students to teach them that they are not too young to be detectives.

Book Review #3: Chapter Book #3

Author: Lois Lowry

Title: Number the Stars

Genre: Realistic History

Subgenre: Young Adults

Theme: Courage comes at any age.

Primary and Secondary Characters: Annemarie, Ellen Rosen, Lise

Awards and Date of Publication: Newberry Award Winner, published in 1989.

Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin Company

Number the Stars is a courageous story about a ten year old girl named Annemarie Johansen. In 1943, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, has been occupied by Nazi soldiers. Soldiers stand on every street corner. Wartime food shortages and the psychological terror of the Nazi takeover have made life difficult for Danish citizens. Nazis have decided to relocate all of Copenhagen's Jewish families. Soldiers stand on every street corner, and life is changed irrevocably for ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen. Ellen is Jewish, and is scared the Nazi's will come to get her and her family. Annemarie lost her oldest sister, Lise, just two weeks before her wedding day. When Nazis raided a resistance meeting. She was intentionally run down and killed by a military car. Later in the novel, Annemarie follows her sister's example, risks her own life to help Jews. Jews and non-Jews alike among Denmark's population suffer terribly at the hands of the Nazis. Ellen and her family flee Denmark on a boat, with Annemarie's help. They flee to Poland where they are safe. After the war Annemarie asks her daddy if she can get Ellen's Jewish necklace fixed so she can give it to her when she comes home.

This book is a good book to read to students to teach them how devastating life was for Jews and non Germans during this time. Also, to teach them that even kids can have courage to help people that need it.

Book Write Up #3: Chapter Book #2

Author: Lois Lowry

Title: The Giver

Genre: Chapter book

Subgenre: Young Adult

Theme: Feelings are powerful, and what makes us human.

Primary and Secondary Characters: Jonas and the Giver

Award and date of publication: Newberry Award Winner, published in 1993.

Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin Company

Jonas lives in this community where people do not think on their own. In this community there is a committee that matches marriages together by compatibility. These couple are assigned two kids, one of each gender. In this community the people can not have any emotion or feeling, they have to watch what they say, and the world is pretty much mapped out for them. When Jonas turns twelve he is given a job as a receiver. It is the receivers job to hold keep the memories and feelings away from the people. There is a receiver who teaches him how to perform his job, and his name is the Giver. The Giver helps Jonas store these memories, and deal with these foreign feelings. The first memories are happy memories, that Jonas enjoys. However, soon enough he was given memories of grief, loneliness, and despair. He has never felt these feelings before. The community is denied these feelings. Once Jonas started realizing there is another way of living he decides, everyone should experience these feelings and become individuals. With the Givers approval Jonas decides to flee his town and run away to another town, so the memories will be lost. Once the memories are lost the town will be able to get these feelings back. Jonas went on a hard, long, difficult journey to lose these memories, and give this gift to his town. In the end, he accomplishes this dreadful task.

This is a good book to read to students and to express how wonderful feelings are. Each feeling that we have expresses the way we feel, and this is what makes us human.

Book Write Up # 3: Chapter Book #1

Author: Patricia MacLachlan

Title: Sarah, Plain and Tall

Genre: Chapter Book

Subgenre: Children's book

Theme: When tradgadie strikes, there is always hope.

Primary and seconday characters: Anna, Caleb, their dad, and Sarah.

Award and date of publication: Newberry Award Winner, published in 1985.

Publishing Company: A Charolotte Zolotow Book

This book opens with a young girl, Anna Witting, telling her younger brother Caleb the story of his birth. She always ends the story early, not wanting to discuss how their mother died the next day. They talk about their mother this time anyway, with Caleb fixating on their mother’s singing and wondering why their father, Jacob, doesn’t sing anymore. When he brings this up with Jacob, the man responds by saying he has put an ad in the paper for a wife and mother to come join the family on their farm, and has received an answer from a woman named Sarah in Maine. Sarah and the Witting family decide to give each other a one-month trial. Sarah experiences everyday life and a few adventures with the Wittings, but she also misses her family and the sea. Sarah leaves on a train to go visit her family. Caleb and Anna begin to worry: at the end of the month, will Sarah decide to leave? Sarah comes back and the children are so excited. She tells them she will always miss her old home but she will miss them more.

This book is a good book to read to students to teach them that when tragedies happen, there can still be a happy ending. In the end Caleb and Anna get the mother they lost.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #10

Author: David Elliot

Title: In the Wild

Illustrator: David Elliot

Genre: Realistic History

Subgenre: Children's book

Theme: The animals in a safari jungle.

Primary and secondary characters: All the animals in a safari jungle.

Date of publication: 2010

Publishing Company: Candlewick Press

This book describes all the animals in a safari jungle. The author spends a page on each animal. For example in talking about an elephant the author explains, "Big, yet moves with grace. Powerful, yet delicate as lace. As to color, plain and ordinary gray. But once we start to look, we cannot look away. When peaceful, silent; when angry, loud. Who would have guessed the Elephant is so much like a cloud." In another example the author explains a panda, "You're a bamboo bandit; You're a piebald dream. You're a bear in silk pajamas; you're cookies and cream. You're the wizard of the mountains; you're pres-ti-di-gi-ta-tion! You're nature's best example of bear imagination." This book does a good job in explaining animals of a safari jungle in a poetic way.

This book is a good book to read to students, and to introduce to them animals of a safari jungle.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #9

Author: Calvin Alexander Ramsey

Title: Ruth and the Green Book

Illustrator: Floyd Cooper

Genre: Fictional History

Subgenre: Children's book

Theme: Segregation in 1952.

Primary and secondary characters: Ruth, her mom, dad, and grandma.

Date of Publication: 2010

Publishing Company: Carolrhoda Books

Ruth's daddy brings home their first car. It is a 1952 Buick that is sea mist green. The family is so excited, and the next day they are going to travel cross country to see their grandma in Alabama. As they drive out of Chicago, Ruth and her family are very excited. Ruth loves to see the green grass and the scenery. However, eventually Ruth has to use the bathroom. The man working at the service station did not let Ruth use his bathrooms. Ruth uses the bathroom in the woods, she is very embarrassed. Her dad explains to her about the Jim Crow Laws, and that these laws are to keep white and black people separated. They continue the drive, but they all become real tired. her father walks into an Inn to get them a place to sleep, but they did not let them stay there. When the father gets back in the car, her mother decides they need to sing to keep their moods high. When they reached Tennessee they stayed at a friend's house. Ruth is so happy she is able to finally sleep on a bed. The next day they stop at an Esso service station. A man sells them a Green Book. This Green Book has a list of places that African American travelers can use. this book helps them get to Alabama. The trip becomes a lot easier with this book.

This book is a good book to read to students to explain to them how the world was segregated in the 1950s. This book is a good book to read during African American month, or any day.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #8

Author: Chris Barton

Title: The Day-Glo Brothers

Illustrator: Tony Persiani

Genre: History

Subgenre: Childrens book

Theme. Bob and Joe Switzers invention

Primary and Secondary characters: Brothers Bob and Joe Switzers.

Award and date of publication: Robert F. Sibert award, 2009.

Publishing company: Charlesbridge

This book is about brothers Bob and Joe Switzer. Bob is the youngest of the brothers, by fifteen months. They invented the fluorescent glow and the dark paints. Joe exerted himself less than his older brother. As they became older Joe wanted to become a magician and was very interested in light. Bob wanted to become a doctor to help people. While Joe was studying lights for his magic tricks, Bob was studying medicine. Joe discovered that fluorescent lights could jazz up his magic tricks. Together the brothers built their own ultraviolet lamps. One day they were shining the light on their dad's medicine. A chemical stained label on a bottle of eyewash emitted a yellow glow. That glow lit up the Switzers' imaginations. They brought a lot of library books home, and studied different chemical that make glow in the dark paints. Under a regular light they looked plain, but under and ultra violet light they glowed. They took their ideas and inventions to make glow in the dark paints. They painted all their mother's things with this paint. People loved this invention and they started making glow in the dark costums, books, decorations, clothes and all sorts of other things. They were very impressed with their inventions, and how it made people happy.

This is a good book to read to student to teach them that hard work, and dedication pays off in the end. The Switzer brothers had an idea, and they did not lose sight of their idea. In the end, they changed the lives of many.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #7

Author: ReNbecca L. Johnson

Title: Journey Into the Deep Discovering New Ocean Creatures

Illustrator: Thee is not an illustrator the pictures are real life pictures.

Genre: Science, History

Subgenre: Realistic History

Theme: There is life in the deep sea.

Primary and Secondary Characters: The deep ocean and its surprising creatures.

Awards and Date of Publication: Orbis Pictus Winner, published in 2011.

Publishing Company: Millbrook Press

This book is about the deep sea. This book takes young readers into the deepest parts of the ocean, six miles down. Scientist did not realize there was life this deep into the ocean, until 1960. The ocean is dark and desolate this far down, and it is amazing that life still exist. In 2000, the census of Marine Life put a team together to discover how many creatures are in the sea, how they live, and how the sea was centuries ago. This team discovered the Antarctic ice fish. These fishes rests on the sea floor surrounded by brittle stars. Ice fish can survive in waters cold enough to freeze the blood of other fishes. Scientist classify these under water creatures by species. Species are categorized by creatures that can mate together and produce offspring. Similar species are grouped together into a larger category called a genus. Together, a living thing's genus name and species name make up its scientific name . On coral reefs along Australia's northeaster coast, census scientist discovered more that one hundred new kinds of soft corals. Unlike reef building corals, soft corals have rubbery bodies. This book is filled with interesting facts about the ocean, and the new discoveries that scientist have found in just this decade.

This is a good book to read to students to teach them how diverse the world is. Also, to teach them that there are discoveries about the world that scientist have not found. That some day when they get older and they can become scientist and discovers some of these mysteries.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #6

Author: Barack Obama

Title: Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters

Illustrator: Loren Long

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Children's Book

Theme: We are all unique, but we are all Americans!

Primary and secondary characters: Barrack Obama (narrator), and many historical figures.

Date of Publication: 2010

Publishing Company: Alfred A. Knopf

Barack Obama narrates this book to his daughters. This is an inspirational book. In this book he expresses to his daughters have I told you lately how wonderful you are? How you laugh and sunshine spills into the room? He then compares his daughters characteristics to historical figures. Some of these examples are: have I told you lately that you are smart? Then he gives examples. A man named Albert Einstein turned pictures in his mind into giant advances in science, changing the world with energy and light. Have I told you that you are brave? A man named Jackie Robinson played baseball and showed us all how to turn fear into respect and respect to love. He gave brave dreams to all the dreamers. Have I told you lately that you are kind? A woman named Jane Addams fed the poor and helped them find jobs. She opened the doors and gave people hope. Have I told you that you don't give up? A man named Martin Luther King Jr. taught us unyielding compassion. He gave us a dream that all races and creeds would walk hand in hand. He marched and he prayed and, one at a time, opened hearts and saw the birth of his dream in us. Have I told you that America is made up of people of every kind? Barrack Obama keeps on complementing his daughters, by comparing their personal strengths to strengths of historical figures. In the end, he tells his daughters have I told you that I love you?

This is a great book to read to students to teach them about the past of america, and to introduce historical figures that changed America.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #5

Author: Leslea Newman

Title: Donovan's Big Day

Illustrator: Mike Dutton

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Children's Book

Theme: Just because a wedding is different, it is still a wedding and strong.

Primary and Secondary Characters: Donovan and his mothers.

Date of Publication: 2011

Publishing Company: Tricycle Press

Donovan is so excited he has a big day today. He wakes up at his grandparent's house and quickly eats breakfast. He cleans up real well and puts on a suit. He can not play with his cousin or get dirty. He needs to make sure he stays clean. His uncle comes to get him, and he jumps in the car with a satin box in his pocket. When they get to the church, he is the first one out of the car and up the steps. He takes pictures with his grandparents, and his cousin who has flowers in her hair and a flower basket. He waits in the hall for awhile and then it is his turn to walk down the isle. He is nervous he has to walk not jump, run, or skip. He walks down the isle and stays still by the wedding party. He waits and has to listen to grown ups talk, sing, and play the piano. Then, his turn comes he pulls out the satin box and hands one gold ring to his mommy and another gold ring to his Mama. They stare at each other all mushy eyed, and laugh and cry at each other. The tall man then says, "I know pronounce you wife and wife." Donovan throws his arms over both his mothers and kisses them.

This is a good book to read to students, and to share with them that the typical man and woman marriage is not the only type of marriage there is anymore.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #4

Author: Ian Schoenherr

Title: Don't Spill the Beans!

Illustrator: Ian Schoenherr

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Animation

Theme: It's hard to keep your birthday a secret.

Primary and secondary characters: Bear and all his friends.

Date of Publication: 2010

Publishing company: Greenwillow Books

It is bears birthday and he is trying not to tell anyone. He can not hold it in. He tries to button his lips, but he can not. He needs to share it. So he tells elephant and toucan. Then he sees auk and Kangaroo and tells them too. He then blurts it to turtle and baboon too. He alerts rabbit and raccoon. He then breaks it to bat and alerts hippo. In the end, all his friends surprise bear with a birthday party.

This is a good book for students to explain that it is hard to keep surprises from friends but that's okay.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #3

Author: Corinne Demas

Title: Saying Goodbye to Lulu

Illustrator: Art Hoyt

Genre: Children's Book

Subgenre: Realistic Fiction

Theme: Morning the lost of a dog.

Primary and secondary characters: Lulu (dog), and Lulu's owner a little girl.

Date of Publication: 2009

Publishing Company: Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers

This book is about a dog named Lulu and her owner, who is a little girl. She talks about when Lulu her dog got real old, she could not climb up the stairs anymore. She just waited at the bottom of the stairs. When Lulu could not walk anymore, she would carry her to the grass and feed her with her hands. The little girl is very upset, because she can not make Lulu well anymore. Her parents tell her they will get her another dog when Lulu dies, but she does not want another dog. She wants Lulu to run, jump and swim again. One day Lulu could not even stand anymore. The next day when she comes home from school her mom tells her that Lulu is dead. She was very upset and sad. She planted a cherry tree for Lulu. A year later she gets another dog. She holds the dog and says, "your not Lulu, but I'll love you too."

This book is a good book to share with students, to show them that death is normal and good can come with death.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #2

Author: Liz Garton Scanlon

Title: All the World

Illustrator: Marla Frazee

Genre: Children's Book

Subgenre: Realistic Fiction

Theme: All the world is all of us.

Primary and secondary characters: People of the world.

Awards and date of publication: Caldecott award winner, published in 2009.

Publishing company: Beach Lane Books

Rock, stone, sand! Body, shoulder, hand all the world is wide and deep. The world is a garden bed with bee's, corn and tomatoes. Trees, trunks, and branches, with people climbing up and sitting down all the world is old and new. The land and cars, water and boats all the world is moving around. People have good days and bad days, all the world goes around this way. With family and music, all the world is you and me. Everything you hear, smell, and see all the world is everything. Everything is you and me. Hope, peace love and trust. All the world is all of us.

This book is a good book in teaching students the important parts of life, and that is the people in it. And the every day things that make the world go round.

Book Write Up #3: Picture Book #1

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Title: Moses

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Genre: Children Book

Subgenre: Fictional History

Theme: The underground railroad.

Primary and secondary characters: Harriet Tubman and her family.

Awards and date of publication: Winner of the Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award. Published in 2006.

Publishing Company: Hyperion Books for Children

This book is about Harriet Tubman and her spiritual route to freedom. Harriet is a very spiritual person and a slave. She talks to God throughout the book, and asks for his help to freedom. Harriet's spiritual journey takes her to freedom, with God's help. On her journey to freedom she talks to God constantly, and he talks back to her and leads her to freedom. God shows her signs throughout her journey to freedom. Throughout her journey God reassures her that he will carry her through her journey. When she finally reaches Philadelphia and freedom, God speaks to her and tells her to continue her journey and help save others. God uses her to plan the Underground Railroad and to set up food and shelter for slaves. On her journey to freedom God reassures her that she will eventually be reunited with her family. In the end, she brings her family to Philadelphia and leads them through the Underground Railroad. God never left Harriet, and carries her just like he promises.

This book is a good book to teach students about the Underground Railroad, and the fear and tragedies slaves went through to become free.

Write Up #2 Book #12 (Chapter Book)

Author: Ron Roy

Title: Mysteries April Adventures

Illustrator: No Illustrator

Genre: Chapter Book

Subgenre: Children's Chapter Book: Mystery

Theme: The Mystery of the golden eggs.

Primary and Secondary Characters: Bradley, Lucy and Nate.

Date of Publication: 2010

Publishing Company: A Stepping Stone Book

This book is part of a series of books written by Ron Roy, for beginning readers. This book is about three kids who have a sleep over Bradley, Lucy and Nate. They wake up in the morning to find Easter eggs right by them. Bradly sees a shadow leave as he wakes up, and they all believe that shadow is the thing that brought the eggs. As they open up their plastic eggs they realize there are notes in them (it is a scavenger hunt). Lucy is so happy she loves scavenger hunts. Their notes tell them to go where roses grow and find twelve plastic eggs and four real golden eggs. The note states that once they finish this, they will get a treasure. The children go to a nearby park and find the plastic eggs, but not the four golden eggs. The children look everywhere. After a long time they run across a mother swan. They realize her nest is stranded in the middle of the pond. Finally three men go into the water and grab the nest out of the pond and put it by the swan. The children realize that the four golden eggs are the eggs in the nest. They then watch as the eggs hatch. They all start to talk and realize that this is their treasure! It was an awesome day for everyone!

I will use this book with my students to show them the fun and rewards in adventures. This book is also a good book to stress to students that treasures can be something to do with nature, and it does not always have to relate to toys or money.

Write Up #2: Book # 11 (Chapter Book)

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff
Title: It's a Fiesta, Benjamin
Illustrator: DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Chapter Book for children
Theme: Having a fiesta that brings everyone together.
Primary and Secondary characters: Benjamin, Adam (his brother), Senora Sanchez, Mrs. Munoz
Date of Publication: 1998
Publishing Company: Gareth Stevens Publishing
This book is about Benjamin and his brother Adam. This book really expresses the Hispanic culture and language. Before every chapter there is a glossary with the Spanish words that the chapter uses and there meanings. Benjamin and the entire neighborhood are planning a fiesta to have to raise money for Mrs. Munoz, because she will be buying a pool (piscina) soon. The entire neighborhood helps to plan this party. Benjamin is upset, because his brother will not leave him alone. Benjamin finds out Senora Sanchez and her cousin do not talk anymore. This bothers Benjamin. While Benjamin cleans the neighborhood for the fiesta he realizes he lost Adam. He looks everywhere and cannot find him. Benjamin starts to feel sad, because he was mean to Adam earlier. Benjamin looks everywhere for Adam, and finally finds him at the Bakery. Adam is sad and explains to Benjamin that he ran away because Benjamin does not like him. Benjamin is real sad by this, so he makes a pack that he will try his best to always be nice to Adam. On the day of the Fiesta everyone has so much fun. Benjamin surprises Senora Sanchez and invites her cousin, they make up and everyone has a blast.

This book is a good book to read to my students and to explain that the way we act and the things we say, can really hurt someones feelings. We need to think before we speak and make sure nice things are coming out of our mouths.

Write Up #2: Book # 19 (Chapter Book)

Author: Allison Lassieur
Title: The Underground Railroad
Illustrator: This book doesn't have an illustrator, but it does have historic pictures taken in the 1800s.
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Historic fiction
Theme: How life would be if (you) as the reader was born during slavery.
Primary and Secondary Characters: It is in the point of view of (you) as the reader. The reader makes the decisions and lives the life of a slave.
Date of Publication: 2008
Publishing Company: Capstone Press
This book helps (you) as the reader live life as a slave during the 1850's. This book is written to (you) as the reader, and the reader has to make decisions throughout the book. The decisions that the reader makes can change the outcome of the slaves life. For instance, in the book you have to chose if you will stay with your momma with your former master or if you will flee with your papa. The decision is hard and unthinkable, but these are the types of decisions that slave children had to make. If you chose to stay with your momma you will end up getting sold and leaving your momma. If you chose to go with your dad you have to make other choices. In going with your dad you both are fugitives and have to hide and travel at night, so nobody will see you. You both run across this white man. Do you chose to ask him for help or not? If you ask him for help you both will get captured and sent back to your masters, because he is a trap for run away slaves. If you chose not to ask him for help and continue you will both stumble upon a lake. On this lake there is a man in a boat. Do you chose to as him for help of not? If you chose to ask him for help he will take you to a house that helps slaves, and is part of the underground railroad. There you will get sleep, food, and help. The next day you and your father will venture off to Canada with help from the Underground Railroad. In Canada you both will be free, because in Canada it is illegal to own slaves. Your father will buy land, grow crops and try to earn enough money to one day buy your mother and your baby brother.
I will read this book to my students, and let them chose which path they want to take. Then I can read it again and try another path to see where it takes us. I can relate this book and the many different choices and paths to how it really was for slaves during this time. The decisions that they made could lead to them being sold, death, or even them getting beat. This book will help my students relate to what slaves had to go threw and how horrible they were treated.

Book Write Up #2: Book #9 (Chapter Book)

Author: Nancy Krulik
Title: Katie Kazoo Switcheroo (Going Batty)
Illustrator: John & Wendy
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Young Adults
Theme: You don't know what it is like unless you live in the shoes of someone else.
Primary and Secondary Characters: Katie and her best friend Suzanne
Date of Publication: 2009
Publishing Company: Grosset & Dunlap

This book is about Katie and her friends. Her best friend is Suzanne. Katie and Suzanne love to hang upside down and play a lot. Katie's teacher Mr. G, is a very hands on teacher. In teaching about nocturnal animals he turns off all the lights in the classroom. The kids come in the room and it is dark. Then Mr. G jumps out of the closet as a rat and scares all the kids. He then talks to the kids about nocturnal animals, and the kids love it. He tells the kids that they are going to go to the zoo, to see nocturnal animals. Katie is a little weirded out about this, because there are times when a gust of wind comes and turns her into something else. She once was an Italian man and a bird. She lives in their shoes for awhile, so she is scared that the gust of wind will turn her into a nocturnal animal, because she thinks they are kinda nasty. The day at the zoo Katie gets lost, and the gust of wind comes and turns her into a bat. She realizes that she has furry skin and bat hooves. The longer she is a bat she realizes that bats are smart and fast. Her best friend then comes in the bat cave and talks badly about bats, this hurts Katie's feelings. When Katie turns back into herself she goes back to school the next day, and tells the kids all about bats.

When I become a teacher I can use this book in teaching my students that they cannot judge things from their outside appearance. They need to see the good qualities in all things.

Write up #2: Book #8

Author: Simms Taback

Title: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Illustrator: Simms Taback

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Children's Book

Theme: You can always make something out of nothing.

Primary and Secondary characters: Joseph and his overcoat.

Awards and date of publication: Won the Caldecott Medal, 1999

This book is about a man named Joseph he had an overcoat. Well his overcoat became very old and worn out. He then turned his overcoat into a jacket. His jacket then became very old and worn out, so he made it into a vest. His vest got old and worn, so he turned it into a scarf. Then his scarf got old and worn, so he turned it into a tie. His tie got old and worn, so he turned it into a handkerchief. His handkerchief then got old and worn, so he turned it into a button. One day he noticed he lost his button, he was very sad. But then he decided to make a book about it. Which shows you can always make something out of nothing.

This book is a good book in teaching students that they can use their imagination, to make something out of nothing.

Book Write Up #2: Book #7

Author: Joyce Carol Thomas

Title: I Have Heard of a Land

Illustrator: Floyd Cooper

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Children Book, Historical Fiction

Theme: Life as a African American frontiers woman.

Primary and Secondary characters: African American frontiers woman.

Awards and date of publication: Coretta Scott King Award: 1998

Publishing Company: Joanna Cotler Books

This book is about all African American frontier women, when they settled into the West. This book is about the aspirations they had about their new found freedom and land. These women were finally going to be free to own their own land, crop their own crops, and to do whatever they want on their land. These women had to just claim their land, have their neighbors help them build their log cabins and then live free, just as free and any white man. This books explains the freedom and aspirations of these frontier women. For so many years they were owned by someone else, and now they are finally able to own their own piece of happiness!

This book is a good book to talk to students about life after slavery, and how much freedom and happiness these frontier women must have had. This book looks at frontiers not just in the eyes of white Caucasian men, but in the eyes of African American women.

Book Write Up #2: Book #6

Author: Tricia Tus

Title: Follow Me

Illustrator: Tricia Tusa

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Children Book

Theme: A little girl who wants to be free, and wants her friends to follow her into a wonderful life of bliss.

Primary Character: A little girl

Date of Publication: 2011

Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

A girl soars into a swirl of colors, pink, blue, purple, and gray. She finds her way out, over, up and down and she's calling for a friend to follow. This book is very peaceful and the pictures are so beautiful. It is a short book but the little girl covers all the colors in her blissful world.

I will use this book with my students to help them remember their colors, and to show them that it is okay to use their imaginations!

Book Write Up #2: Book #5

Author: Tobi Tobias

Title: Wishes for You

Illustrator: Henri Sorensen

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Children's Book.

Primary and Secondary Character: All mothers and their children

Date of Publication: 2003

Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishers

This book is a general book about how much mothers love their children. There is not a define character, but every mother and child can read it as if it is about them. This book describes what a mother wants for their children. They want their children to know their self worth. To be so happy they can feel the sun shining from inside them. The strength and spirit to deal with the bad that will come their way. To love one special person more than anyone or anything in the whole world. Most of all I hope you will always remember me and know how much I love you.

This book will be a great book to incorporate on Mother's Day, so my students can see just how much the one's they love (even if it is not there mom) really loves and cares about them!

Book Write Up #2: Book #4

Author: Robert Burleigh

Title: Home Run

Illustrator: Mike Wimmer

Genre: Picture book

Subgenre: Sports Book

Theme: The world famous Babe Ruth (Babe).

Primary and Secondary Characters: Babe Ruth

Date of Publication: 2003

Publishing Company: Voyager Book

This book is about the world famous Babe Ruth. As a boy Babe was a natural, he had a swing that no coach could have taught him. As he got older he became the best batter of his time. He had a swing like no other. He led the record in home runs. When he would make a home run, he would point the bat to the field and the fans would go crazy. He set the standard for baseball during this time and forever. He changed baseball forever!

I will use this book to teach students about the world famous Babe Ruth, and how he changed baseball.

Book Write Up #2: Book #3

Author: Suzanne Bloom

Title: Treasure

Illustrator: Suzanne Bloom

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Children Book

Theme: The greatest treasures are those you love.

Primary and Secondary Character: Duck and Polar Bear

Date of Publication: 2007

Publishing Company: Boyd's Mills Press

This book is about a duck and a polar bear who are looking for a treasure. They dig very deep, and find no treasure. They go swimming deep in the sea, and still no treasure, the look everywhere, and find no treasure. They are a little disappointed and then they realize that they have their treasure, and that is each other.

This book is a cute book, and I will use this with students to teach them that family and friends are the best treasure of all.

Book Write Up #2: book #2

Author: Eric Velasquez

Title: Grandma's Gift

Illustrator: Eric Velasquez

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Christmas Book

Theme: Finding role models of your own ethnicity can open the windows for so much exploration.

Primary and Secondary Characters: Eric and his Grandma Carmen

Awards and date of publication: Pura Belpre Award: published in 2010

Publishing Company: Walker and Company

Eric has to go to the Metropolitan Museum with his grandma for a school project. Before they go to the museum they have to La Marqueta, so his grandma can make her famous pasteles for Christmas Eve. Pasteles are a famous Puerto Rican dish that takes a lot of work. They went to the market where his grandma knows everyone and is able to speak Spanish. After the market they go to the museum. At the museum his grandma is very uncomfortable, because she can not read English or speak it very well. When they go into the museum they see this painting that is painted by a Puerto Rican painter. This really inspires Eric and he expresses to his grandma that now he wants to start painting. On Christmas Eve his grandma buys him his first set of paints, and paper.

I will use this book with students to show them that different cultures have different traditions for the holiday's. I can also use this book to teach them the insecurities that someone may have when they do not speak english, and that the students need to have compassion with these people.

Book Write Up #2: 1st Book

Author: Jane O' Connor and Jessie Hartland

Title: The Perfect Puppy for ME!

Illustrator: Jessie Hartland

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Informational

Theme: Picking the perfect dog for my family.

Primary and Secondary characters: the boy and his sister

Date of Publication: 2003

Publishing Company: Puffin Books

This little boy is narrating the story in his point of view. He is upset, because he does not have a dog. His parents agree that he can have a dog as soon as he figures out what type of dog he wants. This starts his journey in introducing different types of dogs, and describing their characteristics. He talks about how puddles don't shed, so they will be good for someone who has allergies. He talks about how dogs are pregnant for only two months. That bulldogs are very patient with small children, but often dye young from breathing difficulties. Finally he finds a dog and his sister names it Doodle, because it is mix of poodle and Labrador.

This book will be good for students in learning about different types of animals. This book is a very cute book, but is also very informative and will give the students a lot of interesting dog facts that they will enjoy.

Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico

Author: Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
Title: Nine Day to Christmas: A Story of Mexico
Illustrator: Marie Hall Ets
Genre: Children's picture book
Subgenre: historical, Christmas
Theme: A traditional Mexican Christmas.
Primary and secondary characters: Cici, her mother, Maria (her servant)
Awards and date of publication: Winner of the Caldecott Medal, 1987
Cici is very excited because Christmas is almost near. In Mexico the nine days before Christmas are celebrated, by a party every night called a Posada. This Christmas Cici's family will be hosting their own Posada. Cici is so excited, because this will be her very first Posada. Everyday she asks her mother and Maria if she will have a pinata for her Posada. They are not answering her, but they suggest that every Posada has to have a pinata. One day Maria's mom tells Maria she has a surprise for her and to get ready. Maria and her mom go to get her pinata for the Posada. They go to the market and Cici sees a bunch of pinatas hanging from the ceiling. She finally sees this star pinata, and she had to take it home. The day of her Posada she is sad, because everyone is going to hit her pinata until it breaks. She hides behind the tree as her pinata finally breaks. She is so sad, but she looks up at the sky and a shiny star tells her not to be sad. Since Cici chose the star for her pinata, now the pinata is a real star!

This book is a good book to explain to student how different cultures celebrate different holiday's. This way the students can realize that there is not just one way to celebrate different holiday's.

So You Want to Be President

Author: Judith St. George
Title: So You Want to Be President
Illustrator: David Small
Genre: Children's picture book
Subgenre: Historical fiction
Theme: Presidents
Primary and secondary character: presidents
Awards and date of publication: Won The Caldecott Medal and was published in 2000.
Publishing Company: Philomel Books
This book is a very great book and educates students about presidents, and what they have to do to become a president. The pros about being a presidents includes living in the White House with a swimming pool, bowling alley, and movie theater in their house. They do not have to eat vegetables or take out trash. The cons include presidents always have to be dressed up, and once William Howard Taft had a cabbage thrown at his head. If you want to become a president it will help if your name is James or if you were born in a log cabin (six presidents were named James, and eight presidents were born in a log cabin). To be a president size, age, or humor does not matter. However, to be a president it is a plus, to have presidents in your family tree. Although most presidents went to college nine did not (Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, Johnson, Cleveland, Truman). If you want to be a president you might want to join the military or become vice president. However, most importantly if you want to be a president you must be honest!
This book is a very good book to have students read in correlation with talking about presidents. This will make the topic interesting, fun, and will definitely bring the reader into the subject.

Llama Llama Red Pajamas

Author: Anna Dewdney

Title: Llama Llama Red Pajama

Illustrator: Anna Dewdney

Genre: Children's picture book

Subgenre: rhyming book, fiction

Theme: Be patient Llama

Primary and secondary characters: Llama and his momma Llama

Date of publication: 2005

Publishing Company: Viking Publishing Co.

Momma Llama puts her Baby Llama to bed. Momma Llama kisses him goodnight and goes downstairs to finish the dishes. Baby Llama starts feeling real lonely and anxious. He yells for him mom to come down stair, but at the same time the phone rings and momma answers it. Baby Llama waits, waits, waits for his momma. Momma still does not come, and Baby Llama starts to freak out. He begins to yell, stomp, pout, jump and shout for him momma. Baby Llama is all alone and starts to wonder if his momma is gone. He starts weeping and wailing for his momma! Baby Llama scares momma and she runs in very upset, because mama is very busy and Baby Llama needs to be patient. She kisses him again and reassures him he loves her and she is always near if he needs her. She leaves and Baby Llama falls asleep!

This is a good book to teach students that their parents or guardians get very busy, but they are there to watch over them. They may not be in the same room, but they are always watching over them and are around to protect them.

Mommy's Little Girl

Author: Ronne Randall
Title: Mommy's Little Girl
Illustrator: Kristina Khrin
Genre: Children's picture book
Subgenre: fiction, love
Theme: Even though little girls grow up they will always be their mommy's little girls.
Primary and secondary characters: Amy and her mom
Date of publication: 2008
Publishing Company: Parragon Publishing Co.
Amy and her mommy are very close. Amy loves her mommy and they always do things together. Amy looks up to her mommy, and wants to be just like her. One day Amy's mother has Amy go to the closet to get some pillow cases, there she finds a big pink box. Amy opens the box and finds small doll clothes. She goes to ask her mother if they are doll clothes. Her mom assures Amy that she can use them as doll clothes, but they were not always doll clothes. She lets Amy know they belong to her little girl. Amy gets sad, because she is her mommy's only little girl. Her mom takes her in the living room and shows her a picture album. She points to the pictures and explains that's my little girl as a baby, that's her as a toddler, and points to one of Amy now. Amy smiles, because she realizes that the little girl is her, and the baby clothes are hers too.

This book is a really good book in explaining to students that even when they grow up, they will still be loved the same by thier parents.

The Middle Child Blues

Author: Kristyn Crow
Title: The Middle-Child Blues
Illustrator: David Catrow
Genre: Picture book (children)
Subgenre: fiction, poem
Theme: Its not always easy being the middle child, but your special in your own way.
Primary and secondary characters: Raymond, Lee and Kate
Date of publication: 2009
Publishing company: Penguin Young Readers Group
Lee is very aggravated because he is the middle child. He has an older brother Raymond and a little sister Kate. Kate gets away with everything because she is too small to do chores. Raymond gets the best of everything, because he is the oldest. There is nothing Lee can do to get his parents attention except play his guitar. When he plays his guitar and sings the middle child blues song, he starts to get an audience. He becomes special, and gets the attention he is looking for when he plays his guitar.

This book is a very good book to stress in students that they are special, and have special talents. They may have to share their time with their siblings, but their parents and family love them just the same.

Llama Llama Misses Mama

Author: Anna Dewdney

Title: Llama Llama Misses Mama

Genre: Picture book (children's book)

Subgenre: fiction, poem

Theme: Llama learns how adapt to school and missing his momma.

Primary and secondary characters: Llama, and Llama momma

Date of publication: 2009

Publishing Company: Scholastic Inc.

Llama wakes up in the morning, and gets ready for his first day of school. When he gets to school and his mom leaves, he realizes he misses her bad. He wants her to come back, and is sad that she had to leave. By the end of the day momma comes back and plays with Llama at school. Llama then relaizes he loves momma and he loves school too.

This book is a good book in teaching students that it is ok to be sad, and show their emotions if something is bothering them. However, if it is a new situation that is bothering them, and if they give it a chance. They may grow to love it.

Bedtime at the Swamps

Author: Kristyn Crow
Title: Bedtime at the Swamps
Illustrator: Macky Pamintuan
Genre: Picture book
subgenre: rhyming book, thriller
Theme: You should not be scared when you go to sleep, because it is never what you think.
Primary and secondary Characters: Ma, boy, sister, brother, cousins
Date of Publication: 2008
Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publisher
This little boy sits at the swamp humming a tune when he hears Splish splash rumba-rumba bim bam BOOM! Splish splash rumba-rumba bim bam BOOM! He is so scared he takes off after a tree and climbs to the very top. His sister comes to get him for bed and yells to him at the top of the tree. She hears the noise and runs after the tree so she can hide with him. His momma then sends his brother and cousins to come get him, and they also hear the noise and climb up the tree. By the end of the story they were all at the top of the tree. Finally momma gets real upset and comes to get them. She starts to yell at them then she hears Crunch crash tumble-tumble split splat SPLOOM! When they all fall on the ground ma makes them all go home and get ready for bed. As they head home they hear Splish splash rumba-rumba bim bam BOOM! All the way home! The scary noise turns out not to be scary at all.

This book will be good to teach tudents that things are not always what they appear. They might think something looks or is scary. However, once they experience it for themselves they will see it really is not scary.

Freedom Song

Author: Trina Robbins

Title: Freedom Songs

Illustrator: Jason Millet

Genre: Short chapter book

Subgenre: thriller, action

Theme: A slave escaping to freedom

Primary and secondary characters: Sarah, Mrs. Marlow, and Mrs. Bennett

Date of publication: 2008

Publishing Company: Stone Arch Books

Sarah is a fourteen year old slave, during the 1850's. Her masters are Mr. and Mrs. Marlow. One of Sarah's job is to swat fies away from the Marlow's baby, during the night. Early in the morning Mrs. Marlow comes in to the room to find Sarah Sleeping. She slaps Sarah and is very upset. She does not give her any food that day, and tell her she is going to beat when Mr. Marlow comes home. Sarah remembers that earlier that day a man by the name of Mr. Levi came over, and was talking about a Quaker lady a couple miles down the street who takes in run away slaves, and is against slavery. Sarah knows she has to do something, so she grabs some belongings and runs away to the ladies house. Once she gets to her house she falls asleep in her barn until morning. The next morning the lady wakes Sarah up. She feeds and clothes her, but tells Sarah she has to soon leave, because the slave hunters will come looking for her. The Quaker lady tells Sarah she has to take the Underground Railroad to Philadelphia. Sarah and other slaves follow Mrs. Bennett and take the Underground Railroad to Philadelphia. Once in Philadelphia Sarah feels safe and even finds a job. While at work at the hotel Sarah runs into her former masters. They demand that Sarah has to go back with them. She refuses and throws mop water at them, and runs back to the house she stays at. She now has to go by herself to Canada. Mrs. Ross drops her off at the train station in Philadelphia, a cop spots her as a run away slave. However, at this time she sees Mr. Levi, and he pretends that Sarah is his slave, and the cop lets them get on the train together. Mr. Levi remembers Sarah, and she is now on her way to freedom. Once Sarah gets to Canada she vows that she will be like Mrs. Bennett, and go back to get her mother and help her become free.

This book will be a good book to incorporate in teaching about slavery, the Underground Railroad, and life in the 1850's. This book will help students to relate to slavery from a child's perspective. Which will then help them relate to the book in their own perspective. This makes it easier to relate and have sympathy for everything that Sarah has to go through.

The Man with the Black Glove

Author: Ursel Scheffler

Title: The Man with the Black Glove

Illustrator: Christa Unzner

Genre: Chapter book

subgenre: Mystery

Theme: Two young detective cracking two cases.

Primary and secondary characters: Martin Pitman and Pauline

Date of publication: 1999

Martin Putman and Pauline watch a man next door with a silver suit case, gloves, and a leather jacket walking into a shed. However, when he comes out of the shed the suitcase is not with him anymore. They decide to become detectives and to try to find out what he is hiding. At the same time, they find a wallet on the ground. They go to the Police Station to turn it in and they make a deal with the policeman. The policeman gives them permission to go around to places, and inquire about the wallet. They find the owner of the wallet, and they also help to detect the man with the silver suitcase. He turns out to be a robber, and these two little detectives help to crack two cases.

This story will be good to read to students and reassure them that kids are able to do whatever they put their hearts to, even if that means being detectives.

Shiloh

Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Title: Shiloh
Illustrator: NA
Genre: Chapter book
Subgenre: reality, love
Theme: Follow your heart, work hard, and keep with your word and God will acknowledge your hearts desires.
Primary and secondary characters: Marty, Shiloh, and Judd Travers
Award and date of publication: Newbery Award winner and was published in 2000.
Publishing Company: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

This book is about a young boy named Marty, who goes off one day to play by the creek. He comes across this dog who keeps following him. Marty is trying to ignore this dog, because he knows him Ma and Pa will be mad if he brings the dog home, and gives them another mouth to feed. The dog ends up following Marty all the way home. Later on when his dad comes home they take the dog who Marty named "Shiloh," back to his owner Judd Travers. When they drop the dog off Judd is mean. He talks about how he is going to starve and beat Shiloh for running away. By the way the dog acts, Marty knows its true. On the way home, Marty is devastated that they had to take Shiloh back to his owners house. A couple of days later Shiloh finds Marty again. This time Marty swears he will not take Shiloh back to that evil man's house. Marty hides Shiloh from his family for about a week, until a German Shepard attacks Shiloh in the cage that Marty made for him. Everyone in Marty's family finds out about Shiloh and is very upset, but they now worry more about Shiloh and fixing his wounds. Marty and his pa take Shiloh to the Doc's house and the Doc keeps him overnight. The next day the Doc brings Shiloh back to Marty's house, and Judd finds out the dog is at Marty's and comes to retrieve him. Judd is mad that they have his dog, but agrees to let Shiloh stay until his wounds heal. A couple days later Marty walks over to Judd's, because he wanted to talk to him about keeping Shiloh. When Marty gets close to Judd's house he sees him killing a deer out of deer season. Marty tells Judd if he does not let him keep Shiloh he will tell the cops. Judd agrees as long as Marty work for Judd, for forty hours. When Marty is half way done with all his hours Judd tells him he is a fool, and he is not letting him keep Shiloh. Marty ignores Judd and decides to do the work anyways. It all works out for Marty, because in the end Judd softens and lets Marty have Shiloh.

This is a good book to teach students that hard work and dedication pays off, in the end. Marty was determined to make Shiloh his, and in the end he stood to his values, hard work, and dedication and he made Shiloh his.

Uh-oh, Cleo Underpants on my Head

Author: Jessica Harper
Title: Uh-oh Cleo Underpants on my Head
Gengre: chapter book
Subgenre: reality fiction, comedy
Theme: siblings bug, but in the end we're always there for each other.
Primary and secondary characters: Cleo and her older sister Jana
Date of publication: 2009
Publishing company: The Penguin Group


This book is about a big family with six kids and of course mom and dad. Cleo is narrating the book in her point of view and she is the youngest, out of the older three children. She has an older sister named Jenna, who really upsets her. Jenna always makes Cleo finish her chores and Jenna always gets the best of everything. The entire family goes on a trip to visit their grandma in Colorado. They fly to their grandmother's house, which is an interesting journey. Once they get to their grandmother's house the older three children, and their mom and dad all go on a hiking trip, up Mt. Baldy. After staying over night in a cabin they start their journey up Mt. Baldy. At the bottom of the Mt. it is very warm, which makes sense since it is summer. They all start to take off their clothes, and they are going to swim in their underpants. However, it starts to rain so they all decide against the swim. As they start their journey again up the Mt., it begins to get colder and colder and the wind gets harder and harder. Cleo, Jack, and Jenna stop because they are freezing. Jenna starts to doubt that she will survive this. Momma gives them their underpants so they can put them on their heads to keep their ears warm. They all start laughing at each other once the notice how silly they look with underpants on their head. Their Dad decides it is time to go back down the hill. At this time Jenna can not move, and Cleo has to help her all the way down the Mt. Once they all get down the Mt. Jenna is so thankful that Cleo helps her, and for the rest of the trip they actually got along.

This book is a good book to teach students that even though they may not always get along with their family or friends, they may just need them one day. This is why it is a good idea to treat people how you want to be treated.

Meet Danitra Brown

Desirae Breeding

Author: Nikki Grimes
Title: Meet Danitra Brown
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
Genre: Poem Book
Subgenre: Narrative Poem
Theme: My best friend Danitra Brown
Primary and secondary characters: Zuri Jackson and Danitra Brown

Awards and dates of publications: This book is a Coretta Scott King honor book and was published in 1984.

Publishing Company: Harpercolins Children's Books

This book explains Zuri's life with her best friend Danitra Brown. Throughout the book Zuri keeps on showing examples about how her best friend Danitra, is such a great friend. For example Danitra makes Zuri feel good about the darkness of her skin. Zuri hates when all the other kids tease her and say, "You so black, girl," but Zuri expresses, Danitra says, "My skin's like double choclate fudge." Danitra also makes Zuri feel better at back to school night, because Zuri only has a mother and not a father. Danitra reassures her that she has it good, because her mom loves her twice as much! Danitra and Zuri are best friends and they constantly support each other.

This book can be an excellent book to read to my students and to express to them the importance of good friendships. I can explain to them that friends are suppose to support each other, play nice with each other, and are there to make us feel loved. But, if we are mean to our friends then this kind of connection will be hard to find.