Everything on a Waffle

1. Author: Polly Horvath
2. Title: Everything on a Waffle
3. Illustrator: Not listed
4. Genre: Fiction
5. Subgenre: Chapter Book - Family
6. Theme: No matter if everyone else is against it, never give up hope.
7. Characters: Primrose, Miss Perfidy, Uncle Jack, Miss Honeycut, Evie, and Burt
8. Awards/Date: Newbery Honors/2002
9. Publisher: Scholastic
10. Summary: This book is a chapter book that tells the story of Primrose. After her parents go missing, everyone believes they are dead. She, however, does not. Still, she is forced to move on. She goes from home to home as person after person either runs out of money or gives up on her. Every chapter follows every trial and tribulation she has to go through while trying to still keep hope that her parents are alive. This story is probably more appropriate for older grades, like 6th-8th. This story can be great to use to illustrate how emotional attachment can be put into the story with simple words.

A Tiger Cub Grows Up

1. Author: Joan Hewett
2. Title: A Tiger Cub Grows Up
3. Illustrator/Photographer: Richard Hewett
4. Genre: Informative (Picture)
5. Subgenre: Animals
6. Theme: Caring for a Tiger/ A Tiger Growing Up
7. Characters: Primary - Tara the cub; Secondary - Mary and Lynn - Feeders and caretakers
8. Awards/Date: None/2004
9. Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
10. Summary: This story simply tells the story of Tara, a bengal cub. She is a tiger kept in captive and is being raised in the beginning by Mary. Mary simply nurses her until she is ready for normal food. Once she reaches a certain age, she is sent to Lynn, who is someone that will teach Tara how to be a normal tiger. This story would be fantastic for children because they will get to enjoy reading about an animal while still learning important facts about a particular type of animal. This would be a good book to let children read on their own free time.

Perk Up Your Ears

1. Author: Vicki Cobb
2. Title: Perk Up Your Ears
3. Illustrator: Cynthia C. Lewis
4. Genre: Senses (Auditory)
5. Subgenre: Chapter Book/ Informational
6. Theme: There's more to sound than you could imagine.
7. Characters: None
8. Awards/Date: None/2001
9. Publisher: Millbrook Press
10. Summary: This story is very informative. It teaches you not only how using your hearing can be beneficial, but it also teaches you the scientific aspects of the mechanics of hearing as well, such as the structure of the ear and how each structure within it works. Overall, this book could be used to illustrate one of the five senses and even tie in the scientific aspects of hearing. The illustrations are also fantastic for the more visual learners.

Let it Shine

1. Author: Ashley Bryan
2. Title: Let It Shine
3. Illustrator: Not listed
4. Genre: Spiritual (Picture)
5. Subgenre: Poetic/Songs
6. Theme: Using spiritual songs can help uplift you.
7. Characters: None
8. Award/Date: Coretta Scott King/2007
9. Publisher: Atheneum
10. Summary: This book had a list of poetry that has actually been turned into spiritual songs. Let it Shine and Oh When the Saints... are two songs that are found in this book. This book can be useful in class if you use it wisely. Unfortunately, so many people are extremely touchy about using anything spiritual, so you may have to be careful. However, to people who are spiritual, this book can be used to uplift them.

Olivia

1. Author: Ian Falconer
2. Title: Olivia
3. Illustrator: Ian Falconer
4. Genre: Fiction (Picture)
5. Subgenre: Behavior
6. Theme: A child should be him/herself; they will still be loved even when they do things incorrectly.
7. Characters: Primary - Olivia Secondary - None
8. Award/Date: Caldecott/2000
9. Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Reader
10. Summary: This story is simply all of the things a little girl, which is a pig, does throughout her day. Sometimes she seems to get on her parents nerves a little bit, but she dresses and acts true to herself. This story can show kids that it is ok to be themselves. Dare to be different.

The Bowlegged Rooster

1. Author: Joyce Carol Thomas
2. Title: The Bowlegged Rooster
3. Illustrator: Holly Berry
4. Genre: Fiction (Animals)
5. Subgenre: Chapter Book/ Family and Friends
6. Theme: No matter how different we are, we can all still be a family.
7. Characters: Primary - Papa Rooster, Mama Hen, Baby Rooster, Crow, Buzzard; Secondary - Grandpa & Grandma Goose, Mrs. Crow, Bullfrogs, Mrs. Buzzard, The Robins
8. Award/Date: None/2000
9. Publisher: Harper Collins
10. Summary: The story begins with Papa Rooster and Mama Hen awaiting the arrival of their baby. Unlike all the other eggs, their egg is dancing and hopping around, much like the father did. The story basically revolves around them and their close-knit relationship with other types of birds, like crows, robins, buzzards, and geese. This book offers so much to children. It teaches that different families can come together as one unit. It also shows examples of the following literary devices: onomatopeia, alliteration, and allusion. Finally, the book also teaches people to accept themselves because they were made that way for a reason.

Hurty Feelings

1. Author: Helen Lester
2. Title: Hurty Feelings
3. Illustrator: Lynn Munsinger
4. Genre: Fiction (Picture)
5. Subgenre: Emotions/Behavior
6. Theme: People do not always say nice things with a negative motive.
7. Characters: Primary - Fragility Secondary - Elephant, other hippos
8. Award/Date: None/2004
9. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
10. Summary: Fragility is a hippo who is well known for being tough physically, but she's extremely sensitive emotionally. People say nice things, but she always takes it the wrong way. However, after she encounters an elephant trying to eat a soccer goal, she learns not act in a silly manner like the elephant, and she simply accepts any compliments. This story can teach children not to look into every little word people say. Some children can be suspicious of a person's motive for saying something nice. Children need to learn that you need to not only be considerate of others' feelings, but also to be understanding of their actions. Just simply learn to accept compliments with a smile and say thank you.

Nobody Likes Me

1. Author: Raoul Krischanitz
2. Title: Nobody Likes Me
3. Illustrator: Unknown
4. Genre: Fiction (Picture)
5. Subgenre: Friendship
6. Theme: Don't always assume the worst; things aren't always as they seem.
7. Characters: Primary - Buddy Secondary - Fox, Mouse, Sheep, Dog, Cats, Rabbits
8. Awards/Date: None/1999
9. Publisher: North-South Books
10. Summary: This story starts with Buddy, a dog, walking through trying to find a friend, but he keeps thinking no one likes him. When he starts crying, a fox convinces him to walk with him and ask them why they didn't like him. He discovers they all were simply afraid of him. In the end, they all become friends, eat cake, and play. Children are so often terrified to be rejected that the smallest thing a person may do will scare them. What they don't realize is that maybe that person was just having a bad day. This story can teach children that things are not always as they seem. Keep your head held high and simply try.

Great Balloon Race: A Geography Adventure

1. Author: Amy Axelrod
2. Title: Great Balloon Race: A Geography Adventure
3. Illustrator: Tim Bowers
4. Genre: Fiction (Picture)
5. Subgenre: Balloon Racing/Adventure
6. Theme: Taking risks can have great rewards
7. Characters: Primary = Issac, Molly, Jake (No secondary characters)
8. Award/Date: No Award/2000
9. Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
10. Summary: Jake, Issac, and Molly are news reporters that decide to go to Texas to cover a balloon racing event. When they get there, Molly surprises the boys by telling them they'll be part of the race while recording. Although scared at first, Issac managers to grab the ring and win them the race while still reporting. This book is excellent for students! First of all, it has adventure! Most kids love adventure stories. Secondly, the characters are actually dogs, and many students love animals; therefore, many of them will be more drawn to it. Finally, at the end of the book, it asks geography-related questions that will help promote learning. Although all of those things are important, I think the best thing is that this story teaches a child that everyone gets scared sometimes, but taking risks can be extremely rewarding like it was for Issac.

The House in the Night

1. Author: Susan Marie Swanson
2. Title: The House in the Night
3. Illustrator: Beth Krommes
4. Genre: Poetry/Fiction (Picture Book)
5. Subgenre: None
6. Theme: Everything happens in a cycle
7. Characters: Primary = Narrator (No Secondary)
8. Awards/Year: Caldecott Medal/2008
9. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
10. Summary: Honestly, I didn't care for this story. It is difficult to summarize because it seems to have little substance. I would only recommend this story for the illustrations.

All the World

1. Author: Liz Garton Scanlon
2. Title: All the World
3. Illustrator: Marla Frazee
4. Genre: Poetry (Picture)
5. Subgenre: None
6. Theme: Everyone in the world is connected by the little things in life.
7. Primary Character: Narrator ( No secondary)
8. Award/Year: Caldecott Honor/2009
9. Publisher: Beach Lane Books
10. Summary: This book actually turned out to be poetry. It talks about how all over the world, people are brought together by things like the sand, playing, and families. This book would be great to teach students that no matter how diverse our cultures may be, we all are still people with similar cares and dreams in life.

The Cat Who Got Carried Away

1. Author = Allan Ahlberg
2. Title = The Cat Who Got Carried Away
3. Illustrator = Katharine McEwen
4. Genre = Fiction Chapter Book
5. Subgenre = Family Life/Mystery
6. Theme = Everything is connected in someway.
7. Characters(Primary) = Gus, Gloria, Horace, Mr. & Mrs. Gaskitt
8. Characters(Secondary) = Mrs. Fritter, Mr. Cruncher, Gary Gaskitt, Sid and Honest Joe
9. Award/Date Published = No Award/2003
10. Publishing Company = Candlewick Press
11. Summary: This is a wonderful chapter book that tells the story of the Gaskitt Family. While Gus and Gloria are having to run at school, their cat, Horace, and many other animals are going missing. This story makes you question who is stealing the animals, why is Mrs. Gaskitt always in bed, and where did the animals go.
12. How would I use? This is a great book to teach children to sharpen their analytical skills. Throughout the book, the child is given hints to guess what is going to happen. This book could help them learn to read with a mind more keen to detail.

Children Lit 4050