Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
Illustrated by Huy Voun Lee
In this classroom, young students are learning many lessons - from getting along with each other, putting puzzles together, painting, and singing. Their most important lesson though is learning to listen to their teacher. Suddenly, a loud bell sounds, and the children must be quiet to find out what they should do. A poster on the wall, FIRE DRILL RULES, suddenly becomes the focus. It is time for the children to follow the rules, and wait patiently for their teacher to say, “Okay!” Then it is back to fun.
This is a very age appropriate book that teaches young children the importance of fire drills, and listening to their teachers. Illustrations are bright and colorful, easily engaging children’s eyes and interest. Also, the clever illustrations are replete with an array of patterns. The text is simple and easy for children to understand and absorb. This is a wonderful book every elementary class should start with, and refer to during the school months.
BIBLIO: 2010, Henry Holt and Co., Ages 4 - 7, $15.99.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book / Rhyming Text
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8953-0
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 7/8/10
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Count Down to Summer
One-hundred and eighty poems, riddles, and rhymes for every day of school. Just a few of the titles I came across, A Billion Years A.D., Gold Teeth, Dead Weight, I was Your Teacher Once, Dolly and Dilly, The Loneliest Creature, Food Fight, Rabbit Math, Riddle, Who Can Tell?, Alphabet Game, Beneath a Shady Tree, The Most Common Vowel … and, the most interesting title I found, Punxsutawney Phil.
Some of the poems rhyme and some do not. Some of the poems are relevant to school topics, and others are just relevant to miscellaneous subjects as #38 Ocean Motion, or #114 Girl and Boy. Number 42 talks about Animals at Odds … snails and whales, pachyderms and worms, newts and bandicoots.
Civil War Couplets, #64, is actually educational, in a couplet sort of way. There are a few of the poems most kids will want to pass over, a few of the riddles they will not give any time to, but within the pages of this book are a few fun rhymes the younger set would enjoy and might want to repeat.
At best, it’s a one-time read and the kids will want to pass it along to another pal, or to another class. At worst it will languish on a bookshelf somewhere before the cover is torn off and returned to the publisher and the book is tossed in a trash can. The illustrations are black ink and very elementary and do not add to the text of the book. Perhaps if the illustrations were more engaging, the poetry and riddles would be more attractive.
BIBLIO: 2009, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Ages 8 to 12, $15.99
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Poetry Book
ISBN: 978-0-316-04318-2
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 5/09
Some of the poems rhyme and some do not. Some of the poems are relevant to school topics, and others are just relevant to miscellaneous subjects as #38 Ocean Motion, or #114 Girl and Boy. Number 42 talks about Animals at Odds … snails and whales, pachyderms and worms, newts and bandicoots.
Civil War Couplets, #64, is actually educational, in a couplet sort of way. There are a few of the poems most kids will want to pass over, a few of the riddles they will not give any time to, but within the pages of this book are a few fun rhymes the younger set would enjoy and might want to repeat.
At best, it’s a one-time read and the kids will want to pass it along to another pal, or to another class. At worst it will languish on a bookshelf somewhere before the cover is torn off and returned to the publisher and the book is tossed in a trash can. The illustrations are black ink and very elementary and do not add to the text of the book. Perhaps if the illustrations were more engaging, the poetry and riddles would be more attractive.
BIBLIO: 2009, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Ages 8 to 12, $15.99
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Poetry Book
ISBN: 978-0-316-04318-2
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 5/09
Bullies Never Win
Margery Cuyler
Illustrations by Arthur Howard
In first grade, Jessica faced a lesson that had nothing to do with getting her homework done, or even getting it turned in on time. Jessica's biggest problem was Brenda Bailey. Every day Jessica went to school, Brenda found ways to bully her. From the clothes Jessica wore, to the way she played kickball, even to the homework Jessica turned in.
If that was not enough for Jessica, she also worried about other things. For example, Jessica worried if her socks matched, if she could find her barrettes, and even worried about her knobby knees. For a first grader, Jessica had a lot to worry about.
Her teacher, Mr. Martin, had advised his class to "just ignore" the bullies. But Jessica didn't think she could do that. So, after telling her mom about the problem with Brenda, Jessica came up with a plan.
The next day, when Brenda began her bulling ways, Jessica put her plan into action. Brenda was stunned, embarrassed, and finally quiet.
Can you imagine what Jessica's plan was? Could your child learn from Jessica? If your child has been bullied, or knows a child who is being bullied, the strategy Jessica used just may be helpful. This is a book that should be kept in all elementary classes, and read out-loud regularly. Empowering children starts early, and Jessica's story and her solution are about empowering children.
The colorful illustrations are humorous and on target for the elementary grades. If given the opportunity, children in grades 1st through 4th will enjoy picking this book up and reading it by themselves.
BIBLIO: 2009, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, Ages 5 to 9, $16.99
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-689-86187-1
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 5/09
Illustrations by Arthur Howard
In first grade, Jessica faced a lesson that had nothing to do with getting her homework done, or even getting it turned in on time. Jessica's biggest problem was Brenda Bailey. Every day Jessica went to school, Brenda found ways to bully her. From the clothes Jessica wore, to the way she played kickball, even to the homework Jessica turned in.
If that was not enough for Jessica, she also worried about other things. For example, Jessica worried if her socks matched, if she could find her barrettes, and even worried about her knobby knees. For a first grader, Jessica had a lot to worry about.
Her teacher, Mr. Martin, had advised his class to "just ignore" the bullies. But Jessica didn't think she could do that. So, after telling her mom about the problem with Brenda, Jessica came up with a plan.
The next day, when Brenda began her bulling ways, Jessica put her plan into action. Brenda was stunned, embarrassed, and finally quiet.
Can you imagine what Jessica's plan was? Could your child learn from Jessica? If your child has been bullied, or knows a child who is being bullied, the strategy Jessica used just may be helpful. This is a book that should be kept in all elementary classes, and read out-loud regularly. Empowering children starts early, and Jessica's story and her solution are about empowering children.
The colorful illustrations are humorous and on target for the elementary grades. If given the opportunity, children in grades 1st through 4th will enjoy picking this book up and reading it by themselves.
BIBLIO: 2009, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, Ages 5 to 9, $16.99
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-689-86187-1
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 5/09
Thursday, May 7, 2009
My Teacher Dances on the Desk
Eugene Gagliano
Illustrations by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
This entertaining book of poetry is targeted at elementary children, as it should be. The prose is quick, sometimes repetitive, and humorous. Most of the poetry is written from a non-gender point of view, allowing any student to easily identify with the humor. Topics included are the first day of school, wanting to see the nurse, stinky sneakers, a boa constrictor, bubble-gum, and more fun subjects. Each poem should appeal to the kindergarten through second grade ages, and would be a great bedtime read. The title poem, My Teacher Dances on the Desk, is the final poem and reinforces the fun and affection an elementary student hopes for. The illustrations are black ink and cartoonish, that should appeal to small children. This poetry book would be a good inclusion in kindergarten classes.
BIBLIO: 2009, Sleeping Bear Press, Ages 5 to 9, $6.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Poetry Book
ISBN: 978-1-58536-446-6
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 4/09
Illustrations by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
This entertaining book of poetry is targeted at elementary children, as it should be. The prose is quick, sometimes repetitive, and humorous. Most of the poetry is written from a non-gender point of view, allowing any student to easily identify with the humor. Topics included are the first day of school, wanting to see the nurse, stinky sneakers, a boa constrictor, bubble-gum, and more fun subjects. Each poem should appeal to the kindergarten through second grade ages, and would be a great bedtime read. The title poem, My Teacher Dances on the Desk, is the final poem and reinforces the fun and affection an elementary student hopes for. The illustrations are black ink and cartoonish, that should appeal to small children. This poetry book would be a good inclusion in kindergarten classes.
BIBLIO: 2009, Sleeping Bear Press, Ages 5 to 9, $6.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Poetry Book
ISBN: 978-1-58536-446-6
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 4/09
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