Stormey Wright

READ 366
November 12, 2014
Childrens Literature
Baker, J. (2010). Mirror. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
Mirror is a unique two-in-one book. Other than the introduction, the book is
completely composed of pictures. The left side of the book has the introduction
written in English and is read from left to right. Its following illustrations depict
the life of a boy and his family living in Australia. However, the right side of the
book has an introduction written in Arabic and is read for right to left. This side of
the book depicts the life of a boy and his family living in Morocco. Baker
constructed this book for the audience to read both sides simultaneously. Even
without words, the reader can recognize the great differences and similarities
between the two families. This powerful picture book brings to attention that even
completely different families have some qualities in common.

After showing this book to a first or second grade class, the teacher can explore
the topic of diversity by asking the students to compare and contrast the two
families. The students should discuss the physical differences, but they should
also recognize the common traits the families possess. After this discussion, the
students could draw a picture that describes their family and share it with their
classmates. It not only shows how all the students are similar and different, but it
also proves that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Bingham, K. (2012). Z is for moose. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Z is for Moose is an ABC book with a twist. Zebra is telling his friend Moose
about the alphabet, giving each letter a corresponding word (like A is for
Apple). However, Moose is too impatient to wait for M. When Zebra finally gets
to M, Moose is not the corresponding word. The rest of the book is filled with
Mooses interruptions, and it finally ends with Moose getting a turn. Between the
great illustrations and funny plot, this book is a popular book with children. It
would be a great book to use with students in preschool or kindergarten. It will
enhance literacy skills through print awareness and the alphabet.

Dodd, L. (2001). Hairy MaClary from Donaldsons dairy. Berkley, CA: Tricycle Press.
This wonderfully illustrated book with watercolor pictures describes the
adventures of a dog named Hairy MaClary and his friends. It is the introductory
book of a series. While on a joyful walk, the dogs are scared by a tough cat named
Scarface Claw. All the dogs run home, and Hairy MaClary gets in his bed. This is
a wonderful book to read to children because it is filled with repetitious rhymes,
which can be used in the classroom to promote literacy.

Fox, Mem. (1997). Whoever you are. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company.
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox brings attention to the diversity among the
students in the classroom. The main message is that no matter how different your
skin, home, school, land, or family is from another persons, everyone is the same
on the inside. Everyone has a heart, emotions, and feelings. In a preschool or
kindergarten classroom, I would read this book and bring attention to the

differences among the students. I would lead the conversation into a discussion
about how families are different as well. The students would talk about their
family structure and realize that theirs may be completely different from their
fellow classmates. I will explain that, like in the book, even though everyone is
different, we all have similarities as well. To extend this reading and discussion, I
would get the students to draw a picture of how their families are alike and
different.

Galdone, P. (1981). The three billy goats gruff. New York: Clarion Books
This tells the story of three billy goat brothers who wish to cross a bridge to eat
the green grass on the other side. However, there is a problem. A mean troll lives
under the bridge and threatens to eat the goats as they pass by. The little billy goat
crosses the bridge first and tells the troll he should wait for his brother because he
is much bigger and tastier than he. This scenario continues until the biggest billy
goat knocks the troll off the bridge, and the goats get to eat the delicious grass on
the other side of the bridge. This is a great story with a repetitious plot. It is a
good source to use as a retelling assessment in order to determine more about a
students literacy skills.

Glaser, Linda. (2001). Its fall. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press.
Its Fall is a wonderfully illustrated nonfiction book about fall. It discusses all the
changes that occur as the seasons change from summer to autumn. Glaser
describes the leaves changing colors, animals migrating and hibernating,

temperature decreasing, pumpkin carving, etc. The book even contains several
Nature Activities to Do in the Fall in the back of the book that could be used as
extension activities. Its Fall is a great book to read aloud to kindergarten when
learning about fall in science. It also promotes literacy through its illustrations and
use of rhyme and alliteration.

Isadora, R. (2013) Old Mikamba had a farm. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.
Old Mikamba Had a Farm is a rendition to the classic Old McDonald Had a
Farm. It places the old favorite in an African setting. Instead of the traditional
American farm animals, the reader is introduced to typical animals in Africa.
Some of these animals include baboons, elephants, and zebras. This is a great
book to introduce diversity into the classroom. Students will be engage by this
familiar story plot, but they will learn about a new culture as well.

Johnston, T. (2009). My abuelita. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing

Company.
In My Abuelita, a Hispanic child describes a typical morning of his grandmother
getting ready for work. The book not only describes family diversity because it
shows a child living with his grandmother, but it also uses many Spanish words
and depicts the Hispanic culture through language, food, and clothes. This book
would be great to read aloud to a first grade class in order to discuss diverse
family structure. If there is a Hispanic child in your classroom, this would be a
great way to incorporate his/her culture.

Kraus, R. (1971). Leo the late bloomer. New York: Windmill Books.
Leo the Late Bloomer is the story of a little tiger who cannot read, write, or speak.
Leos father is greatly concerned about his child inabilities, but his mother is not.
She knows that Leo will read, write, and talk when he is ready. When Leo finally
opens up, he is able to do all these things and much more! This is a great story to
read to kids, especially to the late bloomers of the class.

Martin Jr., B., and Archambault, J. (1989). Chicka chicka boom boom. New York:
Aladdin Paperbacks.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is an ABC book that is full of chants, rhymes, great
illustrations, and a repetitious plot. Each letter of the alphabet climbs up a coconut
tree. As more and more letters climb the tree, the tree begins to bend. Eventually
all the letters fall off the tree and become scrambled. By the end of the story, the
letters are put back in alphabetical order. This book is a fun way to teach the
alphabet and promote literacy through print, rhymes, and repetition.

Parr, T. (2001). Its okay to be different. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Its Okay to Be Different teaches children what the title insinuates. In the book,
Parr not only discusses how families can be different, but he also explains that it
is okay for students within the classroom to be different. The book describes
different scenarios in which children can relate, and the author lets the audience
know that it is okay to look or act differently than someone else. The author even

brings attention to the fact that it is okay for children to have physical disabilities.
The last page states, Its okay to be different. You are special and important just
because of being who you are (Parr, 2001).

This book is a great source for preschool and kindergarten. The teacher can read it
aloud during story time to introduce diversity within the classroom. It can serve as
a lesson to teach children that some people are different than them, and it is okay.
It teaches young children that differences are not a bad thing, which is an
important lesson that will prepare students to be socially competent citizens.

Parr, T. (2003). The family book. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
The Family Book describes the different types of family structures. Through
simple wording and colorful illustrations, Parr depicts how families vary by size,
race, living situations, family make-up, foods eaten, and habits. The books main
purpose is to teach children that all families are different, but each family is
special.

This would be a great book to read aloud to a preschool or kindergarten class at

the beginning of the school year. It will bring the subject of diversity into the
open. It will let young children become aware that some children do not have a
mom and dad. Some children have two moms, just a dad, etc. This book lets the
teacher explain to the children that it is okay to be different.
Walsh, E. S. (2007). Mouse shapes. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc.

Mouse Shapes is about three mice that use shapes to make different objects, such
as a house, mice, a cat, and cheese! It is a great source to introduce shapes and
colors in a preschool or kindergarten classroom. An extension activity could be
allowing the students to use different shapes to create an object of their own! A
shape scavenger hunt around the room would be a fun activity as well.

White, L. (1996). Too many pumpkins. New York: Holiday House.

Too Many Pumpkins is a story about a little old lady named Rebecca Estelle who
hated pumpkins. One day, a giant pumpkin fell off a pumpkin truck and splattered
in her yard. Before she knew it, her yard was covered in pumpkins. At first
Rebecca Estelle despised the pumpkins. However, by the end of the story, she
uses the pumpkins to make all sorts of pumpkin goodies that she shares with her
community. It is a great book to read aloud to a kindergarten class during the fall.

Williams, L. D. (1986). The little old lady who was not afraid of anything. New York:
Thomas Y. Crowell.
This book tells the story of a little old lady who is followed by shoes, pants, a
shirt, gloves, a hat, and a scary pumpkin head. She is not scared of them, and the
pumpkin head becomes upset. However, the little old lady uses the objects to
make a scarecrow. The pumpkin head scares away crows, and he is happy. In this
book, Williams uses a great deal of repetition. It is great for literacy and for
engaging the students who memorize the pattern. It could be read to children from
preschool to third grade. However, the lesson supplementing the reading should

be altered to fit the grade level. In order to make this reading an interactive lesson
in a kindergarten classroom, I would write the repeating part of the story on large
chart paper. I would also give the students certain motions to go with the words.
Then, as I read the story, I would point to the words while the students follow
along and participate in doing the motions. It makes learning fun by allowing the
children to physically move and act silly, while they are still learning literacy
skills such as concept of word and repetition.

Other Childrens Literature:

-How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
-How Rocket Learned to Write by Tad Hills
-Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
-Donavans Word Jar by Monalisa DeGross
-The Magic Hat by Mem Fox
-Move Over, Rover! By Karen Beaumont
-The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
-Word Wizard by Cathryn Falwell
-I Went Walking by Sue Williams
-Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin
-Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
-Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni
-Jamberry by Bruce Degen
-Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
-If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
-Wemberly Worried by Henkes