AnnaPenland

TraditionalLiterature
TownMouseCountryMouse
ByJanBrett
1994
G.P.PutnamsSons
32pages
Summary:
Thisisastoryabouttheadventuresoftwopairsofmicethatwanttoexplorea
newterritory.Onecoupleisfromthecountryandtheotherfromthetown.Theydecide
thattheyarereadyforchangeandwanttoexperienceanewenvironment.Thesetwo
couplesdecidetoswitchhomes.Theyenjoytheirexperiencesinthebeginningbecause
theythinkthechangeisgood.However,theycometorealizethattherearenew
challengesandproblemsthatriseintheirnewenvironments.Thestruggletofindfood
andstayclearofpredatorsisntaneasyoneforthesemice.Theydiscovertheyarent
capableofdealingwiththeseharmfulsituationsandcometotherealizationthatthereis
noplacelikehome.
PersonalResponse:
Iwasabletoconnectwiththisbookinavarietyofwayswhichmademeenjoyit
more.Foronething,Iknowexactlyhowthemicefeelwhentheydecidedtheyneededto
experienceanewenvironmentandsetting.Thereisalwaysahugepartofmethatcraves
beingsomewhereelse.Ithinkalotofpeoplegetboredwiththewaytheirlifeisfrom
timetotimeandwanttochangetheirdaytodayactivitieseverynowandthen.However,
anotherpartofmecanconnecttohowthemicefeelintheendofthebookwhenthey
cometotheconclusionthatthereisnoplacelikehome.Myfavoriteplacetobeisat
homewithmyfamilyinacomfortableenvironment.Thisstoryshowspositivesand
negativestoexperiencingnewthingsandIthinkeveryoneisabletorelatetothat.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:Thisbookisengagingtoreadorlistento.Studentswouldbecapturedbythe
newadventuresthatthemiceareencounteringthatwillprobablykeepthemontheedge

oftheirseats.Thepicturesareexcellentandgiveanyonewholooksatthemplentyto
exploreanddiscover.Thestoryisrelatabletothemajorityofpeoplewhoreadit.There
aremultipleversionsofthisstory,andIthinkthisonewillbetheonetoremember.The
storyisentertaining,butalsocarriesavarietyofmessagesthatteacherscouldintegrate
intotheclassroom.
W:TheonlyweaknessIwoulddescribethisstoryhavingisrushingthroughthe
story.Ithinkitcouldhavebeenexpandedonandstillbeenengaging.Theauthordidan
excellentjoboffittingthestoryinwiththeamounttheyhad,butIfeelthatifafewmore
pageswouldhavebeenadded,itwouldhavebeenevenmoreengagingandfulfilling!
Howthisbookmightbeused:
Thisbookcouldbeusedasareadaloudinthelowerelementarylevelclasses(k
2).Theteachercouldusethereadaloudinavarietyofways.Theycouldusethisbook
todemonstratehowtomakeconnections.Theteachercoulddoathinkaloudandshow
thestudentsalltheconnectionstheywerefindinginthebooksothestudentsrealizethat
connectionscanoccurinallbooks,evenoneswithjustanimals.Thisbookcouldalsobe
usedtomakepredictionswiththestudents.Thereisalottoworkwithaboutwhatwill
happennextandwouldbeagreatexamplebookforstudentstopracticecreating
predictionswith.Anotherwaytousethisintheclassroomcouldbemakingcomparisons.
Theteacherandthestudentscouldworkoncomparingandcontrastingthetownand
countrytolearntheskill.Therearecountlesswaysthisbookcouldbeintegratedinthe
classroom,butregardlessstudentswillbeengagedbythroughthestoryittellsandthe
picturesillustrated.

Fantasy/ScienceFiction
TheHungerGames
BySuzanneCollins
2008
ScholasticPress
374pages
Summary:

Thisisthefirstbookinathreepartseries.Itbeginsbyexplaininghowthe
charactersliveinamadeupnationof12districts.Everyyear,thecapitol(headofthe12
districts)requiresoneboyandonegirltobechosenfromeachdistrict.These24children
aretakenandplacedinabattletothedeathinanunknownlocation.KatnissEverdeenis
themainvoiceinthisbookasshetellsherexperienceofvolunteeringtogointoThe
HungerGamesafterheryoungersistersnameisdrawnatthereaping.Thebookshares
Katnissschallengesandlessonsshelearnsaswellasallthepeoplesheencountersthat
impactherlifethroughouthertimespentpreparingandcompetinginTheHungerGames.
TheultimatequestionthroughoutthewholebookiswhetherornotKatnisswillsurvive
thebattle.
PersonalResponse:
Iamnotnormallyafanoffantasyorsciencefictionbooks,butIlovedthisbook.
Ilovedallthebooksintheseriesactually,butthefirstonewasmyfavorite.Itendto
haveahardtimebelievingorconnectingtootherworlds.However,theauthorinthis
bookprovidessomanydetailsthatitmademefeellikeIwastheoneexperiencingThe
HungerGames.ItopenedupmyeyestoawholenewworldthatIneverwouldhave
thoughtofonmyown.Thisbookshowshowourlivescouldbealotworsethantheyare
today.Therearecountlessthemesthatpeoplemyagecanrelatetoincludingfriendships,
love,andfamilyhardships.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:Ifoundthisbookimpossibletoputdown.Itkeepsyouontheedgeofyour
seatthroughouttheentirebook.Thereisrichandvividlanguageusedinthebookthat
makesyoufeellikeyouareactuallylivinginthisnation.Eventhoughitisafantasy
book,itmanagestomakethesituationseemsliketheycouldhappeninreallifeand
providethemesthatthemajorityofpeopleareabletoconnectto.Theauthoruses
fantasticdescriptionsofthecharactersthatyouareabletocreateclearpicturesofexactly
howeveryonelooksandisinteracting.Thestorylineisintriguingandwillkeepanyone
wonderingwhatwillhappennext!

W:Icantthinkofmanyweaknessesrelatedtothisbook.However,Ithinkthere
wereafewpointsinthestorythatseemedtodragon.Therecouldhavebeenafew
detailsthatdidnotneedtobeincluded.Also,thereistimeswhenthestorybecomesabit
graphicandcouldbeinappropriateforcertainagesofstudents.Studentswouldneedto
bematureenoughtohandleviolentsituationsaswellasunderstandpartsofthestory.
Howthisbookmightbeused:
Thisbookwouldnotbeappropriateforyoungerstudents.Theremaybesome
thatareatthereadinglevelusedinTheHungerGames,buttheymightnotunderstand
theunderlyingthemes.However,teacherscouldusethisasareadaloudin4th6thgrade
classrooms.Thestudentscoulddiscussthethemesasaclasswithhelpfromtheteaching
andpracticeusingtheirreadingstrategiessuchasinferringandmakingpredictionsto
thinkaboutthebookonadeeperlevel.Thisbookcouldalsobeusedinawritingunit.
Theteacher,oragroupofstudents,couldreadthepartofthebooktogether.The
studentscouldthencreateastoryofhowtheythinkthebookwillend.Thiscouldbea
funactivityforthembecausethebookcouldhavesomanypossibleoutcomesandthey
wouldbeabletopicktheirownending.Thiswouldalsohelpwiththeirmaking
predictionsandwritingskills.Thisisjusttwooptionsthatthisbookcouldbeusedfor,
butthereareplentymore.IwilldefinitelyincludethisbookinmyclassroomlibraryifI
teachanupperelementaryclass!

RealisticFiction
ManiacMagee
ByJerrySpinelli
1990
Little,BrownBooksforYoungReaders
CharacteristicsofDifferenceEthnicity/RacialDiscrimination
192pages
Summary:
ThisisastoryofJefferyLionelMagee,alsoknownasManiacMagee.Itstarts
outexplaininghowhisparentsdiedatayoungageandheeventuallyrunsawayfromhis
auntanduncleshometoatowncalledTwoMills.Maniacwandersaroundlookingfor

peopletogettoknowandinsearchofaplacetocallhome.However,heisntawareof
theuniquequalityofthistown.Itissplitrightdownthemiddle,onesideforblacksand
onesideforwhites.Maniacisnotthetypeofpersontonoticecolorandhaveany
judgmentsonanyonebeforehegetstoknowthem.Thisbookexplainshisadventures
andhowhebecomesalegendinthetownTwoMills.Heuseshisoutoftheordinary
talentsandgoodnaturedpeopleskillstoimpactthelivesofmanypeopleonhistravels.
Hisvisitsandstayswithawidevarietyofpeoplelookingforahomeandmanagesto
changeeachoftheirlivesinatleastoneway.
PersonalResponse:
IfeellikeeveryoneisabletoconnecttothepartinthisbookwhenManiacisjust
searchingforaplacehebelongsandaplacetocallhome.Aswearegrowingupand
thingsarechanginginourlives,wearealwaysonthesearchforfindingaplacewecan
callhome.Therearealotofpeoplewhoknowexactlywherehomeis,butthereare
plentywhoarestilllooking.IalsoenjoyedthisbookalotbecauseManiacdoesntnotice
orcareaboutthecolorofpeoplesskin.Hedoesntunderstandthetermswhiteor
blackbecauseeverysinglepersonhassuchadifferentshadeofskinthatisuniqueto
them.IenjoyedreadingaboutthischaracteristicofManiacbecauseitisalwaysgoodto
haveareminderofhowlittlerace/colorshouldmatter,whichsometimesweforget.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:Thisbookdoesagreatjobofengagingstudentsinthefunadventuresof
Maniac,butalsoincludingimportantthemesthroughouttheentirebook.Studentsare
goingtowanttoshareaboutalltheexcitingandoutlandishskillsandtalentsthatManiac
iscomposedof.However,someofthesituationsheencounters,childrenarefamiliar
withandwillbeabletoconnectto.Thisstoryiswrittenextremelywellandengaging.I
thinkchildrenwillhaveahardtimeputtingitdownoncetheybeginreadingit.Since
theywillenjoyalltheadventuresandstoriesManiachastoshare,theywillbegettingthe
messagesfromtheunderlyingthemeswhiletheyreadaswell.Thisbookisatwoinone
winforkeepingchildrenengagedinreadingwhileteachingthemvaluablelessonsas
well.

W:Icantthinkofanythingthatwaspoorlywrittenordoneinthisbook.
However,thereareafewconcernsthatcouldcomeupwiththisbook.Makingsure
studentsarereadingitonlywhenitisappropriatefortheirageisimportant.Students
whoareyoungerthan3rdor4thgrademightnotbeadvancedenoughforthisbookandnot
abletopickuponthekeythemesandideas.Also,beingcarefulaboutwhetherparents
approveofthisbookisimportanttoo.Youdonotwantanyofyourstudentsreadinga
bookthattheirparentswouldnotlikethemtobereading.
Howthisbookmightbeused:
Thisstorywouldbegoodforstudentsinupperelementary.Iwouldrecommend
4th6thgradersbecausetheywillbeabletounderstandthethemesbetterattheirage.
Also,thisbookwouldbegreatforthisagebecausetheyaregoingtobeabletoconnectto
someoftheadventuresandexperiencesthatManiacgoesthrough.Thisbookcouldbe
usedintheclassroomforareadaloudandhavingthestudentsmakeconnectionsor
predictionswhilereading.Itcouldalsobeusedtodiscussimportantissuesofraceand
discriminationifitisappropriatetothatclassandconnectedtoapartofthecore
curriculum.Thisbookcouldalsobeusedinguidedreadinggroupsforappropriate
levels.Thestudentswouldbeengagedintheirguidedreadingbook,butalsobeableto
practicestrategiessuchasmakinginferencesonhowManiacfeelsorwhathemaydo
afterthebookhasended.

HistoricalFiction
PinkandSay
ByPatriciaPolacco
1994
ThePutnamandGrossetGroup
CharacteristicsofDifferenceRace/Slavery/War
48pages
Summary:
ThisstoryisabouttwosoldierswhowerefightingduringtheCivilWar.Bothof
thembecameseparatedfromtheirunittoeventuallyfindeachother.PinkwasanAfrican
AmericansoliderwhileSaywasaWhitesoldier.PinktookSaytohismomshouse

becauseSayhadbeenshotandneededtimetohealandPinkwasnotthetypeofpersonto
leavesomeonebehind.PinkandSaystayedwithPinksmomforaslongastheycould
whileSayhealed.TheydecidedtoleaveafterSayhadbecomewellenoughtowalkand
fightagain.However,rightastheywereleaving,marauderscameandattackedthehome
andendedupkillingPinksmother.Thiswasatragedy,butPinkandSayknewtheyhad
toreturntowar,itwastheirduty.Theywentontheirwaytofindtheirtroopsagain,but
werecapturedbyConfederatesoldiers.PinkandSayneversaweachotheragain,butit
wastoldthatSaymadeithomeandPinkneverdid.
PersonalResponse:
Thisbookisachildrensbook,butcoversawidevarietyofserioustopicsinafew
shortpages.Ihaveneverexperiencedanyofthethingsthatwerestatedinthisbook,but
Istillthinkitisagreatbook.Itgiveschildren(oranyonewhoreadsit)aclear
understandingofsomeofthemainideasoftheCivilWarerarelatedtothewarand
slavery.Thepicturesinthebookareartisticallyexcellentandengaging.Theyhelptell
thestoryandwouldhelpchildrenfollowsomeofthebigideasthatarebeingtold.Thisis
justonestorythatistoldfromtheCivilWar,butitisanimportantone.Itisaserious
andcanbeanemotionalbook.EverytimeIhavereadit,Itendtofeelsadorremorsefor
thecharactersinthestory.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:Ilovethisbook!Thepicturesandthetexttietogethersowelltoformastrong
storyline.Thepicturesarecolorfulandengagingtofollowalongwith.Thelanguagein
thebookfitsthetimeperiodthatthestoryistoldfromspoton.Thelanguagevariesfrom
charactertocharacterdependingonwhotheyareandhowtheywouldhavespokenin
everydaylife.Thetopicsdiscussedthroughoutthestoryareimportantforeveryoneto
becomeawareof.Overall,thisbookprovidesrichlanguageandpicturestotellan
importanthistoricalstorythatmightnothavebeensharedwithoutwordofmouth.
W:Ididnotfindonethingwrongwiththewaythisbookwaswrittenorsetup.
TheonlyconcernIhaveistheagelevelthatthisbookwouldbeusedfor.Therearesome

seriousandslightlyviolentscenesdescribedinthisbook.Teacherswouldneedtobe
carefulwithyoungerchildrenwhenreadinganddiscussingthisbook.
Howthisbookmightbeused:
IthinkIwouldusethisbookin2nd,3rd,or4thgradeclassroom.Possiblyeven
oldercouldworkaswell.Ithinkitwouldbeexcellentforthisagebecausethebook
providesthestudentswithinformationtheyneedtolearnabouthistory,butinan
engagingandsemikindheartedway.Thepictureswouldbeengagingforthemandat
thisage,theywillbeabletopickuponthekeyideasbeingtoldthroughdiscussionand
criticalthinking.Ithinkthebestwaytousethisbookwouldbeasareadaloud.The
teachercouldsharethebookwiththestudentsandthentheycoulddiscusstheimportant
themesandtopicscovered.Therearepointsthatdiscussslaveryandcivilwartopicsthat
couldrelatedtocorecurriculumcontenttopics.

Biography
Muhammad
By:Demi
2003
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Characteristics of difference-cultural differences/religion/respecting cultural values
48pages
Summary:
ThisisastoryofMuhammadslifeandlegend.Itbeginswiththebeginningof
hislifeandendswithhisdeath.Hisstorystartsatsuchayoungagetravelingandliving
withawidevarietyoffamilymembers.ThisbooktalksabouthowMuhammadfirstwas
akindandhonesthumanbeingfromthebeginningandpeopletrustedhimwith
everything.ThenitgoesintodetailsaboutwhenhebeganhearingGodsmessages.
Muhammadknewhehadtosharethesemessageswiththepeoplearoundhim.The
biographygoesontotellhowMuhammadsharedGodsmessagestothepeopleinthe
worldaroundhimtoformthereligionofIslam.Muhammadfaceddifficultiesand
resistantpeoplealongtheway,butfoughtthroughitalltobecomeasuccessful
messengerofGodfortheIslamicpeople.
PersonalResponse:

IhadneverheardMuhammadsstoryfromstarttobeginning.WhenIwas
readingit,itmademethinkofotherreligiousstoriesIheardasachild.Thepicturethat
wasonthepageofMuhammadsbirthremindedmeofallthenativityscenesthatarein
booksandeverywhereofJesussbirthwithallthepeopleandanimalssurroundhim.
Also,thepartofthestoryinwhichanangelcomestoMuhammadtodeliverthemessage
ofGodremindedmeofthestoryinwhichJosephandMaryaresentamessagethatMary
willbehavingababyboythatisgoingtobeahugeimpactontheworld.Therewereno
personalconnectionstomyownlifebecauseIhaveneverexperiencedanythinglikethe
Islamsreligion.However,Ididfinditfascinatingtoreadandlearnmoreabout.Itjust
goestoshowthatintroducingculturestopeoplecanbeengagingandcouldteach
someonealot.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:IlikedthatthebookrespectedtheIslamiccultureanddidnotshowapicture
ofMuhammad,justanoutline.Itgoestoshowthattheauthorofthisbookdida
significantamountofresearchtorespectthisculture.Thepicturesandthetextmatched
perfectlywhichmadeiteasiertoread.Ithinktherewasagoodamountofinformationin
thisbook,butnotanoverwhelmingamountthatwouldcauseproblemsforchildrenor
anyone.Thebookalsointroducednewwordsfromthisculturethatgaveitmore
authenticityandbackgroundinformation.Itgaveasincereunderstandingofanew(to
me)cultureinanengagingmannerwithcreativeillustrations.
W:Ithoughtthisbookaddressedthistopicperfectly.TheonlyconcernIcould
haveisifIplannedtouseitinaclassroom.Idontknowifparentswouldhavea
problemwithmeintroducinganewreligion/culturetotheirchildreniftheywerent
alreadyaware.However,Ithinkitisimportantthatstudentsgetawidevarietyof
culturalknowledgeevenifdoesntfollowtheirbeliefsorunderstandingofreligion.
Howthisbookmightbeused:
Ithinkthisbookwouldbebetterforupperelementarysuchas5thor6thgrade.
ThereistoomuchinformationforyoungerstudentsandIdontthinktheywouldhaveas
engagedasolderstudentswouldbe.Themorematurethestudentsare,thebetter

understandingtheyaregoingtogetfromthestory.Thereisalsoagoodamountoftextin
thisbookthatwouldonlybeappropriateforolderstudentswiththetrickywordsand
ideasshared.Ithinkthisbookcouldbeusedwhendiscussingdifferentculturesinthe
classroom.Thestudentscouldeachhaveadifferentcultureandonegroupcouldreceive
theIslamculture.TheycouldusethisbooktodiscovernewfactsaboutMuhammadand
theculturevalueshesharedwithhispeople.Thestudentscouldpresentthisinformation
totheclassaftertheyreadthebookandcreatedapresentationbaseduponit.Ithinkit
wouldopenalotoftheireyestonewideasandhowdifferentpartsoftheworldcanbe
differentthantheyareusedto.

NonfictionAnnotations
SocialStudiesText
Title:WorldWarIIChronicles:FromDDaytoVEDay
AuthorandIllustrator:JulieKlam
Publisher,YearPublishedandpages:
BryonPreissVisualPublications,2003.
48pages
Summary:ThisbookbeginsbygivingbackgroundinformationonWorldWarIIand
howcertaincountriesbecameinvolvedinthisviciouswaraswellaswhichcountries
werefightingwithandagainsteachother.Thenproceedstoexplainafewoftheleaders
ofthecountry.Thebookgoesontotelluswhenthewarendedandhowmanyliveswere
lostduringthistimeperiod.Afterallthisbackgroundinformationisgiven,thebook
informsusthatitisgoingtocoverthefinalbattlesthatledtotheendofthefightingin
WorldWarII(ThisbookisthesecondbooktoanotherexplainingthestartofWWII).
Therestofthebookisusedtodescribeandgivefactualinformationaboutawidevariety
ofbattlesandeventsthatoccurredduringWWIIaswellastheimportantfiguresthat
wereinchargeduringthistimeperiodinthecountriesinvolved.Thebookcoverstopics
suchas,DDay,OperationCobra,BattleoftheBulge,TheHolocaustandfewmoreother
importantevents.ItendsdiscussingVEDay(VictoryinEurope)andthewarcrime
trialsthatfollowed.Theentirebookprovidesabroadsummaryofalltheeventsthat
occurredduringWWIItohelpchildrengraspsomeofthemainconceptsfromthispartin
history.
RelatedCCSSorProfessionalStandard:
IowaCommonCoreStandards:SocialStudiesGrades35
Understand historical patterns, periods of time, and the relationships among these

elements

Understand the similarities and differences between various civilizations within a

time period.

Understand problems, issues, and dilemmas of life in the past and their causes.

Understand differences in life today compared to life in the past

Understand causes and effects of events within a time period

Age/GradeLevelandHowItWouldBeUsed:
Iwouldusethisina35thgradeclassroomtoteachthemabroadoverviewofWWII.I
thinktheactivitieswouldvarydependingonthegradeleveltheyarein.Ifitwasa4th
gradeclassroom,Ithinkyoucoulddividethesectionsofthisbookuptoallowstudentsto
workingroupstobecomeexpertsontheirsection.Thiswouldbeappropriateforthis
gradelevelbecauseIthinktheycouldworktogetherasagrouptoreadandunderstand
theirsections.Theycouldfindthemostimportantinformationintheirsectionandcreate
aposterorpresentationonittotherestoftheclass.Thiswouldallowthestudentsto
thinkcriticallyandcreatively.Thestudentsatthisagelevelneedtohaveagraspofthis
conceptinhistorywhichiswhyIthink4thgradewouldbeperfectforthiskindofbook.
Itisnottoocomplicatedanddoesnotgointoextremedetailsoftheevents.Itisan
overviewthatallowsthestudentstograspthemainideasofthisimportanteventin
history.

ScienceText
Title:PolesApart:WhyPenguinsandPolarBearsWillNeverBeNeighbors
AuthorandIllustrator:ElaineScott
Picturescollectedfromawidevarietyofpeople.
Publisher,YearPublishedandpages:
Viking,adivisionofPenguinYoungReadersGroup,2004
64pages
Summary:
Thisbookisallaboutprovingthatthewidespreadmisconceptionthatpolarbearsand
penguinsareneighbors.Thiscouldneverhappenconsideringtheyliveoncomplete
oppositesidesoftheEarth,theNorthandSouthpole.Elainewrotethisbooktogive
childrenaperspectiveontheverytwodifferentpartoftheworld.Thebookstartsout
withexplainingwhytheareasareextremelydifferentandhowtheybecamethatwayby
usingphysics,geographyandbiology.Onechapterofthisbookisdedicatedto
discoveringwhattypesofpeopleliveinoneareawhilenoneliveintheother.Thenthe

authordedicatestwochapterstoexplainingtheexactdifferencesbetweenpenguinand
polarbearsandwhytheyliveindifferentpartsoftheworld.Theendofthebook
discussescertainpeoplewhohavesearchedtofindthesetwodifferentpartsoftheworld
andwhattheyhavefound.Thelastsectionisallaboutthepolestodayandhowscientists
areconsistentlyworkingonfindingoutaboutnewinformationabouttheseareasofthe
worldeventhroughtheharshweatherconditions.
RelatedCCSSorProfessionalStandard:
IowaCommonCoreScience35thgrade
Understand and apply knowledge of organisms and their environments, including:

Structures, characteristics, and adaptations of organisms that allow them to

function and survive within their habitats.

How individual organisms are influenced by internal and external factors.

Age/GradeLevelandHowItWouldBeUsed:
Iwouldliketousethisbookina3rdgradeclassroom.Iwouldntaskthestudentstoread
thisbookindividuallyandgraspalltheconceptsfromit.However,IthinkIcoulddoit
asamultipledayreadaloud.Wecouldreadoneortwosectionsatatimeanddiscussthe
importantconceptswegainedfromeach.Theclasscouldusechartpapertopickout
importantideasthatthebookprovides.Attheendofthebook,thestudentscould
compilethemostimportantinformationtheydiscoveredandwriteashortreportonthe
subjectwithapartner.Ithinkitwouldbeappropriateforthisagebecausethestudents
areveryinterestedinanimalsatthispointintheirlivesandImsuretheyhaveheardof
themisconceptionthatpolarbearsandpenguinsareneighbors!Ithinkthisbookcould
helpthemproblemsolveandpickoutimportantinformationaboutagiventopic.

MathText
Title:TheBestofTimes
Author:GregTang
Illustrator:HarryBriggs
Publisher,YearPublishedandpages:
ScholasticPress,2002
32pages
Summary:Thisbookgiveschildrenafunandnewwaytolookatmultiplicationfacts!It
providesdifferenttricksorsolvingthemultiplicationfacts.Itstartsoutwithlower
numbersandgetsbigger.Eachpagehasanexampleofhowtosolveeachkindof
problemandthengivesthereaderachallengeattheendofthebooktosolveontheir
own.Theillustrationsareeyecatchingandtieinwiththepoems/explanationsofhowto

solvethemultiplicationfacts.Itteachesthechildrenthatiftheylearntheirlowernumber
multiplicationfacts,itwillmakeiteasiertodothebiggernumbers.Attheendofthe
book,theauthorprovidespracticetablesforeachofthenumbershejustcoveredinthe
bookaswellaspartofthepoemthatwillhelpchildrenremembertheruleformultiplying
bycertainnumbers.Overall,thebookprovidesafunwayforkidstolookatsolvingtheir
multiplicationfactswhichisntalwaysaneasytaskforsomestudents.
RelatedCCSSorProfessionalStandard:
IowaCommonCoreMath3rdgrade
(1) developing understanding of multiplication and division and strategies for
multiplication and division within 100
(Focusing on the multiplication aspect of this standard)
Age/GradeLevelandHowItWouldBeUsed:
Ithinkthisbookwouldbegreatfor3rdgraderswhentheyareintroducedto
multiplication.Multiplicationalwaysseemstrickyandcanbereallydifficultforstudents
tomasterinthebeginning.Ithinkthisbookwouldbeagreatreadaloudbook.You
couldstopandpauseaftereachpageandthinkaboutexactlywhatthepoemsaysandthen
goovertheexamplesthattheauthorprovides.Thestudentscouldthentryandsolvethe
practiceproblemthatisprovidedattheendofthepage.Thisbookwillbehelpfulin
teachingthestudentsmemorytricksinsolvingthesemultiplicationfacts.Itwillalsohelp
studentsrealizethatiftheyknowtheirlowernumbermultiplicationfacts,theywillhelp
themsolvethelargerones.Itsgoingtobeamoreexcitingandengagingwaytocover
learningyourtimestablesinsteadofjustgoingovereachnumberoneatatimewiththe
students.