Realistic Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3007803173
Out of my mind by Sharon M. Draper
Out of My Mind is a moving book about an 11 year old girl named Melody, who is a
non-verbal quadripalegic with cerebral palsy. The story is told in first person point of view,
beginning by recounting her days from early childhood and the struggles that she and her
parents faced with her disability. She describes her parents determination to take care of her
needs that she can never communicate and her neighbor, Ms. V, that first recognizes the locked
up intelligence she has inside. Though she cannot speak nor barely move, Melody describes
the mountains of words, avalanches of words, built up inside of her that no one can hear. As the
story progresses, different ways are found for her to communicate, but also her frustration grows
as she just wants to be a “normal” fifth grader. By the end, Melody comes to understand a bit
more about what being normal kid means and starts to see herself and her world a bit
differently.
This novel falls into the realistic fiction category and seems a perfect fit for upper
elementary aged students (4-5 grade). As a read aloud, or as a book club, this story would be a
great one to inspire deep conversation and help grow compassion towards other people,
especially people with disabilities. Hopefully by seeing the world through Melody’s eyes,
students would become more empathetic towards others and realize that someone’s physical
self doesn’t always show who they are intellectually or emotionally. A positive outcome might be
that students would be more open to being friends with people that are different than
themselves and more conscientious about how they speak or act around others. This book goes
along way to show how everyone has similar frustrations, desires, and hardships, no matter who
they are and what they look like. All children want to be accepted by their peers, make friends,
and feel that their voice is important.
This is a WOW book for me because it was so realistic and eye opening. I have read
about and seen people who were dealing from similar disabilities, but I had never thought about
how frustrating it would be to feel “normal” inside. The author made it so easy to occupy
Melody’s space and really feel like she felt. Personally, the story also reminded me of my own
6th grade experience and a classmate with similar disabilities. He was verbal, though he could
be hard to understand, but was bound to a wheelchair and was fed through a tube. I remember
that I was always a bit fearful and uncomfortable around him but I had never considered how he
must have felt being so “different” than the rest of the class. I wish that I could time travel back
to be more kind and open with him. I wish that my 6th grade self could have read this book.

Biography/Autobiography

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3004888874
Rise! tells the story of Maya Angelou’s life, from childhood to death, in beautiful, yet
factual verse coupled with dramatic painted images. It recounts her time spent in the “seesaw
South” as a young girl, bouncing between life there with her Grandmother on a farm and life with
her mother in the city. The book describes the injustice and abuse she encounters that
eventually render her speechless. This book chronicles how the power of the spoken word and
reading books help Maya find her words again and how her love of language moves her to
perform, protest, and write.
This biography, though written as a picture book, is probably best suited for upper
elementary students and beyond. The subject matter of the Jim Crow south and civil rights is
presented very bluntly, including lynchings, as well as the implied act of sexual abuse and the
death of the perpetrator. Along with this, the deaths of many civil rights leaders are mentioned. I
think this subject matter would be too much to explain or discuss to younger students. This book
would be ideal to use when specifically discussing the civil rights movement. I would also use it
when teaching about imagery and symbolism as it is full of examples.
When reading the book, I found myself admiring and slowing digesting the descriptive
imagery of the written words just as much as the painted scenes, astounded by their beauty and
layered symbolism. As someone who doesn’t truly like biographies, this one blew me away. The
illustrator played with themes of dark and light in her paintings to represent the ugliness of
racism, sexual abuse, and oppression against the freedom that Maya experienced through
discovering books and the arts. Several illustrations also play with images of the caged bird and
later it breaking free, playing with the title of her memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”.
The marriage of the verse to the illustrations couldn’t have been pulled off more perfectly.
Fantasy/Science Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3019327970
The Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
“One thing all the natural world has in common—is the rule that we’re not supposed to talk to
people.” Red, known as the wishtree, is a 216 year old oak tree that narrates this beautiful story
about kindness, acceptance, and friendship, formed in even the most unlikely of places. We
learn that once a year in May, the suburban neighborhood in the story brings their wishes,
written on bits of fabric or paper, and ties them on the tree. Through Red’s voice, we experience
the natural world and the interaction of all creatures in a magical way that is amusing and
lighthearted. All of the animals have unique names and personalities that are unbeknownst to
their human neighbors. Red and his best friend Bongo, a crow named after his favorite sound,
observe the happenings of their two neighboring houses and the occupants inside. The tree
and its inhabitants befriend a 10 year out Muslim girl, named Samar, who moves into one of the
homes. Samar has “wary eyes” and a “shy smile” and we learn that she and her family feel
unwelcome in the community. Samar desperately wishes to find a friend. Red makes a huge
decision to break the big rule and speak up to try to make Samar’s wish come true.

I think this book would be a great read aloud or literature circle novel with 3-5 graders. Students
at this age are often aware of what is going on in the news- today that includes immigration and
prejudice. Reading Samar’s story and having discussions about how we treat Muslims, or
anyone of a different race or religion than ourselves, would bring some current social issues
down to their level. Relating either to Samar or Stephen, students will understand and
empathize with the characters in the book. Great books should open eyes or cause readers’ to
challenge their thinking, which I think this book can certainly do. Through Red’s storytelling, the
themes of inclusion and acceptance are felt not just with the humans but also the natural world.
This book was a wow book for me because it contained so much beauty and heart- something
that I didn’t expect out of a fantasy novel, especially spoken by a tree! There were so many
poignant moments and quotes that resonated with me as I read and that I think would speak
loudly to today’s, often self obsessed, youths. On top of that, there is humor and factual
information! I devoured the book in a few hours and I am excited to share it with all the kids in
my life!

Poetry

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3036228853
Feel the Beat: Dance Poems that Zing from Salsa to Swing
By Marilyn Singer
Feel the Beat is a collection of poems written rhythmically to mimic traditional dances from
around the world. From hip hop to salsa, two step to polka, the author has included poems
about diverse people from many different cultures having fun while dancing! The illustrations are
lively and depict all different types of people dancing together. The poems themselves, besides
each following a unique rhythm, playfully describe the dances and set the stage for when they
might be occurring. The best part of this book is the included CD with the author reading aloud
all of the poems, accompanied by the traditional music and lively background noise. When
listening to the CD, you feel transported to a different place and filled with the excitement of the
dancers. It’s hard to listen without getting out of your seat to dance along!

This book would be a fun read aloud for kindergarten to second grade students. Coupled with
the CD, it could create a way to focus on an aspect of different cultures, maybe of your students
themselves, or just of the outside world in general. Young students tend to lack world view and
knowledge so this would be a way to make a piece of the world accessible to them. I would
supplement this book with videos of some of the dances or even demonstrations by parents or
community members to bring the dances alive. Some of the dances could even be taught to the
students as time allowed. This book is also a perfect way to illustrate how rhythm affects a poem
and how you should read it. Without reading the author’s explanation of each dance in the back
or listening to the CD, poems incorporating dances unfamiliar to you are difficult to read
correctly.

This book was a WOW book for me because it incorporated so much energy and fun into poetry.
Poetry is another genre that I struggle with, but finding this book was exciting! I grew up
dancing and still love to dance, so I can clearly see how using this book could energize students
and show them something about poetry that they had never considered before. Poetry can be
musical and more than words on a page!

Informational Texts

Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3054775570
This informational text tells the tale of how the Statue of Liberty came to be in the NY harbor but
it is so much more than a simple nonfiction book. The book is told in a conversational tone that
makes it easy to read and the author even incorporates a good amount of humor. You can forget
you are reading facts! The author includes details that are well known, such as how the statue
was created and shipped in crates to NYC from France. Even reading as an adult, I was
pleasantly surprised to learn new information, for example, Thomas Edison proposed to have a
large record player put inside her because he wanted her to be able to talk! The centerpiece of
the book is the examination of “her right foot”, an often overlooked aspect of the Statue of
Liberty. Most people don’t notice that she is in motion. No one truly knows why she appears as
though she is in midstride, so the author provides opportunities for dialogue and conjecture
before presenting his theory. This story is beautifully illustrated and contains an important
message that can resonate with all readers.
Her Right Foot would be an appropriate story to read aloud to small children, as they would
enjoy the illustrations and be able to giggle along while learning some information about a
statue that has great prominance in the US. A discussion could be had about the different
countries that your students’ families come from or did come from a long time ago. It could even
kick start a project for them to bring in items or pictures from home to learn about the different
cultures that make up their class. The book would be equally appropriate for upper elementary
aged students but for spurring deeper conversation. Students are watching the news and this
book may be a way to delve into a discussion about current affairs and immigration. It could also
lead to an examination of other symbols in the US and more general lessons about symbolism.

This book was a WOW book for me because it had such a poignant twist that it struck a cord
with me. I chose to read it because of my love for New York City, but as an adult I didn’t expect
to read something that would leave me thinking. I immediately purchased a copy to put on my
children’s bookcase. A message is unexpected in a nonfiction book, but the one here is done in
such a way that it feels important and truthful in today’s climate.

Folklore

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3036329897
The People Could Fly
By Virgina Hamilton
The People could fly is a picture book expanding on a single story from Virginia
Hamilton’s collection The People Could Fly: American Black Folk Tales. The folktale recounts
that in the time prior to the capture of Africans into slavery, some Africans had the
magical power of flight. During their trip to America and the trials and tribulations of
being enslaved, they hid their wings and eventually forgot about their magical ability. Two
of the central characters, Toby and Sarah, still remember the magic, and as their
treatment worsens on the plantation, they “felt the magic, the African mystery” inspiring
them to fly once again. The oral tale told in this book is one of hope in even the most
hopeless of times.

This book would only be appropriate for upper elementary aged students due to some of
the imagery and descriptions of slavery. This book would be an interesting one to include
in a study of folklore. Students could identify the elements that make it a folktale and
examine how its structure follows that of oral retellings. It would also be a compelling
element to pull into a study of slavery and African American history. This folktale, along
with other stories and songs were born out of a time of desperation for slaves in America.
It would be interesting to have students make connections about the themes they see in
these works.

This book was a WOW book for a few reasons. First, I couldn’t believe that it was a folktale
I had never heard before. I stumbled upon it at the library and reading it inspired me to
look further to find the full collection by Virginia Hamilton. Growing up, I feel that my
schooling was not fully representative of all peoples and cultures. I think that it is such an
improvement that diverse books are being written and sought out by teachers today to
bring into their classrooms to help all students feel represented. Second, when reading
this book I was struck by the hopefulness of the tale, but also the idea that there is intense
sadness and loss. The magic and wonder of the enslaved Africans rising “just as free as a
bird. As light as a feather,” is paralleled by the slaves left behind begging, “Take us with
you!”. Of the people that hadn’t the time to learn to fly, but must instead wait for their
chance to run.

Mystery or Adventure

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3063673545
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck is a beautifully woven adventure story told through the dual plotlines of two
seemingly unrelated characters separated by 50 years. One of the characters is Ben Wilson, a
recently orphaned boy living in Gunflint Lake, Minnesota in 1977. Ben, when visiting his former
home, finds a locket and a bookmark that seem to be clues to the dad he has never met nor
heard anything about. Moments later he suffers an accident that starts him on the road to his
adventure. The second storyline, told solely through pictures, is of a young girl living 20 years
earlier in Hoboken, New Jersey. The reader can infer through the pictures very early on that the
girl is deaf and unhappy in her current situation. The plot lines of these every different
characters surprisingly parallel each other in various ways and eventually converge in a manner
that is both unexpected and beautiful.

This book would be wonderful to share with upper elementary students. It would be a perfect
novel to introduce and do a book talk with your class to attract students to reading it.
Wonderstruck looks like a massive tomb of a book, but since half of it is really pictures, it is not
nearly the undertaking that it appears. The fact that the story is half told in pictures would really
be a helpful aid to more struggling readers and when they can finish such a “large” book, they
would have a real sense of accomplishment! Of course turning students on to the author Brian
Selznick would also lead them to The Invention of Hugo Cabret, an equally fabulous book.

This book was a WOW for me because of its artfully crafted plotline and the means in which it
was delivered. I am always a fan of multiple storylines and points of view in a book, but this is
the first time I have read a story that accomplished one of them through pictures. When I would
“read” the pictures, my head was strikingly quiet as compared to when I was reading the written
plotline. To me this was a perfect way to “experience” deafness as the character did. There was
no dialogue, no description other than what was seen. Also, the way the author took small
details from early on in the story and weaved them into the reveal and the heart of the story
really touched me. The book is truly a work of art in so many ways.

.
Historical Fiction
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3069923438
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson

This story is a fictional first hand narrative of a young girl who participates in civil rights protests,
known as the children’s crusade, in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther
King, she and her brother decide that they aren’t “too young to want (our) freedom” and they
walk to protest in their parents’ place, who have much to lose by standing up to their
oppressors. The narrator must face her fears and be courageous standing up to angry crowds
and police that tell the children to back down day after day. The world watches it unfold on the
television until even the President takes notice. The brave children who marched planted a seed
of revolution that eventually leads to desegregation of their city and beyond.

This book makes the idea of civil rights and segregation more relatable for children by telling it
through the eyes of someone young like themselves. I think this book would be perfect to share
with middle and upper elementary aged students when studying this time period in American
history. The timeline that is provided inside of the covers, as well as the real photographs in the
back would be great to supplement a reading for this purpose. This text would also be a good
one to read aloud around Martin Luther King Day to help students understand what his role was
as a leader, one who inspired others and inspired change, in the Civil Rights Movement.

This book was a WOW for me mostly because of the historical events it was based on. I don’t
recall learning much specifically about the children’s crusade in Birmingham as a child, but I
think focusing on these events, particularly with this book, would resonate with students. The
illustrations showed a lot of emotion and I really liked that a few pages had some bold words
floating through them, quoted from Dr. King and President Kennedy. The inclusion of the
timeline and the photographs was thoughtful and really helps the story to fit into the story of the
Civil Rights Movement.