Historical Fiction- "How I Learned Geography" written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz

This children's book is about a young boy who is forced to leave his home in Poland because of World War II. His family flees to what is now known as Kazakhstan, and they live in a small room with another family. This poverty-striken boy has no toys, and his family has no food to eat. His father leaves to go out to the market to buy a loaf of bread for the family, but he only returns with a map. The boy is so upset in the beginning, but he soon becomes fascinated by the map. He spends hours studying it, and it takes him to lands far away from the poor, one room he lives in. He absolutely loves the map and the adventures he has with it. By the end of the story, he is so thankful his father bought the map instead of the bread. 

The author wrote this story about his family and what he remembers about fleeing his home in Poland. I think this would be a great story for students to read as it teaches them about history. However, as a teacher, you would need to careful with reading this book to your students as it talks about a poverty-striken family who is fleeing a war torn country. This could cause students in your classroom to feel uncomfortable or it could touch on sensitive subjects. I believe as a teacher, it would be important to discern whether or not this story would be suitable for your class to hear. 

Folk Literature/Chapter Book- "Thumbelina" by Barbara Ensor

Thumbelina is a quick read for a chapter book. It is about Thumbelina, of course, who is only one and five-eighths inches tall. Her Mum, Anne Marie, always wanted a child but she was not married and did not foresee that ever changing. Upon visiting a witch, she received a seed to plant. From this plant, Thumbelina sprouted and her Mum was happy at last. Thumbelina had everything a normal sized person did, a bed, table, clothes, and food. However, there was one thing missing from her life, adventure. She wanted so badly to go outside and get dirty maybe even scrath her knee. Her Mum would never let her outside because she was afraid of what may happen to her. Until one night this changed and she decided Thumbelina could sleep outside in her walnut shell bed.  Thumbelina chronicles her adventures that are had as a result of being left outside for the night. She is wanted as a bride for many animals, but she always runs from them because she is never truly in love until she meets a swallow. This swallow takes Thumbelina back home to her Mum, and the swallow and Thumbelina are in love, living happily ever after.

I really loved this cute chapter book. I had never read Thumbelina before and this book claims it is the true story of what actually happened to her. I enjoyed this book because it was very imaginative and creative. I believe that young girls would like reading it. However, I do not think boys would enjoy it. It sends a good message to girls, never let others force you into something you do not want to do and never settle for others. I would like to add this book to my classroom library. 

Folk Tales- "Apples to Oregon" by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

This cute tall tale is about a family moving from Iowa to Oregon on the Oregon Trail. Papa, the father, cannot bare to leave his apple trees behind in Iowa, so he decides to bring them along. As one can imagine, it is not easy to travel from Iowa to Oregon with a family and apple trees in tow. Delicious, the daughter of Papa, takes care of the apple trees and makes sure they arrive safely in Oregon; whether it be crossing a river or keeping warm at night. Once the family arrives, Papa plants his trees in the Oregon soil and the family lives happily ever after, so to speak. When the California goldrush begins, the family does not have to move out there because their fortune has already been made in Oregon with the beloved apple trees. 

This book is a tall tale, but it is true that the first apples came to Oregon by wagon. I think this story gives the Oregon Trail a fun spin. It shows children what people had to endure while on their way to Oregon. I like that it is partly true in the fact that apples first came to Oregon this way. This story could also be considered realistic fiction as it is about a historical event that happened. Teachers could use it when studying the Oregon Trail. It could be used as a supplemental, fun book. I think this is a fun story that children would definitely enjoy reading. 

Historical Fiction- "Freedom Summer" by Deborah Wiles, illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

In this touching, heartfelt book, two boys share a friendship that transcends the boundaries of racism during the Civil Rights movement. John Henry and the narrator are inseperable in this story, swimming in the lake together, eating ice pops, and even sharing the dream of becoming firefighters. When the ban of black people swimming in the public pools is lifted, the city decides to fill in the pool with cement to prevent this from happening. John Henry is sad because he wants to do all the things his white friends does. The narrator also feels horrible and wants so badly to experience things with his best friend, John Henry. After the pool incident, the boys deicde to head down to Diary Dip to get ice pops; something the boys could not do together before. 

This story really touched me because it was such a sweet story about two best friends. I really loved how the boys knew why John Henry couldn't swim in the public pool, but they did not mnetion it and went to the lake to swim instead. I think this story portrays what true friendship should look like while showing the reader what happened during the Civil Rights movement. However, I think this story could cause uncomfortable situations or be sensitive for young students. I think it would be better regarded in upper elementary grades because students need to take this subject matter seriously. 

Realistic Fiction/Chapter Book- "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin

This quick read, chapter book tells the story of three elementary school girls. Two of whom ,Peggy and Maddie, are best friends. Peggy is the popular girl in school who everyone loves. Maddie is her friend because well, she is the popular girl at school. Peggy is the leader of the two girls. The other girl in the story, Wanda, is a poor and always wears the same blue dress to school. It is clean, but never ironed. All the people at school make fun of her because of her unusual last name and her same, blue dress. One day, Wanda tells everyone that in her closet at home, she owns one hundred dresses. Naturally no one believes her. Peggy asks her about the dresses everyday while Wanda continues to describe them in great detail. The dresses that Wanda so elaborately describes are not real dresses, but in fact drawn ones. Wanda ends up being a great artist and the owner of one hundred drawn dresses. In the end of the story, Wanda's family ends up moving away to the big city. Peggy and Maddie feel awful about her leaving and feel bad for ever making fun of her.  The girls try to make it up to her by writing her an apology letter, but end up just writing her a friendly one. Months later, the girls receive a response letter from Wanda, and they realize Wanda really did like them.

I really liked this chapter book. I think it talks about some realistic issues that children go through, teasing and bullying. I think children would enjoy reading it, but it could also be used for some good discussion. I believe it shows children that they should not bully other children and how it hurts them. Even though this is an older children's book, I believe it is still very applicable today. 

Multicultural Literature- "The Irish Cinderlad" by Shirley Climo, illustrated by Loretta Krupinski

The Irish Cinderlad is the Irish version of the Cinderella tale. However, this story has some noticeable differences, one being the main character is a boy, Becan. Becan has giant feet, which everyone makes fun of including his three step sisters. Becan becomes friends with a bull, an unusual pairing. This bull is no normal bull, but a magical one acting as a fairy-godmother to the boy. The bull equips Becan with a weapon that eventually slays the evil dragon who is trying to kill the King's daughter. The princess decides she must find and marry the boy who killed the dragon for her, but all she is left with is his giantic boot. We all know how Cinderella ends, and this Irish version is no different. 

I think this story would be good to have as a teacher because it would get boys interested in the story since the main character is a boy. This twist to the original Cinderella is one that may get boys involved and interested in the reading of it. Like the other multicultural Cinderella, this book does a good job of incorporating cultural information. I really liked this version of the fairy tale. 

Multicultural Literature- "Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal" by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Julie Paschkis

This book takes the classic Cinderella tale and changes it to match its surroundings. From Appalachia, to Mexico, to the West Indies, to Ireland, to China, and to many more countries. In each country, the story changes based on the areas traditions and cultures. For example, in France a pair of glass slippers appeared on the girl's feet. In India diamond anklets and in Iraq sandles of gold. The reader gets to see how the tale has been changed and through this cultural differences and traditions are revealed. 

I think this book does a great job of sharing a small snip-it of how the Cinderella tale is different in each country. This book would be great for students to analyze and discuss the cultures and traditions of countries around the world. I find it very interesting that one single tale of Cinderella has become so diverse and unique to each country with so many variations. I believe this would be a great book to read to students for them to learn about other cultures and traditions through a story most are familiar with. 

Multicultural Literature/ Chapter Book- "The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963" by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 is a story about a fourth grade African-American boy, Kenny, and the adventures and mishaps of his family, the "Weird Watsons" as they are called. Kenny is  very smart for his age and because of this, he is often made fun of by his classmates. However, his brother, Byron, happens to be the school bully, which is both good and bad for Kenny (usually the latter). Byron is always causing trouble, so his parents decide it is time for him to learn his lesson by taking him to his grandmother's house to be straightened out. The Watsons pack their car,  Brown Bomber, and head to Birmingham, Alabama from Flint, Michigan. While in Birmingham, Kenny encounters an experience that leaves him tramautized for weeks even after returning back to Flint. Naturally, his parents are very worried about him, but do not know what to do. Kenny ends up being consoled by his older, bully brother, Byron.  

The author shows the reader how children are affected by bullying through Kenny's emotions and thoughts. I think this story is a great example to show children as to why bullying is not right. It shows the raw emotions of hurt and pain. The story also discusses racial prejudices and crimes. I think this story would open up discussion about this topic and again, why this is wrong. Overall, I think The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 would be a great book to have in my library as a teacher.