The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

Author: Tomie dePaola

Illustrator: Tomie dePaola

Genre: Traditional

Date of Publication: 1988

ISBN: 0590447068

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 4.4
Lexile Measure: 840

Other Designators: Culturally Diverse

Summary

This story is about a Native American boy who was smaller than the other boys in his tribe. The little boy was called Little Gopher. A shaman told the boy that he would be different from the other boys. A vision came to the boy and he saw a woman carrying a paintbrush. There was also a grandfather in the vision. He told the boy that he would only need paintbrushes as tools to be great among his people. He gathered berries, flowers and other items in order to make paint. He collected animal skins to use as canvases. He began to create pictures of things that he was familiar with. He went to a hilltop and painted the sunset. The next day, the hilltop was filled with colorful flowers. The people loved him and thanked him for bringing the sunset to the earth.

Response

I enjoyed reading this book because it allows for exposure to a different culture. I like that it is about a young boy. It teaches that just because a student is not like the other students, it does not mean that he/she doesn’t have a special talent of their own. The boy thought because he was small, the village people would not like them because he would never be big and strong. He was a great painter, so they used and appreciated him for that reason. The illustrations are vivid and colorful.

The Bossy Gallito

Author: Lucia Gonzalez

Illustrator: Lulu Delacre

Genre: Traditional

Date of Publication: 1999

ISBN: 9780399232466

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 3.4
Lexile Measure: 670

Other Designators: Culturally Diverse

 

Summary

The Bossy Gallito is about a rooster that is trying to make it to the wedding of his Tio Perico. On the way, he ate a piece of corn that he found and it made his beak (pico) dirty. He tries to get grass that he found to clean his pico. The grass refused to clean his pico. He saw a goat and asked the goat to eat the grass for refusing to clean his beak, but the goat did not want the grass. He found a stick, but the stick wouldn’t hit the goat. Next, he found a fire and wanted the fire to burn the stick, but it wouldn’t. He found water, and asked the water to put out the fire, but it wouldn’t. He realized that he could ask the sun to dry the water that wouldn’t do him the favor of putting out the fire, and finally the sun agreed. So the water decided to agree, and so did the fire, the stick, the goat and the grass.

Response

This story is a traditional Cuban folktale. I particularly liked this book because underneath the English, is the entire story written in Spanish. I believe that Spanish speaking students would like it very much, and English may come easier to them because of it. Also, there are many Spanish words used in the English portion of the book. This book teaches that being bossy is not a helpful way to get others to do things for you.

Library Mouse

Author: Daniel Kirk

Illustrator: Daniel Kirk

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Date of Publication: 2007

ISBN: 9789545109604

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 4.4
Lexile Measure: 830

Other Designators: None

Summary

This book is about a mouse that lives in a library. The mouse loves to read, so he reads as many books as he can during the nighttime when the library is closed. He enjoys reading so much that he decides to write his own books. He signs his names on the books so that students will know that he wrote them. When the library opens, the students come in and read his books. They really enjoy reading his books, but they don’t know who Sam is. The librarian likes his writing, so she leaves him a note asking him to come to “Meet the Author Day” as a special guest. He attends the day in a box but hides beside a mirror. When students look in the box to “meet the author”, they see themselves in the mirror. The point of this is so that they may see themselves as authors. All of the students begin to write their own stories.

Response

I really enjoyed reading this book. The pictures were vivid and attention-grabbing. I like the idea of the mouse writing, because most students would not think that a mouse is capable of writing a book that readers will enjoy. Also, if they do not think that they could write something that others would enjoy, this proves them wrong. I like that the mirror was used, so students could see themselves as authors. I think that could be done in my own classroom, so students would think they are capable of anything.

Let’s Eat!

Author: Ana Zamorano

Illustrator: Julie Vivas

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Date of Publication: 1997

ISBN: 0439067588

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 4.0
Lexile Measure: 550

Other Designators: Culturally Diverse

Summary

This book is about a large Hispanic family. The mother is pregnant and about to add one more to the family. Every day the family eats together in their kitchen. It talks about what is discussed at the dinner table. They are upset when someone isn’t able to make it to their family dinner. There are many times when at least one member of this big family is unable to make it to dinner. The mother especially gets upset when everyone can’t be in attendance. One day the mother is unable to make it to dinner because she is busying having a baby in the hospital. The next week, the mother comes home with their new sister and everyone is there for dinner.

Response

Occasionally there are Spanish words used in the book. This book would expose non-Hispanic students to the culture of Hispanic students, and Hispanic students could especially relate to the book. I would like to use this book in my classroom. I believe that it teaches a good lesson to spend time with family. Family dinners are very important, and they are disappearing quickly. Students who eat dinner with their family typically do better academically. This book shows that time spent with family is important.

Hello School! A Classroom Full of Poems

Author: Dee Lillegard

Illustrator: Don Carter

Genre: Poetry

Date of Publication: 2001

ISBN: 0375910204

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 2.1
Lexile Measure: 360

Other Designators: None

Summary

This book is filled with poems about what one may encounter at school. They are short poems of about four lines, and there is at least one different topic on each page. The poems have a rhyme scheme. The majority of poems have a scheme of ABCB. The book goes in the order of what would be done at school. Some poem topics included are numbers, blocks, teacher’s desk, clock and books.

Response

I liked the poems in this book. The fact that they rhyme makes me enjoy the book even more. I remember as a child only enjoying poems that rhymed. I think that students would find these poems funny, and they can relate to them. I think teachers could use these poems in their classrooms. For example, the poem about the clock could be placed near the clock in their room.

Kumak’s Fish: A Tall Tale from the Far North

Author: Michael Bania

Illustrator: Michael Bania

Genre: Traditional Literaure

Date of Publication: 2004

ISBN: 0882405837

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 3.5
Lexile Measure: 740

Other Designators: Culturally Diverse

Summary

The story begins on a spring, Arctic morning. Kumak decided it would be a perfect day for fishing and his family agreed. They all got on a sled and dogs carried them to the fishing hole. He picked up his Uncle Aglu’s hooking stick on the way there. The family all dug their fishing holes in the frozen lake waiting for a fish to bite. Kumak’s children began to catch fish. The sun was beginning to go down, and Kumak had yet to catch a fish. When suddenly, his lucky hook began to twitch and he tried to pull out what must be a huge fish because it was giving him such a fit. The fish began to jerk Kumak around. It took all his children, his wife and the entire village to keep him from being pulled in with the fish. Kumak even went under water because of the big fish. Come to find out, it wasn’t just one fish, but hundreds of fish who were trying to keep the first fish safe.

Response

This book was well-written and the illustrations helped to tell the story. I like that it was an Arctic tale so that children could familiarize themselves with tales from all over the world. I liked that the story was very suspenseful. I was really beginning to wonder what kind of fish took the entire village to reel onto land. I think this book would encourage community involvement and togetherness. Kumak had his entire village behind him, and when they finally pulled out all of the fish, he scared them with everyone.

Dogku

Author: Andrew Clements

Illustrator: Tim Bowers

Genre: Poetry

Date of Publication: 2007

ISBN: 0545109590

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 1.1
Lexile Measure: 210

Other Designators: None

Summary

This is a book filled with haiku poems about a stray dog that becomes part of a family. The dog was found on the steps of this family’s home. They invite him in, feed him and give him a bath. The family begins to fall in love with the dog and they name him Mooch. He messes up the house when the family isn’t home, but they love him anyway. It talks about everything that may go on in the life of a dog. The dog believes that they are going to take him to the pound, but they don’t, instead they bring him a new bed, food bowl and food.

Response

I really enjoyed this book. It introduces children to a specific poem type: haiku. It is important to show students different types of poems so that they will have a better understanding of the genre type. If students have a dog, or any pet for that matter, they will probably connect well with this story.

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

Author: Doreen Cronin

Illustrator: Betsy Lewin

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Date of Publication: 2000

ISBN: 0439216486

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 2.3
Lexile Measure: 160

Other Designators: Caldecott Honor

Summary

This book is about a farmer and his cows. His cows have a typewriter and they use it to tell him that they are cold and need electric blankets. The farmer thinks the cows are crazy and do not need electric blankets because they are just cows. But the cows go on strike and refuse to produce milk. Next, they tell the farmer that the chickens are cold, too. The farmer does nothing, so the chickens go on strike as well. The farmer realizes that without milk and eggs, he isn’t much of a farmer. The cows and chickens give the farmer an ultimatum, give them electric blankets, and they will give up the typewriter. To make this exchange, the farmer decides to use a duck. The cows and chickens are happy with their blankets, but the ducks use the typewriter to ask the farmer for a diving board because the pond in which they live is boring.

Response

This book has great illustrations that would really capture the reader’s attention. The books story is rather funny. I think that young students would definitely find the story funny because they would understand that it is impossible. Cows, chickens and ducks could never use a typewriter to demand things from their owner. It is funny to me that the animals go on strike. This story may make pet owners pay more attention to their pets. It would make them understand that their pets may have wishes, but they cannot exactly tell the owner what they want because they cannot talk or type.

Boundless Grace

Author: Mary Hoffman

Illustrator: Caroline Binch

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Date of Publication: 1995

ISBN: 0590737910

Age/Grade Range: Grade K – 2

AR Book Level: 3.8
Lexile Measure: 650

Other Designators: Culturally Diverse

Summary

This is a story about a girl named Grace who loves stories. She especially loves stories about fathers, because she has never had one that she knew personally. Her father lives in Africa. She wants to know her father personally. She does not believe that her family is “right”, because it isn’t the complete family that she reads about in books. Her nana tells her a family is what you make it. Her father sent her plane tickets to come visit him. She met her father and his new family. She thinks this family isn’t right either, because it isn’t the right mother. Grace has a great time visiting her family and participating in their African customs. She realizes that what family is comprised of are people who love each other. There is no rule for what makes up a family.

Response

I imagine that many students could relate to this is a culturally diverse book. Many people nowadays do not have the typical family, made up of a father, mother, brother, sister, cat and dog. Students should realize that nothing is wrong with that, as long as you are a part of a loving family. Students should embrace their family, no matter how complicated it may seem. This book is perfect for the student who is going through a time where parents are remarrying, and he/she feels like their parents no longer care.

26 Fairmont Aveunue

Author: Ken Mochizuki

Illustrator: Tomie dePaola

Genre: Biography (Autobiographical)

Date of Publication: 1999

ISBN: 9780399232466

Age/Grade Range: Grade 3 – 5

AR Book Level: 4.4
Lexile Measure: 760

Other Designators: Newberry Honor

Summary

This book is about the authors experience while his family was building a new house at 26 Fairmount Avenue. Tomie enjoyed the experience because he was able to paint on the walls of his new house. The reader is introduced to Tomie’s family members, many of which are used in Tomie’s other books as well. Tomie tells about times spent with Nana Upstairs. Tomie has always wanted to be an artist and it was special to him that he was able to draw life-sized pictures of all of the family members that he loved so dearly on the walls.

Response

I believe this book would be very interesting for readers who are just getting used to chapter books. I say this because there are many pictures depicting the story line throughout the book. Pictures can help students better understand what they are reading. I believe that students would see Tomie as a friend. Also, someone who has recently moved could definitely relate to the story of anxiously waiting to move into a new home.