Graphic Novels

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Author: Jeff Kinney

Publisher: Amulet Books

Publish Date: 2007

ISBN: 978-0-8109-9313-6

This book is about the struggles of middle schoolers. The main character is named Greg. He really doesn’t know who he is and struggles to fit in. He is the middle child so he is kind of lost. He is always getting his best friend Rowley in trouble. He puts the blame on him. He is so desperate to be popular. By the end of the book, he realizes it is more important to stand up for your friends than to fit in with people that don’t matter.

I like this book because it is a perfect graphic novel. There is text but on every page there are pictures. I think this is perfect for children who are intimidated by reading because the pictures break up the text. They are also fun to look at. I like how everyone can relate to this book, even adults. I give this book a 9 out of 10.

Big Nate

Author: Lincoln Peirce

Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition

Date: March 1, 2010

ISBN: 978-0061944345

In this book Nate starts off having a bad day. He forgets to study for a test that he has that day. He gets detention by almost every teacher he has. It is kind of along the same lines as Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It follows the life of a middle school boy who tries to make it through the day.

I do like Diary of a Wimpy Kid better. I like the pictures more and I think the book is set up in a better way. The pictures are funnier as well. I think this is still a good graphic novel. I give this one a 7 out of 10.

Bone. Out of Boneville

Publisher: Cartton Books

Date: 1995

ISBN: 978-0439706407

Author: Jeff Smith

It is a comic series. There are three cousins, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone. They travel into a valley with really scary creatures. They get separated in a desert. They meet a lot of different things while going on an adventure.

This book was alright. I was not really a fan of the plot, I thought it was lacking. I do like the graphic novel style. It looks intimidating, but it’s easier for children to tackle. I give it a 6 out of a 10.

 

Poetry

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Author: Shel Silverstein

Publish date: 1974

Publisher: Harper Collins Inc. NY

ISBN: 0060256672

                I used to love reading this. There is a whole bunch of poems for children. Most of them are very funny and innocent. I just remember one being about a crocodile that had a bad toothache. Another poem is about a girl eating a whale. Not only are the poems funny, they teach the children morals as well. Some of the poems are silly and some are sad. There is pictures next to the poems so the reader can imagine what is happening.

                I love reading these poems. I like them so much because they are not hard to understand. Some poems are really hard to understand sometimes. They are simple and funny but I like that some of them teach a lesson. When children read these poems, they will realize that they are not alone in certain experiences. I give this a 10 out of 10.

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

and before the street begins,

and there the grass grows soft and white,

and there the sun burns crimson bright,

and there the moon-bird rests from his flight

to cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black

and the dark street winds and bends.

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

we shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow

and watch where the chalk-white arrows go

to the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

and we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,

for the children, they mark, and the children, they know,

the place where the sidewalk ends.

Lemonade

Author: Bob Raczka

Publisher: Roaring Brook

Date: 2011

ISBN: 978-1-59643-541-4
 


               I like this book because it is a book of poems but in the poems are hidden puzzles. This book’s title mirrors the content. When I think of lemonade I think of summer and drinking it on a hot day. These poems are about what children typically do. There may be times when the poems have to be reread because the puzzles are hidden in the book.

                I like this book because it offers more than just poems. It is fun for the children to try and get the puzzles and when they do it is so much more rewarding. I think it is just a fun way to read and gets the children excited. I give this book a 10 out of 10.

Every Thing on It

Shel Silverstein

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: September 20, 2011

ISBN: 0061998168

                This is set up the same way as Where the Sidewalk Ends. It is a collection of poetry for children. These poems are more about growing up and true love. There are also poems about being polite and most of them children can learn a lesson from. It is also a good read for the parents because they can relate to some of these poems.

                I like these poems because adults enjoy reading them too. It is easy for adults to learn something when reading them. I give these poems an 8 out of 10. 

Historical Fiction

If You Lived When There Was Slavery In America

Author: Anne Kamma

ISBN 0545363209

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.; 1.2.2004 edition

Publish date: February 1, 2004

This book covers how the world was like when there was slavery in America. The book addresses what the slaves ate and where they lived. They explained if the children worked and where they lived. This book also explains where the slaves came from. The book really shows children how a person could be another person’s property.

I think this book is perfect for showing children how the world was in the 1600s. Instead of just being a word to young children, they can actually learn what the word actually means. I like this book because it is informational but it is easily understood and this is good for children. It is good for them to know about events that happened in history. I give it a 8 out of 10.

 

Mirette on the High Wire

by Emily Arnold McCully

Publisher: Puffin Books; Reprint edition

Date: April 14, 1997

ISBN-10: 0698114434

ISBN-13: 978-0698114432

This book is about Paris in the 19^th century. Mirette meets the great bellini who is staying at her mother’s boarding house. He used to be a wire walker and he was retired. She loves watching him and wants to walk on wires as well. He becomes her mentor and teaches her how to walk the wire. Even though he is retired, he gains his confidence back and gets back on the rope to show the world how great he is.

I like this book because it shows children to never give up if they want something. I like the illustrations. I think they are amazing and the story is told through the colors. I think this is a different event that children can learn about and gain information from. I give this book a 9 out of 10.

 

Crow Call

Lois Lowry

Publisher: Scholastic Press; First Edition

Date: October 1, 2009

ISBN-10: 0545030358

ISBN-13: 978-0545030359

Liz and her father have never really had a relationship because her dad has been away fighting in the Second World War. Liz and her father then reconnect. When he gets back from the war they spend time together by eating cherry pie in town and calling crows in the sky.

I love this book. I think it is very calming and soothing. It really gives children the perspective of how families live when their loved ones are away fighting in the war. The bond that the father and daughter share is so special and powerful. Nothing can break this bond that they have created. I just think this book is truly beautiful. I give it a 10 out of 10. .

Informational Text

What Will Hatch

Author: Jennifer Ward

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Publish Date: February 12, 2013

Language: English

ISBN-10: 080272311X

ISBN-13: 978-0802723116

This is a really fun book that teaches children how life begins inside an egg. All different kinds of living creatures start in an egg form. This is just a fun book that teaches children how a bunch of different animals start there life. The kids get to guess what will hatch on each page. There is a robin and a platypus and it just shows that every animals starts off in the same place.

I like this book. I think it is different from other informational text. It doesn’t show letters or numbers or even animals. It shows how animals start their life off. Even though they are different animals, their lives start off the same way. The illustrations are really cute and fun. I think it’s a fun way to learn! I give it a 10.

My Pet Bird

Auhtor: Lynn Hamilton

Publisher: Weigl Publishers Inc.

Date: 2009

ISBN:978-1-59036-900-5

This book teaches kids about birds. They teach them different kinds of birds. The book talks about canaries, lovebirds, doves etc. The book teaches about their colors and what they eat and how long they live. The book also talks about how each bird behaves differently. At the end, there is a fun puzzle with questions and answers which will be fun for kids to do.

I just like this book because the information is great. They put it in good terms for children to understand. I like the way the information is arranged on the page. I just think it is a cute and colorful book and it is a fun way for children to learn. I give the book an 8 out of 10.

The Hospital

Author: Janine Amos

Publisher: Gareth Stevens Publishing

Date: 2002

ISBN: 0-8368-3091-1

This book is all about the hospital and how kids cope with being in the hospital and being away from loved ones. It shows them how to deal with their feelings and being lonely. It just shows them what to do with emergency situations by providing advice and showing children that it is important to ask questions when they are unsure of something.

I actually really like this book. It may not be the most exciting out of all the informational texts out there. I like it because it addresses hard issues like when people are sick or have an emergency operation in the hospital. It is nice how they provide insight on this hard topic to children. I give this an 8 out of 10.

Fantasy

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Author: Roald Dahl

Publisher: Puffin

Date: 7 Feb. 2013

ISBN-10: 0141346450

ISBN-13: 978-0141346458

Charlie and his family are very poor and they live in a small house together. He does get a chocolate bar from Willy Wonka’s factory. Wonka opens his factory up to five children who get the golden ticket. He buys two bars and neither of them has tickets and then he finds money on the ground and buys another chocolate bar. This one is the winner. He takes his grandfather to go with him and the place is magical. There is a chocolate river. There are little oompa loompas walking around everywhere. There is one room that is edible. Charlie wins at the end and Willy Wonka shares his factory with Charlie and Charlie’s family will never starve again.

I love this book and I was excited to see the movie when it came out. I actually liked the book better because I kind of was able to make up the fantasies in my mind. This book is full of fantasy, mystery and magic. It is very exciting to read. I give it a 10 out of 10.

 

Alice in Wonderland

Author: Lewis Carroll

Publisher: Templar; Slp edition

Date: September 22, 2009

ISBN-10: 0763645680

ISBN-13: 978-0763645687

Alice falls asleep and wanders through wonderland following a white rabbit. She meets a bunch of talking animals. There is a caterpillar in the book that helps Alice through wonderland. There is also a smiling cat that appears throughout the book. She then sees the Queen of Hearts. It kind of teaches children how to grow up in a difficult world.

I like this book because it is a classic. The movie is also a classic. There is so much in it and so much to fantasize about. The pictures are really nice and fun to look at. The entire book is about a big fantasy world and it is just fun to read. I give it a 9 out of 10.  

The Wizard of Oz

Author: L. Frank Baum

Illustrator: Charles Santore

ISBN: 0-517-69506-5

Publisher: Random House Value Publishing, Inc. (1991)

Dorothy lives in Kansas with her aunt and her dog Toto. Their house is swept up into a cyclone and it landed in OZ. The house lands on the wicked witch of the east. The good witch gives Dorothy silver shoes that belong to the wicked witch of the east. Dorothy sets out for Emerald City in hopes of returning home. She meets a lion and a scarecrow along the way. She endures many obstacles as well. The wizard wants them to kill the wicked witch of the west. Dorothy dumps a bucket of water on her and then she melts. She taps her shoes three times and then returns home to Kansas.

This is my absolute favorite book. My mom read this to me on a daily basis. I always wanted to be Dorothy. I just loved the whole story because it was so imaginative. So much happened in it that would never happen in real life. I was Dorothy for Halloween multiple times. I just love the pictures because they are so surreal. The adventure that Dorothy went on was so unreal. It always intrigued me. I give this book a 10 out of 10.

Realistic Fiction

Shiloh

By: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 1 edition

Publish Date: (Sept. 1 2000)

ISBN-10: 0689835825

ISBN-13: 978-0689835827

This is one of my favorite books and I used to love watching this movie. This book is about a boy who falls in love with a dog named Shiloh. This dog belongs to a man named Judd Travers. Travers has a lot of hunting dogs and does not really treat them right. He also drinks. In the end, Marty does chores for Travers and he gives him some money and buys Shiloh from Judd Travers.

This book is realistic fiction because the story has a realistic plot and the characters could be real but they aren’t. I just think this is a great book. I absolutely love animals especially dogs. I have two dogs myself. I just think this story is so cute. Marty really falls in love with Shiloh and does everything in his power to get him. This is just a great book.

Author: Jane Yolen

Illustrator: John Schoenherr

Publisher: Philomel Books; 4th Printing edition

Publish Date: October 23, 1987

ISBN-10: 0399214577

ISBN-13: 978-0399214578

This book is about a father and his daughter that go out at nighttime to look for owls. They are looking around the farm in which they live. There is a deer, a fox and a raccoon that are hiding in the shadows. The father calls for the owls. Finally an owl comes out and sits on the branch right next to them and the girl gets to see an owl.

I think this is a great story. I just love the illustrations. The snow looks like velvet as it lays on the farm where the little girl and her father live. As they walk through the soft pillows of snow, it is so silent. They do not really talk that much. It just makes me think of a cold night when it starts to snow and then all of a sudden you wake up and look outside and the ground is covered in a soft blanket of snow. I love when that happens. I think this is a good realistic fiction book because the events in this book really could happen. There are no talking animals and the characters could be real. I give it a 10 out of 10.

 Author: Louis Sachar

ISBN-13:9780440414803

Publisher:Random House Children's Books

Publication date:05/28/2000

Stanley Yelnats is convicted of stealing even though he did not do it. He then chooses to go to Camp Green Lake instead of going to jail. This camp is in the middle of the desert and the boys there have to dig holes that are five feet deep in a dried up lake. He becomes friends with a boy named Zero. He learns that his great grandfather is cursed by Madame Zeroni.

This is a great book and a great movie. I remember reading this book when I was younger and absolutely loving it. I just thought it was so exciting and different. When the movie came out, I was even more excited. I think this is a good realistic fiction book because the events in the book can happen in real life. The characters could also be real people. I just think this is an interesting fun book that everyone should read. I give it a 10 out of 10.

Traditional Tales

Cinderella

Author: Marcia Brown

Publisher: Aladdin; 2 edition

Publish Date:  (April 1, 1997)

ISBN-10: 0689814747

ISBN-13: 978-0689814747

This is the classic fairytale of Cinderella. This was always my favorite Disney movie to watch. I used to watch it everyday. This book is about how a girl has to serve her step mother and two step sisters. She dresses in rags and does not have a lot. She is always doing chores. She goes to a ball with the help of the fairy god mother and meets a prince. The prince finds her after leaving her glass slipper behind and they get married. She forgives her step sisters and gives them kindness.


I just love this version of Cinderella. There are so many version of Cinderella and there are also a bunch of movies. The pictures in this are beautiful and nicely done. I like this version because it tells the original story and doesn't add anything in. I love looking at the pictures and reading this amazing fairytale. I give this book a 10 out of 10.

Patricia Seibert

Publisher: Brighter Child, 2001

ISBN-10: 1577683676

ISBN-13: 978-1577683674

I automatically thought of The Three Little Pigs when given the genre for this week.  This is an absolute classic that everyone has probably read. One pig built a house out of straw. The second built a house out of sticks and the third built a house out of bricks. A hungry wolf tried to get the pigs by blowing their houses down. They hid in the third house made out of bricks and the wolf could not get them.

This is just a classic tale and that is why I chose it. Every child has either heard of it or read it themselves. I think that it is just a fun tale for kids to read.  This would never really happen in real life but it is fun to dream. It also teaches a good lesson because it shows that you should just do things right the first time instead of slacking. The first two pigs did not try as hard as the third pig. They should have just done a good job the first time like the third pig. This is definitely one of my favorites and I give it a 9 out of 10.

 

Tortoise and the Hare

Author: Jerry Pinkney

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; First Edition

Date: October 1, 2013

ISBN-10: 0316183563

ISBN-13: 978-0316183567

The hare bragged that he was the fastest out of everyone. The tortoise wanted to challenge him to prove him wrong. The hare was overly confident and decided to nap while running the race. Eventually the tortoise beats the hare.

Everyone knows this story. It is a fable. It teaches children a lesson to never be lazy and always try. Children should always be humble and never boast too much about their talents. It teaches a very good lesson and it is a classic and that it why I chose is as one as my books. I give it a 10 out of 10.