non fiction

My Secret Camera: Life in the Lodz Ghetto. The photographer is Mendel Grossman and the text is done by Frank Dabba Smith. This is the compilation of photographs and explanations of the photographs relating to the Holocaust. Mendel Grossman was able to capture the anguish as well as the strong spirit of the people trapped in the Lodz Ghetto. The compilation of the photographs bears witness to the souls of those who were forced to be there and the atrocities which occurred there.

This book is a non-fiction book which hinges on social justice as this book was intended to serve as a reminder of the atrocious acts carried out against those who were Jewish. There is a great level of respect for people in this book because Grossman intends to capture both the good and bad within the ghetto. He wishes to leave his work to be a reminder, to about bring awareness to the events that happened in the Lodz Ghetto.

This book can be included in class lessons when we discuss about the holocaust, humanity, social justice and awareness, historical significance, and photography.

biography

Mermaid Queen is written by Shana Corey and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. This story is about Annette Kellerman who was the inventor of water ballet and advocate of women’s health. This book tells of Annette’s life and major accomplishments.

This book is a biography about Annette Kellerman, an Australian born woman who defied social conventions and became an athlete and an accomplished swimmer. This was a wonderful book which exemplified the effect women can have on society. I believe this book has the power to show girls that they too can make a difference by doing what they love and standing up for what they believe in. The book covered all six elements. Annette was willing to stir up awareness about health and wellness by swimming through London and Australia. She was proud and confident in herself. She respected others but was willing to push their comfort levels by backing up her statements with proof and action. She created water ballet and is credited for inventing the modern swimsuit.

Mermaid Queen is one of my new favorite books which really exemplifies the power women have to help create and push on change in society. This book can be used during discussions on women’s history, biographies, influential women, and change that affects us today.

Non-Fiction: Delivering Your Mail

This book by Ann Owen is simplistic book about mail carriers for toddlers and young preschooler learning about community helpers. The book not only address what mail carriers do , but how they may impact the young readers. This book does not really address any social justice elements although it does teach young children about their community and those that impact their community on a daily basis. 

* I had previous typed and save this although the grading is completed. *

Historical Fiction

Squirrel and John Muir is written by Emily Arnold McCully. This story is of a girl named Florence, nicknamed squirrel, she lives in Yosemite National Park around the year 1868. While living in the hotel her parents run, she meets John Muir who will become a famous naturalist, scientist, in America. The book shows their encounter and the relationship that builds overtime.

This book is a historical fiction young reader book. Squirrel and John Muir shows very superficially the life of Florence and how she grew up and acted as a young girl. She is shown to be a gutsy, no fear child. She is also shown to be a bit primitive and lacking manners. When she meets John Muir, he teaches her about the value and small intricacies of the forest in which she lives in. he helps her to develop an appreciation of the world around her. It is an ok book to briefly talk about two American characters from history.  The story does not go into much detail. The colors of the illustrations definitely help to draw attention to the book.

This book shows respect for others by John Muir showing Florence the good in nature and how to be kind and understanding of people, plants, and nature as a whole. This book can be used in class to add information during lessons on settlers and early America.

realistic fiction

I Completely Know about Guinea Pigs is a realistic fiction book written by Lauren Child, Paul Larson, and Laura Beaumont. When Lola learns a lot about how to take care of guinea pigs but things take a strange and happy turn when she is chosen to take, Burt, the class guinea pig home during school vacation.

This realistic fiction book is a great way to teach children about guinea pigs and some very general care about the animals. Having a hamster myself I thought this was a cute book that made learning about small animals fun and inviting. The book showed real pictures of different kinds of guinea pigs and gave real instructions on caring for the small rodent.

The book showed self-love and knowing. Lola showed that it was ok not to know everything and that if you don’t know the answer it is good to ask. There is no shame in asking for help or asking questions, in fact that is how we learn, by asking questions. I Completely Know about Guinea Pigs also showed a respect for others, Lola respected the opinions and suggestions of her classmates as they educated her on guinea pigs. The book also shows how to respect animals, by giving them what they need to live as well as to make sure they are ok and live a good life. The book also raises awareness about guinea pigs and proper care as well as a bit of history of the animal.

This book can be incorporated into the class when talking about science, biology, the environment, animals or even if the teacher is thinking about introducing a class pet with students.

~AE

Timeless Thomas

Thomas Edison is most famous for inventing the light bulb but, he also developed many other staples of modern technology.  Despite many failures, Edison persevered and created many inventions we still use today. Many of his inventions are life-changing. This book enters the laboratory of one of American's most important inventors and compares it to many of the current devices that are part of Edison's inventions. This book discusses social action as many of Edison's inventions changed the world we know today which can be viewed in its original form in the book. This book would be great for young scientists such as 1st or 2nd graders to introduce them to the the topic of scientists and invention. 
A brief preview of the book can be viewed at:
http://us.macmillan.com/timelessthomas/GeneBarretta

Players In Pigtails

By Shana Corey

Illustrated by: Rebecca Gibbon

Katie Casey, a young girl, was not good at dancing, or home ec, but she was good at baseball. She loved to swing the bat and her the ball fly into outfield. She loved the uniforms, and running the basses. There was only one thing wrong; she was never allowed on the all boys team. After the war started in America, most baseball players were shipped off, so something had to be done. After thinking long and hard, Mr. Wrigley decided that America must start a woman’s league. That they did, and this was Katie Casey’s chance at the big leagues. Players in pigtails is the fictional story of how the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. 

Folklore: Twelve Dancing Princesses

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is your atypical fairy tale. The King discovers that each morning when his daughters wake their shoes are worn. To find out how the shoes are being worn you will have to read the book. The pictures are elaborate and exquisite. The princesses have self-confidence, self-love and knowledge, explores the issue of independence, and raises awareness and women.

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

By: Simms Taback

Simms Taback is the same author that wrote "The Woman Who Swallowed A Fly." Joseph, an old jewish man, has a very large overcoat. As the story begins the coat gets worn and he makes it into a smaller coat, then that gets worn, and he continues to make the coat into new clothing. It is the classic story of "something out of nothing." If you want to understand how Joseph makes something out of nothing you will have to read the book to find out! (They have it in the Gallaudet library.) This book has great pictures that will keep the students interested, as well as many activities to go along with this book. Enjoy!

folklore

Arrow to the Sun is a Pueblo Indian tale written and illustrated by Gerald McDermott. The book tells of how light and spirit was brought to mankind from the sun.  The story is accompanied by lovely colorful images.

This book on folklore is wonderfully illustrated with many bright colors which is sure to keep the attention of any child with a story to match. I really enjoyed the story and how it tries to explain the world around us by involving the supernatural. This book brings about social awareness for different belief systems as well as different perspectives. While reading this book it would be beneficial, while reading this book, to show a respect for other cultures. By explaining why cultural acceptance is important it will be possible to build a community environment in the classroom where students feel accepted. This book is not entirely based in truth as it pertains to the cultural practices which should be kept in mind. Do research about the culture when looking for books!

Arrow to the Sun can be incorporated into class by using it in conjunction with learning about America, cultures, folklore, and Native American studies.

~AE

Chinese folklore - Tikki Tikki Tembo

This story discusses the old Chinese folktale about how the people of China came to give their children short names after traditionally giving their "first and honored" sons grand, long names due to one of the main characters Tikki Tikki Tembo No Sarembo Hari Kari Pi Chi Pip Peri Pembo's name leading to his death. Curious about what happend to Tikki Tikki Tembo....... read the book or full folklore :-) !

 I personally would read this book to my class as it has alot of repetition and can be a great predictive text as the story repeats itself twice. Although the book does not discuss any current social justice elements it can be said that this story mentions the social movement in Chinese culture about naming their first honored son's long names to naming them short names due to this accident. 

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poetry

Dinothesaurus is written and illustrated by Douglas Florian. This prehistoric inspired book is filled with paintings and poems. This book is filled with all sorts of dinosaur related poems and interesting paintings.

This book genre is poetry and although it does not contain hard hitting content relating to social justice it is a fun book to get children interested in poetry via their love for dinosaurs or to get children who love poetry interested in dinosaurs. The illustrations are colorful and the poems are funny. It is an easy read. The poems help with rhyming words, similes, comparing, logic, and history of different kinds of dinosaurs.

I thought this book was a fun way to introduce students to poetry by branching off of preexisting interests of my students.

Along with other books of poetry in various topics I would be able to present poetry in a fun way where my students would be able to relate to the new content being taught.

~AE

Poetry Picture Book

The book is different poems in the form of raps. A CD is included in the book for those who want to listen to the book auditorily. The pages and poems grammatically are similar to those of a hip hop or rap song and do not follow the English language rules that have been set up for us to follow. The pictures are very colorful but also abstract with diversity. Social Justice Elements included in this book, is self-love and knowledge, and raising awareness.

Poetry: If You Could Wear My Sneaker

If You Could Wear My Sneakers  is a book that talks about children's rights throughout the various poems the author created as a partner with UNICEF. The nonsense verses are conveys through the voices of the various animals  in a funny way discussing the serious subject of the rights of children to an education, adequate food, shelter and health care, safety, privacy, fair treatment, freedom of speech and protection from war throughout the authors playful verses and cartoons. I personally think the poems are very witty and have strong meanings behind their playful appearance and would use this book in my future classroom as it is based on the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child .

* If these were to be used in a Deaf education classroom using ASL they would need alot of practicing and translation as the words in English are wacky, let alone ASL ! Not easy to sign ! *

Here is my favorite poem: 

If you were me And I were you For just a day Or maybe two Then maybe you And maybe me Would see the me That you were tooBecause... The you I see You try to be Never ever Speaks to me

See... If you knew The me I am Or I could know The you you be I think we would Eventually Discover we liked Broccoli!Yeah... We could form The broccoli bunch Invite each other Out to lunch Share our little Broccoli trees Cover them With melted cheese

But... You pass me by Without a smile As if I were A crocodile Then look the other Way in case You see the me That's in my face If you could wear my sneakers (You might have to plug your nose) And if I could wear your shoes (Even if they crunched my toes) Maybe we could see the us We never got to meet The you and me That might have found More broccoli To eat

By Sheree Fitch

( The poem was to little to read via scan but the picture is clear as can be) I will bring this tomorrow ! 

Dear Hot Dog 

By: Mordicai Gerstein

This is a poetry book for young children. As toy notice I posted two pictures: one of the cover and one of the beautiful illustrations inside the book. This is one of the many pages filled with beautiful pictures, and interesting poems. This book has so many poems about everyday items. It talks about toothbrushes, pillows, crayons, all the way to scissors. It is a great book for children to look at the pictures and understand what the poem is conveying. I think this book takes the cake for amazing illustrations, I recommend you take a look, or buy!