LSSL

Bibliography  Sidman, Joyce 2014. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold . New York: HMH Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0547906501 Plot Summary Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold combines poems, illustrations, and science showing how animals, birds, and insects survive the winter. Each poem in this collection offers the reader a sight into the adaptations and preparations different types of animals make for the long winter months. The poems and illustrations are arranged from autumn's first snow to spring thaw. Critical Analysis Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold is a collection of poems that will engage both poetry lovers and scientists. Throughout the book, there are scientific facts about that animals living and surviving in the harsh winter climate. Each page includes a paragraph that provides facts, locations, and actual scientific names. The information provided enhances the reader’s experience and keeps readers engaged. This book i...

Bibliography : Salas, Laura Purdie & Bissaillon, Josee. 2011. Bookspeak!: Poems about Books. NewYork: Clarion. ISBN 9780547223001 Plot Summary:   Bookspeak is a collection of twenty-one poems about books. The focus of the poems are parts of books, character and types of book. Many of the poems are written in rhyme. Some are lyrical for example “Skywriting", which compares the writing on a page to "inky black birds/forming the flocks that shift into words", some are funny, some are from the perspective of a book "Lights Out at the Bookstore" and "The Sky is Falling", and some from only a part of the book "Book Plate", "Index", "I've Got This Covered", or "Picture This". Critical Analysis: Laura Purdie Salas gives books a unique voice in Bookspeak . The book begins by calling all readers to drop everything they are doing and have an adventure with a book. The sequence of the po...

The Surrender Tree A.     Bibliography : Engle, M. (2010). The surrender tree: poems of Cuba's struggle for freedom. New York: Henry Holt and Company. [ 9780805086744 ] B.      Plot Summary: The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom , is a series of poems told from five different views about Cuba’s wars for independence. Engle’s poems alternate among five perspectives, those of Rosa, her husband José, a slave hunter known as Lieutenant Death, Captain-General Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau, Marquis of Tenerife, Empire of Spain, and a young girl named Silvia .   Rosa is a medicine woman who can heal with natural remedies, many believed she was a witch. Rosa uses her skills to help anybody in need, including enemies.   Rosa falls in love with Jose, a slave who she marries.  They work together as nurses. The poems portray Rosa’s life from when she was a child to adulthood. C.     Critical Anal...

Rutherford B. Who was he? Poems about our Presidents A.     Bibliography : Singer, M., & Hendrix, J. (2013). Rutherford B., who was he?: Poems about our Presidents . New York: Disney*Hyperion Books. [ 9781423171003] B.      Plot Summary: Rutherford B., who was he?: Poems about our Presidents presents information about forty-three presidents in thirty-nine different poems. Many of the president have their own page and poem, but there are a few that share with others. Marilyn Singer brings the presidents of the United States to life. The illustrations by John Hendrix are full of color and hilarious wit. The book provides each president’s most famous quote and so much more! C.     Critical Analysis - In this book Marilyn Singer creates a book that includes each president’s failures, accomplishments, famous quotes, years they were born and years they died. Singer not only include all this information but she prov...

Title: The Three Ninja Pigs Bibliography - Schwartz, Corey R., & Santat, Dan. (2012). The Three Ninja Pigs . New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 9780399255144 Plot Summary – When a wolf threatens their village, three pigs decide they are tired of being bullied by the wolf, so they each take ninja lessons to defeat him next time he tries to huff and puff their houses down! pig one gets bored and drops out early. The second quits against his sensei wishes and decides that he is ready to face the wolf. The third pig practices and works hard every day and it pays off. This story is a perfect example of a comical fractured fairy tale- a fun rhyming story that is enjoyable for all ages. This story is a fun and refreshing take on the classic Three Little Pigs  tale. Critical analysis- At the beginning of The Three Ninja Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf is shown as the villain. The Three Ninja Pigs create a plan of defense. Martial arts is something that young reader...

Title: Rapunzel Bibliography- Zelinsky, Paul O. 1997. Rapunzel . NewYork, N.Y.: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0525456074 Plot Summary- Paul Zelinsky tells the story of a couple who wanted a baby for a very long time. The wife finds out she is pregnant. The wife craves for the Rapunzel herb that grows in the garden of the sorceress who lives next door. The husband is caught by the scores who demands the newborn child.   The young girl is raised by the sorceress who locks her away in a tall tower at the age of twelve. One day, a young prince hears Rapunzel singing and is mesmerized. The prince calls for Rapunzel to let down her hair and they instantly fall in love. They get married secretly in the tower. When the sorceress discovers that she has been deceived, she sends Rapunzel away and the prince is left to wonder the forest blindly. After a year they are reunited. They go to their kingdom and live happily ever after. Critical analysis-   Paul O Zelins...

Title: Turtle's Race with Beaver Bibliography- Bruchac, Joseph and James Bruchac. 2003. TURTLE'S RACE WITH BEAVER: A TRADITIONAL SENECA STORY. Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803728522 Plot Summary – Turtle lived in a nice pond her whole life. With winter coming turtle when into hibernation down below and buried herself in some mud. During that time while turtle was hibernating, beaver came and took over the pond. Upon awakening, turtle asked beaver if they could share the pond. Beaver did not want to share the pond. Beaver challenged turtle to a race. The winner would keep the pond. Beaver has the physical advantage, but Turtle’s quickness helps her win the race. Beaver learns a valuable lesson about sharing. Critical analysis-   The author’s note states that this version of the story come from the Seneca tradition but has been slightly changed through generations. The use of talking animals to tell a s...

Bibliography- Taback, Simms. 1999. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT. New York, NY: Viking. ISBN 9780670878550. Plot Summary - Joseph has a little overcoat that gets old and worn. Joseph makes it into a jacket.  As each item get old and worn, joseph creates new items from the original overcoat. He continues to find new ways to repurpose his overcoat. After he loses the last creation he writes a book. Critical analysis-   This book is full of wonderful illustrations done in watercolor, Gouache, pencil, ink and collage. The wealth of detail on each illustration make this book fun and engaging to read and explore. The title page has a little blurb that says (and there’s a moral, too!)   Something that young readers will love about this book is the die cut cutouts which change each piece of clothing as Joseph modifies his overcoat. If you look closely at the small pictures throughout the book you can tell the setting is in Poland. You can tell this by the new...

  Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! A.     Bibliography - Willems, Mo. Don't Let the Pigeon Stay up Late! New York: Hyperion for Children, 2006. Print. B.      Plot Summary-   A man in pajamas ask readers for a favor- Don’t let the Pigeon stay up late! After the introduction follows, a pigeon who attempts to stay up past his bedtime by taking to the reader. The pigeon states that he/she is not sleepy and suggest many other activities to avoid going to bed. The pigeon tries to persuade, bargain, and beg. The Pigeon eventually falls asleep. C.     Critical Analysis - Mo Willems basic and simple book about a sleepy pigeon who refusal to go to sleep is something that all young readers can relate too. Willems use of chalk like illustrations used to portray the pigeon were fun and easy for young readers to stay engaged. Due to Willems, simple illustration a lot is communicated through the pigeon’s facial e...

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT A.     Bibliography - Potter, Beatrix. 2001. The Tale of Peter Rabbit . III. by Michael Hague. New York: Sea Star Books. ISBN 1587170531 B.      Plot Summary - In this classic tale Peter, a naughty rabbit disobeys his mother by going into Mr. McGregor’s garden. Peter the rabbit starts eating vegetable in the garden when Mr. McGregor spots the naughty rabbit! Mr. McGregor’s attempts to catch Peter Rabbit but fails.   Peter Rabbit escapes and goes to bed without dinner while his three siblings enjoyed a bread, milk, and blackberries.   C.     Critical Analysis- This traditional tale is sure to get young readers hooked from the very beginning with its classic use of “Once upon a time”. Young Readers can relate to this book because just like Peter Rabbit they too are often warned by their mothers not to be mischievous . The illustrations vividly show the differences between Peter Rabbit and...

LOCOMOTIVE A.     Bibliography - Floca, Brian. (2013).  Locomotive. New York, New York:  Atheneum Books an Imprint of Simon and Schuster. [978-1-4169-9415-2] B.      Plot Summary – Two kids and their mother take the train from Omaha, Nebraska to San Francisco, California. As they travel on the locomotive, we learn all about the train and the places they see on their journey. We learn about the jobs of the conductor, the engineer, the brakeman, the switchman and the fireman and how they keep everything running smoothly. C.     Critical Analysis - Locomotive can be read by a wide range of children. Floca’s use of information keeps older children hooked while his use of vivid illustrations and use rhyme scheme keep younger readers engaged.   The book sounds similar to a free verse poem because of its sense of song like rhyme pattern. The author used words such as CLANG-CLANG-CLANG, WHOO-OOOOO, ...

A Ball for Daisy Picture Book Review: A Ball for Daisy A. Bibliography- Raschka, C. (2011). A ball for Daisy. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. [978-0-375-85861-1] B. Plot Summary- Daisy is a happy dog who loves her red ball. She loves to play with her ball indoor and outdoor. Daisy’s owner takes her for a walk when her ball is taken by a brown dog. The brown dog accidently bites down too hard on the red ball and the ball pops. Daisy is very devastated. Her owner tries to comfort the gloomy daisy. The owner take daisy for a walk and daisy is excited when she sees the brown dog’s owner with a blue ball. The brown dog and Daisy play with the blue ball together. To daisy surprise, she is given the blue ball. C. Critical Analysis- There are no words needed for Chris Raschka to be able to describe what Daisy is experiencing when her feelings of contentment, sadness and joy are so gorgeously expressed by his exquisitely use of watercolors and ink. The reader can “make-up” thi...