Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose

Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose

By: Dr. Seuss

Published by: Random House in 1976

Genre: Animal Stories/Comedy and Humor/General Fiction

Readability Lexile: ?

Summary:

Thidwick is a kindhearted moose who is on a journey. Along the way he lets other animals live in his horns. They take advantage of him and start to hurt and ruin his horns. A whole bunch of animals start to live in his horns and it becomes a lot of weight for him to carry. He gets really sad, but then his horns fall off and he is able to live in peace.

Evaluation:

This is a good book. It has rhyming in it, and it teaches reader a lesson. It teaches them to be nice and respectful to others. It also teaches reader not to take advantage of others. The rhyming makes it fun and if you are having trouble reading the words it helps the reader figure out words because they rhyme. It also teaches reader about rhyming and where they fit in to work with rhyming. Dr. Seuss always writes fun book for children to read. The character grows throughout the book and has strength and weaknesses. When reading the book aloud it sounds like the characters were talking and the language seems somewhat natural.

Literary Elements:

-          Theme- The theme of this book is that you should treat other with respect like Thidwick did and not to take advantage of others like the animals that live on his horns do.

-          Characterization- You are really able to get to know the main character and get to know their emotions and personality and life. He is a very kind animal that cannot say no to the other animals even though they are not very nice to him.

Mini Lesson:

I would teach mini lesson on the theme of how you should treat your neighbors. It would teach them about being a friend and not hurting feelings.

Illustrations:

The illustrations help describe what the text is saying. It also is fun and really get the reader to understand more what is going on in the text.

Target Audience:

Early Elementary

The Book Thief

The Book Thief

Written by: Markus Zusak

Published by: Random House Children’s Books, Alfred A. Knopf in 2005

Genre: Historical Fiction/Young Adult

Readability Lexile: 730L

Summary:

This is a book about a young girl names Liesel who lives in Germany during the time of WWII. She is on a train on the way to her foster parent’s house when her brother dies. Her mom disappears after that and she never hears from her again. Liesel has nightmares about the day on the train so her foster Papa comforts her every night and teaches her how to read. She steals books throughout the book because they are too poor to buy their own for her. Her foster mother works for herself and washes laundry for people that live around her. When things in the war start to get really bad she starts to loose business. Her foster Papa slays the accordion and paints houses but that is something that does not have much work right now. Her foster dad is not a loud in the Hitler’s club because something he did in the past. Liesel has to participate in Hitler’s Youth school even though her and her foster family is against him; they are not a loud to act that way. They hide a Jew in their basement and have to keep it a secret. Liesel and he became friends. She also becomes friends with the mayor’s wife and reads in her library. There is a “Parade of Jew’s” and her foster father is afraid that they will search the house so he is sent out that very night. Liesel’s foster father and best friend’s dad get forced to fight in the army. Max is also gone so she tries her best to get by. Liesel sees the Jew that they were hiding and marches with him but is not looked high upon for doing so. Her best friend stops her from following him and this saves her life. She decides to give her books to a library and in return she gets a blank book where she writes her own life’s story called “The Book Thief”. She is writing in it in the basement when her street is bombed. Everyone she loves dies, except for her because she was in the basement. Everyone she loves dies except for Max and her. At the end of the book she dies after a long life with her husband, kids, and grandkids.

Evaluation:

This is a great book. It not only teaches us about some of the events that happened during WWII but it shows us what it was like to be a German during this time. You usually do not see this perspective because you usually hear about the Jew’s story. It makes it a really interesting book because the narrator is death. This is also something that you do not usually see. You are able to understand the personality of each character, and get to know them personally. The story and characters seem natural because this is something that actually happened even though the characters were not real. When reading the text aloud I was able to hear the characters actually talking. The theme is worthwhile and the characters grow throughout the book.

Literary Elements:

-          Characterization- In this book you are really able to get to know the characters. You are able to experience their emotions, personality, feelings, and life. It really goes into detail with them and they all grow throughout the book.

-          Plot- The plot of this book is about a girl in Germany during WWI and the struggles that go along with it. It introduces us to the things that people experienced during the times of WWII in Germany.

-          Theme-The theme of this book is death. Death is everywhere. People are dying all around from the war that is going on. Death is even the narrator.

Mini Lesson:

I would do a mini lesson on the plot of this book. As a class we would read this book and then I would have them research about WWII and the Holocaust and what life was like to live in Germany during that time. I would teach them how to research and then we would do a research project on those things.

Target Audience:

Middle to high school

Tie-a-Bow Book

Tie-a-Bow Book

Written by: Fiona Watt

Illustrated by: Stephen Cartwright

Publishers: Usborne Publishing Ltd. In 2002, and 2007

Genre: Teaching Book

Readability Lexile: ?

Summary:

This book has a page for something different for a child to tie. It has Woolly’s bow, Sam’s shoe, Millie’s ribbon, Poppy’s apron, and Sam’s present. Each page asks the reader to untie and then tie it again. There are actual string and ribbon for the reader to untie and then tie again.

Evaluation:

This is a very good book for younger children. It teaches them to tie and untie things. It has actual string and ribbon for the reader to physically look at. This is a high literature book. It is very interactive and it teaches how to tie shoes. It is also very repetitious. It is a good starter book for children to learn how to read. The language seems natural.

Literary Elements:

-          Style- This book uses items to actually do what the book says. It has real ribbon and sting for the reader to tie. It has repetition and has the reader be a part of the book.

-          Theme- The theme of the book teaches the reader to tie things. I think that it teaching the reader to tie things is a way to teach readers how to tie their shoes since that is the main thing that young kids need to learn how to tie.

Mini Lesson:

I would use style to teach this book. I want to teach my students how to tie bows so I would do a mini lesson that would do this. I would teach students a way to tie and then I would have them practice on their own shoes and their neighbors.

Illustrations:

 The illustrations go with the story and are very colorful and standout. The have actual ribbon and string that the reader can tie. There is not much text in the book so the illustrations are important.

Target Audience:

Young children

Who’s making that Mess?

Who’s making that Mess?

Written by: Phillip Hawthorn and Jenny Tyler

Illustrated by: Stephen Cartwright

Published by: Usborne Publishing Ltd. In 2007, 2003, and 1994

Genre: fiction

Readability Lexile: ?

Summary:

This is a story about a girl and her dog trying to figure out who made the messes around their house. If you flip open a tab it shows an animal and the mess that they made. It then asks you to help them find something. They go through everything asking the same question. Who made that mess? At the end of the book it shows the girl and the dog with all the animals looking at them because they made the mess.

Evaluation:

It is a high literature book. It has repetition in it as well as rhyming, and questions that it asks the reader. It is very rare that you find all of these things in one book. It also has flaps for the reader to open and find more to read and more illustrations. It also has bubbles where the characters talk and say the same thing each time. It has a lot of things that help students to become better readers. The language is very natural and when you read it aloud you are able to hear the characters saying it. You are able to find out that the characters are not very clean and it helps you get to know them better.

Literary Elements:

-          Style- There is many different parts of the style in this book. There is rhyming, repetition, flaps to look under, the talking bubbles, and questions that are asked to the reader. It uses all of these things in just one book to make it a high literature book.

-          Theme- The theme of this book is being messy. The two characters are messy and they are trying to figure out who made all of these messed. They are trying to find things so that is why they made the messes.

-          Plot- The plot is about a girl and her dog trying to figure out who made the messes. It turns out that they did because they were trying to find things. The reader is asked to help them find them.

Mini Lesson:

I would use this book with the style to teach students about the talking bubbles. I would read this book to them and then have them draw a picture with the character talking using the talking bubbles.

Illustrations:

The illustrations in this book are really good. They are colorful and show what the text is trying to say. The illustrations also use talking bubbles and have flaps where questions are asked for the reader to help the characters find their missing things.

Target Audience:

Young children to early elementary

When My Name Was Keoko

When My Name Was Keoko

Written by Linda Sue Park

Publishers: Yearling in 2002

Genre: General Fiction/Historical Fiction/Multicultural

Readability Lexile: 620L

Summary:

This is a book about a young Korean girl in Japanese rule. It is during the time of WWII in the 1940’s. Her family and everyone else in Korea have to change their ways so they can be closer to what the Japanese are. The Japanese are trying to take away all of the Korean culture. They are forced to change their names, cut down their favorite tree, and change their way of life. They are also struggling financially. Keoko’s brother joins the army so his family can have better food clothes and rations. He volunteers for a special attack for a kamikaze plane to bomb American ships but because of cloud coverage they are forced to abort their mission. Her family thinks he has died, but they are so happy when he returns home.

Evaluation:

This is high literature. It is a story that many Korean Americans can relate to with this happening somewhere in their family. You do not usually hear this kind of story. You usually just hear about the Holocaust so people forget about what was going on in Korea. It is a very good book to teach students about what happened there even though it has fictional things in the book. It is also a good book because the chapters go back and forth between Keoko/Sun-hee and her brother telling their side of things about the same events. It has a really good plot and it draws the readers in by the story line. The author uses language good to where it is natural and keeps the reader to want to read more. When you read the book aloud you can actually hear the characters talking.

Literary Elements:

-          Characterization- In this book you are really able to figure out the personalities of the characters and their emotions. You are able to see what the two main characters think and two sides of things. They all have struggles and strength with what is going on with Japan taking over.

-          Point of View- This story is told from two points of view. They are two characters telling the story in alternating chapter. Here you are able to see the point view of both character and experience what goes on in their heads as well as their lives.

-          Plot- This story has a very good plot. You are able to figure it out easily what is going on and what are the main ideas and details of the book. It is about a Korean family that has been taken over my Japanese rule.

Mini Lesson:

I would do a mini lesson on point of view for this book. I would have the students take a previous paper that they already have written and then write the same story from two different points of view.

Target Audience:

Middle School

Hide-And-Seek Christmas

Hide-And-Seek Christmas

Written by: Finona Watt

Illustrated by: Lesley Danson

Designed by:Zoe Waring

Publishers: Usborne Publishing Ltd in 2007

Genre: Fiction/Holiday/Touch, Feel, and Flaps

Readability Lexile: ?

Summary:

This book is about what goes on in the North Pole for Christmas. The elves are making toys for the boys and girls, Santa is loading up his sleigh, the snowmen are playing with the animals, and then its Christmas day in someone living room where presents are under the tree. It is very interactive using questions to have children find a certain amount of things.

Evaluation:

This book can be controversial because it is about a Christian Holiday. Many students are not Christians so it might be difficult to have this in the classroom. I would say that this book can be a loud in the classroom as long as you have other religions holidays there too. This book is really good with getting the children involved and active with the book. It is a board book where you can feel the textures of the pictures and open flaps to find more text and pictures. It starts out asking a question to the reader if they can have a certain amount of something. The first questions asks the reader to find four things, the second asks for 3 things to be found, the third; two, and the fourth it asks to find one. This helps students learn numbers going backwards. When it asks questions it draws the reader in and makes them become involved. It is not only a fun book to read but it also teaches young students numbers.

Literary Elements:

-          Style- The style of the book is touch, feel, and flap book. It is an active book where the readers can touch the textures of the pictures and open flaps to see whats under.

-     Theme- Christams is the theme. It is about the make believe part that happens on Christmas Eve that many Christian children believe.

-     Setting- The setting of this story is in the winter time in the North Pole. You are able to tell what the setting is by whas going on and what the temperature looks like outside. It looks cold and snowy and that on ly happens in the winter.

Mini Lesson:

I would teach the students about the setting part about it being in the winter. I probably would not use this book to teach students unless I had other books to teach other religions also so it would be fair to all. If I were to teach this I would use it to teach about things that go on in the winter. I would have the students cut up paper and use it to make a picture of what things they do during the winter.

Illustrations:

The illustrations in this book are really good! They not only stimulate the senses by touch, but through the illustrations you are able to be interactive with the story. The illustrations show what is going on in the text.

Target Audience:

Young children to early elementary school

Biscuit

Biscuit

Written by: Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Illustrated by: Pat Schories

Genre: Bedtime Stories/Series 

Publishers: HarperCollins Publishers in 1996

Readibility Lexile: 190L

Summary:

Biscuit is a dog that is supposed to go to bed but he just wants to play. His owner feeds him, gives him drink, and reads to him but he still does not want to go to bed. She gets the blankets ready and gives him his doll, hugs him, kisses him, and turns off the light, but biscuit is still not ready for bed. He wants his owner to tuck him in again, one more kiss, one more hug. He wants to cuddle up with his owner. When he is by his owner in her room he is finally able to fall asleep.

Evaluation:

This is a really good book for emergent readers. It has a lot of repetition in it throughout the whole book. It also teaches children what to do to take care of your dog and put him to bed. It is a good book to use to teach children vocab words and spelling because of the easy words and the repetition. It is a fun book that most children who have dogs are able to relate to. The illustrations are fun and colorful that makes the book more fun to read. The text is in large print so it is easy to read since the letters are bigger.

Literary Elements:

-          Setting- The setting of this book takes place at night. It goes through the realistic time frame that getting ready for bed takes. It is realistic and something that all children can relate to because they all go to bed.

-          Plot- The plot of this book is about getting your dog ready for bed. It shows the steps that people go through to do this and that it is not always the easiest thing to do.

-          Theme- The theme of this book is bedtime. It is about getting ready for bed and going to sleep. Everybody goes to sleep so it is something realistic and something that students can r-relate to.

Mini Lesson:

For a mini lesson I would choose to do the plot. I would read this book to my students and them have them write a short paragraph about what they have to do to get ready for bed. This creates text-to-self moments and helps with students writing.

Illustrations:

The illustrations in this book are well done and you are really able to see the dogs personality through them. It creates visuals in student’s mind that get them more involved with the text. The picture demonstrates what the text is trying to say.

Target Audience:

Early Elementary