The Great Gilly Hopkins

The Great Gilly Hopkins
By Katherine Paterson
Publisher/Date: Harper Trophy 1978
# of Pages:178
Reading Level: Age 10+
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary:

Galadriel (Gilly) Hopkins is a foster child. She has been moving around to different foster parents, and the story begins with her coming to Mrs. Trotter's to live. She has an attitude, swears, is prejudiced, and is a hard kind of girl who doesn't seem to care about much. She doesn't like Trotter, or William Ernest, the other foster kid that lives with Trotter. She also doesn't care much for the blind black man next door, Mr. Randolph, who comes to eat dinner every night. She goes to school, and dislikes her teacher, Ms. Harris, and on the first day she beats up six boys at one time. She also becomes acquaintances with Agnes, a greasy haired girl who follows her around. The only thing Gilly cares about is her mother, Courtney. She tries to go to California where Courtney lives by stealing money from Mr. Randolph's house, and from Trotter's purse. When she gets to the bus station, the clerk calls the police on her, and she gets caught. In her frustration, she writes a letter to Courtney telling her how much she hates her new foster home, and she asks her to send money so she can catch a bus to San Francisco. To punish Gilly for stealing, Trotter has her do tasks around the house, including helping W.E. with his reading. As she does this, she becomes friends with him, and teaches him how to stick up for himself. She also comes to like Trotter more. during Thanksgiving, Mr. Randolph, Trotter, and W.E. all get sick and Gilly takes care of them. On Thanksgiving day, Gilly gets a surprise visitor. Her grandmother comes and says she is going to take her away. Gilly isn't too keen on the idea. All she wanted was her mother, but instead her mother called the grandmother to get Gilly. However, soon Ms. Ellis comes and tells Gilly that she must now go and live with her grandmother. She doesn't want to go, and Trotter and W.E. don't want her to go either. Unfortunately, she must, so she goes to live with her grandmother who she doesn't care for much. She writes letters to Trotter, W.E., and her teacher, Ms. Harris. Then at Christmas time, Courtney comes to visit. She is not what Gilly was expecting, and she realizes that she misses Trotter, and loves her. She calls Trotter, but Trotter can only give her advice. The book ends with Gilly getting the courage to deal with her new circumstance.

Who benefits from reading this book?

Anyone who would like to understand foster kids better would benefit from this book. It also teaches a good lesson. Gilly changes from a hard, seemingly uncaring girl, to a more caring, nice, loving girl. This book is a good one for kids, and even foster kids would probably enjoy and benefit from reading this book.

What problems could this book possibly cause?

Gilly has issues. She swears, is racist against the blacks, and does not respect anyone. This could be a problem because kids reading it might think it's ok for them to have the same attitude. However, because Gilly goes through a change, I don't know if these issues would be a problem upon completion of the book.

My Reaction:

I was a little bit disappointed with the end. I would have liked it better if Gilly could have gone back to live with Trotter. However, that's not life, I liked how Trotter mentioned that at the end. Life is tough she said. I thought it had a good message, and it was cool to see Gilly change from the beginning of the book to the end. I thought it was a good book, and I would recommend it to anyone to read.

Amelia Bedelia

Amelia Bedelia
By Peggy Parish
Publisher/Date: Scholastic 1963
# of Pages: 64
Reading Level: Level 2
Genre: Children's Picture Book

Summary:

It's Amelia Bedelia's first day at work at the Rogers' house. However, they are not home, but they give her a list to follow while they are gone. The list says things like "change the towels, dress the turkey, draw the drapes, put out the lights, dust the furniture", etc. However, Amelia Bedelia does not interpret things the same way as other people. She takes things very literally. So she cuts the towells, puts clothes on the turkey, draws a picture of the curtains, takes the lightbulbs and puts them outside, and puts powder dust over all the furniture. She also makes a surprise lemon pie.
When Mr. and Mrs. Rogers come home, they are very upset to see what she's done. However, Mr. Rogers tastes her delicious pie, and then they decide that they can never fire her. Mrs. Rogers just learns to be very specific in her instructions.

Who benefits from reading this book?

This book is just entertaining. I think anyone could benefit from reading this book. Amelia Bedelia is just a classic that everyone should read.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially cause?

I don't see how this book could cause any problems. It's an innocent children's picture book that's just entertaining.

My Reaction:

I've always liked Amelia Bedelia ever since I was young. I always found her absolutely hilarious. This is a classic story, along with all the other Amelia Bedelia books. It really makes you think about what words and phrases really mean. I would recommend this book to anyone.

The Greedy Python

The Greedy Python
By Richard Buckley and Eric Carle
Publisher/Date: Scholastic 1992
# of Pages: 20
Reading Level: Level 1
Genre: Children's Picture Book

Summary:

This story is about a python. This python is rather greedy, big, and strong. He was very big and hungry, and he ate all the animals that came in sight. He ate a mouse, a frog, a bat, a fish, a bird, a porcupine, monkey, a leopard, a buffalo, and an elephant. He was very big and full, and he got sick and spit them all up. He felt better, but was still hungry. He was so greedy that when he saw his own tail, he ate it til he disappeared.

Who benefits from reading this book?

I think this book contains a good message. I think anybody who needs to learn their lesson about not being greedy would appreciate and benefit from this book.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially create?

I don't think this book could cause a lot of problems. It's so short, there isn't much that could cause a problem. However, the end is a little bit disturbing because the python ends up eating or killing himself, but it teaches the lesson that greed will destroy you.

My Reaction:

I remember always enjoying having this book read to me as a child. I wasn't really sure why because when I went back and read it again this time, it was a little bit disturbing at the end. I thought that was a little bit weird, but I really liked it as a kid. I also didn't realize that it was a rhyming book. I think that may have been a factor adding to why I liked it so much too. Plus it's the classic Eric Carle illustration, so that makes it fun as well.

The Big Brag

The Big Brag
By Dr. Seuss
Publisher/Date: Random House
# of Pages:23
Reading Level: 3rd Grade
Genre: Children's Picture Book

Summary:

This book is about three animals. The first is a bear and a rabbit. The rabbit brags that he has the best ears/hearing in the world. The bear asks him to prove it. He listens and listens, and finally says that miles and miles away he heard a fly cough. Well the bear claims that he can smell better than the rabbit can hear. He smells and he smells and finally he claims to have smelled an egg that is stale miles farther away than the coughing fly. Then out of the ground pops a worm. He claims to have the best sight. He looks and stares til finally he looks across Japan and China and all the way around the world until he saw two foolish guys trying to out brag each other. And with that he goes back in his hole.

Who benefits from reading this book?

I think this book contains an important message that is beneficial for everyone. It teaches the fact that you shouldn't brag about how you are better or the best at something. There is always someone out there who is better, and others see you as a fool for bragging. Nobody likes a bragger.

What problems/conflicts could this book cause?

I don't think this book could cause problems. I think it's more about resolving problems. It would resolve problems about people bragging, and teach them the lesson not to.

My Reaction:

This is one of the more mature Dr. Suess books. However, it is also one of my favorite Dr. Suess books. I really like the message it has. All Dr. Suess books contain the fun rhymes which I also love, as well as the illustrations. I would recommend this book to anyone. I think it's one of those books anyone can learn from.

Jamberry

Jamberry
By Bruce Degen
Publisher/Date: HarperTrophy 1983
# of Pages:24
Reading Level: Ages 4-6
Genre: Children's Picture Book

Summary:

This is a fun book that follows a bear and a boy through their adventures with all different kinds of berries. The whole book rhymes which is fun. It counts the berries, uses all different kinds of berries, and goes through lots of different activities and places.

Who benefits from reading this book?

I think anyone who likes books that rhyme will benefit from reading this book. If a person wanted to know about all the different berries there were, they could also benefit from this book.

What problems/conflicts could this book possibly cause?

There is no problem with this book except the fact that a little boy is running around with a bear. Children need to understand of course, that they can not go around with real bears. However, I think most children will understand that concept. Other than that, there is no other problem with this story.

My Reaction:

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I didn't know why, but I think I really enjoyed the fact that it rhymes. I really like the unique words and berry names used. I like the illustrations as well. One of my favorites is the elephants skating on strawberry jam. The pictures are so colorful and full of berries. I always wanted to eat some berries after my mom read this to me.

Miss Nelson is Missing

Miss Nelson is Missing
By James Marshall
Publisher/Date: Scholastic Inc.
# of Pages: 32
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Genre: Children's Picture Book

Summary:

This story begins in Miss Nelsons class. The class is very disrespectful, and they do not pay attention to her. She decides that something must be done about that. The next day, someone new comes to class. Instead of Miss Nelson, it's Miss Viola Swamp. She makes the class pay attention, and she gives the kids a lot of homework. They miss Miss Nelson and they go looking for her. They even go to the police. However, they do not find her, but eventually Miss Nelson does come back, and the kids are much better behaved.

Who benefits from reading this book?

Any child I think would enjoy this book. I know I did when I was younger. I think it is also a good book to teach kids about how they are expected to act in a classroom. If they don't act the right way, they could suffer the wrath of a Miss Viola Swamp.

What problems/conflicts could this book possibly cause?

I don't think this could cause any problems. If I had to pick something that could be wrong with this book would probably be the picture that shows the detective who is smoking a pipe. I don't think smoking should be included in children's books.

My Reaction:

This book is a childhood favorite. Most kids I know have read this book. I think it's one of those classics that every student should read. I love the second to last page that shows Miss Nelson in her bedroom, and in her closet you can see a black dress, black shoes, and a wig.

If You Give A Moose A Muffin

If You Give a Moose a Muffin
By Laura Joffe Numeroff
Publisher/Date: Scholastic Inc. 1991
# of Pages:30
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Genre: Children's Picture Book

Summary:

This is a book about what happens when you give a moose a muffin. One thing leads to another and suddenly what was a little thing like giving a moose a simple muffin turns into a bunch of jam, a moose wearing your sweater, making puppets, painting, cleaning up paint with a sheet, and then back to wanting a muffin again! All this happens before the boy's mom comes in the house.

Who benefits from reading this book?

Anyone who enjoys these kind of books will benefit from reading this. "If You Give a Mouse A Cookie" was the first one, then came more, including this one.

What conflicts/problems could this book potentially cause?

I don't see any problems that could arise from reading this book. It seems like a pretty harmless children's picture book to me.

My Reaction:

I really liked this book. It's one of my favorites. I really liked, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", and this is basically the same kind of thing. I like how one thing leads to the next, and it all leads back to the beginning with the muffin.

The Tortoise and the Hare

The Tortoise and the Hare
By Betty Miles
Publisher/Date: Aladdin 1998
# of Pages: 32
Reading Level: Level 1
Genre: Children's Picture Book

Summary:

This is the well-known tale about the Hare, who brags that he is the best at everything, and the tortoise, who is humble. The hare challenges the tortoise to a race, which he accepts. At the race, the hare gets way ahead of the tortoise who is going slow, but steady. He is so far ahead, that he decides to take a nap. However, by the time he wakes up, the tortoise is almost to the finish line. The tortoise wins the race, and the hare learns a lesson in humility.

Who benefits from reading this book?

This book is a simple read for beginning readers. They would benefit from reading this book. It also teaches a good lesson about being humble, and not boasting. Anyone who needs to learn that lesson would also benefit from reading this book as well.

What problems/conflicts could this book possibly create?

This book shouldn't cause any problems at all. It's one of those well known stories that everyone should grow up knowing. It is where the famous phrase, "slow but steady wins the race" comes from.

My Reaction:

I really like this story. It's one that I grew up hearing. I like the lesson it teaches about not boasting. I think that's really important. I also think it's a good one for beginning readers to to read because it is very simple. It's an okay book, for a beginner.

Pancakes, Pancakes!

Pancakes, Pancakes!
By Eric Carle
Publisher/Date: Scholastic 1990
# of Pages: 28
Reading Level: 3rd Grade
Genre: Picture book

Summary:

This story is about a boy named Jack who wakes up and wants to eat a big pancake for breakfast. However, before he can eat it, he needs to get all the ingredients: flour, eggs, milk, and butter. His mother teaches him what he needs to do to make the pancake. He mixes the ingredients and cooks it. Then he's able to finally eat it!

Who benefits from reading this book?

This is another great book by Eric Carle. Anyone who is a fan of his other books will benefit from reading this book. I think it also teaches kids about making food. It teaches them that food isn't just made, first you have to get a lot of different ingredients, mix them together just right, then cook it to make a pancake.

What problems/conflicts could this book possibly create?

I don't think this book could create any problems. It shows an example of a kid who is sent to do things to help himself have a pancake for breakfast. I don't think this is a problematic book at all.

My Reaction:

While this isn't my favorite book by Eric Carle, I still enjoyed it. I read this one to my nephew as well, and I think he liked it. It was a good opportunity for us to discuss the different foods and cooking utensils. There is one page that lists all the ingredients and utensils along with a picture of all of them, and as I listed them, he was able to point to them. So it was definitely fun to read to him, but it was incredibly entertaining as a story.

Arthur's First Sleepover

Arthur's First Sleepover
By Marc Brown
Publisher/Date: The Trumpet Club Inc. 1995
# of Pages: 30
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Genre: Fiction/Picture Book

Summary:

This is the story of Arthur Read's first sleepover. He's very excited to have his friends, Buster and the Brain, over to sleep outside in a tent. At first, Buster's mom doesn't want him to go, but after a phone call with Arthur's mom, she agrees to let him come. When they come to his house, Arthur's sister, DW, is talking about Aliens. She thinks the boys might see some at their sleepover. The boys make signs welcoming any aliens, then they unpack their treats, baseball cards, and blankets. Arthur's parents order them a pizza, and later Arthur's dad comes to tell them it's time to go to sleep. That's when they play cards when suddenly they see flashing lights and think it's aliens. They get scared and run, messing up their tent. Then they realize that it was just DW tricking them with a flashlight. The boys decide to trick DW by putting a fake alien by her window. She screams, waking everyone up, but when the parents go and check on the boys, they are sound "asleep".

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think anyone would like to read this book. It's a picture book, and it's fairly easy to read, so elementary school students would benefit from reading this book. I think boys with younger sisters will also be able to relate to this story.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially cause?

This book is just a harmless story about a sleepover. I don't think it would cause any sort of problems. I guess it could be argued that it teaches kids that teasing siblings is ok, but I don't think it could cause problems.

My Reaction:

I have always loved Arthur books ever since I was young. I liked going back and reading this again. I think Arthur books are very entertaining, and I really like the plot lines. I think it's funny the things that Arthur and DW do. Their relationship makes me laugh. I like the illustrations as well. I like how they take up the whole page and go to the very edge of the page. I really liked this book, and I was able to read it to my nephew, and he enjoyed it as well.

The Wolf Who Cried Boy

The Wolf Who Cried Boy
By Jeffrey Dinardo
Publisher/Date: Scholastic 1989
# of Pages:29
Reading Level: 2nd Grade
Genre: Fiction/Picture Book

Summary:

This is a play off of the original well-known story "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Only instead it is a wolf who cries boy. The wolf is a mischievous trickster. One day he decides to stir things up a bit by playing a trick on Mrs. Pig, Mr. Cat, and Mr. Turtle. He cries for help saying that a little boy is after him, and they all come running to help him only to find he has fooled them. They were angry, but went back to their shops. Then the wolf decides to play the trick again. So he cries help saying a little boy is after him. The three come running again to help only to find that they have been fooled again. They are angry again, and the leave the wolf. The wolf is tired and decides to take a nap. While he is sleeping a boy pops up out of the bushes and scares the wolf. The wolf yells for help, but nobody comes. The wolf is so scared he runs all the way home to hid under his bed. When he is gone, from out of the boy is Mrs. Pig, Mr. Turtle, and Mr. Cat. They pretended to be the boy to teach the wolf a lesson, and they went back to their shops.

Who benefits from reading this book?

This book is a fun story that teaches a good lesson. Those who need to learn their lesson that lying is not good would benefit from reading this book. However, it is also entertaining to anyone, even if they don't learn a lesson from it.

What conflicts/problems could this book possibly cause?

I don't know if this book could cause any problems. To me it seems like a harmless childrens story that has a good twist off of the original. The wolf learns his lesson in the end, so I don't think he could be considered a bad example.

My Reaction:

I like this book. I think it's a clever spin off of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." I think that it teaches a good lesson about the importance of telling the truth always. I also thought the illustrations were well done. The animals that the story is about are cute.

The Glow in the Dark Night Sky Book

The Glow-in-the-Dark Night Sky Book
By Clint Hatchett
Publisher/Date:Random House
# of Pages: 19
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Genre: Scientific

Summary:

This book is all about the night sky. It teaches about the different constellations that can be found at different times of the year. It's fun because the illustrations glow. So when you turn the lights off it's just like looking at the night sky. At the beginning it tells you how to use the book if you want to see the real constellations outside. At the end, it gives information about each constellation and the name.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

Anyone who is interested in learning more about astronomy and the different constellations would enjoy reading this book. It would also be beneficial for students learning about astronomy in class to use.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially cause?

I can't see there being any sort of problem arising from reading this book. It is strictly an educational book about the stars.

My Reaction:

There aren't very many words in the book, so if someone is a beginning reader, they will like this book. I personally am not very interested in the different constellations, so this book wasn't very interesting to me. However, I think it's a very fun book for younger kids who want to learn more about the stars. I like the fact that the stars glow in the dark so that you can see what the different constellations actually look like.

Can it Rain Cats and Dogs?

Can it Rain Cats and Dogs?
By Melvin and Gilda Berger
Publisher/Date: Scholastic 1999
# of Pages: 47
Reading level: 3rd Grade
Genre: Scientific

Summary:

This book is all about different kinds of weather. It is in the format of questions and answers which is kind of fun. Some of the topics included are: what makes weather, sun, air, wind, temperature, global warming, rain, snow, hail, humidity, clouds, lightening, thunder, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, and how meteorologists predict the weather. It's full of tons of information presented in a fun way with dramatic illustrations that kids should find interesting.

Who benefits from reading this book?

Those who are curious about all the different kinds of weather patterns would benefit from reading this book. It contains fun facts such as the coldest place on earth, the most destructive volcanic eruption, and the person who has been struck by lightening the most. Anyone who enjoys learning about the Earth's atmosphere and different weather patterns will like this book. Also, it could be used as a resource for a science project or something like that.

What conflicts/problems could this book possibly create?

I don't see how an educational book about the weather such as this could cause any problems. It's stating basic facts that can't be denied or rebutted.

My Reaction:

I liked the format in which the information was presented. In questions and answers to those question. I think a lot of the questions are ones that kids actually have and ask. It's very educational, and I think the illustrations really add to the information that the authors are trying to get across. The diagrams really helped me to understand the wind patterns of earth better. I think older kids curious about the weather will enjoy this book.

The Story of The Moon Landing

The Story of the Moon Landing
By R. Conrad Stein
Publisher/Date:Childrens Press 1992
# of Pages: 31
Reading Level: 5th Grade
Genre: Historical

Summary:

This book is all about the first moon landing. It begins by telling about the so called "space age". The Soviet Union and the U.S. were in a race of sorts to see who could do things first in space. The Soviet Union were the first to send up big space probes to touch the moon and to take pictures. They also sent the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin. America's John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. Other people were sent into space, but on January 27 1967, the Apollo space capsule caught fire and killed three astronauts. It talks about the other Apollo missions til finally the Apollo 11 mission. It was the first mission that sent astronauts to walk on the moon. Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on its surface. There is where he said the famous well-known line, "one small step for man, one big leap for mankind." He and his fellow astronaut collected moon rocks and samples to bring back to earth, took some pictures, placed a plaque on it, and also an American flag. People all over the world saw or listened to the whole thing live on earth. When they came home they were welcomed like heroes. The book also talks about other missions including the disastrous Apollo 13 mission, and ends saying that at some point soon, scientists will have sent a man to walk on Mars.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

This is a book full of information. Anyone who wants to learn more about the first moon landing and the journey that got us there would benefit from reading this book. I think it's especially good for those who weren't alive in 1969 when this even took place. It's very informative and could even be used as a source for a research paper or project.

What problems/conflicts could this book possibly create?

I don't know of any problems that could come about from reading this book about Apollo 11. I suppose some people think that the whole thing was a hoax and choose not to believe the story, but other than that there are no problems.

My Reaction:

At first, I wasn't very excited to read this book because I thought it would just be a boring informational book. However, I found myself rather intrigued by it. It has been a while since I learned about the first moon landing, and it was cool to refresh my memory. It made me want to watch the movie, Apollo 13. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I think it would be a good one to have in a classroom.

Fangs

Fangs!
Written By Heather Dakota And Tammi Salzano
Publisher/Date: Tangerine Press 2007
# of Pages: 96
Reading Level: 5th Grade
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary:

This book is all about creatures that have fangs. It's split into three different sections: reptiles, mammals, and bugs. Each page contains the name of the creature, three facts about the it and its fangs, the size, number, color, food, and where it's found, along with a real photograph of the creature. It's a very educational book, and people can learn a lot just from reading a few short pages from it.

Who Benefits from reading this book?

I think anyone could learn and benefit from this book. I think young boys who are generally interested in reptiles, bugs, and fanged creatures would be especially interested in this book. It not only talks about their fangs, but other fun facts too such as the speed at which the fastest lizard can run. So anybody who wants to learn more about a lot of different animals would also benefit from reading this book.

What conflicts/problems could this book possibly create?

I don't know if this book could cause any conflicts. If any, the pictures may be scary to some little kids. I find the ones with the bugs especially gross and scary looking. Other than that, it's just a very educational book that a person could learn a lot from.

My Reaction:

I found this book very informational, and also very intriguing. I learned a lot more than just about fangs from reading this book. It contains so many different animals and bugs, some of which I had never heard of before. I like how it ties them all together with their characteristic of having fangs, but other than that, they are very diverse. For example, I never knew that a snake could be similar to a tiger. I also liked how they included many other facts along with their fangs on the pages. The pictures were also very cool because they were real photos, and you could get a real picture of what the pages were telling you about the specific animal.

Biggest, Strongest, Fastest

Biggest, Strongest, Fastest
By Steve Jenkins
Publisher/Date:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 1995
# of Pages:32
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary:

This book is all about the biggest, smallest, strongest, longest, fastest, slowest, lightest, heaviest, and tallest. Each page contains an animal that is the "est", as well as a fact about their "est" quality. For example, the snail page has a picture of a snail, a sentence saying that it is the slowest, and in smaller print it tells how far a snail can travel in a minute. The last page contains a more detailed chart of the animal, it's record, size, diet, and range.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think that anyone who would like to learn more about animals would benefit from reading this book. It's a book that is easy to read from, and fun to learn from. It's interesting to see the pictures with the animals and their records.

What problems/conflicts could this book possibly create?

I don't think this book could create any kind of problems. It's just a book about different animals and interesting facts about them.

My Reaction:

I thought this was a cool book. I like it when books compare different things in a unique way like this. I liked how in the corner where it has an extension of the record fact, it also has a silhouette of the animal compared to a human or a human body part. I really liked that because it helps you really see just how big, small, long, or tall an animal really is.

Why Do Horses Neigh?

Why Do Horses Neigh?
By Joan Holub
Publisher/Date: Puffin Books 2003
# of Pages: 48
Reading Level: level 3
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary:

This book is all about horses. Any basic information you would want to know about horses, it's in this book. Everything from horse types to how horses sleep, to how to tell a horses age or how to groom your horse is found in this book. It includes a mixture of illustrated pictures, and real photographs.

Who benefits from reading this book?

This book is a "Puffin easy-to-read" book. I think younger readers will benefit from reading this book as well as those who want to know more information about horses. Although it's an easy read, a lot of information is found within its pages.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially cause?

I can't see any problems with this book. All it is is an informational book about horses.

My Reaction:

I thought this book was well done. It was definitely an easy read, but I also learned a lot about horses that I didn't know before. I think anyone who has an interest in horses will definitely find this book interesting and worth the read.

Honey Bunny Funnybunny

Honey Bunny Funnybunny
By Marilyn Sadler
Publisher/Date: Random House 1997
# of Pages:34
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Genre: Children's fiction picture book

Summary:

Honey Bunny Funnybunny has an older brother named PJ. He teases her constantly by freezing her blanket, scaring her at night, mixing her paints, pulling off her covers, pouring orange juice in her cereal, tying knots in her dress sleeves, switching the heads of her dolls, smashing carrots on her head, and painting her face while she's sleeping. She tells her parents how much he's always teasing her, and they scold him. After that, Honey Bunny doesn't get teased anymore. However, this makes her sad and when she wakes up one morning she runs to her mother and says, "PJ doesn't love me anymore". Then she looks in the mirror and finds that he does because he has painted her face again! The story ends with them hugging.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

This book is for young readers just beginning to read. In fact it is classified as a "beginner book". It's an easy, fun book to read accompanied by fun illustrations. I think young beginning readers would benefit from reading this book.

What problems/conflicts could this book possibly create?

After reading this book, children might think it's okay to tease their siblings because it gives the message that because PJ painted Honey Bunny's face, he loved her. However, there are other, better ways to show your love for your siblings. But, I think the message could also be interpreted as you should love your siblings even if they tease you.

My Reaction:

This wasn't my favorite book to read honestly. My nephew really likes it though. I think it might be because of the illustrations which are done very well. I personally thought it was silly. However, I also think it's a good book for beginning readers. It's very easy, but it also has a story line that they can follow.

Actual Size

Actual Size
By Steve Jenkins
Publisher/Date:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2004
# of Pages: 32
Reading Level: K-4
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary:

This book is a giant picture book full of information. Each page has a picture of an animal, or part of an animal that is actual size. For example, on the cover it shows the actual size of a gorilla's hand. One of the pages shows the actual size of a crocodile's head with a triple fold out. It also contains animals such as a dwarf goby, a worm, a goliath bird eater tarantula, a giant squid, and a tiger. The pictures are fun to look at and compare to the size of yourself.

Who benefits from reading this book?

I think anyone can enjoy learning from this book. However, it's especially designed to benefit young readers with an interest in the size of animals. I read it to my four year-old nephew, and he enjoyed it just as much as I do.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially cause?

I can't see there being any reason for a conflict to arise from reading this book. It's simply educational.

My Reaction:

I think this is a very fun book to read. It's one that is especially good for reading out loud to a child to stimulate conversation and learning. I read it to my nephew who is 4. It was fun to see him compare himself to the pictures. On the one with the gorilla hand, we both put our hands inside, and he awed at how big it was. On the picture with the giant squid's eye, he put his eye up to it and asked, "is mine that big?". On the picture with the huge crocodile head, he exclaimed, "grandma's arm could fit in it's mouth!". It was cute to see him do this with every picture. I think this is a really cool book that kids will find fun as well as informational.

Stargirl

Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli
Publisher/Date: Dell Laurel-Leaf 2000
# of Pages: 186
Reading Level: 5th-10th Grade
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: Stargirl is the new girl at Mica High School. She is very different from other people. She does unique things like carry around her pet rat, sing with her ukulele to kids in the cafeteria, wear interesting clothes, cheer for the opposing team, give strangers cards, and dance in the rain. She doesn't seem to care what others think of her. At first, everyone at school thinks she is interesting and they all want to get to know her. She is asked to join the cheerleading squad. However, after time, people begin to despise her. Leo, the narrator, really likes her. After Stargirl gives him a Valentine that says, "I love you", they become a couple. She shows him how to love others, an enchanted place, and inspires him with her uniqueness. At school however, she is being ignored. Nobody wants to be her friend except for Dori. Leo is upset because he starts to be ignored too, so he asks Stargirl why she can't just be like everyone else? The next day she comes to school a new person. All the things that make her unique disappear. Leo is ecstatic. However, people still ignore her. Even when she wins first place in her speech competition, nobody gives her any attention. So she goes back to her old ways. Leo isn't too happy about that. And he doesn't ask her to the ball. She goes anyway, dazzling everyone with the bunny hop. And the next day she is gone. She moves away without saying goodbye to Leo, or to anybody.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

Anyone who has experienced high school could definitely benefit from reading this book. They can relate the treatment of Stargirl by the other classmates. Anyone who needs to also learn the importance of individuality and acceptance would also benefit from reading this book as well.

What conflicts/problems could this book create?

This book deals a lot with acceptance of uniqueness. The way that the other students treat Stargirl, especially in her interview on "Hot Seat" is completely unacceptable. It's really too bad that the students shun Stargirl for being different. I also think it's a problem that her own boyfriend, Leo, couldn't accept her for who she was. He should just love her for who she is, not for what others think about her.

My Reaction:

I am not a fan of this book. I really liked it until the end. I thought it was awful that Leo couldn't accept Stargirl for who she was, and the problem was never resolved. He didn't even get so say goodbye to her. She left without even telling him she was leaving. I didn't like how the whole school turned on her either. I guess at the end most of them realized how special she was, and they honored her. However, I wish it would have happened while Stargirl was still around. I felt so bad for her. All she was trying to do was be herself, and help others.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher/Date: Scholastic Press 2008
# of Pages: 374
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction

Summary:

This is a story about a girl named Katniss living with her sister, Prim, and her widowed mother in District 12. There are 13 Districts, but District 13 got destroyed for rebelling against the capital. Once a year the capital holds what is called The Hunger Games. They are a reminder of the power the capital has over the Districts so that another rebellion doesn't happen. The story begins on the day of the drawing for The Hunger Games. Prim is scared that she will be drawn, but Katniss isn't too worried about her. She's more worried about her friend, Gale, who has a much bigger chance of his name being drawn. When the drawing takes place, Prim's name is drawn for the girl, but Katniss volunteers to take her place. The boy that is drawn is a boy named Peeta who once gave Katniss some bread when she was starving for some food. They become the two representatives from District 12. There are two drawn from each District. They go to the Capital where they are treated very well. They are made to look attractive so that they can get people to sponsor them in the Games. They have to show their special talents. Katniss is a very good archer. They also are subject to interviews. During Peeta's interview it is made known that he is in love with Katniss. She is upset because she thinks he is only doing this to get sponsored. However, she goes along with the two lovers act. Once the games begin, all the representatives/tributes are put into the arena. Their main objective is to kill everyone else, and to be the last one standing. If they win, they get fame and fortune for them and their families. Most of the tributes go on their own except for a group called the Careers. They pact together to hunt down the others. Peeta joins them. The tributes get killed off one by one. At one point Katniss drops a nest of killer wasps on the Careers. They get stung, including Peeta, but he also saves her life. She is very confused, but she kills one of the Careers herself. She teams up with a small girl named Rue. They make a plan to steal the supplies from the Careers. Katniss finds a way to blow up their supplies, but she damages her hearing, and Rue gets killed by another tribute. This is really hard on her, and she kills Rue's killer with the bow and arrow she has stolen. Then the announcement is made that if two tributes from the same District are left alive at the end, then both of them can win. Katniss decides she should go find Peeta. She finds him barely alive, and she nurses him back to health all the while pretending to be in love with him for the camera. She is rewarded with medicine and food by her sponsors when she plays her part well enough. Finally, there are only three of them left. The Gamemakers force them to come to the lake to battle it out, and they send strange dog-like animals too. The dogs attack and kill the last tribute which leaves Peeta and Katniss. They then change the rules so that they have to kill each other, but both refuse and are about to kill themselves when they are stopped, and are taken back to the Capital, both as winners. However, the Capital is angry that they outsmarted them, but Katniss and Peeta are still counted as the winners. Peeta finds out that Katniss was only pretending to be in love with him, and he is sad because he wasn't pretending. The story ends with them arriving back at District 12 to be continued...

Who would benefit from reading this book?

Young adult readers would enjoy this book. I don't know that it would be appropriate for young children under 10 to read. It's definitely for a more mature audience. I even think adults would benefit as well. I found it very enjoyable, and the vocabulary wasn't too simple for me to enjoy.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially cause?

This book is contains very intense elements. It is very dramatic with the people starving, and being abused by their government. Also in the Games, there is a lot of killing and violence. This book would not be good for young readers.

My Reaction:

I was a bit surprised by the story line. I had no idea it was going to be so intense and violent. However, I liked the story a lot. It was very intriguing and different. It was hard to put the book down because the story was so interesting, I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I really liked the romantic part of the story. I found myself falling for Peeta. I think it was very well written, even though I don't particularly enjoy when it's written in present tense. I can't wait until I can read the sequel!

How to Eat Fried Worms

How to Eat Fried Worms
Author: Thomas Rockwell
Publisher/Date:Bantum Doubleday Dell Books 1988
# Pages: 115
Reading Level: 3rd Grade
Genre: Fiction/Comedy

Summary:

This story begins with a bet. Alan bets Billy 50 dollars that he couldn't eat 15 worms in 15 days. He gets the first few down without a problem as long as he drowns them in ketchup, mustard, and other dressings. Alan and Joe get apprehensive, and they try a few things to trick Billy to try to make him lost the bet. For example, they glue two night crawlers together to gross him out, they make him think that the worms will make him sick, they pretend to write a note from his doctor saying that the worms can kill him, they take him to a baseball game all day to try to make him forget to eat a worm that day, and they make a fake worm out of beans. However, none of their tactics work and Billy does eat 15 worms in 15 days, winning the bet.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think this book would be especially appealing to young boys. The four main characters are boys who do gross, boyish things like bet each other to eat worms. It's an easy, fast read that anyone can enjoy if they have a strong stomach.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially create?

The only problem I could see this book potentially creating is the fact that the boy eats big fat worms. It might make kids think they can eat them if they wanted to. Other than that, I don't think this book would cause any problems.

My Reaction:

I wanted to read this book because of the title. It intrigued me to think of eating fried worms. Reading it totally grossed me out, and I never want to see a night crawler again. I think this book would be most enjoyed by young boys who find bugs and worms cool.

My Brother Made Me Do It

My Brother Made Me Do It
Author: Peg Kehret
Publisher/Date:Pocket Books 2000
# Pages:144
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Genre: Fiction

Summary:

The story is about an 11 year old girl named Julie. The story is written in the format of letters she writes to her 89 year old pen pal. The first few letters you learn a bit about Julie and her problems with her little brother, Frankie. He often gets her into trouble by convincing her to do crazy things. For example, at a church pancake throwing contest, he convinces her to freeze the pancakes with him so that they will win the contest. They get into trouble a couple of times, and Julie always complains about the way she gets sucked into following his crazy ideas. Before long, Julie begins to feel pain and stiffness in all her joints. She goes to the doctor to have some tests done, and they find that she has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). She's very upset about this, and she doesn't want to tell her friends about it. She deals with it though, but complains about the pain, the stiffness, the medication, and the fact that she can't roller skate. She runs for students council, and wins. Her friend is in charge of setting up the school's talent show, and she and Julie prepare a piano duet to play for it. Her other friend sets up a school fund raiser. It is a four mile run that all the students may participate in, and they are to get sponsors. Julie is really worried about this because she is worried she will be the only one in the whole school who can't run because of her JRA. She is able to get a doctors note to excuse her from the run, but she really wants to support her friend and her school. When the talent show comes around, her friend gets sick, so they aren't able to do their duet. Her other friend has the idea for Julie to do a talent with her brother. They have both been memorizing the headings of the encyclopedia, and they can recite them all together. They both end up winning first place, and get the chance to go to the district talent show to represent their school. Just days before the big race fund raiser, Julie hurts her ankle. She has to be on crutches which are very hard for her to use with her JRA. She decides that she will just use the doctor's note and not try to race. However, the day of the race, her brother, Frankie, tells her that she must try. She decides to do so, even if she can't finish the race. She is the last student, struggling to keep going on her crutches. When she feels like she can't go any farther, Frankie comes back to see her cross the finish line. Her friends come to support her to make it easier for her to walk, and a lot of other students come to cheer her on. She is able to finish the race with her brother and her friends by her side. The old woman she is writing to dies shortly after, so Julie's letters come to an end. However, at the end, her JRA is doing much better, and she is able to roller skate again.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think this book would be especially good for kids who have chronic diseases such as JRA. They would be able to identify with the main character, Julie, and be inspired by what she is able to accomplish even with her disease. I think it could also be beneficial for those who have problems with their siblings. They can also identify with Julie and Frankie's relationship and see how even though they have their quarrels, in the end her little brother is able to support her and give her strength in overcoming a specific trial.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially cause?

I don't see this book causing any problems. It is an inspiring book about a girl who deals with JRA. The only thing that might be a problem is the pranks that Frankie gets Julie to participate in. Kids may want to try some of the things they do, but I think this is unlikely because Julie and Frankie always get caught and punished.

My Reaction:

I first read this book when I was around Julie's age. I began reading it because I found the title intriguing, and I thought it was going to be humorous. However, it turned out to be a pleasantly surprising story. I found it very inspiring, and I think I cried the first time. My older sister had dermatomyositis as a child, so I felt like I could relate somewhat to what Julie was going through. When I read it again, I liked it just as much. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Holes

Holes
Louis Sachar
Publisher/Date:Yearling Books 2002
Reading Level: ages 9-12
# of Pages: 240
Genre: Fiction

Summary:

Stanley Yelnats is falsely accused of stealing a pair of shoes. He is sent to Camp Green Lake where troubled boys go to dig holes to "build character". What they really doing however, is digging for buried treasure left by the famous outlaw Kate Barlow. She lived in the town of Green Lake years before, and she fell in love and kissed Sam the onion picker who was a black man. He was killed for breaking the law, and Kate got her revenge by killing the sheriff, and she became the most feared outlaw in Texas. She later robbed Stanley's great-grandfather whose treasure is the treasure she buried and the boys are digging to find. The Warden at Camp Green Lake tells the boys that if they find anything interesting while digging, they are to show it to Mr. Sir or Mr. Pendanski. One day Stanley finds an old lipstick tube, but he has to give it to X-Ray, another boy in the group. X-Ray gets the day off, but the Warden makes the other boys dig and dig in his hole. This is when Stanley realizes that they aren't just there to build character, they are looking for something, but he never tells them where the lipstick tube really came from. Zero, another boy from the group, and Stanley become friends as Stanley teaches him to read, and Zero digs part of Stanley's daily hole. The other boys don't like it when Zero digs part of Stanley's hole, and one day they have a big fight. Zero ends up running away from Camp Green Lake, which is in the middle of a barren desert, so all the camp directors think that he is dead. Because Zero is a ward of the state, they are able to almost completely delete him from the system. Awhile later, Stanley decides to go looking for Zero, and attempts to drive the water truck to find him. He drives into a hole, and he begins running into the nothingness. He finds Zero in an old boat. He has been living off of some old bottled peaches found in the boat (which were bottled by Kate Barlow, and the boat was Sam's boat) and Stanley wants to take him to "God's thumb" which is a mountain close by. They hike up the mountain, Zero is very sick, but at the top they find water and onions. They stay there til Zero feels better, living off of the onions and the water source there. They decided to try to run back home, but first get supplies from camp, and Stanley wants to try to find treasure where he really found the lipstick tube. They go back to camp, wait til dark, and start digging. They find a chest, but get caught by the Warden, Mr. Sir, and Mr. Pendanski. They find that they have been standing in a nest of yellow spotted lizards, so nobody wants to approach them. The next morning, Stanley's lawyer comes to free Stanley, and they find that the chest belonged to his great-grandfather. Stanley and Zero get to leave, Camp Green Lake is closed down and reopened as a girls camp, Stanley and Zero become rich, Zero finds his mother, and the curse on Stanley's family is lifted because he carried Zero up a mountain and sang while he drank some water.

Who benefits from reading this book?

Those who like reading books that involve the unfurling of mysteries would really enjoy this book. I think this is a great book for kids, especially those in the preteen stage. It teaches some good lessons, and I think a lot of kids can really relate to the character, Stanley. However, this book is just a fun book to read, and anyone would benefit from reading it.

What problems/conflicts could this book potentially cause?

There could be some elements of the book that might scare young kids. For example the Warden scratches Mr. Sir with poisonous nail polish on. Also, Kate Barlow murders people, and she gets bit by a yellow spotted lizard which kills her. Also, there are instances of bullying at Camp Green Lake. The boys get into a couple fights, and Mr. Pendanski really belittles Zero. He doesn't set a very good example. Other than that, there aren't a lot of things that would cause much problems.

My Reaction:

Holes is one of my all time favorite books. The first time I read it, I was seven years old. Each time I read it I enjoy how the mystery unfolds. There are so many factors involved, and really three stories in one book. I love how they all tie in together at the end of the book. I like how there are three different stories, and the author switches between them throughout the book. It's very fun for me to read, and I think it's one that every kid would enjoy reading.

The Princess and the Pea

The Princess and the Pea

Hans Christian Andersen

Source/Date: HCA Gilead 2007

Reading Level: 1st Grade

Genre: Fairy Tale

Summary:

This tale is about a Prince who is looking for a princess to marry. He searches everywhere and finds many young ladies, but doesn't know which ones are really princesses or which are only pretending. He always found that there was something not quite right about the girls, so he came home very sad. One stormy night they had a knock at their gate and there was a girl. She claimed to be a princess, but the kind and queen decided to give her a test to see if she really was a princess or not. The queen put a small pea underneath 20 mattresses, and she told the girl to sleep there. In the morning they asked her how she had slept. Her response was that it had been awful because she had felt something in her mattress. They decided that nobody but a princess could be so sensitive, so the prince took the girl and married her.

Who would benefit from reading this story?

Anyone who enjoys fairy tales about royalty would enjoy reading this story. It is a good one for kids when compared to a lot of the other fairy tales that contain violence. This tale includes no violence at all, so those who like fairy tales without any killing or dying in it will benefit from reading this story.

What conflicts/problems would this book potentially cause?

I don't see how there could be any problems caused from reading this story.

My Reaction:

I really liked this story. I'm not sure why because it is quite short. It may be the shortest fairy tale I read, but I still found it interesting. I had never read it before, but I had heard people mention it when they speak of spoiled little girls.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Peter Christen Asbjornsen
Source/Date: Surlalune Fairy Tales 2007
Reading Level: 2nd Grade
Genre: Fairy Tale

Summary:

Three goats are going to go up the mountain to make themselves fat when they come to a bridge with a troll underneath it. The youngest goat crosses the bridge first. The troll hears him crossing the bridge and is about to gobble him up when the goat tells him that another, bigger goat is on it's way across the bridge, and that he should wait to eat the bigger goat. So the troll lets him pass and waits for the second billy goat gruff to come across the bridge. When he does, the troll is about to gobble him up when he tells him that another, even bigger goat is on it's way across the bridge, and that he should wait to eat the bigger goat. So the troll let him pass, and he waited for the bigger goat to come across the bridge. When he comes along, the troll wants to gobble him up. When he tries to, the big billy goat gruff pokes out his eyes and crushes his bones. Then all the billy-goats gruff were able to get fat and live happily ever after.

Who would benefit from reading this story?

Once again, anybody who enjoys a good fairy tale with talking animals and imaginary creatures would definitely benefit from reading this tale. I think this is another classic tale that young children should grow up hearing.

What conflicts/problems would this book potentially cause?

I don't know that this story would cause any problems. It does contain some violence when the goat kills the troll, but it is an example of when "good" triumphs over "evil".

My Reaction:

This is one of those classic fairy tales that every child knows. I liked it, and I would recommend it to anyone. It's an obvious fairy tale because the animals speak. It allows you to really get into the fairy tale mood when things that imaginary take place. I enjoyed this fairy tale.

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood
Charles Perrault
Source: Kidoons Network
Reading Level: 2nd Grade
Genre: Fairy Tale

Summary:

A pretty young girl named Little Red is told by her mother to bring goodies to her sick grandmother. On her way, she meets a wolf in the forest. The wolf asks her if where her grandmother lives. Little Red tells her, and the wolf tells her he's going to visit her grandmother too. He takes a shortcut and gets there before Little Red. He tricks the grandmother into thinking he is Little Red, so she lets him come in. He eats the grandmother and pretends to be her for when Little Red gets there. When Little Red arrives, the wolf pretends to be the grandmother, and Little Red comments on his big features thinking he is her grandmother. When she says, "grandmother! what big teeth you have!" the wolf replies, "all the better to eat you with!" and he gobbles her up as well.

Who Benefits from reading this story?

Anybody who enjoys reading fairy tales would benefit from reading this book. This particular version of Little Red Riding Hood doesn't end very happily though, so maybe young kids wouldn't enjoy the ending very much.

What conflicts/problems would this book potentially cause?

I don't find any problems with this story, but young readers may not enjoy the ending very much. Usually kids like it when good prevails over evil, but in this story, evil gobbles up the innocent good. Perhaps this story should only be read to or read by older readers.

My Reaction:

This wasn't my favorite version of Little Red Riding Hood. I prefer the version where the woodcutter comes to save Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. However, I think this could teach the valuable lesson that kids shouldn't talk to strangers.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk
Joseph Jacobs
Source/Date: Authorama 2003
Page #: 2
Reading Level: 1st Grade
Genre: Fairy Tale

Summary:

The story begins with Jack and his mother and their milk cow. Jack's mother tells him to go into town to trade their cow for some money so they can have food on the table. When Jack takes the cow into town, he meets an old man and trades him the cow for some magic beans. When Jack goes home his mother is upset that he has traded the cow for what she thought to be worthless beans. The next day Jack woke up to find a giant beanstalk outside of his window where his mother had thrown the beans the night before. Jack decides to climb up the beanstalk. At the top he finds a house and a very tall woman. He asks her for some food and she brings him in to feed him. Then her husband, a hungry ogre comes home and the woman hides Jack from him. The ogre could smell Jack, but his wife told him not to worry about it. She then told Jack to wait until her husband was sleeping before he left. When the ogre was sleeping Jack left and took one of his bags of gold with him. He and his mother were able to live off of the gold for some time. However, when the gold is depleted, Jack decides to climb back up the beanstalk. When he gets to the top he asks the tall woman again for something to eat. She again brings him in to feed him when her husband comes home. Jack hides again from the ogre. He again thinks he smells the boy, but he eats his breakfast and falls asleep. This time when Jack goes to escape he takes a chicken that lays golden eggs from the ogre. As he's leaving the chicken cackles, waking the ogre up, but Jack is able to escape without being caught. Some days later, Jack decides to go back up the beanstalk to try his luck. Instead of going right up to the house, he waits til the wife comes out, and he sneaks into the house to the copper. The ogre comes home and says he smells the blood of an English man. He and his wife look for Jack, but they don't find him hiding in the copper. This time when the ogre falls asleep, Jack escapes and takes with him the ogre's magic harp. As he's leaving the harp wakes up the ogre. The ogre chases him down the beanstalk, but Jack gets to the bottom first. When he does Jack gets an ax to chop down the beanstalk. The ogre falls and breaks his crown, Jack and his mother become rich, and Jack marries a princess.

Who would benefit from reading this story?

Again, anyone who enjoys fairy tales would benefit from this story. I think it is a classic one that everyone should include in their collection of fairy tales. It is mild enough that young children would enjoy this particular fairy tale.

What conflicts/problems would this book potentially cause?

One problem this story could cause is the bad example of Jack. Young kids might think that it is alright to steal nice things because Jack did it, and he got away with it.

My Reaction:

I always enjoyed reading this story when I was younger. I had forgotten that Jack cut down the beanstalk at the end and kills the ogre, so reading it again was a fun refresher. I think this is one of those classic fairy tales that all children would have a good time reading.

Little Snow White

Little Snow White
The Brothers Grimm
Source/Date: National Geographic 1999
Page #: 2
Reading Level: 4th Grade
Genre: Fairy Tale
Summary:

This fairy tale begins with a Queen who wishes for a daughter who was white as snow, black as ebony, and red as blood. She gets her wish and a beautiful baby girl is born. They named her Snow White. However, the Queen dies soon after she is born leaving the girl to be raised by her father and her haughty step-mother. She would sit in front of her mirror and ask it who was the fairest in the land. It would always reassure her that it was she who was the most beautiful. However, Snow White grows and becomes more and more beautiful until one day the proud Queen asks the mirror who is the fairest in the land, and she gets the answer that it is in fact Snow White. The Queen is angry and she hires a hunter to kill Little Snow White and bring her heart to her. When the hunter goes to kill Snow White, she pleads with him not to, so he spares her. He then takes the heart of a bear to the Queen and she eats it, thinking she has eaten the heart of Snow White. Meanwhile, Snow White wanders in the forest until she finds the cottage of 7 dwarfs. They come home to find her sleeping in their beds. They let her stay with them if she agrees to cook and clean for them. Meanwhile, the Queen again asks her mirror who is the fairest in the land. The mirror tells her that it is Snow White and tells her where she is. The evil Queen is angry and goes to the cottage three times while the dwarfs are gone to try to kill Snow White. On the final try, she gets Snow White to eat a poison apple and she falls down dead. The dwarfs come home to find her dead and they can't bury her. So they put her in a coffin of glass. A prince comes along and takes Snow White with him because she is so beautiful. He stumbled while carrying her, and the piece of apple came out of Snow White's throat. She woke up and married the prince. Her evil step-mother was then forced to put on hot shoes and dance until she died.

Who Would Benefit from Reading This?

I think anyone who enjoys fairy tales would benefit from reading this. This is one tale that I think children will enjoy. Those who like happily ever after endings would appreciate this story because in the end, everything works out okay. Snow White gets her prince, and the evil Queen gets her justice.

What conflicts or problems could this story potentially cause?

I don't see any problems with this particular fairy tale. Compared to some of the other Grimm fairy tales, this one is fairly mild. The one thing that might be disturbing for young children is the fact that the evil Queen was made to dance in hot shoes until she died.

My Reaction:

I enjoyed this fairy tale very much. I liked comparing it to the Disney version that I grew up with. I found with this one there weren't many differences. The biggest one was the fact that the Queen came to the cottage three times disguised to try to kill Snow White. I was a bit frustrated with that part of the story though. I wanted Snow White be smarter. It was frustrating that she fell for the Queen's tricks three times. I wanted her to learn her lesson after the first time.