Falling Up

Falling Up
By Shel Silverstein
Publisher/Date: HarperCollins 1996
# of pages: 184
Reading Level: ages 8-12
Genre: Poetry


Summary:

This is one of the compilations of Shel Silverstein's poetry. all of the poems in this book are his, and all the pictures inside are his artwork as well. This book contains a variety of poems. some are funny, some are more serious, some teach a lesson, some are about animals, some are long, some are short, some don't make much sense at all. My favorites include: Snowball, Scale, Noise Day, Furniture Bash, Screamin' Millie, Spoiled Brat, Lyin' Larry, The Nap Taker, and When I Was Your Age just to name a few.


Who benefits from reading this book?

I think anybody who enjoys poetry will benefit from reading this book. i think it's a good one for children because a lot of the poems are geared towards them, and the drawings make the poem come to life. This is a good book to introduce children to poetry because it is so fun, and it could make kids realize that poetry is something fun, not something boring.

What problems could this book cause?

This book was basically written for children, so there shouldn't be any problems caused by it's poetry. If someone was extremely nit-picky, they could say that some of the illustrations contain partial nudity (i.e. the behind is shown a couple times). Some people may not like to see that in a children's book.

My Reaction:

I really like this book. Shel Silverstein is one of my favorite children's authors. when i was younger i would read his books all the time. they make me laugh. I think his poems are very entertaining, and they help people to see how poetry can be fun. I think he is very creative in a lot of his poems. His use of words and the way he plays with words and phrases is really fun. For example his furniture poem uses all the different parts of furniture that are named after body parts such as the leg of a chair, arm of a chair, face of a clock, head of the table, etc. I find this book really fun and entertaining, and I highly recommend it.

Lincoln: a Photobiography

Lincoln: a Photobiography
Publisher/Date: Clarion Books 1987
# of Pages: 150
Reading Level: ages 9-12
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary:

This is the story of Abraham Lincoln's life. it begins with his birth and talks about his life living in a log cabin. he had less than a year of public schooling, but he taught himself how to read as well as other subjects. he grew up and got a job. he decided he wanted to be a lawyer, and he and another guy started a law firm. he taught himself law, and he became one of the best lawyers in the state. he married his wife Mary, and they were so in love. her parents didn't approve, but they were married anyway. he decided running for office, but he wasn't elected. he tried several times until he finally was. many people really liked him, and he became known as honest Abe. He then ran for President, and he won. During his presidency, the Civil War broke out which caused him a lot of stress and anxiety. he was very concerned about the war. he also had troubles with depression, and when his youngest of three sons died, he never really got over it. many photos are included in this biography of Lincoln, his family, and of the war. one shows how Lincoln's appearance changed throughout the four stressful years of being president. he ran for a second term, and was reelected. shortly after, he went to a play with his wife. during the play, his guard went downstairs to see the play, and John Wilkes Booth came in and shot Lincoln in the head. He died a few hours later. many people came to show their respects to the great man he was. Even now he is known as one of the greatest president's our country has ever had.

Who Benefits from reading this book?

Anyone who appreciates history will like this book. anyone wanting to know more about Abraham Lincoln will also benefit. It's written in a way that is interesting, and children will be able to read and enjoy. the pictures included are also very interesting to see.

What problems could this book cause?

This book only contains facts. I don't think this could cause any problems because Lincoln's life was respectable, and there is nothing contained in the book that could offend anyone. some people may not like it because it shows some of his "weaknesses". however, it's written in a way that i think makes him seem more respectable, and more human.

My Reaction:

I thought this book was okay. Biographies are not my favorite things to read, but this is a really well-done one of Abraham Lincoln. I thought all the pictures really helped a lot. you not only read a bunch of information, but you are able to see him, his family, the places he lived and worked, and the war. i found those very interesting. it made me appreciate Lincoln more, and i would recommend this book to anyone who would be interested in learning more about him and his life.

Love That Dog

Love That Dog By Sharon Creech Publisher/Date: Harper Trophy 2001 # of Pages:86 Reading Level: ages 8-12 Genre: Poetry Summary:

This is the story of a boy named Jack and his journey to loving poetry. the entire book is written in poetry format. it seems to be that he is writing in a journal at school because it is implied that his teacher is commenting on his entries. at first he doesn't like poetry, and he thinks it's for girls. however, we find that he begins to like it more and more as the story goes on. some of the poems the teacher assigns him to read inspire him to write some other poetry. the one that affects him the most is one called "Love that Boy" by Walter Dean Myers. it inspires him to write about his dog in his poem "Love that Dog". he writes a letter to him and asks him to come to his class as a guest to talk about his poetry. Walter Dean Myers writes back saying that he is able to come to the class. Jack is really excited about that. throughout the whole book the reader is trying to find out more about this dog that Jack has. it isn't until the end that we find out that the blue car hit his dog, and now his dog is dead.

Who Benefits from reading this book?

I think this is a good book to introduce someone to poetry. it's such an easy read, and the poetry is written in a way that you don't really realize it's poetry, it just feels like a regular story. I think a lot of kids will be able to relate to Jack because a lot of people think they don't like poetry, and because a lot of people have had pets. people who like poetry will also benefit from reading this book since it's written entirely in poetry format.

What problems could this book cause?

I don't find anything wrong with this book. i suppose some people not like to read about his dog dying because it's sad. but other than that i think it's an entirely positive story.

My Reaction:

I really liked this book. it is probably the most unique book i've read in a really long time. i don't know that i've ever read a story like that written in poetry. I thought it was really creative. i liked how some other well known poems were put in the book as well. i remember feeling like Jack did at the beginning when i was going through school. i didn't understand poetry, and i told myself i didn't like it. it hasn't been until recently where i've found that i really enjoy poetry. So this book was a good one for me, and i'd recommend it.

Miles of Smiles

Miles of Smiles
Edited by Bruce Lansky
Publisher/Date:Scholastic Press
# of Pages:115
Reading level:Ages 4-8
Genre:poetry


Summary:

this book is compilation of poems by many different authors. the poems are separated into 7 categories which are: ME, PARENTS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SCHOOL, FOOD, GROSS OUT, TALL TALES, CRITTERS AND CREATURES, and ALL MIXED UP. these are meant to entertain and bring a smile to ones face. they are really funny, and they are easy to understand. they are poems that have been chosen by kids to be classified as "funny", therefore, most kids will probably agree and find these poems fun and entertaining.

Who Benefits from reading this book?

this book is entirely a poetry book. people who enjoy poetry, and those looking for a good laugh will benefit from this book. poetry has many positive benefits, and any child will benefit from reading this. the poems are short, so this is an easy read for anyone. i would recommend it to anyone, the poems are quite entertaining.

What problems could this book cause?

some of the poems have crude themes. especially those in the "grossed out" section. some talk about burping, farting, going to the bathroom, underwear, and even smoking. some parents might not want their young children to read poems that contain those things.

My Reaction:

i really liked this book. i found the poems to be really funny and entertaining. i really like poetry, so this was a good one for me to read. i read it all in one day, so it's a very easy read. it's a good variety to break away from the common story book. i think this is a fun book for children, and they will be able to relate to a lot of these poems. i would recommend this book to anybody.

No Talking

No Talking
By Andrew Clements
Publisher/Date:Simon and Schuster 2007
# of Pages: 146
Reading Level: age 8-10
Genre:Fiction


Summary:

This story begins with Dave. He's in fifth grade, and through a report he did on India, he came across Ghandi. he learned that he would go for days without speaking. Dave thought this was an interesting concept, so he decided to try it for a day at school. he found it hard especially when he was supposed to give a presentation, but he managed. He ends up challenging his rival, Lynsey, to a see who can go the longest without talking. she agrees, but it turns into being a contest between the girls and the boys in the entire fifth grade. they set up rules such as when a teacher asks them a question, they can answer, but only with three words. they decide the contest should go for two days starting the next day at lunch. all the fifth graders are in on it. the contest begins, and all the teachers and the principal are baffled. this particular group of students are the loudest in the history of the school. although this is a good change, the principal, Mrs. Hiatt, doesn't like it at all. the day continues, and the teachers are not a fan of the whole thing except for the language arts teacher, Mr. Burton. he makes an experiment out of it, and he thinks it's a creative idea. that day after school, the principal and the teachers all meet to discuss the issue. Mrs. Hiatt decides to have an assembly first thing the next day to put an end to it. most of the teachers agree, except Mr. Burton. Meanwhile, the kids are having a hard time keeping quiet at home. some mess up and have to tell Lynsey and Dave who are keeping score about it the next day at school. then the kids are told to go to the assembly. there the principal tells the students to stop their experiment because it's disruptive to the learning environment. however, for the students, the contest isn't over. they get through the rest of the day without breaking any rules. the kids make exceptions such as singing for music class, but other than that, they continue in their silence. at lunch, the principal sees that the kids are still not talking, and she becomes very upset. she yells at Dave who yells back, and he tells her they have the right to remain silent. he gets called to her office later, and she apologizes to him. he asks her if she'd like to join them, and she softens and decides to make it a school project. each grade competes against each other. however, for the fifth graders, the contest is still on. the next day at lunch, Lynsey and Dave come together to tally the points to see who the winner is. before 12:15 when the contest is officially over, Lynsey says a couple sentences to Dave. then they tally up the totals. the girls completely beat the boys, but with Lynsey's extra words, they find that they have tied.

Who Benefits from reading this book?

Anyone who enjoys Andrew Clement's other books will enjoy this book. many kids like his book, Frindle. this book is of the same quality. i think it will be most enjoyed by those in 4th-6th grade. they will be able to identify the best with the characters and their situation. it's an entertaining story with an interesting subject. elementary kids trying not to talk for two whole days seems like it would be a struggle, but the author tells the story very well.

What problems could this book cause?

Some of the kids in this book use degrading language. they call each other losers and idiots. the typical elementary insults. this might be a problem. they don't set a wonderful example. also, they don't obey their principal when she asks them to stop their silence. however, i think it also has a good message. the kids are able to make a statement without being disrespectful. Not talking is not a bad thing, and it helps the kids learn a lesson about language.

My Reaction:

I'm a big fan of Andrew Clements. i've enjoyed every book of his that i've read. i really like his writing style. I also like his stories. he comes up with interesting ideas like this one. it makes me wonder if this kind of thing could happen in a school. i almost want to try this experiment myself. i even thought about reading it to my future class, and seeing if they could do this experiment for a day. i think it would be really interesting to see. i really liked this book, and i'd recommend it to anyone.

Beauty

Beauty
By Robin McKinley
Publisher/Date: Harper Trophy 1993
# of Pages: 247
Reading level: age 10+
Genre: fantasy

Summary:

The story begins with Honour living with her father and her sisters Hope and Grace. She's the ugliest of the sisters, and she doesn't like her nickname, Beauty. She grows up living in wealth with servants and things. Her sister Hope falls in love with a humble blacksmith, Ger, and they get married. Grace falls in love with Robbie, but he goes out to sea. Then tragedy strikes Beauty's father's business. He loses everything, and Grace loses Robbie who she thinks is dead. They all move to the country to a small house with Ger. They learn to work, and their lifestyle is changed. Hope and Ger have twins. One day, Beauty's father is traveling from the city, and he gets lost in the woods. he comes across a castle and he goes inside. he is taken care of there by an invisible host. then one day he picks a rose to bring home to Beauty, and a horrible beast comes and tells him that because he's done this, he must come back with one of his daughters to be prisoner or else he will be killed. he comes home and tells the family of the news. Beauty decides she will be the one to go. the family is all sad and they don't want her to go. however, they know she must, so she goes to the castle and stays with the beast. she doesn't see him at first. she is also taken care of by invisible hosts. then she meets the beast. they begin to eat and read together. every night he asks her to marry him, and each time she says no. she begins to see all the magic of the castle, and she also begins to really enjoy the beast and his company. then the beast shows her Robbie is still alive, and her family. she sees that Grace is about to be engaged to a man she doesn't love. this all makes her sad. she asks the beast if she can return home only to tell Grace that Robbie is still alive. he allows her to go for one week. She goes home and finds that her family is all well. they are all happy to see her, and she tells them about life in the castle. she has a good time back with her family and tells them of Robbie. then it's time for her to go, and she realizes how much she misses the beast, and how much she loves him. however, when she goes back, she's almost too late and she gets lost. once she finally finds the castle, she thinks the beast is dead. but he is not. he's very happy she's back, and she tells him she loves him and wants to marry him. once she does this, he magically changes into a handsome prince. at first she doesn't know who he is, but then he asks her to marry him, and she doesn't feel pretty enough. then she looks in the mirror and finds that she has grown to be more beautiful than her sisters. they get married and so do Grace and Robbie, and they live happily ever after.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

this book teaches a good lesson about inner beauty. i think it's important for young people to realize what true beauty really is, and the true beauty lies within. it also teaches about love. there are several good examples of good attributes needed for a successful relationship or marriage. the way Beauty and the Beast fall in love is also very significant because it's not the typical fairy tale love. they come to know each other, and look past their looks and fall in love with the person under the skin. any young girl especially would benefit from reading this book.

What problems could this book cause?

i don't really find anything wrong with this book that could cause a problem. it's just a fairy tale. it also contains really good messages. that people can definitely learn from. i would recommend this book to anyone.

My Reaction:

This wasn't my favorite book honestly. i didn't like how it took so long for the story to begin. i thought the first half of the book was slow moving and pointless to the story. i thought it was ridiculous that the beast wasn't even mentioned until halfway through the book. once i got to that point i liked it better. and i thought the messages in it were really good and beneficial. for me, it's not my favorite style of writing either. although her descriptions are really good. so overall i'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Children Just Like Me

Children Just Like Me
By Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley
Publisher/Date: Dorling Kindersley 1995
# of Pages: 64
Reading level: ages 5-8
Genre: Informational

Summary:

This book is a compilation of a bunch of different children from all over the world. each page tells a little bit about the child interviewed, their family, friends, clothes, religion, house, country, food, school, and hobbies. It covers all inhabited continents and includes countries such as Australia, Russia, France, China, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, U.S., and Canada.

Who Benefits from reading this book?

I think anyone would benefit from reading this book. it's very informative about all the different cultures and ethnic groups. i think kids will especially benefit because it's written for kids about other kids.

What Problems could this book potentially cause?

I'm pretty sure the purpose of this book is to eliminate problems. it's very focused on celebrating each individual's different identity. So many different ethnic groups are represented, and each one has something unique about them that is shown in a positive light.

My Reaction:

I found this book very fascinating. I was able to spend a long time reading through all the different things on each page. I thought it was cool that they included the child's signature. I learned a lot about different cultures. i also liked how it was written from a child's point of view. i think this is a really good book. i'm pretty sure i had it at my house growing up, but i never read it. i would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about other cultures.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By JK Rowling
Publisher/Date: Scholastic Press 1997
# of Pages:309
Reading level: 5
Genre: Fantasy

Summary:

Harry Potter is an ordinary boy living with his Aunt and Uncle because his parents died when he was a baby. Then, one day, he gets a letter. His uncle goes to great lengths to keep him from reading it and the others that come. He even moves the family to a remote island for a night. That night, Harry's birthday, an unexpected visitor, Hagrid, comes to visit. He tells Harry that he is in fact a wizard, and that he has been invited to attend Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Hagrid takes him and introduces him to the hidden world of magic. He tells him about the wizard who killed his parents, Lord Voldemort. The day he leaves for school from the train station, he meets Ron Weasley who becomes his best friend. They get to school, and Harry learns all about magic, and joins the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He also meets Professer Snape, and Draco Malfoy who both hate Harry. He also meets Hermione, a smart girl in his house, and after he and Ron save her from a troll on Halloween, they become friends. There's something being hidden on the 3rd floor of Hogwarts, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione have the notion that Professer Snape is trying to steal whatever it is. Along with the troll, Harry also encounters the Mirror of Erised, Hagrid's dragon, detention, Fluffy, the 3 headed dog guarding the thing on the 3rd floor, a unicorn in the forbidden forest, the evil Lord Voldemort, and many clues to lead them to think Snape is trying to steal the thing. They find out the object is the Sorcerer's Stone which has power to give the owner immortality. The day of their last exams, Harry, Ron, and Hermione think Snape is going to steal it. The headmaster, Dumbledore, is gone, and nobody believes them. So they decide to stop him themselves. They get through all the different things guarding the stone, and Ron gets hurt. Hermione goes to help him and send a letter to Dumbledore, and Harry goes on the find Professor Quirrell is the one who is trying to steal it. Voldemort has been sharing his body, and they have a battle. Harry wakes up 3 days later in the hospital wing to find the stone is safe. He becomes a school hero, and goes home for the summer happy.

Who Benefits from Reading this Book?

Anybody who enjoys a good book will love this. It is full of adventure and mystery that keeps you reading. I think it's a good one to get kids interested in reading chapter books. Those who like fantasy books will also like this. I think kids will be able to identify with Harry and his friends. This book is just plain entertaining, and anyone who likes to read will benefit from reading this book.

What Problems Could this book Potentially Cause?

This book is controversial because it has themes that involve witchcraft. Some people have boycotted the Harry Potter series, and some think it's contents are evil. My opinion is, the genre is fantasy, so the reader has to be aware that it's made up and that magic isn't real. Also, this entire series is about the struggle of good vs evil. Good always prevails in the end, so I think the message is a good one.

My Reaction:

I love Harry Potter. I have ever since I first read it in third grade. I think it's a really good series that gets kids reading. It's so well written, and the plot is so intriguing that it keeps the reader reading. I find the story very entertaining. The entire series to this day are my favorite books. I would recommend them to anybody old enough to read them.

The Story of Ruby Bridges

The Story of Ruby Bridges
By Robert Coles
Publisher/Date:Scholastic Press 1995
# of Pages: 32
Reading Level: 2
Genre: Biography

Summary:


Young Ruby Bridges is chosen to be one of the first black children to be integrated into a white school. Many people are angry about this, and parents protest against it. Ruby has to be escorted to school by federal marshals to be protected from the mobs. When she does go to school, she is the only one there. Her teacher, Ms. Henry, has only her to teach. One morning, Mrs. Henry looked out the window and saw Ruby saying something in the crowd. When she asked Ruby what she said, Ruby told her she was praying for the people. She was asking God to forgive them for persecuting her.

Who Benefits from Reading this Book?

Those who are interested in reading about this time period, and about what it was like for the people then would benefit. It's an informational book, so anyone would learn from it. It also has religious themes. It ends with Ruby praying for the people, so I think it teaches a good lesson about love for enemies. The illustrations are also very nice, so people who like good pictures would benefit as well.

What Problems Could This Book Potentially Cause?

This book is all about the racism and about how prejudice the people were at that time. Some might find this offensive, however, because it's based on historical facts, I think it's fine. Also, as i mentioned above, this book contains religious themes. It's made clear that Ruby and her family believe in God, and they worship Him in church. It also includes Ruby's prayer at the very end, and some might be offended by that.

My Reaction:

I liked this book. As a child I wasn't a big fan of informational books at all. However, as I've grown, I've come to like them much more. I think there's a lot to learn from books like this. I hadn't ever heard about Ruby Bridges before this, so it was fun to learn more about her. I haven't read a lot about this period in history either, so I like to learn new things about it. It makes me really sad though that she was persecuted so much just for going to school. She was just doing what the government told her to, and people were just ruthless about it. However, I love the lesson it teaches about loving your enemies. Her prayer at the end is so powerful I think. I really liked this book. And the pictures are pretty.