Mr. Popper's Penguins: Chapter Book # 4

Author: Richard and Florence Atwater
Title: Mr. Popper's Penquins
Illustrator: Robert Lawson
Readability Score: 3.9
Theme: the responsibility of leadership
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Fantasy
Primary and secondary characters:
Awards: Newbery Honor Book
Publishing Company: Librarian Connection
Date of Publication: 1979
ISBN: 9780316058421
Summary: This book is about a man named Mr. Popper who works in Stillwater. He paints houses there and once the painting season is over, he settles in for the winter. His selection is based on travel books and he has dreams of going to Antarctica one day. He wants to visit the south pole. However, one day he receives a package that was sent over from Antarctica from an Admiral. To his suprise it is a penquin that is in the box and Mr. Popper has to deal with the penquin's commotions in his home and city. They are photographed when they are taking a walk one day and the picture gains the attention from the national press. Another day, Mr. Popper receives another box in the mail that contains another penguin. In order to keep the penguins happy, he must do what they ask of him. In a freezing cellar, which was built for the penguins, the newest addition begins to hatch eggs. Before Mr. Popper's realizes, he has many penguins living in his home. He begins to teach them performance acts and before they know it, they are traveling and showing off their talents.

This book is a humorous book on the life of penguins. Students can take on this reading for a fun activity or in a group with their friends to discuss how happy Mr. Popper is to have the penguins in his life. They can discuss characteristics of the penguins in the book and compare them to their less exaggarrated forms in real life.

Kisses from Katie-Chapter Book # 3

Author: Katie Davis with Beth Clark
Title: Kisses from Katie
Illustrator: N/A
Readability Score: Grades 6 and up
Theme: giving up a comfortable life for a life God has planned
Genre: Non-fiction
Sub genre: Biography
Primary and secondary characters: Katie Davis is the primary character and the secondary characters are her parents, the children of Uganda, the people of Uganda
Awards: N/A
Publishing Company: Howard Books
Date of Publication: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4516-1206-6
Summary: This book is about how a nineteen year old girl visits Uganda for the first time. She is the narrator of the book as she tells us how she fell in love with the country and most importantly, its people. She comes back to the United States, where she lived a comfortable life of driving a nice car, being Homecoming Queen, had her future planned out, and had a great family and boyfriend. She makes the decision after she graduates to move there for a year and do mission work. Her parents were struggling with the idea of her moving there without them or anyone she knew and even could possibly be faced with danger at some point. Her mother agrees to go with her for a couple of weeks when Katie is given the opportunity to be a teacher at a village there. She goes and she never comes back as her heart is faced with leading many children to a better education and to the Lord. Katie also takes on the role of being a caretaker for many of these children as they have been declared abandoned.

This book takes students on a journey to another side of the world. They can see the life of a person from Uganda and how they live. They can see how Katie Davis spends her days teaching and taking care of her adopted children. This can be a fun read for students to do independently or in a group setting. When studying parts of the world, Uganda can be seen throughout the text and its descriptions.

The Secret Life of Bees-Chapter Book # 2

Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Title: The Secret Life of Bees
Illustrator: N/A
Readability Score: 7.2
Theme: the power of female community
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Historical
Primary and secondary characters: Lily is the primary character and the secondary characters are her nanny, her father (T-Ray), August Boatright, Rosaleen Daise, Deborah Fontanel, Zachary Taylor, June Boatright, Mary Boatright
Awards: N/A
Publishing Company: Viking Penguin
Date of Publication: 2003
ISBN: 9780142001745
Summary: This book is about a young girl, named Lily, who is fourteen years old. She experiences many trials in her life. Her mother is killed in an accidental gun shooting, where Lily is blamed for the death by her father. He is abusive to Lily and hateful. This book is set in the 1960s and takes the audience into a perspective on what it is like to be African American in the south during that time. Lily and her nanny, who is African American, decide to run away from home and head to the south. There she is welcomed into the home of the Boatrights as they teach her how to keep bees and help her work through her problems with her father. Throughout the book Lily experiences the grief of her mother's death and how her father blames her. T-Ray discovers their location and he tries to take her back, but Lily is confused while the Boatrights' convince her that staying in the home in South Carolina is the best.

This book is another great book for a book club discussion. Students can see from a young girl's perspective on how bullying and abuse can affect them. They may be able to relate to Lily's character and see that in the end, she is able to resolve feelings towards her mother and father. Student's can discuss themes and main topics throughout the book in depth. It also can provide a historical point of view for readers to see how times were in the 1960s for African Americans.

Charlotte's Web-Chapter Book # 1

Author: E.B. White
Title: Charlotte's Web
Illustrator: Garth Williams
Readability Score: 4.9
Theme: true friendship goes a long way
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Fantasy
Primary and secondary characters: Primary characters: Charlotte, Wilbur, Fern and secondary characters include: Fern's brother, Fern's parents, the animals on the farm
Awards: Newbery Award Winner
Publishing Company: HarperCollins
Date of Publication: 1952
ISBN: 9780064400558
Summary: This book is about a little pig named Wilbur who was born a runt into the Arable's farm. Mr. Arable makes the decision to kill Wilbur because he will never amount to anything because he is so small. Fern is shocked that he would do such a thing, so she agrees to take care of him and help him grow up with the permission of her parents. Fern falls in love with Wilbur as they develop a friendship on the farm. However, a time comes when Wilbur is big enough to be moved to a new home on Fern's uncle's farm. She visits him a lot, but she is also growing older so she has more priorities. Wilbur tries to make friends with the other animals on the farm, yet he is still considered to be the "little pig" in his ways of thinking about life and with Fern. Wilbur's most important friend he makes is Charlotte, who is the spider that lives in the doorway above him. When Wilbur hears of the farm's plans to make him a Thanksgiving dinner, he creates a plan with Charlotte to save him. Together they come up with creative ways to help Wilbur remain on the farm with his friends. Their friendship is the most significant part of the book as Charlotte, a loyal friend, helps to save Wilbur's life.

This book is a classic and it contains many elements of friendship, loyalty, and accomplishing your dreams. Students can begin in book clubs discussing the characters qualities, how friendship plays a part in the book, and also discuss the themes of what they think the book contains. Students can also see that even though Wilbur was born a runt and he, "would never amount to anything", that he defied everyone's odds and was a great character in the end who accomplished a lot.

Let's Talk About Race-Picture Book # 26

Author: Julius Lester
Title: Let's Talk About Race
Illustrator: Karen Barbour
Readability Score: 4.5
Theme: race is just a part of us, but it doesn't define us
Genre: Non-Fiction
Sub genre: Diversity
Primary and secondary characters: none in particular
Awards: Newbery Award Winner
Publishing Company: Kulius Lester
Date of Publication: 2009
ISBN: 9780060285968
Summary: This book is about introducing race to the audience. The writer tells his own story that will engage children about him. He talks about his hobbies, foods he likes to eat, and then he adds in that he is black. Throughout the story he writes questions that students can answer. This creates the discussions and thought processes about who the reader is as a person. It also talks about how judgement and prejudices seem as if we are comparing ourselves to other people and viewing ourselves as better. He writes deep sentences such as,"Beneath everyone's skin are the same hard bones." He says to view ourselves without skin and we would all be the same. The main question he asks us is if race is just a portion of our stories, then why do we or people in general think it is so important?

This book is straight on when it talks about diversity. Race in general is a part of diversity and when students are in school they can learn about one another. Many have the same hobbies, likes of favorite food, sense of humor, and personality about them that makes it better to connect with other people. Race is just a part of who a person is and students can really understand that throughout this book and see it in a different light. I would do a book club talk about this book and see how students relate to one another in diverse group settings. Even students who grow up not thinking outside of the box of prejudices can see that this book means well and we can all benefit and learn from it.

Mia's Story-Picture Book # 25

Author: Michel Foreman
Title: Mia's Story: A Sketchbook of Hopes & Dreams
Illustrator: Michel Foreman
Readability Score 2
Theme: never giving up no matter where you come from
Genre: Non-Fiction
Sub genre: Diversity
Primary and secondary characters: Mia is the primary and the secondary are her father and Poco
Awards: N/A
Publishing Company: Candlewick Press
Date of Publication: 2006
ISBN: 076363063-2
Summary: This book is about how the narrator meets Mia one day. The narrator telling the story writes that her bus had broken down and she was in Mia's village. They became friends and she wants to tell the audience about her story. Mia lives in Campamento, San Francisco, which is between the city and snowy mountains. There are no pretty gardens or trees, just a muddy track as a road. Mia's father travels into the city everyday to sell scrap. Mia's home, which she lives with her mother and father, is made of mostly odds and ends and bits of trash. The book also contains illustrations of Mia's tiny school, where the people of the village bake their bread, and also where they search for things in the nearby dump. The family has dreams of living in a house made of bricks. Mia is happy one day when her father brings home a puppy that she names Poco. She takes him everywhere until one day during winter he disappeared. She began to search for him everywhere, she eventually ends up high on the snowy mountains. One her journey back home, disappointed and sad, her horse suddenly stops and finds flowers. Mia is shocked that these beautiful flowers would grow in such cold, snowy conditions. She takes some home with her and plants them. Eventually they begin to spread and their seeds spread out. By spring there were flowers everywhere in her village. She began to go into the city to try to sell her flowers, alongside her father, who was selling scrap. Mia had so many customers that her father had to quit his job to help her.

This story held a powerful meaning of never giving up. Mia was from a lower SES even though she was given the opportunities for an education and work. This book gives the message for all students that it doesn't matter where you come from that you can still accomplish your goals and dreams. This book also shows the life of a girl from a low SES and some students may be able to relate to Mia. I would have the students discuss the book in a book club for more in depth understanding of its concepts. The issue of poverty is clearly stated and students can have a better understanding of this.

What's Wrong with Timmy? Picture Book # 24

Author: Maria Shriver
Title: What's Wrong with Timmy?
Illustrator: Sandra Speidel
Readability Score: 3.3
Theme: don't judge a book by its cover
Genre: Non-Fiction
Sub genre: Diversity
Primary and secondary characters: Kate and Timmy are primary characters, secondary characters are Kate's mother and
Awards: N/A
Publishing Company: Special Scholastic Edition
Date of Publication: 1999
ISBN: 0-316-15548-9
Summary: This book is about a little girl named Kate. She is very curious about everything and she always asks her parents things that she finds interesting. One day she was at the park and she noticed a boy named Timmy who dressed like her brother and had brown hair like her, but he was different somehow. She asked her mom, "What's wrong with Timmy?" The audience finds out throughout the book that when Timmy was born his doctor said he would have disabilities and he wouldn't be able to do a lot of the things that the other kids do. Kate's mother told her that he was a lot like Kate. He loves his family, friends, goes to school, and has dreams about what he wants to be when he grows up. Kate also discusses her emotions on how she feels that he is different and how she is scared when he is around. Her mother tells her that in the beginning we're all uncomfortable with people who may look, talk, or act differently. Kate realizes that everyone is equal and everyone deserves a chance because they were all on the earth for a reason. When she approaches Timmy one day, she realizes that they have more in common than she thought and they become friends.

This book covers a lot about disabilities and how students can be comfortable with one another. Younger students may have a harder time trying to accept or be comfortable around other students with disabilities because they just don't know how to act or what to say. This book demonstrates that people with disabilities are just like people without disabilities and it's important to accept everyone. I would have the students free-write about emotions on topics such as their views on the importance of acceptance or judgement. This activity can help them see from the other person's point of view on how they would feel if someone were to hurt their feelings just because they were different. Students with disabilities can understand Timmy's point of view and see that he has goals and dreams in life too.

Hannah's Journal-Picture Book # 23

Author: Marissa Moss
Title: Hannah's Journal: The Story of an Immigrant Girl
Illustrator: Marissa Moss
Readability Score: 5.2
Theme: moving towards a better life for oneself
Genre: Non-Fiction
Sub genre: Diversity
Primary and secondary characters: Hannah is the primary and the secondary characters are her family members
Awards: N/A
Publishing Company: Harcourt, Inc.
Date of Publication: 2000
ISBN: 0-15-202155-8
Summary: This book is told from Hannah's point of view. It is dated on her birthday which is, September 27, 1901, in Lithuania and is the first entry of her journal. She is ten years old and she is given the journal to write in by her father, Papashka. He knew how much she wanted to learn even though she can't go to school with her brothers. She can now learn Hebrew and Russian by the help of her older siblings. She has three older brothers, one younger brother, and two younger sisters. In her journal she writes about how she wants to go to school, but it is only for boys and her family cannot afford a tutor for her. She also receives the opportunity to go to America. She describes boarding a ship which is large enough to hold dozens of trains and people. By the end of the journal, Hannah writes that she loves America and she is beginning to start a life for herself. She is able to work and most importantly, go to school.

I think this book is a good resource to use in the classroom because it provides an insight into the life of an immigrant girl to America. Her family wanted a better life for her, as well as Hannah, and she was given the chance to learn and go to school. Students can see through her entries how times were back in the 1900s and how not everyone had the chance to do the same things. They also can see how the diversity of America became prevalent at the start of immigration. They can write their own entries in a journal as if they were first coming to America.