Where the Wild things are
Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York: HarperCollins Children's Books.
Oh, a mother's love! My son's name is Max and he is far from a monster, but at times I'm sure I could jump into this book and play the part. When Max gets sent to his room with no supper, he thinks life is better elsewhere and he is not scared. This story exemplifies a child's imagination. I've often read this book and wondered if my own Max thinks this way when I scold him! I'm sure he doesn't because he is terrified of monsters, but this story is one we read over and over and the ending is my favorite. Max is reassured that his parents do love him. The illustrations are colorful and entertaining. They allow the reader to enter Sendak's unique imagination. When I picture a monster, I picture Max and his crew.
*Caldecott Award
Oh, a mother's love! My son's name is Max and he is far from a monster, but at times I'm sure I could jump into this book and play the part. When Max gets sent to his room with no supper, he thinks life is better elsewhere and he is not scared. This story exemplifies a child's imagination. I've often read this book and wondered if my own Max thinks this way when I scold him! I'm sure he doesn't because he is terrified of monsters, but this story is one we read over and over and the ending is my favorite. Max is reassured that his parents do love him. The illustrations are colorful and entertaining. They allow the reader to enter Sendak's unique imagination. When I picture a monster, I picture Max and his crew.
*Caldecott Award
The Polar Express
Allsburg, C. V. (1987). The polar express. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
Do you still believe? Strange thing about this book is that I never heard about it until I had kids of my own. How was this not popular before now and published in 1987? This is a wonderfully crafted story. It is a bit of magic and mystery all tied into one story. My son became obsessed with trains and Christmas so we have ridden the Polar Express train twice, once in Texas and once in Colorado where it was actually snowing. I appreciate that the railroads have promoted a love for this book and encourage the kids to read along. The artwork in this book is stunning. I think you could almost frame any image from the book and hang on your wall at Christmas. A true classic for my bookshelf.
*Caldecott Award
Do you still believe? Strange thing about this book is that I never heard about it until I had kids of my own. How was this not popular before now and published in 1987? This is a wonderfully crafted story. It is a bit of magic and mystery all tied into one story. My son became obsessed with trains and Christmas so we have ridden the Polar Express train twice, once in Texas and once in Colorado where it was actually snowing. I appreciate that the railroads have promoted a love for this book and encourage the kids to read along. The artwork in this book is stunning. I think you could almost frame any image from the book and hang on your wall at Christmas. A true classic for my bookshelf.
*Caldecott Award
Owl Moon
Yolen, J. (1987). Owl moon. New York, NY: Philomel Books.
"Whoo-whoo-who-who-who-whoooooo.” Such great use of literary devices in the story. The author is a painter with words. The imagery is stunning. I felt like I connected with this story because I use to go owling with my grandfather. We would sit outside and eat rootbeer floats and wait for the owls to come. Such a vivd memory of my grandfather, I think Yolen does a great job of desciribing the anticipation of seeing the owl. I felt that excitement and I fully understand how quiet you have to be. The author also uses similes to help the reader connect. I always like a good simile in a story. It helps you picture the image in your mind. Great story by Yolen. One I will read over and over again just to remember my grandfather and our owling nights.
*Caldecott Award
"Whoo-whoo-who-who-who-whoooooo.” Such great use of literary devices in the story. The author is a painter with words. The imagery is stunning. I felt like I connected with this story because I use to go owling with my grandfather. We would sit outside and eat rootbeer floats and wait for the owls to come. Such a vivd memory of my grandfather, I think Yolen does a great job of desciribing the anticipation of seeing the owl. I felt that excitement and I fully understand how quiet you have to be. The author also uses similes to help the reader connect. I always like a good simile in a story. It helps you picture the image in your mind. Great story by Yolen. One I will read over and over again just to remember my grandfather and our owling nights.
*Caldecott Award
Frogs by Nic Bishop
Bishop, N. (2008). Frogs. New York: Scholastic Inc.
If you ever want a massive amount of information on frogs, Frogs is your book. The book is gorgeous. The pages are full of bright, vivid colors and many pictures of frogs. I find this book a bit funny because my husband is terrified of frogs. As I scanned the pages, I wondered how you could be scared of such an innocent creature. The author has a love for photography and the pictures capture the environment of each frog. The author concludes this book by giving a short biography about himself.
* Texas Bluebonnet Award
If you ever want a massive amount of information on frogs, Frogs is your book. The book is gorgeous. The pages are full of bright, vivid colors and many pictures of frogs. I find this book a bit funny because my husband is terrified of frogs. As I scanned the pages, I wondered how you could be scared of such an innocent creature. The author has a love for photography and the pictures capture the environment of each frog. The author concludes this book by giving a short biography about himself.
* Texas Bluebonnet Award
Lady Liberty, A Biography by Doreen Rappaport
Rappaport, D. (2008). Lady liberty, a biography. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Poetry. I was pleasantly suprised to open this book and find pages of poetry with beautifully illustrated images of our country. I instantly was reminded of my own trip to the Statue of Liberty. The images of the ferry ride took me back to that cold day when I explored Lady Liberty. The poems are reflective of a pre-9/11 New York. The book contains many different points of view. The author did her research and included the vision of the many people it took to create Lady Liberty.
*Texas Bluebonnet Award
Poetry. I was pleasantly suprised to open this book and find pages of poetry with beautifully illustrated images of our country. I instantly was reminded of my own trip to the Statue of Liberty. The images of the ferry ride took me back to that cold day when I explored Lady Liberty. The poems are reflective of a pre-9/11 New York. The book contains many different points of view. The author did her research and included the vision of the many people it took to create Lady Liberty.
*Texas Bluebonnet Award
We Are the Ship The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: The story of negro league baseball. Hyperion Books.
As the season of baseball is fast approaching, I felt that it was appropriate that I read at least one baseball story. The author wrote and illustrated this book and I feel that he has a deep connection with the subject. I felt that this book develops more as a civil rights story than baseball. I immediately was pulled into the story and discovered a lot of historical information that I did not know. I plan on using this book during my Civil Rights unit next six weeks. I feel that my students can gain some important insight in regards to baseball and civil rights.
*Coretta Scott King Award
As the season of baseball is fast approaching, I felt that it was appropriate that I read at least one baseball story. The author wrote and illustrated this book and I feel that he has a deep connection with the subject. I felt that this book develops more as a civil rights story than baseball. I immediately was pulled into the story and discovered a lot of historical information that I did not know. I plan on using this book during my Civil Rights unit next six weeks. I feel that my students can gain some important insight in regards to baseball and civil rights.
*Coretta Scott King Award
The Night Before Christmas
Moore, C. (2011). The night before christmas. Maine: Appleseed Press Book Publishers.
This story is very special to my family. We read it every Christmas Eve and now that some of the little kids are getting older, they are taking a turn in the circle reading. It is always been a magical book for me. This version is full of color and bright lighting. The images are clear and overly large and it really seems that Christmas is in the air. I re-read it again, and I felt the joy that I love at Christmas time. My children still request that I read this to them at night, but I try to reserve it just for Christmas Eve so that it is a special treat.
*New York Bestseller
This story is very special to my family. We read it every Christmas Eve and now that some of the little kids are getting older, they are taking a turn in the circle reading. It is always been a magical book for me. This version is full of color and bright lighting. The images are clear and overly large and it really seems that Christmas is in the air. I re-read it again, and I felt the joy that I love at Christmas time. My children still request that I read this to them at night, but I try to reserve it just for Christmas Eve so that it is a special treat.
*New York Bestseller