The Doll People: By Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin

         Do you sometimes feel like a little fish living in a big pond? Well imagine in you were only three inches tall! Welcome to the world of Annabelle Doll, and The Doll People, by Ann M. Marin and Laura Godwin, illustrated by Brian Selznick. Annabelle is a six-year-old doll (she has been six since the day she was "born" over 100 years ago) living with her porcelain doll family in their dollhouse in the room of Kate Palmer. Annabelle and her family had been apart of the Palmer family since they arrived, in their dollhouse from England, as a gift for a girl in the Palmer family, years ago. They had spent over 100 years cooped up in the dollhouse with each other and no one else, that is until the Funcrafts moved in. Annabelle, who longed to escape the dollhouse was ecstatic when she met Tiffany, a new plastic doll, just her age. The two make it their mission to search the Palmer house for Annabelle's Aunt Sarah who has been missing for forty years. Together the pair read Aunt Sarah's journal and plan a search and rescue missions. The two determine that she must be trapped somewhere, and using the clues from the journal, are able to find her and reunite their family once again!
       This work of fiction describes a fantastical world, in which dolls who take the oath, come to life within the world of everyday humans. The storyline, which Martin and Godwin masterfully create, has the reader fully believing that every detail is real, and that everything they say could happen definitely can. The characters are each strongly developed, having their own unique personalities, Annabelle and Tiffany are brave and curious, Mama and Papa Doll are protective and worry a lot, and the list goes on. Each detail of fantasy comes to life throughout the novel, and the words are further enhanced through the inclusion of Brian Selznick's pencil sketches, that provide the reader with visually appealing images of what the characters look like, as well as various scene images.
       Being a child who LOVED dolls more than anything, this book was one of my favorites as a kid. I loved thinking that when I wasn't looking, my dolls came alive and caused mischief, just like Annabelle and Tiffany. This book is written to interest readers grades 3-5, with a little wiggle room up and down, based on reading level. Because the story is based on the life of dolls, I would say the general appeal is to girls, but the story itself is a mystery, full of action and great dialogue, so there is no real reason boys wouldn't enjoy it just the same. This book is the first in a four part series, followed by : The Meanest Doll in the World, The Runaway Dolls, and The Doll People Set Sail. Keep these fiction books in mind for children interested in well constructed mysteries or books about miniature worlds. By the time they finish the book, children will be sleeping with one eye open, watching and waiting to see their toys come to life!

For more books about tiny people living in a big peoples world, check out: The Borrowers By Mary Norton

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/The-Doll-People-Ann-Martin/dp/0786812400

Who Was George Washington: By Roberta Edwards

       Just about everyone knows who the man with the crazy looking white hair on the dollar bill is, but do you know what else he did besides serves as the first US President? Who Was George Washington? by Roberta Edwards seeks to tell readers who George Washington was, and anything else you could possibly want to know about him. The biography flows in a linear fashion, beginning with a brief introduction to tell readers who he was (incase they really have no idea), then begins with his childhood in Virginia, his life as a young soldier, his rise through the ranks to General, and so on. The book ends by telling us how we commemorate George Washington today, through a national holiday, several monuments in his honor, and on the one dollar bill you use to buy your ice cream. The last three pages provide readers with a timeline summarizing George Washington's life, and a short bibliography where readers can find more information on the nation's first President.
     What makes this book a successful children's nonfiction piece is the use of simple language to make the factual information accessible. Edwards was also very selective with the information she chose to include, paying close attention to include only information that was extremely significant or that would be of great interest to the target population of young readers, such as the fact that George Washington had a mother who was very bossy and he was a great athlete (very relatable details). The linear format of the biography makes the biography easy following, allowing readers to learn information in a logical and familiar way.
         Cartoon-style, sketched illustrations by True Kelley help to bring visual interest to the story as well. Close to every page contains a sketch that seeks to enhance the text and gives the reader a physical depiction of what is being read. The cartoon-style of the pictures make them accessible and engaging, giving the book a very child appropriate vibe.
          This biography about George Washington, accurately provides readers with important information about a key figure in American history. The linear format, simple language, and cartoon-style illustrations weave together to create a nonfiction piece that is both engaging and brimming with information. This book, written for students in grades 3-5, would be a strong addition to a study of bibliographies, a study of presidents, or a study about our nation's forefathers.

To learn more about George's Washington home, Mount Vernon, check out this webpage!

Picture Source:http://www.amazon.com/Who-George-Washington-Roberta-Edwards/dp/0448448920

Who Was Sacagawea?: By Dennis Brindell Fradin & Judith Bloom Fradin

      No study of Lewis and Clark and the idea of Westward Expansion in the United States would be complete without knowing: who was Sacagawea? The children's biography by Dennis Brindell Fradlin and his wife, Judith Bloom Fradlin seeks to tell you just what the title suggest, Who Was Sacagawea? In this biography children will lean about Native American, Sacagawea, who was only sixteen-years-old when she made one of the most impressive journeys in American history, traveling 4,500 miles across the US. Without her contributions, Lewis and Clark's westward expedition might have been impossible. While reading this book, students will learn about how and why Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark, and understand the reasons that we still remember her and celebrate her today.
      What makes this biography successful as a book for children is the way the Fradlins use simple language and basic vocabulary that conveys the factual information in an accessible and engaging way. The book is almost a narrative told in a linear format, following the timeline of Sacagawea's life. It is the simple language elements and linear flow that help to make this book an engaging work of nonfiction that children will actually enjoy reading, and not a textbook-information-packed-snoozefest.
       This book is made further kid-friendly through the use of black and white, sketch style illustrations by Val Paul Taylor. The simple sketches that occur on just about every page help to give the content visual appeal, and to allow young readers to get a sense of what they are reading, through having it shown to them in a physical scene. While the sketches are fairly minimalistic, they provide enough detail to enhance the meaning of the text and help show the setting and characters more fully.
      The combination of narrative, nonfiction language and simple illustration brings to Sacagawea to life for the reader. Teaching us details about her as a person and about her extensive contributions to American history and Westward Expansion. This biography would be a great addition to a study of important Native Americans in history, a study of the biographic form/genre, or to a study of Lewis and Clark and the idea of Westward Expansion. This nonfiction, biographical, chapter book is geared towards students in grades 3-5.

Extension for the classroom:
Teachers could have students draw their own pictures in the unique cover art style of this book. Then ask students to write a brief autobiography about their own lives, using a narrative style to give information.

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/Who-Sacagawea-Judith-Bloom-Fradin/dp/0448424851

Hidden-A Child's Story of the Holocaust: By Loic Dauvillier

         Perhaps my favorite genre to read is historical fiction, but when I stumbled across Loic Dauvillier's Hidden, I was immediately skeptical, that is until I read it. Hidden is a graphic novel that was originally published in French in 2012 under the name L'Enfant Cahee. Alexis Siegel translated the novel and in 2014 it was published in English, under the current title. The book received a Batchelder Honor Award in 2014, given for outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the US. In the graphic novel, Dauvillier tells the powerful story of a grandmother recounting her childhood experiences hiding from the Nazis in France during World War II to her granddaughter, Elsa. In a world riddled with cruelty and harshness, Dounia Cohen finds her 6-year-old-self shunned by her peers and teacher the first time she wore her required yellow star identifying her as Jewish. Soon after her parents are taken away by the police during a raid, and she finds herself depending on neighbors to hide and protect her. When the time is right, Dounia is able to escape to the French countryside, where she is safe to wait out the rest of the war.
         This over-archingly hopeful story makes use of a long series of cartoon-style, detailed illustrations, typical of what you might see in a comic strip. The intense details of every image help to slow the readers movement through these story. Because there are so few words on a page, the reader is tempted to fly through the rest of the story to learn what happens, but the intricate details of Greg Salsedo and Marc Lizano's illustrations beg the reader to slow down, in order to discover hidden images. For example, in one sequence, if the reader looks closely, a "picture" of Dounia's missing parents is shown in the background and gradually grows and grows, until it takes up an entire frame of the story.
        The writing of Dauvillier conveys an account of the Holocaust that while very real, is ultimately child-friendly. The explicit details of what occurred during this time period are for the most part put vaguely and the story focuses on a young girl's experience hiding, missing her parents, and seeking refuge. As we like to see in books written for children, Hidden ends on a lighter note, with Dounia and her mother finding each other again as World War II ends, and Elsa, a young girl in present-day France, becomes closer to her grandmother, who after many, many years is now telling her story.
       With numerous positive reviews, Dauvillier's graphic novel, Hidden, really works with the historical fiction genre. The fact that the story is told in the form of a graphic novel, lends itself nicely to the child-friendly Holocaust story idea. The story relies heavily on dialogue between characters and images to drive the plot and give the reader information about emotions and settings. This book is written for readers that are a little bit older, I would say definitely no younger than 10-years-old. This book has a high level of visual appeal and recalls the details of a tragic historical time factually, without being too vivid. This book, with guidance and premising perhaps, would be a good introduction for a young reader to the Holocaust.

For another story of a child's perspective of the Holocaust, check out Louis Lowry's, Number of the Stars

Picture Source: http://us.macmillan.com/hiddenachildsstoryoftheholocaust/loicdauvillier

Aesop's Fables: By Beverly Naidoo

         Aesop's Fables are a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived between 620 and 560 BCE. These fables have been transferred across cultures and generations and still exist today. In Aesop's Fables by Beverley Naidoo takes these classic tales and tells them for the first time using an African style and setting, using Piet Grobler's illustrations. Naidoo and Grobler were inspired to make use of an African style because Aesop himself is speculated to have possibly come from African descent. There are a total of 16 fables contained in this collection, each is told using a simple language style that makes them accessible to a target audience of younger readers. Stories range from a lion and warthog fighting over who gets the first drink, then realizing that being friends would be better, a farmer teaching his children that working hard is a true treasure, a little mouse saving the life of a great lion, and much more. At the end of each tale the moral of the story is written to help point it out and allow the readers to draw meaning from the creative writing, and learn about human values.
        Each fable is written in a white background and outlined with a watercolor frame that makes the text stand out from the busy African style images. Each of Grobler's illustrations are vivid and dynamic, helping to bring the fable to life and create visual interest on every page. The title of every story is a work of art in itself, written in a tribal-inspried font. The visual elements all come together nicely to turn the collection of well-told fables into a full package work of story and art.
        Aesop's Fables by Beverley Naidoo, received a Parents' Choice Silver Honor, meaning that the Parents' Choice Foundation praises the book with being designed to both entertain and help children develop universally ethical attitudes, and rigorous standards and skills. This collection containing 16 of Aesop's fables is brilliantly written and illustrated for children with a range of ages, possibly 5-11. This book works well because the stories make use of simple language, the moral is clearly pointed out, and the illustrations are dynamic and accessible. This book would be great for a study of cultures or of folktales and their origins. Teachers would enjoy reading these fables aloud just as much as students would enjoy reading them and studying the unique African style illustrations.

Classroom extension:
Teachers (or parents) could read this book aloud, then have students/children think-up, write, and illustrate their own Aesop-inspired fables using their own artistic styles.

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/Aesops-Fables-Beverley-Naidoo/dp/1847800076

After the Bell Rings: By Carol Diggory Shields

                                   

       "Finally...finally...finally...BRINNNNNG!" Reads the inside cover of After the Bell Rings by Carol Diggory Shields was published in 2015 by Dial Books for Young Readers. Of course everyone knows that a student's favorite sound is the ding of the school bell that means school is over. In this book of children's poems, poet Carol Diggory Shields and illustrator Paul Meisel have fully captured what kids love to do when that last bell rings. Some of the topics include: music practice, homework, eating snacks, busy schedules, and so much more!

       Shields begins by capturing how both teachers and students alike anticipate and wait anxiously for the last two "slowest of all" minutes of the day to pass. By the end of the book, the week has come to an end and Shields makes use of clever end rhyme to highlight the irony found in a Friday night sleepover, where "We call it sleeping over--That's not exactly true. We bring along our sleeping bags. But sleep? Not what we do." Each poem is unique and makes use of its own type of  rhyme and rhythm. 

       Each poem throughout the book is accompanied by one of Meisel's engaging, childlike, illustrations created using a mix of medias. The full-bleed illustrations, in which the text is placed into the background, help to highlight the child's perspective that Shields is using in her poems. Even the end papers add to the book, showing numerous backpacks strewn across the floor with their contents spilling everywhere. No matter whether the picture depicts one scene, several separate images all linked together, or the screen of a call phone, they help to bring the poems to life, creating an impressive amount of visual interest. 

           This collection of children's poems would be great for children ages 6-10. Each poem is kid-friendly and easily relatable. Shield's use of clever and sassy poetry, combined with Meisel's accessible and visually appealing illustrations work to create an engaging and humorous collection of poetry. This book would be a great addition to any young child's poetry collection.

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/After-Bell-Rings-Poems-After-School/dp/0803738056

My Heart Glow: By Emily Arnold McCully

         With ever increasing diversity in our communities, the search and need for books that celebrate these unique individuals and their history is becoming more and more important for educators. My Heart Glow: Alice Cogswell, Thomas Gallaudet and the Birth of American Sign Language, written and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully, teaches readers about the history of American Sign Language through telling a narrative story. This book was published by Hyperion Books for Children. The story is told about Alice Cogswell, a young deaf girl who is both a curious and quick learner. But, unfortunately, in early nineteenth century America, no one had discovered techniques to teach deaf or hearing impaired children. However, thankfully for Alice, an equally curious man named Thomas Gallaudet, took an interest in her and noticed how smart she was. Gallaudet vowed to help Alice to learn. This vow took him across the Atlantic Ocean to study ways of teaching deaf children in Europe from experts in the subject. Alice worries Gallaudet will never come back to teach her, but just as he promised he does. He returns having learned many knew techniques to teach Alice. Inspired by Alice's story and the new knowledge he has gained, Gallaudet creates the nation's first school for the deaf, improving Alice's life and the lives of generations of young, deaf students to come.
           McCully tells about the birth of American Sign Language through a simple narrative story about Alice Cogswell and Thomas Gallaudet. The narrative uses a basic story structure with a beginning, middle and end. It also gives details about the characterization, plot and setting. Each page contains a watercolor illustration created by Emilly Arnold McCully herself, which extended the meaning of the text by depicting the scene on that page or spread of pages. The watercolors are done using a pallet of bright colors that bring the scenes to life and make them very visually appealing.
           In terms of an informational, nonfiction picture book, McCully does a great job of teaching about the birth of ASL using a story that is easy for young readers to understand. The familiar narrative format provides the readers with a type of story they are familiar with, while still giving them the right amount of factual information for them to actually learn about how American Sign Language came to be. Young readers will be able to relate to Alice's curiosity about the world and understand that she wants to learn new things from school and the world around her, just like they do.
          This book seeks to teach children about the history of American Sign Language through the use of a narrative story with friendly color illustrations. This book would be great for students in grades 2nd-4th, as the language is fairly simple, yet the content is factual and important. Teachers could use this picture book when teaching children about diversity, helping children to understand hearing impairments, and when teaching about different types of languages. This nonfiction, informational picture book is an great example of the genre.

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/My-Heart-Glow-Cogswell-Gallaudet/dp/142310028X

Detective LaRue-Letters from the Investigation: By Mark Teague

        Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation, written and illustrated by Mark Teague. Scholastic Press published this book in
2004. Teague has created a hilarious and clever fictional character in the local dog, Ike LaRue. Ike, or Detective LaRue as he is portrayed in this story, goes on many wild adventures. In this tale Ike finds himself wrongly accused of terrorizing the Hibbins’ cats and stealing their “strangely yummy cat treats”. He pleads his case to his owner, Mrs. LaRue in a series of misleading letters, who is vacationing in France, with very little luck. However, when an additional string of burglaries delays the Snort City Police department’s investigation into the allegations against Ike, revealing their poor crime-solving skills, Ike must examine the clues and solve the mystery on his own. Ike escapes from jail and makes it his mission to find out where the Hibbins' cats have disappeared to and what they are up to now.
        Teague uses letters written from Ike in simple language to make the reader completely believe that he, the dog, is actually writing the letters. There are also several “newspaper articles” shown in the book that help to give the setting and explain the circumstances of the plot. For example, towards the end there is a clipping from the Snort City Register/Gazette that tells about Ike being named an honorary detective. The combination of Ike’s letters, telling about his own part in the investigation and giving the story humor, and the newspaper clippings providing more serious plot information about the investigation and the humans' part in the story, gives the reader a chance to navigate various types of language and establishes visual interest on each page. The balance of formal language and narrative language makes the overall storytelling language very effective and gives young readers exposure to many critical language elements.
       Teague also uses the traditional theme of “the dog dislikes the cats” to help the reader see the humor in Ike trying to clear his name and lets younger students follow the action, because they understand the common cat vs. dog relationship from other movies and books. Teague also uses a good vs. evil theme typical of fictional stories about dogs and cats that further helps the readers to immerse themselves in the investigation. This relationship, while explained in the letters, is fully elaborated in the images that show the cats true colors.
      Perhaps the most valuable and intriguing part of this picture book are its extremely detailed, full-bleed illustrations. Teague uses his pictures to extremely extend beyond the text, showing the reader elements of both reality and fantasy. On most pages we see an image of Ike in color, depicting the reality of his investigation and his “jail time”, then we also see a picture in black and white, usually in a cloud or thought bubble, showing what Ike is saying that he is doing in his letters, the fantastical elements. For example on one page we see the postscript: "P.S. Imagine how I feel cooped up inside this loathsome dungeon!" is matched with a color illustration of Ike and a police officer playing a game of cards, as well as a black-and-white image of Ike being framed by the Hibbins' cats. The use of the two conflicting images lets the reader pick up on the fact that Ike is not actually doing what he says he is doing, like being trapped in jail or working hard to solve the case, but rather that he is having a great time playing games, ordering room service, and doing other fun and relaxing things. While many of the images are only partly consistent with what Ike’s letters say, the images and the text work together to create the sense of humor in the story, having the reader read one thing, and then look at the illustrations to see what the clever dog, Ike, is up to. In order for the story to be completely understood, the reader has to rely on the illustrations to get a lot of their information on the action. Despite the extent of Ike’s imagination, as a reader, we find the way the setting is depicted in the images to be authentic in detail and consistent with what information is given in the text.

         This book is recommended by the publisher, Scholastic, for children ages preK to 3rd grade; however, because Ike’s tale involves comedy and a level of suspense waiting on him to solve the crime, I found that it would be an enjoyable read aloud for older grades as well. The comical stories that Ike dreams up and sends in his letters to his owner will hold the interest of older students and had myself, laughing and enjoying the story as well. This book teaches students to read between lines and rely on the images to get the full story. Mark Teague's hilarious mystery makes for an excellent read aloud and would be a great addition to an elementary school classroom or library!

Check out the pre-quil-Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School

Picture Source: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/detective-larue#cart/cleanup

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night: By Joyce Sidman

       Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night was written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Rick Allen. The book received a John Newbery Honor in 2011. Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night is a book of poems written just for kids. Each poem is written from the perspective of an animal or other living thing's perspective, all centered around elements of nature at nighttime. The first poem "Welcome to the Night" invites the reader into the hidden world that is the night forest. We sense that Sidman understands her audience (grades 3-6) using language that is easy to understand, yet is vivid enough to create a clear picture of the nighttime forest. The poems, told from an animal's or living things perspective, are perfectly suited for younger readers as they introduce poetry in a pleasing way, not bogging the reader down with a need to analyze each sentence for hidden meaning. Each poem is accompanied by an informational paragraph about the element the poem discusses, letting the reader not only experience the beauty and mystery of the poem, but be able to learn about that living thing as well. The author also varies the way the text is displayed to add subtle visual elements to the pages, making the poems more engaging. For example, in the poem entitled "Dark Emperor", which is about the owl, we see that the spacing and placement of the text creates an owl. This is an easy but effective way the author draws the audience's attention to the text and helps the reader to understand what animal is being discussed.
         Illustrations by Rick Allen also help to engage the reader and add visual interest to the poems, allowing the reader to see what scenes and animals are being described by the poetic text. Rick Allen is a well known nature illustrator who is recognized for his unique printmaking style that uses linoleum cuts, wood engravings, broadsheets, and other printmaking techniques. The images in this book of poems used fairly muted tones and deep dark details made of solid black lines that help set the tone of a dark night for the reader. Allen's images seek to enhance the text by allowing the reader to see exactly what the imagery in the poem is describing.
        I believe that students in grades 3-6 would really enjoy reading this book of poems. The vivid images created by the text are further enhanced through the accompanying pictures, making this book the perfect way for young readers to be introduced to poetry. This book would also make for a good read-aloud because of its size and easy to view pictures. The educational value contained in the informational paragraphs also enhances the value of this book making it a great way for teachers to introduce nocturnal animals in nature.

For more books and information about nocturnal animals visit here: http://www.savvysource.com/parenting/11429-whos-not-sleeping-tonight-introducing-the-wonders-of-nighttime-animals 

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Emperor-Other-Poems-Night/dp/0547152280

Meet Addy-An American Girl: By Connie Porter

        On a summer night in 1964, nine-year-old Addy Walker awakes in the night to over hear her parents whispering about a secret plan they have been developing for some time--escaping slavery. Addy and her family, Momma, Daddy, big brother Sam, and baby sister Esther live on a plantation owned by Master Stevens, where they work in the fields and serve their master in the house. Momma and Daddy have planned for the family to run away along the rail tracks to a known safe house, where they will be helped to Philadelphia, to freedom.  However, before Addy's family can make their escape, something terrible happens. Daddy and Sam are sold to another master, at another plantation and the family is split up. This leaves Addy and her mother forced to take the terrifying risk of escaping by themselves to Philadelphia, in hopes the family will be reunited eventually. Addy and Momma over come great challenges such as crossing a raging river and dodging Confederate soldiers, before they finally reach the safe house.
         This historical fiction book tells the story of a slave family's struggle to escape to freedom during the Civil War. Connie Porter's portrayal of the era is very authentic, describing the plantation setting, the camaraderie amongst the slaves, and the hatred shown by the "overseers" at the plantation. The writing style used during the dialogue between the African American characters helps to make the text further believable through the use of the deep Southern accents we expect of these characters. Based off the "A Peek Into The Past"section, the historical content of the story was very well researched to ensure accuracy of information. The characterization of the Walker family is perfectly depicted for the time period, allowing readers to see the strength of family ties between slaves in the South.
         I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-6, with the consideration that there are a few vivid descriptions of the poor treatment of slaves by their masters that may need to be discussed further. This book would be a powerful addition to a study of slavery and the Civil War in that it describes slavery and escape to freedom from the perspective of a nine-year-old girl. Young readers will be able to relate to Addy's love for her family and desire to just be a kid, while gaining a greater understanding about the challenges African Americans faced in becoming free people.



Picture Source: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/meet-add

Ballots for Belva-A True Story of a Woman's Race for the Presidency: By Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

            In 1884, the only people allowed to vote in United States' elections were men. However, this did not stop Belva Lockwood wanting to do something about this unfairness. Belva realized that while it was not legal for her to vote, it was legal for others to give her their votes, so she decided to run for president of the United States of America, and miraculously, she received votes!
         Belva had spent her entire life trying to move the mountains that stood between her and her dreams. She went to law school, becoming the first woman to practice law in federal courts and the first to argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United States. She was a well respected lobbyist, public speaker, and women's rights activist. Despite these previously held, well respected roles, Belva Lockwood's presidential campaign was riddled with challenges. But despite the lack of financial support and large number of critics she faced, Belva never hesitated in her commitment to equality for all. She was determined to earn the respect-and votes- of her fellow citizens.
        While Belva did not win the presidency, author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen does a fabulous job with this little-known but richly deserving subject. The use of narrative to tell the story of Belva Lockwood allows the reader to see Belva as a real person, as opposed to someone from long, long ago who has no relatable qualities. This book uses a linear storyline of Belva's life, from childhood, to adulthood, to law school, and then running for president that organizes the information in a very easy to follow and understandable manner. Full bleed, color illustrations by Courtney A. Martin are both visually appealing and content enriching, letting the reader feel as though they have stepped back in time and are standing right alongside Belva on her journey. The author further enhances the educational purposed of this text through the addition of an "Author's Note" that gives more information about Belva's mission, a glossary with words related to voting and women's rights, a timeline of women's suffrage in the United States, and a bibliography of selected sources the reader could visit for further information. These many informational additions help to take the educational value of this book to the next level, giving readers a chance to go beyond just the knowledge taught in the text.
     This book would be best used in grades 2 through 6. The language, if certain words are discussed (i.e.-suffrage, ballot, etc.), is simple enough for younger readers, yet educationally valuable enough for upper-elementary aged students. This informational picture book would be a great read aloud addition to a study of equal rights, women's rights, or the process of running for president. Belva's story serves as an inspiration that reminds modern-day readers how far we have come since Belva's time, and shows us the way to keep fighting for equality of all people, on all levels.

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/Ballots-Belva-Story-Womans-Presidency/dp/1419716271

Police Patrol: By Katherine K. Winkleman

          As my little brother prepares to head off to Old Dominion University to study criminal justice in just under a month, I could not have chosen a more appropriate informational picture book to review. Police Patrol, by Katherine Winkleman offers the reader an educational and intriguing tour into the world of police work. Beginning with the police car cruising down a neighborhood street on the first end paper, each page spread introduces a new division of law enforcement. Cartoon-style illustrations by John Winkleman show each law enforcement division discussed in action, providing tons of details for the reader, and including informational labels for diagrams of an officer's uniform, inside a police station and more. Readers will get to learn about everything from undercover detectives to highway patrols, scuba units to bomb squads, and the Miranda warning to fingerprinting suspects. This book teaches young readers the official lingo used by law enforcement, from "perp" to radio codes like 10-4, 10-10 and much more. They'll also learn tips about how to stay safe anywhere, how to make a 911 call for help, all while developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for the hardworking people that keep us all safe.
          Informational picture book, Police Patrol, is brimming with knowledge about the world of law enforcement. Author Katherine Winkleman and her husband, illustrator John Winkleman, consulted over 100 police officers while researching for this book, make them excellent sources of information on this topic. Each subject explored contains a big blue heading that allows the reader to know exactly what is begin discussed and helps to create an organizational flow to the different pieces of law enforcement and the detailed images that accompany them. These illustrations are a crucial component of this book in that they provide so much information, not explained in the text. It is almost as if the pictures serve as a magnifying glass into the role of law enforcement, providing an in-depth view of its different purposes.
      Children grades K through 3 (ages 4-8) will love getting the inside scoop about law enforcement and learning about how police officers serve as community leaders in many diverse ways. Each brightly colored image serves as a miniature story in itself, jam-packed with details and information to enhance the text. This book would be great to use with younger children who are studying community leaders, but would also be useful to upper-elementary school students who could further contextualize the material being taught. I really appreciate the positive light that this book places on police officers and law enforcement, highlighting the huge role they play in making our communities safe. Police Patrol is a wonderful addition to any lower-elementary classroom library, or lesson about community leaders, teaching the reader everything they could ever want to know about law enforcement.

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/Police-Patrol-Katherine-K-Winkleman/dp/0802784534

Jason Rat-a-tat: By Colby Rodowsky

      In Jason Rat-a-tat, by Colby Rodowsky, we are introduced to Jason Miller's family who is always on the go running from one sporting even to the other. Unlike his sports loving family, Jason is not much for playing sports, and spends much of his time on the sidelines lying down watching the clouds drift by. Jason is just not happy in his sports-filled world, he'd much rather be tap-tap-taping a stick on the lid of a trash can or shake-shake-shaking a can filled with bottle caps. However, it is not until a weeklong visit from Jason's granddad that anyone notices Jason's attraction to anything and everything that goes rat-a-tat.
       Granddad decides to take matters into his own hands and buys all three of his grandchildren "unpresents", or presents not actually given for a special occasion. Sports lovers, Andrew and Emily, each get new bicycle accessories packaged in small and medium boxes, but Jason's gift comes in a much larger package. He reaches into the flaps of the big box, with his eyes closed, and feels something flat and round. "IT'S A DRUM," he yells. Jason's granddad, having realized his grandson's true passion was keeping beats and rhythms, buys him a snare drum and signs him up for lessons with the local band director, Sam. Ecstatic about having an activity schedule to hang next to his siblings', Jason's drumming skills improve rapidly and he joins the school band as a percussionist. In a moment of self revelation, the story of Jason ends with him finding his own unique identity; "I play the drum," he says pointing at his new Applewood Elementary School Band shirt.
       Rodowsky's Jason Rat-a-tat tells a rather simple, yet relatable story about a young man who finds his own niche, after struggling to fit into the one his family had chosen for him. The details provided about the setting and plot of the book allow young readers to find a high level of believability and relate-ability, as they make comparisons from their own lives to Jason's feelings of not fitting in.  While the story does not contain high levels of action, vivid characterization lets the reader become emotionally invested in Jason's challenge to find his own identity. Pencil sketches, by Beth Peck, enhance the scenes, allowing the reader create a clearer image of Jason's life.
      This realistic fiction novel would be a good read for readers just beginning chapter books. The reading level of this book would be most likely appropriate for students grades 2-4, but personally I believe the story does not contain enough plot action to hold the interest of the older or more advanced students in this range. The story of Jason reminds readers how important finding your passion is, and how critical that passion can be in developing a sense of self-identity.

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0374336717/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

Little Shark: By Anne Rockwell

       In light of all the recent news coverage involving an increased number of shark sightings in my favorite vacation spots, the Outer Banks, I found it only appropriate to review a book about these fascinating and often misunderstood creatures. Little Shark, by Anne Rockwell, tells the story of a shark born in the deep, dark depths of the ocean. Soon his whole family, including his mother and forty-nine brothers and sisters swim away, leaving Little Shark all alone. He is left alone to fend for himself against bigger sharks, who want to gobble him up. He must swim fast to dodge the bigger predators and in order to find his own food. Little Shark grows and grows, as he grows the readers get to learn all about shark anatomy, behaviors, and many other fun facts. At the end of the story Little Shark turns out to be a big blue shark, which we learn means he could grow to be twelve or thirteen feet long! The author closes the book with an "Author's Note" section that sheds some light on more information about sharks, specifically focusing on the blue shark.
     As written on the inside, back panel of the book, Anne Rockwell's son wanted to read every book about sharks he could get his hands on, thus inspiring the writing of Little Shark. This also makes Anne Rockwell a trusted authority, who is well read in the area of sharks.Anne Rockwell's writing style of using a narrative story within an informational picture book lends itself perfectly to creating a kid-friendly way to learn all about sharks. Beginning the book with the birth of a shark and allowing the reader to follow the same shark across its lifespan helps to organize the wealth of information in a way that aids understanding and creates relationships among concepts. Full bleed, color illustrations by Megan Halsey depicting various ocean scenes, different types of sharks, as well as labeled informational pieces such as shark skeletons and other details of shark anatomy help to solidify the reader's understanding of the text. They also enhance the book's content by letting the reader see the entire anatomy of a shark labeled and compared against a human skeleton, which allows the reader to connect the two related concepts.
      This informational picture book is recommended for ages 3 to 7, as it teaches all about sharks using very basic language and brightly colored, cartoon-style illustrations. This picture book would be great for children who are interested in learning about sharks or ocean life in general. I would also recommend this picture book for teachers who are teaching lessons about animals or ocean life. I enjoyed the friendly and simplistic use of illustration that helped to simplify the content and make it developmentally appropriate for the targeted age group. Little Shark does a wonderful job of shedding a positive light on the misunderstood creatures that we have found ourselves seeing portrayed as monsters on the news every other week this summer.
   
 Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Shark-Anne-Rockwell/dp/0802789552

Frindle: By Andrew Clements

            Frindle, by Andrew Clements, tells the story of Nicholas Allen, who was full of big ideas. In the third-grade he had turned the classroom into a tropical paradise complete with sand and palm trees. In the fourth-grade he spent the whole year chirping like a bird, confusing his teacher who never did figure out from where the noise was coming. But as Nick enters the fifth-grade, he faces a whole new challenge: Mrs. Granger.

           Everyone at Lincoln Elementary School knew that fifth-grade language arts teacher, Mrs. Granger, had x-ray vision, and never let anyone get anyway with anything in her classroom; surely Nick had met his match. But Nick’s big ideas could not be contained. After learning about how words are made, in a scheme to waste class time, he plotted his greatest plan ever: to invent a new word. His idea spread like wildfire, and soon every fifth-grader at Lincoln Elementary, then every student at Lincoln Elementary, then the entire USA, and then the entire world was calling a pen, a frindle.

            The creation of a new word caused quite a stir in Nick’s quiet town, and no one wished the nonsense would end sooner than Mrs. Granger, the school principal, and Nick’s parents, whose lives had been turned upside down dealing with the chaos. Soon Nick felt the same way, but the word no longer belonged to him because the entire world was using it. All that was left for the people of Westfield, Massachusetts to do was to sit back and watch the word take root.

            Andrew Clement’s realistic fiction novel, tells an imaginative tale about thinking outside the box and the power of the English language. His characterization and style of writing, draws the reader’s attention, creating a “good” vs. “bad” dynamic between Nick and Mrs. Granger that helps to heighten the excitement of the plan to make the word Frindle stick. The vivid and believable details given to describe the teachers at Lincoln Elementary and Nick’s family make the story seem as though it could have been set at any kid’s elementary school, allow young readers to relate to Nick’s life and find the story highly authentic. These younger readers find the story further credible through the inclusion of many black and white pencil drawings, by Brian Selznick, that solidify the scenes and characters created in each chapter.

            Per the publisher’s recommendation, Frindle is suggested for readers ages 8-12. I would say this is pretty accurate, as this age of reader will be able to relate to Nick’s character and the struggles he faces at Lincoln Elementary. I really enjoyed hearing about how one student created such a fuss in a small town that reminds me so much of my own hometown. This book will keep the reader guessing and wondering how far the word frindle will actually spread from the confines of Mrs. Granger’s class. Young readers will find themselves thinking about creating their own words when they see just how far frindle takes fifth-grader, Nicholas Allen.

Picture Source: www.andrewclements.com/books-frindle.html