Akiak- a story read by Mrs. Bunger's 4th grade class

Akiak is a story about a dog that has a love for racing. This is her last year that she can participate in the Iditarod race. She is determine to win the race. She has to go through steep climbs, icing waters and confusing trails. Akiak knew the safest and fastest way. Unfortunately Akiak hurt her paw and was told she must go home. She was so determined that she broke from the leash and ran to catch up with her team. She ran and ran and never gave up. She finally found Mick and the team and jumped in the sled and finish the race, taking 1st place!!!

What's Next...

Since I've learned how to blog, I'm going to teach my students how to do so. I plan on starting with 6 students and having them post their opinions and summaries of books that they read! Blogging is an creative way to monitor student progress when summarizing books as well as recommending. Children love working with technology.

Continue to tune in while my class post about the literature they are reading.

Laurence Yep

I found it interesting that in his biography it says he has been in rivalry with his brother since the day he was born. Yep wants to get back at him since he (his brother) is the one who named him Laurence. His brother got the name from a saint who died a particularly gruesome death. Laurence is offended from this!

Some of Yep’s famous books include The Dragon’s Child, Dragon Road, Auntie Tiger, Sea Glass:1970, Dragonwings, The Traitor, Dragon Steel and many more.

One that I’ve read was Later Gator. It’s about a Chinese boy who realizes that he has a special bond with his brother. Teddy doesn't get along with his little brother, Bobby because he is jealous of him …he never gets in trouble. He treats him like he is his enemy. He decides to get his perfect brother and eye-popping. What better than a meat-eating alligator with hopes that he will get into trouble with it. The pet dies and he feels very bad for his brother. He begins to realize how much he does care for his brother.

What a great book to share with children who’ve had pets to pass away. It will help them cope with life disappointing moments.

Yoskiko Uchida

Another heart touching story I really enjoyed reading was The Bracelet. It takes place in 1942 during the U.S and Japanese War. Its about a Japanese girl has to leave her best friend to go to an interment camp. She learns to use her memories to help herself cope with difficult situations.
This is a great story to read to students who’ve had to pick up and move. It teaches them to cope with leaving people and places that you care about and to use the memories as a way to deal with the transition.
Many of Uchida’s writings are inspired by her Japanese heritage. Reading her books, children learn ways characters deal with emotional situations. This gives the children time to read about other children’s' experiences and see ways that they handled their own situation.
Other books that Yoskiko Uchida has written are A Jar of Dreams, The Best Bad Thing, Picture Bride, Journey to Topaz and others.

Jerry Pinkney

Ricki Ticki Tavi has beautiful water color paintings that Jerry Pinkney created. The paintings on each page fits perfectly with the text guiding the reader to visualize the story. Jerry Pinkney is a distinguished illustrator who has earned three Caldecott Awards. Other beautiful illustrations from Pinkney include The Ugly Duckling, Mirandy and Brother Wind, Little Red Riding Hood, God Bless the Child, Going Someplace Special, Noah’s Arc, and The Moon over the Star.

If you’re interested in learning more about Jerry Pinkney’s, here is his website. Enjoy!

http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html

Julius Lester- Let's Talk about Race

This book is one that I had never heard of before. After reading it, it’s one that I must purchase and put in my classroom library. I really like it because it discuss that we all are different and sometimes we think we’re better than others because of what school we go to, or because of our sex, or because of our religion or because of our skin color. In the book it finally reveals that if you take your finger and press under your eye, you will feel a hard bone. If you ask someone else if you can press under their eye you will also find a bone. The moral of the story is that if everyone were to take off their skin, we would all look the same!!
What a great book to read at the beginning of the school year to let children know that everyone is different but yet the same! I really enjoyed reading this book.

Other books written by Julius Lester are....

A Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue
And All Our Wounds Forgiven
Cupid: A Tale of Love and Desire
From Salve Ship to Freedom Road
Guardian
John Henry
Let's Talk About Race
Lovesong: Becoming A Jew
Pharaoh's Daughter: A Novel of Ancient Egypt
Sam and the Tigers: A New Telling of Little Black Sambo
Shining
Time's Memory
To Be A Slave
Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales
When Dad Killed Mom

The Cat in the Hat and The Lorax

I must admit that I’m not familiar with other books that present the tension that is presented in the Cat in the Hat. I, on the other hand, believe that tension can create excitement and curiosity to find out what happens. I am sure that there are other books out there that present tension but I am not sure which ones do. I think the tension in the Cat in the Hat makes this story a classic. I believe The Cat in the Hat always has and will continue to appeal to children. This book consists of rhyming which hooks the kids into listening to the creative words. When I read it for the first time (which was forever ago) I can remember reading on just to see if the children get in trouble.

The Lorax is a story that didactic and was controversial in 1971. I believe the message to the readers is if you don’t take care of your Earth, this is what could happen. It was believed (by critics) that this book was a bit harsh for children. I disagree. Children must be taught to take care of the World. This book shows them what could happen if they don’t.

Most of the books that are read in my classroom also teach a lesson. My students have learned to read and find the “theme” of the story which is the moral message.