Z is for Zookeeper

Smith, Marie and Roland. (2005). Z is for Zookeeper. Sleeping Bear Press: Michigan

Nonfiction

Z is for Zookeeper may seem like a book for younger grades, however it has some very mature elements to it. Z is for Zookeeper is a zoo alphabet in which each letter of the alphabet is represented by an animal or object that is important to a zoo. Words such as quarantine and incubator are used for the letters "Q" and "I". Each page offers cute illustrations with a poem about the word being used, as well as a paragraph that explains each animal/concept/object scientifically.

This book would be great to use as a whole-class read aloud before a field trip to the zoo. It would also be a useful tool to have in a classroom library due to the fact that it could be used as a scientific dictionary. This is a fun book and it offers enough nonfiction detail to where any K-5 student would find it useful and enjoyable.

The Cay

Taylor, T. (2002). The Cay. Yearling: New York.

Historical Fiction
Chapter Book

This novel is set during World War II in the Dutch West Indies. 11-year old Phillip loses his sight after being aboard a freighter that is struck (torpedoed) by a German submarine. Phillip wakes up on a raft with a West Indian man named Timothy. The two characters end up on an island where the story becomes a tale about friendship, survival, and overcoming racism that may have been a part of one's upbringing.

When reading this novel in 4th grade, I did not realize that it was historical fiction. Having read it at the college level, I can easily see the historical information that it provides and the lessons that it has the capability of teaching. This would be a great book to use in a 4th or 5th grade upper-level reading group. It would also be a nice novel to use as part of a social studies lesson about WWII. Students would also benefit from determining what makes this novel fiction despite its historical facts.

Thank You, Mr. Falker

Polacco, P. (1998). Thank You, Mr. Falker. Philomel Books: New York.

Realistic Fiction
Book about disabilities

Patricia Polacco wrote this story in order to inform readers about her learning disability as a child that made reading a huge personal struggle. Little Trisha's caring teacher, Mr. Falker, begins to clearly see why Trisha is struggling with reading and stays after school with her to help her learn and discover the magic of reading. Read this story to find out the exciting achievement/goal that Trisha meets!

Thank you, Mr. Falker would be a wonderful book to share with students when discussing learning styles. All students learn differently and and in unique ways and it is important for students to understand and appreciate that. This book will contribute to increasing classroom community and respect of fellow students.

The Small One

Walsh, A. (1995). The Small One. Disney Press: New York.

Multicultural Literature

The Small One would be a fantastic book to use in the classroom around Christmas time. This book has an underlying theme of Christianity and I believe it is important for children to be exposed to different religions and groups of people and how they celebrate specific holidays. This book is set in Nazareth and the culture of these people and this time period could be discussed in a deeper manner.

The Hunterman and the Crocodile

Diakite, B. (1997). The Hunterman and the Crocodile. Scholastic Press: New York.

Multicultural Literature

A West African Folktale, The Hunterman and the Crocodile, teaches readers the

"importance of living in harmony with nature and the necessity of

placing Man among-not above-all living things." Donso, the Hunterman 

encounters a crocodile, Bamba.Donso carries Bamba and his friends 

to a river and is almost tricked into beingeaten by the crocodiles.

As Donso begs for his life, a cow, a horse, and a mango tree give

the crocodiles full permission to eat Donso because of how cruely 

Man treats them. (Man eats mangos, Man uses horses for labor, etc). 

A rabbit passes during this commotion and asks to see Donso carry 

Bamba and his friends on his head. This was a trick used to save Donso 

and help bring him to his sick wife. 

The Hunterman and the Crocodile was a fabulous read and 

is a must-have in any classroom library. 

It could be used in a mini-lesson to learn 

about folktales, West African culture, or even the 

importance of making predictions while

reading stories. 

The Guardian Project

 Lee, S. (2011). The Guardian Project. POW! Entertainment: New York.

Modern Fantasy
Graphic Novel
Chapter Book

This graphic novel centers around the mascots of every team in the NHL (National Hockey League). Each mascot has a chapter in the novel in which they are portrayed as a Super Hero.  Each chapter also is set in that specific hockey team/mascot's home town. The illustrations are captivating and the mascots come to life in unique forms.

This book would be great to have in a classroom library. It would be a favorite of boys who love sports. Due to the fact that it has a "Super Hero" feel to it, I also believe that it would be a good and interesting read for boys. Not to mention, it is a terrific read at a 3-5 reading level.

A Day's Work

Bunting, E. (1994). A Day's Work. Clarion Books: New York

Multicultural Literature

Fransisco is a Hispanic boy who is helping his grandfather (abuelo) try to find work. They enlist under the services of a man named Ben. Fransisco tells Ben that although his abuelo may not speak English, he is a terrific gardener. This is a lie due to the fact that abuelo is actually a carpenter. Ben gives Fransisco and his abuelo a gardening job in which they manage to mess up completely. After a very nice apology from the pair, Ben forgives Fransisco and his abuelo and gives them new jobs.

This story addresses the stereotype that Americans have about Hispanics. It labels Hispanics as hard working males. Though this book could cause some controversy, I think it would be a good book to use when having to address the issue of stereotypes and the danger that they may cause in the classroom.

The Giver

Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. Bantam Books: New York

Modern Fantasy
Newberry Winner
Chapter Book

Jonas, an 11-year old boy, lives in a futuristic society in which all things we know as "bad" (suffering, hunger, war) have been eliminated. At the Ceremony of Twelve, children are assigned jobs based on their abilities and interests and Jonas is given the highly honorable job of Assignment of Receiver of Memory. He will be the keeper of the society's collective memory. The previous Receiver of Memory, a wise, old man who now becomes The Giver, passes memories, good and bad, down to Jonas. This job completely changes the way Jonas views the world and leads to he and The Giver's idea to devise a plan in order to stop the corruption that is happening in their community.

I read this book as a 5th grader in a upper-level reading group at Willow Springs Elementary School. It is one of the few I remember reading in elementary school due to how engaging and exciting it is. As a college student, I found it to be just as good as I remembered it to be when I was in 5th grade. I would suggest using this book in upper-level reading groups in a 4th or 5th grade classroom. There are many historic and new vocabulary words/ideas that may need to be discussed in depth (Utopian society, the idea of memories, futuristic qualities of the story) and those would be best discussed/learned in a small, higher-level reading group. Another activity that could be used with this novel is a writing assignment in which students put themselves in Jonas' shoes. How would they escape to Elsewhere? Do you wish our society today was similar to the society that Jonas lived in? What job do you think The Elders would assign to you?

Cinderella

Brown, M. ( 1997). Cinderella. Simon and Schuster: New York

Folk Literature
Caldecott Winner

This story is the classic version of Cinderella that we have all grown to know and love. Cinderella is left to live with her evil step-mother and step-sisters after the death of her father. She gets invited to a Royal Ball where she meets the Prince. They fall in love with one another, yet Cinderella must rush home before he even gets the chance to learn her name. She leaves behind a glass slipper and the Prince searches the whole town until he finds that the shoe fits none other than Cinderella herself. The author, Marcia Brown, makes the story come to life through her award-winning illustrations.

I would use this story when evaluating literature with a class or learning the characteristics of a fiction book or fairytale. It is important for grade 3-5 students to understand the defining characteristics of different types of literature. Cinderella by Marcia Brown would be a great story to use as a read aloud in which the students could raise their hands when they have identified a characteristic that makes this story a piece of fiction/fairytale and add it to a classroom chart.

No Talking

Clements, A. (2007). No Talking. Simon and Schuster: New York.

Realistic Fiction
Chapter Book

This story follows the fifth grade class at Laketon Elementary School as they compete in a "boys-against-girls no talking contest." Dave Packer, the ring leader of this contest, was reading about Mahatma Gandhi in social studies class and was fascinated by the idea that Gandhi did not talk for one day every week so that he could bring order to his mind. Becoming more and more aware of how loud others are while taking a day of silence, Dave bets Lynsey Burgess, the loudest fifth grade girl, that girls talk more than boys. This leads to the infamous two-day long contest in which the fifth grade girls and boys of Laketon Elementary School are to say as few words as possible. While many teachers are puzzled by this contest, it ends up being a wonderful lesson for the students and staff at Laketon Elementary School.

I would use this book when teaching students about the importance of making predictions while reading. The author, Andrew Clements, ends paragraphs and chapters by leaving the reader wanting more information. This book left me wondering "what will happen next?" quite often, therefore I believe it would be a great book for a whole-class read aloud in which predictions could be made daily.