Henri's Scissors

Written by Jeanette Winter in 2013, Henri's Scissors is an information text that tells the story of Henri Matisse who was a famous painter.  Henri becomes ill and unfortunately cannot paint anymore however he then discovers he can draw through cutting images out and becomes famous for his artwork involving intense shapes and vivid colors.  The author's note tells us that he lived from 1869-1954, which is interesting as a part of the story mentions how Henri would have his assistants paint paper for him.  This line in the text truly made me start thinking as the story never mentioned when exactly Matisse lived but through using my own schema I was able to determine that it was a long time ago as colored paper seemed to not exit. This book would be great to use in the classroom as it would encourage students to rely on their schema as well while reading. It also offers readers a view of artwork from another perspective other than simply drawing or painting.  Often times, unique forms of artwork can be overlooked and this story serves as a strong way to communicate the readers the value of art and its multidimensional definition of what artwork truly is.  Take a look at some of Henri Matisse's artwork below!

Alex the Parrot: No Ordinary Bird

Alex the Parrot: No Ordinary Bird is an informational children's text written by Stephanie Sinner and illustrated by Meilo So.  The story was published in 2012 and tells the true story of a thirty year education experiment

on an African grey parrot by the name of Alex.  Irene Pepperberg bought Alex when he was merely one year old and had the intention to prove to the world that birds were highly intelligent. Over the course of many years, Irene is able to teach Alex common phrases so that is intelligence is equivalent to that of three and four year olds.  Although she recieved much opposition from the public in regards to proving that birds are highly intelligent animals, the story takes readers on a journey to understand how smart they truly are.  This story is unique in the fact that it is a children's picture book but it is broken up into five separate chapters.  Each chapter heading gives readers a clue about what is ahead of them in the story.  For example, chapter two is entitled "Testing, Testing" and it tells about the dozens of tests Alex had to undergo to prove his intelligence.  By breaking this book into separate chapters, it serves as a great introduction for students who are beginning to read chapter books.  The short chapters help readers differentiate between various points in the story and the chapters can also be used as a resource for rereading to find important information.  The front flap of this story also serves a great resource for readers as it offers an introduction to the story line and the importance of Alex the parrot.  Readers should be encouraged to read the front flap before opening the book to begin reading as they will be supplied with sufficient background information regarding the life of Alex.  The text also includes very vivid illustrations that aid in reader comprehension. By paying close attention to the illustrations within the story, the reader will begin to feel like they are right there with Alex in order to understand how important he was in the establishment of studying the intelligence of animals.

Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum

Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum is an information text that was written in 2010 by Meghan McCarthy.  This picture book is an excellent resource for children as it contains a plethora of facts regarding the creation of the treasured childhood treat of bubblegum.  The author takes readers on a journey to follow Walter Deimer as he perfects the perfect recipe to make bubblegum.  Set in the 1920's, this story's vivid use of images allows readers to feel like they are part of the bubblegum making process themselves. The story has a very simple structure as the words are easy to read and the narration of this story is very straightforward.  There is text on almost every page and they story is told in chronologically order as readers follow the many trial and errors it took to perfect the bubblegum recipe. The whole story contains narrative text as the story of Walter Deimer’s creation of bubblegum is being told for readers to follow along.  Along these same lines, the book contains a majority of expository text as it is revealing accurate information regarding the creation of bubblegum.  An aspect of this story that truly makes it stand out and extremely informational for readers is through the page at the end of the story that includes more information on Walter Diemer, facts about bubble gum, and references to quotes that can be found within the text.  Through reading this, readers are able to understand the whole story of Walter Deimer and recognize that the elements within the story were true in regards to how bubblegum came to be. All in all, Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum serves as a fun informational text for readers about the creation of something many people love so much. Through this, the text encourages readers to look at even the littlest things in a new manner as it encourages students to question and explore the history of many things they love so dearly.

Feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers

that perches in the soul,
And sings the tune-- without the words,
And never stops at all

- Emily Dickinson 

Jacqueline Woodson is a three time award winning Newberry Honor Author and her book Feathers is no exception to this award winning spirit. Written in 2007,  Feathers tells the story of Frannie who is sixth grade student growing up during the 70's.  This story serves as a great resource for ELA integration into a social studies unit as the story centers around the many issues associated with discrimination during this time.  Readers are able to see the divide present between the African American students and the white students as their town is essentially divided by a railroad track where the African Americans live on one side and the white people live on the other.  This stereotype holds true in school as well as it was often the case that the children attending these schools were in turn divided by color depending on which side of the railroad tracks they lived on.  The novel truly begins to come to life after "Jesus Boy" arrives at Frannie's school and becomes the subject of much bullying within the classroom becuase he is a white boy attending school on the African American side of the tracks.  As the story unfolds,  Frannie begins to learn more about herself than she ever envisioned and she also begins to recognize the effect bullying can have on an individual. 

The title of the story Feathers, serves a metaphor for a larger concept that is illustrated throughout the book.  Frannie hears the Emily Dickinson poem comparing hope to feathers in class and spends the majority of the book searching for the meaning to this poem.  Through this exploration, Frannie begins to see many things in a new light as she begins to truly mature and understand life.  Through searching for the meaning of hope, Frannie is able to see her brother's deafness in a new manner and even appreciate and truly get to know the "Jesus Boy" who has begun attending her school.  This book is a great read for upper elementary school students as it shows readers how Frannie can look beneath the surface to understand larger issues in life while at the same time encouraging readers to do so as well.

Before we were Free

Before we were Free is a Pura Belpre Award winning historical fiction novel written by Julia Alvarez in 2002. Prior to reading this book, I was not extremely interested in it as I am notoriously not a huge fans of reading books about history specifically if the novel centers around an aspect of history that I have little knowledge about. However, Julia Alvarez writes with such a smooth sense that I was instantly engaged in the novel from the very beginning. The story centers around issues regarding freedom from the dictator of the Dominican Republic during the 1960's and the story is told from Anita's point of view, who is a 12 year old struggling to understand the issues with freedom her country is undergoing while also trying to be free herself as a young girl

Reading this story informed me of a part of history that has forever been absent to me. Growing up as an American student, the history of the struggles in the Dominican Republic were never brought to my attention and after reading the author's note at the end of the text I came to realize the importance of untold stories.  Julia Alvarez describes through her author's note that she grew up during this time in the Dominican Republic and was directly affected by it as well.  Through reading the author's note, the reader is able to feel the emotion that Alvarez put into the text and the story in turn begins to take on a whole new meaning.   Although this text is fictional in theory, the historical aspects in turn are completely accurate.  Through telling the story of how how a country and family specifically overcame such political scrutiny to in turn free themselves by coming to a new land, Alvarez is able to tell her story to readers from the viewpoint of those who stayed behind in order to keep alive an important part of history in regards to the liberation of the Dominican Republic.

The Map Trap

Growing up, I read a plethora of Andrew Clements books.  In fact, he was one of my favorite childhood authors so when I walked into the library and saw his newest publication The Map Trap sitting on the shelf, I just knew I had to read it.  The Map Trap was published earlier this year in July of 2014 and was probably one of the easiest books to read that I have ever read. From the start of the story, Clements draws readers in as they instantly feel a connection to the main character Alton Barnes.  Alton Barnes has had a love for creating maps ever since he was as little kid, however his maps are unique in the sense that they do not necessarily serve for the means of directional use.  Rather, his maps also chart other things such as the way he believes his teachers brain is wired and they also expel his true feelings on the people close to him in life.  Alton keeps these maps at school in his locker, however after showing them to one of the cool kids in his class his maps all of a sudden go missing.  The story takes readers on an exploration with Alton as he figures out who indeed stole his maps, however Alton in turn learns a lot
more through the process which illustrates to readers that ones actions do in turn have consequences.

A unique aspect to this modern chapter book is through Andrew Clements use of illustrations periodically within the text.  When studying the illustrations, they are all done in the form of pencil sketches throughout the book and not extremely detailed as they are lacking color and are simply  black and white.  However, the use of pencil sketches allows readers to feel like they are reading one of Altons maps along with him as his maps were most likely drawn in the same sense.  The illustrations allow readers to connect with the text in a deeper sense as well as they can visualize the words that are being written on each page.  Introducing The Map Trap to a classroom would serve as a great novel study as the book engages readers to work along with Alton to figure out who indeed stole the maps.  This novel integrates social studies with literature as well as the curriculum could be structured to integrate a geography lesson along with reading this book.  All in all, The Map Thief is rich in information and could be used in association with many other lessons throughout the classroom.  

When You Reach Me

Written by Rebecca Stead and published in 2009,  When You Reach Me is a science fiction children's novel that is also a winner of the Newbery Medal Award.  While reading this book, I honestly found it very difficult to follow along and do not know that I would necessarily recommend it for an elementary school student to read. The plot is extremely complex and is probably best suited for a middle grades student.  When You Reach Me is a text that should be read multiple times in order for it to be understood in its entirety, however its intense plot allows readers to truly focus in with their attention in order to understand the book in its entirety. The story is based around a girl named Miranda who begins recieving notes from a stranger.  Throughout the story, Miranda struggles to solve the many mysteries associated with recieving these notes, while in the end learning more about herself and her friends than she could have ever imagined.  As the story draws to close, readers soon realize that the strange notes are coming from the Laughing Man who is in turn essentially an older version of Sal. 

Written from the view of Miranda, readers learn that A Wrinkle in Time  is her favorite book.  Miranda's love for this book allows readers to draw many connections between elements of both stories.  For instance, Miranda is constantly fascinated with the desire to travel through time, which is present within A Wrinkle in Time.  Through the incorporation of time travel withing the text, the author is able to illustrate her view that going back in time is simply ones desire to change the fulfill the future rather than change it.  Miranda is able to help readers understand this during her evolution as a character throughout the text.  By the end, readers will view Miranda as a adolescent just like themselves who is struggling to understand the world and the people she loves that are a part of her world.
point of Miranda, this novel offers readers a glimpse into the life of a middle school girl which many tween and teen readers will easily be able to relate with.  As she tells her story about the game show her mom is entering to try and win the family a significant amount of money, her dialogue includes a blend a historical, mysterious, and scientific fictional elements.  One unique element of this text is that the main character, Miranda, is constantly carrying around with her