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2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Animal: Donkeys
Country: Colombia
Simplified story based on a real person with illustrations that look cloth-like. Nothing too exciting.
Animal: Donkeys
Country: Colombia
Simplified story based on a real person with illustrations that look cloth-like. Nothing too exciting.
Age: K-2nd grade
Culture: China
History: Chinese Revolution
Tai Shan and his father, Baba, love to fly kites. When China's cultural revolution spreads throughout the land, Baba is taken away to a labor camp because the revolutionaries don't agree with his ideas. Tai Shan and Baba then communicate with their kites, Tai Shan on top of a hill and Baba in the camp. One day, Baba's kite does not appear. When it does not appear the next day, Tai Shan begins to worry for his father.
I love the motif of the kites that helps to carry a complex story along. However, I wish that we could have seen more of what Baba was doing (or not doing) to incite the anger of the revolutionaries. I know that 1st and 2nd graders will want to know why.
Culture: China
History: Chinese Revolution
Tai Shan and his father, Baba, love to fly kites. When China's cultural revolution spreads throughout the land, Baba is taken away to a labor camp because the revolutionaries don't agree with his ideas. Tai Shan and Baba then communicate with their kites, Tai Shan on top of a hill and Baba in the camp. One day, Baba's kite does not appear. When it does not appear the next day, Tai Shan begins to worry for his father.
I love the motif of the kites that helps to carry a complex story along. However, I wish that we could have seen more of what Baba was doing (or not doing) to incite the anger of the revolutionaries. I know that 1st and 2nd graders will want to know why.
Age: Middle school+
Culture: Afghani, Muslim
Zulaikha and her family provide an honest glimpse into the lives of Afghanis. I saw their daily rituals, their love for one another, and (although hard for me to read about the parts regarding women's suppression) their dedication to their culture and religion. Not only did I see Zulaikha's turbulent past with the Taliban, I saw her current interaction with a new set of gun-toting, interfering people--the American Army. Although some of the politics are briefly mentioned in passing, Reedy instead focuses on Zulaikha's contact with these foreigners. With her cleft lip, Zulaikha has been ridiculed her whole life and has a hard time eating. Although forbidden, she looks upon her older, beautiful sister with envy. When the newly arrived Americans promise Zulaikha an operation, in order to make it possible her family must sacrifice their precious time and must overcome their reluctance towards these culturally different people.
Culture: Afghani, Muslim
Zulaikha and her family provide an honest glimpse into the lives of Afghanis. I saw their daily rituals, their love for one another, and (although hard for me to read about the parts regarding women's suppression) their dedication to their culture and religion. Not only did I see Zulaikha's turbulent past with the Taliban
Spoiler
(her mother is killed for owning literature)
Culture: America and India
Comparing cultures on the macro level (family, pets, home, alphabet) and contrasting cultures on the micro level (large vs. small family, etc.). Accompanied with repetition ("Same, same but different") for a younger crowd.
Comparing cultures on the macro level (family, pets, home, alphabet) and contrasting cultures on the micro level (large vs. small family, etc.). Accompanied with repetition ("Same, same but different") for a younger crowd.
Age: 1st-3rd grade
Culture: Chinese Americans
Visits to Auntie and Uncle Yang's home in Illinois are always filled with family, food, games, and fun. One weekend, the whole family goes on a car trip through the countryside when Auntie Yang spots something she has never seen before in Illinois--soybeans, one of their favorite Chinese foods! At home they enjoy their very first soybean picnic, not realizing it will soon turn into an annual community event.
Perfect for the classroom, Lo introduces an array of Chinese and Chinese American traditions accompanied with illustrations on ceramic plates--yum!
Culture: Chinese Americans
Visits to Auntie and Uncle Yang's home in Illinois are always filled with family, food, games, and fun. One weekend, the whole family goes on a car trip through the countryside when Auntie Yang spots something she has never seen before in Illinois--soybeans, one of their favorite Chinese foods! At home they enjoy their very first soybean picnic, not realizing it will soon turn into an annual community event.
Perfect for the classroom, Lo introduces an array of Chinese and Chinese American traditions accompanied with illustrations on ceramic plates--yum!
Age: Preschool-2nd grade
Country: France
What if the tooth fairy was not a fairy but a mouse? And what if that mouse were to retire? Who would take up her responsibilities? Although the author doesn't describe why, Sophie, the littlest mouse, would love to be the Tooth Mouse. I enjoyed how the story was told as a 3-tiered competition, each tier eliminating contestants. The ending also allows the listener to guess what Sophie did to solve the problem.
Country: France
What if the tooth fairy was not a fairy but a mouse? And what if that mouse were to retire? Who would take up her responsibilities? Although the author doesn't describe why, Sophie, the littlest mouse, would love to be the Tooth Mouse. I enjoyed how the story was told as a 3-tiered competition, each tier eliminating contestants. The ending also allows the listener to guess what Sophie did to solve the problem.
Age: 4th-6th grade
A fictional story based on the true events of the lost boys of Sudan. Through many tribulations, Garang must co-lead a large group of children (in reality 30,000 refugee children) under the age of 15 across Sudan into Ethiopia. The boys hold on to love and their religious faith to escape their war-torn country and grapple with their new reality.
While the story is captivating and filled with facts, it does not work well as a fictional picture story. The drawings capture the trauma well but fail at the love the boys kept in the hearts. The facts are to crammed packed for an effective fictional story.
A fictional story based on the true events of the lost boys of Sudan. Through many tribulations, Garang must co-lead a large group of children (in reality 30,000 refugee children) under the age of 15 across Sudan into Ethiopia. The boys hold on to love and their religious faith to escape their war-torn country and grapple with their new reality.
While the story is captivating and filled with facts, it does not work well as a fictional picture story. The drawings capture the trauma well but fail at the love the boys kept in the hearts. The facts are to crammed packed for an effective fictional story.
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Art: Dancing
Why are the zoo animals always so tired when you visit? A little birdie builds up suspense as she reveals the real reason behind those sleepy creatures--after hours dance parties! Love the concept and love the dramatic pauses as the zookeeper visits but there are inconsistencies with the rhyming text which throws off the flow. You may want to do a dry-run of this book a couple times before reading aloud.
Art: Dancing
Why are the zoo animals always so tired when you visit? A little birdie builds up suspense as she reveals the real reason behind those sleepy creatures--after hours dance parties! Love the concept and love the dramatic pauses as the zookeeper visits but there are inconsistencies with the rhyming text which throws off the flow. You may want to do a dry-run of this book a couple times before reading aloud.
Age: Older Preschool+
Emotions: Playful, energetic, lonely, sad
Animals: Octopus, oyster
Special needs: Can be applied to a child with ADHD
Fred's having a hard time sitting still and his energetic playfulness is off-putting to other fish. "If you can't keep still, you can't stay here" say the sawfish, causing Fred to swim away feeling alone and sad. But Fred soon finds a friend with a propensity for play.
Onomatopoetic words and large, clear illustrations will make this a nice read-aloud. However, it doesn't have the most sophisticated, real world ending so it's best read to the younger crowd. (Fred and Scott's playfulness is missed and all the animals join together for a singalong dance party on the very last page.)
Emotions: Playful, energetic, lonely, sad
Animals: Octopus, oyster
Special needs: Can be applied to a child with ADHD
Fred's having a hard time sitting still and his energetic playfulness is off-putting to other fish. "If you can't keep still, you can't stay here" say the sawfish, causing Fred to swim away feeling alone and sad. But Fred soon finds a friend with a propensity for play.
Onomatopoetic words and large, clear illustrations will make this a nice read-aloud. However, it doesn't have the most sophisticated, real world ending so it's best read to the younger crowd. (Fred and Scott's playfulness is missed and all the animals join together for a singalong dance party on the very last page.)