Carol Marano Annotated Bibliography EDUC 432: Using Childrens Books in the Writing Curriculum Summer 2013--Mrs.

April Silimperi

Spinelli, Jerry. 1996. Crash. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. ISBN #: 0-679-87957-9 Genre: Fiction Age/Interest Level: Grades 4-8 Red Flags: Bullying, Illness of a grandparent Summary: Author Jerry Spinelli uses humor, scheming and teenage dialogue to introduce young readers to John Crash Coogan. Crash is the star athlete, a good enough student, and a bully. Early in the story, six year-old Crash meets Penn Webb, his dweeby new neighbor. Laugh and grow with Crash as his relationships with Penn, his hippie little sister Abby, his work-a-holic parents, and Scooter his beloved grandfather change his perspective on whats really important in life. Mini Lesssons: Snapshot-character and event Descriptive language Foreshadowing Mood Dialogue Style Diverse characters Thought shot

Cleary, Beverly. 1983. Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: Dell Publishing ISBN # 0-440-71794-9 Genre: Fiction Age/Interest Level: Grades 4-8 Red Flags: Divorce Summary: Moving to a new school is never easy, especially if your parents just got divorced. Leigh Botts, a lonely boy with a funny name, turns to his favorite author to reveal his deepest feelings and thoughts. Although the pen-pal relationship begins as nothing more than a repeating homework assignment, Leighs letters and journal entries help him come to terms with his sadness, while his writing skills develop. He misses his dad, his dog and has to deal with a lunch box thief. This young boy uses his journal to overcome in and out of the classroom. Mini Lessons: Organization Point of View Journal writing Letter writing Snapshot Character development Dialogue Idioms Literary devices: personification, alliteration, repetition

Willems, Mo. 2007. Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN # 1-4231-0299-1 Genre: Fiction Age/Interest Level: Ages 3-6 Red Flags: None
Summary: This hilarious book showcases a day in the life of Trixie and her doting parents from morning through bedtime and beyond! What appears to be a regular school day turns into a six year-olds worst nightmare, and one that cant be fixed without the help of some devoted dads. The illustrations on top of cityscape photographs complement this realistic fiction to make it as enjoyable for grown-ups as children. Mini-Lessons: Organizaiton: Problem/SituationRising ActionClimax Resolution Character development Voice Humor Visual craft Dialogue with speech bubbles Inference

Hopkinson, Deborah. 2003. Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers ISBN#: 1-4231-0299-1 Genre: Biography Age/Interest Level: Grades 3-5 Red Flags: None
Summary: Its the 1900s and a promising baseball talent is emerging in Ohio, but the only problem isshes a girl! Organized into nine fine innings, Alta Weiss finds a way to play and proves herself on and off the baseball diamond. Mini Lessons: Organization Voice-honoring speech Dialogue Types of sentences Literary Devices: alliteration, similes, Thought shot Anecdote

Hayes, Joe. 2006 The Gum Chewing Rattler El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press ISBN#: 0-938317-99-7 Genre: Tall Tale Age/Interest Level: Grades 2-5 Red Flags: Snakes

Summary: Like many tall tales, this fictional story is set in the southwest. Joes mom has had enough of his bubble gum chewing. His forgetfulness makes her chore of laundry day even harder. He tells her a whopper of a tale explaining how his gum habit saved his life with hopes that shell forgive and forget. Mini Lessons: Content-Explode the moment Rising action First person narrative Tone Dialogue Literary devices: onomatopoeia, exaggeration Vivid verbs Types of Sentences (Beginning with conjunctions for affect) Visual craft

Michelson, Richard. 2006 Across the Alley New York: G.P. Putnams Sons ISBN#: 0-399-23970-7 Genre: Historical Fiction Age/Interest Level: Grades 3-5 Red Flags: Prejudice
Summary: Abe must spend his time practicing his violin, while Willie practices his pitching. They can only be best friends from their bedroom windows after dark because Abe is Jewish and Willie is black. One night, Abes grandfather catches them, but rather than get angry, he encourages their friendship by allowing them to teach one another their special talents. Mini Lessons: Organization Foreshadowing Dialogue Vivid Verbs Visualization Literary Devices: Similes, personification, Moral theme Explode the moment

Loewen, Nancy. 2007 If You Were a Preposition Mankato, MN: Picture Window Books ISBN#: 0-399-23970-7 Genre: Expository Non-fiction Age/Interest Level: Grades 3-6 Red Flags: None

Summary: Sometimes things are right under our noses, and we cant see them! Thats the funny thing about prepositions. This humorous grammar companion explains the job of a preposition, its uses, and shows readers where to find them. Mini-Lessons: Informational/Expository writing Organization (by task) Visual craft-to explain, direct, label Ellipses Types of sentences Activities to try Reference guide: Glossary, Index, Learn More:

Polacco, Patricia. 2007 The Lemonade Club New York: Philomel Books: a division of Penguin Young Readers ISBN#: 978-0-399-245540 Genre: Realistic Non-fiction Age/Interest Level: Grades 4-8 Red Flags: Cancer (Leukemia & Breast Cancer), Hair loss

Summary: Every classroom has a diverse group of students, and Miss Wichelmans fifth grade class is no different. Miss Wichelman is a loving and thoughtful teacher whose mantra is, When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. As the school year progresses, Marilyn is losing weight and the class soon learns she is battling Leukemia. The children decide on a way to show Marilyn how special she is. As time passes, Marilyn starts healing, but Miss Wichelmans students recognize signs of the illness in their teacher. This true account is a heart-warming survival story showcasing the power of positive thinking and value of friendship. Mini-Lessons: Plot Time order words Dialogue

Thought shot Foreshadowing Biographical account Afterward with biographical information

Doney, Todd. Otten, Charlotte. 1997 January Rides the Wind New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books/Morrow ISBN#: 0-688-12556-5 Genre: Poetry Age/Interest Level: Grades 4-8 Red Flags: None

Summary: Each month of the year is given tribute with poetic sight and sound. Mother Nature has something to offer as the seasons pass through the year, and each poem poignantly recognizes this. Mini-Lessons: Organization-months of the year Rhyme Rhythm Thought shot with sensory words Literary Devices: Personification, Alliteration Vivid Verbs Sequence words

Blume, Leslie M.M. 2008 Tennyson New York: Yearling-Random House Childrens Books ISBN#: 0-440-24061-1 Genre: Fiction Age/Interest Level: Grades 5-9 Red Flags: Parent abandoning their family
Summary: Thats what the Mississippi does, it tempts you in and then it catches you. It loves you and doesnt let you go. Tennyson will draw you in the same way through an intense story plot (that can get very dark sometimes,) dreamlike setting and rich characters. Its the depression, and the Deep South has not been spared. This couldnt be more evident than in the haunting mansions that stand like bare bones on the banks of the Mississippi River. Tennyson and her sister Hattie have been placed in Aunt Henriettas care at Airgrodoux while their father Emory searches for their unstable, runaway mother. Tennysons dreams flashback to the Airgrodoux of the Civil War where she witnesses the selfishness of her confederate wealthy ancestors. She decides to use her superior writing skills and the details of her dreams to lure her mother back to them. Mini-Lessons: Plot Story within a story Flashback Style-Imagery Dialogue

Thought shot Sensory words Explode the moment Snapshot Vivid Verbs Anecdotes

Pilkey, Dav 1994 Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis New York: The Blue Sky Press ISBN#: 0-590-47466-9 Genre: Fiction Age/Interest Level: Grades K-6 Red Flags: None

Summary: All dog owners can connect with Dav Pilkeys humorous story about Hally. Hally is the Tosiss loveable family dog. But theres one problem with Hally really bad breath! Its so bad that it peels wallpaper! The family tries everything to rid Hally of the bad breath, but to no avail. Finally, they decide to put him up for adoption until...he saves the day! Mini-Lessons: Focus Organization Cause/Effect Problem/Solution Vocabulary -Context clues Root words Prefixes/Suffixes

 Puns

Steig, William. 1976 The Amazing Bone Canada: Douglas & McIntyre, Inc. ISBN#: 0-808-52592-1 Genre: Fiction Age/Interest Level: Grades 3-6 Red Flags: Weapons, Kidnapping

Summary: Pearl, a gentle and loving pig finds a magical bone on her way home from school and treasures it. Unfortunately, she runs into some nasty characters that want it too. The fast friends keep themselves safe with some quick thinking. Mini Lessons: Organization-Problem/SituationRising ActionClimax Resolution Content-Explode the moment VERY expensive words Vocabulary building with context clues Mood using sensory words Style/Voice

Dialogue Vivid Verbs Thought Shot Literary Devices: Personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, similes

Sturges, Philemon. 1999 Bridges Are To Cross New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN #:0-439-13396-3 Age/Interest Level: 3-5 Genre: Expository Non-fiction Red Flags: None

Summary: Bridges Are To Cross takes the reader around the world to explore different types of bridges. The illustrations lend themselves in such a way that would easily extend lessons of geography, world cultures and mathematics. Mini Lessons Organization Dialogue Visual Craft-hints of print Vocabulary building with context clues

 Vivid verbs Meaningful endings Cause/Effect

Yorinks, Arthur and Drucker, Mort. 1994 Whitefish Will Rides Again New York: HarperCollins Publishers ISBN #:0-06-205037-0 Age/Interest Level: 2-5 Genre: Tall Tale Red Flags: Cowboy guns

Summary: Like most tall tales, this setting is the Old West and the list of characters includes a good guy, a bad guy and some town folk. The sheriff is put out to pasture because there are no more bad guys to rustle upuntil Bad Bart comes into town and steals everything he caneven their clothes! They lasso Sherriff Will back to town for the show down. Sheriff Will runs Bad Bart out of town with his harmonica. (This book is out of print, but very valuable-so if you have one, Yee-Haw! Mini Lessons: Content-Explode the moment Rising action Visual craft-hints of print Tone Literary devices: onomatopoeia, exaggeration Honor of speech

 Vivid verbs Types of Sentences (Beginning with conjunctions for affect)

Woodruff, Elvira. 1999 The Memory Coat New York: Scholastic Press ISBN #:0-590-67717-9 Age/Interest Level: Grades 4-8 Genre: Historical Fiction Red Flags: None Summary: By the end of the nineteenth century, 23 million immigrants have come to America to begin a new life. This overwhelming statistic can be molded into more of a reality for students with personal stories through this very special genre. The Memory Coat tells the story of Grisha, a young Russian Jewish boy who has lost his parents in an epidemic. His extended family takes him in, and they decide to emigrate to America to escape persecution. They worry during their long journey if they will all make it through inspections at Ellis Island, especially because of Grishas untimely accident and the tattered coat he refuses to leave behind. Mini Lessons: Focus Organization Flashback Voice Content-Explode the moment Powers of three Honor of speech and language Vocabulary building Hints of Print Dialogue Repetition Afterword with informational text

Dubois Jacobs, Paul and Swender, Jennifer. 2004 My Subway Ride Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith ISBN #: 1-58685-357-0 Age/Interest Level: Grades 2-6 Genre: Expository Non-fiction Red Flags: None Summary: If someone ever experienced the New York City subway system, even once, they will appreciate this lively literature selection. The book captures everything perfectly: the people, sights, and sounds. In reality, this subway system is home away from home for those who ride it daily. The authors showcase that every ride on the subway is one to be appreciated from borough to borough. Mini-Lessons: Organization Content Voice Maps Snapshot Explode the Moment Literary Devices: personification, alliteration, repetition Rhythm and Rhyme Use of White space Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, homonyms Honor of language Honor of phrases Grammar: Inflected endings