Fiction (textbook assignment #1)

Martina, the beautiful cockroach

 Deedy, C. A. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree. 

Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha lives with her cuban family in a street lamp in Old Havana. The day had finally arrived, Martina turned 21 days old and is of age to marry. The news is heard throughout the neighborhood. Before meeting her first suitor, all the ladies eagerly give Martina some gifts. But abuela gives Martina some shocking advice. Martina needs to put each suitor through the coffee test. Abela says, "Trust me, Martina. The coffee test never fails."

Assignment: 
Martina, the beautiful cockroach best exemplifies characters in the evaluation criteria. Each character is developed and illustrator with its own unique characteristics. For example, Abuela is shown to have wisdom. As the parrot is shown flying, the rest of the community characters are unique. The donkey appears to be laughing while the cow is shocked. As for the suitors, each displays different characterizations. The rooster appears to be egocentric. While the rat appears to be humble. I choose Martina, the beautiful cockroach is an example of illustrations criteria. Each page is filled with colors. There is no white space on the pages. The illustrations are given detail, which creates the mood of the story. For example, the puddles of liquid the pig leaves behind are displayed to be smelly. Which conveys the message the pig stinks. The illustrators also uses a variety of colors, some warm and contrasting colors. Some of the illustrations appear to be realistic, like the label on the can of frijoles negros.

Book trailer: 

Lesson plans:
http://www.beautifulmartina.com/index.html

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=9095

http://readingtokids.org/Books/BookView.php?bookID=00000692

Author & Book webpage:
http://www.beautifulmartina.com

https://carmenagradeedy.com

Additional books:
The cheshire cheese cat
14 cows for America
The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark
The Library Dragon
The Secret of Old Zeb
Agatha’s Feather Bed: Not Just Another Wild Goose Story
The last dance
Growing Up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia

The Legend of the Bluebonnets

 DePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

 

The Comanche people are in danger. A drought is killing the land and people. She-Who-Is-Alone lost her family to famine and is being raised by the tribe. Her warrior doll is the only reminder of her parents and her greatest possession. When the shaman returns, he speaks of the Great Spirits being angry. In order for the drought to end, the tribe must sacrifice their most valued possession. Courageously She-Who-Is-Alone sacrifices her warrior doll during the night. In the morning, there are beautiful bluebonnets where She-Who-Is-Alone spread the doll's ashes. 

Assignment:
Legend of the Bluebonnet is best representation of this visual element. As I looked at the illustrations, I noticed an abundant use of shapes. In the first two pages of the story, I noticed many rectangles: the ground, the totem pole, people’s legs. Also, the sun is symmetrical (drawn using rectangles and circle). The teepees are triangular shaped. Lastly, shapes are found on the clothing of the Comanche people. I noticed rectangle lines, triangles, small circles on their wraps.

Book trailer:



Lesson plans/Additional resources:
http://www.readworks.org/get/6379/lessons-grade1-genre

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/legend-bluebonnet-discussion-guide

http://www.visitennis.org/images/bbmap2016.pdf


Author webpage:
http://www.tomie.com/main.html


Additional books:
Tommie DePaola has written over 200 hundred books. Below is a link to ordering autograph books. 
http://www.morganhillbookstore.com/tomie-depaola-autographed-books

Olivia

 Falconer, I. (2000). Olivia. New York, NY: Anne Schwartz Book.

Olivia lives with her parents, a brother, and her dog and cat. She's an overly energetic pig. The reader follows Olivia throughout the day (plays with her brother, goes to beach and museum, gets in trouble for painting on wall). From the moment she wakes up to going to bed. As she sleeps, the reader will notice Olivia begin to dream. In her dream, Olivia is singing. Even her sleep, Olivia is energetic.  

Assignment:

Olivia is an example of color. Most of the illustrations are in black and white. As she tries on her clothes, every item she tries is red. My eyes quickly found all the color as I turned the pages. When Olivia’s mom enters her room, I noticed her wearing a black skirt. It stood out in the page. That made me realize that mom was the focal point on that page. Olivia, the main character, is shown throughout the story with color while around her its black and white.

Book trailer:


Lesson plans:
http://www.oliviathepiglet.com

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=5097&a=1

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/olivia.php


Additional books:
Olivia saves the circus
Olivia and the missing toy
Olivia forms a band
Olivia's opposites
Olivia counts
Olivia inspirational quotes
Olivia paper theatre
Olivia helps with Christmas

Where the wild things are

 Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Max wears his wolf suit and creates mischief at home. When he's rude to his mom, Max "Wild thing" is sent to his room without eating supper. "That very night in Max's room a forest grew and grew..." until his room becomes a jungle. For almost a year, Max sets sail on a boat across the ocean. He wants to reach the island where the wild things are. There Max tames the wild things and becomes their king. After playing, Max sends them to bed without their supper. Max feels lonely and decides to return home where he finds his supper waiting for him.

Assignment:

I noticed the illustrator added little lines to each drawing. These lines were used to show realistic features. For example on the Max’s suit, there are many small lines which makes me think of fur. Also, I noticed on the carpet in Max’s room. What made me choose texture was the water scenes. The illustrator uses different colors to illustrate moving water. As I flipped through the pages, almost everything shows texture. The scales, the hair, and fur of the wild things. The majority of the trees and leaves also show some form of texture.

Book trailer:




Lesson plans:
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/where-the-wild-things-are

http://www.randomhouse.com.au/content/teachers/tsk_where_the_wild_things_are.pdf

http://lessonplanspage.com/lawildthingsstoryelementsk2-htm/


Additional books:
This author and illustrator has many books. Below is a link to his books.
https://www.harpercollins.com/search-results?contributor=maurice-sendak

Mirror mirror

 Singer, M. (2010). Mirror mirror. New York, NY: Dutton Children's books.

The book is written in poetry verses. The author uses classical fairy tales and reverses the verse to create a different poem. In Cinderella's Double Life, the first poem tells of Cinderella having to shine shoes till midnight. The reverse poem tells of Cinderella dancing with the prince. 

Assignment:

This book exemplifies the criteria of style. This author’s unique style of writing, reverso. Some verses were read differently, while some remained the same. For example, In Rapunzel’s locks, the verse convey the same meaning. In the doubtful duckling, the verses contrast each other. One duckling will stay the same (pessimist), while the other knows it will become beautiful (optimism).

Book trailer:


Lesson plans:
http://www.penguin.com/static/images/yr/pdf/LessonPlans_MirrorMirror.pdf

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=21923


Author webpage:
http://marilynsinger.net


Additional books:
Follow the link for additional books by author.
http://marilynsinger.net/category/books/

The three little pigs

 Wiesner, D. (n.d.). The three little pigs [Kindle e-book]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com

The three pigs set out into the world. The first pig built his home out of straw. Along comes a wolf and blows the pig out of the story. The second pig built his home out of sticks. Along comes a wolf and blows the pig out of the story. The third pig makes his home out of brick. But before the wolf comes by, the pigs convince the the third pig to join them and off they go on an adventure. 

Assignment:

The Three Pigs exemplifies the evaluation criteria of plot. As the book begins, the reader encounters the conflict. The wolf is blowing the house down and the pig is shown escaping off the story. The story continues with the second pig escaping as well. The conflict continues with the pigs showing the story being wadded up or made into a paper airplane. The pigs are shown flying into other stories and save two characters. In the end, the pigs return to their original story and the reader sees the conflict being solved. The wolf climbs into the chimney, not knowing the pigs are about to make soup.

Lesson plans:
https://www.teachingbooks.net/content/Wiesner_activity_guide.pdf

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=6772

http://www.hmhbooks.com/wiesner/wiesner_dg.pdf


Author webpage:
http://www.hmhbooks.com/wiesner/


Additional books:
Spot                                                        June 29, 1999
Mr. Wuffles                                             Tuesday
Art & Max                                                Hurricane
Flotsam                                                   Sector 7

This is not my hat

 Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat [Kindle e-book]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com

A small fish comes upon a larger fish sleeping in the ocean. The little fish likes the bigger fish's hat and takes it. The little fish swims away thinking the big fish will wake up much later. The little fish thinks the big fish will never find him. However, the big fish wakes up and notices his hat is gone. The big fish follows the track of the little fish until...the big fish returns with his hat.

Assignment:

This book demonstrates a theme: stealing. The little fish takes the hat and hides from the big fish as he naps. He thinks he will get away with it.

Book trailer:


Lesson plans/Activities:
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763655988.kit.2.pdf

http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763649902.kit.1.pdf

https://www.pinterest.com/wendyrozman/this-is-not-my-hat-i-want-my-hat-back/

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=31415


Additional books:
I want my hat back
Extra yarn
Cats night out
Sam & Dave dig a hole
House held up by trees
The nest
Pax
The mysterious howling
The incorrigible children of Ashton Place
The hidden gallery
The unseen guest

My teacher is a monster

 Brown, P. (2014). My teacher is a monster [Kindle e-book]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com

Bobby thinks his teacher is a monster. Mrs. Kirby is always getting after him. When Bobby isn't in school, he loves to spend his free time in the park. But one Saturday morning, he encounters Mrs. Kirby sitting in a bench. Out of nowhere, a gust of wind blows Mrs. Kirby's hat. Bobby helps her catch the hat that was given to her by her grandmother. From this mishap, both realize they're not so different after all. 

Assignment:

My teacher is a monster unities all the visual elements together. First, Ms. Kirby is shown speaking using speech bubbles. Also, she speaks very directly. Example, “This is lovely.” or “Be careful!” The illustrator uses semi circles to illustrate the rocks at the park. Ms. Kirby’s outfit is filled with shapes: buttons (circle), collar (triangle), sleeves, legs, and arms (rectangles). In addition, Ms. Kirby’s face is part round and square. The trees in the park are illustrated to show texture. Ms. Kirby’s hair is drawn using swirls, which stand out. Last, Ms. Kirby is green in the beginning. Then she is being transformed into different colors in the plot and end green again at the end of the story.

Book trailer:


Lesson plans/Activities:
http://www.peterbrownstudio.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TeacherMonster_kit.pdf

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=40066


Author webpage:
http://www.peterbrownstudio.com


Additional books:
The wild robot
Mr. Tiger goes wild
Creepy carrots!
You will be my friend!
Children make terrible pets
The purple kangaroo
The curious garden
The fabulous bouncing chowder
Chowder
Flight of the Dodo
Kaline Klattermaster's tree house
Snowbound
Bark belly

It's a book

 Smith, L. (2010). It's a book. NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Its print vs. digital in this story. Monkey is peacefully reading his book, when donkey asks, "What is it?" Monkey replies, "It's a book." Donkey is the technology guru, while monkey simple enjoys reading a book. Donkey continuous to ask questions: "Can you blog with it?" tweet? text? need password? wifi? While monkey patiently answers, "It's a book."

Assignment:

It’s a book exemplifies the visual element of line. The author’s use of simple vocabulary, repetition, and the use of speech bubbles. 

Book trailer:



Lesson plans:
https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=20045

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/its-a-book

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/children-picture-book-project-1022.html?tab=1#tabs


Author webpage:
http://www.lanesmithbooks.com/LaneSmithBooks/Its_a_Book.html


Additional books:
Grandpa Green
Madam President
John, Paul, George, & Ben

The Paper bag princess

 Munich, R. N. (2005). The paper bag princess. New York: Annick Press.

Elizabeth, a beautiful princess, who wears fancy clothes will be marrying Prince Ronald soon. One day, a dragon smashes into her castle and carries Prince Ronald with him. Princess Elizabeth decides to chase the dragon and rescue the prince, but first she had to find clothes. The princess searches until she finds the only thing not burned, a paper bag. Elizabeth tracks the dragon and has him complete some challenges. Afterwards, she rescues the prince. But he tells Elizabeth, "Come back when you are dressed like a real princess." 

Assignment:

The paper bag princess is the book I choose for setting. On the first page of the story, readers see the setting of the story, the castle. On the second page, the castle is destroyed and it appears the princess is standing outside. As I turned each page, the setting continued to changed. Each setting is vital to the storyline. The princess loses her castle and prince. She decides to go and rescue the prince. Each setting change represents the princess getting closer to her goal, rescuing the prince.

Book trailer:



Lesson plans:
http://www.education.com/lesson-plan/the-paper-bag-princess/

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/teaching-about-story-structure-874.html?tab=4

http://lessonplanspage.com/lathepaperbagprincess-translateideasoutline12-htm/

https://www.pinterest.com/sharlenedilley/paperbag-princess/


Author webpage:
http://robertmunsch.com


Additional books:
Clink on the link below to see a list of book written by Robert Munsch.
http://robertmunsch.com/books