Virginia

1. Jan Mader
2. Virginia
3. photos
4. general nonfiction
5. no subgenre
6. geography/states
7. no characters just facts
8. no awards, 2003
9. Children's Press

10. This book was a little different from most of the books I have read. It listed many facts about the state of Virginia. It mentioned things like the state bird, bodies of waters, and major mountains there in the state. There are many interesting attractions in this beautiful state. I encourage everyone to visit there. I have been there before and I absolutely loved Virginia Beach. This book also teaches us about the presidents that was from Virginia. This is a great book to be taught in a classroom for a geography or social studies lesson in grades, kindergarten-second.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

1. Mildred D. Taylor
2. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
3. n/a
4. historical fiction
5. no subgenre
6. African American History/courage/pride/honor
7. Cassie Logan, Little Man, Stacy, John, Papa, Mama, Uncle Hammer, and Big Ma
8. 1977 Newbery Medal, 1976
9. Penquin Group

10. This is a wonderful book that tells a story about an African American family struggling to survive during racism times. The Logan children were tortured every day as they walked to school by the white kids. They eventually made a plan to put a ditch in the road so, the school bus would break down with the white kids on it. The Logan's own a store and they decided to boycott, because a local black kid was killed by some white boys. During the Christmas time, Harlan Granger comes to talk to Papa and Uncle Hammer at their in attempt  for them to release the boycott. Mr. Granger wants to buy the Logan's land, but their not selling it. This book really defines the struggles that this black family endured during these hard times. This book would be great for students ages 9-11. It can teach them how this family faced prejudice and had courage, pride, and honor.

The Best Girl

1. Emma Harrison
2. The Best Girl
3. n/a
4. general fiction
5. no subgenre
6. love/relationships
7. Marni, Connor, Jonah, Biff, Ben, Carina, Farrah, Hunter, The Shay's, and Farrah's mother
8. no awards, 2008
9. Harper Collins Publisher

10. This book is more for high school students. It is about love and relationships. Farrah faces her brother, Jonah's marriage with Marni which is someone total opposite, while Farrah tries to get closer to her crush (Connor). Farrah is very tomboyish. Farrah and Marni are total opposite, but get along great. Farrah and Jonah's mother did not come which was because she did not approve of how Farrah carried herself. Instead, of her brother having a best man, he had a "best girl," which was his sister, Farrah. By the end of the story, everyone was happy and got along well. This would be a good book to use in the classroom to teach students about relationships and also a writing assignment can be given to see how students viewed the book to see what was their likes and dislikes.

How Many Fish?

1. Caron Lee Cohen
2. How Many Fish?
3. S.D. Schindler
4. animal stories
5. general fiction
6. counting/friendship
7. fishes
8. no award, 1998
9. Harper Collins

10. This is a fun little picture book for younger elementary age students. This book is about counting fish and teaching kids about how fish survive. It speaks about the diversity about these six little fish in the bay see another six feet. The yellow fish has an issue when it is caught in a bucket. This is a great book to teach children about friendship. These fishes were scared of one another, but managed to come together and enjoy each other.

The Lemonade War

1. Jacqueline Davies
2. The Lemonade War
3. n/a
4. comedy/humor
5. no subgenre
6. math/ sibling rivalries
7. Evan Treski, sister-Jessie
8. no awards, 2007
9. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

10. This chapter book is about the major differences between these two siblings, Evan and Jessie. The setting is taking place during the summer a little before school starts back. These two have been at it for a while being very competitive. Jessie is very smart and this school year she is getting to skip a grade and be in the same grade as her brother, Evan. Jessie really excels in math. Evan is very unhappy about this situation happening. He is not very successful with his subjects and math is like his worst. However, he is a big peoples person and Jessie lacks having social skills. The two of them decide to have a competitive race with making lemonade stands and seeing you could get $100 first by selling their lemonade. After the end of their challenge, they realized that they must combine their talents to help one another out. This book can be used in the classroom to teach students certain math skills and also how to appreciate when someone else does things better than yourself, because they will be able to you out.

Cars Galore

1. Peter Stein
2. Cars Galore
3. Bob Staake
4. fiction
5. no subgenre
6. transportation/ informational/ descriptive
7. the only characters were many cars
8. no awards, 2011
9. Candlewick Press

10. This was a very cute little book for children's ages 4-8. It is a very informative book to teach children about how cars supply transportation for people to get around. There are many adjectives being used throughout the book to describe the books in many different ways. Some of those ways involved various colors of cars, conditions of the cars, and their appearance. This book could be used in the classroom when teaching students what descriptive words mean. This book as many examples of that and plus they will love looking through all the colorful pages.

Jamaica Is Thankful

1. Juanita Havill
2. Jamaica Is Thankful
3. Anne Sibley O'Brien
4. realistic fiction
5. none
6. thinking of others, responsibility
7. primary- Jamaica, secondary- Kristin, Ossie, Puffy(cat), Jamaica's parents
8. no awards, 2009
9. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

10. This a book about a little girl name Jamaica. Her best friend, Kristin, brings her a kitten name, Puffy that she cannot keep and asks Jamaica to see if she can have her. Jamaica is aware her brother, Ossie is allergic to dogs and cats, but feel not Puffy, because she is a kitten. Jamaica hides the kitten in her closet and Puffy lays on Jamaica brother's  jersey. When he puts it on he begans to sneeze and his eyes are red and watery, but he says he has not been around any dogs or cats, not knowing about Puffy. Jamaica decides to give Puffy back to Kristin, because she cares more about her brother and his allergies than Puffy. This book will be great for elementary students, because it teaches them to think about others over themselves and shows responsibility skills. I could use this book to teach those things.

M.L.K.: The Journey of a King

1. Tonya Bolden
2. M.L.K.: The Journey of a King
3. none, but photographs were in the book
4. biography
5. none
6. informational/ civil rights
7. primary- Martin Luther King Jr.
8. 2008 Orbis Pictus Award, 2007
9. Harry N. Abrams, Inc

10. This is a very informative book and I would strongly recommend anyone to read it. If you don't much about Dr. King this book will fill you in. Tonya Bolden does wonderful job in looking into Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. We are informed that his birth name was Michael named after his father. Eventually, Dr. King changes his and his sons name to Martin Luther. The book also tells us how he was a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The author goes into details to let the audience know what Dr. King inspirations were and the people, events, and decisions that helped him on his journey to end discrimination/segregation. This book also falls in the category with "Rosa." It too is a great book to use in class when discussing African-American history or in February for black history month.

The Circus Is Coming

1. Hilary Knight
2. The Circus Is Coming
3. Hilary Knight
4. children books
5. none
6. fun times
7. primary- the children, secondary- clowns, elephants, horses, and many more acts in the circus
8. no awards, 2007
9. Random House Children's Books

10. This is a very cute little book for children ages 3-9. This story is about a lot of kids exciting about the circus parade coming to town. There are many different acts in the circus, but most of all what the children wants to see our the elephants. I could use this book in my kindergarten class for a reading/comprehension activity or math because it involves counting different objects throughout the story.

Bud, Not Buddy

1. Christopher Paul Curtis
2. Bud, Not Buddy
3. None
4. historical fiction
5. multicultural literature
6. life long journey
7. primary-Buddy Caldwell, secondary-his mom, foster family(The Amos's), Todd Amos, Lefty Lewis, Mr. Herman E. Calloway and other members of the Jazz band
8. 2000 Newbery Medal winner, 1999
9. Delacorte Press

10. This was a very unique story. Its setting was in 1936 in Flint, Michigan. The book basically walks us through a journey with a ten year old named "Bud." His mother dies when he is six. He is forced to be put in several foster homes. One of those foster homes was with the Amos family. They had a twelve year old son that mistreated Bud. After that fight, Bud gets his suitcase and runs away. He is own a mission to find his father using a couple of clues that his mother left behind. From what he knows, his father is Herman Calloway and he is part of the "Dusky Devastators of the Depression," this was a jazz band. Bud must face many obstacles to reach his destination to find his father. When he meets him and tells his mother name, he discovers his mother is Herman Calloway's daughter. Therefore, Herman Calloway is not his father, but is grandfather.At the end, Bud is accepted into Calloway's home and band. It takes a little adjustment for Calloway to soak everything in that he has found out. This book is good to teach in class, because it's about determination and being independent, because Bud never gave up.

Number the Stars

1. Lois Lowry
2. Number the Stars
3. None
4. historical fiction
5. none
6. hard life
7. primary- Annemarie Johansen, secondary- parents, sister(Kristi), Ellen Rosen. Peter Neilsen, Henrik
8. 1990 Newbery Medal Award, 1990
9. Random House Children's Book

10. This story takes place in 1943 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The story is told by a remarkable ten year old, Annemarie Johansen. In the story, Annemarie is faced with a prejudice situation. Her best friend, Ellen, is Jewish. During this time the Nazis occupied Denmark. Annemarie and Ellen are harrassed by the Germans, because they want all Jews out of Denmark. The Johansen's take Ellen in the care of their home. With the help of Annemarie, Ellen is well taken care of and it models Annemarie's bravery and courage to help out a friend. At the end of the story, the war ends and Ellen leaves. Annemarie's uncle, Henrik, reassures Annemarie that Ellen will be alright and will come back. This would be a great book to present in my classroom when discussing social studies: The Holocaust and World War II.

Gooney Bird and the Room Mother

1. Lois Lowry
2. Gooney Bird and the Room Mother
3. Middy Thomas
4. general fiction
5. comedy/humor
6. social studies/ vocabulary/ teamwork
7. primary-Gooney Bird Greene, secondary-her mother, Mrs.Pidgeon (teacher), students in her class, room mother
8. no awards, 2006
9. Random House Children Books

10. This chapter book is about a very intelligent second grader named Gooney Bird Greene. She was unique in every way. Gooney moved to a new school and everything she told was in a story form and she always told the truth. All the students and her teacher loved her stories. She always used big vocabulary words in class that the other students always used dictionaries to find the meanings. Her teacher, Mrs. Pidgeon is putting on a Thanksgiving pageant and there is a lead role for Squanto, but the catch is that student must find a room mother for the class. Gooney Bird assured she had found a room mother, but she could not reveal who that person was, they wanted to remain anonymous. At the end of the Thanksgiving program, Gooney reveals the room mother it is their teacher, Mrs. Pidgeon's mother. I could use this book when discussing a social studies lesson about the pilgrims and indians during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Slam!

1. Walter Dean Myers
2. Slam!
3. none
4. realistic fiction
5. none
6. life lessons and determination
7. primary- Greg "Slam" Harris secondary-mom, dad, coach, grandmother, teacher
8. 1997 Corettat Scott King Author Award Winner, 2008
9. Scholastic, Inc

10. This is a chapter book about a sixteen year old boy, Greg Harris, nicknamed "Slam." The story takes place in Harlem. Slam is an exceptional basketball player, but does not excell academically in the classroom. He must challenge many obstacles in his life involving adjusting to a new school, his grandmother be sick and his mother is grieving, and also his dad is out of work and has a drinking problem. Slam gets into a confrontation with one of his teachers and this cause major consequences. Slam must understand how to ball basketball on and off the court. This was an interesting chapter book that I could bring into my classroom about motivation and determination and just general life lessons to learn from. This might be a book that more boy students will appreciate.