Pink and Say

Patricia Polacco does it again with another great story. The story tells a bit of history as well as a wonderful story of friendship between to children of different races. The best part of Polacco's stories is that they are true. This is a very thought provoking story that should be shared with everyone.

Kids really enjoy this story even though it may seem above their heads. Kids need to learn and practice empathy and compassion especially in a world of such diversity. The pictures are also just as beautiful as the story.


Polacco, Patricia. (1994). Pink and say. Putnam Juvenile.

Good Dog

This book has beautiful pictures. The poems are fun to read and a little silly. Anyone that loves dogs will appreciate this book. It covers many breeds of dogs and even describes the personalities of each breed. I recommend this book.

Kids will love this book because kids always love to read about animals. Poetry can be introduced and enjoyed through the love of animals. The poems will make children laugh and it is good for all ages.


Gottfried, Maya, & Zakanitch, Robert. (2008). Good dog. Dragonfly Books.

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom

I enjoyed the story because the main character, Bradley, is an extreme troublemaker and lies but he becomes a better person in the end. The new counselor helps Bradley understand how to communicate with others and make good choices. The new counselor has to leave the school and he is left to make good choices without her advice. I think students could learn a lot about themselves reading this story.

Students will like this story because it realistic and kids can relate to the character even if the boy makes extreme choices. The title will grab students' attention and make them want to know why a boy is in the girl's bathroom. This is a taboo subject and kids want to know!

Sachar, Louis. (1997). There's a boy in the girl's bathroom. Random House.

Because of Winn Dixie

This was such a sweet story. Opal is new to town and discovers things about people in her town through her new-found dog. Opal also finds new information about her mother that abandoned her. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Kids would love this book mainly because if the great dog and great people Opal meets. Opal and her dog bring the whole town back together. Kids will be able to identify with the characters. This book has also been made into a movie.

DiCamillo, Kate. (2009). Because of Winn-dixie. Candlewick Pr.

The Magician's Boy

A boy is a magician's assistant and the boy puts on a puppet show after the magician's show. The boy wants to learn magic and doesn't understand why the magician won't show him any magic. The two must go to a very important party and the boy discovers one of his puppets, Saint George, is missing. The magician tells the boy he must find the puppet and the boy is thrown into the Land of Story to find Saint George. The boy wanders through stories and questions characters so he can find the dragon and Saint George. In the end, the boy discovers that he is Saint George and he carried the puppet show off in outstanding form and the magician will now teach him magic just as he wished.

The pictures are bright and colorful to add to the magical mood of the story. The pictures add to the text of the story. The pictures also help to establish the setting because this story has so many setting changes in the Land of Story.


Cooper, Susan, & Riglietti, Serena. (2005). The Magician. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry.

Wildfire

Ben is a young boy who lives with his Grandma, Grandpa, and great grandmother Goomby in the Florida countryside. Wildfires are rampant in Florida in the story and it is the Fourth of July so fireworks have been banned. Ben, Elliot, and some other kids decide to set of some fireworks after the parade in the woods. Elliot's new dog is spooked by the rocket the kids set off and runs into the woods and the two boys are lost in the woods as a fire breaks out from the fireworks. The boys and puppy escape boars and thick smoke as Ben hears the bells ring-it's his Goomby and neighbors calling him. Ben and Elliot arrive safely at home and the fire was put out by the firefighters. Ben received his punishment but he gets the reward of keeping the puppy.

The plot is a good one for children because the story teaches about making the right choices and what happens if you don't. The character does not really say much about how much he wants the dog but his desire is understated.

Hill, Elizabeth, & Shepperson, Rob. (2004). Wildfire!. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR).

Snot Stew

Kikki and Toby are two kittens left behind in the barn after their mom tells them they must leave and take care of themselves because she has another litter to take care of soon. The kittens are found by Sarah and Ben and they are taken to the "people" house and learn what it is like to live with people. Sarah and Ben give the kittens new names which Kikki and Toby ignore but they learn that they like to be scratched and loved, they think that Ben and Sarah are playing a game called snot stew but they are really just siblings fighting. Toby and Kikki start to play the keep away game but Toby takes it too seriously and eats all of Kikki's food and gets too fat to run away from the family dog. The dog catches Toby and eats his tail. Toby realizes how mean he has been and promises never to play snot stew again.

Dialogue is very important in this story because the story is from the point of view of kittens and their view of the world. This was not a very good book in my opinion but the kittens have unexpected insights because kittens see the world differently than humans.


Wallace, Bill, & McCue, Lisa. (2008). Snot stew. Aladdin.