Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Once again, Harry Potter is back with his aunt and uncle during the summer where he stirs up trouble with the family when he argues with his great Aunt Marge and blows her up into a big balloon. Harry Potter runs away from home, finds his way back to Hogwarts where the escaped prisoner from Azkaban is attempting to locate Harry. Harry defeats Dementors by unleashing his inner patronus, a silver stag, he learns more about his father and his father's friends shape shifting abilities, and Snape's hatred for them as Harry discovers that the prisoner, Serius Black, is the wolf he has been seeing. Harry learns that the true traitor to Harry's family was actually Peter Petigrew and not Serius Black , the Dementors attack Black anyway and Harry saves Serius with his patronus again. Harry discovers after Serius has once again been taken prisoner that Serius is indeed Harry's godfather. Dumbledor and Harry plot out away for Serius to once again escape to keep from getting the Dementor's kiss.

Characters are very strong and are very believable. Dialogue shows each of the characters in more depth and allows the reader in to see their personalities.

Rowling, J. (1999). Harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban. Scholastic Paperbacks.

Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone

A lonely orphan named Harry Potter was sent to live with his snobby and dispicable Aunt, Uncle, and cousin and was never told of his parent's secret life. After turning 11, Harry is visited by a half giant named Rubeus Hagrid and is told about his life destined to be a wizard, and how he was the only survivor from Lord Voldemort's attack that killed his parents. Harry soon finds himself on a mysterious train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry where he befriends a boy named Ron and earns an enemy named Draco Malfoy. Harry and Ron befriend a very intellectual girl named Hermione and the three discover after several events that the hated Professor Snape is after the fabled Sorcerer's Stone. The three get past the three headed dog, through the trap door and pass through the series of traps set up by the professors in the school. The last obstacle Harry realizes that Snape isn't the thief, the villain is Voldemort who shows himself through Professor Quirrel, and Harry outsmarts them by obtaining the stone through the mirror. Harry defeats Quirrel thus defeating Voldemort in spirit form and turns the Sorcerer's Stone back to the head of the school, Professor Dumblebor, and Harry becomes the hero of Hogwarts.

Plot is a VERY strong element because so many details go into this story and series that carry the reader along. The characters are very believable even though they are doing things that normal humans cannot - magic. The characters still suffer everyday tribulations of teenagers.

Rowling, J. (1998). Harry potter and the sorcerer. Arthur A. Levine Books.

Savvy

Savvy is a story about a family who resemble witches - all except Poppa. Every time a family member turns thirteen, the child gets a Savvy which is an extra special ability to they keep for the rest of their life. Mibs is about to turn thirteen and everyone wonders which Savvy she will receive and she starts being able to hear and see tatoos and ink move and speak - this is her Savvy. Mibs hitches a ride and goes on a journey to the hospital with her siblings to save her Poppa who is in a coma from an accident. The driver discovers the stowaways, lets them stay, but their ride takes many stops along the way, the driver meets Lill who understands and cares for the children. The children finally get to the hospital and Mibs tells her father that he has a Savvy too, to never give up, and Poppa speaks to Mibs through his mermaid tatoo that he will never give up and he ends up waking up from his coma.

The plot is very creative and interesting and takes the reader to an interesting world where the children have a bit of magic. Unexpected insights allow Mibs to discover her fathers Savvy.

Law, Ingrid. (2008). Savvy. New York, NY: Dial.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules

This was a humorous tale. I thought it was very believable and everything in the book could actually happen. The children are creative in the story and turn a bland day into something great. The illustrations are great!

The book has a nice format (a diary) and engages kids that are not particularly interested in reading. Illustrations are cute and comical. Boys and girls will enjoy this boy and will be able to identify with the characters. It is also now a movie.

Kinney, Jeff. (2008). Diary of a wimpy kid. Amulet.

From the Belly Button of the Moon

This book is full of poems about summer. Some poems are short and choppy, others are longer and include Latino heritage. Some poems rhyme and others do not. The poems describe the joys that can be found on this earth and the beauty it holds. The poems also describe nature and how it mirrors other things in nature. Each poem has the poem in English and then in Spanish.

The pictures are brightly colored and use colors from the Latino culture as well as designs that come from the culture. The pictures fill 2 pages per poem and usually tell more than just the poem explains. The illustrations look as if they are from a dream.

Alarcon, Francisco. (1998). From the belly button of the moon and other summer poems. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Laughing Tomatoes and Other Poems

This book is full of poems about spring. Some poems are short and choppy, others are longer and include Latino heritage. Famous Latinos like Cesar Chavez are even included in the poem to celebrate his birthday. Each poem has the poem in English and then in Spanish. The final poem tells how they are only new beginnings. The book gives a very positive message.

The pictures are brightly colored and use colors from the Latino culture as well as designs that come from the culture. The pictures fill 2 pages per poem and usually tell more than just the poem explains. The illustrations look as if they are from a dream.

Alarcón, Francisco, Gonzalez, Maya, & Wadham, Tim. (1997). Laughing tomatoes and other spring poems. Neal Schuman Pub.

How to Heal a Broken Wing

A bird is flying through the city, hits a building, and falls to the ground. A young boy named Will is the only one to see the bird lying injured on the ground - it had a broken wing. Will took the bird home, nurtured it, and let it rest. Wills family hope all of their TLC will help the bird to fly again. His family takes the bird back to where he found it. They release the bird and the bird flies away.

The pictures in the story add more to the story than just the few words in the story tell. The pictures are cartoon-like but are very sweet and colorful. Some pages have a full two page picture spread, others are asymmetrical or laid out like the Sunday comics.

Graham, Bob. (2008). How to Heal a broken wing. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Pr.