One More Story - Digital Picture Book App

One More Story is an impressive digital picture book app with loads of features that inspire young students to read. Its slogan is "Authors you know, books you love, " which is why I think that this app is so great. The creators are committed to consistently having high-quality literature that is well-known and popular in order to hook a reader. On principal, the creators include Caldecott winning titles throughout their library, along with many celebrated children's authors and classic titles.

The features of this digital picture book app include the following:

•  Each piece of literature has original music and effects that are unique to the book. The music was composed by the former music director of Sesame Street, so they are catchy and specifically targeted for students and children. Additionally, the books are narrated by professional actors. This guarantees that the books are read with meaning, which is so important to helping a child become immersed in a text. There are also a variety of voices, which are intended for students that are ELL to become exposed to many versions of American spoke English.
• In addition to being read to, children can choose to read the book in Read-Along Mode. This is perfect for early readers still developing confidence in their foundational skills. The books play with narration by an author and have the aforementioned music and effects, but also highlight each word as they are individually spoken. This helps with many pre-reading skills, which builds on a child's understanding of print.
• For more advanced readers, users can enter into I Can Read It Mode, which is specifically designed for emergent readers. In this mode, there is no music or narration. It does, however, give the students the opportunity to click on unfamiliar words so that they can hear it aloud. One of my favorite features is the My Word List. This helps with fluency as users move through the titles. When students are in the I Can Read It Mode, every word that is clicked is automatically added to the My Word List. They can click the word to hear it over and over again until it is mastered. Once it is mastered, students can move the word to the My Learned Words list.
• Any challenging words are automatically included in the Vocabulary feature, which includes definitions of the words and the words used within the context of the story. This is so helpful to readers that need the extra assistance. 

I am such a fan of this tool, not only because it has incredible literature and so many wonderful features included, but also because it is so considerate of different learners. There are features for ELL students, students with disabilities, students struggling with fluency, students that are pre-reading, students that are emerging readers, and students across the spectrum. 

I would definitely use this in my classroom, as I think it is an extremely valuable tool for all kinds of readers!

My Backpack - Digital Picture Book App

MyBackpack is an interesting early education app that can be downloaded from the iTunes app store. Targeted towards students from preschool to second grade. I like to think of this app as an all-encompassing tool which incorporates not only picture books, but also original songs, nursery rhymes and mathematics into its interface.

The features of the app include the following:

• 16 "Traditional Tales" books, which are nicely illustrated and interactive. These books are intended to be read-along stories, but allow the child to choose from a few options. The child can read the story on their own, be read to by the app, or watch the story like a movie. This is a wonderful feature for early readers as it would help them build confidence in reading books. There are also features that allow the reader to interact with the picture books by clicking on the pictures. Readers may also click on unfamiliar words and they can be read aloud to help with fluency and pronunciation.
• 8 nursery rhymes, which are meant to be read-alongs. Each page has interactive features which are meant to engage pre-readers and keep early readers excited about the rhymes.
• 35 original songs are included, which involve topics about reading, math, and science. They are pretty catchy, so I can imagine users getting excited about the songs!
   
• 4 mental mathematics games, which are interactive and have several levels for users to progress through. Although this does not have to do with reading, including these games may encourage users to explore the app further and use it for several purposes. 

Although I really enjoy this app and thing that it has a lot of high-quality features that would be beneficial to early readers, teachers, and even parents, I do think that it is important for the app to expand the number of books that they provide access to. I would consider the books high quality in terms of the illustrations, interactivity, and the multiple ways in which they are presented to children. I do think, however, expanding the variety and diversity of the books would make this app even better for children to use.

I like that there are other subjects integrated into the app and I think that the songs and nursery rhymes are extremely valuable to early readers, but I fear that the games may overshadow the literature included in the app.

Overall, I think that this would be a great app to incorporate into my classroom—if I was teaching young students. If I used it, though, I feel as though I would have to restrict or limit access to the games on the app in order for students to get something out of it.

Epic! - Digital Picture Book App

Epic! is an incredible digital picture book app available for free to educators and librarians. I've personally used this app with students and have found great success engaging students and getting them "hooked" on a digital title.

Some notable features of this app include:

• The service is completely free if you are a verified educator. It is relatively simple to sign up and as long as you work in a school as a teacher or librarian in the United States or Canada, you have full access to everything the app offers.
  
• The app provides unlimited access to thousands of books. Many of these titles are considered high-quality literature. A large percentage of them are well-known books or popular children's series. There are also a variety of titles published especially for the app that you would not be able to find elsewhere. This gives the app a unique variety within its titles that works to encourage students to read with diversity in mind.
   
• Epic! gives educators access to create unique profiles for each of their students. These profiles are helpful because they recommend titles to individual students based on what they've previously read or their self-reported interests. The profiles also track students' reading progress, which can help a teacher gauge a student's stamina and how quickly they move through books. 

Although there are considerable benefits to using this app, there are some drawbacks to consider when introducing this to your students. Primarily, like any digital picture book service, students must be taught how to use it and navigate from one book to another. Epic! has a rating system that students can engage with at the end of each of the books that have been read, so this is another element that can enhance the reading experience but requires some form front-loading. 

Additionally, students being introduced to a digital media for the first time tend to think of these kinds of apps as a game. In my experience, students I work with often try to get to the end of the book as quickly as possible because they enjoy swiping through the pages This is an obstacle that any teacher needs to help students overcome in order to successfully introduce digital texts. 

Overall, however, Epic! is a great application that allows access to its books on iPhones, tablets, and desktop computers. It is easily accessible and has a wide variety of high-quality, interactive titles that get students excited about reading. 

Everybody Was a Baby Once and Other Poems

This collection of poems features comical children's poems about a wide variety of topics. Most of the poems deal with events that occur in a young child's life, so they are easily accessible themes for children of all ages. 

Although I thought this book was good, I thought it lacked a point and really wasn't engaging enough to warrant using it in my own classroom. It explores some themes that I could potentially use in my classroom and with children, but I don't think that the book as a whole works cohesively enough to do this. 

Additionally, there are some topics that are explored that have deeper, more mature content. Some of the language is very advanced or antiquated, even though this book was published in 2010. There were points were I wondered what words meant because I had never heard them before. Upon looking them up, it was pretty clear that they were words that were once used, but no longer are a part of children's or adult's everyday vocabulary. I found this odd and a little unrelatable. 

Although I don't feel as though this book would add value to my classroom library, there are simple structures within it that would work to introduce rhyme and poetic techniques that we see in writing. These could be pulled out of the collection to model something to students or simply used in isolation to teach a point. 

Everybody Was a Baby Once and Other Poems 
By: Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman 
Published in 2010 

Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue

This poetry book is pretty difficult to read, but a lot of fun! The author, Jon Agee, compiled a collection of several tongue-twisting poems about silly and wacky situations. The lengths of each of the poems vary widely, but they are well-written and easy to get engaged in. The illustrations in this book are relatively simple, but their cartoonish qualities are the perfect accompaniment to the silly tongue twisters.

I really enjoyed reading the poems in this book and found that reading them aloud was even more fun that I had originally thought! I can imagine how funny it would be to do this with a classroom, challenging each other to get through the mixed up words. Probably even more humorous is watching a teacher struggle to get through a poem! 

This book would be particularly helpful with learning about rhyming, word beginnings, and word endings. I can imagine students working on a choral reading for this, also!   

Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue 
By: Jon Agee 
Published in 2009 

Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems

This unique poetry book explores an imaginative world in which animals and inanimate objects are combined to create interesting members of the animal community. The "umbrellaphant," which is the first animal the author writes about, is an elephant with an umbrella at the end of his trunk! He is always content because he is always dry and in the shade. Prelutsky combines other animals, too, creating zipperpottemuses and toadsters that encounter silly situations throughout the rhyming verses. Through the use of puns and plays on words, the author creates a lyrical and sing-song collection of poems that would make anyone giggle. 

The illustrations were incredible, too! I have come to love the mixed media, collaged illustrative style. I find it to be really interesting and unique. It also fits the theme of this poetry book well, combining unlike things to create a cohesive and creative image. The overall "feel" of the illustrations make the book feel vintage, and I enjoy that feature about it! 

I can definitely see myself using this book in my classroom, whether I am working with younger students or students that are in upper elementary grades. I think it could be used as a way to get students thinking about ideas they want to write about or as a model for a poem of their choice. Students can choose two unlike objects and combine them in a creative way. It could also be used to introduce the concept of smilies and metaphors in comparing objects. Art is a great way to culminate this project by allowing students to use recyclable materials to create a physical representation of their creature. I feel like it would be incredibly engaging and interesting to see what students create! 

Additionally, there are a lot of really wonderful words that are used in this collection of poems. They are descriptive and detailed and really accomplish exactly what the author intends to. I can imagine using this book in a lesson on descriptive language in order to show students what the "right" word can do in a situation—especially in poetry. 

Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems 
By: Jack Prelutsky 
Illustrated by: Carin Berger 
Published in 2006

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are is a classic children's picture book about Max, a mischief-making child in a wolf suit. When he's made too much mischief in his house, his mother calls him a "Wild Thing" and sends him to his room without dinner. Upset and angry with his parents, Max watches as a forest begins to grow in his room. His imagination takes him by boat through an ocean and to the place where the wild things are. Although they are scary at first, Max shows bravery, tames the wild things, and crowns himself as thier king. They engage in a wild rumpus together until Max sends the monsters to bed. In the quiet, Max feels lonely (and a little hungry) and decides that it is time to sail home. He realizes that he wants to be in the place where someone loves him best of all. 

I have read this book countless times, but never through the perspective of it being "banned" or "controversial." With this lens, I found it hard to see anything that I would find upsetting to children or adults. The only thing that I could possibly imagine being a problem is Max's desire to "run away" from his home because of his mother. Parents may view this as a book that promotes this and may not want to expose their children to that kind of mindset. 

Upon discovering that the book was actually banned for how frightening it was, I was genuinely surprised! I don't think that it is scary at all, but this may have to do with the fact that it was published in 1993. I find it so interesting that people may have thought that the illustrations were too much for young readers. I think that the illustrations hold a lot of meaning and the expressions on the faces of the monsters tell a very different story. That's my opinion, anyway. 

I think that there is most definitely a place for this book—and Maurice Sendak's other books—in my classroom as he tells imaginative stories that really capture a reader.

Where the Wild Things Are
By: Maurice Sendak 
Published in 1993 

And Tango Makes Three

This adorable, true story follows two male penguins, Roy and Silo, from the Central Park Zoo. They are chinstrap penguins that live in an exhibit in New York. Roy and Silo do everything together—they swim and play and build a nest for a baby penguin. They're best friends and in love, but can't do everything that other couples do. They see all the other penguin couples laying eggs and hatching babies, and they want one, too. They "adopt" a rock and sit on it to keep it warm, hoping that it would turn into a baby penguin. After a while, the zookeeper observes their behavior and takes an extra egg and gives it to the penguins to care for. Roy and Silo love the egg like it is their own and they keep careful watch over it for months. Eventually, the egg hatches and Tango, a young girl penguin, joins their family! 

In my opinion, this was such a cute book with an incredible and happy ending! Personally, I think that it is important and valuable to have literature like this in a classroom. Approaching the subject of homosexuality is so difficult with children, especially because it is a topic that is not universally agreed upon. Despite this, it is highly likely that students we encounter will have homosexual parents, family members, or friends. They may even be homosexual themselves. It is important to teach our children that people are people, no matter their sexual orientation. This book does this in a genuine way that shows these kinds of relationships are natural, especially because we can find them in nature! 

I can clearly understand where schools and parents are hesitant to share this book with their children. Sexuality is a sensitive and heavy subject, which some find too uncomfortable to talk about with their own children. In my opinion, however, I find this book to be more about family and love than it is about furthering the LGBTQ+ agenda. It is a positive thing to have literature like this in a classroom, no matter how young students are. Although conversations about sexuality may be difficult and awkward, it is essential that educators show acceptance for all and celebrate the differences that people, or penguins, have. If we do not, we risk ostracizing a child or inadvertently telling a child that who they are is unacceptable or wrong. 

And Tango Makes Three 
By: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell 
Illustrated by: Henry Cole 
Published in 2005

What's Wrong with Timmy?

What's Wrong with Timmy? is a book that broaches the difficult subject of children with disabilities in an approachable way. The story follows Kate, a curious 8-year-old that is always asking questions about what she doesn't understand. When she sees a boy in the park that does not look like she does, she asks her mother, "What's wrong with Timmy?" Her mother took an extended amount of time to talk to her and explain the idea of a disability to her. Despite this, Kate was still nervous and scared to interact with Timmy. He was different than her and he made her uncomfortable. After a formal introduction, however, Kate learns that Timmy has a lot more in common with her than she originally thought. She includes him in a basketball game with her friends and decides that they will be friends for a long time. 

I think that this book does a great job of approaching this subject in a genuine and gentle way. The way that the mother explains things to her daughter is very candid in nature and I appreciate that. It almost gives adults directions on how to have this difficult conversation with inquisitive children. One thing that I noticed was the use of the word "retarded" in this book. This book was published in 2001, so the movement to abolish that word from society's vocabulary was just beginning. I hope that the author considers re-printing the text with a more appropriate word that is socially acceptable at this point. 

I enjoyed the illustrations best as they were etherial, whimsical, and evoked a lot of feeling.  The lack of detail made it so that a reader could really picture whoever they wanted in the story, which broadened the audience and helped me see myself in the characters. 

Overall, I think that this book does a great job of approaching children with disabilities and the curiosity that other children may have when encountering them for the first time. The focus on religion and God's will was a little much for me, so I feel as though teachers should think carefully about using this in a classroom. It does, however, confront a difficult topic in a natural and gentle way that would help students become more understanding, so I think it is great! 

What's Wrong with Timmy? 
By: Maria Shriver 
Illustrated by: Sandra Speidel 
Published in 2001 

Like Pickle Juice On a Cookie

Like Pickle Juice On a Cookie is a novel written in verse that follows the story of Eleanor, eight-year old. Eleanor finds out that her beloved babysitter, Bibi, will be moving away to care for her sick father. Upset and distraught, she has to bear the summer without Bibi and with a new babysitter. Natalie is her newest babysitter, who tries hard to establish a relationship with Eleanor.

Although Eleanor is resistant to Natalie at first, she realizes that she means well and they have fun together. Eleanor decides to write a letter to Bibi to tell her how much she misses her and Natalie waits with Eleanor every day for the mail to check if Bibi has written back. Although it takes her a long time—Eleanor finishes the summer and starts 3rd grade before the letter comes—Bibi finally responds and Eleanor knows that she will be with her forever.

Admittedly, I had never read a novel written in verse before. It had a very lyrical style and was repetitive in nature throughout the book. I thought that the sing-song style of the book was interesting and it captured my attention, but I thought it was rather boring at times. The writing was simple and not necessarily interesting.

I did, however, enjoy the topic that the author chose. It was inspired by an event in the author's life, but it is a situation that almost all children deal with or can relate to. Whether it is a babysitter or a member of the family or a friend, children lose people in their lives and it is important to talk through those feelings of loss and loneliness. This book did that in a way that was approachable and relatable, while being positive about the unwanted outcome.

This book would be a great choice for a child that is going through a big change at home or experiencing some sort of shift in their life. I think that it would help them sort through some of the issues that they face, and would be a great way to discuss feelings when children do not have the words for them.

Like Pickle Juice On a Cookie
By: Julie Sternberg
Illustrated by: Matthew Cordell
Published in 2011

Six Dots: A story of Young Louis Braille

Six Dots tells the story of Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille Alphabet. As a young child, Louis loved to watch his father work in his shop. Although he was too small to help out, he would hang around his father and admire his work. His father would always remind him not to touch anything, especially because he was too young. This bothered Louis and he set out to prove his worth to his father. Unfortunately, this led to an accident that caused loss of sight in Louis' eyes at the age of five.

Louis was a clever boy, however, and he was determined to live just like any other child in spite of his blindness. What he wanted most was the ability to participate in school like all the children around him; he wanted to read and write. He found that there were no books for the blind in his small community, so he traveled to the school for the blind in Paris to fulfill his dream of being able to read books. Even at the school for the blind, there were no books that he could read.

Using inspiration from a French army captain, Louis invented his own alphabet that could be read by touch. Six dots were arranged in different positions to represent each letter and number. At the young age of fifteen, he created a system that is still used throughout the blind community today.

Just like El Deafo, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I am deeply committed to understanding the blind community and love to learn about innovations that have made every day pleasures more accessible to people with vision impairments. This gave beautiful insight into the world of someone that could once see, but lost their sight.

The illustrations were beautiful, but I particularly enjoyed the parts in which Louis was describing his experience. The pages were black with subdued, blue images. On some pages, Louis could be seen in color, as this is what he remembers himself looking like.

I was so interested in this young boy's story and had no clue this is how the Braille alphabet came to be! I think that this would be an incredible topic to talk about with students, especially with the opportunity to weave some form of an engineering project into the lesson.

The most powerful part of the book, in my opinion, was the part when Louis was describing the sounds that he had become familiar. He stated that he heard the neighbor's dog, which was "chained too tight, alone in the dark." He likened this dog to himself and explained that he knew just how the dog felt. I really connected with this section and felt deeply what Louis was feeling.

I would definitely include this book in my classroom library, as it is an incredible piece of literature that taught me so much!

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille 
By: Jen Bryant
Illustrated by: Boris Kulikov
Published in 2016

Leaves

Leaves follows the story of a young bear experiencing fall for the first time. The bear had never seen leaves fall off of trees before, so he is immediately distraught and seems to be concerned about what's going on. He tries to place the leaves back onto the trees, but he is unsuccessful and accepts that the season is changing. 

As the leaves settle and the wind picks up, the bear gathers leaves and snuggles into a hole to sleep. The bear sleeps through the winter and greets the world and the budding leaves once again in the spring. 

I thought that this was a really cute book that subtly introduced the idea of the changing of the seasons and hibernation. Although it was relatively simple, there were some big ideas that the author tackled, especially for young readers. 

I think that this is a great teaching tool, especially around fall, when teachers could talk about these topics and integrate science and literacy. Also an interesting way to approach this book may be by introducing a reading comprehension strategy lesson on using the illustrations to understand the bear and its emotions. The illustrations in this book are particularly telling and definitely could help introduce feelings. 

Overall, I thought this was a really cute book to use with young readers! 

Leaves 
By: David Ezra Stein
Published in 2007 

Because of an Acorn

Because of an Acorn follows the story of a small acorn and the influence it can have on an entire forest. Through simple words and intricate illustrations, the life-cycle of an acorn is depicted and the interdependence of the natural world is revealed.

I think that this book would be a great book to read to students that are in kindergarten through second grade. With simple words and vibrant pictures, students can follow the path of the acorn and see how it influences each part of the natural cycle.

It is also a great book to use with upper elementary students, too. Although the text is relatively simple, there is a lot of back matter included that refers to additional information on white oak trees, the ecosystem, and the food chain. It also explains the function of acorns, sprouts, and saplings and their role in the forest. The most interesting part of the back matter, in my opinion, is the information included about how the forest needs all of its inhabitants and the fact that people cannot survive without forests. This information is paired with resources and tips on how readers can help the environment.

My favorite part of this book were the gorgeous illustrations. The illustrations have this three-dimensional feel to them that make the reader feel as though they are a part of the forest, walking among the trees and animals. The illustrations were made with paint and ink and were scanned to be manipulated digitally. Additionally, there are die-cuts on the first and last pages that are beautifully integrated into the illustrations. These continue to remind readers of the reliance the environment has on the relationships between plants, animals, and humans.

Because of an Acorn 
By: Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer
Illustrated by: Frann Preston-Gannon
Published in 2016

El Deafo

El Deafo is a graphic novel that tells the story of young Cece Bell, a deaf elementary school student adapting to the world around her. She contracted meningitis at the age of four and lost her hearing shortly afterwards. As a kindergartener, Cece attended a school especially for students dealing with hearing loss. Her classmates around her were just like her and she felt comfortable in her environment.

When she moves to a new state with her family, however, Cece begins attending a new school with hearing kids. Although she is excited, Cece is nervous to begin school because she has to wear a giant hearing aid strapped to her chest. She's afraid to be different or stand out from the rest of her class and she is absolutely sure that everyone is staring at her and her Phonic Ear.

Cece initially struggles to make friends, finding people that are too interested in her deafness or inconsiderate of her. She longs for true friendship. Soon enough, Cece discovers that she may have super powers. She can hear everything her teacher is doing, inside and outside of the classroom! Her super powers inspire her imagination and help her think of herself as El Deafo, Listener for All. She hopes that her superpowers will help her to find a sidekick!

I was overwhelmingly in love with this book! I have always been interested in the deaf community and deaf culture and have engaged with members of this community all throughout my life. Becoming fluent in American Sign Language is a goal of mine, but I understand why Cece did not want to get involved with it and recognize that every deaf or hearing-impaired person has their own decisions to make about their involvement in the deaf community.

I think that this book is such an approachable way to broach the topic of hearing impairments and disabilities within the classroom, preaching acceptance and appropriate behavior with others that may be different. It is increasingly important to recognize these differences and celebrate them, as students of all kinds are being included in general education classrooms all over the nation!

These steps towards inclusion make it very important for teachers to include literature within the classroom library that not only educates and celebrates differences that students may have, but also gives students with disabilities the opportunity to see themselves in the books that they read. How powerful this book could be for a student struggling with hearing loss! And how heartwarming would it be to see students better understand that student as a result of a book that they've engaged with!

I would definitely include this, and other graphic novels, in my classroom! I have always been interested in comics and read them throughout high school. These graphic novels give students the opportunity to use all sorts of reading comprehension strategies to come to understand the author's message. I appreciate them and believe they have a place in every classroom!

El Deafo
By: Cece Bell
Illustrated by: David Lasky
Published in 2014

Author Study - Landed

Landed is a historical fiction picture book that tells the story of Sun, a twelve-year-old boy that is living in China. Now that he's turned twelve, it is his responsibility to study hard so that he—like his older brothers—can move to the United States to tend to his father's store in San Francisco. Moving to a new country, however, is not an easy task and Sun quickly learns that it takes a lot of effort. He begins studying with a tutor because he will be interviewed and will need to prove that he is not lying about his family and his background. 

As a reader, we soon find out that new Chinese immigrants are kept at a place named Angel Island before being admitted to the United States. At Angel Island, officials ask each person specific, detailed questions about their families, their extended families, their homes in China, and their village. These questions are intended to ensure that Sun is actually his father's biological son. Some children were sent as "paper sons"—they were not biologically related to the family that claimed them and they were intending to illegally enter the country to begin a new life in America. 

Although Sun is not a "paper son," he is still nervous about the interviews. He is particularly bad at directions (north, south, east, and west). He answers all of the questions confidently, until he is asked a question about the direction of his house. His interview is cut short two other times as a result of his inability to answer the question. Finally, he's surprised with a gift from his father—a compass. It helps him visualize his home and determine the answers to the questions. As a result, Sun is finally released from Angel Island and reunites with his father and brothers! 

I enjoyed this book, though I thought that its prose was a little boring and lacked emotion. I could definitely see myself using this in a classroom, however. I think it would work well for upper elementary students that are learning about the immigration process and different cultural groups. It would be interesting to talk to students about their own personal backgrounds, as many United States citizens can trace their roots to another country outside of the United States. 

Landed
By: Milly Lee  
Illustrated by: Yangsook Choi 

Published in 2006 

Author Study - Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask is a picture book that blends Korean and American traditions to make an interesting and engaging story. A Korean boy, Kimin, has nothing to wear for Halloween. To inspire him, Kimin's mother leaves a few of his grandfather's keepsakes in his room. They are family treasures and she warns him to guard them carefully. 

Although Kimin is apprehensive because the memories he has of his grandfather aren't pleasant, the young boy looks through the boxes. He becomes more and more curious the more he discovers. Eventually, Kimin finds his grandfather's dancing costumes and masks and he knows what he wants to be for Halloween! He sneaks away to trick-or-treat before his mother can catch him wearing the family treasures. 

After a night of dancing, candy, and friends, Kimin returns with a damaged mask. He took a tumble and scratched the front. After racing home to tell his mother, he's surprised by all of his friends that have followed him home to return a note that fell from the mask in the accident. The letter was from Kimin's grandfather and he proudly left all of his masks to Kimin after his death. Kimin was so excited and showed off all of his grandfather's items to his friends. His mother also helped him hang up the masks in his room. As a result, he came to appreciate his culture and his grandfather's role in his life. 

I enjoyed reading this book by Yangsook Choi and am beginning to notice a pattern with the themes of her books. Often times they are about accepting one's own culture or background, and this is something that Kimin is directly confronted with. Although he is afraid to be himself at first, he is celebrated for it by his friends at the end of the book. 

Another aspect of Yangsook Choi's writing is that she continually uses foreign languages throughout the text. For example, "tal" means mask, which the author uses quite often throughout the text. Incorporating these aspects of the Korean culture made the book more interesting and diverse. It also worked to celebrate the character's curiosity and their willingness to learn about their own background. 

Yangsook Choi is an illustrator, too, and illustrates her own books. Behind the Mask is a great example of her work because she consistently makes an effort to make her books relatable to several kinds of readers. Each illustrations represented multiple cultures and features several kinds of trick-or-treaters.
Within the illustrations, multiple cultures of "trick or treaters" are represented. 

I would definitely use this book in my classroom during Halloween to celebrate the different cultures that have similar kinds of celebrations around the world. 

Behind the Mask 
By: Yangsook Choi
Published in 2006

Seedfolks

Seedfolks is a collection of chapters about thirteen individuals that come together to create a garden. It all began when a Vietnamese girl, Kim, decides to plant lima beans in a vacant lot on her street. A nosy neighbor, Ana, takes notice and her curiosity gets the best of her. She investigates and digs up the seeds. In her guilt, she enlists the help of another man, Wendell. A man from a farming background, Wendell helps Ana rehabilitate the seeds. Soon enough, Wendell begins gardening. Over time, the weather improves and more and more people begin to plant their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers.  Dealing with different struggles and from a variety of cultural backgrounds, these people find beauty in a vacant lot. They work together to cultivate an environment that is very different from what they see around them. 

I really enjoyed reading this book, as it was a very quick read that gave me the opportunity to understand several perspectives at once. Beautifully interwoven, these stories share great hardships and prove that everyone is struggling with something. I think that the premise of this book is great, too! Realistically, a community garden is the perfect way to bring people together—even those who don't think they want to be a part of it. 

There were, however, some concerns about the racial aspect of this book. Paul Fleischmann is a white male from the United States. Some of the depictions of minorities in this novel were incredibly stereotypical. I felt as though they could be considered derogatory. The short chapters facilitated this because you could only get a slight glimpse at a character before meeting a brand new one with their own problems and cultural backgrounds. 

Personally, I felt as though Sam—the only white character in the book—was portrayed as the most levelheaded person in the story. While other characters were working to sort out their issues, Sam was the person that started conversations and attempted to bring the garden together. He was the character that noticed the garden was segregated. I felt that this character's role, having been the only white character in the book, was a little unnecessary as he comes off as the nicest and most respectable character of all.  

I wish that the author had been more respectful of the representation of the diversity in the book. The idea of having a garden that brings such diverse cultures and races together is one that is noble. However, it is important to me that I feel the characters are authentic and properly represent their culture. Being of Hispanic heritage myself, I could say that I didn't feel that way about the Hispanic characters in this book. 

Due to the mature content of this book, I would likely suggest that the target audience be middle schoolers. This book can serve as a great conversation starter for these big racial and cultural issues that face us throughout our lives. It would also be a really rewarding project to create a school community garden, integrating science when applicable, to bring this book to life. 

Seedfolks 
By: Paul Fleischmann
Published in 2004

Author Study - The Name Jar

Unhei is the new kid in school. Having recently emigrated from Korea, Unhei and her family are adjusting to life in the United States. It is Unhei's first few days at school and she is excited, but nervous that the American kids will not like her. Having a name like Unhei proves to be a difficult thing because no one on the bus can pronounce it and, unfortunately, some children have made fun of her. When she arrives to her classroom, Unhei decides that she doesn't want her Korean name anymore. Instead, she will adopt an American name. 

Unhei does not tell her classmates her name and they work to help her choose a new name for herself. Her new classmates decide to fill a glass jar with names for her to pick from. Unhei practices American names in the mirror to see which ones fit best. When a classmate is in her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its meaning, the name jar mysteriously disappears. The entire class looks for the jar, but they can't find it. 

Luckily, Unhei had already chosen a name for herself. She tells the teacher that she's ready to introduce herself to her classmates. After much thought, she introduces herself as Unhei. Rather than choose an American name that was not special to her, she chose to keep her name because of its meaning and beauty. She learned to appreciate it and her new friends learned to pronounce it perfectly. 

This was such a great story with a beautiful message! I enjoyed reading about Unhei and could definitely relate to her struggles—although mine may have been a little different. The the aspect of this book I enjoyed the most was the classroom environment that the author created. It was so accepting and welcoming, which is something that I strive to have in my classroom one day. 

I think that this is a great story to share with young readers, especially at the beginning of the school year. It reminded me a lot of another book, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. It teaches about acceptance of others and oneself and promotes a positive message to students. It teaches that we should respect others and their cultural and racial differences. It would also be a great way to introduce writing about a name for a writing entry. 

The Name Jar 
By: Yangsook Choi 
Published in 2003 

Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy follows the story of ten-year-old Bud Caldwell, an orphan from Flint, Michigan who has experienced a lot more than a ten-year-old should. A self-proclaimed "really good liar," Bud has gone through three foster homes in search of a better life after his mother's death. After a messy and dangerous end to his last foster family, Bud decides that it's time he lives on his own. His purpose: finding his father.

With a few clues from his late mother, Bud decides to walk over 120 miles to Grand Rapids to see the great Herman E. Calloway. He believes that this famous jazz musician is his father and is determined to find him. Although he's pretty sure of his discovery, Mr. Calloway is not; he doesn't want anything to do with Bud. His band members, however, take Bud in and care for him. They give him responsibilities and, in exchange, feed him and give him a place to stay—nicer than anything he's ever had!

Eventually, the band discovers Bud's true identity and it is revealed that Mr. Calloway is actually Bud's grandfather. As a result, Bud is happy and feels as though he has found his home.

When I saw that this book was an option for this week, I was so surprised that I had not read it. I have seen the cover of this book for many years and have always been curious about it, but never had the opportunity to read it. I felt as though it was a sign that it was time I cracked it open! I was so pleased that I did.

This story goes through a wide range of emotion and I truly felt so sad for Bud as I came to understand his life. His quick wit and clever insights showed me that he had an understanding of the world around him that was much deeper than we could ever expect from a ten-year-old boy. The author, Christopher Paul Curtis, did a great job of establishing a unique voice for Bud that made me feel as though I got to know him on a deeper level every time he spoke.

The focus on "Bud, not Buddy" was important to me as a reader because I felt as though this was the one thing that Bud could control in his life. It was essential that he had his name. I thought that this was an essential part of Bud's character and it helped shape his image even more in my mind.

Although there were so many sad moments in this book, I was consistently hit with uplifting and hilarious moments that made me laugh out loud. I am so excited that I finally had the chance to read this book and I really wonder what young students think of Bud, too.

Bud, Not Buddy
By: Christopher Paul Curtis
Published in 2002

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! is a book that features twins, Ling and Ting, that do everything together. Sometimes, however, they're mistaken for being exactly the same! Through a series of six short stories, the author reveals that these twins are individuals, even if they look the same.

In the first story, the twins are getting their hair cut and Ting accidentally sneezes, causing her to have an unfortunate, but distinguishing hair do throughout the rest of the book. The other stories show the reader how different the twins are through their actions and their words. Ling is the responsible and logical sister, while Ting proves to be forgetful and often imaginative. However different they may be, the two work together to solve the problems that they face throughout the book. 

The language used in the story is incredibly simplistic. This is clearly a controlled vocabulary book, so it is targeted towards young readers that need repetition in order to grasp words. I do not necessarily agree with the use of controlled vocabulary books, but the slight humor makes Ling & Ting easier to read. The author does a great job of using sarcasm and understatement to get the reader laughing.

The author also illustrated this book and, although the illustrations are relatively simple and straightforward, there are small, clever details included. For example, whenever the twins are handling literature in the book, they are often carrying one of the author's previous books. 

Overall, I don't think that I would use a book like this in my classroom, but I can understand why other teachers have resulted to it. The humor and the inclusion of Asian culture throughout the book would be appealing to some students that need a pattern to follow while reading.

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! 
By: Grace Lin
Published in 2010

Steamboat School

Based in Missouri in 1847, this realistic fiction story retells the true story of Reverend John Meachum and his "steamboat school." Originally, Reverend Meachum was secretly teaching young African American children underneath a church. When a new law forbidding education for African Americans is enacted, their school is shut down and the children are left without an education. Reverend Meachum, however, did not want to give up on his students. He built a new, floating school inside a steamboat. The steamboat was anchored in the Mississippi River, which was outside of Missouri's jurisdiction, and therefore, legal. 

I thought this story was uplifting and really inspiring, as it followed the true story of a person who would not allow the color of someone's skin dictate their right to an education. The Reverend was an accomplished man that managed to save up enough money to purchase his own freedom, along with his family and his wife's. This book shows his courage and determination and how it helped him accomplish so many selfless things. 

The lessons in this book are brought to life with the illustrations by Ron Husband. They were made by first creating sketches of the scene and then using mechanical pen in an ink to add detail and texture to the drawings. Afterwards, they were finished in Photoshop. The lack of color in the pictures really adds another dimension to the story by suggesting a dark time. 

Overall, this book is a really beautiful depiction of a sad time. Deep feelings are brought to life and I feel as though the ideas that are covered would really resonate with children when presented in this way. Broaching subjects such as slavery and civil rights, it is a great book to delve into "tough" topics with. 

Steamboat School 
By: Deborah Hopkinson 
Illustrated by: Ron Husband 

Published in 2016 

King for a Day

King for a Day is a story written by Rukhsana Khan, a Pakistani female. She tells the story of Basant from the perspective of Malik, a young boy. Basant is a kite festival that celebrates the arrival of spring. With feasts and music, the entire city makes their way to rooftops to take part in the kite flying festivities. This year, Malik has build a special kite, the Falcon, which has been built for speed and agility. Although many other kids will have several kites to battle with, Malik put his faith in God that he would only need one. 

The bully next door is battling his kites, too. In two incredible battles, Malik manages to take down his kites and gets back at him for calling his sister a mean word. By the end of the day, Malik has batted many others and has won, earning the title of "King for a Day!" His brothers and sisters help him capture all of the broken kites and they sort through them after the festivities. As Malik looks over the city after the festival, he sees a girl in the alley below being bullied by the boy next door. He steals her kite and she is left crying. In a sudden act of generosity, Malik anonymously throws a kite down to the girl and he watches her happily walk away. 

I really enjoyed this book, particularly because I do not know very much about Pakistani culture and it has always interested me. I thought that Malik was a noble character that proved his determination payed off. Although the story only portrayed this in the illustrations, Malik was in a wheelchair. His personality and spirit were very present throughout the book and were not overshadowed by the fact that he was disabled. I though that this was a great detail that would help connect students to this piece of literature. 

Another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed were the illustrations. They are an incredible mix of paper and textiles from Pakistan. The colors are vibrant and capture the colors and textures from the region and show the reader what a celebratory time Basant is. The unique and careful layers of materials also gives the reader insight into the character's culture. 

As a whole, I think that the words and the pictures work really well together in this book. They give the reader a sense of who Malik is and his cultural background. I enjoyed getting to learn about Basant wish that I could experience it myself. 

King for a Day 
By: Rukhsana Khan
Illustrated by: Christiane Krömer

Published in 2013

Desmond and the Very Mean Word

Based on a true story, Desmond and the Very Mean Word is a story about Archbishop Desmond Tutu's childhood in South Africa. In the story, Desmond gets a brand new bicycle and is excited to ride it all around—he can't wait to show his priest, Father Trevor. On the way, however, Desmond encounters some white boys that call him a very mean word. He is angry and wants to get revenge. To do so, Desmond retaliates with another mean word and he instantly regrets it. He turns to Father Trevor for advice, and learns to forgive others even when they haven't said they're sorry yet. So Desmond finds the courage to apologize for his actions and is proud of himself. 

I particularly liked this story because it was written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is a South African social rights activist. It is primarily a story of forgiveness, but it covers so many other topics that are truly important for children to read. Religious undertones aside, Desmond as a character turned to a trusted adult for advice in a tough situation. This is something that all children need to understand how to do. 

I also think that it is a great book to have in a children's library because it shows that a person of great stature dealt with issues growing up—everyone does! Young Desmond is relatable and I think that his experience is generalized enough that any student could identify with what he is going through. The vivid oil painting illustrations bring great emotion to the character's faces, amplifying the story even more. 

Overall, I think that Desmond and the Very Mean Word is one of the many books about forgiveness that children would really enjoy reading. 

Desmond and the Very Mean Word 
By: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams 
Illustrated by: A. G. Ford 

Published in 2013