Annotation File

Fantasy or Science Fiction:

The Giver
By Lois Lowry
1993
Houghton Mifflin Company
180 pages
Summary:
This is a book about a young boy names Jonas. It is a very different world in which he
lives where everything bad has been eliminated. Everything is controlled by a set of
rules that everyone must follow. Each year the children participate in a ceremony and
gain new responsibilities that come with their age. At the age of twelve, children are told
what their role in the community will be. Jonas is chosen to be the Receiver of
Memories for his community. There is only one Receiver and this is the most prestigious
of jobs. He is to be trained by the Giver who will transfer all the memories of the past to
him including many things Jonas has never even heard of. (snow, color, animals,
warfare, pain) These are memories of things that others in the community have never
known about either. When Jonas begins to receive these memories he realizes that he
doesnt like the way things are in his community so he decides to run away to make life
better for everyone else. Once he is gone all of the memories he has will be given to the
people of the community so they can experience them and know that how they are
living is wrong.

Personal Response:
I very much enjoyed reading this book. I thought the world the Lois Lowry came up with
for these characters was very interesting. It had many aspects of our world, but also
many things that were different and more controlled. Then it gradually introduced things
from the world that we are used to. I dont remember reading this book when I was in
school, but in conversations with friends it seems that most of them did. I wish I had
read it before now because I really liked it. This surprised me because this is not
typically the genre of book I would choose. I will definitely use it in my classroom if I end
up teaching an older elementary class.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:
This book is great for getting the imaginations of students working and thinking about
how different Jonas world is in comparison to ours.
W:
In reading some of the reviews for this book I noticed that people, mostly parents, were
concerned about the fact that the baby was killed by Jonas father. The thought is that
this may not be an appropriate topic for elementary school students. Also the stirrings
that Jonas begins to experience and are then suppressed were suggested to be too
much of a sexual reference.

Honorable Mentions:
Newbery Medal
William Allen White Award
Regina Medal
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
How this book might be used:
I think this book would be best suited for older elementary school students. Fifth graders
could read this story and understand everything as it calls for some imagination, but
gradually starts to incorporate the things in life as they know it. It would be beneficial for
them to think about how their life would be different if they lived in a community such a
Jonas where they were sheltered and told when to do, never experiencing feelings,
colors, pain, etc. At this age students can also handle some of the topics more
appropriately. I would have them read the book individually then conduct group
discussions. Perhaps this would be best suited for a unit I reading or literature as I cant
see a connection to another subject.

Contemporary Realistic Fiction:

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
By Judy Blume
1972
Dutton Childrens Books
120 pages
Summary:
This is a story told from the perspective of Peter who is a fourth grader with a little
brother named Fudge who is always being a pest. Peter feels like everyone loves
Fudge more than him. His parents are constantly asking him to do things he doesnt
want to do in order to get Fudge to do something or make him happy. For example,
when fudge wont eat Peter has to stand on his head, and when Fudge wont try on his
new shoes peter has to set an example and try on brown and white saddle shoes, which
he hates! Fudge is also constantly getting into Peters things. He ruins one of Peters
class projects and even eats his pet turtle, Dribble. In the end Peter learns that his
parents really do love him just as much as Fudge when his parents buy him his very
own dog to show their appreciation for the sacrifices he has made.
Personal Response:
I remember reading this book when I was younger along with the other books in the
series. I think it is great because it really is how kids feel sometimes when they have
younger siblings. It is easy for kids to feel like their parents are favoring a sibling over
them.

Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:
This book is funny. There were parts that even as an adult I found myself laughing out
loud when I read them. Fudge was the main source of my laughter. Peter is a character
with a more serious personality, so this gives kids a couple different ways to relate to
this story. This book has also won a great deal of childrens choice awards.
W:
I couldnt really find any weaknesses with this book other than that it is a bit unrealistic
that a child would eat a turtle. I am not sure that could really happen.
How this book might be used:
The title of this book suggests that it would be appropriate for fourth graders. I agree
with this and can even see it being used in the third to fifth grade age ranges. The
stories that Peter tells are ones that many kids will be able to relate to. I think it also
appeals to most students sense of humor. I think it would be fun to read a few pages or
a chapter each day with the students, maybe as an energizer to start the day. I would
also make sure to have this book available for them to choose during free reading time.
I think they would have fun discussing this book and all of the silly things that happen
with their friends and classmates.

Traditional Literature (Illustrated):

The Wind in the Willows
By Kenneth Grahame and Illustrated by Michael Hague
1980
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
205 pages
Summary:
This book is a collection of stories involving Mole, Ratty, Mr. Toad, and Mr. Badger in all
of their adventures. The book starts with Mole who ventures out and finds Ratty. The
two of them spend their time boating on the river. Throughout the story Mole wants to
meet Mr. Toad and Mr. Badger and they have many adventures together including a
gypsy caravan, getting lost in the Wild Wood, and prison.
Personal Response:
I actually had never read this book until I came across it while researching books for this
project. I very much enjoyed reading it. The story was very entertaining and kept me
hooked the entire time. I also enjoyed looking at the illustrations. I think Michael Hague
really was able to bring the story to life with his drawings.

Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:
The illustrations provided by Michael Hague in this version of the story are quite
beautiful. Students can use their imagination while reading to envision the story, but
they can also look at the drawings and see how they compare. Also using this book in a
classroom setting could be interesting for the students who have read the book
previously in their own time. Perhaps talking about it among classmates would shed
some new light and give a different perspective to the story.
W:
Some of this book may be hard for children to understand. When it talks about Pan and
the ancient mythology references, I think it may be easy for some to get lost.
Honorable Mentions include:
Waterstones Books of the Century
Radcliffe Publishing Top 100 Novels of the Century
The Observers 100 Greatest Novels of All Time
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book
Newsweeks Top 100 Books: The Meta-List
1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

How this book might be used:

This book is wonderful for a read aloud or for students to read on their own. It is a
classic that many of them may have already read or had read to them at home. The
book itself is quite long with lots of words. I think it would be best suited for third to fifth
graders as they have the capacity to read and understand the text while still
appreciating the animal characters. Older students may think the characters are silly
and younger students would not have the ability to read and comprehend at this level
yet. Readers can find many underlying themes such as friendship, kindness, and
morality in this book. After reading, I would discuss these themes and have students
choose an extension that helps them relate to a theme they have taken away from it.

Historical Fiction:
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
1989
Houghton Mifflin Company
137 pages
Summary:
This book follows the story of Annemarie Johansen, a child living in Denmark during
World War II when the Germans took over. Annemaries best friend Ellen and her family
are Jewish and were told by their rabbi that all Jews were going to be relocated by the
Germans. Annemaries family takes Ellen in and hides her while her mother and father
are hidden also. The Johansens become part of the resistance against the Germans
and with the help of Annemaries uncle who is a fisherman they help the Rosen family
escape to Sweden where they will be free.
Personal Response:
To this day I can remember reading this book as a child. I also remember really enjoying
it and feeling a great deal of empathy for the characters. Reading it as an adult, I felt the
same in many ways. Even though it was meant for younger readers I still enjoyed the
story, and I feel that it is very well written and easy to follow. The story of the young girls
with such a strong bond of friendship was very moving, and the story of the Jews being
evacuated during that time is very well told.

Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:
This book is a great way to address the historical concept of the Nazis and the Jews.
Students can gain an understanding through the perspective of a little girl who lived
through it. The author does a great job of incorporating historical facts and giving
students background knowledge through the telling of the story rather than stating them
directly. I think this is good for this age group because it helps them to understand more
thoroughly and is more likely to keep their attention.
W:
This book could be said to promote lying. For some students it may be difficult to
understand why they have been told lying is not a good thing but that it is ok for them to
do it in this story. It could also be said that violence is an issue but in my opinion the
book is written in a way that does not emphasize the violence but more the story itself
and the issues of the time period. There is not a great deal of detail when they talk
about the characters that die.
How this book might be used:
This book would be great to use with fifth graders in either a literature class or in a
history class. Students could read the book independently and form groups to discuss
the themes such as family, courage, and friendship as well as historical references.
They could also work individually to create an extension based on what they read in
order to show that they understand the importance and historical significance of the

book. This age group can begin to understand the concept of empathy. They can see
how Annemaries family showed empathy to the Rosen family, and relate that to their
own experiences. For a literature class the vocabulary in this story is important to study
as it will teach the important concepts from WWII and the Holocaust. In a social studies
class, all of the different locations in this story would be a good way to teach some
geography. Students could use a map to locate the designated places and perhaps do
some independent study of some other important events that occurred there.

Nonfiction Social Studies:

Netties Trip South
By Ann Turner Illustrated by Ronald Himler
1987
Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers
27 pages
Summary:
This story is told through a letter that Nettie writes to her friend Addie about her familys
trip to the South. She writes mainly about the slaves and how they were treated and
how these actions make her sick both emotionally and physically. She learns that slaves
werent even called by their last names, that they were sold in auctions, and also about
how poor their living conditions were. She begins to think of all the luxuries she really
does have.
Personal Response:

I thought it was really clever how this book was told in the form of a letter. Nettie is a
little girl with a very interesting perspective that a lot of rich white people did not share
during that time. She saw slaves as the people they really were rather than just workers.
I think it is important to show that not all people were pro-slavery.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
S:
The pencil drawings are very well done. I think they do a great job of showing the story
that Nettie is telling. Also, Nettie is a very strong character who is confident in how she
feels. She does a great job of sharing her feelings with Addie.
W:
This most likely was not the typical reaction from white people when they saw and
heard about slaves. Nettie was disgusted whereas many white people thought that
having slaves was a perfectly acceptable thing to do. This could however bring up some
interesting discussion points with the students where they would talk about how they
might have felt or if they have even been in a situation where they have been
completely opposed to what was going on.

How this book might be used:

I think this would be a great read-aloud in a 5th grade history class in which slavery is
being addressed. I think read aloud because it is short, but it does a great job of telling
the story through a free white persons eyes. I think sharing the pictures in a group

setting would be beneficial as well so that they can be used to spark discussions along
with the story itself. This age group is mature enough to handle the content and
thoroughly understand it. This is a difficult topic to cover with children because of the
sensitive nature. This book tells a story from a young girls perspective, and lets the
students know that it is ok to have different feelings about it and 5 th graders can have an
intelligent conversation about it. An extension that students might so would be to write a
letter to one of their friends about something they find to be an issue, describing it in
complete detail as Nettie did and choosing pictures to incorporate. Students in this age
group have well developed thinking and writing skills that should give them the ability to
think critically about issues that are important to them.

Nonfiction Science:
101 Great Science Experiments- A Step-by-Step Guide
By Neil Ardley
2006
DK Children
120 pages
Summary:
This is a book with a variety of science experiments ranging from making a thermometer
with a pop bottle to making rainbows and so many more in between. Each experiment is

shown step by step with pictures to accompany. Most of the experiments can be done
with everyday objects that can be found around the home.
Personal Response:
As much as I wanted to I did not have time to do any of the experiments personally. I did
however read some reviews written by people who have tried the experiments and most
of them were very successful.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
S:
Great pictures are included to show kids step by step how to do the experiments. Most
of the items needed to complete the experiments can be found in the home. I also like
how safety is addressed in this book. There is a page in the front that states safety rules
clearly to avoid any preventable mishaps.
W:
Some of the reviews I read about this book said that they tried a couple of the
experiments and couldnt get them to work. This is not necessarily a weakness because
it could simply be human error. Nonetheless I feel the need to mention it.
How this book might be used:
I think this would be a great book for a 5th or 6th grade elementary science class that kids
could use as an independent study tool if they finish an assignment early or they could
use it as a reference to find an experiment based on the topic we are studying in class. I

think it would be beneficial for students to plan their own experiments as they may find it
more interesting and get more out of it. These students are old enough to successfully
choose their own activities to become productively involved in, and giving them the
freedom to do so with feedback will help them become more confident with other
choices they will make in their lives. They also have the skill set to conduct most of their
experiments on their own. However, in the classroom I would always be available to
help as needed. Some examples of topics addressed in the experiments are float vs.
sink, light and color, fire and ice, magnets, and electricity. These are all things
addressed in a 5th or 6th grade science class.

Math Related Title:

Math Curse
By Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
1995
The Penguin Group
32 pages
Summary:
This is the story of a kid who is told by his math teacher that everything in life can be
seen as a math problem and then he starts having problems. From getting dressed to
eating meals and everything in between, it all becomes a math equation or question,
and it drives him crazy. Finally he discovers that the answer to all of the problems is
fractions. After that everything is no problem and the math curse has been broken. This
book has some wonderful illustrations.
Personal Response:
This book made me laugh several times while I was reading it. I have often felt the
same way as the kid in the book feels, that some things in life are very confusing and if
only we had an equation for life it would be so much easier.

Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:
There are great illustrations in this book. The pages are filled with equations and
numbers. It is easy to see why the main character is so confused! This book is great for
helping kids with math and showing them that it can be fun and silly sometimes rather
than hard and boring.
W:
There are none that I can think of.
How this book might be used:
This book would be appropriate to use with students in the 3 rd to 5th grade range. The
former is when the concept of fractions is just being introduced and students are starting
to understand. The latter is when the fractions start to become more complex. I think
this book is a silly approach to looking at math as a concept that we see in all aspects of
life and it can be appreciated by a wide age range. Students could complete their own
books about a math curse after reading. They would base it on the things they do in
their own life and how they relate to math equations and numbers.

Poetry:
A Light In The Attic
By Shel Silverstein
1981
HarperCollins
169 pages
Summary:
This book is a collection of silly poems for kids. The poems range in content from
chores to animals to homework and anything else in between that kids might
appreciate. The book also has great silly illustrations that help bring the poems to life.
Personal Response:
I had this book when I was younger and I remember reading it often just to get a laugh.
My friends and I would read the poems and laugh together. Even as an adult reading
the poems I found myself smiling at some of the silly things. I think my favorite is The
Toad and the Kangaroo which is about a kangaroo and a toad who planned to marry
but couldnt decide what to call their child, a toadaroo, a kangaroad, a rangatoo, or a
kangaree. So they didnt end up marrying at all and it was a shame that they could not
agree on a name.

Strengths/Weaknesses:
S:
The poems introduce students to the concept of poetry and rhyming in a silly way that
they can appreciate.
W:
A couple of the pictures in the book show bare bottoms. While most kids think this is
funny, some parents may find it in appropriate.
How this book might be used:
This book would be appropriate for students in the 3 rd to 5th grade and even grades
above that in my opinion. This is the age where kids are still not afraid to express their
silly sides. I would have this book in the independent reading section of my room where
the students could choose it during free reading time. For the older kids I think it would
be a good way to lighten the mood after they have completed a tough assignment or
just need a laugh in their day. I may also use it as a beginning to the day and read a
poem out loud to bring everyone together and start with a smile. I think this would be a
great energizer and would help to get them in listening mode.

Biography:
George Washington Carver
By Tonya Bolden
2008
Abrams Books for Young Readers
41 pages
Summary:
This book tells the story of George Washington Carver, who was born into slavery
during the Civil War. He ended up being raised by white parents after his mother was
taken away. He began to educate himself as blacks were not allowed to attend school.
His love of nature eventually led him to the nickname the plant doctor. He began to
paint the beauty he saw in nature by constructing his supplies out of stones, wood,
twigs, bark, and berries. He moved to a town where blacks could go to school. He
finished high school where he picked up the middle initial W to distinguish himself from
the other George Carver in the town. The W would stand for Washington, after the
president of the United States.
He later moved to Iowa where he attended Simpson College. His plan was to pursue
art, but his art teacher saw his amazing abilities with plants and urged him to attend the
Iowa Agriculture College where he later became an assistant professor of botany. In
1896 he headed South to the Tuskegee Institute to create an agriculture program and
do research to end hunger. He would present his findings and solutions at schools,
conferences, and other venues until he died in 1943.

Personal Reflection:
This is a wonderfully written book emphasizing the importance of Carvers life. There
are a variety of pictures of Carver himself, his family and teachers, his paintings, and
other items relevant to his life story.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
S:
The author, Tonya Bolden, received the Coretta Scott King Honor Award for a previous
work, which is given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding
inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles
promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their
contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.
(http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/emiert/cskbookawards/slction.cfm)
W:
Again, this is a book that I could not find any weaknesses in. I thought it was very
thorough in depicting the life of George Washington Carver, and the pictures were very
appropriate and well done.

How this book might be used:

I believe this book is appropriate for 4th graders because it is easy to follow, it gives all of
the facts about his life, and there are pictures to help keep their attention. This can be a
great teaching tool for what it was like to live in the South during the time of slavery and
racism. The book I have is in large hardcover format and would make a great read
aloud book as well to share with the class as a whole. I think it would be appropriate to
use both in a history class and in a science class while teaching a unit on plants.
Students could create an extension of their choice using plants in some way.