Holes (NOVEL)

Title: Holes
Author: Louis Sachar
Publisher: Dell Laurel Leaf

 Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes: five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption. You'll have to read the book to find out the end, I am not going to spoil it for you.

This book was definitely cute, and will certainly put a smile on my face. I was expecting a more straightforward story than it actually was. So I was really pleased and surprised with the interweaving of Stanleys' story with the stories of his grandfather and a wild -west outlaw Kissing Kate, has managed to bring up some pretty serious subjects. I do like the fact the Kate was portrayed as an innocent teacher that just wanted to educate everyone. Then when her beloved was killed she didn't turn the other cheek, she got even. Since there are no pictures in this book you would think that I couldn't see any vivid pictures but as I am reading the book  However, I could definitely make a mind movie with the vivid descriptions of what was taking place. I could almost feel the heat of the sun as the author described it and feel the pain in the hands of Stanley digging his first hole. This is a truly amazing writer that put so much emotional connection into the descriptions, so that I truly felt that I was with Stanley through out the whole story.You'll have to read the book because it does have a surprise ending. Read the book and then watch the movie see if you can find any similarities or differences.

The Cheerios Counting Book

 

Title: The Cheerios Counting Book

Author: Barbara Barbieri McGrath

Illustrated by: Rob Bolster and Frank Mazzola, Jr.

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

The Cheerios are arranged in organized patterns from 1 to 10, and then from 10 to 100 by increments of 10. Each page has a corresponding number of fruit pieces (banana slices, strawberries, blueberries, etc.) arranged around the borders. Unfortunately, the numbers from 11 to 19 are listed on one page without any pictorial representation. The double-page spreads have an attractive, uncluttered look with white space used effectively. The numbers and illustrations are large enough to be seen by a group. The text is simple with an occasional rhyme, 

"You can count cereal. 

What fun it will be!

See one,

Here are two.

Now there are three." 

More clever and unique books about this concept exist, but cereal is an easy-to-access material, and this title could be a useful starting place for children doing their own counting.
This book is great from cover to cover. It made me hungry so I am going to eat some Cheerios.

The M & M's Brand Counting Book

Title: The M & M's Brand Counting Book

Author: Barbara Barbieri McGrath

Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing 

Counting, sorting , adding and subtracting are made fun and tasty with the M&M's Brand Counting Book. I love how you integrate literature with math. This is a truly hands on book. As you read this book students follow along with red and yellow M&M characters as they rhyme their way through math problems. The book starts out easy, as children count their M&M's, and review their basic knowledge of colors. This book encourages children to not only use visual skills but also use fine motor skills to manipulate the candy and sort into groups.

The Pumpkin Book

 

Title: The Pumpkin Book

Author/Illustrator: Gail Gibbons

Publisher: Holiday House

The Pumpkin Book  by Gail Gibbons is a great book with excellent pictures.  This is a child friendly book in so many ways while still being nonfiction, and if you are going to get just one pumpkin book this is the book to check out of the library or purchase for your on classroom library.  

This book begins with planting and growing pumpkins, plant parts, celebrating with pumpkins, decorating pumpkins, carving pumpkins, and information about Halloween and Thanksgiving.  There is a history of pumpkins on the last page, and information on how to save the seeds to eat or plant.  She tells us that pumpkin seeds 9000 years old have been found in caves in Mexico!  Students of all ages love to read about fun facts and the use big words, and both are included in this book.

 I tried to narrow down one favorite part of this book but I couldn't this is a great read with lots and lots of information that children will enjoy to learn about. You can use this in several different ways, you could use it for science or social studies because of the history of the use of pumpkins. Use your imagination when planning a lesson. 

Living Color

 

Title: Living Color

Author/Illustrator: Steve Jenkins

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

Living Color by Steve Jenkins is a great book that ties literacy and science into one great package.  With it bright colors it appeals to visual learners of all ages. On the other hand has taken and separated the animals of color into an organizing tool. Red, warns people and predators to stay away from chiggers and stonefish. However, provides protective coloration for the flaming scallop and the Shield bug. The bright color also helps for a male Hooded seal to impress the female seals. Other colors included in this book are blue, yellow, green purple and pink. Animals can be really colorful in this book. 

I like how the author takes a particular common cuttlefish and puts in two different color pages by just wrapping it around the page. It shows that it is the master of color change. It can turn from it's normal brownish color to green (or blue, pink or purple) in seconds.

I love how he has designed this book with all the information and cool facts that I didn't even know. I as an adult have learned so much and had fun doing it. Just imagine putting this book in the hands of a science student and letting them use this as a guide to writing. Things that they read and write about animals will expand their imagination to the extreme. 

It’s a buffet approach that doesn't try to make connections beyond color, but rather to visually appeal to the reader with the many colors and adaptations found in the natural world. The extra facts about coloration and thumbnails are a bonus they provide basic information about each animal in the book.This a great book to use in any elementary classroom for science or informational purposes.

The Vegetables We Eat

Title: The Vegetables We Eat
Author/Illustrator: Gail Gibbons
Publisher: Holiday House 

Gail Gibbons picture book, The Vegetables We Eat, is a clear, informative introduction to the different groups of vegetables. It is a simple but an effective approach to this topic.  The facts presented for each of these vegetables are easy to understand and the pictures are very colorful for younger children. Just by children looking at the book, they can see that, vegetables grow to be different shapes, sizes, and colors.  

The bright and cheerful watercolor illustrations are great for the text, allowing children to get a close up view to each food on each and every page. The varying scenes give readers an additional perspective on the process of how vegetables grow on a farm, who is involved in their production, how the vegetables are produced and then eventually sold to stores. While the text is simple, Gibbons incorporates vocabulary and its definition with words such as fertilizers and hydroponics for students in grades 3rd-5th.

I can see myself as a teacher introducing the skill of classifying vegetables, according to size, color, characteristics, and how to effectively implement the number of servings needed each day. I feel the more fun students have with these types of activities while reading, the more inclined they will be try something new.