Informational

From Seed to Plant: By Gail Gibbons

Publisher: Holiday House

Copyright Date: 1991

Pages: 32

Genre: Informational

Grade Level: K-3rd 

Summary: This is a very well illustrated book that goes through the process of a seed growing into a plant. This book is written for young readers. It explains pollination, seed dispersal, germination, and other steps of plant reproduction. 

Classroom Use: This book could be used to introduce students to the process of plant reproduction. At the beginning of the lesson I would ask students for what they already know about how plants grow. I would write it on a chart on the board. I would then read the book and ask the students to listen for key vocab words that sound confusing or that they have never heard of. I would pause every once in a while and ask for new learning. I would write the new learning or vocab words on the chart also. Then at the end of the book we would have a class discussion about what we read and learned.  

Rating: 

	***	**	*	-	Comments
Plot	Plot is well developed with a sequence of events. The events are in good logical order. There is a clear conflict and resolution.	Plot contains a sequence of events. The events are in order but the conflict is not clear or does not contain a clear resolution.	There are events but they are not in good chronological order. The climax and resolution are lacking or not present.	Not addressed	*** This book contains a very clear sequence of events that is in good logical order.
Characters	Characters are well developed with clear roles and contribute to the story. Reader is able to personally connect with the character(s).	Characters have clear roles within the story. Reader is not able to connect with the character(s).	Character(s) are present but do not have clear roles. Reader is not able to connect with character(s).	No characters developed	NA- There are no characters in this book because it is about plants.
Style and Language	Book contains precise vocabulary, figurative language, and or dialogue. When dialogue is used it is effective and not distracting.	Book contains precise vocabulary and/or figurative language. When dialogue is used it is distracting.	Book contains very little precise vocabulary and no figurative language or dialogue.	Book contains no precise vocabulary or figurative language. No dialogue is used.	*** This book contains a lot of precise vocabulary and it explains what all of the words mean.
Theme	There is a clear theme and it is easily identifiable by the story.	There is a theme but it is a little more difficult to identify.	The theme is almost impossible to identify.	There is no theme.	*** There is not a traditional theme since it isn’t a story, but it is about the reproduction of plants.

Multicultural Book

Ma'ii and Cousin Horned Toad: By Shonto Begay

Publisher: Scholastic Inc. 

Copyright date: 1992

Pages: 32

Genre: Multicultural

Grade Level: 4th- 5th

Summary: A lazy coyote named Ma'ii is hungry and instead of hunting or working for his own food, he goes to visit his cousin, Horned Toad who is hard working. Horned toad was kind and shared his corn with Ma'ii. However, Ma'ii wasn't content and asked for more. Horned Toad was getting angry but he was kind and got more corn. Horned Toad told Ma'ii that if he wanted any more food he would have to work in the fields. Ma'ii was lazy and didn't want to work. He dreamed of owning Horned Toad's farm and tricked him into crawling into his mouth. Ma'ii swallowed his cousin whole! Horned Toad was still alive inside Ma'ii's stomach and tormented Ma'ii. Ma'ii regretted swallowing his cousin and tried many different methods to make him come out, however nothing worked. Ma'ii is taught a lesson and never bothers his cousin again. 

Classroom Use: This would be a great book to use when learning about Native Americans. It is a traditional Navajo story about hard work and laziness. When learning a unit on Native Americans, you can read this story to your class to show an example of a Native American story and how they had stories to explain everyday things in life. 

Rating: 

	***	**	*	-	Comments
Plot	Plot is well developed with a sequence of events. The events are in good logical order. There is a clear conflict and resolution.	Plot contains a sequence of events. The events are in order but the conflict is not clear or does not contain a clear resolution.	There are events but they are not in good chronological order. The climax and resolution are lacking or not present.	Not addressed	*** The plot contains a sequence of events that are in good logical order. It contains a clear conflict and resolution.
Characters	Characters are well developed with clear roles and contribute to the story. Reader is able to personally connect with the character(s).	Characters have clear roles within the story. Reader is not able to connect with the character(s).	Character(s) are present but do not have clear roles. Reader is not able to connect with character(s).	No characters developed	** One of the main characters is not fully developed. The story just jumps right in without telling anything about him. However, it reveals more about him later in the story.
Style and Language	Book contains precise vocabulary, figurative language, and or dialogue. When dialogue is used it is effective and not distracting.	Book contains precise vocabulary and/or figurative language. When dialogue is used it is distracting.	Book contains very little precise vocabulary and no figurative language or dialogue.	Book contains no precise vocabulary or figurative language. No dialogue is used.	*** The story contains a lot of precise vocabulary and when dialogue is used it contributes greatly to the story.
Theme	There is a clear theme and it is easily identifiable by the story.	There is a theme but it is a little more difficult to identify.	The theme is almost impossible to identify.	There is no theme.	*** The theme of the story is that laziness never gets you anywhere great.

Biography

Amelia Lost

By: Candace Fleming

Publisher: Schwartz and Wade

Copyright Date: February 8, 2011

Pages: 118

Genre: Biography

Grade Level: 6-8

Awards: Received four starred reviews and Best Book of the Year accolades from School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book Magazine, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. It also received the Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Grades 6-8 (2013), the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2013), and the Cybils Award for Young Adult Nonfiction (2011).

Summary: This book tells of Amelia Earhart's life, switching back and forth each chapter between her life as a child to her final flight. It covers the extensive search sent out for Amelia and her plane. This book includes pictures, maps, and notes written by Amelia herself. It also includes fun information about Amelia and facts about the history of flight. 

Classroom Use: This would be a great book to use when studying history. When you get to this time period in social studies, you could introduce Amelia using this book. One way to incorporate the book would be to split the class up into small groups and assign each group a different part of the book. Give the class time to read their portions and then have them present their part of the book to the class. This way not everyone has to read the entire book but they are all still getting the valuable information within. 

Rating:

	***	**	*	-	Comments
Plot	Plot is well developed with a sequence of events. The events are in good logical order. There is a clear conflict and resolution.	Plot contains a sequence of events. The events are in order but the conflict is not clear or does not contain a clear resolution.	There are events but they are not in good chronological order. The climax and resolution are lacking or not present.	Not addressed	*** Story of Amelia’s life is well portrayed and includes great detail. The book has a clear order going back and forth from her final flight to her childhood.
Characters	Characters are well developed with clear roles and contribute to the story. Reader is able to personally connect with the character(s).	Characters have clear roles within the story. Reader is not able to connect with the character(s).	Character(s) are present but do not have clear roles. Reader is not able to connect with character(s).	No characters developed	*** Amelia’s life is told with great detail. The book also includes interesting facts about her.
Style and Language	Book contains precise vocabulary, figurative language, and or dialogue. When dialogue is used it is effective and not distracting.	Book contains precise vocabulary and/or figurative language. When dialogue is used it is distracting.	Book contains very little precise vocabulary and no figurative language or dialogue.	Book contains no precise vocabulary or figurative language. No dialogue is used.	*** The book is well written. It includes vocabulary about planes and flying and explains what they mean.
Theme	There is a clear theme and it is easily identifiable by the story.	There is a theme but it is a little more difficult to identify.	The theme is almost impossible to identify.	There is no theme.	*** The theme is flight and accomplishments of women.

Historical Fiction

The Borrowed House

By: Hilda Van Stockum

Publisher: Bethlehem Books

Copyright date: First in 1975, again in 2000

Pages: 221

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade Level: 7th-10th

Summary: A young girl named Janna moves from Germany to Nazi occupied Amsterdam with her parents. Both of her parents are actors so Janna often finds herself alone in the big house. As a former Hitler youth, Janna is confused by all the violence in the streets and shocked by the hatred the Dutch have for the Germans. She has so many questions and wandering around the house all day, Janna starts to find the answers. 

Classroom use: This would be a great book to have students read when learning about the Holocaust. Instead of having the students read through the text book, you could give them a couple options of books about the Holocaust to choose from and read. This book, along with the Winged Watchman and a few others you may find can be given as options. Giving the students options is a great way to help them find one that they will enjoy reading more. Students can then give book reports, highlighting facts about the Holocaust that were in their book. I would have the students give more creative/interactive book reports instead of writing a paper. Ideas include; a book in a bag, drawing a new book cover, and building a diorama. 

Rating: 

	***	**	*	-	Comments
Plot	Plot is well developed with a sequence of events. The events are in good logical order. There is a clear conflict and resolution.	Plot contains a sequence of events. The events are in order but the conflict is not clear or does not contain a clear resolution.	There are events but they are not in good chronological order. The climax and resolution are lacking or not present.	Not addressed	*** The plot is well developed with a clear sequence of events. There is a clear conflict and resolution.
Characters	Characters are well developed with clear roles and contribute to the story. Reader is able to personally connect with the character(s).	Characters have clear roles within the story. Reader is not able to connect with the character(s).	Character(s) are present but do not have clear roles. Reader is not able to connect with character(s).	No characters developed	*** The characters are well developed and each has a clear role that contributes to the story.
Style and Language	Book contains precise vocabulary, figurative language, and or dialogue. When dialogue is used it is effective and not distracting.	Book contains precise vocabulary and/or figurative language. When dialogue is used it is distracting.	Book contains very little precise vocabulary and no figurative language or dialogue.	Book contains no precise vocabulary or figurative language. No dialogue is used.	*** This book contains precise vocabulary and when dialogue is used it is very important and contributes to the story.
Theme	There is a clear theme and it is easily identifiable by the story.	There is a theme but it is a little more difficult to identify.	The theme is almost impossible to identify.	There is no theme.	*** There is a clear theme in the story and it is “Things are not always as they seem”.