Where Did You Get Your Moccasins?

Title:  Where did you get your Moccasins?

Author:  Bernelda Wheeler

Illustrator: Herman Bekkering

Genre: Fiction

Where did you get Your Moccasins is about a boy who wears a pair of moccasins to school and students want to know where he got them, the boy informs his classmates that his Kookum (Grandmother) made them. The boy is very proud of his Moccasins as well as his heritage, he goes on to tell his classmates how the leather is made.

The story the boy tells about his grandmother making the shoes shows the struggles of the native Americans in the modern world. It was a shock to some students to hear that they had to make pieces of their wardrobe by hand out of materials they had available to them.

This book is more detailed and advanced, I would present this reading to a 5^th grade class in order for them to fully understand the leather making process as well as the cultural differences. The students can conversate about what they call their grandparents, since the boy in the book calls his Kookum. What are other interesting names students call their grandparents.

It's Okay To Be Different

Title: It’s Okay To Be Different
Author: Todd Parr
Illustrator: Todd Parr
Genre: Fiction

It’s Okay To Be Different is a very simplified book filled with examples of how people can be different and letting the children know that it is okay to be different. One of the examples the book gives is, “It’s okay to have a different nose.” In this world we live in now it is so important that we reiterate this with our younger population. There are so many standards and images that children learn through TV shows, magazines, social media etc that they “have” to live up to, and we need to start teaching them at a young age that it is okay to be different.

This book is a great read for pre-k and first grade, the pages are full of color and the drawings are very simple for the young children to understand. It teaches the children that it is okay to have different features than their classmates, they are special in their own ways. It is also great for the young students to hear these things coming from their teacher whom they all look up to.

Same Difference

Title: Same Difference

Author/illustrator: Calida Rawles

Genre: Realistic Fiction

This book is about two little girls name Lida and Lisa. These two girls were first cousins who did everything together like twins. They shared the same seat, swim together, and even had tea parties together. One day at their grandmother’s house they both put on her dresses with white pearls and matching shoes. They both looked into the mirror and saw they both had different colored skin, one had light skin and the other had dark skin. Lida hair was long and Lisa’s hair was short. They both asked their grandmother why they looked so different, and she explained to them that they might have different skin color or hair but they are perfect and the special in their own way. The two girls left happy about their difference and most of loved each other because they were best friends and family. 

I would read this book to a first grade class room! This book shares the beautiful aspect on life that we all might have our own differences but we can all come together and love each other the same way.

The Name Jar

Title: The Name Jar
Author: Yangscook Choi
Illistrator: Yangscook Choi
Genre: Fiction


The Name Jar is about a young girl named Unhei, she has recently moved to the Americas from Korea. Like any child moving schools Unhei was worried about being able to meet new friends. She knew her name would be hard for her American classmates to pronounce, so she decided she would come up with her American name in a week. Her school friends were very intrigued at the fact that the new girl had no name, so they decided to start a name jar with ideas to help her choose the perfect name. Unhei practices being several different American names, meanwhile she becomes friends with a classmate named Joey who comes into her neighborhood and discovers her real name and the meaning of it (which is Grace). After Joey shows is interest in her Korean name Unhei begins to accept her name and she decides she wants to go by her Korean name, Unhei was also able to teach her classmates how to pronounce her name.

The Name Jar is a great book for 3rd graders, It shows great examples of accepting classmates as friends no matter the cultural differences. In this reading I enjoyed reading the change in attitude that Unhei had after being accepted for her real self. She was able to be confident and brave when choosing to go by her real name. The friendship Joey showed in the book was a great way for students to see how to accept new students in school and make them feel comfortable in their own skin.

Cook-A-Doodle-Doo

Title: Cook-A-Doodle-Doo
Author/Illustrator: Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
Genre: Fiction Folktale

Cook-A-Doodle-Doo is about a rooster that is just tired of the same ole' food every single day. The rooster decides that he wants to cook something else. He gets his friends, a pig, a turtle, and an iguana together to agree with him that they are tired of the same food every day as well. They all decide that they want to cook a strawberry shortcake of all things! The problem was that none of them really knew how to cook. The rooster remembered that his great grandmother kept a recipe so he searches and finds it! The turtle, iguana, and potbelly pig all volunteer to help and they work together to whip up the strawberry shortcake with their own twists on things, considering that none of them know what they're doing!
I would love to read this book to a second great classroom, or any elementary classroom at that! This book makes me so excited because they make it fun to cook together by joining together and each playing a part in creating the meal. I would use this book to teach my students about teamwork and how important it is to be helpful and friendly.

Monkess the Homunculus

Title: Monkess the Homunculus

Author/illustrator: Seth T. Hahne

Genre: Science Fiction

This book is about a character named Monkess who was a homunculus. A homunculus is like a human except for the regular organs they possess. A homunculus is made of soils, sawdust, bits of earths, and even stones. These individuals were not made from their parents belly’s like normal kids, but Monkess was made on a science island in the middle of the ocean. Monkess lived on the island alone and enjoyed her life playing with the animals every day. She met a friend who was named Puffin, which was a bird like animal that resembled a penguin. They realized that they had a lot in common ended up becoming best friends. One day when they were riding kites they notice a bump in the ocean traveling from the storm engine, which was what made wind, rain, and air. They noticed the bump coming closer t the island and flew done to meet the bump at the shore. The bump was a giant wave of water they washed over the land. Both Monkess and Puffin both enjoyed their time in the water and spending this special moments with each other. The bump of water soon returned back to the regular ocean and Monkess and Puffin both stood their together wavy the bump back to where it came from and thanking it for the experience it gave to them to spend quality time together.

 I would read this book to the second grade level classroom. It really touches on the importance on sharing quality time and living in the moment with friends and family, which is one of the most important qualities to value.

Always, Abigail

Title: Always Abigail
Author: Nancy Cavanaugh
Genre: Fiction

Always, Abigail is a bluebonnet award winning book that talks about a girl that wants nothing more than to be on the cheer team or "pompom squad" during middle school. Abigail would do anything for these mean and ungrateful cheerleaders. Meanwhile, she is partnered up with a major outcast in the school. To Abigail's surprise she begins to actually like her class partner, Gabby. At the end of the story Abigail has to decide between popularity from "friends" that are not friendly, or the outcast that is sweet and kind and has been a good friend to Abigail since day one. Of course, she chooses the better option and does not look back!!

I would read this book to a sixth grade classroom to promote friendship. Everybody knows that once middle school hits kids get a little more independent and tend to be a little "cliquey", or to have little groups of friendships. Sometimes it is not fair to leave people out and not let them be your friend just because of popularity and I would want to teach that lesson with this book!

Little Mama Forgets

Title: Little Mama Forgets

Author: Robin Cruise

Illustrator: Stacey Dressen-McQueen

Genre: Fiction 

Little Mama Forgets is about a little girl named Lucy and her grandmother named Luciana Maria Isabela Galvez-Molinero  (little mama).  The two of them along with the other members in the family live in California but originated from Mexico.  Therefore, they remain true to their roots and continue to make their own tortillas and dance and sing in Spanish. That’s just a few of their traditions they still practice. Little mama is forgetful and Lucy helps her with her everyday happenings and events.  However, little mama can remember long term, it’s the short term she struggles with.  Lucy does her best to make sure her grandmother is safe by helping her on a daily basis. 

I would read this book to a fourth grade classroom.  The readers can learn responsibility as well as compassion by reading this book.  Lucy does a great job of not being burdened by the situation and embracing it, which says a lot about a persons character!

Pete the Cat, Play Ball

Title: Pete the Cat, Play Ball

Author/illustrator: James Dean

Genre: Nonfiction

This book is about a character named Pete the Cat who is plays for a baseball team named the Rocks. In the story, Pete the Cat is going to play a game against another team named the Rolls. Both teams arrive to the field and get warmed up to get ready for the game. When the game starts Pete the Cat team starts the game hitting first against the Rolls. The team is having success early in the game until Pete the Cat comes up to the plate. Pete the Cat wants to get a hit really bad, but ends up striking out in three pitches. He kept thinking to himself that he is not sad because he gave his best effort. When Pete the Cat and the Rocks go out to play defense the next inning Pete the Cat ends up dropping a fly ball that hits his glove. Pete the Cat wasn’t sad because he gave his best effort. The next batter comes up for the Rolls and hits another fly ball to Pete the Cat and he ends up catching the ball. Pete the Cat makes another mistake and over throws his teammate and the runner advanced. Pete the cat wasn’t sad because he gave his best effort. Pete the Cat and his team the Rocks end up winning the game against the Rolls six to three.

I would teach this book to a kindergarten class and it teaches the students to not always worry about the results when doing something just give your best effort and always have fun.