Knuffle Bunny Free

Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems

Grade Level: PreK-2

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Have you ever had a toy that you wanted to bring everywhere? What if you took it on vacation and found out you that your toy was on its way to China? This is the story of how Trixie manages to be without her Knuffle Bunny when she left it on a plane on her way to Holland to visit her Oma and Opa. Although she tries to enjoy her vacation, all she can think about is Knuffle Bunny! Will she ever be reunited with her best friend?

The third and final book in Mo Willems Knuffle Bunny series, Knuffle Bunny Free again takes readers on an adventure with Trixie and her favorite toy Knuffle Bunny. The story begins with Trixie, her parents, and of course Knuffle Bunny, leaving their home to visit her Oma and Opa in Holland. They rode in a taxi, on a plane and a train until they finally arrived at the house. Once everyone greeted each other something felt different. Trixie realized that she left her Knuffle Bunny on the plane. Her dad called the airport but the plane is already on its way to China. Throughout the story, Trixie learns to cope with the separation from Knuffle Bunny and tries to enjoy her vacation. This book takes us on Trixie’s journey to becoming the big girl that Oma and Opa have said that she has grown up to be. The ending will surprise you and leave you feeling satisfied by the ending of an amazing series.

Along with the preceding books in the series, I would absolutely keep this book in my library and hope to read it to my students out loud. Each character is realistic and holds qualities which many children see in other people at home or school. The pictures give the children a very clear depiction of the setting considering they are actual photographs. Knuffle Bunny Free presents multiple issues which almost every child will be able to relate to. The biggest issue in this book is growing up. Although Trixie wants Knuffle Bunny back in her life more than anything, she knows that her dad is right when he explained that it might be time for her to “say goodbye” to Knuffle Bunny just like he had to do with his favorite toy. The end of the story shows children that even though it may be hard to give up something so meaningful, it is part of growing up and, as seen in this book, could make someone else’s life so much better.

This story meets many Massachusetts curriculum standards including Ma. 3 stating that students should be able to act out/describe characters as well as discuss how characters dealt with major events in their lives. Also, considering the actual photographs used behind Willems hand drawn characters, the illustrations on each and every page give readers a great understanding of setting and the plot as well as allows them to receive a large amount of detail which meets standard Ma. 7.

Biography

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope

Author: Nikki Grimes

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Age Group: 1^st-5th

Genre: Biography

            Have you ever wondered what our president was like when he was younger? Have you ever wondered what he did as a kid? Were you ever curious as to where his inspiration to become president came from? This is the story of all of that. Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope is a great story about how a young boy from Hawaii became the 44^th President of the United States.

            The story starts out with a young boy asking his mother about a man on T.V. The boy is curious why the people are yelling his name and why they are cheering. The mother ten starts the story of a young boy that was called Barry. Barry lived in Hawaii with his white mother, black father, and grandparents. Barry knew that he was different from all the children because his parents were not the same color. One day Barry’s father disappeared and Barry became sad and upset. His mother and grandparents would tell him that he needed to be strong and not sad that his father had left because he still had them. Barry started wondering more about who he was and where he came from. One day his father showed up unexpectedly and told him that the most important thing in the world was his education. Barry soon moved to California where he studied and went to school. Barry knew that there was a lot of animosity between black and white people and that one day he would fix that. Barry soon received news that his father had died and decided to make a trip to Kenya to visit his family. When he arrived he talked with many people and made many new friends and he also prayed at his father’s grave. With a sense of hope Barry went to school at Harvard and moved to Illinois where he became a senator. Then the story ends with Barry on T.V telling the United States “Yes We Can”. The young boy realizes that he was on T.V because he was our new president. The boy then tells his mother that one day he wanted to be president and his mother smiled and gave him a hug.

            I would put this book in my library because it is a current story that is relevant to our day. This election just happened and it is very important for our children to know the history of our president’s, especially the first black president. This book is full of facts and stories about Barack Obama and his family and where he came from. This book had very nice illustrations that almost looked like collages. They were very fun to look at and the color reflected the emotion of the page very nicely. I really enjoyed this book and think that it would be a great one for everyone to have in their library.

            This book follows #7 (Beginning Reading), #8 (Understanding a Text), #9 (Making Connections), and #10 (Genre). The students will be able to understand the written and spoken language in the story, they will be able to identify the main themes and ideas of the story, they will be able to make a connection with themselves especially because this is a current day book, and they will be able to understand the genres that this story applies to. 

Historical

Henry’s Freedom Box

Author: Ellen Levine

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Age Group: 3^rd-5th

Genre: Historical

            Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a slave? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be taken away from all of your family and friends? Could you imagine traveling in a box for several days? Well Henry did it. Henry’s Freedom Box is a story of hope and compassion as a slave escapes the horrible treatment from his boss.

            The story starts off as Henry as a young boy. His mother tells him that one day he may be separated from her and that he needed to be ready. When his master becomes ill he gives Henry to his son, who is mean and cruel. Henry worked in his new masters’ tobacco farm, peeling the husks off of the tobacco. One day, while in town Henry meets a young girl named Nancy. For a few years Henry and Nancy talk and walk together and then one day Henry asks Nancy to be his wife. Their masters agree to the marriage and soon enough they had 3 children. One day while at work one of Henry’s friends comes and tells him that his wife and children have been sold to new masters. As Henry arrives in the town center the cart that is carrying his wife and children pulls away. Henry becomes very angry and upset and can no longer be happy until one day a man named Dr. Smith (who disliked slavery) came up with an idea. Early in the morning Dr. Smith puts Henry into a box and mails him to Philadelphia where he can be a free man. It is a long and bumpy journey and at one point Henry is tipped upside down and is lying on his head. But, after a few days Henry arrives in Philadelphia where he is set free to live as a free man.

            I would keep this book in my library because it is great example of our history. This is a story of the Underground Railroad and the slaves that were part of it. It is a very true story of the harsh facts of our history, but they are important facts to know. It teaches children about the importance of acceptance of people for who they are and not about their race, ethnicity, or gender. I also loved the illustrations that were in this book. They were very detailed and the colors showed a lot of emotion that the text could not always provide. This is a great story for older kids who as interested in the history of the United States.

            This book follows #7 (Beginning Reading), #8 (Understanding a text), #9 (making connections), and #10 (Genre) of the Massachusetts ELA standards. Students will be able to understand the written language that is in the book, they will be able to understand the facts and themes of the story, they will be able to make connections from our time to the time in the story, and they will be able to understand the different genres that are represented in this book.

Multicultural

In Rosa’s Mexico

Author: Campbell Geeslin

Illustrator: Andre Arroyo

Grade Level: K-3rd

Genre: Multicultural

            Ever wanted to learn Spanish? Ever wanted to know what it was like to live in a small town in Mexico? Have you ever helped anyone and they have thanked you? If so In Rosa’s Mexico is the best story for you! Campbell does a great job incorporating Spanish words and culture into a book just for you!

            In Rosa’s Mexico is a book that has three short stories inside. The first story is about a young girl named Rosa who is picking flowers to sell for meat to put in the soup for dinner. That night the volcano next to Rosa’s house erupts and covers all of her flowers with ash. Rosa has no flowers to sell at the market for dinner. Rosa’s mother tells her to go to the rooster for help. The rooster then gives Rosa the flowers that she needs to sell at the market for meat so that she and her mother have soup to eat for dinner. The second story starts off with Rosa’s soup pot cracking. Without the soup pot Rosa and her mother would not have enough to eat for dinner. Rosa goes by the river to get clay to make a new pot. On her way to the river Rosa spots a donkey that has fallen down and can’t get up. Rosa is unable to help the donkey, but she gets to the river and gets her clay. She makes a new pot for her mother and her so that they can have soup to eat for dinner. That night Rosa dreamed about the stars and that she grabbed one. The next morning Rosa put the star on the donkey’s forehead and he was able to get up and run away. The third story is about Rosa helping a wolf that is trapped. After freeing the wolf Rosa receives a golden ring. The next morning when Rosa is in town to sell her flowers she runs into a bride that has lost her ring. Rosa asks if the ring that she has is hers and the bride says yes. Rosa gives her the ring and in exchange for finding it Rosa is invited to the wedding. The bride even has her husband buy all of Rosa’s flowers. When Rosa returns home she sees the wolf. He is ashamed that she caught him stealing, so to make up for the ring the wolf gives her his own silk pillow to sleep on. Rosa uses the pillow every night and has sweet dreams.

            I would keep this book in my library because it is a fun way for young children to learn some Spanish words. It has some small Spanish words that are easily translatable into English. This book had three cute stories about a young girl who is helping her mother and the animals in her town. There were really cute illustrations that were bright and colorful and would be very fun for kids to look at. The book is also has some fantasy to it because of talking animals (which all kids like). This is a great story for teachers who are trying to teach their class about other cultures, or a teacher that is trying to teach their students another language.

            This book follows #7 (Beginning Reading), #9 (Making Connections), and #10 (Genre) of the Massachusetts ELA standards. Students will be able to understand the written language of English and Spanish in the book, they will be able to make connections between the two cultures, and they will be able to identify the genre based on the clues from this book. 

Realistic Fiction

When Lightning Comes in a Jar

Author: Patricia Polacco

Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Reading Level: 1st- 5th

Genre: Realistic Fiction

            Do you have a big family? One with lots of uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins? Have you ever been to a family reunion? Have you ever tried to catch lightning in a jar? When Lightning Comes in a Jar is a great story about family traditions and how that even when those who created the traditions have passed, they are still carried on year to year.

           

            The story begins with a woman recollecting her family reunions from when she was a child. She remembers that everyone in the family came; cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents. They all came to her grandmother’s house where they ate food (especially Jell-O salads), played baseball, told stories, shared pictures, and played croquet. The woman recalls one family reunion where her grandmother told her about catching lightning in a jar. The whole time during the party the girl wonders how this is possible. After doing all of the activities, listening to Aunt Adah tell the story of when she first rode in a car, and taking the family photo it is time for gramma to show them how to catch lightning in a jar. First she scoops something up from the ground, then holds her cupped hands to her mouth and blows. The object falls back into the grass. After a few moments of silence fireflies start lighting up and flying all over the place! The children run and laugh as they chase after the fireflies with their jars. At the end of their chase the young girl sits with her gramma, and her jar of fireflies on the porch and thinks about how she will never forget that night. The story ends in current time where the young girl is now a woman and is having her own family reunion. Even though many family members have since passed the traditions remain the same; baseball, Jell-O, croquet, stories, and finally lightning in a jar.

            I would keep this story in my bookshelves because it teaches the importance of family and traditions. These are very important pieces of our lives because it makes us who we are. With the story children can think of and share their own traditions that they have with their families and how it makes them who they are today. This story is great to share with almost any grade because it applies to everyone; boys and girls. The pictures are fun and colorful and there is a lot going on. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely keep it in my library.

            This book follows #7 (Beginning Reading), #8 (Understanding a Text), #9 (Making Connections), and #10 (Genre) of the Massachusetts ELA Standards. From this book students will be able to expand their language, identify main facts and ideas of the story, be able to make connections with the story, and be able to identify the different genres of literature. 

Fantasy/ Fiction

The Princess Knight

Author: Cornelia Funke

Illustrator: Kerstin Meyer

Reading Level: 1^st-4th

Genre: Fiction/ Fantasy

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in the medieval times? Did you ever wonder what it was like to be a knight? Have you ever wondered what it would be like for a girl to be a knight? If you want to read a story about a brave little girl who wants to become a knight then The Princess Knight is the book for you!

This story begins with the telling of the story of a King who has 3 sons. The King wants to raise his 3 sons the same way that his father raised him. He teaches them to fight, ride horses, and joust. The King also has a daughter, Violetta. When Violetta is born her mother dies and the King has a dilemma. He does not know how to raise a little girl, so he raises Violetta the same way that he raised his sons. Violetta is so small she has trouble holding a sword, getting on a horse, and jousting. Her brothers make fun of her, but she is determined not to give up! One day the King comes to Violetta and tells her to put on her prettiest dress because today he is going to find her a husband. Her father says that he is going to have a jousting match in order to find her a husband. Violetta feels angry that she cannot pick her own husband and upset because she knows that she is the best jouster in the kingdom. Violetta and her nursemaid make a plan so that Violetta can joust with the men who are fighting for her hand in marriage. On the day of the competition Violetta dresses in an all-black suit of armor and her nursemaid dresses as Violetta. When the competition starts Violetta is clearly the best, even beating her own brothers. Finally at the end Violetta is the only knight left. Her father is shocked to find his own daughter under the suit of armor. He tells Violetta that she can pick whomever she would like to marry, and she does, choosing the rose gardener’s son as her husband.

I would keep this book in my library because it is a fun and very different book. It is the story of a strong little girl, who wants to be treated the same way as the boys. This book is great to teach kids that you can do whatever you want to do with your life. It teaches them that no one can tell them what to do and that they are the makers of their own fates. I really enjoyed the pictures as well. They were brightly colored and they covered the whole page. There were also a lot of repetitive images that told the story when the words could not. This is a great story for kids who need a boost in confidence (especially girls).

            

           This book follows # 7 (Beginning reading), #8 (Understanding a text), #9 (making connections), and #12 (Fiction) of the Massachusetts ELA standards. Students will be able to understand the written language and spelling in the book, they will be able to take facts and ideas from the book, they will be able to take the connection from medieval times to now, and they will be able to identify the elements of fiction from this story.