List of Picture Books and Chapter Books

Picture Books:

• Fiesta Babies
• Iguanas in the Snow
• Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix
• The Moon Over Star
• The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears
• The Polar Express
• First the Egg
• Bink and Gollie
• Chalk
• City Dog, Country Frog
• The Lion and the Mouse
• Otis

Chapter Books:

• Shiloh
• Superfudge
• Ramona and Her Father
• The Giver
• The Whipping Boy
• The Sign of the Beaver
• Charlotte’s Web
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• The Color Purple
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Indian in the Cupboard
• Lord of the Flies
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• Twilight
• The Hunger Games

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems (Picture Book)

Notable Books for Children

A dog was from the city and ran to the country where he became friends with a frog.  They spent the spring playing frog games jumping, splashing, and croaking.  They spend the summer playing dog games by sniffing, fetching, and barking.  They spent the fall remembering what they did in the spring and summer.  In the winter the frog did not come back so the dog spent the winter alone.  The dog went back the next spring the frog still was not there but he became friends with a chipmunk.

This was a cute book about friendship between a dog and a frog.  I thought it had a good message because it helps a child understand that if one of your friends moves away he or she may be sad but they can make new friends.

Chalk by Bill Thomson (Picture Book)

Notable Books for Children

This book is about the adventures that children can have when they have a piece of chalk.  The children in this book draw pictures with chalk and use their imaginations to make these pictures come to life.  When it rains at the end of the book the chalk is erased and the imagined animals disappear.

This was a cute picture book.  It was unlike most children’s books in that it did not have an words but told a story through pictures.  I think this book would be great for young children, especially ones who have a great imagination.

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee (Picture Book)

Notable Books for Children

This book had three stories in it.   The first book was about Bink buying a new pair of socks that Gollie did not like.  They compromised where Gollie gave Bink half of her pancakes and Bink took off one of her outrageous socks.  The second story was about Gollie going on different adventures and by the end inviting Bink to come with her.  The third story was about Bink buying a fish and taking it everywhere with her.  The fish bowl broke so Gollie took the fish to live in the pond to save its life.

This was a cute story of two girls who are friends.  There are many girls in the world who can relate to this story and the relationship between the girls.  I enjoyed reading this book as I’m sure girls of all ages will enjoy it, also.

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Picture Book)

Caldecott Award:

This was about beginnings and what the beginning becomes.  For example the egg comes first and becomes a chicken.  A seed comes first and becomes a frog. Children first learn to write words and then learn to write stories.  At the end of the book it makes a full circle and the egg that becomes a chicken makes an egg.

This was cute book for children, especially for children about five and younger.  The words in this book help children identity things with words and pictures.  The pictures in the book were colorful and creative in bringing in the next word. 

The Moon Over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston (Picture Book)

Coretta Scott King Award

This book is about a girl who experiences the excitement of the first man on the moon and where their dreams led them.  She knows that she has big dreams and wants to accomplish them, also.  Her Grandpa, who is not the biggest supporter of the space program, is a big supporter to his granddaughter and encourages her to dream big and go after her dreams.

I really liked this book and thought it had a great theme about dreaming big and never giving up on your dreams.  I liked that it portrayed the grandpa as being supportive of his granddaughter in wherever dreams led her.

Iguanas in the Snow by by Francisco X. Alarcon (Picture Book)

Pura Belpre Award:

This book was a variety of poems mainly about the life of a migrant child in San Francisco.  The author told the child’s life through poems.  Many of the poems were about San Francisco and others were about the personal life of the child.  The title comes from one particular poem called Iguanas in the Snow about the first time the child sees snow. 

This was an interesting way to tell a story.  I have not seen it done this way before.  Most poems tell a story throughout the poem but I have not seen the story continue throughout many poems in a single book.  I thought this was a creative way to tell a story.

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (Picture Book)

New York Times Bestseller for Children's List

A mouse is scared by an owl and scurried away to hide from the owl, but the mouse did not realize that he was hiding in the camouflaged fur of a lion.  When the mouse realizes this he is very scared, but the lion lets the mouse go back with his family.  Later the lion is caught in a rope trap and calls for help.  The mouse comes and bites the rope into pieces and frees the lion.  The lion and mouse are both grateful that each of them saved the other’s life. 

I thought this was a cute children’s book.  I was different from most books because there were not any words, only pictures.  The main story line could be determined from the pictures but the feelings of the animals were inferred through the pictures and what was happening.  I think this is a great book for children who cannot read yet or are just beginning to read.

Otis by Loren Long (Picture Book)

New York Times Bestseller for Children's List

This book is about a tractor and his love for the farm that he works.  He becomes friends with a calf, but soon he is replaced with a newer, bigger tractor.  Otis does not get to stay in the barn anymore by his friend.  He has to stay outside.  The owner of the farm wanted to put the new calf in a contest for the prettiest calf in the land, but he could not find her.  She had gone to Mud Pond where her and Otis used to go, and now she was stuck in the mud.  Everyone at the farm, the new tractor, and the firemen tried to pull the calf out, but she just got more stuck.  Otis came to the rescue and pulled the calf from the mud.  They became friends again, and the farmer discovered that the chickens lay more eggs and the cows produced more milk with Otis puttering around the barn. 

            I enjoyed reading this book.  I thought it was a cute children’s book that kids will enjoy reading.  It teaches a good lesson of not forgetting friends that are dependable and that you’ve known for a long time even when you meet new friends.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (Chapter Book)

New York Times Bestseller for Children's List

Harry returns to Hogwarts to start his second year.  Upon returning he learns that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened again and anyone whose both parents are not wizards will be killed by Heir of Slytherin which includes Hermione.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione meet Moaning Myrtle who is the ghost of a girl who was killed the previous time that the Chamber was open.  Myrtle shows Harry a diary through which he discovers that fifty years ago Tom Riddle, the Head Boy, blamed Rubeus Hagrid for opening the Chamber.  However, a while later the diary is stolen.  Not long after the diary is stolen, Hermione is petrified by a serpent but discovers that if she does not look the serpent directly in the eyes she will only be petrified.  The serpent tries to get her to look him directly in the eyes so that he can kill her with his gaze.  Ron’s sister is taken to the Chamber and Harry and Ron seek Lockhart’s help who is the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.  Lockhart is a fraud and tries to erase Harry and Ron’s memories several times one of which using Ron’s wand.  However, the wand does not work properly and the action backfires and gives Lockhart amnesia and making part of the tunnel to the Chamber collapse and separating Harry from Ron and Lockhart.  Ron tries to get through the rubble of the tunnel and Harry enters the Chamber to find Ginny who is lying by the diary.  Tom Riddle appears and tells Harry that he is a memory in the diary.  Ginny had written in the diary and Tom gained her trust by seeming to understand her hopes and fears only to use Ginny to open the Chambers.  Harry also learns that Tom is Voldemort as a boy.  Upon all of this happening Ginny realized her mistake and threw the diary away which is how Harry acquired it.  Tom releases the serpent to kill Harry but Harry kills the serpent with a sword but not before being bitten by the serpent.  Tom is celebrating Harry’s defeat and that Harry is dying.  However, Fawkes cries on Harry’s wound and heals it and uses the fang from the serpent to stab the diary which causes Tom to vanish.  Harry tells Dumbledore that he is afraid that he too much like Tom Riddle to which Dumbledore responds that Harry is a true member of the Gryffindor House and only a true member could have killed the serpent with the sword that Harry use. 

I enjoyed reading this book because it continued the first Harry Potter book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.  This book is one that is filled with adventure and  as a reader you cannot put down and cannot wait to read the next one.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (Chapter Book)

Bella is new in Forks, Washington.  She sits by Edward in class but he is not very friendly to her.  Edward disappears for several days which Bella later finds out that Edward is a vampire and is attracted to her blood.  After Edward returns to school he and Bella become friends.  Edward stops a van with his bare hands from hitting Bella in the parking lot.  Bella wants to find out how Edward stopped the van.  Her friend Jacob tells Bella that Edward is vampire.  Edward and Bella begin to fall in love.  An enemy vampire of Edward’s named James finds out that Bella and Edward are dating and begins to search for Bella.  Edward and his family save Bella from James but not before James bites Bella’s hand.  Edward sucks the poison out of Bella so she will not become a vampire.  Bella goes to the hospital after which her and Edward return to Forks and go to the prom.  While at the prom Bella tells Edward that she wants to become a vampire, but Edward will not allow it. 

I really enjoyed reading Twilight because it is about a girl who most girls can identify with throughout the book.  Bella is new to her school and is looking for friends.  I have been in the same situation when I went to college and did not know anyone.  I liked that Bella is a compassionate person and is not afraid of people who are different from her.  I thought that Bella is a strong character in this book and the author did a great job of portraying Bella and the relationship between Bella and Edward.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (Chapter Book)

Challenged Book

After Harry’s parents are killed by an evil wizard named Voldemort, he goes to live with his extended family where he is mistreated.  Shortly before he turns eleven, Harry finds out that he is a wizard and has been accepted to Hogwarts.  Harry also finds out that he is well known by others because he escaped the wizard who killed his parents and that his parents left him a large sum of money.  Harry becomes friends with Ron on the train on the way to Hogwarts.  When Harry and Ron arrive at Hogwarts, they make friends with Hermione who takes the blame for a battle they were in with a troll.  During Harry’s Quidditch match, Hermione notices that Snape is putting Harry in danger by causing his broomstick to be out of control.  However, Hermione stops Snape by setting his rope on fire.  Harry regains control of his broomstick and wins the match.  Harry also finds out that Hagrid is hiding a three-headed dog which is guarding a secret.  Harry is given the Invisibility Cloak for Christmas that belonged to his father.  During this same time Harry discovers the Mirror of Irised that shows him his parents.  Harry goes to the mirror often but finds out that the mirror only shows you what you want to see.  Hermione realizes that Flamel is an alchemist and has the Philosopher’s stone which grants eternal life.  Snape is trying to get past the three-headed dog to steal the Philosopher’s stone.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione discover that Hagrid has a baby dragon.  The dragon bites Ron and Harry loses his Invisibility Cloak while he and Hermione are trying to get the dragon to safety during which they get caught.  As a punishment, Harry, Ron, and Hermione help Hagrid rescue an injured unicorn in the Forbidden Forest.  Harry gets the Invisibility Cloak back and the three friends use it to protect the Philospher’s Stone.  In the process, Harry learns that Snape was trying to protect him and his friends and the real enemy is Quirrell who serves Voldemort.  The stone is dropped in Harry’s pocket which Quirrell tries to steal.  However, when Quirrell toches Harry his skin burns and Harry passes out.  Quirrell dies, but Harry lives because his mother had great love for him and sacrificed her life for him.  The stone was destroyed, but Voldemort is planning to return.

I liked that this book is adventurous. I enjoyed reading about the experiences that Harry has throughout the book. Although it was a long book I thought the setting, characters, and plot engaged the reader throughout the book. This book took me, as it takes all its readers, to a fantasy world that does not exist in real life. The fantasies in this book are what made the book so appealing to me. I thought that Harry Potter was a strong character and portrays someone of great courage.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding (Chapter Book)

Challenged Book

This book is set on an isolated island where a plane crashes and the only survivors are boys of 13 years of age and younger.  Throughout the book the boys struggle to stay alive and to keep a fire going to alert ships passing by that they are on the island and need help.  While on the island there is a lot of bullying that goes on especially from Jack who is the main leader of his group.  Ralph is the leader of the other group.  There is a beast on the island that the boys are scared of so Jack commands some of the boys to go kill a pig so that the other boys will think that the beast is dead.  However, a man with a parachute lands on the island and dies.  This is who the boys saw and thought was the real beast.  Throughout the book there is a lot of violence and bullying that goes on, especially from Jack.  Jack’s group kills Simon because it is dark and they mistake him for the beast.  Also, Piggy dies at the end of the book because Roger pushes a boulder at him and he falls off the cliff.   

Throughout the book I was sympathetic for “Piggy” because he was made fun of by the other boys.  Many times this happens at school and I always feel bad for the student that it is happening to.  This book also reminded me of the movie ‘Castaway’ with Tom Hanks and all the things he had to do to survive.  I liked that the boys worked together to find a solution to getting off the island.  However, I did not like the violence that was in this book.  Overall, I probably would not read this book again because of the violence in it.

Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks (Chapter Book)

Challenged Book

Omri gets a cupboard for his birthday and uses a key that brings the toys inside the cupboard alive when he unlocks it.  He brings an Indian named Little Bear to life.  Omri’s friend, Patrick, finds out about the magical cupboard and brings a cowboy named Boone to life.  Little Bear and Boone fight throughout the book until the point when Little Bear hurts Boone with arrow.  Omri decides to bring a World War I medic to life to help Boone.  However, Omri and Patrick cannot find the key that opens the cupboard so they cannot bring the medic to life to help Boone.  After a while the key is found and the medic is brought to life.  The medic helps Boone recover from his wound.  Little Bear convinces Omri that he needs a bride whose name is Twin Stars.   Omri and Patrick think it is best to sent the characters back to their own time period.  Omri gives his mom the key so he is not tempted to bring the characters back to life. 

What I enjoyed the most about this book is the imagination that is present.  I remember reading this book when I was young and loved it because the “toys” in the book came to life.  The fantasy comes to life in the book and gives young kids hope that that maybe it could happen in their life, also.  I enjoyed this book, as I’m sure children do, because of the adventure and imagination that is present in it.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Chapter Book)

Challenged Book

This book is told through the eyes of a little girl named Scout who looks up to her father, Atticus.  Scout, Jem, and Dill fill their days planning a way to see Boo Radley.  This is how they spend most of their summer.  They do not realize that Boo is watching out for them and protects them from harm.    Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb who fights for racial equality in the South and is defending Tom Robinson, a black man who has been mistakenly accused of raping Mayella Ewell.  Mayella has actually been beaten and raped by her father, Bob Ewell.  Tom Robinson is found guilty of the crime although Atticus has clearly proven that Tom was physically incapable of committing it since he only has one hand.  At the end of the book Scout gets to meet Boo when he saves her and Jem from being attacked by Bob Ewell.  Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout because he does not like Atticus since he defended a black man. 

I really enjoyed reading this book.  To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books to read.  I get to teach this book at school, so it is always nice to be able to teach literature that I enjoy reading!  I thought Harper Lee did a great job of portraying the racial issue that was going on at this time in the South.  There are several parts in the book that are my favorite.  When Atticus proves that Tom Robinson could not have attacked Mayella in the way that was described because he is missing part of his arm is great part in the story.  Lee clearly shows that his case is a black and white issue and not about rape by Tom being convicted of the crime although he was physically incapable of doing it.  Another part of the story that is one of my favorite is when the Atticus is leaving the courtroom and the black people stand in respect for what Atticus stood for and what he tried to accomplish.  Although he did not win the case, he had the respect of the black people which was very hard for a white man to do during this time period.  At the end of the book when Scout meets Boo Radley and realizes that he has been watching out for them and is their friend shows the innocence of children in this day.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema

Caldecott Award

Resolution: This book has several animals that are the main characters including a mosquito, iguana, python, rabbit, crow, monkey, Mother Owl, owlet, and lion.
Conflict: The problem in this story is trying to find out who is responsible for killing the owlet. Mother Owl will not tell the sun to rise again until she finds out who is responsible for killing her baby. 
Rising Action: Each animal’s part in the story causes a chain reaction which causes the owlet to die.
Climax: It is decided that it is the mosquito's fault since she started the chain reaction.
Falling Action: Mother Owl told the sun to rise. 
Resolution: Ever since that time the mosquito buzzes in people’s ears asking if everyone is still mad at her for accidently killing the owlet.
Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are very colorful.  I liked that most of the backgrounds on each page were black because that brought out the subjects in the foreground better.  Some of the animals in the illustrations had a little bit of an abstract look to them which I thought was interesting.

Aardema, V., Dillon, L., Dillon, D., Wallerstein, W., Tehon, A., & Egolf, R. L. (1975). Why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears: a West African tale. New York: Dial Press.

Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary (Chapter Book)

Bluebonnet Award

Exposition: Ramona and her family are the main characters. 
Conflict: Ramona becomes worried for her family because her dad has just lost his job. 
Rising Action: Ramona’s mom finds full time work and supports the family although money is still tight. 
Climax: Ramona thinks that if she can somehow get on television she can make enough money to support her family. 
Falling Action: Ramona tells her dad that she is worried that their family is not happy, but her dad reassures her that they will always be happy no matter what happens. 
Resolution: Ramona’s dad finds a job at a grocery store and Ramona.
Literary Qualities: Two strong literary elements in this book are the characters and theme.  Ramona is a strong character in this book and makes the events in this book exciting and unexpected.  The theme of this book of never giving up is seen in Ramona and her family and their support each other throughout the book.

Cleary, B., & Tiegreen, A. (1977). Ramona and her father . New York: Morrow

Superfudge by Judy Blume (Chapter Book)

Bluebonnet Award

Exposition: Fudge and Peter are brothers who live in New York City. 
Conflict: Fudge and Peter find out that they will be moving to Princeton, New Jersey which neither of them are thrilled about. 
Rising Action: Most of the story is about the two boys trying to get accustomed to moving to a new place. 
Climax: Fudge plays a joke on Peter who in return won’t let Fudge go to the picnic with him and Fudge turns up missing.
Falling Action: Fudge and Peter’s parents decide it’s time to move back to New York City. 
Resolution: Although the boys have learned to like Princeton they are excited to be going back to New York. 
Literary Qualities: Two strong literary elements in this book are the setting and conflict.  The setting of the story is the conflict in the story.  The conflict the story is very relevant to many kids today and something that they can relate to.

Blume, J. (1980). Superfudge . New York: Dutton.

Shiloh by Phyllis Naylor (Chapter Book)

Bluebonnet Award

Exposition: Marty Preston finds a dog near his house in Friendly, West Virginia and names the dog Shiloh. 
Conflict: Shiloh does not want to give Shiloh back to his owner, Judd Travers, because Judd drinks and abuses the dog.  
Rising Action: Shiloh returns to Marty who builds a pen for him in the woods behind his house and secretly keeps Shiloh back there.  Another dog attacks Shiloh during the night which results in Marty’s dad finding out because Shiloh since he has to be taken to the doctor.  Marty has to take Shiloh back to his owner once again.  However, before taking Shiloh back, Marty goes to visit Judd to ask him if he can keep Shiloh. 
Climax: Marty sees Judd kill a deer that is not in season and will be fined if anyone finds out. 
Falling Action: Marty tries to blackmail Judd to be able to keep Shiloh.  Marty and Judd make a deal where Marty will work for Judd for 20 hours in order to buy Shiloh from him.  Judd goes back on his word and tells Marty that he is not going to let him keep Shiloh. 
Resolution: Marty continues to work for Judd and befriends him.  By the end of the book Judd agrees to let Marty keep Shiloh. 
Literary Qualities: Two strong literary elements in this book are the conflict and theme.  Marty goes to great length to solve the conflict in this story.  The theme in this book is evident throughout the book by Marty’s actions.

Naylor, P. R. (1991). Shiloh. New York: Atheneum.

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley (Picture Book)

Bluebonnet Award

Resolution: Susy, Mark Twain’s daughter, and Mark Twain are the main characters in this book which is based in various places in  New England. 
Conflict: Susy decides to write the true story about her dad because she thought that no one knew him as well as she did and everyone was getting the information wrong. 
Rising Action: In her biography of her dad, Susy described his history, looks, good qualities, bad qualities, how he spent his time, his thoughts, and things he did.  Her dad loved to tell funny jokes but he was also a philosopher that thought deeply.  Most people did not see this side of him.  He was also wrote many books including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 
Climax: Mark Twain was very pleased when he found out that Susy was writing about him.
Falling Action: Mark Twain would give Susy extra information when he knew she needed it.  Susy felt that she had done a good job of describing her dad. 
Resolution: The book ends by describing part of Mark Twain’s autobiography and how he used his favorite passage from Susy’s biography to describe himself. 
Illustrations: The illustrations in this book were very colorful and descriptive.  There were pictures describing the life of Mark Twain according to Susy.  The illustrator did a wonderful job of portraying the book in pictures to help the reader understand the book better.

Kerley, B., & Fotheringham, E. (2010). The extraordinary Mark Twain (according to Susy) . New York: Scholastic Press.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (Picture Book)

Caldecott Award

Exposition: A little boy is waiting for Santa Claus to come when he hears something outside. 
Conflict: The conflict in this book is about whether people believe in Christmas and Santa Claus.
Rising Action: The little boy finds a train outside going to the North Pole so he decides to go along for the ride.  Upon arriving at the North Pole he is selected to receive the first Christmas gift.  The boy chooses a silver bell but soon realizes when he gets home that the bell fell out of his pocket and he loses it. 
Climax: When he wakes up for Christmas the next morning he has an extra gift under the tree which is the silver bell. 
Falling Action: Santa found it on the train and brought it to him.
Resolution: The little boy continues to hear the silver bell ring because he believes in Christmas and Santa Claus.
Illustrations: This book has beautiful pictures that describe the story.  The pictures have a smokey touch to them.  The shading of light and darkness is excellent.

Allsburg, C., & Egolf, R. L. (1985). The Polar Express . Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (Chapter Book)

Newbery Award

Exposition: Charlotte’s Web is about a pig named Wilbur who becomes friends with a spider named Charlotte.  Wilbur and Charlotte live in the barn with all the other animals. 
Conflict: One of the animals tells Wilbur that he is going to be killed. 
Rising Action: Wilbur becomes frightened and asks Charlotte for help.  Charlotte begins to weave webs that say words describing Wilbur.  Wilbur becomes very popular across the country because of the webs that Charlottes weaves for him. 
Climax: Wilbur wins first place at the fair so his owners do not kill him for his meat.  
Falling Action: Wilbur got to live to be an old pig in the barn with his friends.
Resolution: Charlotte died at the end of the book after having her babies three of which stayed in the barn with Wilbur. 
Literary Qualities: Two strong literary elements in this book are the characters and the point of view.  The characters in this book are not like most books because animals can talk in this book.  The point of view is from the animals’ perspective which gives the reader a different view of farm animals.

White, E. B., Williams, G., & Rosenwald, E. G. (1952). Charlotte's web. New York: Harper.

Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George (Chapter Book)

Newbery Award

Exposition: Sign of the Beaver is a book about two boys, Matt and Attean, who become friends in the wilderness of Maine. 
Conflict: Matt and Attean must learn to trust each other although they are from different backgrounds.
Rising Action: Matt is responsible for everything at the cabin while his dad goes back to Massachusetts to get the rest of the family.  Saknis and Attean, an Indian chief and his grandson, see Matt get stung by bees and help him.  In return for their help Saknis requests that Matt teach Attean to read.  Attean does not want to have anything to do with Matt but over time begins to trust him.  This is evident when Attean begins to teach Matt the ways of the Indians.  
Climax: Attean asks Matt to go with his tribe as they move to a more deserted place.  Matt has the tough decision of either to go with Attean and his family who he has come to trust and respect or wait for his family. 
Falling Action: Matt decides to wait for his family and has to endure the hard winter alone. 
Resolution: After the winter his family arrives and Matt finds out that his family has become sick and then the winter would not allow them to come. 
Literary Qualities: Two strong literary elements in this book are the characters and symbolism.  The relationship between Matt and Attean is the focus of the book.  The book shows a lot of symbolism in it by portraying the relationship between the two boys.

Speare, E. G. (1983). The sign of the beaver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman (Chapter Book)

Newbery Award

Exposition: Prince Horace and Jemmy are the two main characters in the book who live in the palace but run away at the beginning of the book.
Conflict: Prince Horace is a brat that will not do what he is told.  When he gets in trouble Jemmy, the whipping boy, gets whipped as a consequence to Prince Horace because the prince is not allowed to be whipped. 
Rising Action: Prince Horace is longing for the king’s attention so he decides to run away and wants Jemmy to go with him .  Jemmy agrees to it because he is tired of being beaten and wants to go back to his old life of rat-catching on the streets.  While Prince Horace and Jemmy are running away, Hold-Your-Nose-Billy and Cutthroat kidnap.  Prince Horace and Jemmy escape but are on the run from the two outlaws.  While on the run Prince Horace and Jemmy meet two people who help them escape from Hold-Your-Nose-Billy and Cutthroat, a girl who is looking for her bear and a man with a wagon full of potatoes who are on their way to the fair. 
Climax: While at the fair Prince Horace overhears a lady talking about what a brat he is and it makes him realize that he does not want to be known for that. 
Falling Action: Prince Horace tells the potato man to collect the reward for finding the prince, and Prince Horace and Jemmy return to the palace. 
Resolution: The prince explains what happened to the king, and Prince Horace and Jemmy live together in the palace as friends. 
Literary Qualities: Two strong literary elements in ths book are the protagonist and the antagonist.  The protagonist is the Jemmy throughout the book.  Prince Horace is the antagonist throughout most of the book but becomes a protagonist by the end of the book.

Fleischman, S., & Sís, P. (1986). The whipping boy. New York: Greenwillow Books.

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry (Chapter Book)

Newbery Award

Exposition: Jonas is the main character in The Giver and lives in the community.
Conflict: In the community everything is controlled and no one is allowed to make decisions for themselves or to have feelings. 
Rising Action: Jonas becomes The Receiver and receives all the memories from the past including good and bad memories.  Jonas realizes what an empty life it is that the people live in the community since they are not able to feel anything.  Jonas and The Giver, the person who is giving the memories to Jonas, decide that the best way that Jonas can help the community is to leave and let all the people have the memories. 
Climax: Jonas finds out that Gabriel is going to be released, or killed, the following morning so he has to leave the community immediately and takes Gabriel with him.  
Falling Actions: It was a very difficult journey for Jonas and Gabriel but they eventually make it Elsewhere, what the real world is known as in the community. 
Resolution: The book leads you to believe that Jonas and Gabriel enjoy life as it was meant to be and so did the people in the community. 
Literary Qualities: Two strong literary elements in this book are setting and point of view.  The setting in this book is extremely important since it sets the mood for the entire book.  This book would not have as strong of a story line if the point of view were not from Jonas’s perspective since he holds the memories.

Lowry, L. (1993). The giver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio (Picture Book)

Multicultural: Coretta Scott King Award

Exposition: This book is the story of a boy named Jimmy Hendrix. 
Conflict: Jimmy was very poor growing up, but he had big dreams to paint with music. 
Rising Action: He begins to hear different sounds such as a child laughing, a truck backfiring, a dog howling and wants to be able to put them in to words.   Jimmy’s dad buys him a wooden guitar for five dollars and Jimmy begins to learn how to play the guitar.  Eventually Jimmy can play good enough and joins a band.  When the band plays Jimmy realizes that he is being drowned out by the other instruments.  So, Jimmy’s dad buys him an electric guitar. 
Climax: One day while playing the electric guitar Jimmy realizes that he can turn the knobs and stretch the strings on the guitar to make different noises.  Now Jimmy was able to “paint” with sound.
Falling Action: Jimmy uses the knobs and strings on the guitar to make the music he has always wanted to.
Resolution: Jimmy accomplishes his dream of painting words with music.
Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are very colorful.  This portrays the book well because Jimmy was a very colorful person.  He wanted to be able to show these colors through sound, so I think it is appropriate that this book is so colorful.

Golio, G., & Steptoe, J. (2010). Jimi: sounds like a rainbow : a story of the young Jimi Hendrix. Boston: Clarion Books.

Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla (Picture Book)

Multicultural: Pura Belpre Award Fiesta Babies is about things that babies like to do.  In Fiesta Babies the babies like to go out on the town, go to parades, eat salsa, sing songs, dance, nap, and the stars.  This book did not have a traditional plot line.  It was a very short book that described what babies like to do.  This book is a multicultural book and describes things that all babies enjoy.  Illustrations: The illustrations in this book add so much to the story.  The youngest of children will be able to be involved in the story through the bright colors.   The description through the pictures gives the story more depth. Tafolla, C., & Córdova, A. (2010). Fiesta babies . Berkeley: Tricycle Press.

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker (Chapter Book)

                                             

Challenged Book

Exposition: Celie is the main character in this book although there are a lot of other characters that play a big part.  The story is mainly set in Georgia although Celie moves to Tennessee for a short time. 
Conflict: Celie is not sure if she believes in God anymore. 
Rising Action: There are several things that happen to Celie including being abused physically and sexually by her father, her husband abusing her, having feelings for another woman, and losing contact with her sister Nettie although Nettie was sending letters and Celie’s husband wasn’t giving them to her. 
Climax: Celie realizes that she doesn’t have to live being abused by the men in her life and she learns to respect herself. 
Falling Action: Celie realizes that her father that abused her is actually her stepfather which means that Celie is the owner of her mother’s house and not her stepfather when her mother passed away.  She also learns that her husband has changed his ways and is a much better person now. 
Resolution: Celie moves back to Georgia to live in her mother’s house and reestablishes her relationship with her husband.  She runs her own clothing store in Georgia, which she started in Tennessee. 
Literary Qualities: Two strong literary elements in this book are characterization and conflict.  There were many characters in this book that added to the story and the life of Celie.  Among these characters there was much conflict that gave depth to the story.

Walker, A. (1982). The color purple: a novel. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.