January 21-28, 2013
A Boy, a Dog and a Frog
Bibliography:
Mayer, Mercer (1967). A boy, a dog, and a frog. New York : Dial Press.
Summary:
This book tells the story of a little boy and his dog as they go exploring near a pond. While there, they discover a frog and try to catch it, to no avail. The frog eludes their attempts but misses them when they leave so he follows their footprints home. While the little boy and his dog are washing the day away in the bath, the frog decides to join in on the fun.
Impressions:
This simple story book was actually quite fun to explore because of the simplicity of it. There is no text so you only learn the story through studying the images. This opens the story up to interpretation which I think makes it even more fun to read. You could tell a different story every time!
Reviews:
A small trim size, subtle line work, and the absence of
color invite readers to pay close attention to the hilarious antics of an
enthusiastic frog-catcher, his canine sidekick, and the elusive amphibian as
they cavort in the creek. A "hoppy" surprise awaits the
long-suffering boy at bathtime.
Lukehart, W. (2011).
Picture perfect. School Library Journal,
57, 50.
The first of six
tales-in a format larger than the originals-depicts boy's adventures in the
company of a dog and a frog. The humorous wordless story offers preschoolers a
chance to "read" aloud to others, and also expands read-aloud choices
for adult caregivers who may struggle as readers themselves or who speak a
first language other than English.
Munson-Benson, C. (2006). A boy, a dog, and a frog. Book Links, 15, 68-68.
Uses:
Since this is a true picture book, it could best be used with pre-k and kindergarten students as a story walk. Students can be lead to tell the story that they see. Also, this would be very useful with English Language Learners since there is no text to translate.
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Ramona the Brave
Bibliography:
Cleary,
Beverly. (1975.). Ramona the brave. New York : Scholastic Book Services.
Summary:
Ramona, a first grade student, lives with her parents and
her older sister Beatrice, whom she calls Beezus. All she wants this summer is
an adventure to talk about when she goes back to school in the fall. Since her
mother got a new job, they have made arrangements to have a room built on to
their house so the girls can have their own room, even if they have to
time-share it! Ramona is excited about the hole they are going to knock into
the side of the house. When the construction workers do, she and her friend run
circles through the house to jump through it. When school starts, Ramona tells
her story and tries to get her friend to confirm that it actually happened but
he denies it and turns her into a laughing stock. From then on it seems she can
do nothing right. Ramona learns that first grade is very different from
kindergarten and spends most of her time trying to be the special little
individual she knows she is.
Impressions:
My first impression is that this is probably how my own daughter,
a first grader, thinks. Ramona’s quirkiness and enthusiasm and overall
“problems” are those of a typical elementary school student.
Reviews:
“Mr. Quimby’s spunky gal” takes a hop, skip, and a jump in growing up.
She is not only Ramona the brave who sleeps alone in her own bedroom, but
Ramona the virtuous who takes sixth grade boys to task for swearing, and, above
all, Ramona the modest who does “not want people to think that being in the
first grade has gone to her head.” Having already weathered similar emotional
storms, middle graders will read about Ramona’s fear of the dark,
first-day-at-school jitters, etc. with a relish that is part sympathy and part
superiority. And although Ramona is semi-reformed, Cleary’s legions of fans
need not worry – she’s still naughty enough for readers to start speculating on
her second grade shenanigans.
Abramson,
J. (1975). Ramona the Brave (Book). School Library Journal, 21(8),
50.
Ramona the
Brave is no crusader, but
she is a truly individualized girl, and that is news enough. Beverly Cleary
once again captures the real human mixture, for first-grader Ramona is
indignant and loving, resentful and thoughtful, ornery and kind. We are finally
delighted when she can handle a scary new bedroom with an elevator-doored
closet, when she can lose a shoe on the way to school and have the courage to
wear a paper-towel slipper. Ramona makes us all feel good about ourselves; we
like mixtures of good and bad—like us. One wants to be an idealized little
paperdoll. We'd rather be Ramona.
Lukens, R. (1976). Six females: A mixed bookbag.
The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Uses:
Since Beverly Cleary has such a huge following, this would
be great to include in an author spotlight, along with others she has written.
The library could feature an “Author of the Month” and display assorted books
and challenge students to read at least one from the featured authors
throughout the year. If students complete the challenge, they could receive
some sort of acknowledgement at the end of the school year.
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