Category: Snippets

Author:  Judith St. George

Illustrator:  David Small

Publisher:  Philomel Books

Grade:  3rd

Topic:  Social Studies

TEKS:

About the Author and Illustrator:

“So You Want to be President?” won the Caldecott award in 2001 for David Small’s illustrations.  He has written and illustrated many of his own books, as well as partnered with many other authors and done the illustrations.  Judith St. George is most well known for this particular book.  However, she has written over 40 books.  Most of them are historical fiction.

Snippet:

“Do you have a pet? All kinds of pets have lived in the White House, mostly dogs.  Herbert Hoover had three: Piney, Snowflake, and Tut.  (Tut must have been a Democrat.  He and his Republican master never got along.)  Franklin Roosevelt’s dog, Fala, was almost as famous as his owner.  Barack Obama promised to give his daughters a dog if he was elected President. (He was, and he did.)

George H. W. Bush’s dog wrote “Milli’s Book: Adventures of a White House Dog” (as told to Mrs. Bush!).  Benjamin Harrison’s goat pulled his grandchildren around in a cart, the Coolidges had a pet raccoon, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton preferred cats.

Theodore Roosevelt’s children didn’t just have pets, they ran a zoo.  They had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, snakes, mice, rats, badgers, raccoons, parrots, and a Shetland pony called Algonquin.  The cheer up his sick brother, young Quentin once took Algonquin upstairs in the White House elevator!”

The book goes on to give many fun facts about different Presidents over time.  It talks about size, age, children, siblings, money, and many more!  This particular version is an updated version, so it also includes the 2012 election.  Not only does this book contain very interesting and sometimes funny facts, the illustrations are wonderful, hence the Caldecott Award.  It is definitely a must read for students just beginning to learn about Presidents, or older!

Author: Ann Malaspina

Illustrator: Colin Bootman

Publishing Information: 2009 by Albert Whitman & Company

Grade: 3^rd through 5^th

Topic: Social Studies

TEKS: §113.14. Social Studies

• (1) History. The student understands how individuals, events, and ideas have influenced the history of various communities. The student is expected to:
  • (A) describe how individuals, events, and ideas have changed communities, past and present.

Summary:

Set in Alabama during the 1950’s segregation, Malaspina follows the journey of a young African American boy, Louis, who cannot use the public library for a class assignment over Abraham Lincoln.  However, a young librarian allows Louis to come to the library after hours where she assists him in finding the book he needs.  Malaspina includes historical notes about segregation during the 1950’s, followed by a short biography of President Lincoln, and sources for more reading.

Snippet:

“On his way home from school, Louis walked past the main library.  The doors swung open, and Louis could see an enormous room filled with books.  Why, there must be a million books in there, maybe more.  Louis wished he could go inside and count them for himself.”

“The books reminded Louis that he had to write an essay on President Lincoln.  But the library was for white people only, just like the strawberry milkshakes at the drugstore lunch counter, the swings in the city park, and the best seats at the movie theater.”

“It was 1951 in Alabama, and Louis could play all his piano scales and roller-skate backwards.  Still he couldn’t borrow a book from the main library.”

Title: One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Darwin

Author: Katheryn Lasky

Illustrated: Matthew Traueman

Published: Candlewick Press 2009

Topic: Science

Grade: 5th

TEKS: §112.16. Science, Grade 5,

•   (9) Organisms and environments. The student knows that there are relationships, systems, and cycles within environments.
•  (10) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures that help them survive within their environments.

Why I suggest this book: Science is one of those great subjects that is so exciting; especially when we find a great way to explore its different channels. Using literature in the science classroom is a great way to promote different types of text, and also allows us to use a catalyst to help students get amped and excited to learn. I chose Lasky’s book because of the manageable and engaging information, the possibilities to make connections in the classroom and the beautiful illustrations. As the author gives us a quirky view on Charles Darwin’s adventures in becoming one of the most influential scientists in history, we are able to apply the information to our science standards required by the state. The beautiful illustrations give a whimsical interpretation of the text which makes this reading accessible to elementary aged children, and can be used as a transition into a much more dense text! I strongly suggest using this book to introduce Darwin, scientific exploration, questioning, diversity and much more. Hopefully you will love Lasky’s text as much as I did!

Snippet: “No one ever said ‘don’t touch!’ in the house where Charles Darwin grew up. And there was so much to touch, because the Darwin household was a scramble of children, odd pets, and wonderful books. Charles’s father, was an immense man who weighed 336 pounds. He would drive all over the countryside to visit his patients in a single-seat carriage stuffed with snacks. When he returned from a long day of house calls, his six children would swirl about the huge man like little moons orbiting Jupiter. Charles was happiest when he was out alone collecting. He especially liked to collect beetles. He found them under the bark of trees, in rotten logs, between the cracks of old stone walls, and even in puddles and ponds. Looking through his magnifying glass, he would wonder why the diving beetle had a smooth back and the Whirligig beetle that spun in circles on the pond’s surface had no grooves at all. Why would one beetle’s legs be hairy and another’s nearly bare? As he grew up, he continued to collect specimens. Once, out on a beetling expedition, he found under the bark of a tree two beetles he had never seen before. Within seconds a third strange beetle crawled out, and Charles, lacking a free hand, quickly popped one beetle into his mouth and scooped up the third one. The he ran for his collecting bottle.”

Author: Karen Zeinert

Topic: Social Studies

Grade Level: 5^th

TEKS: 5^th: (2) History. The student understands how conflict between the American colonies and Great Britain led to American independence. The student is expected to: (A) identify and analyze the causes and effects of events prior to and during the American Revolution, including the French and Indian War and the Boston Tea Party;(C) summarize the results of the American Revolution, including the establishment of the United States and the development of the U.S. military.

Summary: The untold stories of women who took part in the American Revolution are revealed here to students of all ages. Zeinert, features women as “spies, political commentators, soldiers, Patriots and Loyalist”  that played a significant part yet most of us have never heard of. It is a great resource for students to read beyond what the text book says about women during the American Revolution.

Here is a small Snippit from the book:

“On June 28, 1778, more than one soldier took notice of Molly when, without apparent fear, she remained at her husband’s cannon during the Battle at Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey even when the enemy’s fire became intense.  According to legend, Molly didn’t begin to fire away until her husband, overcome by heat and exhaustion, fell to the ground. However, an eyewitness, Private Joseph Martin, claimed that Molly and her husband worked as a team throughout the entire battle….” pg.20

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Published in 2007
I was not quite sure what I was looking for when I went to Book People. I walked around the children’s section for quite awhile just picking up different books and reading them. I found some cute ones, but this one stood out to me. I loved the story line and the message it teaches. I think it is a cute story that kids could relate to. I believe this book would be best for 1st or 2nd grade.
Here is the beginning of the story:
Velma Gratch was the youngest of the three Gratch sisters. Frieda, the oldest, had gone through first grade first, followed by Fiona. Now it was Velma’s turn.
The chorus teacher remembered Frieda best because she had a voice like an angel. The gym teacher remembered Fiona best because she ran like the devil. And the first grade-teacher, Mr. Plexipuss, fondly remembered both sisters because of Frieda’s miraculous math and Fiona’s spectacular spelling. Everyone from the class guinea pig to the principal had magnificent memories of the older Gratch girls. But they could hardly even recall Velma’s name.
This made Velma feel as if she did not belong in the first grade at all. She wanted to curl up into a ball and roll right back into kindergarten. “Of course you belong,” cooed Velma’s mother, trying to cheer her up. “You’ve only just begun. Soon everybody will notice you.” Velma couldn’t wait. She needed to be noticed – now!
In chorus she sang loudest so that the teacher could hear her best. In gym she ran the slowest so that the teacher could see her best. And in class she refused to read and muddled her math. Mr. Plexipuss lamented that she was the first Gratch sister ever sent to the principal’s office. This brought a small smile to Velma’s lips.
“Littlest Gratch, why are you singing so loudly in chorus and running so slowly in gym?” inquired Principal Crossly. “Because,” answered Velma, “I want you to remember me just like you remember Frieda and Fiona.” The principal’s owlish eyes opened wide. “But my dear, those Gratches are remembered for good things.” Velma’s small smile pretzel-twisted into a full-blown frown.
Science was Velma’s favorite subject. She had learned many fabulous facts, like how a rainbow is born and why a volcano burps. The latest lesson was about butterflies. Mr. Plexipuss explained that a butterfly starts as an egg. The egg turns into a caterpillar. The caterpillar disappears into a chrysalis, which is a little sack, and does not come out until it has changed into a beautiful butterfly. He called this changing metamorphosis. Velma didn’t want to forget this extra-long word, so she repeated it again and again as she walked home. “Metamorphosis. Metamorphosis. Metamorphosis.”

Has Anyone Seen Winnie and Jean?
By E.B. McHenry

“Winnie and Jean have not been seen since Tuesday, before tea. They dug between the fence, in the place where the roses had been. We called out after them, ‘Winnie! Jean!’ ‘No, Winnie and Jean are not at all mean. And, yes! They wore vests of plaid- blue and green.’ Days passed while the police tracked where they HAD been…but Winnie and Jean were not to be seen.”

This picture book is a story of adventure. It tells the tale of two dogs who ran away from home. It will be interesting to young students (kindergarten and 1st grade) who enjoy using their imagination. Although the sentences are short, a word walk may be necessary for some of the words before a student is able to read it alone. The artistry is beautiful and the rhyming language makes it easy to continue reading.

On January 11th, professional diver and excursion expert, Keller Laros and his team did what they do every night – Lead a group of tourist divers into the ocean off the Hawaiian island of Kona, to experience the stingrays up close. While that in itself was a magical experience, what happened that night, was even more unforgettable!
Kelly says the group was just settling in to view the magnificent giant Mantas when they saw a Bottlenose dolphin swimming toward them. While that in itself was not unusual, what caught the diver’s attention was the mammal’s unusual squeal. As the dolphin came close and almost pushed itself onto Kelly, he realized that it was in distress, thanks to a fishing line that had entangled around it, and was asking for help!
Fortunately for the dolphin, it had picked the right humans –

I chose to read a snippet of this article because I thought it would be great to inform kids that there are other things to check out at the library aside from books. Articles can be informative and update people on current events, and this is important. I think it is important for kids to learn about the world and this article is written for a young audience, with great adjectives and descriptions.

Author: Candace Fleming

Illustrator: Stacey Dressen-McQueen

Published: 2003

Boxes for Katje is a striking picture book inspired by the true experiences of the author’s mother which shows that simple seeds of friendship and hope van grow into something extraordinary. The book begins when Katje—a young girl in Holland—receives a mysterious box from America. The contents of the box and the letter attached to it immediately set of an exchange that will change the girls’ and the townspeople’s lives forever. This engaging story of post-WWII Holland serves as a strong lesson in generosity which illustrates the idea that sometimes all it takes is one person to bring about changes (TEKS Connections: 2.13 (D) and 5.5 (A)). Boxes for Katje is a story of encouragement, kindness, long distance friendship and freely giving to one another.

 

Here is a snippet of Boxes for Katje:

“After the war, there was little left in the tiny Dutch town of Olst. The townspeople lived o cabbages and seed potatoes. They patched and repatched their worn-thin clothing, and they went without soap or milk, sugar or new shoes.

One spring morning, when the tulips bloomed thick and bright, Postman Kleinhoonte pedaled his bicycle down the cobbled street.

‘Oh ho!’ he whooped. ‘I have a box for Katje—a box from America!’

‘America?’ exclaimed Katje. ‘Who would send me a box from America?’

‘The Children’s Aid Society,’ replied the postman. ‘Children in America are collecting and mailing many hard-to-find items to the children of Holland. You, young miss, were lucky to get one.’

Katje took the box. She rubbed her finger across the block letters that spelled ‘U.S.A.’

‘The land of the plenty,’ she whispered.

Katje’s mama came to stand beside her. ‘Open it,’ she urged.”

I chose Boxes for Katje because the book contains both a historic side and a side which speaks to friendship and good citizenship. Although the book touches upon a tragic time for the Dutch townspeople, the events are portrayed for small children to read about in a very delicate way. The illustrations in the book pack lots of detail, color and pattern into every page which craft a very credible world of cobblestone streets, vintage clothing and lively characters. I really liked that the layout of the book allows the reader to experience the exchange of letters between Katje and Rosie, and that the reader can become a third person in the interchange of boxes and letters. I think this book can reach out to both young and older children depending on which side of the story the reader decides to focus on: post-WWII or good citizenship and kindness. Overall, I chose Boxes for Katje because it’s an engaging story which transports readers to a different setting, and it serves an amazing lesson of generosity.