Historical Text Book Blog #3

Title: Show Way

Author and Illustrator: Jacqueline Woodson and Hudson Talbott

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: 2005

ISBN Number: 978-0399237492

Amanda’s Rating: 4.5/5

Brief Summary: This picture book revolves around the family history of the author from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement to the present day.  It follows the women in the family as they learned to make quilts to leave messages for those escaping slavery.  As generations pass the women are not forced to only communicate through oral storytelling and quilts but through reading and writing. 

Evaluation Statement: This is a creative story about overcoming obstacles and the importance of family.  Each mother cared for her daughter very much and instilled in her love, hope, and quilt making.  The mothers fought for a better future for the next generation.  The images are wonderful as quilts are woven onto each page.  With the writing style and word placement there were moments where it is easy to become confused as to which generation the author is talking about.  It is an inspiring tale that would be a great tool in teaching about American history and the people that lived through it.  

Historical Texts Book Blog #2

Title: Calico and Tin Horns

Author and Illustrator: Candace Christiansen and Thomas Locker

Publisher: Dial

Publication Date: 1992

ISBN Number: 978-0803711792

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: This book is a fictionalized tale based on the true events that occurred after the American Revolutionary War when farmers fought landowners in order to own their own land.  A little girl named Hannah is curious why her family is keeping secrets from her when the sheriff and his gang come riding toward her farm.  She knows that she needs to call for help and uses a tin horn to the “Calico Indians” who were the disgruntled farmers dressed in disguise.

Evaluation Statement: The illustrations in this book are very well done and the story keeps up the suspense of what will happen next.  The amount of text on the page is just right.  I never knew about the “Calico Indian” farmers that dressed up like Native Americans in order to gain their own land from the rich landowners.  It was a good story to introduce that piece of American history.

Historical Texts Book Blog #1

Title: Hanukkah at Valley Forge

Author and Illustrator: Steven Krensky and Greg Harlin

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publication Date: 2006

ISBN Number: 978-0525477389

Amanda’s Rating: 4.6/5

Brief Summary: This story is a fictional conversation set during the Revolutionary War at Valley Forge between General George Washington and a Jewish soldier.  After seeing the solider lighting his Menorah, George Washington asks him to explain Hanukkah.  The soldier tells the trials of the Jewish people overcoming obstacles and he ends up inspiring Washington to continue the fight against the British. 

Evaluation Statement:  This is a great historical fiction book for children.  Not only do they see George Washington at Valley Forge, but they also get to learn about Jewish history and culture.  Blues are used during the cold, winter at Valley Forge scenes while warm yellows are used to show flashbacks to Jewish history.  The similar colors on pages may become dull for younger readers.  This would be a great book to educate young children on the history on Hanukkah. 

Informational Texts Book Blog #3

Title: Bald Eagles

Author and Illustrator: Lynn M. Stone

Publisher: Lerner Publications Company

Publication Date: 2004

ISBN Number: 978-0822530343

Amanda’s Rating: 4.2/5

Brief Summary: This book revolves around bald eagles.  It talks about where bald eagles are located globally, the fact that there America’s bird, what they eat, how they raise their young, and environmental dangers that they face.  The is a glossary of terms that may be of a higher vocab level.

 

Evaluation Statement: This is a fun book for children that want to learn about eagles.  Maps and pictures are used.  With the glossary in the back, young readers can learn new vocab words and have help with comprehension of the material.  There’s even a section for adults who may be looking for ways to use this book in other activities like writing and drawing prompts about eagles for students to do.  The author does occasionally use a lot of words per page, but for the majority of the book the pictures and text are balanced.  

Information Text Book Blog #2

Title: Butterflies

Author and Illustrator: Martha E. H. Rustad

Publisher: Bellwether Media

Publication Date: 2008

ISBN Number: 978-1600140754

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: This book is all about butterflies.  It talks about the stages a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly.  Different characteristics of butterflies are included along with vibrant pictures.

Evaluation Statement: This book is a great easy reader for beginners.  The colorful pictures and easy sentences will make it fun for a child to read.  The book consists of just texts and pictures and could do more to keep a child’s interest like include jokes or other activities to do while reading.  

Informational Text Book Blog #1

Title: Storms

Author and Illustrator: Miriam Busch Goin

Publisher: National Geographic

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN Number: 978-1426303944

Amanda’s Rating: 4.5/5

Brief Summary: This informational book talks about all different types of storms and precipitation.  Explanations for the occurrence of different types of weather are provided.  It includes interesting pictures especially of lightening, tornadoes, and hurricanes. 

Evaluation Statement:  This book, with its pictures, easy to understand explanations, and cute jokes will definitely keep children interested.  The book also explains what certain higher weather vocab words mean.  This would be a great book for those children who are afraid of lightning and thunder as a way to educate them about the phenomenon and make them feel more comfortable about it.