Informational Book Review: Under the Sea

Under the Sea

"Many amazing creatures live under the sea. Some seas are warm and some are cold. They can be deep, but some are shallow.These bright fish live in shallow seas." - Under the Sea

Author: Fiona Patchett
Illustrator: Zoe Wray and Tetsuo Kushii

Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd. 

Copyright Date: 2013
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Reading Level: Grades 1-3

Genre: Informational 

Cost: $5.00 (Amazon)

Rating: ★★★★★

What lives under the sea? What is the most dangerous type of shark? Is sea water warm or cool? How do dolphins breathe? Under the Sea is a great informational book that will answer all of these questions and tell you about so much more! There are vivid pictures of sea animals on every page, and this book is filled with information. If you want to see learn more about life under the sea, read this book and look at all the bright and colorful pictures within it!

Under the Sea is an informational book that could be used in the classroom while talking about different habitats. While discussing animals in the ocean habitat, the class could read this book together, then each student could draw a picture of one animal from the book and write at least one cool fact that they learned about the animal. After drawing their pictures and writing down one fact, students could share with a partner and explain why they chose that animal and fact. This book has a variety of fun facts, which would help students get more engaged in their learning about habitats. 

Book Rating: ★★★★★
I give this book a five star rating for the image quality and information covered. This book displays several high quality, colorful images that engage the reader and show what life under the sea really looks like. There are short, and interesting facts about a variety of animals that live under the sea, which is great for the selected age range of first through third grade. Due to these two criteria for informational books, I give this book a five star rating. 

The following Book Rating Rubric does not align with Under the Sea because it is an informational book, not a narrative. 

	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★	★	COMMENTS
PLOT	Plot is well developed with all five elements of a good plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).	Plot is developed, but lacking one of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a decent plot, but is lacking two of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a weak plot that is lacking three of the five elements of plot structure.	This book does not have a defined plot, and is lacking four or more of the five elements of plot structure.	This book does not align with this rating rubric.
CHARACTER	The characters are well developed, have personality, and are believable.	Characters are well rounded, but lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	Characters are somewhat developed, and lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	The characters are underdeveloped, lack in depth and are not believable.	The characters are not developed   so the readers cannot connect to the book.	This book does not align with this rating rubric.
PACING	The story flows freely and is not rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for the most part, but there are a few spots where it feels rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for about half of the book, but the other half is rushed or slow.	The story often moves too fast or too slow and does not move freely.	There is no pacing in the story, which makes it difficult to read.	This book does not align with this rating rubric.

Image Source: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51PM1966JNL._SX371_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Multicultural Book Review: Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

"Young Jack helped me believe I'd get back to my momma someday. Truth was, I'd be lost before I got through the fields, them being so big and all. But I didn't give up dreamin'." - Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: James Ransome

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. 

Copyright Date: 1993
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Reading Level: Grades 1-3

Genre: Multicultural 

Cost: $7.72 (Amazon)

Rating: ★★★★★

Being separated from family was an unfortunate reality for many slaves, and that is what happened to Clara in the book, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. She was torn from her family and moved to another plantation to be a field hand. The work was difficult and it left Clara exhausted. An older woman at the plantation saw how tired Clara was, and knew that she wouldn't be able to continue with that work much long. So she taught Clara how to sew. As you read this book, you will see how Clara uses her sewing ability to try to achieve her goal of returning to her family.  

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt is a book about slavery and the Underground Railroad, which would make it easy to use in the classroom. This book could be read as an introduction to a unit on slavery, then the students could research different Underground Railroad safe houses with a partner. After researching, the students could draw a map of their safe house and key points near it, such as rivers or fields. Then each pair of students could present their safe house and the map of it so the whole class could learn about the safe houses of the Underground Railroad. 

Book Rating:

	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★	★	COMMENTS
PLOT	Plot is well developed with all five elements of a good plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).	Plot is developed, but lacking one of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a decent plot, but is lacking two of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a weak plot that is lacking three of the five elements of plot structure.	This book does not have a defined plot, and is lacking four or more of the five elements of plot structure.	★★★★★ I give Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt five stars for plot. By using the five elements of good plot structure, this book tells an intriguing story about Clara, a slave, and what she does to get back to her mom.
CHARACTER	The characters are well developed, have personality, and are believable.	Characters are well rounded, but lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	Characters are somewhat developed, and lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	The characters are underdeveloped, lack in depth and are not believable.	The characters are not developed   so the readers cannot connect to the book.	★★★★★ I give Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt five stars for the characters. This book is written from Clara's point of view, which allows the reader to get better insight about her thoughts, which makes her a well-developed and believable character.
PACING	The story flows freely and is not rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for the most part, but there are a few spots where it feels rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for about half of the book, but the other half is rushed or slow.	The story often moves too fast or too slow and does not move freely.	There is no pacing in the story, which makes it difficult to read.	★★★★★ I give Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt five stars for pacing. This book tells part of the story of Clara's life, and, due to the well-developed plot, the story flows freely.

Image Source: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/517Ywk-b2YL._SX392_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Biography Book Review: My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

"No matter how bad it got, my dad never fought back. 'We must meet violence with nonviolence. We must meet hate with love,' he always said.'" - My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Author: Martin Luther King III
Illustrator: AG Ford

Publisher: Amistad
Copyright Date: 2013

Number of Pages: 32 pages

Reading Level: Pre-K, Grades 1-3

Genre: Biography

Cost: $10.98 (Amazon)

Rating: ★★★★★

 

In the book, My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we hear the story about what King's life was like, but through the eyes of his son. All Marty and his sister, Yolanda, wanted to do was go to Funtown, and King would always say "Maybe next week." That day never came though. The kids did not understand and just thought that King did not want to take them, but, at that time, Funtown was only for white people. King was trying to make a change in society so there would be equality for all, and his children did see some of that happen. Through this story, you can see the unique perspective of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life through his son Marty - you get to see what he was like at home and how King's family was impacted by his actions. 

My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a short, picture book that could be used to help young children understand the impact that Martin Luther King Jr. had on our country. This book is written from a young boy's perspective, which would make it easier for kids to connect to and understand what happened during that time. After reading this book to the class, the students could talk about the impact King's actions had on society, as well as the impact they had on his family. Then the students could choose anyone from King's family and write a simulated journal based on what they believe that individual would think or feel about everything that was happening during that time. After they finish writing, they could break up into small groups and share their work with their peers. If students write about the same person, they can discuss the similarities and differences between their simulated journals. This activity would help students gain a better understanding of who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was, and the major impact that he had on our country. 

Book Rating:

	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★	★	COMMENTS
PLOT	Plot is well developed with all five elements of a good plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).	Plot is developed, but lacking one of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a decent plot, but is lacking two of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a weak plot that is lacking three of the five elements of plot structure.	This book does not have a defined plot, and is lacking four or more of the five elements of plot structure.	★★★★ I give My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. four stars for plot because it is lacking some of the five basic elements of good plot structure. This book tells about a lot of different events that happened in King's life, such as getting arrested and attending protests, but it is hard to differentiate between some of the plot elements, such as between the falling action and the resolution.
CHARACTER	The characters are well developed, have personality, and are believable.	Characters are well rounded, but lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	Characters are somewhat developed, and lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	The characters are underdeveloped, lack in depth and are not believable.	The characters are not developed   so the readers cannot connect to the book.	★★★★★ I give My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. five stars for character because the main characters are well developed. The readers get to know Marty's character and how he felt about the things that happened to his dad, but we also get to know about Martin Luther King's character. This book tells us about what King was like at home, as well as some of the things he did to fight for equal rights.
PACING	The story flows freely and is not rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for the most part, but there are a few spots where it feels rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for about half of the book, but the other half is rushed or slow.	The story often moves too fast or too slow and does not move freely.	There is no pacing in the story, which makes it difficult to read.	★★★★★ I give My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. five stars for pacing. This story is short, but it tells the reader about some of the events that happened in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By discussing the key events and how King and his family was impacted, the story moves freely from one event to another.

Image Source: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51YwqC-AaML._SX386_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Historical Fiction Book Review: The Great Depression - An Interactive History Adventure

The Great Depression: An Interactive History Adventure

"Will you: March on Washington D.C., as a veteran member of the Bonus Army? Leave your home to find a better life by riding the rails? Help rebuild the country as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps?" - The Great Depression: An Interactive History Adventure

Author: Michael Burgan

Publisher: Capstone Press

Copyright Date: 2011
Number of Pages: 112 pages

Reading Level: Grades 4-6

Genre: Historical Fiction

Cost: $6.26 (Amazon)

Rating: ★★★★★

What was it like during the Great Depression? We can read facts and historical information about it, but it can be difficult to fully grasp what it was like to live during that time period. Through the book The Great Depression: An Interactive History Adventure, you have the opportunity to live during that time and make some life or death decisions. You can choose to be a war veteran in the Bonus Army, a young teen trying to make money on the rails, or a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and you determine the course of the story! Which path will you choose, and will you survive the difficult times during the Great Depression?

The Great Depression: An Interactive History Adventure is a book that people of all ages would love! Students get to choose the path that they take, which will help them be more engaged in the learning experience. This book would be used while talking about the Great Depression, and one way it could be used is as a lesson introduction. There are three different characters and multiple paths to take, but it all revolves around the Depression, so it would help students get engaged in the content. As an introduction to the lesson, the students could choose one character and then the class would read through the book together. After doing so, they could continue with class instruction. This activity would help get the students engaged and they could take what they learn and relate it back to the events that happened in the book. 

Book Rating:

	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★	★	COMMENTS
PLOT	Plot is well developed with all five elements of a good plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).	Plot is developed, but lacking one of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a decent plot, but is lacking two of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a weak plot that is lacking three of the five elements of plot structure.	This book does not have a defined plot, and is lacking four or more of the five elements of plot structure.	★★★★★ I give The Great Depression: An Interactive History Adventure five stars for plot because every path that you can take in this book is composed of all five elements of good plot structure.
CHARACTER	The characters are well developed, have personality, and are believable.	Characters are well rounded, but lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	Characters are somewhat developed, and lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	The characters are underdeveloped, lack in depth and are not believable.	The characters are not developed   so the readers cannot connect to the book.	★★★★ I give The Great Depression: An Interactive History Adventure four stars for its characters. Each story has different characters and we get to know each character and the situations they are dealing with, but the characters are not fully developed.
PACING	The story flows freely and is not rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for the most part, but there are a few spots where it feels rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for about half of the book, but the other half is rushed or slow.	The story often moves too fast or too slow and does not move freely.	There is no pacing in the story, which makes it difficult to read.	★★★★★ I give The Great Depression: An Interactive History Adventure five stars for pacing. The different story paths in this book are engaging, which helps them flow freely throughout each adventure path you take.

Image Source: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51eVh-WuY5L.jpg