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Author, Julius Lester

Lester, Julius. (2005). Let's Talk About Race. (1st ed.). Harper Collins. Amistad.

We've all heard that we are all the same underneath no matter what color our skin is. Yet, Julius Lester creates a version of this that is like no other. In this book, Lester helps the reader to actually see that we are all the same. The colorful illustrations, yet abstract, brings his story to life. I loved this book and I will include this as a part of my African American unit that I do each year with my students. It is one that I would recommend that every teacher include in their unit of studies. His story is so clever and unique that I would definitely read other books from this author.

Image retreived from www.amazon.com on September 25, 2009.

Other books that Lester has written include: And all our wounds forgiven, From slave ship to freedom road, Guardian, John Henry, and Long journey home: Stories from Black history are just a few of his many books.

Jerry Pinkney--Author and Illustrator

Pinkney, Gloria J. (1992). Back Home. (1st. ed.) Dial Books. New York, NY.

This book written by Gloria Jean Pinkney was illustrated by husband, Jerry Pinkney. Jerry's illustrations are remarkable. Each page is an artwork in itself. His use of watercolors and other media brings his books to life. As I read through the pages of this book, I found myself looking in detail at each illustration. Being an artist and teacher, illustrations are as just important as the words of the story.

Image found at http://www.amazon.com/. Retreived on September 25, 2009.

Other books that Jerry Pinkney has illustrated include:

The Little Red Hen, More Tales of Uncle Renus, retold by Julius Lester, Noah's Ark which was also written by Pinkney and mentioned in this blog, The Talking Eggs by Rober San Souci, and The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoay to mention a few.

John Newbery Awards

Perkins, Lynne R. (2005). Criss Cross. Harper Collins. New York, N.Y.

This Newberry Medal book takes me back to those carefree but yet painful teenage years. I remember how awkward these years were and Perkins reminds us of those little things that we as teenagers thought were the end of the world. Searching for love, the meaning of life, and who they are, brings these friends in the book together. This is an excellent book for preteen and teen girls.

Schlitz, Laura Amy (2007). Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Tales from a medieval village. Candlewick

Press. Cambridge, Ma.

This was a very interesting book. I wasn't sure that I would like it because of the timeperiod. Needless to say, I was reluctant to check it out. Yet, I was glad that I did. I found this book to be one of the best reading materials in this blog. It was written by a school librarian for one of her classes that was studying the Middle Ages. It contains 22 skits/stories from children of that time and place. These short stories were very informative as well as interesting. To imagine things from a child's perspective during this time period was sad and harsh. They faced many hardships and were forced to grow up at an early age. To say the least, they had no childhood. Yet, the author writes their stories in somewhat humorous tones like the story of Mariot and Maud. Some of the stories of the children are directly related to each other like Mogg and Jack. One of my personal favorites is Alice the Shepherdess. This brought back childhood memories of when my cat was giving birth and was unable to continuing with her labor and I had to help her with the delivery.

Image available from http://www.amazon.com/. Retreived on September 25, 2009.

Caldecott Awards

This Caldecott Honor book is an interesting book that is clever and funny. This book was very different. As I began to read it, I found myself laughing along with my four year old son. We both fell in love with this funny pigeon who was alway trying to drive the bus.




Williams, M. (2003). Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Hyperion Books for Children. New York, NY.

Image from http://www.amazon.com/. Retreived on September 25, 2009







This is a very colorfully illustrated picture book that illustrates a similar story of the very first hot air balloon ride. This Caldecott Honor book gives factual information that I never knew about. This story uses farm animals such as the rooster, the duck, and the sheep for this tale that young readers everywhere can enjoy.


Priceman, Marjorie. (2005). Hot Air: the (mostly) true story of the first hot-air balloon ride. Simon & Schuster, New York, NY.



Image retreived from http://www.amazon.com/ September 25, 2009.




This Caldecott Honor book was written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. This illustrations are very beautifuly and detailed as is the story of "Noah's Ark." Even if there were no words, the pictures themselves could tell us the story. The story, itself, was simple, yet, informative. I never actually thought about what it would have looked like under the water, but Pinkney illustrates what the world below might have looked like under the ark. The retelling of this story and his illustrations combined helps to give this age old story new life.


Pinkney, Jerry. Noah's Ark. SeaStar Books, New York, NY.


Image from http://www.amazon.com/. Retreived on September 25, 2009.





This is a Caldecott Honor book that is a very fun and imaginative story about a giant panda bear who tells stories that are aimed at helping us to reexamine ourselves. The title, "Zen Shorts" is actually short meditations. The short stories witht he book come from Zen Buddhist literature. Full of excitement and laced with culture, "Zen Shorts" offers a different view on the lessons and concepts we try to learn from everyday. When I first chose this book, I wasn't sure that I would like it. However, after discovering what it was about, I found myself enjoying the stories very much. It was different and very informative.

Muth, Jon J. (2005). Zen Shorts. Scholastic Press. New York, NY.


Image retreived from http://www.amazon.com/ on September 24, 2009.








This is a very fun story about a kitten's struggle to get a bowl of milk. It was interesting and funny to read about this poor kitten's adventure. In addition, the black and white illustrations created a nice contrast. My young son loves this book and is now one of his favorite books that we often check out at our local library.




Image found at http://www.amazon.com/. Retreived on September 24, 2009.


Henkes, Kevin. (2004). Kitten's First Full Moon. (1st. ed.) Greenwillow Books.





This is a wonderful children's picture book. It is simple, easy to read book that takes me back to my own childhood. It is fun and imaginative. The black and white illustrations created with a scratching technique gives notice to the warm, yellow objects discussed in the story. I read this to my four year old son and he loved it. This is definitely a book that we will read again and again.

















Swanson, Susan M. (2008). The House in the Night. HoughtonMifflin Co., Boston.

Image from http://www.amazon.com/ retreived on September 24, 2009.