The Patchwork Quily by Valerie Flournoy and Jerry Pinkney

The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy was illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. This is a story about a young girl named Tonya who helps her grandmother create a patchwork quilt using scraps cut from pieces of the family's old clothing. Each picture consists of pencil, graphite, and watercolor paintings that are color-separated and reproduced in full color. The attention to detail shows in each illustration. The illustrations enhance the storyline and draw attention to the emotions of each character.

Other stories illustrated by Jerry Pinkney include:
The Ugly Duckling
Goin' Someplace Special
Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales
Aesop's Fables
Roll of Thunder, Hear Me Cry
The Nightingale
Tanya's Reunion
The Sunday Outing
The Talking Eggs
John Henry
The Little Match Girl
The Little Red Hen


Flournoy, V. (1985). The patchwork quilt. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Black Cowboy Wild Horses: A True Story by Julius Lester

Black Cowboy Wild Horses: A True Story written by Julius Lester in 1998. It was illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. This story is based on a true story of Bob Lemmons, an African American cowboy and former salve who is well-known for his tracking ability. Bob sets off to follow a wild herd of mustang and bring them back to the cowboy corral with only the help of his own horse. The illustrations by Jerry Pinkney are wonderful in the story. They really help to make this story come to life. This book could be used to teach about biographies or the wild west and cowboys.
Other books by Julius Lester include:
To Be A Slave
True Love Stories
Long Journey Home
The Knee-High Man and Other Tales
Who I Am
All Is Well
This Strange New Feeling
John Henry

Lester, J. (1998). Black cowboy wild horses: a true story. New York: Dial Books

Dragon of the Lost Sea by Laurence Yep

Dragon of the Lost Sea written by Laurence Yep is an intriguing fantasy story. This book is about an evil witch named Civet who steals the sea from the dragons. One dragon in particular, Shimmer, sets on a mission to kill Civet. The story is told from the point of view of Shimmer, who is an outcast dragon princess who has lost her home and everything she has ever cared about. Shimmer sets out to wander the world and meets an orphan boy named Thorn, who is an outcast among his people as well. They build a strong relationship throughout the story. In the end Shimmer ends up defeating Civet, the evil witch and regaining her life. This story has wonderful detailed descriptions and realistic action scenes. The writing is very easy to read and understand.
Here are some other books written by Laurence Yep:
Tiger Magic
The Amah
Dragon's Gate
Dragon Steel
Hiroshima: A Novella

Yep, L. (1982). Dragon of the lost sea. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Journey Home by Yoshiko Uchida

Journey Home was written by Yoshiko Uchida and published in 1978. The story is about a Japanese American family and their experiences during World War II. Yuki is the main character and along with the rest of her family is forced from their home and into a “concentration camp” called Topaz. While imprisoned, Yuki misses her friends, school and her old way of life/home. Yuki and her family are finally released from Topaz, but things are still very difficult and life is a challenge filled with hardships. They move back, but things have changed. Yuki and her family continue to struggle throughout the story. Many people think of them as enemy aliens and do mean things to them.
Some Other Books by Yoshiko Uchida include:

The Magic Purse
Journey to Topaz
The Wise Old Woman
The Invisible Thread

Uchida, Y. (1978). Journey home. New York: Simon & Shuster Children’s Publishing.

Book vs. Movie: The Polar Expres by Chris Van Allsburg

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsuburg was published in 1985 and is a true Christmas classic. This is a wonderful book to read aloud to students around Christmas time. In my classroom we have a Polar Express pajama party and kikds wear their pajamas to school and bring their favorite teddybear. We read aloud the story, watch the video and enjoy hot chocolate. I give each student a bell with their name on it to take home to remember the story. This books tells the story of a young boy who wakes up on Christmas Eve awaiting the sound of Santa’s bells. The Polar Express, which is a magical train pulls up to the young boys house and invites him to come along for the ride. When he gets on the train many other children are on there as well. The illustrations in the book version of the story are wonderful. They are very detailed and rich. The movie version of the story The Polar Express was produced in 2004 and was a huge success. The digital animation in the movie was amazing. It truly looked like the book pages were blown up on the screen. The characters and the music were so engaging that I truly felt like I was on the train with them. Both the movie and the book truly get one into the spirit of Christmas.

Van Allsburg, C. (1985). The polar express. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

Dr. Seuss: The Cat in the Hat and The Lorax

The Cat in the Hat is probably one of Dr. Seuss' most famous books he has written. It has been made into a movie in recent years. When the children’s' mother goes out, the cat comes to their house. The cat destroys almost everything in his path. He makes a total mess of everything in the home and even brings in Two Things, Thing One and Thing Two that make a mess as well. They do get the mess cleaned up before the mother comes home. Children love this book still today because the cat is so funny. You can't help but laugh at all the silly things he does. A book that has a similar tension level as The Cat in the Hat is When My Worries Get Too Big! This is a contemporary children's book written by Kari Dunn Buron. As the child in the story worries things get out of control much like the cat entering the house gets out of control. But in the end of both stories, the children learn a lesson and everything is ok again. I believe The Cat in the Hat still appeals to children today. I have read it to my elementary students who still love to hear it read aloud. The rhyme and imaginative creatures draw the child into the book and plot is one they can relate to their own world.

The Lorax is a didactic book. Didactic means that it could be used for teaching purposes. The Lorax is an excellent book for teaching children about pollution. There are many didactic books today. I use a lot of children's literature across the different content areas in my classroom. I have used many of Shel Silverstein's poems to teach everything from economics to writing. The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry is another story that teaches students about the importance of rainforest conservation. Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss is another story that I feel is didactic. In this book, the message that people have to stand up for each other, especially those who cannot stand up for themselves is portrayed.

Corretta Scott King Award: Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni is a very interesting and informative book. This book takes a look at the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery, Alabama. This book won the Coretta Scott King Award and is a Caldecott Honor Book. This book tells the story of how Rosa Parks was tired of being treated different and refused to give up her seat on the bus. The legendary tale sparked a series of events from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the 1956 Supreme Court ruling that segregation was wrong.The illustrations in this book are wonderful, and really help to tell the story of the Civil Rights Movement. They truly add to the meaning of the story. One of the best illustrations is on the front cover of the book. It is a picture of a while male, which looks like a police officer, looking down harshly at Rosa Parks. I would recommend this book to anyone, young and old. I think a lot of different groups can learn a lesson from this story which is all people should be treated equally.

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt and Company.