Love You, Daddy

Author/Illustrator: Amy West

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: None

Grade Level: 2nd-3rd

This is a short chapter book about a young girl, named Katie, whose dad goes off to war. The days leading up to his departure he held his wife and daughter just a little closer. He was off, days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. Katie and her mother wrote letters every day to him. During his leave, Katie's moms best friend came to stay with them during her pregnancy, and their whole apartment building supported each other as their loved ones were gone at war. On what should have been an exciting day, Katie and her mother received the worst news.

This is a great short chapter book for young readers. It is geared toward 2nd and 3rd graders. I would even say 1st but the content and vocabulary might be a little above their reading level. I would not use this book in my classroom to teach a lesson, but I might use it for guided reading groups when I introduce them to chapter books.

Amazing Grace

Author/Illustrator: Mary Hoffman/Caroline Binch
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards:
Grade Level: Pk-1st

This book is about a young girl named Grace. At her school, they were having auditions for the play Peter Pan. Of course, Grace wanted the lead role, but others told her she could not be Peter Pan because of the color of her skin and her gender. This upset Grace very much. When she explained to her mother and grandma why she was upset they told her not to listen to them. They took her to a ballet to watch a young girl just like she has the lead role in Romeo and Juliet event though they were not the same skin. After watching this play, Grace knew there was nothing she could not do. She marched into auditions the next week and blew everyone away.

This a great book for young readers ages Prek-1st grade. I would use this book in my classroom to teach my students that not only differences are okay but that they can do anything that they put their mind to. Being told no might increase their drive to do it.

Lily Brown's Painting

Author/Illustrator: Angela Johnson/E.B. Lewis
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: None
Grade Level: Pk-1

This book is about a young girl named Lily Brown. She used paint to explore the world around her and to draw things she saw the way depicted through her own eyes. This young girl takes in every ounce of her surroundings and puts it into a painting. She is searching for her view of the world.

This book would be especially useful for students in the Prek-1st grade. These children are still growing up and exploring the world around them. They do not yet understand the world so they have a different outlook on it. I would use this book in my classroom to help students understand that it is okay to have different opinions and thoughts over a subject or how something looks.

The Night Before First Grade

Author/Illustrator: Natasha Wing/Deborah Zemke
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Award: None
Grade: 1st

This book is about a Penny and her first day of first grade! The night before she has high hopes for the next day that first grade would be perfect with her best friend by her side. When they arrived at school the principal made an announcement that there were so many people that they had to split the grade in two. Penny and Jenny were no longer together. Penny made the best of her time away from her friend, when they reunited that each had a new friend that happened to be twins.

This is a cute book meant to be read to first graders. If I used this book in my classroom I would read it to students on the first day of first grade. The remainder of the year it would be in my library.

The Rainbow Fish

Author/Illustrator: Marcus Pfister
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: Abby Winner
Grade: K-1

This book is about a beautiful rainbow fish that has shiny scales that glisten as he swims. Everyone wanted to play with the Rainbow fish, but he would ignore them because he was just too good. One day a little fish asked if he could have a small, shiny scale. Nobody wanted to be friends with the rainbow fish anymore. He got so lonely and went out in search for answers. He swam in the deep ocean to several other fish in search for advice. He was told to give away his scales and he would make friends. Once he listened, everyone wanted to play with him again.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach students about the generosity of sharing. This book would be great for the lower grades teaching them that if they share and have a kind heart more people will want to be around them. Be a friend. This book would be great for a unit on character traits.