Books Blogged for LS5360

Chapter Books:

1. Shiloh
2. Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures
3. Savvy
4. Twilight
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
6. King of the Wind
7. Hunger Games
8. Book Thief
9. Throne of Fire
10. Red Pyramid
11.  Hattie Big Sky
12. Firefly Letters
13. What’s Happening to my Body Book for Boys
14. The Giver
15. Are You There God
16. Bridge to Terabithia

Picture Books:

1. Henry’s Freedom Box
2. Bad News for Outlaws
3. Castle
4. The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring
5. Dear Primo
6. How I Learned Geography
7. Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow
8. Daddy’s Roommate
9. Yummy!  Eight Favorite Fairy Tales
10. Dark Emperor
11. Owl Moon
12. Merlin and the Dragons
13. The Toughest Cowboy

The Toughest Cowboy

Frank, J., & Pullen, Z. (2004). The toughest cowboy: Or how the wild west was tamed. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

 

This is a cute little story that would be good for studying tall tales.  There's a lot of gross humor to appeal to kids, and teachers will like the figurative language.  The poodle plotline was amusing, especially to a Chihuahua owner.  Our two Chihuahua mixes are much tougher than our very gentle Pit bull, so I appreciate the tough cowboy with a poodle.  The illustrations are well done, though I found the faces a little creepy for some reason.  I also have to point out that the illustrator shares a name, Zachary Pullen, with my cousin, though my family spells it Pullin.  I think that I need to buy this book for his little girl!

Merlin and the Dragons

Yolen, J., & Li, M. (1995). Merlin and the dragons. New York: Cobblehill Books, Dutton.

 

This is one of the most beautiful books I have seen in a long time.  The illustrations are amazing - detailed, fantastic, bold yet soft at the same time.  I was drawn to this book because I collect dragons, though I'm not sure how that started.  My students bring me dragons, and I have a whole big shelf full of them in my classroom.  I also remember my mother always telling me King Arthur and Merlin stories when I was a child, so I've always held an affinity for Arthurian stories.  While the story here is good - action packed for sure - the illustrations are the star of the show.  I will be purchasing this book for our permanent collection, because my son and I liked it so much.