Title of Book: Bill Pickett Rodeo-Riddin Cowboy

Biography

Title of Book: Bill Pickett Rodeo-Riddin’ Cowboy

Author: Andrea Pinkney Illustrator: Brian Pinkney

Publisher: Voyager Books Place: San Diego Date: 1996

Brief Summary: This book is a biography of William M. Pickett, a.k.a. Bill Pickett. The story takes place in Texas after the Civil War ended and all enslaved people were freed. Bill was a curious boy. He dreamed of adventure of roping and riding. The turning point in Bill’s life came when he watched a bulldog bite-holding a cow’s lip. This was the beginning of a new life for Bill. He went on to be a nationally known bulldogging, rodeo riding cowboy. Bill did marry and have a family of his own. Bill Pickett’s legend lives on as an African-American Cowboy.

Personal Response: This book is filled with a great story of a marvel rodeo rider. In those days and in present time there are not a lot of African-American rodeo stars. I found this story to be interesting and enlightened me of a boy who had a dream. We all have dreams. Bill Pickett was able to achieve his dream and become famous for what he loved to do.

Evaluative Comments: Bill Picket Rodeo-Ridin’ Cowboy was written with enthusiasm to engage the reader. The words and illustrations make the reader move with the story. The illustrations have a swirl stroke in them that gives you the feeling of the thrill of rodeo riding. This biography is an illuminating story that children would like. It offers a bit of history and a story of a boy whose dream becomes a reality. Biography

Title of Book: And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?

Author: Jean Fritz Illustrator: Margot Tomes

Publisher: PaperStar Place: New York Date: 1973

Brief Summary: This book is a biography of Paul Revere. It is set in Boston in 1735. This story tells of the life and times of Paul Revere. He was one of the busiest people of all. Paul was always doing something and found that there was not enough time in a day to get everything done. Paul was constantly trying new things. Among the new things he joined in the fight of the Boston Tea Party and he volunteered him self to be a messenger in being an express rider, including his famous ride to Lexington. It offers details in the story that many readers may not have known.

Personal Response: This book is filled with a great story of Paul Revere and the many things that he did in his life. I find the connection that I made with this book is that Paul often was so busy; he felt there was not enough time in a day to do what he wanted. There are many days that I feel the same way. I lead a busy life and some days I get so busy I forget about the important things in life.

Evaluative Comments: This story about Paul Revere allows the reader to follow through his life in a storybook manner. The pictures are drawings, mostly in black and white with some color splashed in. They bring out the story’s time period. This book gives a brief look in the life of Paul Revere offering details of his life that many may not have known about and children would find interesting. Poetry

Title of Book: Lives: Poems About Famous Americans

Selected By: Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrator: Leslie Staub

Publisher: HarperCollins Place: China Date: 1973

Brief Summary: This book is a collection of poems about sixteen famous Americans. Such poets included in this collection are Nikki Grimes, J. Patrick Lewis, and Jane Yolen. They have written poems about Paul Revere, Harriet Tubman, and Neil Armstrong, etc. The people that are wrote about in this book represent legendary Americans from all time periods. It offers a brief bit of biographical information about the Americans.

Personal Response: This book is filled with great poems of Americans that have left their mark on America. If you say their name to almost anybody most will recognize them. I chose this book because I like to read about most of these people in my classroom. This book offers a way to share about their lives, but to share it through poetry.

Evaluative Comments: Lee Bennett Hopkins has creatively put a vast array of poems together. The illustrations in the book allow the reader to get the feeling of how the famous American might have looked by creating a portrait of that person. This book would be a value to any reader. Poetry

Title of Book: Yummy! Eating Through a Day

Selected By: Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrator: Renee’ Flower

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Place: New York Date: 2000

Brief Summary: This book is filled with a menu of poems about food. Beginning with breakfast, lunch snack and dinner. It wraps up with dessert, got to get the sweet tooth fix. There are a variety of foods on the menu, including the smell of cinnamon buns, jell-o cups, and perfect pasta. The illustrator makes this menu become wild and wacky through the use of different types of paintings and making the food come alive.

Personal Response: I really liked this collection of poems. What drew me to this book was the idea of a book of poems about food. Everybody likes food and this book offers a unique way to look at a day filled of food that a person might eat. I particularly liked the poem about morning smells. As a child I remember many mornings waking up to the smell of bacon cooking in the kitchen.

Evaluative Comments: Lee Bennett Hopkins has selected a group of poems that put a spin to food. These poems have an enlightening effect on the reader. They are funny and interesting to read. They would be a great way to talk about food with children. The poems are clearly written and have vivid illustrations to introduce the subject to discuss food with children. Folktale

Title of Book: John Henry

Author: Julius Lester Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Publisher: Dial Books Place: New York Date: 1994

Brief Summary: This book is a tale of John Henry. John was a special baby. He grew up so that he busted through the roof of his porch. John was a hard worker. He worked harder and faster than anybody. John could run faster than a horse and hammer faster than any group of men put together. When John did hammer he had a rainbow around him. One day John worked so hard that it caused him to loose his life. The watercolor illustrations in this tale add feelings and emotions to set the time period and show off the distinct character of John.

Personal Response: This tale of John Henry is inspirational. If people today would work half as hard as John Henry we could get things done quicker. His spirit was amazing. He did not give up on anything. The author states, “Dying ain’t important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living.” This statement really grabbed me because it is the truth. We are all going to leave this world one day. It is part of life. What matters is what we do while we are alive. This made me think about my own life and what I need to do to be an inspiration to my family, my friends, and my students.

Evaluative Comments: The story flows as the tale is told of an invincible man. The tale of John Henry rings a sound of truth. The theme of this tale is worked well into the plot of the story. The theme of working hard and never giving up is evident. This is a tale that would be great to use with students. It is unforgettable. Folktale

Title of Book: Anansi and the Magic Stick

Author: Eric A. Kimmel Illustrator: Janet Stevens

Publisher: Holiday House Place: New York Date: 2001

Brief Summary: This book is a tale of Anansi, the spider. Anansi’s friends work all the time to keep their places looking good, but Anansi sleeps all the time. His place his not well kept. He discovers that Hyena has a trick and takes the magic stick from him. Lets just say that Anansi doesn’t quite have the magic down pat. He gets his place all cleaned up, but messes up the others. By the end of the tale they end up with a lake.

Personal Response: This story reminds me of sometimes that when we ask for something, sometimes we get more than we ask for. Anansi wanted to get out of doing chores, but he ended up with more than what he wanted. A couple situations that I can think of personally; if I go without doing laundry too long I will end up doing laundry all day long. When I got a new pet, I didn’t realize how much responsibility you have to take care of them. We don’t realize that when we take such actions, the consequences that go along with them.

Evaluative Comments: This story’s moral is the overriding feature: Sometimes you get more than what you bargain for. This book is great for children to read and discuss the story’s message. The characters in this story also provide a different perspective because they are all animals doing things that people do. The illustrations make the setting become even more real. They add a colorful ray to the tale. On one page the illustrator places her self and the author in amongst the characters of the book. Realistic Fiction

Title of Book: Tornado

Author: Betsy Byars Illustrator: Doron Ben-Ami

Publisher: Harper Trophy Place: New York Date: 1996

Brief Summary: This book is about a tornado that hits a family’s farm and they had to go to the storm cellar. Pete, the farmhand, begins to tell a story of a very special dog that came to Pete when a tornado struck when he was a boy. Pete tells of several stories of how Tornado, the dog, was his favorite pet. He was a smart dog because he could do a card trick and he saved a turtles life. He tells stories until the tornado passes and they can leave the storm cellar.

Personal Response: This story reminds me my own special pet and stories that I could tell a___&______´______´______ˆ$______ˆ$______6.______&______&______&______ˆ$__N___´______ˆ$______´______ˆ$______û- ______&______ˆ$______û-______&__t____&______„+__-___ ¯-______´______´______û-______ˆ$______|$__ ___`<ÒVãhÄ_8___¬ __ä#______Ö%__:___Ç-______û- ______L.__0___|.______Ï-__,___2______&______2______û- ______&______È___Ö___ž___š___´______´______´______´______Ù___BiographyTitle of Book: Bill Pickett Rodeo-Riddin’ CowboyAuthor: Andrea Pinkney Illustrator: Brian PinkneyPublisher: Voyager Books Place: San Diego Date: 1996Brief Summary: This book is a biography of William M. Pickett, a.k.a. Bill Pickett. The story takes place in Texas after the Civil War ended and all enslaved people were freed. Bill was a curious boy. He dreamed of adventure of roping and riding. The turning point in Bill’s life came when he watched a bulldog bite-holding a cow’s lip. This was the beginning of a new life for Bill. He went on to be a nationally known bulldogging, rodeo riding cowboy. Bill did marry and have a family of his own. Bill Pickett’s legend lives on as an African-American Cowboy. Personal Response: This book is fiì¥Á_M ___ð_¿______åO__ _bjbjâ=â=______

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___"v__€W__€W__åK______ÿÿ______ÿÿ______ÿÿ______l_____´______´___ ´______´______´______´______´______8______ä#______ä#______ä#______ä#__$_ ___$__t___8______|.__ú___ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______û-______ý-______ý- ______ý-______ý-______ý-______ý-__$___v/__ ___– 1__t___!.______´______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______!.______&______´______´______ˆ$______ˆ$______6.______&______&______&______ˆ$__N___´______ˆ$______´______ˆ$______û- ______&______ˆ$______û-______&__t____&______„+__-___ ¯-______´______´______û-______ˆ$______|$__ ___`<ÒVãhÄ_8___¬ __ä#______Ö%__:___Ç-______û- ______L.__0___|.______Ï-__,___2______&______2______û- ______&______È___Ö___ž___š___´______´______´______´______Ù___BiographyTitle of Book: Bill Pickett Rodeo-Riddin’ CowboyAuthor: Andrea Pinkney Illustrator: Brian PinkneyPublisher: Voyager Books Place: San Diego Date: 1996Brief Summary: This book is a biography of William M. Pickett, a.k.a. Bill Pickett. The sì¥Á_M ___ð_¿______åO__ _bjbjâ=â=______

___"v__€W__€W__åK______ÿÿ______ÿÿ______ÿÿ______l_____´______´___ ´______´______´______´______´______8______ä#______ä#______ä#______ä#__$_ ___$__t___8______|.__ú___ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______û-______ý-______ý-______ý- ______ý-______ý-______ý-__$___v/__ ___– 1__t___!.______´______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______ˆ$______!.______&______´______´______ˆ$______ˆ$______6.______&______&______&______ˆ$__N___´______ˆ$______´______ˆ$______û- ______&______ˆ$______û-______&__t____&______„+__-___ ¯-______´______´______û-______ˆ$______|$__ ___`<ÒVãhÄ_8___¬ __ä#______Ö%__:___Ç-______û- ______L.__0___|.______Ï-__,___2______&______2______û- ______&______È___Ö___ž___š___´______´______´______´______Ù___BiographyTitle of Book: Bill Pickett Rodeo-Riddin’ CowboyAuthor: Andrea Pinkney Illustrator: Brian PinkneyPublisher: Voyager Books Place: San Diego Date: 1996Brief Summary: This book is a biography of William M. Pickett, a.k.a. Bill Pickett. The story takes place in Texas after the Civil War ended and all enslaved people were freed. Bill was a curious boy. He dreamed of adventure of roping and riding. The turning point in Bill’s life came when he watched a bulldog bite- holding a cow’s lip. This was the beginning of a new life for Bill. He went on to be a nationally known bulldogging, rodeo riding cowboy. Bill did marry and have a family of his own. Bill Pickett’s legend lives on as an African-American Cowboy. Personal Response: This book is filled with a great story of a marvel rodeo rider. In those days and in present time there are not a lot of African-American rodeo stars. I found this story to be interesting and enlightened me of a boy who had a dream. We all have dreams. Bill Pickett washt to their parents at bedtime. It is full of creative characters that are well behaved and go to bed when they are supposed to.

Personal Response: I thought this book was filled with humor and cute illustrations. The idea of using dinosaurs, which are enormous creatures, getting to say goodnight to their parents is really funny. I can relate to this because I can remember my mom tucking me into bed at night. I was tucked in until I was literally tucked in like a “bug as snug in a rug.”

Evaluative Comments: This story would be a great bedtime book to share with children. Parents could benefit by having a book like this to read to their children. If dinosaurs can go to bed like they are asked then children might be receptive to going to bed too, (probably not). This book is filled with wonderful illustrations of humungous dinosaurs and little beds. The color that is used is bright and vivid. Information

Title of Book: Apples

Author & Illustrator: Gail Gibbons

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place: New York Date: 2000

Brief Summary: This book about apples is filled with information about them. It begins with the history of the apple. Did you know that apples are grown in more parts of the world than any other fruit tree? It moves on to discuss how apple are grown, parts of the apple and all the types of apples. It even provides tasty apple recipes.

Personal Response: I love to eat apples. I think about my grandmother’s apple pie recipe. It is not just a normal apple pie. This apple has to be baked in a brown paper bag. My mother still continues to bake my grandma’s recipe of “paper bag apple pie.”

Evaluative Comments: This book is filled with facts about apples. This would be a great information book to use in the classroom to learn about apples. The illustrations are colorful and add detail to show off the different pages filled with apple information. Modern Fantasy

Title of Book: George Shrinks

Author & Illustrator: William Joyce

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place: New York Date: 1985

Brief Summary: This story is about a boy named George. He has a dream that he wakes up one day and he is small, smaller than any human. In his dream his mom and dad leave him a note as to what to do for the day. Normally the day would consist of typical routine things, but for little George it is quite an adventure.

Personal Response: I thought that overall this book was a cute story. I thought of the movie, “Honey I Shrunk the Kids,” when I read this book. George is just your typical little boy having a dream. We all dream, so this story is easy to connect to. Most everyone has a dream that they can remember where something fantasy like happened, then of course you wake up and you’re back to reality.

Evaluative Comments: This story has a smooth flowing plot. The simple story really makes the illustrations illuminate the story theme. The illustrations are done in watercolor, pastels mostly, to provide a dream effect. They are done with lots of details and are hilarious to look at. Information

Title of Book: Lightning

Author & Pictures: Seymour Simon

Publisher: Morrow Junior Books Place: New York Date: 1997

Brief Summary: This book about lightning. It is filled with the myths and tales of how people in history first thought lightning come from. It goes on to explain how lightning occurs and the different types of lightning. It talks about the frequently most places lightning occurs and what to do if a storm is approaching.

Personal Response: Lightning is a powerful ray of electricity. I chose this book because I wanted to learn about lightning. I am have always called the different types of lightning I see by my own made up names. I found out that some are really the names of lightning and some are not. I have always called cloud-to-ground lightning, “up and down” lightning. I was close but now I can use the correct terminology.

Evaluative Comments: This book is filled with facts about lightning. This would be a great information book to use in the classroom to learn about lightning. The pictures are captivating and add detail to show off the different kinds of lightning. Genre Reading Log

April Harper 7/13/04

RE 5140