It’s Moving Day

Author:  Pamela Hickman Copyright Date: 2008
Illustrator:  Geraldo Valērio

Pamela Hickman tells a simple story introducing woodland animals and some of their interconnections.  A good introductory picture book for work on habitats and animals. Geraldo Valerio has created appealing illustrations using  strong lines and pleasing use of colour and movement.  A useful addition to the K-8 library for teaching about habitats and biosystems.   Early educators could use it in a unit on animals or seasons.  It would make an excellent companion to Hopper’s Spring by Marcus Pfister and could therefore be used to highlight the reading comprehension strategy “making connections” as a text to text connection.

CM Review
Quill and Quire Review

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended)     #2    ✓    #3         #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level:  Grade:  Picture book 1-3    Reading Level:  Grade 1-3

Curriculum Area: Science, Language Arts

Theme(s) Topic(s): animal habitats, writing non-fiction picture books

This book would be suitable for:    ✓ Lit Circles  ✓  Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3

Shinging Willow nominee 2009

Racing for Diamonds

Author:  Anita Daher Copyright Date:    2007

Anita Daher’s Racing for Diamonds is a fast paced, interesting adventure story.  She creates likable characters in realistic settings.  I particularly appreciated the depiction of Canadian First Nations people and Inuit in a positive light. Suits the grade 4-6 reader, as it is readable and engaging.   Some teaching possibilities with this novel would include using p.19-25 as a read aloud for introducing or practicing  inferencing, predicting and use of conversation to move story along.

CM Review
Rating: #1(Highly Recommended) ✓    #2        #3         #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level:  Grade 4-6        Reading Level:  Grade 4

Curriculum Area: Language Arts, Geography

Theme(s) Topic(s): Adventure, diamond mining, blood diamonds
This book would be suitable for:    ✓ Lit Circles  ✓  Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.) 4-6

Diamond Willow nominee 2009

Robots

Author:  Adrienne Mason Yes Mag Copyright Date: 2008

This is a terrific piece of non-fiction.  My children couldn’t put it down.  Through fantastic visuals and well-written text, we learn about the varieties of robots which have been, are and can be imagined.  A great addition to any K-8 library.

CM Review

Quill and Quire Review

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended) ✓    #2        #3         #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level:  Grade 4-6        Reading Level:  Grade 5

Curriculum Area: Science, Language Arts

Theme(s) Topic(s):  Future, Robot and Robotics, Non-fiction, computer science, work
This book would be suitable for:    ✓ Lit Circles  ✓  Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.) 4-8

Diamond Willow nominee 2009

reading non-fiction,  using index, glossary, reading captions,  taking notes, taking a photo walk or subtitles walk, reading for detail

Klutzhood

Author:  Chris McMahen    Copyright Date:    2007

Arlo is moving from Victoria, BC into the Interior, East Bend, BC.  He is not happy.  Chris McMahen writes a story about the trials and tribulations of adjusting to rural hockey culture for the city boy.  Klutzhood is a slapstick account of Arlo’s school arrival and adjustment.  I expect it would be appealing to boys and particularly boys who love hockey.  I found Arlo annoying but perhaps this is because I see the story from the mother’s point of view.  At times, Chris seemed to be adding a brainstorm of indignities to his character’s experience which I found excessive.  It might have been more effective to limit the list but extend the explanation of each incident.  This brainstorm effect was mostly evident on Arlo’s first day or two of school but improved as the story progressed.  Not a personal favourite but I believe it might have kid appeal.  I’ll be sending it to some boys at my school for review.

CM Review

Publisher Review

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended)  #2    ✓    #3         #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level:  Grade 4-6    Reading Level:  Grade 5

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Theme(s) Topic(s):  Fitting in, Hockey, moving

This book would be suitable for:    ✓ Lit Circles  ✓  Kit Materials (maybe) Read-Aloud (Gr.) 4-6

Diamond Willow nominee 2009

Elf the Eagle

Author:  Ron Smith   Copyright Date:    2007

Ron Smith offers this straightforward and logical story in picture book format.   Although I found the characters a little irritating and unlikeable, their antics could appeal to the younger set.  The content meets some curriculum goals for science education in the younger years. The story could be used when learning about birds, life cycles, habitats, and personal growth.

Publisher review

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended)     #2    ✓    #3         #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level:  Grade Picture book 1-4        Reading Level:  Grade 3-5

Curriculum Area: Science, Language Arts, Health

Theme(s) Topic(s): life cycle of birds, growing up, making decisions, being afraid

This book would be suitable for:     Lit Circles  ✓  Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-5

Shining Willow 2009