Spiders by Nic Bishop

Bishop, N. (2007). Spiders. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

Summary: Spiders by Nic Bishop contains amazing pictures of spiders. With over 38,000 types of spiders around the world Bishop captures these extraordinary creatures. Spiders can be found just about everywhere and anywhere. This book contains text that is simple yet engaging for young readers. The author Nic Bishop is an accomplished photographer and biologist.

Evaluation criteria: Accuracy - "Spiders" by Nic Bishop is full of information about spiders and is very alluring with pictures. But does lack other sources.

Books by Nic Bishop:

How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg

Bragg, G., & Malley, K. (2011). How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous. New York: Walker &.

Summary: How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg is an interesting read about the dreadful deaths of famous men and women. Famous men and women such as Cleopatra, Pocahontas, George Washington, Edgar Allan Poe, and Galileo Galilei. These famous men and women died of exploding lungs, stabbed to death, or bad sore throat. Before modern medicine getting sick and dying was messy and ugly.

Evaluation criteria: Style - "How They Croaked" by Georgia Bragg has a humorous style as it talks about the deaths of figures throughout history. The style is fun, yet informative.

Below is a book trailer for How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg:

Primates by Jim Ottaviani

Ottaviani, J. (2013). Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas. New York: First Second Books.

Summary: This book Primates by Jim Ottaviani focuses on three primatologists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas. The author Jim Ottaviani uses the medium of a graphic novel to tell this story. Jane Goodall focused her studies on chimpanzees, Dian Fossey studied the mountain gorillas, and Birute Galdikas focused her studies on orangutans.

Evaluation criteria: Design, Style, & Organization - "Primates" by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks is a fun and delightful read. Interesting how the authors used a graphic novel for their medium. The frames in this graphic novel keep it organized.

Books by Jim Ottaviani or other of his collaborations:

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

Summary: Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet is the story of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer of the Macy's parade. People are use to getting up on Thanksgiving morning to see the broadcast of the Macy's parade well this story tells you of it's origin. Through vivid collage illustrations Sweet captures Sarg's creativity and great gift to America.

Evaluation criteria: Accuracy - "Balloons Over Broadway" by Melissa Sweet is a well researched book by Sweet. She recreates Tony Sarg's puppets throughout this book with collage art. The book has plenty of sources at the end of the book to corroborate the author's research.

Books written and/or illustrated by Melissa Sweet:

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

McDonnell, P. (2011). Me...Jane. New York: Little, Brown.

Summary: Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell is an adorable story about primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall. McDonnell tells the story of a young Jane and her toy chimpanzee Jubilee. She is adventurous and loves to be outside with the animals. She dreams about helping animals and grows up to do exactly that.

Evaluation criteria: Design - "Me...Jane" by Patrick McDonnell draws the reader to perceive this book as a fictional book instead of an informational book. The illustrations in this book make it fun for the reader to read this book, yet be informed of Dr. Jane Goodall.

Books by Patrick McDonnell:

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Giovanni, N., & Collier, B. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt.

Summary: Rosa by Nikki Giovanni is the story of an important American figure, Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on the bus to a white man and this action sparks a revolt. This story tells of her event that December in 1955. Her quiet yet courageous determination changed our history.

Evaluation criteria: Design - "Rosa" by Nikki Giovanni elicits the feeling and look of a fictional book instead of an informational book. The realistic paintings draw a reader into the book.

Books written by Nikki Giovanni:

We Are The Ship by Kadir Nelson

Nelson, K. (2008). We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary: Beautifully illustrated book that tells the story about the unsung heroes who overcame great struggles to play their beloved baseball. We Are The Ship by Kadir Nelson is dedicated to the negro baseball players of the Negro League. Great book if you are a fan of baseball. There is a foreword by Hank Aaron, player for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves.

Evaluation criteria: Style - "We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball" by Kadir Nelson has an abundance of information about Negro League Baseball, but it's style makes this informational book a must read. It has very beautiful, realistic pictures of negro players.

Books written and/or illustrated by Kadir Nelson:

It's So Amazing! by Robie Harris

Harris, R., & Emberley, M. (1999). It's So Amazing!: A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Summary: As children grow, their curiosity grows with them especially the question: Where do babies come from? In the book It's So Amazing! by Robie H. Harris, this topic is made a little more easy to explain to children. The book provides all the information about the birds and bees in a fun, comic book style.

Evaluation criteria: Organization - "It's So Amazing!" by Robie H. Harris has a hefty amount of information which calls for organization in a book. The shorter sections allow this book to establish information for the next section.

Books by Robie H. Harris:

Hitler Youth by Susan C. Bartoletti

Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler's Shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

Summary: Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler's Shadow by Susan Bartoletti tells the story of the young German youths that followed Adolf Hitler's propaganda about the Nazi movement. During the years 1933 to 1945 these boys and girls belonged to Hitler. Hitler admired their youthful energy and their drive. He believed that these youths could be a strong political movement in Germany.

Evaluation criteria: Accuracy - "Hitler Youth" by Susan C. Bartoletti is a great example of the criteria accuracy in an informational book. The book provides information about the followers of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party movement. The photographs used in the book plus quotes used in the book for every chapter along with a bibliography at the end of the book are accurate information.

Books by Susan C. Bartoletti:

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion Books.

Summary: Charming look at a classic take of the three pigs. The author David Wiesner takes us on a new adventure. Story starts off normal with the wolf huffing and puffing down a pigs' home. But the wolf blows the pigs out of the story and into some other stories with a dragon and a cat. Interesting story that takes you through a creative landscape.

Visual element - Composition: In The Three Pigs by David Wiesner composition is used to tell a distant story. Lines are used to move from one story to the next. Color is used to create a 3-D effect. Texture adds quality to the characters.

Illustrations: David Wiesner uses innovative illustrations to retell a classic story, The Three Pigs. Illustrations are important because they keep the reader drawn in to the story.

Books by David Wiesner:

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Munsch, R., & Martchenko, M. (1980). The paper bag princess. Toronto: Annick Press.

Summary: Humorous book that has a princess saving the prince. Princess Elizabeth is about to marry Prince Ronald until he is kidnapped by a dragon. When the dragon burns everything Elizabeth has nothing else to wear but a paper bag. She goes after Ronald where she outsmarts the dragon but then is told she does not look like a princess.

Visual element - Texture: Texture enhances the realistic quality of illustrations and in The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch texture is demonstrated. Texture is shown through medium pencil strokes.

Theme: In The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, gender roles are reversed where in typical fairy tales women are portrayed as weak characters waiting to be rescued by the handsome prince. Well not in this story.

Books by Robert Munsch:

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer

Singer, M., & Masse, J. (2010). Mirror mirror: A book of reverse poems. New York, N.Y.: Dutton Children's Books.

Summary: Interesting poetry book written in reverse. The poems in the book include traditional fairy tale characters. The reader reads the poem one way with one meaning then another way in reverse with a whole other meaning.

Visual element - Line: Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer show the use of line by dividing the pages to tell the story forward and backward.

Theme: The theme of Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer, is the use of a variety of fairy tales. In this book one reads it in traditional format and then in untraditional format (backwards).

Similar poetry books by Marilyn Singer:

My Teacher Is a Monster by Peter Brown

Brown, P. (n.d.). My teacher is a monster! (no, I am not).

Summary: Adorable book for teachers and students. Bobby, the student, thinks his teacher, Ms. Kirby, is a monster. But when Bobby runs into Ms. Kirby outside of school he rethinks his opinion about her. They enjoy each others company for an afternoon, but then come school it's back to student and monster teacher.

Visual element - Shape: My Teacher Is a Monster by Peter Brown uses the element of shape through more geometric shapes such as squares, circles, and curves.

Illustrations: Illustrations create the story which is an essential part of telling a story.  In My Teacher Is a Monster by Peter Brown, the illustrations keep the child interested in the story.

Books by Peter Brown:

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Sendak, M., & Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York: Harper & Row.

Summary: A mischievous boy named Max is sent to his room by his mother after he says he will eat her up.  In his bedroom his imagination goes wild.  He sails to where the wild things live and they make him their king.  The fantasy comes to an end when he smells dinner.  

Visual element - Texture: Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is a great example of texture as a visual element.  The illustrator creates that feeling of wanting to touch the creatures in the book.

Character(s): In the story Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, we are introduced to mischievous Max.  He dreams of a far off place with wild things but then he knows when to stop his imagination.

Books by Maurice Sendak: