Bluebird

Reader’s Annotations: No words necessary for this story about friendship. The bluebird notices a lonely boy and befriends him, ultimately sacrificing his life for the boy, who then personally delivers him to heaven. 

Author: Bob Staake

Illustrator: Bob StaakeAge: 4 - 8 yearsgenre/subject: children's picture book, children's graphic novelPlot Summary: With only images, Staake is able to weave the story of a young boy struggling through the monotony of life alone: in school, walking home, on his free time. However, this very boy is followed and observed by a radiant bluebird. Soon the boy notices his winged friend and together they embark the things that happy young boys should experience, like sailing paper boats in the pond and exploring nature. However, the bliss comes to an end when some bullies encounter the two. When a stick is thrown at the boy, bluebird comes to his rescue and swoops in the path of the stick. The bluebird dies. The bullies scatter. And the blow is left holding his lifeless, little friend. In the end, other birds come to his aid, lifting the boy (holding the bluebird) to the heavens where he releases him. Evaluation: Wonderful story to teach about bullying. Significance & Bibliographic Usefulness: One of a rare few sequential artworks for children this age. Artwork is gorgeous!Readalikes:
Awards/Lists: NoneLinks:
Hook: Bluebird sees all.
Ideas, Uses: Use book to teach about the outcome of bullying.
ISBN: 978-0375870378
Page Count:40
Format: hardcover
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

NYTimes

Pub Date: April 9, 2013

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

Reader’s Annotations: A tongue and cheek retelling of the common fairytale, The Three Little Pigs, is for children who can understand the ugly reality of nature's food chain. Although Scieszka will definitely make parents chuckle, this title is an eye-opener for his target audience, since the narrator is the misunderstood, "Big, Bad Wolf." 

Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Lane Smith
Age: 5 - 8 years
genre/subject: Children's literature, children's picture book, children's fairytale retelling
Plot Summary: Alexander T. Wolf 
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Tuesday

Reader’s Annotations: Something absolutely bonkers happened on Tuesday! Wiesner gives no explanation for a legion of flying toads on lily pads that Tuesday night, and readers simply get to delight in the absurdity of it all! Especially when pigs fly, the next Tuesday night!

Author: David Wiesner 

Illustrator: David Wiesner
Age: 5 - 8 years
genre/subject: children's picture book, children's fantasy
Plot Summary: The readers are first given the date and time and then taken to a peaceful pond with unsuspecting toads sitting on lily pads. Then, things take a turn for the bizarre, when the toads begin to fly over the pond and through the fields, through a village with sleepy people. The next morning, citizens awake to find lily pads littered throughout the town. Officers tower over the evidence, rubbing their chins. But that is not all, the story ends on the following tuesday, when pigs fly through the night sky. 
Evaluation: Wonderful fiction for children. There is no real moral or lesson to be learned in this story, simply something silly to observe. Great for sparking the imagination in young readers.
Significance & Bibliographic Usefulness:
Readalikes: Other picture books with minimal text. 
Awards/Lists: 

• Caldecott Medal (1992)
• Kentucky Bluegrass Award for K-3 (1993)
• Young Hoosier Book Award for K-3 (1993)

Links:

Publishers Weekly
Hook: When Frogs Fly!
Ideas, Uses: Great way to start a creative writing or drawing period for k-3rd graders.
ISBN: 978-0395870822
Page Count: 32
Format: Hardback
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Pub Date: 1991

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Reader’s Annotations: Human parents and dinosaur children teacher a lovely lesson in manners in this perfectly apt bedtime story for young, budding archeologists. This book is bound to make little dinosaurs laugh, as it is read aloud to them!

Author: Jane Yolen

Illustrator: Mark Teague
Age: 4 - 8 years
genre/subject: Children's picture book, children's fiction
Plot Summary: Story follows several fathers and mothers telling their young dinosaur children that it is bedtime. The first half runs through a hypothetical response the the dinosaurs may have when they are told it is time to go to bed: pouting, shouting, roaring, demanding another piggyback ride. Then the narrator changes the tone by first saying, of course little dinosaurs don't act that way. The remainder of the story, the pages display different reactions from the dinosaurs, including: kisses, hugs and tucking their tails into covers.
Evaluation: Wonderful for modeling positive behaviors to children when they are instructed to do something that they may not enjoy, but they certainly need. I chose this book because my daughter who was a huge fan of dinosaurs since the age of 2 had received a couple of these books from friends and family. This author/illustrator team has paired up to create several of these books. The series is brilliant, in my opinion. I had never read this particular title in the series. My favorite feature to these stories is that somewhere on every page there is the name of the illustrated dinosaur. Sometimes the names are difficult to find. My daughter and I always make a point to search and find each name, and also to say each name out loud. She has learned several names of dinosaurs this way!
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Hook: Child behaviors portrayed by great, big dinosaurs.
Ideas, Uses: Teaching "good manners."
ISBN: 978-0590316811
Page Count: 40
Format: Hard cover
Publisher: Blue Sky Press

Pub Date: April 1, 2000

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Reader’s Annotation: One convincing pigeon pulls every trick in the book to convince young readers that he can operate public transportation! Even kids can recognize such a silly request. Young readers will really recognize the pigeon's temper tantrum, as this age level is master of such displays of pure emotion.



Author: Mo Willems
Illustrator: Mo Willems
Age: 2 - 6 years
genre/subject: Children's picture book; Children's fiction
Plot Summary: A bus driver leaves his bus under the care of young readers, leaving one instruction: Don't let the pigeon drive the bus! Enter spirited pigeon, who spends the remainder of the story trying desperately to convince the audience to allow him to drive the bus.
Evaluation: A clever take on what it is like to be young and told no. Willems crafts this story to connect with children who may have big dreams, but have to wait until they are old enough to fulfill those dreams. One page displays the pigeon having a full-fledged meltdown, which is also a wonderful way to connect with children, many of whom have perfected the art of the temper tantrum.
Significance & Bibliographic Usefulness: Art is basic, Willems has been said to design his illustrations so that children can copy. Also, the pigeon's statements are all in word bubbles. The text is quite large and great for children to follow-along with the reader. Since it is geared for a younger audience, the way the text is displayed may have great early literacy value.
Readalikes: How Do Dinosaurs...? Series. Authors take the same approach to teach manners when young dinosaurs or pigeons do not want to obey.
Awards/Lists: 

• Caldecott Honor (2004)
• Kentucky Bluegrass Award for K-2 (2005)
• Charlotte Zolotow Award Nominee for Highly Commended Title (2004)
• Vermont's Picture Book Awards: Red Clover (2005)
• An ALA Notable Children's Book for Younger Readers (2004)
• South Carolina Book Award for Picture Book Award (2006)
• Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (2005)
• Golden Archer Award for Primary (2005)
• Buckaroo Book Award (2004)
• Indies Choice Book Award for Picture Book Hall of Fame (2009)

Links:
Library School Journal
Hook: A quirky pigeon begs readers to drive a bus, a reasonable request from feathered friend!
Ideas, Uses: Engage in a discussion about things children can look forward to doing when they grow up: drive a car, fly a plane, go sailing.
ISBN: 978-0786819881
Page Count: 40
Format: Paperback
Publisher:Hyperion Press
Pub Date: April 1, 2003