Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Title: Where The Wild Things Are

Author: Maurice Sendak 

Award(s):

Indies Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame, 2009 Winner United States
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year, 1963 Winner United States


Randolph Caldecott Medal, 1964 Winner United States

Reading level/ Lexile Level:  740

Genre: Fantasy 

Synopsis:

Where The Wild Things Are is a great tale of a little boy who get in trouble and is sent to his room. While he is in his room he lets his mind wander taking him to a different world. In this world time passes fast and it is ruled by the big, scary, and funny looking Wild Things. He soon realize that he wants to be home and when he gets there dinner is waiting for him. 

Resources/Activities: 

1. Activities for younger kids-- http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/WhereTheWildThingsArePrintables.htm

2. Activities for the Classroom -- http://www.brighthubeducation.com/lesson-plans-grades-1-2/68865-activities-for-where-the-wild-things-are/

3. Family Packet with activities and cooking ideas -- http://www.readingrockets.org/content/pdfs/literacybags/wildthings_09.pdf

4. Online Games based on the book -- http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/literature-games/wild-things-are.html

Reference: 

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

The New Kid On The Block by Jack Prelutsky

Title: The New Kid on the Block

Author: Jack Prelutsky

Award(s):

Texas Reading Club, 2001

Reading level/ Lexile Level: 4

 Genre: Poetry

Synopsis:

 The New Kid on the Block is a compiled book of funny poems with imaginary creatures, silly animals, jellyfish stew, clumsy people, and covers issues like parents being mad and a scary bully. They are poems that have children laughing and learning through abstract ideas.

Resources/Activities: 

1. Scholastic Poem Writing Guide-- http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/jack_my_poem.htm

2. Author's Website-- http://www.jackprelutsky.com

3. Poetry Activities-- http://www.jackprelutsky.com/flash/pdf_docs/PoetryActivities.pdf

Reference:

Prelutsky, J., & Stevenson, J. (2013). The new kid on the block: Poems. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

A Bad Case Of The Stripes by David Shannon

Title: A Bad Case Of the Stripes

Author: David Shannon

Award(s):

Beehive Award, 2000

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2000

Blue Hen Book Award, 2000

Buckaroo Book Award, 2001

Golden Archer Award, 2000

Great Lakes Great Books Award, 2001

Maryland Children’s Book Award, 2003

North Carolina Children's Book Award, 2002

Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award, 2002

SMART Book Award, 2000

SMART Book Award, 2003

Treasure State Award, 1999

Reading level/ Lexile Level: 540

 Genre : Picture Book, Fiction 

Synopsis:

Camilla Cream is a child who cares about what everyone thinks of her and bases her decisions around what others think. Camilla Cream loves to eat lima beans but since everyone at school thinks that they are horrible she pretends that she does not like them. Due to the fact that she is not staying true to herself she comes down with a case of the stripes. The stripes change into what everyone wants them to be and Camilla can no longer recognize herself. Once she admits that she loves lima beans she becomes herself again. By the end she has learned that she needs to be who she wants to be even in spite of what anyone thinks of her.

Resources/Activities: 

1. Story Read Aloud by Sean Astin-- http://www.storylineonline.net/stripes/story.swf

2. Lesson Ideas -- http://thepicturebookteachersedition.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-bad-case-of-stripes-by-david-shannon.html

3. Interview with Author David Shannon-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBQMTg6BHT0

Reference:

Shannon, D. (1998). A bad case of stripes. New York: Blue Sky Press