Rachel Geen
Literary Toolkit
1. Title: The Alphabet Book
Author: P.D. Eastman
Genre/Type: Alphabet Book
Summary: This is an early childhood alphabet book. The Alphabet Book would be
considered a potpourri pattern of alphabet book, because there is no uniformity in the subject
matter, and no storyline connecting the different letters. This book uses alliterations to give
two words beginning with the given letter, although only capital letters are shown. Showing
only a capital letter, rather than a capital letter along with a lowercase, is not ideal for
teaching young children the alphabet, as they will only learn to recognize one form of the
letter. However, lowercase letters are shown in the examples of the letters (e.g. B – bird on
bike). The Alphabet Book contains mostly illustrations of animals, and only two human
figures are found in the book. This book is also considered a board book, because it has
cardboard pages with a shiny finish to wipe spills from.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: Early education
OWL: While looking at this book, I wondered why P.D. Eastman chose to only show
uppercase letters. I think it is possible that he felt the more graphic, bold form of the letter
would be easier for a young child to comprehend.
2. Title: Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs
Author: Tomie dePaola
Genre/Type: Realistic Fiction
Summary: In this book, Tomie dePaola retells a story about his relationship with his
grandmother and great-grandmother. These two women live in the same house, with the
great-grandmother spending most of her time upstairs in bed, and his grandmother residing
primarily on the first floor, cooking and cleaning. Thus, young Tomie (called “Tommy” in
the book) calls them “Nana Upstairs” and “Nana Downstairs.” He loves them both very
much, and goes to visit their house every Sunday to spend time with them. One day however,
Tommy learns that his great-grandmother, Nana Upstairs, has died. He is heartbroken by this
loss, but when he seems a shooting star, his mother explains to him that it is “a kiss from
Nana Upstairs,” and Tommy feels comforted by the idea that his beloved great-grandmother
is still watching over him. Years later, after the death of his grandmother, Nana Downstairs,
an adult Tommy sees another shooting star, and believes that this too is a sign that his
grandmother is still with him in spirit.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
OWL: While looking at this book, I noticed that Tomie dePaolo choose almost entirely
warm colors for his illustrations. I wonder why he chose that color palette for this book,
while for another of his book about his relationship with his grandparents, Now One Foot,
Now the Other, he selected mostly cool colors.
3. Title: Frog and Toad Together
Author: Arnold Lobel
Genre/Type: Newberry
Summary: Frog and Toad Together is a collection of stories about best friends Frog and
Toad. In the first story, “The List,” Toad decides to make a list of things he wants to do. His
friend Frog later accompanies him in completing the activities on the list, but while they are
going for a walk, the wind blows away Toad’s list. Toad despairs because looking for his list
is not one of the things he included on his list, and Frog sets out to look for it. He returns
empty handed, and he and Toad sit doing nothing, since they have no direction. Finally they
decide to go to sleep, write “go to sleep” in the dirt, and fall asleep together. In the next story,
“The Garden,” Toad admired Frog’s garden and decides he wants to make one of his own.
Toad becomes frustrated when the seeds do not flower immediately, and Frog instructs them
to leave them alone and the forces of nature will take care of it. Toad tends to the seedlings
lovingly over the next few days playing music and reading poems for them. Exhausted, Toad
falls asleep, and is awoken only when Frog alerts him that his seeds have sprouted. Toad is
pleased, but concedes that having a garden is very difficult. In “Cookies,” Toad bakes a batch
of cookies that he and Frog find themselves unable to stop eating. After several failed
attempts to hide the cookies from themselves, Frog takes them outside and gives them to a
flock of birds. Frog is proud of them for having such great will power, but Toad goes home
to make a cake. The fourth story in Frog and Toad, “Dragons and Giants,” begins with Frog
and Toad reading a book with brave characters, and then wondering if they themselves are
brave. They go outside to embark on all kinds of dramatic adventures such as facing a snake,
outrunning and avalanche, and escaping a hawk. The pair react fearfully in each situation, yet
shout out that they are not afraid. After their heroic efforts, they run home to hide in a closet
and congratulate one another on their bravery. In the final story, “The Dream,” Toad dreams
that he is a grand performer on a huge stage, with the only audience member being Frog. As
Toad conducts his antics such as playing the piano and walking a tightrope, he asks Frog if
he too can complete these marvelous feats, to which he invariably replies “No.” As this
continues, Frog appears to shrink in his seat, until he disappears completely. Toad begins to
call out frantically for him, until he is awoken by Frog, who comforts him.
Diversity: N/A
Grade Level: K-2
OWL: I wonder what inspired Arnold Lobel to use a frog and a toad as the main characters
for this book.
4.
Title: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Author: William Steig
Genre/Type: Caldecott
Summary: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is about a donkey named Sylvester who collects
pebbles. One day, Sylvester finds a particularly interesting pebble, which he discovers has
the ability to grant his wishes. Later, as Sylvester is frolicking in a field, he comes across a
lion. He frantically wishes himself to become some sort of inconspicuous object, and chooses
a rock. The lion walks away puzzled, but Sylvester realized he cannot turn back into a
donkey without holding the pebble, which now lies next to him out of his reach. Meanwhile,
his parents become worried and the neighbors form a search party. After a month of fruitless
searching, Sylvester’s parents begin to assume that their son is gone forever, and become
very depressed. The seasons pass as Sylvester continues to lie as a rock in the field,
miserably wishing he could turn back into his old self. Sylvester’s parents attempt to cheer
themselves up by venturing out on a picnic, unknowingly selecting the field in which
Sylvester lies as their destination. As they set out their lunch on the rock which is Sylvester,
the father notices the magic pebble and picks it up, remarking on how much Sylvester would
have enjoyed it. He then places the pebble on the rock, allowing Sylvester to access its
powers and wish himself back to normal. He transforms back into a donkey before his
parents eyes and the family rejoices together.
Diversity: N/A
Grade Level: 1-4
OWL: I wonder if William Steig had his own pebble collection as a child.
5.
Title: Growing Up Masai
Author: Tom Shachtman
Genre/Type: informational
Summary: Growing Up Masai is a nonfiction book about the Masai tribe in the African
Sahara. The book describes the daily lives of two children in the tribe, Lekorrio and his
sister, Namaiyiana. Although they are young, these children have many responsibilities
within their tribe, such as milking the cows and goats for Namaiyiana, and herding them for
Lekorrio. The jobs for men and women are very separate and very well defined. The text
describes the landscape and the wildlife, as well as some of the cultural practices of the
Masai, such as children not being permitted to speak until an elder touches their head. Folk
tales such as the origin of the rhinoceros’s horn are also relayed, and Masai words are used
and defined throughout the book, with a glossary at the end for reference. The book is filled
with black and white photographs of the tribe on each page, although the photos are not
always related to the text.
Diversity: culturally specific
Grade Level: 2-5
OWL: I wonder if the nudity depicted in the photographs of this book created any
controversy about its publication or presence in public and school libraries.
6. Title: Stuart Little
Author: E.B. White
Genre/Type: [Animal] Fantasy
Summary: Stuart Little, a mouse is born into a family of humans who reside in New York. Although
they are quite surprised that Mrs. Little bore this small rodent, they adapt to having Amouse as a
family member and grow to love him. One day while exercising, Stuart gets caught in the blinds and
is mistakenly released by his brother George. Stuart then participates in a sailboat race in Centraland
befriends a bird named Margalo who has also been adopted by the Littles. Margalo and Stuart's
relationship strengthens as he protects her from the family cat, Snowbell, but Margalo flees the house
when she gets wind that Snowbell's is intending to eat her. Stuart sets out to find his best in an electric
model car of the same owner as the boat Stuart used in the race. On his journey he works temporarily
as a teacher, and miraculously meets a woman of his own size named Harriet Ames. The pair go on a
single date, but Stuart then leaves town to continue his search for Margalo.
Diversity: culturally generic (although the main character is a mouse, the Littles, as well as all other
human characters, are white.
Grade Level: 3-5
OWL: While researching this book, I read that White got this idea for this story from a dream he had,
and I wonder if any of his other popular children's stories were inspired this way.
7. Title: James and the Giant Peach
Author: Roald Dahl
Type: Fantasy
Summary: A young boy named James Henry Trotter lives with his two evil aunts after being
orphaned when his parents were killed by a giant rhinoceros in the clouds. One day while
James is sitting in despair outside his cottage, he is approached by a strange old man who
gives him a sack of small green wriggling things, which he is told are magical crocodile
tongues. The man informs James that drinking a potion concocted from these strange things
will bring him wonders beyond his wildest dreams. Desperate to escape his miserable life
with aunts Spike and Sponge, James hurries back to the cottage to mix the potion, but spills
the crocodile tongues in his haste. Squirming all over a barren tree on a hill, the tongues
begin to work their magic and a lustrous peach appears on the branches. The peach then
begins growing rapidly, until it is nearly as large as the house. Greedy Spike and Sponge
immediately view this miracle as a money making opportunity, and begin charging a fee for
onlookers. One evening as James is sent out to clean up after the tourists, he takes a bite of
the succulent peach and realizes it is so large he can crawl inside. As James ventures through
the juicy tunnel, he discovers a magical world of talking insects who have also been
transformed by the power of the crocodile tongues. A centipede gnaws the peach from its
branch and it rolls down the hill, squashing Spike and Sponge to death on the way down.
The massive peach continues to roll through the countryside until it reaches an ocean. The
passengers become fearful as their vessel becomes surrounded by a pack of hungry sharks,
but they manage to escape danger by tethering the fruit to a flock of seagulls. As they
continue their journey, the group of new friends encounters a terrifying group of “CloudMen,” who damage the peach and remind James of the rhinoceros that consumed his parents.
They manage to safely escape the cloud men and find themselves upon the skyline of New
York City, a location which James has always dreamed of visiting. The peach becomes
impaled upon the peak of the Empire State Building, and city-dwellers come from all over to
hear James tell his miraculous story. The peach is offered as a treat to the children of the city,
which delight in its juicy flesh and are eager to befriend James. The story closes James and
all his insect friends living in a cozy home made from the pit of the peach.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: 3-5
OWL: In the version I have of this book, the illustrations are done by Lane Smith, and I
observed that they are more dark and fearful looking than one might expect for a children’s
book. I assume that Dahl selected such an illustrator to portray the feeling of desperation
expressed in the beginning of the story.
8. Title: Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio
Genre/Type: Realistic Fiction
Summary: August “Auggie” Pullman is a young boy with a facial deformity. About to enter
fifth grade at a private school after being homeschool his entire life, Auggie begins to have
trepidations how he will get along with the more “normal” students. August makes several
friends at his new school, though he soon overhears that most of them, including his closest
comrade Jack were only being friendly because they had been instructed to do so by the
principal, Mr. Tushman. However, August shortly learns that Jack had only said this to
ingratiate himself with Julian, a boy from the popular crowd who makes fun of August. After
this conundrum, more students start to warm up to August while simultaneously
relinquishing their admiration for Julian. This shift is confirmed on a camping trip where
several of Julian’s previous allies protect August from an older group of bullies. The book
ends with Auggie winning an award for being the most admirable student at Beecher Prep,
and his mother remarking that he is truly “a wonder.”
Diversity: culturally neutral
Grade Level: 4-6
OWL: I observed while reading this book that August’s facial characteristics seemed to
indicate that he had Treacher Collins syndrome. While reading R.J. Palacio’s site, I saw that
although she did not want to confirm a diagnosis in the book itself, she thought of August as
having this particular genetic disorder.
9. Title: Cinderella
Author: Walt Disney
Genre/Type: traditional
Summary: A girl named Cinderella lived with her evil stepmother and her two evil
stepsisters. These three women were very cruel to Cinderella, forcing her to do all the
housework and never giving her a moment for her leisure. One day a letter came announcing
a massive ball hosted by the King for the purpose of choosing a wife for his son, the Prince.
The letter specifically said that all the eligible bachelorettes in the area were invited, but
Cinderella was told by her stepsisters that she could not go. They compiled a massive list of
chores for her, and told her that if she could complete these tasks and find an appropriate
dress, then she would be allowed to attend. With the help of the benevolent household mice,
Cinderella was able to complete her housework and mend an old dress with scraps from her
stepsisters' unwanted garments. However, when the two stepsisters saw her, they tore the
dress off of Cinderella, leaving her crying in the garden. Cinderella was then approached by a
magical fairy godmother, who created for her a beautiful dress and an ornate carriage to ferry
her to the ball. The fairy godmother warned Cinderella that all these magical items would
disappear at midnight, and Cinderella left for the ball. Being the most beautiful girl at the
palace, Cinderella was shortly asked for a dance by the Prince. The prince began to fall in
love with Cinderella, although as the clock approached midnight, Cinderella fled, leaving her
glass slipper on the steps of the palace. The prince found it and set out into the land to find
the woman who fit the delicate shoe, vowing to make her his bride. A duke from the palace
carried the slipper around to all neighboring areas, comparing it to the foot of every woman
he could find. Both the stepsisters' feet much too large for the dainty slipper, but it fit
Cinderella perfectly. The duke then brought Cinderella back to the palace where she married
the prince, and they lived happily ever after.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: K-3
OWL: I wonder what inspired Walt Disney to select this story from the many traditional
fairy tales to adapt into a film.
10. Title: Aschenputtel (Cinderella)
Author: unknown; recorded by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and translated by Jack Zipes
Type: traditional
Summary: The wife of a wealthy man died, leaving his daughter Cinderella to live with his
wife who was very cruel and had two very cruel daughters. These three women were a source
of endless torment for Cinderella, as they treated her as a slave and forced her to do menial
tasks around the house without pay or thanks. When the father went to the fair, he asked his
three girls what they would like him to bring back for them. While the two stepsisters
demanded opulent gifts, Cinderella requested a mere twig, which she planted by the grave of
her mother and watered with her tears until it grew into a beautiful tree. A small white bird
came to live in this tree as well, and granted Cinderella’s wishes when she came to mourn.
The king of the land had decided to throw a party at which his son would select a bride, and
the two stepsisters became very excited and demanded that Cinderella prepare their gowns.
Cinderella asked her stepmother if she too could go to the ball. The heartless woman threw a
bowl of lentils into the ashes and told Cinderella that if she could pick out all of the lentils
before the party began, she could go. Cinderella completed this seemingly impossible task
with the help of the friendly birds of the forest. Puzzled, the stepmother dumped another two
bowls of lentils into the hearth, and commanded Cinderella to remove these as well. Again
the birds helped her complete this, and the infuriated stepmother said Cinderella still could
not go, because she did not have an appropriate dress. To fulfill this demand, Cinderella
walked beneath the tree near her mother’s grave and asked the white bird who lived there to
cover her in gold and silver. The bird conceded and Cinderella became clothed in a beautiful
gold and silver gown with pure gold slippers. Dressed in her beautiful gown, Cinderella was
noticed by all at the ball, particularly the prince. The handsome man danced with her until
late evening, at which point Cinderella left. However, wishing to see her again, the prince
had covered the palace steps with tar, in which one of Cinderella’s golden slippers had
become mired. The next day, the prince set out with the slipper to find its wearer and make
her his bride. He reached Cinderella’s house and the stepsisters were so eager to wed the
prince that they sliced off their toes and heels in order to fit their feet into Cinderella’s dainty
slipper. The prince noticed the blood on their stockings, and asked if any more maidens lived
at the house. The father said that the only other girl his daughter, and the prince demanded to
see her despite being told that she was merely a servant. The shoe fit Cinderella’s foot
perfectly, and the prince placed her on his horse and rode away to the palace to wed her. On
day of the wedding, the pigeons who had helped Cinderella earlier in the story pecked out the
eyes of the evil stepsisters, punishing them for their cruelty.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: any
OWL: Since traditional tales such as these were not intended exclusively for children and
were thus often quite gruesome, I wonder how children reacted when they heard the more
graphic parts of this story, and if their parents ever tried to censor it for them.
11. Title: The Higher Power of Lucky
Author: Susan Patron
Genre/Type: realistic fiction
Summary: Lucky is a ten year old girl who lives in an incredibly small town called Hard
Pan. She lives with her guardian, Brigitte, her father's first ex-wife who was called upon to
take care of Lucky after her mother died. Lucky loves Brigitte and fears that she will soon
return to her homeland of France. Lucky spends much of her time eavesdropping outside of a
meeting center for recovering addicts, and she often hears of them telling the story of when
they hit “rock bottom” and found their “higher power.” Concerned that Bridgette may
abandon her, Lucky attempts to find her own “higher power.” After being prompted by
several “signs,” Lucky decides that it's time for her to run away with her dog. H.M.S. Beagle.
She escapes at the beginning of a powerful sandstorm and finds Miles, her five year old
neighbor, marooned in the desert. Forced to abandon her plan to run away, Lucky comforts
him and takes him into a cave for shelter, where they are later discovered by the rest of the
town. Before leaving the cave, Lucky tosses her mother's ashes into the wind. When she and
Brigitte return home, Lucky learns that a stack of papers she had assumed were a sure sign of
Brigitte leaving are actually adoption papers to finalize the connection between Lucky and
Brigitte.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: 4-6
OWL: I wonder if Susan Patron herself grew up in a very small town, because she seemed to
describe it very familiarly.
12. Title: The Bronze Bow
Author: Elizabeth George Speare
Type: historical fiction
Summary: Daniel Bar Jamin is a boy living in Galilee in the early first century. At a young
age Daniel saw his father brutally killed by Roman soldiers, an event which causes his
mother to die of grief and his younger sister Leah to become so traumatized that she becomes
a shut in. Leah and Daniel's grandmother takes them in after they have been orphaned,
though she soon sells Daniel to the local blacksmith, Amalek. Amalek is cruel to Daniel, so
he eventually escapes to the mountains where he is found by a band of brigands led by Rosh.
Working for the thieves, Daniel becomes even more certain in his hatred of the Romans, and
vows to destroy them. One day Joel, a boy he knew from the village, and his twin sister
Malthace visit the mountain and discover Daniel. Wishing to join the force against the
Romans, Joel agrees to be a spy for Rosh in Capernaum. A few weeks later Simon the Zealot
comes to the mountain to tell Daniel that grandmother is dying. Daniel comes to see her and
she dies shortly after, leaving Daniel in charge of Leah. Simon also tells Daniel that he will
be leaving to following Jesus of Nazareth, and asks Daniel to watch over his blacksmith
shop, to which he concedes. Daniel begins to recruit boys the town to fight against the
Romans, who set out on a mission to rescue Joel after he is found spying and captured by
Roman soldiers. However the rescue goes awry, as the strength of the boys is far outpaced by
that of the Romans. After this conflict, Daniel realizes that his hatred for the Romans has
only weakened him. He gains faith in Jesus, which is reinforced after he heals Leah, freeing
her from her demons.
Diversity: culturally neutral
Grade Level: 4-6
OWL: I wonder how much Elizabeth George Speare referenced religious texts while writing
this book.
13. Title: The Island of the Blue Dolphins
Author: Scott O'Dell
Genre/Type: historical fiction
Summary: Karana is a twelve year old Native American girl living on an isolated island with
her tribe in a village called Ghalas-at. One day a ship of Aleuts arrives at the island,
demanding to hunt the otter that live off of the shore. They reach an agreement with the Chief
Chowig, Karana's father, but ultimately try to leave without compensating the tribe. A battle
breaks out over this disagreement, and many lives are lost, including that of Karana's father.
The new chief, Kimki, decides that it would be best to leave the island, and he sets out telling
the tribe that he will send for them soon. Later a ship of white men come to the island for the
tribe and Karana's younger brother Ramo leaves the boat to get his spear. The crew is forced
to leave without him due to an impending storm, and Karana jumps overboard to be with her
brother. However, Ramo is soon killed by the wild dogs which roam the island, leaving
Karana to wait alone for the boat to come back for her. Years pass and Karana gives up hope
of being rescued. She befriends many of the animals on the island, namely the leader of the
pack of wild dogs, who she named Rontu. Kanrana makes a shelter for herself and spends her
days hunting, gathering food, and making weapons. Years later the Aleuts return, and
although Karana hides from the men, she befriends a girl who came with them named Tutok.
Karana reimains undiscovered and the Aleuts leave, and Tutok's absense forces Karana to
come to terms with her loneliness. This sense of loss is exacerbated by Rontu's death,
although finds a similar looking dog and names him Rontu-aru, meaning “son of Rontu”.
One day while gathering food, Karana sees a ship in the distance. It comes to the shore but
leaves, not returning until two years later. When the ship does return, Karana goes out to
meet it and is brought to a mission in Santa Barbara, California.
Diversity: culturally specific
Grade Level: 4-6
OWL: I wonder if word of this book ever reached the woman it was based on, Juana Maria.
14. Title: Sounder
Author: William Howard Armstrong
Genre/Type: historical fiction
Summary: A young boy lives with his sharecropper family and their hunting dog, Sounder.
The family is poor and struggles to get enough to eat by hunting. One day the boy's father
steals a ham, and the police come to the house to arrest him, shooting Sounder in the process.
The boy looks for Sounder, but only finds his bloody ear. Around Christmastime, the boy's
mother gives him a cake to bring to his father in jail. Although he is abused by the guards, the
boy finally sees his father, and tells him that Sounder may still be alive. The boy's father is
uncomfortable and asks him not to return to the jail. The next day the boy finds Sounder, frail
and injured outside the cabin. The boy and his mother care for Sounder and receive a letter
that the boy's father has been sentences to hard. The boy sets out again to find his father. He
finds a group of convicts working but is hit by a guard and told to leave. The boy finds a
book in a trashcan and, wishing he could read it, is approached meets a teacher who offers to
help him learn to read. The teacher also offers to let them stay with him and give him
continuing lessons. The boy agrees, and returns home only in the summers to do field work.
One season when the boy is home, his father appears at the cabin, injured by a dynamite
blast. Sounder and the man's father go out hunting one evening, and when Sounder comes
back alone the boy goes out to locate his father and finds him dead in the woods. Shortly
after, Sounder crawls beneath the porch and dies.
Diversity: culturally neutral
Grade Level: 4-6
OWL: I wonder why William Howard Armstrong chose to name only the dog in this book.
15. Title: The Mighty Miss Malone
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Genre/Type: historical fiction
Summary: Deza Malone is as twelve year old girl living with her mother, father, and older
brother Jimmie during the Great Depression. Although Deza's mother has a steady job
working for a wealthy family, Deza's father is unemployed. One day, Deza's father Roscoe
leaves to go on a fishing trip with his friends on Lake Michigan. The family doesn't hear
from him for over a week and fear that he is dead, but he finally turns up, emotionally and
physically damaged. Roscoe and the rest of the black community become excited for an
upcoming boxing match between Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis and German Max
Schmeling. When Louis unexpectedly loses the match, Roscoe is disheartened and sets out to
him hometown of Flint, Michigan to find work. When the family doesn't hear from Roscoe
for a while, Deza's mother Peg brings the family to Michigan to search for him. They hop a
train and spend time in a shantytown of other wayward travelers, unable to find Roscoe or his
mother. The camp is raided and Jimmie escapes with a band of musicians, while Deza and
her mother stay with Peg's new coworker. The two finally start receiving letters and money
from Roscoe, but they later learn that these letters were actually from Jimmie, who was
making good money singing in clubs. They receive a pair of keys and an address for a new
house, but shortly after arriving Peg receives a call from a woman running a poorhouse who
believes that Roscoe is one of the occupants. Deza and Peg find Roscoe, depressed and sicky,
and hear him admit that he had given up on life. They clean him up and set out for their home
in Indiana, and Deza is confident that the family will be restored.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: 4-6
OWL: I wonder what inspired Christopher Paul Curtis to expand of the story of Deza
Malone from Bud, Not Buddy.
16. Title: Lemurs
Author: Norman D. Anderson and Walter R. Brown
Genre/Type: Nonfiction
Summary: Lemurs opens with the story of Chiclette, a tiny lemur baby born to an elderly
mother at Duke University’s Primate Center in Durham, North Carolina. Although she was
born underweight, Chiclette was adopted by her older sister and began growing quickly. The
book then discusses how while lemurs once lived all over the world, predators and a lack of
food have caused the animals to die out everywhere but Madagascar. The physical
characteristics and behavior patterns of other types of lemurs are discussed, with a particular
focus on the ring-tailed lemur. Anderson and Brown move on to compare the advantages and
disadvantages of scientifically observing lemurs in the wild versus in captivity. A trip to the
Primate Center at Duke University is taken, and details of the various lemur environments
are given. The following chapter gives information on some of the types of lemurs that have
lived in the past, and what factors led to their disappearance. Unfortunately, human
civilization has been the main cause for the extinction of many of these lemurs, as they were
hunted as food by early man and pushed out of their natural habitats by agriculture and
industrialization. The final chapter of Lemurs discusses the future for these creatures, as well
as possible ways to conserve the remaining species.
Diversity: N/A
Grade Level: 3-5
OWL: One of the threats to lemurs mentioned in this book was the growing population of
Madagascar. One statistic claims that the population will have doubled within 25 years, and
there be four times as many people in forty years. Since this book was written in 1984, 30
years ago, I wonder I Madagascar’s population has grown according to these projections.
17. Title: My Life in Dog Years
Author: Gary Paulsen
Genre/Type: Autobiography
Summary: In My Life in Dog Years, Gary Paulsen describes the progression of his life by
telling stories about the various dogs he had at the time. His first dog, Snowball, gave him a
companion as his parents began to drift into alcoholism, and initiated his lifelong love of
dogs. Next came Ike, another dog he met during his lonely boyhood who accompanied him
on his hunting adventures before mysteriously disappearing one day, only for Paulsen to
meet his true owner many years later. Dirk defended him from teen bullies, and ultimately
became a phenomenal sheep dog. His next dog, a Border Collie named Rex, served as a
confidant as he spent lonely summers working on a farm. A few years later Paulsen happened
across a large Great Dane whom he named Cesar. After being removed from his family,
Cesar became very depressed, but grew to be a vibrant and rambunctious family member
who was unexpectedly great with children. Fred was the next dog in Paulsen’s life, a
stubborn lab mix who befriended the family pig and survived a battle with an electric fence.
Quincy came into Paulsen’s life when a local woman declared that he was too much trouble
for her, though he later proved himself to be quite sharp, developing the ability to sniff out
any nearby Dairy Queens. The book closes with Paulsen’s current and favorite dog, a Border
Collie named Josh. Referring to him as “The Smartest Dog in the World,” Paulsen tells of
how this dog has truly improved his life, serving as a friend rather than pet, and possessing
the ability to cheer him up when he’s feeling upset.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: 3-5
OWL: In My Life in Dog Years, Gary Paulsen talks often of his lonely childhood due to the
volatile nature of his parents. I wonder if his book Hatchet about a boy alone on a mountain
is any reflection of the loneliness he felt in his youth.
18. Title: The Dog and the Sparrow
Author: unknown; recorded by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and translated by Jack Zipes
Genre/Type: traditional literature
Summary: There once was a dog whose owner neglected him and fed him nothing. The dog
came upon a sparrow who asked him why he was so upset, to which the dog responded that it
was because he was hungry. The sparrow offered to take the dog into the nearby town, where
he would steal food for him. After pecking down chunks of meat from a butchery and bread
from a bakery, the dog told the sparrow the he was full and suggested they take a walk
together. The dog soon says that he is tired and begins to nap in the road while the sparrow
waits on a nearby branch. The sparrow sees a wagon approaching and demands that the
wagoner not hurt the dog, but he pays no heed and runs over the dog, leaving him dead in his
wake. The sparrow tells him he will pay for this misdeed, and pecks a hole in one of the
barrels of wine in the wagon. Noticing his barrel is empty, the wagoner takes out an ax and
attempts to hit the sparrow. Instead, he misses and strikes his horse dead. The sparrow
proceeds to the second horse and pecks its eyes out, prompting the wagoner to strike him
again. He misses once more, killing his second horse along with the first. Wishing to inflict
more harm, the sparrow moves on towards the third horse, causing the wagoner to
accidentally kill him as well. The sparrow finally leaves, and the wagoner returns home to his
wife in dismay. “Oh, you can’t imagine the back luck I’ve had!” says the wagoner to his
wife. The wife responds that while her husband was away, a bird came to their storage of
grain and brought with him an entire flock to devour it. The sparrow begins to fly around the
room, causing the wagoner to throw an axe through his window. His wife offers to kill the
sparrow, but he refuses, saying that he wants the bird to suffer a torturous death. He swallows
the bird whole, but it emerges from his mouth to further threaten him. The man demands that
his wife kill the bird in his mouth with the ax, but she too misses her target, striking her
husband dead.
Diversity: culturally neutral
Grade Level: any
OWL: Since traditional stories were often intended to teach morals to children, I wonder
what sort of behavior resulted from this particularly gruesome tale.
19. Title: The Generous Cow
Author: Bijou Le Tord
Genre/Type: Picture Book
Summary: In this book, Le Tord demonstrates the benevolence of cows to young readers.
Simple, peaceful drawings of cows on a farm show how cows are calm and loyal creatures,
sharing their milk with the farmers and even giving attention to the large salt block she is
given. The cow works hard for her owners and asks for little in return, making everyone
around her happy.
Diversity: culturally neutral – one human character is drawn with a white face, and one with
a yellow face
Grade Level: early childhood
OWL: I wonder what experiences Bijou Le Tord had with cows that made him so fond of
them.
20. Title: Camping Day
Author: Patricia Lakin
Genre/Type: [animal] fantasy
Summary: A family of alligators, Sam, Pam, Will, and Jill are deciding what they want to do
over the weekend. After several rejected suggestions, the family chooses to go camping.
They hurriedly pack their supplies in the van and set out. Once they reached their destination,
the family marveled at the beautiful nature sights and struggled to set up their tents. Sam,
Pam, Will, and Jill eat roasted hot dogs, tell stories, and sing songs around the campfire.
However, as they settle in for the night, the family begins to get anxious. Startled at every
noise they hear, they shine a flashlight on the side of their tent to see what’s going on. They
misinterpret Jill’s shadow against the tent wall as a giant dinosaur lurking outside and flee
the campsite. The family finally returns home and continues their camping adventure on their
front lawn.
Diversity: N/A
Grade Level: K-2
OWL: While reading this book, I observed that a good activity to accompany reading this to
a class could be teaching children to make various types of shadow puppets.
21. Title: Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince)
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Genre/Type: science fiction
Summary: The narrator and main character opens the book with a story of how when he was
a child, adults never understood his drawings and discouraged him from pursuing illustration.
Years later, he has abandoned his artistic hobbies and become an airplane pilot, he crashes in
the vast Sahara desert and is stranded. He there meets a “little prince” who tells him that he
has come to visit Earth from his own tiny planet. On his own planet, Asteroid 325, the little
prince prevents destructive trees from growing and tends to a rose which he has fallen in love
with. He was prompted to leave his planet when he and the rose got in a fight. After departing
from Asteroid 325, the little prince visited many other small planets, on which he
encountered many self-involved who see unable to recognize the absurdity of their chosen
roles. The little prince is confused by these “grownups,” but takes the suggestion of one of
them to visit Earth. He originally arrives in the desolate desert, but soon finds a rose garden.
This discovery upsets him, because he had thought that his rose was the only one in
existence. The little prince then meets and befriends a fox, who tells him that the most
important things are controlled by the heart, and that the little prince's dedication to his rose
is what makes her so special. This makes him miss his rose even more, and he leaves the fox
in pursuit of his rose. The little prince begins to make plans with a snake to bring him back to
Asteroid 325, and the narrator finally repairs his plane the day before the one year
anniversary of the little prince's arrival on earth. The pair return to where the little prince
originally came, but he is bitten by a snake and falls to the ground. The next day the narrator
cannot find the little prince's body when he returns to the same spot, and he feels assured that
he has happily returned to his original planet. The narrator reflects fondly on his time with
the little prince, as he feels he finally found another person who shares his confusion at the
adult world.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: 5+
OWL: Throughout this book I observed the theme of confusion and disbelief at the workings
of the adult world, and I believe that this book has been so immensely popular because
readers of all ages can relate to this concept.
22. Title: Falling Up
Author: Shel Silverstein
Genre/Type: poetry
Summary: Falling Up is Shel Silverstein's third and final poetry collection. It contains 144
illustrated poems which are intended for young readers, but are also poignant enough to
appeal to adults. Silverstein died three years after the book's release.
Diversity: culturally neutral
Grade Level: 3-5
OWL: I wonder if Shel Silverstein ever faced pressure from editors to color his drawings to
make his poetry collections look more like traditional children's books.
23. Title: Count and See
Author: Tana Hoban
Genre/Type: number
Summary: Count and See depicts the numbers 1-15. It shows the number itself written in
numerical form as well as in all capital letters on the left page, which is green, and a black
and white photo depicting the a quantity of everyday objects in the given number. The book
also includes the numbers 20, 30, 40, and 50 as well as a final page with a numbers of pea
pods with a question mark beneath.
Diversity: culturally neutral
Grade Level: early childhood
OWL: I observed that the copy of this book I got from the library is a paperback that has no
pictures or information on the cover or spine of the book. The first page of the book is
presented as what would typically be the cover.
24. Title: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Author: Simms Taback
Genre/Type: Caldecott
Summary: Based on a Yiddish folk song, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat tells the story of a
man who had an old, worn out overcoat, which he turned into a jacket. This jacket too
became worn out, so Joseph tailored it into a vest. Joseph continued this pattern, turning his
old worn out garment into a smaller new one, until he ultimately has only a button made from
the original overcoat. Joseph then loses this button, and has nothing, but he then decides to
make a book about the process, showing that you can always make something from nothing.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: K-2
OWL: I wonder if Simms Taback encountered any problems with the copywright of the song
the book was based on, Hob Ich Min a Mantl (“I Had a Little Overcoat).
25. Title: Love That Dog
Author: Sharon Creech
Genre/Type: Poetry
Summary: Written in free verse poetry from the perspective of an elementary aged boy,
Love That Dog tells the story of a boy who dislikes poetry. His teacher persists, getting him
to write several poems about the death of his dog. The boy gains confidence in his writing,
and is particularly inspired when Mrs. Stretchberry reads the class a poem by Walter Dean
Myers. He writes a poem in the style of the poem by Walter Dean Myers, and writes a letter
to the author which results in Myers visiting the boy's classroom. By the end of the book, the
boy has changed his mind and has developed a love for reading and writing poetry.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: 3-5
OWL: I wonder if Sharon Creech had a similar experience with poetry as a child, where she
was initially resistant but coaxed by a determined teacher.
26. Title: Little Women (Abridged)
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Genre/Type: historical fiction
Summary: Little Women tells the sort of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March, four girls who are
teens at the start of the book. They are part of a newly poor family whose father is away
fighting in The Civil War. The family becomes friends with their wealthy neighbor Mr.
Laurence and his grandson Laurie. As they enter adulthood, each girl struggles with her own
problems. A romance develops between Meg and John Brooke, Laurie's tutor, and the two are
soon married and have a pair of twins. This is an important event because Meg was originally
the daughter most longing to restore her previously lavish lifestyle, yet her marrying a poor
man like Brooke indicates that she has gotten relinquished these desires. Laurie tells Jo that
he is in love with her, but she does not reciprocate his feelings and leaves for New York to
give him an opportunity to bond with Beth who she believes likes him. Laurie is distressed
by the rejection and leaves for Europe with his grandfather to pursue his interest in music.
Amy also leaves the family to stay with a wealthy family friend in Europe. In Europe Jo
meets the German professor Bhaer and they become close friends, and back home Beth dies
an untimely death. This leads to a strengthening of the relationship between Laurie and Amy,
and the two become engaged. Jo returns home to care for her bereaved parents. Laurie and
Amy marry, shortly followed by Jo and Bhaer, who had recently confessed their love for one
another. Meg and John make a boarding school for orphan boys on the late Aunt March's
estate and have two boys of their own. The book closes with the whole family reflecting on
their success and happiness.
Grade Level: 5+
Diversity: culturally generic
OWL: I wonder what Louisa May Alcott's family thought about her depiction of her sister
Beth's death.
27. Title: The One and Only Ivan
Author: Katherine Applegate
Genre/Type: animal fantasy
Summary: Ivan is a silverback gorilla captured during his youth who is part of a small zoo
in a failing mall. He lives with a collection of other animals, including his best friends Stella,
an elderly elephant, and Bob, a small dog. Ivan is relatively happy with his life and does not
often think of the jungle. He spends his days eating, drawing, and talking to the daughter of
the mall janitor, Julia. One day Ivan and the other animals learn that a new baby elephant
named Ruby is coming. She arrives scared and anxious, but soon bonds with Stella.
However, shortly after Ruby's arrival, Stella dies from an infection on her foot when the
owner Mack refuses to take her to the vet. Before her death, Stella had made Ivan promise
her to save Ruby and not allow her to live her whole live in a cage as Stella had. Ivan begins
drawing a painting of a jungle scene with the word “home” written on it, using many pieces
of paper. His plan is thwarted when Mack finds the drawings and sells them, although when a
news crew comes to do a report on the animals they find an instrument used to torture the
animals during training, and protestors begin to arrive. After further investigation, all the
animals are removed from Mack's care and brought to a permanent zoo, where each is able to
meet more of his own kind.
Diversity: N/A (although there are several human characters in the book, the story focuses
on the experiences of the animals).
Grade Level: 3-5
OWL: I wonder if this book faced any controversy for its continued references to evolution.
28. Title: Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry
Author: Ashley Bryan
Genre/Type: poetry
Summary: In this poetry anthology, Ashley Bryan has collected poems by both well-known
and more obscure black poets. She uses a single stanza from each poem, with the first letter
being the letter of the alphabet that is being showcased. She also has included excerpts from
spiritual and traditional songs, and each letter is accompanied by a painting Bryan did,
inspired by that poem.
Diversity: culturally specific
Grade Level: 2-4
OWL: I observed that this book could very useful for presenting many different units in the
classroom, including Black History Month, poetry, the Harlem Renaissance, slavery, etc.
29. Title: Famous Indian Chiefs
Author: John W. Moyer
Genre/Type: biography
Summary: In this collective biography, John H. Moyer has chronologically organized short
biographies of eleven significant Indian Chiefs from varying tribes. He gives their birth and
death dates, a brief life history, and information about what made them famous. This book
also includes a color painting of each chief, and pen and ink drawings of maps and tools that
were significant to the various tribes depicted.
Diversity: culturally specific
Grade Level: 4-6
OWL: I wonder if John W. Moyer had the opportunity to speak with any actual Native
Americans while doing research for this book.
30. Title: Little House in the Big Woods
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Genre/Type: historical fiction
Summary: The first book in the Little House series, Little House in the Big Woods recounts
Ingalls memories of early childhood living in the woods with her mother, father, older sister
Mary, and baby sister Carrie. The book takes place in the early 1870s, and the family work as
farmers. Much of the book is focused on the family's preparing for winter, and around
Christmastime they travel to their grandparents' house to celebrate. Laura receives a doll
named Charlotte, and later the family works to extract syrup from large maple trees.
Throughout the book, Laura learns how to help her family run the household and the farm,
and she learns to take pleasure in the changing of the seasons.
Diversity: culturally generic
Grade Level: 3-5
OWL: While reading this book when I was younger, I observed how different the pleasures
of children during the nineteenth century were from modern times. I particularly remember
being startled at the scene were Laura and Mary delight in playing with the inflated bladder
of a pig their father has just slaughtered.
31. Title: Goodnight Moon
Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Genre/Type: predictable
Summary: Goodnight Moon tells the story of a mother rabbit putting her young son to bed.
The boy's bedroom is described, and the pair say goodnight to each of the items in the room
before going to sleep. The story is told mostly in rhyming couplets.
Diversity: N/A
Grade Level: early childhood
OWL: Since Goodnight Moon was published in 1947 and remains one of the most iconic
and popular children's books, I wonder if it will still be remembered as well another 66 years
from now.