The Man with the Black Glove

Title:The Man with the Black Glove
Author: Ursel Scheffler

Illustrator: Christa Unzner

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Mystery

Publisher: Night Sky Books

Date of Publication: 1999

Theme: Cracking the Case

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Martin Pitman and Pauline/ Man next door, Policeman

Summary: Martin and Pauline watch a the man next door walk into the shed. When he went into the shed he had a silver suitcase, gloves, and a leather jacket, but when he cam out the suitcase was gone.They then thought they would become detectives and find out what the man was hiding. They then find a wallet on the ground so they take it to the police and make a deal with the policeman. The policeman allows them to go find the owner. Martin and Pauline find the owner of the wallet. They also find out that the man next door is a robber, so they help the police crack two cases.

Summary of how to use with students: This book could help the students realize that they can do just about what ever they want as long as they work hard at it and believe they can. Just like Martin and Pauline become detectives students can see that they can be anything they want as well. This is important because we want the students to be able to dream big.

 

A Jugsaw Jones Mystery- The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster

Title:  A Jugsaw Jones Mystery- The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster
Author: James Preller
Illustrator: R.W. Alley
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Mystery
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Date of Publication: 1998 
Theme: Things are not what they seem
Primary/ Secondary Characters:Jigsaw/ Wingnut and Mila.
Summary:  Jigsaw is a second grade boy who is a detective. He charges a dollar a day to solve a case and has a partner named Mila who gets half the money. One day a Wingnut can not find his pet hamster. Jigsaw and Mila try to  solve the case and find the hamster. Whenever they thought they had it they were wrong. Finally they solved the case and realize that not everything is what it seems. 
Summary of how to use with students: I could use this book to help students see that not everything is what it seems. Just like Jigsaw and Mila thought they knew the case of the Hamster they did not because it was not what it seemed. Students sometimes think they know everything but here they can learn that not everything is what it seems.

Firefighters to the Rescue

Title: Firefighters to the Rescue
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Illustrator: Rich Davis
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Picture book
Publisher: Penguin Group
Date of Publication: 2005
Primary/Secondary Characters: Firefighters/ Other People
Theme: Learning about firefighters
Summary: The Firefighters are working the fire house when the fire bell rings. The firefighters put on their boots, coats, and hats. Then they hop on the firefighter and head to the fire with their sirens and light going. When at the house they get their hoses, ladders, and with water put the fire out. Then they hear a little boy calling for his dog Ben, so the firefighters go into the house and rescue the dog. The firefighters came to the rescue.
Summary of how to use the students: This book could be used to teach students all about firefighters. Sometimes when kids are younger firefighters can look scary especially in their suits. Therefore, it is important that the students know they are not bad or scary, but that they are there to help them. This book can show students what the firefighters do and that they are only there to help them.

Because of Winn Dixie

Title: Because of Winn Dixie
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Genre:  Realistic Fiction
Sub-genre: Young Readers
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date of Publication: 2000
Award: Newberry Honor Award
Primary /Secondary Characters: India Opal Buloni/ Father (preacher), Miss Franny, Otis, and Gloria Dump
Theme: Making Friends
Summary: India Opal Buloni just moved to a small town in Florida with her father, her mother left when she was younger and her father will not talk about her. Opal is lonley and sad because she has no friends. One day while she was at the Winn-Dixie grocery store Opal found a dog. She ends up naming him Winn Dixie after the store and gets to keep him. Together Opal and Winn Dixie make friends with the locals around the town. They meet Otis, Miss Franny, and Gloria Dump which they become really close friends with.Winn Dixie also inspires Opal to convince her father to tell her things about her mother. One day Opal and Gloria were throwing a party when there was a thunderstorm and scared Winn Dixie away. Everyone searches for Winn Dixie including her father, which helps build the between Opal and her father. They end up finding Winn Dixie under the bed. Winn Dixie helps Opal make friends and brings her closer to her father.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used to teach students about making friends. Just like Winn Dixie and Opal make friends students can see that they can make friends as well. They can also see how important friendships are and what it truly means to have friend. Because of Winn Dixie is great example of true friendship.

When Sophie Gets Angry Really Really Angry

Title: When Sophie Gets Angry Really Really Angry
Author: Molly Bang
Illustrator: Molly Bang
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Blue Sky Press
Date of Publication: 1999
Award: Caldecott Honor Book
Primary/Secondary Characters: Sophie/ Sister, Mom, and Dad
Theme: Handling anger
Summary: Sophie gets really angry when her sister takes gorilla from her because her mom says it is Sophie's sisters turn. Sophie gets so angry that she runs out of the house till she can't run anymore. Then she cries and after she cries Sophie climbs a tree. While up in the tree  she feels the breeze and watches the water. Sophie then feels better so she heads back home. When she gets home everyone is happy to see her and Sophie is no longer angry.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used to help students handle anger. Just like Sophie gets angry everyone gets angry and everyone has different ways to handle it. From reading this book students can see that there are different ways to handle anger and can learn about those different ways.

Luke Goes to Bat

Title: Luke Goes to Bat
Author: Rachel Isadora
Illustrator: Rachel Isadora
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Picture Book
Publisher: G.P. Putman's Sons
Date of Publication: 2005
Primary/Secondary Characters: Luke/ Nicky, Jackie Robinson, and Grandma
Theme: Do not give up on your dreams.
Summary: Luke wanted to play baseball so bad, but his brother Nicky wouldn't let him so Luke just practiced by himself. One day Luke finally got a chance to play, but he messed up and didn't hit or catch any balls. That afternoon Grandma told Luke that they were going to see the Dodgers play. Luke was so excited because his hero Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers. At the game it was amazing and the Dodgers won. That night on the roof Luke saw a figure of Jackie Robinson that told him not to give up on baseball that he could do it. Luke told him that he wouldn't and he didn't.
Summary of how to use with Students: This book could be used to teach students not to give up on their dreams. In the book Luke wanted to be baseball player, but he believed that he couldn't play and was going to give up. His hero Jackie Robinson came to him told him not to give and then Luke decided he wouldn't and  kept on trying. Students will be  able to see that everyone has dreams and that they are sometimes not easy to achieve, but not to give up.

The Seeing Stone

Title: The Seeing Stone: The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 2
Author: Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
Illustrator: Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Sub-genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Date of Publication: 2003
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Jared/ Mallory, Simon, Goblins, Troll, Thimbletack, and Hogsquel
Theme: Helping a loved one in need.
Summary: Jared's brother Simon is kidnapped by a group of goblins and he and Mallory have to safe him. They use a seeing stone during the journey to be able to see where the goblins are. During their search and rescue Jared and Mallory run into a troll, but the end up getting away. They continue on into the woods and finally find the goblin camp where they see Simon up in a cage. Jared decides to climb up a tree to get Simon. While he is in the tree he sees a goblin named Hogsqueal who tries to get Jared to let him out. After he let Simon out Jared let out Hogsqueal who in return spitted in Jared's and Simon's eyes so that they could see everything without the seeing stone. Then the Goblins notice that they are escaping and begin to chase them, but Jared thinks fast and leads them to the Troll who eats the goblins up. Jared, Simon, and Mallory go back to the goblin camp and rescued all the animals.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used to help students in their creative side. In a classroom this book could be read to introduce students to a fantasy type book. The students could then be given the opportunity to write there own fantasy just like this book. This would allow the students creativity to build.