Professor Tracy Sieglaff
LIT 255
7 May 2016
Module 1
1. Cannon, Janell. Stellaluna. San Diego: Harcourt, Inc., 1993. Print. Stellaluna does a wonderful job of educating children on bats and birds and the differences between them. Although the story itself is fiction, the book is based on facts about bats and at the end of the book there are a list of facts about bats. During a lesson discussing bats, the teacher can read Stellaluna and have the students gain a substantial amount of knowledge about bats as well as good morals. For example, at the end of the story the birds and Stellaluna the bat, ponder the mystery of how they are so physically different yet still unified. The conclusion is that the only thing that matters is that …show more content…
Keyes, Daniel. Flowers for Algernon. San Diego: Harcourt, Inc., 2004. Print.
This is a sci-fi book written in a first person narrative that has been organized as a series of progress reports from a deeply retarded man who can barely be considered literate. Chosen to take part in a groundbreaking experiment, the man soon finds himself gaining knowledge at record speed only to lose it in a painful regression. More than anything else, Flowers for Algernon is thought provoking. Although it casts a gloomy aspect over the meaning of life, it is uplifting and motivational. This novel has some hard topics in it (i.e. abuse, sex, violence), so I would not recommend it to anyone under 16.
6. Martin, Bill and Archambault, John. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1989. Print. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is the perfect picture book for young kids (aged 3-5) who are learning their ABCs. Rhythm and rhyme are at the heart of this beguiling alphabet book and is pleasing to the ear. The pictures compliment the text well, characterizing each letter distinctly and with personality. The illustrator’s bold color scheme, complete with hot pink and orange borders, matches the crazy mood perfectly. Children will revel in seeing the familiar alphabet transported into a madcap …show more content…
Anderson, Hans Christian. The Little Match Girl. New York: Puffin Books, 2001. Print.
This story is an abrupt change from most children’s stories as the ending is extremely difficult and heart breaking. I recommend this for mature children (ages 8-12) as it talks about a little girl who freezes to death on New Year's Eve. Although the topic is hard, the book is a good introduction to the harsh realities of life. It can be used in the classroom to discuss how many children around the world are living without food, clean water, shelter, and desperately need assistance.
3. Climo, Shirley. The Irish Cinderlad. New York: HarperCollins, 2000. Print. The Irish Cinderlad is a traditional folktale that is a alternate version of the more familiar, Cinderella. There are a few differences. For example, the main character is male and meets a magical bull instead of a fairy godmother. Like Cinderella, The Irish Cinderlad has a wicked stepmother and despicable sisters and eventually finds true love at the end. This book would be great to introduce in the classroom when students are learning about different cultures as an opportunity to point out the similarities and differences.
4. Hyman, Trina Schart. Little Red Riding Hood. New York: Holiday House, 1983.