Mirror, Mirror

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror mirror: A book reverso poems. New York, NY:Penguin Group.

Throughout this book, Singer creates poems based on the classical fairy tales that you can read forwards and backwards. The illustrations also creates the same dichotomy as depicted in the poems.

To see a book trailer on Mirror Mirror go to the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Ds1C-8FpQ

The Three Pigs

Wiesner, D. (2001). The Three Pigs. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

This story begins with the classic "Three Little Pigs." When the Big Bad Wolf blows the straw house of the first pig, the pig jumps right out of the story. He becomes 3D and decides to go help the other two pigs. As the pigs travel, they are able to go into a Mother Goose story and a story about a dragon. They save the dragon who was about to be slayed by a knight. The illustrations are different textures throughout the book.

If you liked reading this book, other books that are similar to this one are:

DePaola, T.  (2011).  Strega Nona.  New York, NY:  Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Brown, M.  (2011).  Stone Soup.  New York, NY:  Simon and Schuster.

It's a Book

Smith, L. (2010). It’s a book. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press.

Jackass is curious about the object Monkey has in his hands. He asks many questions in order to find out what it is. He asks if it is something that needs a password or if it needs a screen name. Monkey keeps telling him it's a book and finally lends it to Jackass. Jackass enjoys the story and says he will recharge it. This makes Monkey frustrated and decides to go to the library.

If you would like to see a sneak preview for this book, click on the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4BK_2VULCU

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Deedy, C. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach: A Cuban folktale. Atlanta, GA: PeachtreePublishers.

Martina is a 21 year old beautiful cockroach. She is ready to get married. Her father announced the wedding so the suitors started coming in. Her grandmother told her to do the "coffee" test which was spilling hot coffee on the suitors feet. Depending on their reaction, she would know if he was the right husband for her. Several suitors came and failed the test but one little mouse. He shared the same customs and made her heart go "ti-ki-tin, ti-ki-tan."
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach can be used to analyze the variety of characters that appear in the story.  The students can analyze each of the suitors and make inference on the personality and motive of the each character.

7th Grade TEKS - Reporting Category 2 - 6B RS - analyze the development of the plot through the internal and external responses of the characters, including their motivations and conflicts.

Where the Wild Things Are

Sandak, M. (1991). Where the wild things are. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Max is constantly getting into trouble, so his mother sends him to his room without supper. There his imagination runs wild. He imagines he is in a jungle and an ocean appears. It takes him about a year to get to the island of where the wild things are. He becomes king of the wild things and starts a "wild rumpus." When all the wild things are sleeping, he realizes he is lonely and wants to go back home. Food is waiting for him.


Where the Wild Things Are has been made into a wonderful movie that can be found by clicking on this URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-PqqifyjA.

This Is Not My Hat

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Sommerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 

A small fish steals the hat a large fish. He thinks he will get away with it, so he swims to an area where there are large plants. On his way, he meets a crab and tells him not to tell anyone he had seen him. The big fish woke up and followed the small fish. The crab told him where he was hidden. The big fish goes to the tall plants and gets his hat. The reader is left wondering what happened to the small fish.

You can see an animated book trailer on the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MuDfdxESOQ

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

DePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet: An old tale of Texas. New York, NY: G.P.Putnam’s Sons.

She-Who-Is-Alone lived among the Camanche people. Many of them had perished, including her parents, due to drought and famine. The shaman went to the hills to talk to the spirits and asked how to be rid of the drought. He was told that a sacrifice of their most valued possessions must be made. No one would do it, but She-Who-Is-Alone sacrificed the doll that was the only thing left of her father and mother. Afterwards, she woke up to find the drought over and a field with bluebonnets the same color as the feather that her father had put on her doll's head.

Listen to the story of The legend of the bluebonnet: An old tale of Texas at the following ling:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKzep03_Vmo