Stephanie Coccia- Informational

The Go- Around Dollar

By: Barbara Johnston Adams

Illustrated by: Joyce Audy Zarins

Summary: this chronicles the life of a dollar bill. The dollar bill starts off in the park, but then ends up as the first dollar made in an ice cream store.

Rating Evaluation: I really love this book. In addition  to the cute story, each page has facts about dollar bills and money in general. What makes this book unique is that there is a picture of a dollar bill with an explanation of each symbol on the bill. It sets up a knowledge that children will need for life!

ISBN: 0-02-700031-1

Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Children

5 stars!!!

Steph Coccia- Graphic Novel

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
By Jeff Kinney

Summary: Greg is starting middle school, and he tries really hard to succeed. However, he fails at everything!
Rating: This book is hilarious!! I feel that everybody will love this book. I like that adults could also read this book!  Parents could read this with their children and create a strong bond. It will let the kids know that their parents went through the same thing that they did. Just a great book all around!!
5 stars!!!
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9313-6

Steph Coccia- Graphic Novel

Zombies and Electricity
By: Mark Weakland
Illustrated by: Jok
Summary: Zombies are teaching us about electricity! We learn about electricity by the zombies doing activities that involve electricity!
Rating: This is a great book! What i love most, is that it provides the definition of the term that the zombies are referring to. The reader is able to see the terms in a sentence and in the actual definition form. I think that this would appeal to a wide audience. For the readers that like scary stuff, this is perfect. It appeals to those who like science. Even those who do not like science or get scared easily ( like me!) this book will still fit you! The Zombies are not really scary, and they do funny things. This book appeals to all!
Published by Capstone Press, 2013
ISBN:978-1-4296-9929-7

Stephanie Coccia- Graphic Novel

Fish, Fish, Fish
By Lee Nordling and Meritxell Bosch

Summary: this is a cute story about several fishes that learn an important lesson. One fish learns that it is always good to have a friend, while another learns that he is not the most powerful. The last group of fishes learn to stick together.
Rating: I love this story! It is so cute! At the beginning of the book, it sets up a scenario of what of how the fishes view themselves. At the end the fish see their view in a whole new light. It is able to teach a moral lesson through the use of funny pictures. In addition, it poses several questions at the beginning and end; this allows the reader to really think about what the book is trying to portray.
5 stars!!
Lerner Publishing, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4677-4575-8

Steph Coccia- Poem

Now We are Six

By: A.A. Milne

Summary: in this poem, a child explores his or her life up until their current age of six.

Rating/Evaluation: I really like this poem. I feel that it captures life as a young child. I also feel that the children hearing this will able to see themselves in the poem. Also, I see that it captures what a child of that age may do. It shows that children are more capable them we realize.

5 stars!!

Found on: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/now-we-are-six-by-a-a-milne

Steph Coccia- Poem

Dirty Face

By Shel Silverstein

Summary: A mother ask her child how his face got so dirty. The response he gives her is amazing.

Rating/ Evaluation:  I just loves how this poem captures the life of a young child.  Young children are messy, dirty, and unpredictable, but that is what makes them special. I see that this poem can target children and adults. For the kids, it might suggest new ways to explore the world. For parents, it shows that life is unpredictable, and to just go with the flow.

5 stars!!

Found On: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/dirty-face-by-shel-silverstein

Steph Coccia- Poem

Friends

By: Abbie Farwell Brown

Summary: friends are everywhere, even if you can’t see them!

Rating/Evaluation: this poem really speaks to the heart. I feel that it gives children a sense of everlasting friendship. I don’t think that nature is supposed to replace actual friendship, but just offers a comforting solace in our glorious world.

5 stars!!

Found on: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/friends-by-abbie-farwell-brown

Steph Coccia- Historical Fiction

My Dream of Martin Luther King

BY: Faith Ringgold

Summary: the author tells us about her dream. In her dream, she tells us the life story of Martin Luther King.

Rating/ Evaluation: this is a great story to learn about the Civil Rights movement. In addition, it is also great to learn about the people involved in this movement. This book shows what a dream and determination can do to help improve society.

ISBN: 0-517-88577-8

Published by: Crown Publishers, Inc.

5 stars!!

Steph Coccia- Historical Fiction

Sitting Bull Remembers

By: Ann Turner

Paintings by: Wendell Minor

Summary: in this story Sitting Bull remembers his life before everything has happened. The white men came into his territory, and want make changes; like put in a railroad. The Sioux Tribe ( Sitting Bull’s Tribe) gets angry and revolts against the white men that are going to attack the tribe. Finally, we see Siting Bull captured remembering his life.

Rating/ Evaluation: this is a great book to do with a history lesson regarding the events that occurred at between the whites and the Native Americans. The pictures portray the events that has happened, and in a sense the Native American culture. One last thing that I like about this book, it that it is like sitting Bull is telling us the story himself. The reader may experience a sense of connection.

ISBN: 978-0-06-051399-3

Published by: Harper Collins Publishers

5 stars!!

Steph Coccia- Historical Fiction

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch

BY: Chris Barton

Illustrated by Don Tate

Summary: this chronicles of the life of John Roy Lynch. It starts with his terrible beginnings as a slave and continues until to show his strength and accomplishments as he ends up  and ends as a member of the U.S.  Congress.

Rating/ Evaluation: I think that this would be a great story to read to students who are in the upper elementary grades. They would be able to see what life was like for the slaves in the time leading up to the civil war. This story is also powerful in providing that anyone, regardless of color can accomplish anything that they set their mind to.

Published by: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2015

ISBN:978-0-8028-5379-0

5 stars!!

Stephanie Coccia- Informational

B is for Brooklyn

By: Selina Alko

Summary: this is an alphabet that teaches about the facts and uniqueness of Brooklyn.

Rating/ Evaluation: I really like that it incorporates the life of somebody in Brooklyn. A child may see this and feel that the story may be about him or her. A child may really learn the culture and lifestyle of the city. While leaning that, they are also learning the alphabet!!

ISBN: 978-0-8050-9213-4

Henry Holt and Company, LLC

5 stars!!

Stephanie Coccia- informational text

Opposites

By: Xavier Deneuz

Summary: This book deals with opposites. An example would be a fish tank that is empty, as it is compared to an empty fish tank.

Rating/Evaluation: this book allows a simple comparison of things that a child encounter on a daily basis. The simplicity of the pictures allow for greater knowledge absorption. I feel that children will see this book, and remember what they learned as they continue to grow.

ISBN: 978-1-4521-1725-6

Chronicle Books, 2013

5 stars!

The Night the Iguana Left Home

By: Megan McDonald

Illustrated by: Ponder Goembel

Summary: Iguana has a very good life with her almost sister Allison. However, Iguana wants to go travel, so she goes to Florida. Everything is going well, until she starts to miss Allison, and has no more money. She finally makes it back to Allison through the mail!

Rating/Evaluation: I have to say that there were part of the story that confused me. I did not understand what the author was trying to say. In addition, I was confused with the iguana. She looked like a real iguana, and the only fantasy aspect of the  iguana came from the text. I feel that if she looked, more like a person with iguana like characteristics it would help the story. 

Published by: DK Publishing, Inc, 1999

ISBN: 0-7894-2581-5

3 stars 

Spring Cleaning

                (Featuring Jim Henson’s Sesame Street Muppets)

By: Pat Tornborg

Illustrated by: Nancy W. Stevenson

Summary: Bert and Ernie are spring cleaning! However, Ernie is trying to do the best he can, but somehow causes more damage than good. At the end of the day all the cleaning is done, and both friends take a nap.

Rating/ Evaluation: I like this book because it shows kids what it takes to be a good friend. In addition, the children may be gravitated toward this book because of the characters that they love. This is a perfect book for reading at home.

Published by: Western publishing Company, Inc, 1980

ISBN: 0-307-11601-8

5 stars!!!