Jonas, A. (1989) Color Dance. New York, NY: Greenwillow books.
Brief annotation: This book introduces readers to color concepts and what happens when you mix colors. It is set up as a scarf dance performed by children holding red, yellow and blue scarves. The scarves are presumably translucent and when they overlap they create new colors.
Genre: concept book
Grade level: preschool- 1
Readers who will like this book: Students who are learning about the color wheel, students who enjoy dance and movement
Response/rating (1-4): I thought this was a very cool book. I usually don’t care for concept books, but I loved the idea of dancing with scarves. I think this would be a great introduction to a lesson on the color wheel and it would be really fun to actually find scarves like these and do exactly what the children in the book are doing. This could become a really fun lesson that incorporates a number of learning styles.
One question you would ask before read aloud: What happens when you accidentally dip you paint brush in the yellow jar after it had red on it?

The Book Thief

Zusak, M. (2006). The Book Thief. New York, NY: Random House.

Brief Annotation: Liesel Meminger would not appear to be a thief, but in fact she is. In Germany during World War II Liesel finds herself to becoming a book thief. The story begins with Liesel losing her brother and being sent to live with a new family, Rosa and Hans Hubermann. Rosa and Liesel do not always get along, but she becomes very close with Hans. He teachers her to read in the middle of the night when she cannot sleep. The story continues to bring you through Leisel’s ups and downs throughout the war and with dealing with the loss of her brother and mother, and trying to understand life in such a dark and difficult time. Narrated by death, the twists and turns of this book leave the reader captivated and moved.

Genre: Historical Fiction- Novel

Grade Level: Grades 8-Adult

Readers who will like this: This is a very mature book with intriguing dialogue and dark subject matter. An absolutely brilliant novel- anyone who is looking for a good new book to read would love The Book Thief. As a teacher, I am not sure I could read it out loud, but if I taught high school, this would be on the reading list for sure!

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, I think I have found one of my new all time favorite books. I could NOT put it down. It is a very large book- (I had to read it in three days..stayed up VERY late) but reads quickly. The narration from the viewpoint of death is extremely interesting, and you find yourself fighting alongside Liesel. The different perspectives shed a new light on a very difficult topic and I am always interested in World War II. A beautiful book.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “What do you think it would have been like for a German in Germany during World War II?” “Do you think Hitler was ever Man of the Year?”

Reading Strategies: For my students I would encourage them to read the book, and then when they were finished to do an Internet Investigation. (Yopp & Yopp, 2010, pg. 121). I think it would be great to encourage them to learn more about the war and possibly put it into a presentation for the class.

Kittens First Full Moon

Henkes, K. (2004). Kittens First Full Moon. Illustrated by Kevin Henkes. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Brief Annotation: One day a kitten stared up to the sky and saw a great big bowl of milk. The kitten becomes excited that it tries to run to the milk. She tries to lick it, but ends up getting a bug instead. She even climbs a tree to get as close as possible-but is not able to reach the bowl of milk. Finally, defeated, she goes home…to find a nice bowl of milk waiting for her.

Genre: Picture Book, Kevin Henkes Book

Grade Level: Pre-K- 3rd Grade

Readers who will like this: Students who are new readers will enjoy this book. Anyone who likes Kittens will like it too. I would read this book as a teacher to my younger students in a read aloud setting, I will also read this book to my young children. It’s a soon to be classic!

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, The illustrations in the book are all black and white, and are absolutely beautiful! You fall in love with the kitten’s innocence and appreciate at the end that she is able to get some milk. It is a great story line and a very fun read.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “What does the moon look like to you? What do you think it may look like to a cat?”

Shiloh

Naylor, P. (2000) Shiloh. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Brief Annotation: A classic boy meets dog story. Marty Preston is a young boy living in a town called Friendly in West Virginia. He finds a small beagle that he names Shiloh. He learns that the boy’s real owner is a man named Judd Travers, and Judd is not very nice to dogs. Marty, going against his father’s will, hides Shiloh to try and protect him from Judd. The family finds out and Shiloh must be returned to his owner, but thankfully Marty and Judd are able to work out a deal and Marty finally ends up being able to keep his new best friend Shiloh.

Genre: Realistic Animal Fiction Novel

Grade Level: Grades 3-8

Readers who will like this: Students who like animals will really enjoy this story. It is a classic and a great example of a dog being “mans best friend”. Teachers could also use this story during a read aloud, because it’s really interesting and fun but also brings up interesting subjects.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, Shiloh is my little brothers ALL time favorite book. I read his copy and the pages were certainly worn down in love. It’s a classic story and a very fun read. It was a fairly quick read for me, but I could tell that it would be somewhat challenging for a younger reader. I think this book deserves the award it was given.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “Who is your very best friend?”

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Carle, E. (1987). The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Illustrations by Eric Carle. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Brief Annotation: Counting books can be a lot of fun-especially when they include pretty caterpillars! This book takes you through the life of a caterpillar and counts the numbers 1-5. The caterpillar eats through the pages and grows each day- showing also the days of the week and the life cycle of the caterpillar. This book is very educational and fun!

Genre: Picture book-Counting book

Grade Level: Birth- Kindergarten

Readers who will like this: Everyone loves this book. It’s a classic bedtime book for very young children, especially who are just learning to read and enjoy picture books. It’s also a great one to use during pre-school read out loud times.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is an absolute classic. This book is bright and beautiful and fun to read! I think that even though it does not count very high, it is great because it teachers much more than just counting, there are a number of educational aspects included.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “ What happens to caterpillars?”

Knuffle Bunny

Willems, Mo. (2004). Knuffle Bunny. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.

Brief Annotation: Knuffle Bunny is a very special bunny for Trixie. She brings the bunny everywhere. One day Trixie and her dad go for a walk to the Laundromat and Knuffle Bunny is along for the ride. Trixie is not able to talk, but she plays and laughs along with her friend, and on their way home she is very upset. Her dad forgot Knuffle Bunny! She kicks and screams and tries to get her dad to turn around, but they finally get home and the mom suddenly realizes why Trixie is so upset- where is Knuffle Bunny?! They look all over and finally make their way back to the Laundromat- where the she finds her friend and says her very first words “Knuffle Bunny!”

Genre: Picture book- Mo Willems

Grade Level: Pre-K- 2nd Grade

Readers who will like this: Students who are fairly good readers but still working on some words will enjoy this book. There are not too many big words and the illustrations are awesome! The graphics are very unique and the story line is fun. Teachers will like this book to read out loud to younger students too- it is entertaining.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, I thought this was a great book! It was fun and I absolutely loved the pictures. I think although the story line is fairly simple, there is so much added by the characters that Mo Willems has created. I will read this one out loud to my students for sure.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “ What do you think a Knuffle Bunny is?”

Repunzel

Grimm, B. (1812). Rapunzel. Germany, Children’s and House hold tales. Taken from: www.storynory.com

Brief Annotation: Rapunzel is a beautiful girl who was taken from her parents as a baby and forced to live with a wicked witch. There is an enchanted forest around her and she is alone in her tower for many years. One day, a young prince comes by and falls in love with Repunzels’ voice. They meet and they fall in love, and Repunzel agrees to marry him. He cries out to her “Repunzel, Repunzel, let your hair down.” The wicked witch hears this and cuts off Repunzel’s hair and as the prince climbs the tower to get his future bride, he meets the witch instead. She pierces his eyes and he has to walk around blind in the forest. Until one day he hears a familiar sound- it’s Repunzel! They manage to live happily ever after after all.

Genre: Audio book

Grade Level: Kindergarten- 3rd Grade

Readers who will like this: It’s really fun to listen to books online! I think that anyone who enjoys a good story will enjoy this reading of Repunzel. This specific version is a little intense and sadder (thanks to the Brothers Grimm authors) but it is told very well. The voices they use are fun and vibrant and it’s a unique version of the story that I had not heard before. Teachers who are teaching about fairy tales would enjoy this site and be able to use this book.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3, I really enjoyed listening to this book- but I must say, it really does help to have pictures! I think that the audio was great and the voices fit well, but it takes much longer to listen than to read and that started to annoy me a bit. It is a classic story though and always fun to hear different versions. I think Repunzel is one of my favorite fairy tales.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “ How would you get away from a wicked witch?”

The Lily Cupboard

Oppenheim, S. (1992). The Lily Cupboard. Illustrated by Ronald Himler. New York, NY: Charlotte Zolotow Book.

Brief Annotation: Miriam is a young Jewish girl living during World War II. Her parents pack up her bags and she is confused as to why they need to leave their home. The family brings her to a new family where Miriam is told to stay. She develops a friendship with her new “brother” Nello and a pet bunny Hendrik. One day Miriam is told to hide in the cupboard. She hears soldiers come in and is thankful that she and her bunny are safe in the lily cupboard, where finally the door opens to the light and they are safe. Miriam survives the war and is thankful to be a part of her new family.

Genre: Picture book- Historical Fiction

Grade Level: Grades 1- 5

Readers who will like this: Students who are learning about World War II would really enjoy this book. It is fairly lighthearted even though it’s addressing a very difficult and dark subject. This would also be a great book for teachers who are starting a unit or lesson on World War II, especially for younger ages.
Response/Rating (1-4): 4, Absolutely beautiful book. World War II is such a tough subject, and this book brings to light the many heroes that we found throughout that time, people who risked their own lives to help the Jewish people. At the end of the book it says that many young children went to live with other families throughout the war, this was truly inspiring. The story is almost cheery in some parts and you can appreciate the child like view that we get. The illustrations are beautiful and overall this was a great book.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “Do you think you would risk your life to help another person?”

Reading Strategies Connection: Before reading this book out loud to an older group, I would have them do a Quickwrite. I would ask them to write down everything they know about World War II and ask what questions they may have as well. (Yopp & Yopp, 2010, pg. 52).

Konigsburg, E. L. (1977). From the Mixed Up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. New York, NY: Yearling.

Brief Annotation: This story is about Claudia and Jamie Kincaid and the adventures they encounter when they run away from home to live in the Metropolitan museum of Art. As they hide out in the museum, they find themselves in the middle of an art mystery—a new statue has been sold to the museum by a Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Everyone suspects that it is the work of Renaissance great, Michaelangelo, but there is no definitive proof. Claudia and Jamie set out to put their newfound freedom to use solving the mystery of the Angel sculpture.

Genre: contemporary realistic fiction/mystery
Grade level: 4-7
Readers who will like this book: Kids who enjoy adventures and/or mysteries. Students who like strong/somewhat flawed female lead characters.
Response/rating (1-4): 3 This is a really fun story and I loved the idea of hiding out in an art museum. The best part of the book is hearing about how the children make the museum a home. The mystery part was less engaging in my opinion and I was hoping for a bit more suspense.

One question you would ask before read aloud: If you were to run away from home, where would you go?

All the Lovely Bad Ones

Hahn, M. (2008). All the Lovely Bad Ones. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Brief Annotation: “To all the little children:- The happy ones; and sad ones; the sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones; the good ones- Yes, the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones.” (Hahn, 2008). Travis and his sister Corey visit their grandmother at a very old Inn in Vermont. They learn quickly that the inn used to be haunted. They decide to be mischievous and pretend to be the ghosts at the Inn- attracting guests and people from all over who are fascinated by the ghosts. Travis quickly realizes that they have also attracted the actual ghosts who once lived there. They were back and wanted very much to rest peacefully. Travis and Corey have to help the lovely bad boy ghosts who want to be free from the spirit of the woman who killed them. Will they be able to free the boys and get out of the Inn safely?

Genre: Thriller- Contemporary Fiction

Grade Level: Grades 5-8

Readers who will like this: Students who are not afraid will like this book! I would not recommend it to people who scare easily- I was pretty afraid actually! It’s a more mature read and there are many words and no pictures in the book, so the student would need to be a fairly advanced reader. It is a good mystery and is a lot of fun.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, I really enjoyed the book even though I was fairly afraid! It is a quick read and is a lot of fun. The story is interesting and they captivate the ghost boys in a really fun way. They give them goofy characteristics, which make the book a little more lighthearted, but ultimately the book is a ghost story and you hope for the ghosts to go away quickly. I think this story will be told around campfires for many generations to come.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “ Would you ever want to go to a haunted Inn to find a ghost?”

Reading Strategies Connection: Before reading this book I would have the students look at the quote on the back of the book. ““To all the little children:- The happy ones; and sad ones; the sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones; the good ones- Yes, the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones.” ( Hahn, 2008). I would ask them to do a character quote and see what they think the quote may be about and what it could mean to the story. I would have them share in small groups and start to prepare for the book. (Yopp & Yopp, 2010, pg. 32).

Alphabet City

Johnson, S. (1995). Alphabet City. Stephen Johnson. New York, NY: A Division of Penguin USA.
Brief Annotation: This alphabet book shows the alphabet through a series of pictures that have been taken throughout a city. In benches the author finds the letter “o”, and a garden is the letter “d”. You go from A-Z seeing these beautiful pictures that show how the letters of our language are all around us.

Genre: Picture book

Grade Level: Birth- Kindergarten

Readers who will like this: People who are learning the alphabet will enjoy this book. People who also enjoy photography will like it too! The pictures are beautiful and it’s fun to see where the letters will be in the different parts of the city.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3, I enjoyed this book a lot but I also think that it could have used some words as well as the pictures. It’s really a fun book and an easy read and could be beneficial for people who are learning the alphabet, but other than that it was not the coolest alphabet book I have seen.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “ What types of letters can you find in our room right now?”

Reading Strategies Connection: For younger ages (preschoolers possibly) I would read this book to them and then have them sketch their own letters that they find in the classroom. I would use the “sketch to stretch” model from Ruth Yopp and Hallie Yopp (Yopp & Yopp, pg. 108).

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Martin, B. & Archambault, J. (1989). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. New York, NY: Aladdin.

Brief Annotation: The alphabet book gets a different meaning in this fun, lighthearted take. Each letter races, climbs, and jumps up a coconut tree, only to make it to the top and the tree falls over! Once it jumps back up the letters try and make their way up again and again.

Genre: Alphabet book.

Grade Level: Pre-K - 1st grade

Readers who will like this: Readers who are just learning their letters, pre-kindergarten readers who are leaning the alphabet or reading.

Response/Rating (1-4): ****. The rhymes and artwork in this book are really fun, and are something that I think would really help a beginning reader. As a sidenote, I got the version with the audio book, and it's really enjoyable to listen along with. It makes the words pop off the page.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: "Does anyone here have a favorite rhyme?"

Shrek

Steig, W. (1990). Shrek. Illus. William Steig. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Brief Annotation: Shrek loves being ugly and disgusting. He is happy just causing terror and chaos wherever he goes. One day Shrek terrifies a witch, who then tells him of a prophecy that he will meet a donkey, a knight, and his one true love. Can an ugly, disgusting, monster really live happily ever after?

Genre: Fantasy, picturebook.

Grade Level: Kindergarten through grade 4.

Readers who will like this: Students who like quest tales, students who like adventure. Students who are just learning to read.

Response/Rating (1-4): ***. This was a very entertaining book, and very differnt from the movie. The story is light and easy to read, and would be great for beginning readers.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What does 'acceptance' mean? Why should we accept everyone, no matter what they look like?

Reading Strategies Connection: I think a great strategy to use would be Retelling Of A Picturebook (Yopp & Yopp p. 140). The students could record audio of themselves retelling the story. They can use different voices for each of the characters and even change aspects of the book they didn't like or felt could benefit from being different.

Prelutsky, J. (2002). The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders. New York, NY: Harper Collins Audio.

Brief Annotation: What a fun collection of poems! Prelutsky’s poetry is fun and silly. It includes poems and verses about a variety of animals and kids. There is even a poem about Minneapolis and St. Paul! The audio recording was also really well done—instead of just reading the poems, they are set to music and sung. This would be a fun CD to have in classroom for transitions or background music, especially if you had already read the poems with your kids.

Genre: poetry
Grade level: k-2
Readers who will like this book: Kids who enjoy music and silly poems. The poems are fun to listen to and the recording has great music.
Response/rating (1-4): 3 I really had fun listening to this recording. It was more like listening to children’s music than listening to poetry. I would use it as music in a classroom, but I’m not sure how well it would work for a straight poetry study.
One question you would ask before read aloud: “What are suspenders?”

Whale Talk

Crutcher, C. (2001). Whale Talk. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Brief Annotation: T.J. Jones attends a high school that is very focused on its athletic department. T.J., a wise and insightful boy ends up being talked into joining a swim team, and decides to recruit some of the most unlikely students in the school to become athletes and earn a letter jacket to help these students gain some confidence and respect, while mocking the school’s obsession with competition. While training for the swim team, T.J. faces some of the difficulties and truths within his complicated life, and the complicated lives of those around him.

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Grade Level: 8-12

Readers who will like this: Readers who enjoy stories about sports, making good decisions, facing adversity, and high-school life.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4. This book is sometimes humorous, touches upon profound and important subjects, and portrays the characters in a very realistic fashion.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: How would it feel to grow up in a town full of people who are different that you or did not respect your ideas?

Knuffle Bunny Too

Willems, M. (2007). Knuffle Bunny Too. New York, NY: Hyperion Books.

Brief Annotation: Trixie brings her beloved Knuffle Bunny to school with her, and is excited to show all her friends! She is surprised to see that a friend at school has a Knuffle Bunny that looks just like hers! When the two girls have a small fight, the teacher takes both animals away until the end of the day. They are given the wrong stuffed animals by accident, and only realize it when they are home....can these two girls put their differences away so that their Knuffle Bunnies can go to their correct homes?

Genre: Fiction, picturebook.

Grade Level: Pre K through 1

Readers who will like this: Children who enjoy picturebooks, children who are attached to a stuffed animal or toy.

Response/Rating (1-4): ***. I liked the first Knuffle Bunny better, but this one is a great read as well. It was interesting to see how Willems changed his art style to fit a character who was growing up, and the story is still touching and moving.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you have a toy with deep significance?

Knuffle Bunny

Willems, Mo. (2004). Knuffle Bunny. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children

Brief Annotation: Trixie's dad decides it's time to go to the laundromat, and Trixie brings along her favorite stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny. She helps her dad do the laundry and then they go home....but when they get home Trixie realizes that her beloved bunny is gone! Trixie can't talk yet, and she tries everything to make her dad realize that her stuffed bunny is gone....until finally her mom intervenes and realizes that Trixie's bunny is gone. Will they find Knuffle Bunny?

Genre: Fiction, picturebook.

Grade Level: Pre-K through 1

Readers who will like this: Kids have a favorite stuffed animal. Children who are just learning to read. Children interested in new art forms.

Response/Rating (1-4): ****. I loved the art in this book; the blending of drawing and computer images really captures the mood of a lot of scenes. This really is a feel good book that is great for younger readers. I highly recommend this, it was enjoyable from start to finish.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever lost something important? Did you find it?

What Charlie Heard

Gerstein, M. (2002). What Charlie Heard. Illus. Mordicai Gerstein. New York, New York: Frances Foster Books.

Brief Annotation: Charlie’s father was a music teacher and brought the beauty of music into Charlie’s life. Everywhere Charlie went he heard music; therefore, he started writing music, specifically symphonies. He tried to have them published but no one liked his symphonies, they thought they were noise. However, when Charlie gets older, someone heard his music and played it. Soon many more orchestras were performing his symphonies. As a result, Charlie became the famous Charles Ives, the composer.

Genre: Non-fiction

Grade Level: K-3

Readers who will like this: Readers who are interested in reading a biography book or reading about how someone did not give up on his dreams, and he got to see them come true. Readers who want to know more about Charles Ives and how he became a composer will be interested in this book.

Response/Rating (1-4):*** I thought this was a great book for kids to read about a famous composer. It was kid-friendly and told the story in a fun, informational way through the use of illustrations and color. This book teaches students that what music might be to someone may not be the same to another person, and also to never give up on your dreams because someday someone will listen.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know who Charles Ives is?

Ella Enchanted

Levine, G. (1997). Ella Enchanted. New York, New York: Scholastic Inc.

Brief Annotation: At birth Ella is given a gift, the gift of obedience by Lucinda. When Ella’s mother dies, her father remarries to a terrible stepmother with terrible stepchildren. Ella is forced to obey their commands no matter how she feels. As a result, Ella sets out to find Lucinda and ends up falling in love with the prince, finding Lucinda and breaking the curse of obedience.

Genre: Fantasy

Grade Level: 3-5

Readers who will like this: Readers who enjoy Cinderella and fantasy/magical stories.

Response/Rating (1-4):*** I highly enjoyed this book because the book it is similar to Cinderella but has more magical spells, magical creatures and more detail that the original story of Cinderella. This book allows readers to enter a magical world and get lost in relationships that could exist in real life.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: If you could grant one wish for an infant, what would want to give them?

Reading Strategies Connection: Plot Profiles

In this activity, students will mark on a graph how they viewed the excitement or tension in a chapter. At the end of the novel, students will visually see where the plot thickens or calms down. The students will learn about plot development. This type of activity is introduced when students are learning about plots. They will learn about conflict and how conflict is the driving force in books that makes students want to keep reading.

This is a relevant activity for Ella Enchanted because for some students this book may not sound interesting, so graphing their sense of excitement in each chapter allows them to gain insight into the book and their feelings. This book may be complicated in all the magical elements that occur throughout the book (orges, giants, and magical spells) and understanding the relationship between Ella and Lucinda that marking the excitement in a graph can create discussion. Students will be able to discuss what that chapter meant to them and a genuine excitement for Ella Enchanted may develop.

Strega Nona Takes a Vacation

dePaola, T. (2000). Strega Nona Takes a Vacation. Illus. Tomie DePaola. New York, New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Brief Annotation: Strega Nona had a dream about her passed away Grandmother Concetta who told Strega Nona to take a vacation to her little house by the seashore. While she is there, Strega Nona sends a bag of candy to Big Anthony and bubble bath bubbles to Babolona. However, Babolona switched presents and when Big Anthony tool a bath using the bath bubbles, he used too much and flooded the city with bubbles. Babolona learned her lesson by not switching presents.

Genre: Myth

Grade Level: K-2

Readers who will like this: Readers who like to read fun stories that cannot happen, like a city being flooded by bubble bath bubbles.

Response/Rating (1-4):*** I enjoyed the story because it was funny and silly that a city was flooded by bubbles. Young children will like this book because it’s light, interesting, and they can made predictions about what Babolona will do with the presents and what happens when Big Anthony uses the bubble bath soap.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: If you used too much soap in the dishwasher or washing machine, what do you think might happen?

Forever

Blume, J. (1975). Forever. New York, New York: Simon Spotlight Entertainment.

Brief Annotation: Katherine and Michael are both seniors and think they have found love. They go through emotions and experiences that most first couples go through who think their relationship is the one; who think that they will be together forever. However, when Katherine leaves the summer before college to be an assistant tennis coach and Michael goes to North Caroline for his summer job, their relationship changes. Katherine becomes attracted to another tennis coach, Theo, and her feelings for Michael are compromised. Before they both leave for college, their relationship ends and Judy Blume doesn’t say if Katherine and Theo get together, but certainly leads to suggest it.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction/ Frequently Banned Book

Grade Level: Young Adult

Readers who will like this: Young adults who may going through the same experiences as Katherine, or older adults who enjoy reading about a young girl’s high school experiences.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** I thought this book was highly relatable because Judy Blume describes experiences that all girls either think about or actually do experience. The subject of sex can be complicated for girls and boys, especially when deciding to actually experience it. Judy Blume portrays a magnificent picture of a high school couple who think they have their lives figured out, until life jumps in and changes everything.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: I would like you to write in your journal what you would do if you were in a relationship that became serious and started asking too much of you. What would you do in that situation?