Mr. Chickee's Funny Money

Curtis, Christopher Paul. (2005). Mr. Chickee's Funny Money. New York, New York: Yearling.

Brief Annotation: Steven, the nine year old president of the Future Detectives of Flint (a two member organization), is surprised when Mr. Chickee, an older, blind man, gives him a special gift and then leaves town for a few months. Steven opens the envelope to find a quadrillion dollar bill inside, with James Brown's picture on the front. Steven and his best friends, Russell the huge kindergartener and Zoopy, Russell's bear-sized dog, find themselves chased by federal agents who are determined to get that bill back. Steven and Russell have to deal with know-it-all parents, bumbling federal employees, and a fall off a dam in their efforts to discover if the bill is real and why Mr. Chickee gave it to Steven in the first place.
Genre: mystery
Grade Level: 3-6
Readers who will like this: Readers who like funny books, readers who like mysteries, readers interested in African American musical history
Response/Rating (1-4): 3. The book was funny, but the plot could be hard to follow, and some of the supernatural elements that come into the book don't seem to fit with the rest of the writing. The book is obviously part of an intended series, so those elements will probably be explained later in the series. Steven's parents are very funny, interesting characters that adults may relate to more than children.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: What is the largest denomination of currency in the United States?

The Red Book

Leihman, B. (2004). The Red Book. San Diego, California: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

Brief Annotation: This book takes you on an adventure through reading. As one child is reading this book, another child is reading about her. The journey comes to an end when the little girl drops the book and finds herself inside the story. What happens to the book? Another journey begins.

Genre: Wordless Picturebook

Grade Level: Prek-2

Readers who will like this: Readers who enjoy using their imagination. Readers who enjoy making their own story as they follow along.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3. Great story, great illustrations. It really makes you think.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What kind of story would you want to become a part of?

Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble

Rylant, C. (1987). Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble. Illustrations: Sucie Stevenson. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Brief Annotation: Follow three stories of a boy (Henry) and his best friend (Mudge), his dog. The first story is a lesson in friendship, when Henry finds a flower he wants to pick so bad, but his mom says “let it grow”, till one day when Henry was telling Mudge how badly he wanted to pick the flower, when all of a sudden Mudge eats it. Henry is upset at first, but realized it wasn’t his flower to begin with and he should just let it go. The other two stories are fun to read, how much trouble can a boy and dog get into?

Genre: Beginning-to-Read Picturebook

Grade Level: Pre K-2

Readers who will like this: Readers who are beginning to read. Readers who love animals. Children who enjoy reading stories about friendship.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4. Great stories of friendships. Easy to read sentences for beginner readers. Great illustrations.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: How can we tell it is Spring outside?

May I Bring A Friend?

De Regniers, B. (1964). May I Bring A Friend? Illustrated: Beni Montresor. New York, New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Brief Annotation: A King and Queen invites a little boy to dinner numerous of times. Every time he is invited he asks if he can bring a friend. The nice King and Queen say “yes” every time and are surprised to find out that his friends are wild animals. Even though the King and Queen are not always pleased with the little boy’s animal friends, you would never know because they invite him to dinner yet again.

Genre: Poetry

Grade Level: Pre K-3

Readers who will like this: Readers who enjoy rhyming and poetry books.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3. Good classic book with great rhyming words.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What is poetry? How is poetry different from any other book?

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Yolen, J. and Teague, M. (2000). How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? New York: Scholastic.

Brief Annotation: How do Dinosaurs say good night? Every child will recognize the dinosaurs ways of getting out of going to bed, but at the end they will see how every parent dreams their dinosaur would go to bed, with a kiss and a “good night”. How does your dinosaur say goodnight?

Genre: Patterned Picturebook

Grade Level: Pre K-2

Readers who will like this: Children who love rhyming books. Children who love books about dinosaurs.

Response/Rating (1-4):4. The narration added to the story and had a great background that added drama to the story. It also had sounds to make the story come alive.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: How do you go to bed for your mom or dad? Do you think sleep is important? Why?

The Random House Book of Mother Goose

Lobel, A. (1986). The Random House Book of Mother Goose. Illustrated by Arnold Lobel. New York, NY: Random House.

Brief Annotation: The book is a collection of over 175 pages of Mother Goose tales.

Genre: Poetry

Grade Level: Pre-K to Grade 5

Readers who will like this: Readers of all ages will enjoy the collection of this book. It showcases those most familiar to us, and also has several poems that are more rare from Mother Goose.

Response/Rating (1-4): This collection receives a 4. Each poem has an illustration, whether it be a small quick picture, to a more elaborate two page display. Children can practice choral reading, and others can enjoy finding the rhyming pattern of poems they may not know.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Can anyone think of a Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme? Or do you have a favorite Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme?

Hurry! Hurry!

Bunting, E. (2007). Hurry! Hurry! Illus. Jeff Mack. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt, Inc.

Brief Annotation: The backyard is full of excitement as the animals welcome their newest member to the farm community!

Genre: Fantasy, Picturebook

Grade Level: PreS through Grade 1

Readers who will like this: Beginning readers who would benefit from a patterned, predictable text, children who like books with animal characters

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, The book’s use of repetitive, predictable phrases and simple storyline gives beginning readers a wonderful opportunity to practice letter-sound correspondence. The colorful farmyard characters add appeal to this charming book.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: By looking at the cover of book, where do you think the story takes place? Why?