Ms. Sevon's Booktique

Genre: Nonfiction/Autobiography Title: Through My Eyes Author: Ruby Bridges Awards: Carier C. Woodson Book Award, Jane Addams Children's Book Award Age Range: 9-12 years old Summary: Ruby Bridges lived during a critical time of the civil rights movement. She was one of the first colored people to be allowed to attend a white school because she passed the school board exam. Many white people were upset with the integration. Throughout the book, we get an insight into what African-Americans had to go through during the time of the civil rights. There were riots and racist comments yelled at them, especially as the girls would enter their new school. Ruby's first white teacher was Barbara Henry, and they grew to really like each other and Ruby was able to learn a lot from her. As the school year continues, the protesters outside the school decrease and few students began to go back to school. The entire book talks about the journey that Ruby had to go through with attending school...

Genre:  Nonfiction/Biography  Title: Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizabeth Friedman Changes the Course of Two World Wars Author: Laurie Wallmark Illustrator: Brooke Smart Awards: N/A Age Range: 7 years old and up Summary: This is a biography about Elizabeth Friedman who played a significant role in decoding messages that put many Nazi spies in prison. She was able to crack codes most people could not. Elizabeth loved to decode and she needed a better way to do this. She created the first cryptography department at the CIA. Evaluation: Personally, I love history, so I really enjoyed this book and learning about Elizabeth. I would want to use this in my classroom as a reference if I were talking about WWI or WWII because of the major impact she had on those wars. Since the book is a little long, I would not read the whole book in one day. I would select certain portions I found to be the most important and read those or I would read a few pages every day. At the end of the boo...

Genre: Nonfiction Title: The Water Cycle Author: Craig Hammersmith Awards: N/A Age Range: 5-8 years old.  Summary: The book is about the parts of the water cycle. It begins by explaining how water is recycled. Then, it talks about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. There is a small diagram of the water cycle. In addition, there are instructions on how to create a terrarium.  Evaluation: I liked how simple, yet descriptive the book was to read. There were not too many words, but you still get the full picture of the Water Cycle. I would use this book with 1st through 4th graders. I think it would be fun to read it out after all the vocabulary has been taught or to read it as a review for the students. An activity I would have the students do is create a diagram where they draw and label the parts of the water cycle. In addition, I love how there are instructions on how to create a terrarium, so I would really like to do that with my students. 

Genre: Nonfiction Title: Weathering and Erosion Author: Christina Wisdom Awards: N/A Age Range: 9-12 years old Summary: This book discusses the difference between weathering and erosion. In addition, it talks about the different kinds of weathering such as chemical weathering and mechanical weathering. Furthermore, it discusses all the things that help with the process of weathering and erosion such as water, ice, glaciers, and wind.  Evaluation: I would use this book with students in the 4th and 5th grade because I think this topic can be a little more confusing. I like the book because it gives good examples and breaks down the topics very well. I really love how there is a glossary for this book, which I would have my students write these vocabulary words in their interactive notebook before we read the book so that they have the knowledge necessary to understand. Another way I would use the book is to split the class in half where one group studies chemical weathering and the o...

Genre: Nonfiction Title: What's Out There? A Book About Space Author: Lynn Wilson Illustrator: Paige Billin-Frye Awards: N/A Age Range: 5-11 years old Summary: The book talks about the different planets and how they travel around the sun. In addition, it takes about how the earth spins and how its tilt affects the weather. There is an example of the phases of the moon as well and it is explained that we only see the lit-up part of the moon. Then, the book goes on to describe the moon. Lastly, the planets are in sequential order and there are short facts about each one as well as an explanation of meteoroids, comets, and asteroids.  Evaluation: This book would be great to use in a science class when learning about the phases of the moon or the planets. I would use this with grades 1st through 4th and modify the content a little for younger students. I think the book gives simple explanations that the students would be able to comprehend, so I would definitely consider using this bo...