Ms. Sevon's Booktique

  Genre: Poetry, Fiction Title: Love That Dog Author: Sharon Creech Illustrator: None Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Nominee  Age Range: 9-11 Years Old Summary: Jack journals most days about what is going on in school and at home. He mainly talks about the poems the teacher reads in class. Some of the poems he does not like because he does not understand them. While other poems, he is really interested in such as the poems by Walter Dean Myers. He likes Mr. Myers poem so much that he decides to write one very similar to his about his dog, Sky. Jack writes many poems that his teacher puts up on the board, some he chooses to keep anonymous while others he asks the teacher to include his name on. Jack did not want the poem about Sky posted at all because he was worried that it was bad he used a lot of Myers words. One day Jack wrote a letter to Walter Dean Myers asking if he could come visit their school. It took about a month for a response, but Mr. Myers decided to come visit them as...

Genre: Fantasy Title: The Day the Crayons Quit Author: Drew Daywalt Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award Age Range: 3-6 Years Old Summary: Duncan receives letters from his crayons with some complaints and suggestions. Most of the crayons are upset because they are overworked and would like a break. On the other hand, there are one or two that would like to be used more. The crayons write their letters hoping that Duncan will take their thoughts into consideration. In the end, Duncan decides to draw a picture using all his crayons.  Evaluation: I absolutely enjoyed this book, especially because it is very different than most books. I love how the story is told by the crayons writing letters to Duncan. I would want this book to use in my classroom. I think it would be best for students that are in pre-kindergarten and first grade. After reading the book, I would have students create a drawing of their choice using as many colors as they wanted. Another way that ...

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Author: R.J. Palacio Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award Age Range: 9-13 years old Summary: The main character of the book is August, who goes by his nickname "Auggie." Throughout the story, we get an insight into Auggie's life and how he deals with going to a real school and interacting with many peers for the very first time. Auggie is very different from most children his age because he has had to undergo many surgeries due to being born with a cleft pallet and having a very severe condition that causes him to have a facial difference. Many people often stare at Auggie, which embarrasses him. At first, he did not want to go to school but eventually warmed up to the idea. He had a hard time at first because people were rude, called him names, and would avoid him because people were scared to catch "the plague." Those first few months were the hardest, but he found two very good friends, Summer, and Jack. Eventually, all the kid...