Bessie Smith and the Night Riders

Bessie Smith and the Night Riders, by Sue Stauffacher
Illustrated by John Holyfield
Puglished by D. Putman's Sons in 2006

This book is about Bessie Smith, a blues singer in the early 1900's.  Bessie came to visit COncord and everyone loved her.  The night that Bessie was performing in a tent a little girl spotted the KKK, who was getting ready to burn the tent down.  Once the little girl ran and told Bessie about the men outside Bessie marched outside.  After cursing them out she jumped at one of the men causing his torch he had in his hand to set the horse he was riding on, on fire.  After the KKK left Bessie walked back into the tent and sang her heart out.  This book was dressed up for dramatic effect but the events really did happen.  I thought this book was a great interesting book.  I would recommend this book to grade 5 and up.

-Shbrst8

Arthur's Thanksgiving

Arthur's Thanksgiving, by Marc Brown
Illustrated by Marc Brown
Published by Scholastic, Inc, in 1983

The story is about Arthur, a young anteater.  The setting is at a school and at Arthur's home in modern times.  In the book, Arthur is chosen to be the director for the annual Thanksgiving play.  After being chosen, Arthur was elated, just as any other child would be.  After a while, being a director was a hard job.  The cast wouldn't cooperate with him and there was no actor for the main role of the Turkey.  On the night of the play, Arthur decided to be the Turkey and the play was a success.  I thought the book was fun and creative.  I'd definitely recommend it for younger audiences.

-Tanidr8

Scottie Pippen: Reach Higher

Scottie Pippen: Reach Higher, by Scottie Pippen
Published by Taylor Publishing in 1996

The main character is Scottie Pippen.  The setting of the book is in North Carolina, Chicago, and Arkansas.  The genre of the book is non-fiction.  The book is informed, moving, and motivating.  I liked the book because it talked about sports and life biography.  I would also recommend this book to a sports fan.

-Jiteha8

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Llama Llama Red Pajama, by Anna Dewdney
Published by Penguin Group in 2005

The main character is Baby Llama.  it takes place in Baby Llama's bedroom.  The genre of the book is fiction.  The book was funny, rhyming, and sad when he cried.  I thought the book was a little childish.  I would give this book to a 4-year-old.

-Jiteha8

Shaquille O'Neal: Gentle Giant

Shaquille O'Neal: Gentle Giant, by John Albert Torres
Published by Tony Publishing in 2004

This book was about the life of Shaq from birth through his basketball career.  It told how he first fell in love with basketball and what life was like growing up.  I liked the book because it was entertaining and informed.  The book was informed, entertaining, and funny at times.  I would recommend this book to any basketball fan.

-Jiteha8

The Dark-Thirty

"The 11:59," from The Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural, by Patricia C. McKissack
Published in 1974

This story was about an experienced train engineer who tried to escape the 11:59 train that comes and picks up the members of the first black train union.  The man's name was Lester and he was already well up in age and was close to death.  But it became obvious after he heard the 11:59's whistle which made him scared and upset.  Lester did everything in his power to not die but ended up dying from a heart attack.  After the train packed up his spirit he found out some of his friends were on the list for pick-up.

-Jiteha8

If You Give a Pig a Party

If You Give a Pig a Party, by Laura Numeroff
Illustrated by Felicia Bond
Published by Laura Geringer Books in 2005

The main characters are the pig and the girl.  The settings are placed at home and on the bike.  When they were riding the bike to the fair, they saw their friend rode every ride and played every game.  The theme was having a birthday party.  The genre of the book is picture book.  The book is telling about what the pig would ask for.  The friends would come over and have a sleepover.  I thought this book was funny and that the things in it were very funny.  I would recommend this book to the Pre-K and kindergarten.

-Xaansm8

Old MacDonald had a Woodshop

Old MacDonald had a Woodshop, by Lisa Shulman
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Published by Penguin Group in 2002

In the book Old MacDonald had a Woodshop, the main character was Old MacDonald.  The setting was in his woodshop.  The theme was working together to build a replica of a farm.  The genre is children's fiction.  Her friends were different kinds of animals such as a goat, a dog, two pigs, a cow, a chicken, and a mouse.  They used a saw, a screwdriver, a drill, a hammer, a chisel, a file, and a paintbrush.  They built a replica of a farm. The book had a catchy tune.  I would recommend this book to little children.

-Wigrca8

The Spider and the Fly

The Spider and the Fly, based on a poem written in 1829 by Mary Howitt
Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi and Greg Stadnyk
Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2003

In this story, there are two main characters, the cunning spider and the beautiful fly.  The setting of the story is in the Spider's creepy parlor.  The theme of the story is fear and manipulation.  The Spider tried to tempt the fly to sleep in a coxy bed, and take a slice of the the food, just so he could eat her.  He fed her compliments about her beauty so she would fall for his trap.  In the end of the story, she came back to his parlor, only for him to trap her and eat her.  I thought this story was great because it taught a valuable lesson about the temptations of this world.  Some examples are rape and kidnapping.  I would recommend this folktale to little children who don't know the importance of meeting strangers and the dangers that follow.  Children need to realize that people can show fake love towards you, only to get what they want and terribly manipulate you.

-Viinja8

Counting to Christmas

Counting to Christmas, by Nancy Tafuri
Illustrated by Nancy Tafuri
Published by Scholastic Press

The name of the book I am writing about is Counting to Christmas.  This is a story about a little girl who does helpful things counting to Christmas.  The setting is at her home.  This book is a picture book.  Days 6, 7, 8 she pours, measures, and mixes.  Days 14 and 15 she strung popcorn as a garland to put around the Christmas tree.  What I thought about this book is it shows how a young person can help out around the house.  How you can help decorate and make it pretty.  I would recommend this book to somebody when bored leading up to Christmas.

-Jaeuda8

New York's Bravest

New York's Bravest, by Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Published by Alfred A. Knoff in 2002

The main character in my book is a firefighter.  He saved a lot of lives.  He was very brave but now is gone.  This book is fiction.  This was a very great book.  I would love to be him.  I would probably recommend this book to my little brother.  He reminds me of this firefighter.

-Katawa8

Raymond's Run

Raymond's Run, by Toni Cade Bambara
Illustrated by Toni Cade Bambara
Published in 2004

The main character of the book is a little girl named Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Panner.  Her brother has Down Syndrome so he is a very slow learner.  She is the fastest girl in her school and neighborhood.  So when it is time for her track meet she wins.  The book is fiction.  I think this was a good book because I love track.  I would recommend this book to me and me only.

-Katawa8

Oliva...and the Missing Toy

Olivia...and the Missing Toy, by Ian Falconer
Illustrated by Ian Falconer
Published by Anne Schwartz in 2003

I read this book called Olivia...and the Missing Toy.  The main characters were Olivia and her mother.  The story takes place in Olivia's house.  The story is mostly about Olivia's toy that has gone missing.  It starts off with Olivia getting ready for her soccer game and her mother fixes her soccer shirt because Olivia does not like her other one.  When her mother shows her the shirt she made, Olivia all of a sudden loses her toy.  Olivia looked everywhere for her toy, but she couldn't find it.  She asked her brothers, but they haven't seen it.  So finally she looked behind a door and found her dog Perry with her toy.  She went and told her Mom and Dad and her Dad said, "Tomorrow we'll get you a new toy."  This made Olivia happy.  I thought this book was a very good book for learning how to overcome losing something you love.  I would recommend this book to Pre-K.

-Kaelro8

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss
Illustrated by Dr. Seuss
Published by Beginner Books in 1975

In this book, the main characters are birds.  The setting was in an unknown land and the theme was that you can think about anything.  This is a fiction book.  In this book, it is original and fresh.  I thought the book proved that you can think about anything as long as you have an imagination.

-Phimst8

Max Found Two Sticks

Max Found Two Sticks, by Brian Pinkney
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Published by Aladdin Paperbacks in 1997

In this fictional book, written by Brian Pinkney, Max finds two sticks, which he uses as drumsticks.  His rhythmic pattern begins with a Pat...pat-tat on his thighs.  Next he imitates the sound of pigeons as a Tippy-tip...tat-tat on a bucket.  Then he begins to tap Dum...dum-de-dumming on some boxes.  Finally, he begins to tap a Cling...clang...da-BANGING on trashcans.  Instantly, a marching band appears around Max's corner.  The band tap Thump-di-di-Thumps and Max understands the importance of communicating with others.  He also understands that his musical input is important.  The book was creative and fun.  I would recommend this book to anyone.

-Marewi8

The Bus for Us

The Bus for Us, by Suzanne Bloom
Illustrated by Suzanne Bloom
Published by Caroline House Boyds Mills Press, Inc, in 2001

The main characters of the story are Gus and Tess.  The story takes place at a bus stop.  It was Tess's first time riding a bus, so every car or truck that came by Tess would say, "Is this the bus for us, Gus?"  The genre of the story was fiction and it was a picture book.  It was pretty obvious that she didn't know what a school bus was because who in the world thinks an ice cream truck is a school bus?  I thought this book was kind of funny and easy.  I would honestly recommend this book to pre-K3-1st graders, but anyone can read it if it fascinates them.

-Nisisc8

Old MacDonald had a Woodshop

Old MacDonald had a Woodshop, by Lisa Shulman
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Published by Penguin Group in 2002

Old MacDonald had a Woodshop is by Lisa Shulman and illustrated by Ashley Wolff.  The story takes place at his workshop.  The main character is Old MacDonald, but the characters Cow, Chicken, Dog, Cat, Goat, and others are important as well.  In the story, Old MacDonald is helped by fellow animals to make a miniature farm piece.  The characters used power drills, compass saw, flat and round nails, cabinet screwdriver, bevel edge chisel, and others to build this miniature farm.  I liked the book and would recommend this book to little kids or even to be read to babies as they grow up.

-Totyca8

Quiet Night

Quiet Night, by Marilyn Singer
Illustrated by John Manders
Published by Clarion Books

This book is about one frog, two owls, three geese.  They are joined by increasingly large numbers of animals.  Different animals keep ten campers from falling asleep.  The genre of this book is fiction.  There were nine crickets, eight mosquitoes, seven mice, six raccoons, five coyotes, four fish, three geese, two owls, and one frog.  I think it was neat.  I would recommend it to the person who wrote the book.

-Katawa8