Summary:
This is about twin boys who are stars on the basketball court. However, one of them has the desire of music in him as well. This takes us through the decisions he takes and the strides his family goes through due to these.

Personal Reaction:
This was a great story. It really shows how the decisions we make don't effect just us.

Classroom Extension:
1. Let the children tell of a time that their decision affected everyone and not just themselves.
2. Make sure they understand this, and show them that when they make a decision, bad or good, that it could hurt who is closest to them.
3. Let them come up with their own songs that describes what means the most to them.

Summary:
This book is about Michael. Who learns lessons about life through his great great aunt Dew and her hundred pennies. She collected a penny every year of life and the memories that came with it.

Personal Reaction:
This was an amazing book. This boy learned so much from pennies and someone who couldn't even remember his name. It really shows that the littlest of things can have the most meaning.

Classroom Extension:
1. Create our own penny box. Let the children create their own box to hold their memories in.
2. Ask the children what is their favorite memory, no matter what it may be.
3. Share with the children the lesson behind the penny boxes. So that they don't think that it is just something to have and put things in.

Summary:
Learning about bugs has never been more fun that this! The Bug Book teaches children about all the different kinds of bugs. From spiders, to caterpillars, and beyond.

Personal Reaction:
I am not much of a bug person, but this book was quite interesting. it really shows the difference between each bug and would make all the kids want to go on a bug hunt.

Classroom Extension:
1. Create our own bug. Let the students be creative and create their own bug.
2. Let the students tell you what their favorite bug is and why.
3. Take the kids outside on a nature walk and see how many bugs you can see.

Summary:
This book will teach anyone all they need to know about space. It teaches students about all the stars, sun, and planets in outer space.

Personal Reaction:
I haven't seen a better informational book that explains space so well. Usually they are boring and can't keep anyone's attention, however, this one does the exact opposite.

Classroom Extension:
1. Let the students draw up what they think is out in outer space.
2. See if the students can name all the planets, by turning it into a fun game.
3. Have the students go home and look up at the sky at night. What all do they see? Then have a discussion with them all the next day. It'll be exciting to hear what they all saw.

Summary:
This is about Trevor the bear and his love of chocolate. It takes us through and shows us healthy eating habits we should have.

Personal Reaction:
I thought this book was so cute. Not only do I have my own little bear who loves chocolate, but I felt that he could really connect to this book.

Classroom Extension:
1. We can create a collage of all our favorite foods.
2. We can go over healthy eating habits that we all should follow.
3. We can make our own Trevor the bear and give him a new favorite food!

Summary:
This is a collection of poems for all children to enjoy. Anything that a child could want out of poetry, it is in there.

Personal Reaction:
A great poetry book with a great variety of poems.

Classroom Extension:
1. My children can one at a time pick out their favorite poem and read it to the whole class.
2. We can write our very own poems.
3. We can pretend to have a poetry reading and snap instead of clap for one another after reading our poems we wrote!

Summary:
This is all about the great basketball player Michael Jordan. It covers everything in the great players career. All the way back to him getting cut from his high school basketball team and more.

Personal Reaction:
This book shows the career and life of Michael Jordan to a t. Not only is it exciting, but would make you go after any dream that you might have as well.

Classroom Extension:
1. We can talk about dreams that we all have and find ways to achieve them.
2. My kids can go outside and play basketball themselves!
3. We can discuss what each of our favorite thing about Michael Jordan is.

Summary:
A look back at the United States' very first President. This book takes you back through the life of George Washington. From chopping down a cherry tree, all the way to his wooden teeth.

Personal Reaction:
This was quite the interesting book. It gives all kinds of information of our very first president.

Classroom Extension:
1. My students can make a list of what all they would do if they were president.
2. We can get creative and create our very own cherry tree.
3. We can put on a show and all be different presidents.

Summary:
This is about Forrest Gump. Who we first meet as a little child, and follow along as he goes through some of history's most pivotal moments.

Personal Reaction:
This book is full of knowledge. I learned quite a bit historical facts from it, and was amazed at what all had happened before I was even born.

Classroom Extension:
1.) Have a history week. Where we learn about a new historical event everyday from the book.

2.) We can teach the children that even the ones that get picked on and bullied can become the biggest achievers.

3.) Travel through time and see how the children reenact historical events.

Summary:
Cinderella Man is about the struggle James J. Braddock faces to help take care of his family during the Great Depression. He is a boxer who wants to make it big while also struggling to find a job and keep food on the table for his family. His story and struggle is a great one that keeps the reader interested.

Personal Reaction:
I loved this story. It really shows the struggle that families had back during the Great Depression. It really puts those times into perspective.

Classroom Extension:
1.) We can have a day where we learn about the foods that were what families at everyday. To show the students just how far things have came since this time.

2.) We can have a movie day where we watch the movie to see and get an idea of just what it was like back then. The living conditions, clothing that they had to wear and so on.

3.) There can be a time where we cover the Great Depression and what it was and how it happened.

Summary:
This book is about how even though there are people who look, talk, and act different than us, we are all the same. That just because we have differences, doesn't make anyone any better than the other.

Personal Reaction:
I feel this book is a great example on teaching the children that we are no better than the other.

Classroom Extensions:
1.) Take time for the children to tell what their culture is. To explain what they know about it and teach the students something they may not have known.

2.) Have the children create pictures of themselves. Then post them all together somewhere that says, differences but equal. That way the children are always reminded that they are not better than one another.

3.) Have time just to explain to the children on what to do if they are ever in the situation where someone is rude to them just because of their culture.

Summary:
This about a little boy of color out on a snow day. He pretends to be a superhero, which is not something that is seen for a child of color back in those times.

Personal Reaction:
I think this is a good book because it teaches the students that even children of a different color are able to do good.

Classroom Extension:
1.) Let the children of different cultures be superheros for the day.

2.) Have a day where the children just get to play! Like a snow day.

3.) Ask the children if there has ever been a time where they have been seen as not being able to do good because of their culture. How did it make them feel? What is something that we can do in those situations?

Summary:
Junie B. Jones is a girl who is quite the spit fire. She has these amazing stories of her days in school and just how she feels about them. However, when she gets the chance to cheat, she soon learns about the consequences.

Personal Reaction:
I remember reading Junie B. Jones when I was young and in school! Her stories always hit close to home, or they taught me valuable lessons.

Classroom Extension:
1.) We can talk about why cheating is wrong and why we should not do it.

2.) My students can create their own story books about their days at school just like Junie B. Jones does.

3.) We can talk about what to do if we are every in the position to cheat or help someone cheat.

Summary:
Bridge to Terabithia is about two children who are unlikely to become friends. However, when they do, they create this magical world out in the woods until one day, something terrible happens.

Personal Reaction:
This is such a good book but so sad at the same time. It really shows people about being friends with the most unlikely of people.

Classroom Extension:
1.) We can have a movie day where the kids get to watch it after reading the book.

2.) They can write about a time the became friends with the most unlikely of person.

3.) We can create our own Terabithia where adventures arise and we learn something new everyday.

Summary:
Peter Pan starts off with Wendy, a young girl who is on the brink of having to grow up. When she meets Peter Pan however, it changes her world. Next thing she knows she is off to Neverland where Peter Pan and his band of lost boys never grow up! Adventure and fun is all that Wendy is surrounded by until she realizes growing up is just apart of life.

Personal Reaction:
I remember being like Peter Pan. I never wanted to grow up when I was little. I use to imagine my own Neverland and fighting against Captain Hook!

Classroom Extension:
1.) We can all pretend we are Peter Pan! We can work on our imagination by pretending we are all Peter Pan and what we would do in our own Neverland.

2.) My girls can draw out their own sidekick Tinker Bell, while my boys draw out their lost boys!

3.) We can finally have our own Captain Hook battle! My students can show off their moves that they would use on Captain Hook!

Summary:
This book is about Alice, who is bored with just plain everyday life. She wishes of excitement and adventure. However, one day when she receives this and so much more, she realizes what she had, was good enough.

Personal Reaction:
I love this book. I remember reading it when little and trying to imagine up my very own wonderland. It definitely helps one with their imagination.

Classroom Extension:
1.) We can start by creating our own wonderland. My students can take a moment to imagine what they would want, and then take turns explaining what their imaginations came up with.

2.) We can create our own Cheshire cat masks! How much fun would that be!

3.) We can put on the play of Alice in Wonderland. Each student would have their own character to play, and they could put their own twist on them.

Summary:
A Christmas Carol is about how Scrooge is cold and heartless to just about everyone he meets. He is visited by three different ghosts to show him the repercussions of his actions and that if he doesn't changed his ways, he is doomed.

Personal Reaction:
This book is a great way to show someone that it is not work or money that matters most in life. However, family is what is the most important thing in life. Without family, you really don't have anything.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1). The children can create a list of ideas of what somethings are that they can do for others to show their appreciation for them.

Summary:
Scout is a little girl growing up during the depression era. With a father as a lawyer defending an African American man, she tells her story about learning not to see people just for their color.

Personal Reaction:
When I read this book, I absolutely loved it. It really teaches someone that it doesn't matter the color of people's skin. We are all equal and deserve what everyone else deserves as well.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1). The children can learn how to see each other for who they are, and not their skin color.
2). We can talk about times when it seems that a child's color mattered more than who they are and discuss just how to react to situations like that.

Summary:
Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type is a silly story that follows the story of farmer brown and his struggle since his cows love to type all day!

Personal Reaction:
This book reminds me of my little six month old. There is nothing he loves more than banging on the keys of my laptop. He will love this book.

Classroom extension ideas:
1). We can use a typewriter or keyboard to help the children learn their alphabet and even enhance their typing skills.

Summary:
Max is one imaginative little boy! He wears his wolf suit to bed one night, and what happens next are some wild things and wild adventures!

Personal Reaction:
I love this book. I remember reading it as a child and imagining all kinds of wild things!

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1). We can have dramatic play where all the children dress up and start creating our own wild adventure.
2). The children can use their imaginations to create their own wild things during craft time.

Summary:
This books takes little ones on an adventure to a farm! Not only do they get to learn about different animals, but they also are learning different animal noises as well!

Personal Reaction:
I love the idea of teaching the noise that goes with each animal! It will really help students put two and two together.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1.) Create our own Ole McDonald song with different animals! Not just farm ones!
2.) Have the students work together to figure out with noise goes with what animals. (Such as a matching game.) Someone can make an animal sound and the students have to point to which animal it is!

Summary:
At the zoo is fun and simple way to get little ones interested in the different animals at the zoo! It is fun and creative with bright colored animals to catch the interest of little ones!

Personal Reaction:
My son loves this book! I read it to him and he just gets so excited looking at all the animals!

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1.) I can put up cut out of different animals around the classroom to help students learn different ones.
2.)We can have a craft where we make masks of each students favorite animals.