Hoai's Book Island

  About Book Title: If I Built a School Author & Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen Genre: Science Fiction Major Book Awards: 2020 Texas Blue Bonnet Awards Recommended Age Range: 5 to 7 Appropriate Grade Levels: Kindergarten to 3rd grade Summary This story is about a boy named Jack, who takes a teacher through an imaginary tour of how he would build his dream school, involving many fantasy and futuristic ideas. He first takes her on the inside layout of the school. The first thing there'll be, are cute puppies and giant zoo animals at the entrance. To go to class, there would be a pod-like glass for transportation. Classrooms would be open roof and have floating desks. At the library, the books would come to life and pop-out every time it gets opened. Art, music, and science classes would be fun as well. They'll get to use paint sprayers, play music really loud, and build their own creatures in science labs. Instead of tests, there would be lots of fieldtrips on special bus that...

  About Book Title: We'll Paint the Octopus Red Author: Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen Illustrator: Pam Devito Genre: Realistic Fiction, Special needs Major Book Awards: No major book awards Recommended Age Range: 5 to 8 Appropriate Grade Levels: Kinder to 3rd grade Summary This book talks about a little girl named Emma who initially did not want to have a sibling, but later on finds out that she was having a baby brother named Isaac. Before his arrival, she imagined all the things that they'd do together such as, playing  kickball, feeding the calves at grandpa's farm, make funny faces at cars that passes by, go to an art festival and paint a rubber octopus red, and visit animals in a safari. Emma was now super excited to welcome Isaac. Until, one morning she was informed that Isaac had been born with down syndrome.  She was shocked and thought to herself that Isaac won't be able to do all of the things she'd mentioned anymore. Her dad reassured her that Isaac could do the...

  About Book Title: A Different Pond Author: Bao Phi Illustrator: Thi Bui Genre: Realistic Fiction, Multicultural Major Book Awards: 2018 Caldecott Medal Recommended Age Range: 8 to 11 Appropriate Grade Levels: 3rd to 6th grade Summary This story is about a young boy named Bao who is woken up really early to go fishing with his dad one morning. They head out hours before his dad has to leave for work at his second job. Unlike others, they go fishing for food and not for pleasure. This made Bao question his dad as to why they keep doing this when he has two jobs. His dad then explains that everything in America can be expensive. While fishing, Bao's dad reminisces his life as a little boy in Vietnam. He shares that he used to fish in a similar pond like this with his brother and talks a bit about the war they both fought together in as soldiers. Then suddenly a few fishes plopped up and they've successfully caught them.  This made Bao's dad smile widely, because it means the...

  About Book Title: Thank You, Omu! Author & Illustrator: Oge Mora Genre: Fiction, Multicultural Major Book Awards: 2019 Caldecott Honor for Illustrations, 2019 Coretta Scott King Steptoe for best new illustrator Recommended Age Range: 4 to 8 Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 3rd grade Summary This book written by Oge Mora talks about a woman named Omu making her delicious red stew for an evening meal. Her stew smelled so good that it got almost everybody in her neighborhood come knocking at her door asking what it was. She couldn't help but share some of her tasty stew to them, thinking she'd have more than enough for herself later on. One knock after another coming to her door. To name a few, Omu has fed an officer, cab driver, doctor, singer, and even the mayor! When night came, Omu was ready to finally eat her dinner. Unfortunately, when she opened up her big pot of stew, it was empty. The best dinner she could've had was all gone. As she sits sniffling with her em...

  About Book Title: Thread of Love Authors: Kabir & Surishtha Sehgal Illustrator: Zara Gonzalez Hoang Genre: Nonfiction, Multicultural Major Book Awards: No major book awards Recommended Age Range: 3-6 Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 1st Grade Summary This book written by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal talks about the celebration of sibling hood on Raksha Bandhan, an Indian holiday. It's a day where sisters create traditional thread bracelets [rakhi] for their brothers and in return the brothers promise to treat them well. Inspired by t he classic tune of Frere Jacques's Are You Sleeping as a sing-song text, the two sisters in this book makes their brother a rakhi and in exchange he gifts them presents and delicious sweets. At the end of the book, this tradition is seen to be celebrated globally on every continent, not only between siblings, but family and friends too. Because the thread of love is what connects us all. Teacher Evaluation I had a fun time reading this book b...

  About Book Title: Dear Primo: A Letter to my Cousin  Author & Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh Genre: Realistic Fiction, Multicultural Major Book Awards: 2011   Pura Belpre award  Recommended Age Range: 5 to 7 Appropriate Grade Levels: Kinder to 2nd grade Summary This book talks about Charlie and Carlitos, cousins living in two different countries writing letters to one another. Charlie lives in America, while Carltio lives in Mexico. Within their letters, they both tell each other about their days, the foods they eat, the sports they play, and the traditions celebrated in both countries. Although what they write are about different things, they both had the same idea at the same time. And that was to visit each other.  Teacher Evaluation This was a pretty interesting book to read. I love the letter format, where it flows from Charlie to Carlitos and vice versa. The illustrations were nice and the colors blends in well together. It was also great to see the in...