Hoai's Book Island

  About Book Title: Stay Author: Bobbie Pyron Genre: Realistic Fiction, Multicultural Major Book Awards: 2020 Texas Bluebonnet Awards Recommended Age Range: 8 to 12 Appropriate Grade Levels: 3rd to 7th grade Summary This book talks about a girl named Piper and her family, who suddenly finds themselves homeless, due to unfortunate events that has occurred. The family decides to move to Idaho and into a homeless shelter [Hope House], hoping this city would turn their life around. Piper had to learn how to adapt into this new and unexpected life. During her stay, Piper was able to meet a group of  g irls at the shelter who faces similar circumstances. She later on  sees a woman [Jewel] she saw inside the shelter earlier, with her little dog [Baby] at a park. One day Jewel got sick and ends up in a hospital, leaving Baby behind. Jewel's friend was able to locate her and brought her Baby, but eventually Baby was picked up by animal control. When Piper found out, she knew ...

  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...

  About Book Title: The Proudest Blue Authors: Ibtihaj Muhammed with S.K. Ali Illustrator: Hatem Aly Genre: Realistic Fiction, Multicultural Major Book Awards: No major book awards Recommended Age Range: 4-8 Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 3rd grade Summary This book talks about a little girl named Faizah and her older sister Asiya on their first day of school. On the first day, Faizah had her new light up shoes and Asiya had on her blue hijab. Faizah was in awe of how beautiful her sister's hijab was, until she saw people whispering, laughing, pointing, and questioning it. Faizah couldn't understand why they were doing that when in her eyes the hijab was like the ocean and the sky, it was normal, beautiful, and were always there. She got really upset, but was reminded by her mother's words to ignore the things people say, since what they say belongs to them and only them. At the end of the day, both sisters walk home together and Faizah was really excited to show her mo...

  About Book Title: The Day You Begin Author: Jacqueline Woodson Illustrator: Rafael Lopez Genre: Realistic Fiction, Multicultural 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 how one may feel different based on how they look, where they're from, and the foods they eat. This can be seen through the perspective of a girl named Angelina, as this book centers around her. She begins to feel different from her classmates as they share all the fun things they've did over the summer, since her summer experience wasn’t anything like theirs. This made her wonder that there will be times where you would  feel like an outsider when people don't know what you're eating or you're not able to understand how to play certain games like everyone else. But once you start opening up to people and share your story, then maybe their will be those who can relate to you. And so she did, sh...

  About Book Title: Dear Zoo Author & Illustrator: Rod Campbell Genre: Fiction, Papered Engineered Major Book Awards: No major book awards Recommended Age Range: 3 to 6  Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 1st grade Summary This story takes readers on an adventure of all the mostly seen animals in a zoo. It started off with an anonymous child writing a letter to the zoo asking them to send the perfect pet.  The zoo then sends the kid an animal, but each time that an animal was sent out via a crate, it was either too big,  too small, too tall, or too wild to be considered a pet.  After a few unpleasant deliveries, the zoo finally sent out the perfect pet and this time it was a puppy! The child has then decided to keep the puppy. Evaluation - Would I Incorporate this book in the classroom? This was honestly a fun lift-the-flap book. I don't remember my last time reading one, so it was pretty fun having little interactions with the book. I would definitely use t...

  About Book Title: We Are Water Protectors Author: Carole Lindstrom Illustrator: Michaela Goade Genre: Fiction Major Book Awards: 2021 Caldecott Medal, 2021 Golden Kite Award Recommended Age Range: 4-6 Appropriate Grade Levels: Kinder to 1st grade Summary This book written by Carole Lindstrom talks about a girl who brings awareness and encourages her people and others to protect the water. Water is sacred, as it gives us life and connects us all.  Gathering everyone together, they're standing up for Earth's water, the people, their land, and all the animals that can't speak up for themselves. As one , they are fighting against the black snake [oil pipeline or other environmental threats] that is slithering within the bodies of water, destroying it and anything that is in its way. This battle will be a tough one, but together as water protectors, the snake should be ready to fight for its life. Evaluation - Would I Incorporate this book in the classroom? I truly enjoyed r...

  About Book Title: A Wrinkle in Time Author: Madeleine L'Engle Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction Major Book Awards: 1963 Newbery Medal Recommended Age Range: 10-14 and up Appropriate Grade Levels: 5th to 9th grade and up Summary This book tells the adventure of 3 kids, Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin O'Keefe traveling through time to rescue her father Alex Murry, who'd suddenly disappeared. With the help of 3 celestial beings, the kids are tessered to different planets to find him. During the search, they discovered that these planets, including Earth are being under attacked by an evil dark cloud called The Black Thing. Once they get to planet Camazotz, where their father is trapped on, they learn that life on this planet is under control of IT, an evil energy, that traps their minds to behave a certain way. Their father is stuck there as a prisoner, because he would not allow himself to be controlled by IT. Not too long after, Charles was ...

  About Book Title: Shiloh Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Genre: Realistic Fiction Major Book Awards: 1992 Newbery Medal Recommended Age Range: 10   to 12 Appropriate Grade Levels: 5th to 7th grade Summary This book talks about the relationship between a boy named Marty and the great lengths he is willing to take for a dog. One day a beagle followed him home and he ends up naming him Shiloh. Finding out that the owner of the dog was Judd, an alcoholic who abuses his hunting dogs, his father tells him to return Shiloh back. Marty was then able to witness Judd abusing the dog. Not long, Shiloh ends up escaping going back to Marty and that's when he decides to hide him. He builds Shiloh a pen behind his house and is sure to feed and take good care of him. Unfortunately, one day his mother finds out about Shiloh, and he ends up being attacked by a big dog that night. Eventually, Marty's family found out about Shiloh and takes him to get treated and plans to return him to Judd aft...

  About Book Title: Beautiful Blackbird Author & Illustrator: Ashley Bryan Genre: Fiction, Multicultural Major Book Awards: 2004 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators Recommended Age Range: 3 to 7 Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 2nd grade Summary This book written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan talks about the colorful African birds that wanted to have markings of black from the black bird. The colorful birds would get together to sing about how beautiful black is. Blackbird says that even if they color themselves with black markings on the outside, they cannot be similar on the inside, but blackbird insists on helping them get the markings they wanted with blackening brew. Getting a touch of black on their colorful bodies were in high demand and all the birds flew out to get it done. All the birds that were lucky enough to get the black markings were all so happy. At the end of the book, the blackbird had all the colorful markings from each bird.  Evaluation - Wo...

About Book Title: The Giver Author: Lois Lowry Cover Artist: Cliff Nielson Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Utopian Fiction Major Book Awards: 1994 Newbery Medal Recommended Age Range: 13+ Appropriate Grade Levels: 8th grade and up Summary This book is written in the pov of Jonas, a boy who later on finds out that he is living in a dystopian society. Everyone within this community is seen as the same. No one experiences prejudice, discrimination, pain, hunger, color, or have strong emotions like love. They all know how to behave & work as their assigned role, either as a nurturer, engineer, etc. Their careers are chosen for them once they turn 12. Jonas was chosen last and was given a respected role as the Receiver of Memory. A person who takes on the responsibility to remember life before sameness. The purpose for him to remember these abandoned memories is to help keep the community within the bubble of sameness and that these "mistakes" are avoided. As Jonas ...

  About Book Title: A Big Mooncake for Little Star Author & Illustrator: Grace Lin Genre: Fiction Major Book Awards: 2019 Caldecott Medal Recommended Age Range: 4 to 8 Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 3rd grade Summary This book written and illustrated by Grace Lin talks about a mother who baked a big mooncake for her daughter named Little Star. Little Star's mom warned her not to touch it until she tells her to. But on the first night, all Little Star could think of was the big mooncake and so she went and took a teeny bite. Thinking her mother wouldn't notice, Little Star continues to take a nibble of the cake each passing night. Until one night, her mom went to look for the mooncake but it was all gone. Mama asked if she ate the cake and Little Star said yes. And so, at the end of the story Little Star and her mom baked another one together.  Evaluation - Would I Incorporate this book in the classroom? This was a very cute book between a mom and her daughter...

  About Book Title: Kitten's First Full Moon Author & Illustrator: Kevin Henkes Genre: Fiction Major Book Awards: 2005 Caldecott Medal Recommended Age Range: 4 to 8 Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 3rd grade Summary This book written by Kevin Henkes illustrates a kitten experiencing her very first full moon. In her eyes, the moon was a bowl of milk sitting in the tall sky and she was very tempted to get some. And so, she ran, climbed, and jumped to the tallest tree with all her might just to reach it, but still kitten couldn't even get close! It even caused her to fall into a pond. As she went back home feeling down, there was a bowl of milk waiting for her at the porch. Kitten licked some and fell asleep under the bright moon. Evaluation - Would I Incorporate this book in the classroom? Kevin Henkes did a great job writing and illustrating this book. The story was super cute and the illustrations went well with it. I loved the black and white contrast colors, depicting ...

  About Book Title: Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin  Author & Illustrator: Gene Barretta Genre: Nonfiction [Informational] Major Book Awards: No major book awards Recommended Age Range: 6-9 Appropriate Grade Levels: 1st to 4th grade Summary This book explores the many inventions that Benjamin Franklin has invented more than two hundred years ago and how these things are still used today. Some of his notable inventions are the lightening rod, the grabber, flippers, chairs, and clock with a second hand. The book also explains his other inventions as well and how it has been redeveloped over time, with the pattern of now and then. Although his inventions were life-changing, his greatest contribution to the world came in the form of a document. These documents had a strong impact globally. He helped shaped America's Constitution, Treaty of Alliance with France, Treaty of Peace with England, but most importantly, the Declaration of Independence. Without ...

  About Book Title:  If Sharks Disappeared Author & Illustrator: Lily Williams Genre: Nonfiction [Informational] Major Book Awards: No major book awards Recommended Age Range: 4-8 Appropriate Grade Levels: Kinder to 3rd Grade Summary This book written by Lily Williams explores the importance of why we need sharks in our oceans. They may seem scary to most, but just like other animals big or small, each play an important role. Sharks have existed for 450 million years at the top of the food chain and today they still continue to help keep the ecosystem in balance. Unfortunately, like many other animals, sharks are vulnerable to extinction due to overfishing. The book then goes into realistic scenarios that may happen if sharks did disappear, which will eventually affect us and other inland wildlife. Towards the end of the book, the author reminds us that we as living organisms connect in some way and if we work together, the planet in which we call home will continue t...

  About Book Title: Parrots over Puerto Rico Author & Illustrator: Cindy Trumbore & Susan L. Roth Genre: Nonfiction [Informational] Major Book Awards: America's Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, Robert F. Silbert Informational Book Medal Recommended Age Range: 7 to 10 Appropriate Grade Levels: 3rd to 6th Grade Summary In this vertical format book written by Cindy Trumbore and Susan L. Roth, talks about the brief history of Puerto Rico, as well as the Puerto Rican Parrots that lived in it. However, these birds nearly became extinct due to the foreign explorations in their islands, where many sought after them and along the way destroyed their habitat. After a while, people soon realized that these birds were decreasing as time go by. So, a group of scientists worked together to try and save these birds from going into extinction. With this book, Cindy and Susan depicts the efforts that these scientists do to save these birds through their Puerto Rican Par...