Hoai's Book Island

  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 ...