Dear Juno*

Book: Dear Juno *
Author: Soyung Pak
Copyright Date: 1999
Suggested Level: Pre K-Grade 3
Genre: Picture
Summary: A young boy who can not read Seoul and his grandmother who can not read English “write” to each other and communicate through pictures and symbols.
Reaction: This book has such a touching and encouraging meaning. Juno was too impatient to wait for his parents to translate the letter his grandmother sent him but he could tell from her enclosed pictures what she was trying to say and wrote back to her through pictures and objects. His grandmother sent him a box of colored pencils to encourage him to keep “writing” her letters and they communicated back and forth
through symbolism and art. This book portrays communication across distances, geographically and linguistically as well encouraging children to find their own solutions.
Uses: Writing and drawing exercises dealing with symbolism i.e. students can be asked to “write” someone a letter using pictures and objects.

The Caged Bird of Phnom Penh*

Book: The Caged Bird of Phnom Penh*
Author: Frederick Lipp
Copyright Date: 2001
Suggested Level:
Genre: Picture and Realistic Fiction
Summary: This story is about a girl in Cambodia living in poverty. She sells flowers to help raise money for her family but keeps a small amount in hopes of one day buying a bird so she can make a wish, for a better life, and set it free. (Symbolism-the bird will carry your dreams)
Reaction: I enjoyed this book because it had a nice message and I came to find out that it is based on a custom (which is why I wrote that it is realistic fiction). A bird lady in Cambodia owns several birds and you can buy one, make a wish, and set it free so your wish can come true-however, the birds are trained to fly back to her.
Uses: Discussions of social issues; homelessness and poverty, as well as dreams/hopes and symbolism.

The Truth about Forever

The Truth about Forever was written by Sarah Dessen; it is a realistic fiction acceptable for grades 7+. It is about a girl named Macy who experiences a terrible loss when her father passes away. Instead of dealing with his death and continuing her life she began to "stop living" in a sense. She became very controlling and turned away from anything that appeared to be a risk . Until she befriended a group of individuals who live life completely opposite from her; taking risks and living for the moment.
This book captured Macy's emotions very strongly. It showed how her father's death affected her view on life and the world. As well as the adverse affects of not dealing/coping with a loss and instead displacing that desire to control outcomes elsewhere. Losing a loved one is always difficult, however losing a parent is one of the most difficult losses a child will ever experience. This book portrays a strong lesson about losses and gains; as well as the importance of friends and family.

"The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World" by E.L. Konigsburg

The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L Konigsburg was Published in September 2007. It is about a boy named Amedeo Kaplan who, more than anything in the world, wants to discover something never noticed before; anything from as small as a fossil to as large as a secret place. He lived in New York and was surrounded by art-his father was an artist and his grandfather a museum curator. He was assiting his grandfather on an exhibit featuring artwork condemned during Hitler's rule in Nazi Germany when he and his mother moved to Florida. One day he assisted a neighbor empty out her old mansion, she was a famous Opera singer in her day and her home was filled with ancient memorbilia. Looking through her home was like a mysterous adventure; he stumbled across a drawing that looked very familiar and soon realized a connection between the past and the present. He began to learn more about the Nazis during World War II, and their brutal treatment of artist, homosexuals, and Jews. Although this story has a strong historic message, it is presented in a very interesting and kid-friendly manner. (Ages 9+)

Bernstein Bears go to school

This book is written and illustrated by Jan and Stan Bernstein. It is great for beginning readers, especially if the child has yet to enter the school system. It has colorful fun illustrations and sends a very positive message. Brother bear expressed his anticipation for the new school year, which was comforting for Sister bear who was anxious to be attending school for the first time. It spoke of the things she had done throughout the summer which she would miss and one of those activities was reading, which gives children the subtle message that reading is a fun activity.
When I started school my older sister brought this book home from the library and read it to me. I enjoyed it then and I am sure any child would still enjoy it today!