Hitler Youth

Bartoletti, S. C. (2005). Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

In this nonfiction children's book Bartoletti writes about the youth organisation of the Nazis and how the youth were made to idolize Hitler and the roles and positions they possessed during the Third Reich. This book is so informative and chilling it explains how these German youth were taken advantage and were manipulated due to their youth and hope for change,thus also promoting ant-semitism. Hitler's hope was that they'd all fall under a spell of National Socialism in order for the Final Solution to be possible. The photos are stiking,yet chilling to the bone. This book is perfect for upper elementary grade levels to middle and even high school grades as they delve into the historical account of the Holocaust.

Spiders

Bishop, N. (2007). Spiders. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

Bishop does a fantastic job talking all about the different colors, sizes and types of spiders. Bishop explains how long they've existed dating back to prehistoric times. Bishop is very informative be teaching about some spiders being as big as the Goliath Birdeater Tarantula from South America, to its main parts, to how they eat, to how they build their webs, to how they jump dance for a female. His up close photography provides a realistic,under the scope type of experience. This book would be great for any Life Science class, any lesson associated with spiders, or any arachna-fanatic.

It's so Amazing

Harris, R. H., & Emberley, M. (1999). It's so amazing!: A book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, and families. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Harris's informative book about sexual reproduction is a kid friendly book for just about any kid who begins with curiousity about how a baby is formed and what is needed for the conception such as an egg and sperm. Harris does a brilliant job explaining it in a non-explicit manner..not too much detail but just enough. Emberley's illustrations provide the perfect visual for children to make connections with Harris's explanations. The human cell growth comparison to other animals development as well as others are perfectly paired with the bird and bees conversations throughout the book.

Mirror, Mirror

Singer, M., & Masse, J. (2010). Mirror mirror: A book of reverso poems. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books.

A book written in a very poetic form that Singer created in reverso about fairy tales. A 2-in-1 poem about several classical fairy tales read down one way and read back up changing only in capitalization and punctuation. Fairy tales like In the Hood that channel The Little Red Riding Hood and Mirror, Mirror which is the main book's poem which also channels Snow White offers a creative way to read classic fairy tales again to just about anyone that appreciates them in this unique style.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham

Curtis, C. P. (1997). The Watsons go to Birmingham. London: Orion Children's Books.

Kenny is an 11-year-old boy who happens to be the middle child in the tight-knit humorous Watson family. Kenny witnesses the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement as social injustices begin to unravel that begins in Flint and ends in Birmingham. Not to mention, is constantly bullied due to his lazy eye by Buphead and his older brother,By. By seems to be the black sheep and delinquent in the family, who happens to be a disappointment in his parent's eyes. Climatic events occur when Kenny almost drowns, his brother continues to get into trouble and gets sent to live with his very strict Grandmother Sands where a bombing occurs in a church that leaves four little girls dead. tjis tragic event does something to By and leaves the family devastated. A great book with important themes about the importance of family and acceptance of others.

It's a Book

Smith, L. (2011). It's a book. London: Macmillan Children's Books.

Jackass comes along one day and asks Monkey what he has in his hands as Monkey explains it's a book. Jackass asks if he can do several things with it such as: text, tweet, blog with it, if it has wifi, etc. Monkey repeatedly exclaims "It's a book!" Monkey then decides to show him a climatic part he's on and all Jackass can say is the text is too long and says he can fix the letter problem. He translates it all into text language. Monkey grows with frustration.Spurred by curiosity he begins to read it himself. Hours go by and Monkey wants his book back and Jackass tells him not to worry that he'll charge it. The story ends with Monkey frustratingly telling him he doesn't have to because "It's a Book!" This is a great story for anyone that needs to be reminded that sometimes tangible books are just as great!

Rules

Lord, C. (2006). Rules. New York: Scholastic Press.

12-year old Catherine just wants a normal life, but finds it difficult when her family's lives revolve around her 8- year old autistic brother. She constantly finds herself avoiding embarrassing moments with her brother. She just wants to be normal and "cool", when she meets the fashionable next door neighbor, Kristi. Caught up with what Cristi and others might think of her friend,Jason, who is a paraplegic boy she met while attending therapy sessions with her brother. Catherine develops a friendship with both, yet will never allow them to meet each other, due to rejection. Kristi wants to double date and asks Catherine to bring Jason, however,is saved by Jason's party which happens to be on the same day as the dance. That same day he asks if she'd like to go and senses she doesn't want to with him. Later, she ends up asking him if he'd like to go, and just as she suspected Kristi is not accepting Jason for who he is. In the end, Catherine realizes what friendship really is and that there is no such thing as normal. This is a great book for the latter elementary grades to middle grades with powerful lessons of acceptance and friendship.