My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood

TITLE:  My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood
AUTHOR:  Tameka Fryer Brown
ILLUSTRATOR:  Shane W. Evans
PUBLISHER:  Viking
COPYRIGHT:  2013

Join Jamie through his day as he experiences various emotions.  He describes these emotions using color and a rhythmic text.

I thought this book was nicely illustrated and would be beneficial for a class discussion on feelings.  Then I can see this book turning into a great writing and art project for a class.

Out of My Mind

TITLE: Out of My Mind
AUTHOR:  Sharon M. Draper
ILLUSTRATOR: N/A
PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
COPYRIGHT: 2010

I have finished the most amazing book!  I checked it out from our local library after seeing it on the shelf at the school library while volunteering.  They cover caught my eye.  The librarian there told me what a great book it is, and I've looked forward to reading it.  She was right, it is wonderful.  I think all teachers should have to read this book.  It is such a touching story and very eye opening to me.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is the story of Melody, an 11 year old girl who is extremely smart. She has never spoken a word though.  She has cerebral palsy and is in a wheel chair.  Everyone...teachers, doctors, and classmates.... assumes she is not capable of doing anything.  She has a few people who believe in her though and a couple of good teachers who see her potential. All Melody wants is to be normal and do things like the other kids she sees at school instead of being stuck in the "special" classroom all day.   

This is such a touching story, and one I will always remember.   (I was nearly crying at the end and I don't cry over books!)  There are so many lessons that can be learned from Melody's story, both by young people and adults.  I highly recommend this book to you.

The AR level for the book is 4.3. 

How Do You Feel?

TITLE: How Do YOU Feel?
AUTHOR:  Anthony Browne
ILLUSTRATOR: Anthony Browne
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
COPYRIGHT: 2011

This book is all about feelings.  How do you feel today?  Are you curious, confident, angry, or silly?  

Toddlers through kindergarten aged children would enjoy this book.  It would be a nice addition to a unit on feelings to build vocabulary and also show how we can have different feelings throughout the day. 

Stand Straight, Ella Kate

TITLE:  Stand Straight, Ella Kate
AUTHOR: Kate Klise
ILLUSTRATOR:  M. Sarah Klise
PUBLISHER: Penguin Group Incorporated
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This is the story of Ella Kate Ewing who continued to grow.  It is "The True Story of  Real Giant."  Even though things were different and hard for Ella Kate compared to others around her, she still worked to achieve her dreams in life. 

This was an interesting story and would be good for children to read who feel different from others.  My son and I enjoyed reading this together. 

Natalie and the One-of-a--Kind Wonderful Day!

TITLE: Natalie and the One-of-a-Kind Wonderful Day!
AUTHOR: Dandi Daley Mackall
ILLUSTRATOR: Lys Blakeslee
PUBLISHER: Zonderkids
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Natalie is a five year old girl who wants to have a one-of-a-kind wonderful day. She tries first thing in the morning by making "omel-nats." That turns out to be not such a wonderful idea. This sweet, determined little girl continues to try new wonderful things all day long that just lead to disasters. She doesn't feel very happy by bedtime until a talk with her parents shows her God made her special and wonderful. Primary aged girls will enjoy this story and the character of Natalie.

I enjoyed getting to know Natalie in this book and recommend this for your daughter or church library.

Hurty Feelings

TITLE: Hurty Feelings
AUTHOR: Helen Lester
ILLUSTRATOR: Lynn Munsinger
PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin Company
COPYRIGHT: 2004

Fragility is the main character. She gets her feelings hurt easily. What lesson can she learn from the rude elephant named Rudy? The illustrations are delightful with the various expressions shown on the faces of the characters. Primary aged children will enjoy this book as well as some preschoolers. It is a book that teaches a lesson about feelings and emotions.

My son and I both enjoyed this book.