Aliens Love Underpant

Aliens Love Underpants

Written by: Claire Freedman

Illustrated by: Ben Cort

Simon and Schuster 2007

28 pages

Fiction

            When looking at books to read this one was one of the first to catch my eye. The illustrations on the cover page are funny and silly and make you want to read the book. Since there are no underpants in space, aliens have to fly down to Earth. They love underpants in all shapes and sizes! From moms to grandpas the aliens love all the different kinds. But always have to leave in a flash so they are not caught. So if you ever see an alien don’t worry they aren’t out to get you, just your underpants!

Ben Cort did a fantastic job on the illustrations. The pictures are funny and corky just like the story. I love the way he uses the different colors to create unique pictures. The aliens’ lines are short and stubby but with long arms. There are many different shapes used through the text to emphasize what the story is talking about.

This is a hilarious book that could be used for many different age groups but mostly younger grade levels. It is a great book to introduce rhyming with. The book could also be used for creative writing prompts. The book has many adjectives used that students you could ask your students to listen for and point out. I think Aliens Love Underpants would be a wonderful book to read with your students just for the joy of reading!

 

 

The Great Gracie Chase

The Great Gracie Chase

 Stop That Dog!

Written by: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrated by: Mark Ieague

Blue Sky Press 2001

31 pages

Fiction

            The Great Gracie Chase is about a dog who likes her house to be very quiet. One day painters come to her house and ruin everything. Gracie did not like the painters being so loud, so she barked and barked until they put her outside. Even though she knew she wasn’t suppose too, Gracie took a walk by herself. Before she knew it the walk became a run and the whole neighborhood started to chase her. This book seemed like it would be an exciting book to read with children. The illustrations are big and loud which students will enjoy.

            The illustrations were one of the very first things that jumped out at me. The shapes of the pictures help children know what the most important thing to look at is or when something exciting happens. The illustrations are cartoon like characters. The colors are warm and vibrant which lets us see the same excitement in which the words convey.

 

        Although this book is not my favorite, I think children will enjoy it very much. I think you could use this book for grades K-3. The Great Gracie Chase would be great to use as a read aloud book. Afterwards students could sequence out the events that take place. Another way to incorporate this book could be the use of cause and effect. You could have a chart to do with younger grades and as a class feel out the cause and effect part. For instance, Gracie got put outside because of her loud barking.

 

Grace for President

Grace for President

Written by: Kelley DiPucchio

Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham

Hyperion Books for Children 2008

32 pages

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

            I chose this book because it was one of the first to jump out at me. The illustrations are big and loud which I know children like. I also knew it would be a good book to read in school since that is where the setting takes place.  When Grace Campbell learns there has never been a girl president she immediately decides she wants to be the first. The school holds an election for Grace and her tough competition Thomas Cobb. While Thomas knows he has it in the bag Grace works hard and tries to become the best girl for the job.

            The illustrations in this book really catch the eye. The pictures are very big, loud, and colorful. The compositions show you what the author wants you to mainly focus on. There are many different shapes and sizes, such as the shape of the states. The illustrator uses a variety of warm colors such as reds, blues, and yellows. The pictures capture the American theme throughout the book.

            This book would be appropriate for children between ages 5 to 9. There are a variety of different texts. For kindergarten through first grade you may have to read the book aloud to your students, where as second or third grade students could read it to themselves. Grace for President would be great to incorporate in a history lesson. I would like to use it during election time because it really goes through the election process in a student friendly manner. It would also be good to build character education. It shows children know matter what you should always believe in yourself and dream big!