Dallas Cheyenne Clark

Childrens Lit- RED

Multigenre Text Set
A multigenre text set is a collection of books that are about the same topic. A text set that
is put together well will include books from many genres, and will span about 6 different reading
levels. Multigenre text sets can be used to spark interest in reading, reach a wide variety of
students, and provide a building block for avid readers.
Students will be able to learn about the same topic in a variety of ways, and demonstrate
understanding of the information. This will open new avenues for learning, and retaining
information. During math a student may not fully comprehend how to fill in a magic square, but
they may be able to apply the same information after reading it in Ben Franklin and the Magic
Squares. They can use this text set to help them gain more knowledge in other subjects, most of
the time while enjoying a fun story.
Magic is a relevant theme for public school children because it is attention grabbing.
Students get lost in the world of fantasy and magic, waiting to see what happens next. Most of
the time they will find that there is a lesson involved in the story, usually moral. Sometimes they
will read historical fiction or math related magic books and be able to apply it in their other
classes, without being bored while they learned it. There are so many topics that can be
addressed with the main theme of magic, including, but not limited to: morals, math, history,
good vs. evil, love, and karma. Students will start seeing magic in their every-day lives, and be
able to relate it back to what they have read.

Books:
Title: Emilys Magical Journey With Toothena the Tooth Fairy
Author: CoraMarie Clark
Illustrator: Val Lawton
Reading Level: 1.5
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Summary: Emily loses her first tooth and begins to wonder what the tooth fairy looks like, and
what she does with the teeth she collects. To her surprise she is woken up by Toothena, the Tooth
Fairy, who shows Emily her castle, and how she turns her tooth into a star. Emily can see her star
from her bedroom window every night.
Justification: This book allows students to explore their imagination. They, too have probably
wondered about the Tooth Fairy or Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny.

Title: Elevator Magic

Author: Stuart J. Murphy
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Reading Level: 1.8
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Summary: Ben adventures with his mother to different floors of a tall building. He uses
subtraction to navigate the different floors, which happen to contain crazy things such as a farm,

speedway and candy shop. When they finally arrive on the bottom floor they step out into the
real world.
Justification: I chose this book because though the experience is one of magic, Ben also had to
use math on his adventure. This is a fun way for children to relate reading to math and fun things
without them realizing it.

Title: The Magic Fish

Author: Freya Littledale
Illustrator: Winslow Pinney Pels
Reading Level: 2.2
Genre: Traditional Literature
Summary: A fisherman catches a magic fish and his wife insists he returns to make her demands.
Eventually she has asked for too much from the fish and he returns the fisherman and his wife to
their sparse hut on the shore.
Justification: This book is a great example of the saying, Dont look a gift horse in the mouth,
or to just be grateful for what you are given, not to continuously ask for more. You may end up
right where you started.

Title: Thumbelina
Author: Brad Sneed
Illustrator: Brad Sneed
Reading Level: 2.3
Genre: Traditional Literature
Summary: Thumbelina is a tiny human who gets stolen by a mother toad for her son. Thumbelina
escapes and encounters suitors of all kinds before finally meeting a tiny man. He is the King of
all of the flowers, and asks Thumbelina to be his bride. She is finally with people like her and
could not be happier.
Justification: This book shows students that just because Thumbelina was different from most of
the animals she encountered, she still had somewhere she belonged.

Title: Anansi and the Magic Stick

Author: Eric A. Kimmel

Illustrator: Janet Stevens

Reading Level: 2.4
Genre: Traditional Literature
Summary: This tale is based on a Liberian folk tale. A lazy spider steals a magical broom to try
to clean up his messy home. The magic gets out of control, creating an even larger mess that all
of the animals have to deal with.
Justification: I chose this book because it teaches a valuable lesson that even something good,
like magic that helps you clean, can be misused.

Title: Milos Hat Trick

Author: Jon Agee
Illustrator: Jon Agee
Reading Level: 2.4
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Summary: Milo is a terrible magician and will be fired if he does not pull a rabbit out of his hat.
While searching for a rabbit, Milo instead finds a bear that can fit in his hat. The act is a big hit,
but after a while the bear is tired of jumping in and out of hats. Milo learns from the bear, and
jumps into his own hat at the end of every show.
Justification: This book shows that you dont always get what you are looking for, and you have
to be willing to adapt based on what you are given. Originally he is given a bear, and then he is
left with just himself.

Title: The Magic Hat

Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Tricia Tusa
Reading Level: 2.8
Genre: Poetry-Modern Fantasy
Summary: A magic hat sails through town landing on peoples heads and turning them into
animals. A huge wizard appears with a stop sign and catches the hat. He turns all of the animals
back into people, then leaves town, turning back into a young boy.
Justification: This book shows that people arent always what they appear to be. What appears to
be a big and powerful wizard, may in fact just be a little boy with a magic hat.

Title: Possum Magic

Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Julie Vivas
Reading Level: 3.0
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Summary: A possum turns her granddaughter, Hush, invisible to protect her from snakes. She is
unable to find the magic to make Hush visible again, only remembering it had to do with people
food. They travel all around Australia until Hush has tried all of the right foods and is fully
visible again.
Justification: I chose this book to show that every action has consequences. Though her grandma
used magic to help her, Hush was nearly invisible for the rest of her life.

Title: Rasiels Riddle

Author: Erica Silverman
Illustrator: Susan Gaber
Reading Level: 3.3
Genre: Traditional Literature
Summary: A young poor woman works for a Rabbi cooking and cleaning his house. The head
cook does not like her, and does not allow her to be seen or heard most of the time. One day
Raziel shares her small amount of food with a poor old woman, who in turn grants her 3 wishes.
She spends that evening with the Rabbis son, and tells him a riddle. The next day the Rabbis
son finds her and they get married.
Justification: This book teaches students that if you show kindness to all people you may receive
some kindness of your own. You never know who will grant your wishes.

Title: The Witchs Walking Stick

Author: Susan Meddaugh
Illustrator: Susan Meddaugh
Reading Level: 3.4
Genre: Modern Fantasy

Summary: A young girl runs away from her bossy siblings and meets an old woman who offers
her 3 gold coins to retrieve her walking stick. The girl finds the walking stick and discovers its
magical powers, which she uses on her siblings. When she returns it to the old woman all the
magic has been used up and the woman is not able to harm anything anymore.
Justification: I chose this book because it shows how powerful magic can be, and how it can be
used for both good and evil, depending on who is wielding the power.

Title: The Magic Gourd

Author: Baba Wague Diakite
Illustrator: Baba Wague Diakite
Reading Level: 3.4
Genre: Traditional Literature
Summary: Rabbit helps the chameleon and in exchange the chameleon gives him a magic gourd
that will fill with whatever he asks for. A greedy king hears of it and steals it from Rabbit.
Chameleon gives Rabbit another gift to help him retrieve the gourd. When the king tells Rabbit
he can have the gourd he also tells him to take his gold and food supply. The king is surprised to
find that Rabbit left him all of the food and gold, and learns to appreciate what has been given to
him.
Justification: This is another book I chose for its moral of not being greedy. Rabbit used the
magic gourd to feed his friends and family, but the king used it to make more and more gold for
himself. It was only when he thought he had nothing that he appreciated what he still had.

Title: 52 Cool Tricks For Kids

Author: Lynn Gordon
Illustrator: Susan Sunarski
Reading Level: 3.5
Genre: Procedural Text
Summary: A collection of magic tricks with instructions on how to perform each of them.
Justification: This is a fun book for students to read because they will also be able to perform
magic tricks for their friends and family.

Title: Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares

Author: Frank Murphy
Illustrator: Richard Walz
Reading Level: 3.6
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: This story provides a brief history of Benjamin Franklins inventions, leading up to a
possible situation that he may have been in when he created the magic square. It explains how to
fill in a magic square as well.

Justification: Math is often tricky and it would seem like magic is needed to solve the problems.
This book simplifies the magic square so that students will be able to figure it out easily.
**Wish I had read this book before Concepts I

Title: The Magic Fan

Author: Keith Baker
Illustrator: Keith Baker
Reading Level: 3.7
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Summary: Yoshi can build anything, but has run out of ideas. A magic fan comes to him,
showing him to build a boat, a kite, and then a bridge over the village. The villagers are upset
because the bridge casts a large shadow, but when a tsunami wipes away the village everyone is
safe on the bridge and thankful for Yoshi. He comes up with tons of new ideas that he can build,
without the fans help.
Justification: I chose this book because it helps to show students that often the real magic is in
our imaginations, not an object.
If I had a magic fan it would have this drawn on it...

Title: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Author: William Steig
Illustrator: William Steig
Reading Level: 4.0
Genre: Traditional Literature

Summary: Sylvester is a young donkey who finds a magic pebble. While rushing home to show
his parents, he encounters a hungry lion, and in his fear, wishes to become a rock. His parents
search for him for months and months, until one day they have a picnic on the rock that is their
son. They find the pebble and set it on him and he is able to wish himself a donkey again.
Justification: I chose this book because it shows the fault in magic, as well as making quick
decisions. I believe the children will feel sad when Sylvester is unable to return home to his
parents, and truly enjoy this magical tale.

Title: Makai the Magic Bull Terrier Meets Mop and Flop
Author: Suzy Quzy
Illustrator: Suzy Quzy
Reading Level: 4.3
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Summary: A magical bull terrier comes into the lives of two humans, Mop and Flop, who are
very sad. With his magical powers, Makai takes away their sadness, and convinces them to let
him snuggle in their bed.
Justification: This book is another example of how magic isnt always truly magical. This dog
brought love into their lives after the loss of a family member, and it worked like magic.

Title: MeeAn and the Magic Serpent

Author: Baba Wague Diakite
Illustrator: Baba Wague Diakite
Reading Level: 4.4
Genre: Traditional Literature
Summary: A vain young woman marries a man who is perfect in appearance, but is actually a
serpent hoping to fatten her and her sister up in order to eat them. When she discovers this a
heron helps the sisters to return home and in exchange they give him a horse, cow, donkey and a
sheep.
Justification: This book teaches a valuable lesson to not judge a book by its cover, look deeper
into the people you surround yourself with. It also has a strong tone about listening to your loved
ones, they told her not to marry only for looks.

Title: The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body

Author: Joanna Cole

Illustrator: Bruce Degen
Reading Level: 4.6
Genre: Science Fiction
Summary: Ms. Frizzle plans to take the class on a field trip to the science museum, until the bus
shrinks and is swallowed by Arnold. The class travels through the human body, learning as they
go, until Arnold sneezes, freeing them.
Justification: I chose this book because it shows a funny, whimsical way of learning, through a
magic school bus. I believe this book will be a fun way for students to love reading, as well as
learn about the human body.

Title: Ninas Magic

Author: Lisa Kirsten Butenhoff
Illustrator: Lisa Kirsten Butenhoff
Reading Level: 4.8
Genre: Traditional Literature

Summary: In a harsh winter, Nina is given a paint set, and finds that whatever she paints comes
true. She paints coats and winter clothes for everyone, and anything else she wants. It is only
when she is nearly out of paint that she realizes she can paint her parents returning home.
Justification: I chose this book because students will be able to learn not to waste their talents, be
they magical painting or playing sports.

Title: The Golden Mare, the Fire Bird and the Magic Ring
Author: Ruth Sanderson
Illustrator: Ruth Sanderson
Reading Level: 5.4
Genre: Traditional Literature
Summary: A young hunter befriends a golden mare, who helps him to achieve all that he desires.
The Tsar that the huntsman works for begins sending him on near-impossible tasks, until one day
he is tricked and turned into a baby. The huntsman then marries the Tsars would-have-been
bride and together they raise the child.
Justification: This is a good example for students that greed and jealousy will not get you
anywhere in life. The Tsar thought he would not be harmed and instead was just turned into a
baby.

Websites:

Title: Magic Tricks!

Author: DLTKs Inc.
URL: http://www.kidzone.ws/magic/
Reading Level: k-6
Summary: This website has a list of magic tricks for kids to practice along with detailed
instructions.
Justification: This is another hands on way for kids to apply their learning.

Title: Bubble Witch

Author: SpilGames
URL: http://www.gamesgames.com/game/bubble-witch
Reading Level: k-6
Summary: A game kids can play where they concoct potions to burst the bubbles.
Justification: A fun game that relates to magic.

Title: Magic Tricks

Author: Chris of MA
URL: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/magictricks.html
Reading Level: k-6
Summary: Magic tricks posted by other kids.
Justification: This is another hands on way for kids to apply their learning.

Title: You Can Do Magic!

Authors: Ken Kelley, Julian Mather
URL: http://magictricksforkids.org/
Reading Level: K-6
Summary: Magic tricks designed for kids
Justification: This is another hands on way for kids to apply their learning.

Title: Magic Tricks

Author: Big Fish Design
URL: http://www.funology.com/magic-tricks/
Reading Level: K-6
Summary: Magic tricks designed for kids
Justification: This is another hands on way for kids to apply their learning.

Reflection
After having completed my multigenre text set I have learned that it requires an
expansive knowledge of childrens literature. You have to be able to group together many
different books of different genre and writing styles that all cover the same topic. It was much
more difficult than I had anticipated. I believe that it is important to have pre-established text sets
before entering the field of teaching. It is important if a child asks if we have a book over a
certain topic in our classroom library that we be able to point them in the right direction towards
multiple books they will connect with.
As an early childhood educator it is important that we know as well as understand
childrens books, so we know what our students will be exposed to. I believe this project showed
me how much more I have to learn about picking books for children, and how to organize them.
They also need to be able to go to the computer lab and find websites that connect them to the
books they are learning, as well as practical games. Educational websites for children are fairly
hard to come by, so it is important to do your research before entering a tech environment with
your students.

I dont believe you can have enough text sets in your classroom for young readers
especially, because they are not entirely sure what they are interested in. Their interests can
change from day to day, so it is imperative to have a myriad of topics for them to sift through. I
hope to discuss other text sets with my classmates to get me started for my own classroom. I
hope to inspire students to love to read as much as I do, and a lot of that depends on the
classroom culture that I provide for them.