RF- Annotation

Perfect Chemistry
By Simone Elkeles, 2009
Walker & Company
Realistic Fiction Characteristic of Difference Ethnicity Hispanic American
Disabilities
357 Pages
Summary:
Perfect Chemistry is about two seniors from different sides of the tracks in
Chicago. When they are forced to be partners in chemistry class, Alex and
Brittany will be forced to acknowledge their differences but also their
similarities in life. As the two get to know each other they will have to face
judgment and rejection from the people in their lives. Sometimes differences
attract and help to change people and the world around them, whether the
world is ready or not. This book addresses the issues of disabilities; as well as
racial discrimination is a modern and relatable story.
Personal Response:
I loved this book it allowed me to learn about a different culture and way
of life from the text. The contexts of this story happen in everyday life where
people fight to make cultural changes in the way people view others. The
issues that are discussed in the book happen to many people even if culture
isnt a factor. Getting to read about a sibling who has a disability allows
readers to understand the challenges families face every day who have a
child with a disability.
Strengths / Weaknesses:
S: There is a lot of true to the culture that is discussed, the author Simone
Elkeles grew up and lives in Chicago so she has a real perspective of the city
and cultural issues it faces. The book has a powerful message on standing up
for what you believe in and fighting for what is right. The way the book is
written makes the reader fall in love with Alex and Brittany, you will laugh
and cry as they go through life being faced with difficulties.
Simone Elkeles was honored by being named the Illinois Author of the Year
by the Illinois Association of teachers of English.
W: This book is written in a simple manner however it discusses some
harder topics that may not be appropriate for younger readers. If the student
is mature enough for the topic I feel they can learn a lot from reading Perfect
Chemistry.
How this book might be used:
I would recommend that this book is read in 7th or 8th grade as an
independent read. If students were reading books that had similar themes
such as disabilities or discussing the challenges of relationships that span
cultures. I would have the students meet as a group to compare the book as
well as how the book dealt with the issues brought up. It is important for

students especially middle school to be exposed to the many different

experiences so they have some background on how to handle the when they
arise.

TL- Annotation
Mafaros Beautiful Daughters An African Tale
By John Steptoe, 1987
Scholastic Inc.
Traditional Literature Characteristic of Difference Ethnicity - African
American Good vs. Evil. 30 pages
Summary:
This is an African tale of the story of Cinderella. It follows the lives of two
very beautiful daughters both vying for the heart of the king in search of his
queen. One of the sisters is mean and self-centered, whereas, the other
sister is kind to everyone she meets. The sisters each journey on a different
path toward the king in hopes of becoming his wife; on their journey they
meet characters that expose who they really are.
Personal Response:
This book is based on the notion of good vs. evil and with that the idea of
outward vs. internal appearance. Growing up I was taught that it doesnt
matter what someone looks like on the outside but it matters what he or she
is like on the inside. This holds true to my own beliefs, I would rather have
people know that I care about others and what I stand for rather than my
outward appearance. It is important to take care of yourself however I dont
feel it is essential to wear makeup and spend 45 minutes getting ready if
there is another way to better spend my time. I could really identify with
Nyasha, the kind sister, I do my best to be nice to everyone and give back to
my community and those in need. I would rather be remembered as kind
than for my beauty.
Strengths / Weaknesses:
S: This story has a very strong message about being a good person.
Through the characters, you learn how important it is to represent yourself
how you want to be seen. John Steptoe was an author to 15 picture books
some of which he also illustrated. Even though he had a short career due to
an early death in 1989, he received national attention starting with his first
book at age 18. Steptoe has experience as an author and illustrator that add
to the depth of this book.
1988 Caldecott Medal
1988 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators

W: This book is long and may lose the interest of young elementary
students. It also was written in the 80s and some of the language may be
difficult for young elementary students to understand. It would be important
that the reader is able to supply alternative words or phrases to allow for
students understanding.
How this book might be used:
I would use this book in a 1st or 2nd-grade classroom for a read aloud or in
small groups. I would connect it to social studies and culture; it would be a
great way to bring the culture of Africa, specifically, ruins from Zimbabwe.
Folktales pull from the culture that they were adapted by, reading this
version of Cinderella we can learn a lot about the values of Zimbabwe.
Together we would look at the cultural and physical differences we can
observe in this region of Africa as well as the characters.
Fantasy Annotation
Pete the Cats Groovy Guide to Life
By Kimberly & James Dean, 2015
HarperCollins Publishers
Fantasy Characteristics of Difference Animal Fantasy
45 Pages
Summary:
Pete the Cats Groovy Guide to Life follows a cat named Pete as he
provides life lessons to the reader. Each page of the book contains a famous
inspirational quote as well as words by Pete the cat. He makes each quote
applicable to young children, providing an insight on positivity during any
point in his life. Petes positive outlook on life inspires him to treat others
how he wants to be treated and think of himself as always learning valuable
lessons.
Personal Response:
I chose this book because of its usage of quotes. At this point in my life, I
am finding a lot of meaning in quotes, I look to quotes as a point of
inspiration in my life. Quotes provide a way to simplify my thoughts and
feelings while still providing a powerful message. In life, I try to always see
the positives instead of focusing on the negatives. By doing this I find that I
can be a happier person and have a stronger impact on the people around
me. In our world today it is so easy to complain about everything and focus
on how bad something is, rather than making your brain work a little harder
to remind you, that not everything bad can happen.
Strengths/ Weaknesses:
S: This story has a very powerful message of having a positive outlook on
life. No matter what situation Pete the cat is in, he stays positive. The
whimsical way that this book is written provides a fun carefree atmosphere

that students can learn from. The images help share the story of a typical
cat's life, whether it be encountering a dog or observing birds in a tree;
students will be able to find connections that they know about cats from their
background knowledge.
W: This book says it is for children ages 4-8, however, the words that were
chosen make me believe otherwise. A child that young would not be able to
read this book without support from someone else. What Pete interprets
from the quotes would be at an appropriate level for 8-year-olds they would
struggle with the famous quote.
How this book might be used:
I would use this book in 2nd grade as a whole class. I would want my
students to interpret the quotes for themselves; we would have group
discussions on some of the quotes to help explain them in greater detail.
Then after we have talked about them, students would choose the quote that
they wanted to work with and come up with their own meaning like Pete the
cat did. I want my students to understand that you can apply any of the
quotes from the text to their own life. Using this book in my classroom will
also be a reminder to look at the positives in life instead of the negatives.
Historical Fiction
Cheyenne Again
By: Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Irving Toddy
Clarion Books 1995
Historical Fiction Characteristic of Difference Ethnicity Native American
Boarding Schools. 32 Pages
Summary:
Cheyenne Again is about a young boy named Young Bull who is an Indian.
Young Bull lives with his family and tribe until the white men arrive, they
require Indian boys to leave their homes to be sent to a boarding school. The
purpose of the boarding schools is to separate Indian children from their
background and culture. The boarding schools teach Indian children to think,
act, talk and dress like the white people. Cheyenne Again follows the story of
one boy sent to a boarding school and his struggle to maintain his memory of
who he is; an Indian inside.
Personal Response:
I chose this book because I do not have very much background knowledge
on Native Americans or the boarding schools the children were forced to
attend. It was fascinating to have a realistic account of what it was like to
grow up as a Native American during these times of change. Today majority
of people know about Native Americans due to the movies that show only
one side of the story. I would love to watch a movie produced by an
individual of Native American decent so I can learn true facts about the
culture and customs.

Strengths / Weaknesses:
S: Eve Bunting has written many books that discuss challenging topics
often avoided by other authors. Eve was inspired to write Cheyenne Again
because of an actual drawing a student of an off-reservation boarding school
had done. This picture laid the foundation of the book helping to give a
realistic account of what young children were going through. Irving Toddy the
illustrator is a former student at the Intermountain Indian School in Utah.
Toddy lived the life he drew for this book, these are his memories that we get
to see.
W: Eve Bunting shared the truth of what the Native American students
went through, however; Bunting left a lot of information out about the death
and harsh conditions. Pieces of the story were fabricated to make it
appropriate for young children, actual conditions were much harsher.
How this book might be used:
I would recommend that this book is used in 2nd grade as a whole class
read aloud. I want my students to understand where we come from, even
though students nationalities are different we now all live in the same
country and I believe we need to be aware of the countries history. It would
be appropriate to use this book in 2nd grade because it talks about the
harder topics without getting into areas young students may not be ready
for. With this book, I would be able to bring up the topics of racism, and
equality. As well as the idea of right from wrong, in terms of separating
families in order to change an ancient culture.
Poetry File
Science
Halleys Comet by J. Patrick, Lewis, from Doodle Dandies
I am

A cosmic
Snowball made
Of dusty ice and gas
Once or twice a century
I pass the earth and
Sun. See ya next
Time around
In 2061!
Source: Lewis, J. Patrick (2000) Doodle Dandies pg. 28

Why: I love how the poem reflected the actual comet. I dont have much
knowledge about space, so seeing a drawing of what the comet could look
like significantly adds to my understanding of the poem.
How and Who: I would use this poem as a reference to 3rd graders, providing
an example of how the image can add to the words. I would read it out loud,
and then have the students write their own poems and illustrate their own
drawings to add onto them.
Language Arts
English Lessons By Brian P. Cleary, from Rainbow Soup
If its I sit today
But yesterday I sat.

Could it be said I bit today,

But in the past, I bat?
And with that bat, if I should hit,
Shall it be said, Ive hitten?
For if that bat should bite me,
You can bet your butt, Im bitten.
And if that bite should mend itself,
One might proclaim, Im healed.
But people ask me how it felt
And never how it feeled.
Source: Cleary, Brian P (2004) Rainbow Soup- pg. 17

Why: I found this poem and loved how challenging it is to read due to the
improper English. Anytime when a short piece is hard to read due to its
structure or word choice I almost always love it.
How and Who: I would use this poem as a read aloud a 2nd or 3rd-grade
classroom. It would be a good chance for the whole class to work together to
understand the correct words to use in the poem.
Math
Smart by Shel Silverstein
My dad gave me one dollar bill
Cause Im his smartest son,
And I swapped it for two shiny quarters
Cause two is more than one!
And then I took the quarters
And traded them to Lou
For three dimes I guess he dont know
That three is more than two!
Just then, along came old blind Bates
And just cause he cant see
He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,
And four is more than three!
And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs
Down at the seed-feed store,
And the fool gave me five pennies for them,
And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,

And he got red in the cheeks
And closed his eyes and shook his head
Too proud of me to speak!
Source: Silverstein, S. (1974) Where the Sidewalk Ends- pg. 35

Why: I love this poem! When I was young math was really hard for me, I
struggled every year does not matter the content. My mom would
sometimes read me poetry before bed; I can remember hearing this poem
for the first time and actually understanding why this kids math was wrong. I
had never been able to identify tricks in math until now and I was so proud.
How and Who: I would use this poem as a read aloud in my 1st or 2nd-grade
classroom. It would be best to read the poem multiple times, the second time
reading I would use the board and help students to understand what is
happening in the poem that would make the kid's math incorrect.
Social Studies
Five Little Turkeys Contributed by Leanne Guenther
5 little turkeys standing by door,
One waddled off, and then there were 4.
4 little turkeys under a tree,
One waddled off, and then there were 3.
3 little turkeys with nothing to do,
One waddled off, and then there were 2.
2 little turkeys in the noonday sun,
One waddled off, and then there was 1.
One little turkey better run away,
For soon will come Thanksgiving Day.
Source: Guenther, Leanne. (1998-2015). http://www.dltk-holidays.com/thanksgiving/mfivelittleturkeys.htm

Why: I have always loved Thanksgiving and the atmosphere that surrounds
it. It was also one of my favorite holidays from school. The content that we
got to learn intrigued me while poems such as this mad it fun.
How and Who: I would use this poem in K or 1st grade. It would be a fun way
to add some movement into the classroom while also giving kids a chance to
show their personality.

Art/Music

Untitled Poem, By: Natalia M. Belting, From Poetry Matters

The dark gray clouds,
The great gray clouds,
The black rolling clouds are elephants
Going down to the sea for water.
They draw up the water in their trunks.
They march back again across the sky.
They spray the earth again with the water,
And men say it is raining.
Source: Fletcher, Ralph J. (2002) Poetry Matters pg. 38

Why: I chose this poem because I love that you can close your eyes and see
exactly what the author Natalia M. Belting is seeing in her mind.
How and Who: I would use this with 1st or 2nd graders as a listening activity.
I would read the poem out loud to the class and then have students draw
their favorite part. Eventually, I would use this poem as a model for students
to write their own descriptive poetry.
Health
Germs
When you cough or when you sneeze,
will you think of others please.
Use a tissue or your hand,
so on friends your germs won't land.
Source: Child Fun, (1994-2014). http://childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/people-househome/235-health-and-hygiene-activity-theme.html?start=4

Why: This is just a fun reminder poem for students. Anytime writing can be
gross students tend to love it more. Germs is a rhyming poem that is short
and to the point.
How and Who: I would use this poem in K or 1st grade, I would have a large
copy and put it on the wall. I would also use it as fluency practice where the
students would say it at the same time as me.

Nonfiction Annotations
Social Studies Text
Title: The West Today
Author: National Geographic
Illustrator: Photographs from multiple sources
Publisher, Year Published, and pages
National Geographic, 2004 and 32 pages
Summary:
This book is about anything and everything that you would find in the
modern day west. You will find information on travel, past inhabitants, the
people and movies created there, tourist activities, folklore, and technology
and change.
Related CCSS, Iowa Core or Professional Standard:
SS.K2.G.4
Essential Concept and/or Skill: Understand how geographic processes
and human actions modify the environment and how the environment
affects humans.
Age/ Grade Level and How It Would Be Used:
I would use this book in 4th grade to get the students interested in all that
the modern day west has to offer. Using this text I would have students
identify sections that they would like to learn more about and use that to
propel their curiosity. It contains a vast selection of facts and interesting
points about the west. This book would be good to have in the classroom
library to help fit the needs of all students in the classroom.
Science Text
Title: The Life Cycle of a Shark
Author and Illustrator
Author: John Crossingham and Bobbie Kalman
Illustrator: Barbara Bedell, Crystal Foxton and others
Publisher, Year Published, and pages
Crabtree Publishing Company, 2006 and 38 pages
Summary:
This book as everything you could want to know about sharks. There is
information about sharks life cycle as well as shark facts and dangers to
them. The book highlights why humans are dangerous to sharks and their
habitat. The pictures complement the text to enhance the readers
experience learning about sharks. This is a great book for students to
become interested in sharks and then learn what they want to know more
about.

Related CCSS, Iowa Core or Professional Standard:

S.35.LS.1
Essential Concept and/or Skill: Understand and apply knowledge of
organisms and their environments, including:
Structures, characteristics, and adaptations of organisms that allow
them to function and survive within their habitats.
How individual organisms are influenced by internal and external
factors.
The relationships among living and nonliving factors in terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems.
S.35.LS.2
Essential Concept and/or Skill: Understand and apply knowledge of
environmental stewardship.
Age/ Grade Level and How It Would Be Used:
I would use this text in 3rd grade as informational science text; many
students love to learn about sharks and what lives in the ocean. It would be a
good introductory to learning about life cycles; there are a lot of easy to use
sources in this book that students can use as a reference.
Math Text
Title: The Greedy Triangle
By: Marilyn Burns
Illustrated by: Gordon Silveria
Publisher, Year Published, and pages
Scholastic, 1994 and 36 pages
Summary:
This book is about a triangle that is tired of only being a triangle, so he asks
the shapeshifter to turn him into a different shape. When the triangle
becomes a new shape, it explores all the different places that he can find his
new shape in the world. The triangle continues to ask the shapeshifter to
alter his shape until he no longer knows what shape he is.
Related CCSS, Iowa Core or Professional Standard:
2.G.A.1
Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a
given number of angles or a given number of equal faces.9 Identify
triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.

Age/ Grade Level and How It Would Be Used:

I would use this book in 2nd grade as a way to introduce the similarities and
differences of shapes in a fun creative way. I would read this book out loud to
the class, then the students would be responsible for finding the different
shapes in their daily life and draw/write about what they found out. The more
that students can find examples of geometry in their daily life the more
inclined they will be to learn more.