The Very Pink Unicorn

Brown Girl Dreaming is a memoir about  Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, that tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse.   Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.  The poems in this book are extremely vivid, touching and powerful.  Even being about a young brown girl, this book can be used to teach any young girl to live their life, follows their dreams, and shoot for the stars.  In my personal opinion, this book is a strong read due to the fact that it is extremely emotionally charged and well balanced throughout its entirety.  Other novels written by this author are Each Kindness and Another Brooklyn. Classroom Activities: 1.) Have students write a poem that stron...

Wonder is a heart-warming, love-filled, inspirational novel written by R.J. Palacio.  As a realistic fiction novel, you begin to understand why choosing kindness any day is the best option.  In the book, Auggie, the main character, is a child with a very rare birth defect who does not automatically enjoy going to school but with the help of his friends Summer and Jack helps them to understand why being kind to their friend goes a long way.  I would reccomend this book to be read to students in grades three and up when they begin to learn about kindness towards their peers.  This book can be used during national bullying prevention week as well. Learning about being kind and using literature to do so kills two birds with one stone and allows educators to reveal the secret that literature can be used for almost every situation. We're All Wonders was also written by R.J. Palacio. Classroom Activities: 1.) Students can read the book and then watch the movie....

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiographical novel by Maya Angelou  that illustrates how the strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome  racism  and  trauma .  When reading this book, keep in mind that the author used her own personal life to guide literature in a way that creates a new outlook on how you can handle your own personal situation based on any trial or tribulation in your own life.  A book like this can be used in a classroom and can help students to understand how to speak up for themselves in situations they feel they are voiceless in.  Maya Angelou has written a plethora of novels that include Mom & Me & Mom and And Still I Rise. Classroom Activities: 1.)  Students can write a short story about their own lives and use the text in the book as a way to figure out how they can overcome the trials and tribulations in their own lives. 2.)  Have students write to Maya Angelou (pret...

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a historical fiction novel written by John Boyne.  This book is based on a boy named Bruno who is forced to move away from his home due to a promotion that his father received from work.  Bruno soon finds himself a new friend in Shmuel who is stuck with an unfortunate fate as Bruno learns Shmuel is confined to a concentration camp.  Trying to save Shmuel, Bruno finds himself facing the exact same fate of being placed in a gas chamber to die.  The story told in this book, based on facts of a historical event during the times of concentration camps and gas chambers, allows readers to understand what exactly happened during the Holocaust and gives a small insight to what it was like to be on both the outside and inside.  Novels like this one are The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank and Night by Elie Wiesel. Classroom Activities: 1.)  Have the children write a letter to a Holocaust survivor and se...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is based on the fantasy idea of a young boy named Charlie who won a golden ticket contest, hosted by none other than the famous Willy Wonka, to attend Wonka’s tour of his chocolate factory.  During his visit, Charlie experiences the children around him and how they react with their parents and is eventually the “last child standing” by the end of the tour.  Wonka eventually invites Charlie and his family to come live with him in his factory to which they agree.  This book feeds on the amazement of just being able to experience what happens in a chocolate factory where the world’s most desired candy is created.  Reading the book, you can automatically place yourself in this fantasy world making it seem so real.  This book was later presented as two feature films, one released in 1971 titled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the other titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, after the book.  Other books...

Holes by Louis Sachar is about a 14-year-old boy named Stanley Yelnats struck with misfortune due to a family curse and had later been wrongly convicted of theft.  Yelnats ended up being sent to Camp Green Lake where he was to dig holes to "build character" but later Stanley begins to suspect they are digging for other purposes.  This book was late adapted into a feature film starring Shia LaBeouf.  As mystery genres go, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat because who wouldn't want to know about a secret hidden treasure chest and all the glories it may possess.  I would recommend this book to teachers to read to their students simply because it comes with a great lesson: "ALWAYS stick to your gut feeling.  It never steers you wrong".  There are also sequels to this book titled Holes: Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake and Small Steps by the same author. Classroom Activities: 1.)  A fun and creative way to have chil...