The Cay

Author: Theodore Taylor
Title: The Cay
Publishing information: Laurel Leaf, 1998, 9-12
Number of Pages: 144
Genre: Fiction

Summary of Plot: Phillip and his mother are heading home, but their ship sinks. Phillip is saved by a West Indian Timothy and a cat. They survive on an island. The incident leave Phillip blind and he has to rely on Timothy. With a racist background, he learns to care and love his caregiver. They build a raft and get off the island.
Your Reaction to the book: I liked this book as a kid and enjoyed it even more now.
Potential Problems: the way Phillip treats Timothy.
Recommendations: I think boys would enjoy this book just as much as girls.

The Slave Dancer

Author: Paula Fox
Title: The Slave Dancer
Publishing information: Yearling, 1973, 9-12
Number of Pages: 177
Genre: Historical fiction

Summary of Plot: Jesse is kidnapped from the dock in New Orleans, and placed on a slave ship to play his fife. After his ship reaches Africa and the ship is filled with slaves, once day the slaves are brought up one the deck to dance to Jesses’ music. Before the reach America their ship is caught in a storm, the ship goes down with the slaves and the crew, except jesses and slave boy. They reach land and Jesse goes back home and the boy is taken away.
Your Reaction to the book: This was the first book I read in school that made me cried. Reading it later in life I can the contention between the crew better.
Potential Problems: this book is gruesome Fox does not try to cover anything.
Recommendations: if you are interested in history and slave ships, this is a good book to read.

The Very Busy Spider

Author: Eric Carle
Title: The Very Busy Spider
Publishing information: Grosset & Dunlap, 1985, baby- preschool
Number of Pages: 24
Genre: picture book

Summary of Plot: Very one want to play, but the spider works to create her web.
Your Reaction to the book: this is a fun book. I love flip books.
Potential Problems: if you don’t like spiders don’t read this book.
Recommendations: great lesson for young kids.

Fanny's Dream

Author: Caralyn Buehner
Title: Fanny’s Dream
Publishing information: Puffin, 2003, 4-8
Number of Pages: 32
Genre: picture book

Summary of Plot: Fanny dream of going to the dance and falling in love with the mayor’s son, but the night of the big dance her fairy godmother does not show up. Heber Jensen shows up instead and asks Fanny to marry him after along time of pondering his question, she says yes. They get married and are happy, they work hard together, and laugh together; they have kids and love them. Years later the town has another party, and Fanny’s godmother shows up to help her get the party, but Fanny rejects her offer and stays with her family.
Your Reaction to the book: this is a cute book, and I think it really tells how life is.
Potential Problems: Fanny pulls some pranks in Heber that are not so nice.
Recommendations: If you have a little girl and you are worried she is taking the happily ever after to close to heart this is a great book for her.

17 things I'm not allowed to do anymore

Author: Jenny Offill
Title: 17 Things I’m no longer allowed to Do Anymore.
Publishing information: Schwartz and Wade, 2006, 4-8
Number of Pages: 32
Genre: picture book

Summary of Plot: this little girl staples her brother’s hair to the pillow, freezes dead flies and other crazy ideas. Her parents and her teachers tell her, after she gets in trouble what she is no longer allowed to do.
Your Reaction to the book: I like the art work it is unique. It’s a mix of photos, ink and paint.
Potential Problems: this book could give your child some mean ideas and prank to play on other kids
Recommendations: the story is fun, but I think girls would enjoy it better because the main character is a girl.

Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See

Author: Bill Martin
Title: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See
Publishing information: Harcourt School, 1993, baby- preschool
Number of Pages: 32
Genre: picture book

Summary of Plot: this rhyming picture leads kids through color and animals.
Your Reaction to the book: this book had great pictures, and would help kids read and recognize words.
Potential Problems: the colors and the animals sometimes don’t go together like horse and blue.
Recommendations: great book for little kids.

The BFG

Author: Roald Dahl
Title: The BFG
Publishing information: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1982, 9-12
Number of Pages: 221
Genre: fiction

Summary of Plot: Sophie is kidnapped by the BFG and taken to the land of the giants. There the BFG tells her how horrible the other giants are, and that they go and eat people every night. The BFG is called the Big Friendly Giant because he doesn’t eat people instead he captures dreams and then blows them into children’s rooms. When the mean giants go off to England to eat children, Sophie comes up with a great plan to tell the Queen of England. The BFG makes a special dream for the queen that tells her all about the mean giants eating children and how Sophie knows where a nice one is that can tell the Queen where they are. When the Queen wakes up Sophie is sitting the queen’s windowsill. With the help of the BGF they capture the giants and throw them into a pit.
Your Reaction to the book: this book is funny, the BFG talks funny and it become interesting translating what he is saying.
Potential Problems: if you look to deeply into the logic of this book, it won’t make any sense
Recommendations: I think this is a great book for everyone.