Abe Lincoln's Dream

Author & Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:  Roaring Brook Press
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   featured on "Calling Caldecott" blog, Horn Book & School Library Journal starred reviews,

Summary:  Presidental scholars will immediately recognize the inclusion of Roosevelt, Johnson, and Reagan's dogs as they begin this story of a girl who goes on a White House tour and encounters Abraham Lincoln's ghost. The book deftly moves between silly jokes and serious questions as they discuss the issues ("Our union was so fragile, so uncertain. Like that ship on the rocky sea.") of union and equality that so plagued President Lincoln. The girl Quincy reassures Lincoln of the progress that has been made since his time. The Afterward explains Abraham Lincoln's reoccurring dream of himself in a ship moving toward a distant shore and also introduces the president dogs that are in the story. Lane use of a muted palette here fits the "historical" feel of the story and the typography looks like those used in newspapers of Lincoln's time. There are many pictorial references to history in the illustrations as well.

Classroom Ideas: Along with the obvious history curriculum connection, there are several uses of simile here. I wouldn't use this one to introduce Lincoln as you have to have some understanding of the issues he faced to get the story, but rather to enhance a study of his presidency.

It's a Book

Author & Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:  Roaring Brook Press
Publication Year:   2010
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Publisher's Weekly & Booklist starred reviews

Summary:  This sarcastic book is classic Lane Smith, with a little controversy thrown in. The characters: mouse, jackass, and monkey, are introduced on the title page. Jackass doesn't know what a book is and wants to know if it scrolls, blogs, texts, tweets, has a password or a screen name. Monkey explains "No, it's a book" each time. Finally, Jackass gets drawn into the story and won't give the book back.  Monkey decides to go to the library, but Mouse gets in the last word. Adults should preread it and make sure they're okay with the final (slightly naughty) twist.

Classroom Ideas: This book has an important theme and is very funny, but I'm not sure I'd bring it into the classroom. Rather I'd let parents introduce it to their kids (just like I did as soon as I read it!)

Smith writes about his book: http://curiouspages.blogspot.com/2010/07/lane-smith-on-its-book.html

Grandpa Green

Author & Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:  Roaring Brook Press
Publication Year:   2011
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Caldecott Honor, Publisher's Weekly Best Books, School Library Journal Best Books,

Summary:  This is the story of a great-grandfather told through the eyes of his great-grandson. Grandpa Green was born and grew up on a farm. He built an incredible topiary filled garden with scenes from his life, but now he's starting to forget things. The garden remembers for him. The gorgeous pen and ink drawings with splashes of color, mostly green, just drew me into the amazingly detailed world. I honestly wanted to take off down the pebbled path into the garden.  This book is a feast for the eyes to stare at for hours.

Classroom Ideas: This would be a great introduction to horticulture (the word is used in the book) and topiary. It also would speak to aging and Alzheimer's in a very gentle way. Even though Grandpa never speaks, we learn a lot about him and it would be interesting to do a character study and describe him (and the grandson as well).

Cowboy and Octopus

Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:  Viking
Publication Year:  2007
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   School Library Journal and Horn Book starred reviews

Summary:  Cowboy and Octopus are unlikely pals (even the endpapers and the dedications show their differences). In these seven small stories, they meet, work together, eat baked beans, dress up for Halloween, explore the weather, tell jokes, and appreciate (or not) each other's hats. Silly but sometimes profound fun! Lane Smiths' "collage" creations illustrate the story perfectly (surreal but nice).

Classroom Ideas: This book has a great theme of appreciating people for their individuality and looking beyond the outside. If you can't figure out the themes, Octopus will point them out for you- great introduction to the idea of theme or moral for younger readers.

John, Paul, George, and Ben

Author & Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:  Hyperion
Publication Year:   2006
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Horn Book Fanfare Award, School Library Journal Best Books,  NYT Best Illustrated Book of the Year,  Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year,  Parenting Magazine Best Book of the Year, NYT Notable Book, 

Summary:  Despite sounding like a Beatles book, this book is about four (or five) of the founding fathers. Smith chooses adjectives for each one of them: John Hancock was bold; Paul Revere was noisy; George Washington was honest; Ben Franklin was clever; Thomas Jefferson was independent. These traits lead to the accomplishments of the founding fathers, ending with a hilarious "ye olde True or False" section. As always, Smith's illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the text.

Classroom Ideas: This would be a great book for fourth grade to link Writing, Grammar, and Social Studies. It could be used to talk about adjectives, character traits, and US history.

The Happy Hocky Family

Author & Illustrator: Lane Smith  
Publisher:  Viking
Publication Year:   1993
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Parent's Choice Award

Summary:  This satire of a traditional Dick & Jane primer is full of dry humor and sarcasm. It is most appropriate for older children who can understand the joke. The artwork is perfect in its simplicity. The book made me and my 9 year old laugh out loud several times! I think the ant farm story was my favorite.

Classroom Ideas: I would use this book to introduce the idea of sarcasm and parody to upper elementary students.

Madame President

Author & Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:  Hyperion Books
Publication Year:   2008
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Starred reviews from School Library Journal & Booklist

Summary:  Katy, wearing a smart black pantsuit, goes through her day placing an executive order for waffles, negotiating a treaty between a dog & cat, and choosing her cabinet (I LOVE Mr. Potato Head as her Secretary of Agriculture!) At school she vetos the tuna casserole, presents her oral report press conference, and keeps peace in the science lab. Once again, Lane Smith's awesome illustrations give so many details for readers to return to again and again.  

Classroom Ideas: This book will introduce kids to the idea of presidential duties (treaties, negotiating, executive orders, cabinets, vetos, etc.) It would be perfect for 3rd graders who are studying American government. 

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

Author: A.Wolf as told to Jon Scieszka
Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:Viking 
Publication Year: 1989  
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   ALA Notable, NEA "Teacher's Top 100 Books", School Library Journal "Top 100 Picture Books of All Time"

Summary:  Another Scieszka story that turns a traditional tale upside down. In this one. the story of the three little pigs is told by the wolf instead of the pigs. In it, the narrator talks directly to the reader and his tells his story where he was just looking to borrow a cup of sugar from his pig neighbors. Once again, Lane Smith's creative illustrations and the amazing use of typography make this book into something special.

Classroom Ideas: Obviously, this book is perfect for perspective and point of view. In the 2013 Tennessee Writing Assessment, 5th graders were asked to take a given story and then rewrite it from a different perspective. This would be a very accessible example of that idea to start kids in thinking about the process.

Math Curse

 

Author & Illustrator:   Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith
Publisher:  Viking
Publication Year: 1995 
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Book
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Booklist Editor's Choice

Summary:  After her Math teacher tells her that "almost everything in life can be considered a Math problem", the narrator starts to find Math throughout her own environment. She finds examples of algebra, probability, statistics, and fractions. In the end, she breaks the curse and has the ability to solve any problem. Smith's amazing illustrations add to the fun of this book! 

Classroom Ideas: I always read this book on the first day of Math class and talking to a friend who's a high school teacher I discovered that she did the same! It's a great introduction to real-life Math and problem solving.

Baloney (Henry P.)

Author: Jon Scieszka
 Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:  Penguin
Publication Year:   2005
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   IRA Children's Choice Award

Summary:  Henry P. Baloney is an alien schoolboy who has to come up with a reason why he is late to szkola again. Thus begins his hilarious tale of rocket ships and flying saucers, made even better by the inclusion of vocabulary from many different languages. Again, Lane's detailed illustrations make this a book that older kids want to examine over and over again. (And, yes, there are two pictures here because my kids LOVE the silver foil book jacket for this one and I had to include it.)

Classroom Ideas:  I used this book in my 5th grade classroom to introduce context clues to my students by using clues to figure out the meanings of the foreign words. It could also be used in writing as Miss Bugscuffle the teacher refers to Henry's story as a tall tale which always led to an interesting discussion with my students as to the defining characteristics of tall tales.

The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales

Author & Illustrator:   John Scieszka & Lane Smith
Publisher:  Penguin
Publication Year:   1992
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Caldecott, NYT Best Illustrated

Summary:  This is a collection of fractured fairy tales that has hilarious, tongue-in-cheek versions of classic stories like "The Really Ugly Duckling," "Cinderumpelstiltskin," and "The Stinky Cheese Man." Lane Smith's unique illustrations include unconventional typography and page arrangement that fascinates both kids and adults alike. Scieszka's naughty narrator throws traditional structure on its head by rearranging the end papers, the table of contents, and even the title page. I adore this book!

Classroom Ideas: I have used this book in my 5th grade classroom when studying versions of fairy tales. It could also be used in a figurative language unit, especially with hyperbole and sarcasm. It would be great for talking about text features and parts of a book.