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 Great Fuzz Frenzy

Author & Illustrator:   Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
Publisher:Scholastic
Publication Year:  2005
Location: Personal Collection

Awards:   Wanda Gag Book Awards, ALA Notable Children's Book, Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award

Summary:  When golden retriever Violet drops a tennis ball down a prairie dog hole, the animals all go crazy over the fuzzy THING that's invaded their hole. Soon there's a frenzy for everyone to have a piece of the amazing fuzz and fights break out over it. When Big Bark the meanest prairie dog gets involved they have to learn what's really important. Stevens' horizontal and vertical spreads along with creative typography put the reader right into the underground setting. I love this book!

Classroom Ideas: There is a well-established setting and a plot with a circular ending, but the element that really sets it apart for me is the word choice. The adjectives are incredible; the verbs are perfect; and the alliteration comes to life. This book is perfect!