Khristina's Book Blog

I read Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems. This book is labeled as a Caldecott honor book. This book is about a little girl named Trixie who can't quite talk yet. Trixie went on an errand to the Laundromat with her dad, and got to help her dad do the laundry. However, after they had left Trixie realized she didn't have her favorite stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny. Trixie tries to tell her dad that she doesn't have Knuffle Bunny, but he doesn't understand what Trixie is trying to tell him. When Dad and Trixie arrive back home, mom asks where Knuffle Bunny is, and they all quickly rush to the Laundromat. In the end, Dad saves the day and finds Knuffle Bunny, and Trixie says her first words "Knuffle Bunny." This is a cute story, and realistic because I've seen this happen multiple times where a parent just doesn't understand what their child is really trying to say. I would use this book in my classroom because I think kids would really enjoy it. This would be ...

I read NOT NORMAN: A Goldfish Story by Kelly Bennett. This book was Jumpstart's: Read for the Record book in 2015. This book is about a little boy who wanted a pet and got a goldfish named Norman, but he wanted a different kind of pet, not Norman. Throughout the story, the little boy is set on trading Norman for a different pet, but slowly but surly the little boy realizes how great Norman actually is. Norman is there for the little boy when he needs a laugh, needs someone to listen, or when he's scared. In the end, the little boy goes to the pet store, and sees all the great pets, but they're not Norman. I love this book because it's cute, but also teaches the importance of really seeing the value in the people and things in our lives. I would definitely use this book in my future classroom. I think the appropriate grade level for this book would be pre-k to fourth grade. One way I would use this book in my classroom would be to incorporate it in math by making a ba...

I read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. This book received the ALA Notable Children's Books award. This book focuses on a boy named Alexander who definitely doesn't have the best day(that's an understatement). Starting with waking up with gum in his hair, ending with the pet cat wanting to sleep with his brother instead of him, and with a wide range of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things in between. I love the last line of the book though which is, "My mom says some days are like that." This is something that everyone can relate to because we all have bad days sometimes, and that's okay. I would definitely use this book in my future classroom, and I think it would be the perfect book to read when there's just a day in the classroom where it's obvious that majority of everyone just aren't having that great of a day. I think the appropriate grade level for this book would range from pre-k all the ...

I read Miss Nelson is Missing!  by James Marshall. This book hasn't received any major awards. This book is about a class that is the worst-behaved class in the whole school, and their teacher Miss Nelson decides there has to be something done about this. So, the next day, Miss Nelson doesn't show up for class, but a new teacher names Miss Viola Swamp does. The kids definitely realize that they had it so much easier with Miss Nelson. Miss Swamp makes them do endless work, and even cancels story hour. The kids decide that they should try to find Miss Nelson, so they go to the local detective who doesn't seem like he'll be much help. The kids come up with bizarre ideas of what could have happened to Miss Nelson, but no one can quite figure it out. In the end, Miss Nelson returns unwilling to say where she had been, and the kids are so grateful to have her back that they are much better behaved. However, the reader is able to tell that Miss Nelson was secretly Miss Viola S...

I read the book Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Parks which was a part of New York Times Best Selling chapter book Junie B. Jones series. I absolutely love how the author writes just like a kindergartener would talk. That can be hard to bring vocabulary down, and it requires a lot of creativity. The book focuses on all the ups and downs of kindergarten, especially the "stupid smelly bus" that Junie B. goes through. In the end, after hiding in the supply closet after school, Junie B. agrees to ride the school bus to school with her new friend. If I used this in my classroom, this would be a good book to read together as a class. This book is a chapter book, but it would be easy for students to follow along, and maybe read a chapter or two at the end of class each day. This book may be pretty simple, but I think kids will be able to relate to the book really easily because similar things happen to them as well. I think the appropriate grade level for thi...