12 Days of Christmas Book Review

Day Nine:

 

MONSIEUR MARCEAU

by Leda Schubert

 

Image Credit: www.barnesandnoble.com

 

MONSIEUR MARCEAU is a biography about the popular mime Marcel Marceau. While reading this biography, students will learn that Marceau was a Jew. He was affected by the Nazis and he even helped with underground efforts to resist the Nazis. Marceau helped many Jewish children to safety as well as hiding American parachutists. Marceau was quoted as saying, "I am Jewish. Perhaps that, unconsciously, contributed towards my choice of silence." After the war, Marceau studied mime and created the character Bip. Readers are reminded that laughter and sadness do not have a language barrier.

 

The illustrations in this biography are lovely and include pictures that capture the reader's attention. The book includes an afterword section as well as a list of further reading material. Schubert includes tips for anyone who is interested in miming, which I believe many students will enjoy. I would recommend this as a read aloud or to older students who enjoy biographies. This book is on the 2014-2015 Texas Bluebonnet List.

12 Days of Christmas Book Review

Day Eight:

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
by Barbara Robinson

Image Credit: www.barnesandnoble.com
 

  

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER was published in 1972 but is still considered a good read for elementary students. The Herdman children are not children who would normally be part of a Christmas pageant. The only place that other children can escape the Herdmans is at home and church. The Herdman children learn that food is served at church and soon take the lead roles in the Christmas pageant by bullying their way into these roles. The Herdman children have never heard the Christmas story. From their understanding, Herod should receive a beating and the children believe that should be a major part of the pageant. With these changes to the Christmas pageant, will the pageant ever go on?

This laugh out loud chapter book is a great read for most upper elementary students. With only 89 pages, most students will find this as a quick read. I would recommend this to anyone who has ever participated in a Christmas pageant young or old.

Other books by Barbara Robinson include:
*The Best Halloween Ever
*The Best School Year Ever



 

12 Days of Christmas Book Review

Day Seven:

 

I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN

by Helene Boudreau

 

Image Credit: www.heleneboudreau



While reading a picture book about yawns, do you think you can resist the urge to yawn? I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN is a cute picture book on the 2014 Texas 2x2 list. Why are yawns so contagious? When someone yawns, should you look away? How can you resist a yawn? This fictional story asks all these questions and more. One step of advice from this book includes not letting your mother see you yawn or you will end up in bed. "Pajamas lead to bedtime stories. Bedtime stories lead to sleepy-time songs."

This is a simple story that many students would enjoy. Most second graders and up should be able to read this independently. The pictures are simple with a child-like feel but depict the emotions and behavior of the main character quite well. 

12 Days of Christmas Book Review

Day Six:

 

HOW TO TRAIN A TRAIN

by Jason Carter Eaton

 
Image Credit: www.nerdybookclub.wordpress.com

 

HOW TO TRAIN A TRAIN is a picture book with information on how to select, name, and care for your pet train. Types of trains mentioned in this story are freight, monorail, and early steam engines. The story includes simple steps for training your train such as bath time, story time, and bedtime. "Train your train not to leap up on people and to always wipe its wheels before going indoors." I thought this quote and the picture in the book are quite hilarious.

 

Any student that enjoys trains will enjoy this fictional picture book. This "guidebook" is written in a fun format that young children will enjoy, especially those that enjoy pets. The illustrations are very colorful and detailed on how to train your train. I would recommend this humorous story to any elementary student. The reading level for this book is lower third grade and this book is on the Texas 2x2 list for 2014.



 

12 Days of Christmas Book Review

Day Five:

 

SNOWMEN AT WORK

by Caralyn Buehner

 

 

Image Credit: www.buehnerbooks.com

 

SNOWMEN AT WORK by Caralyn Buehner is a story about none other than snowmen. A little boy built a snowman and imagines what could possibly happen to snowmen at night. He imagines that snowmen could have jobs that include dentist, mechanic, baker, teacher, firefighters, and of course a librarian to mention a few. Each job is described in rhyming text. "The story-time librarian reads tales from days of yore; / How brave snow knights defend the right, while mighty dragons roar!" Many students will enjoy this rhyming text.

 

The illustrations are done by the author's husband, Mark Buehner. These illustrations are a treat for anyone who enjoys looking at pictures. The illustrations are done in oil and acrylic paint which cover the entire page with no white spaces. Readers will also enjoy looking for the hidden pictures on each page. The hidden pictures include a cat, rabbit, Tyrannosaurs Rex, and a mouse.

 

I would recommend this book to any student who enjoys rhythm while reading and wonderful illustrations.

 

Other books in the Snowman Collection include:

*SNOWMEN AT CHRISTMAS (This is a favorite of mine!)

*SNOWMEN AT NIGHT

*SNOWMEN ALL YEAR

12 Days of Christmas Book Review

Day Four:

THE YEAR OF BILLY MILLER
by Kevin Henkes

Image Credit: www.harpercollinschildrens.com

 

This is the first chapter book written by Kevin Henkes. Henkes is the popular author of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Owen, and Chrysanthemum. This book is a 2014 Newbery Honor by American Library Association.

 

Billy Miller is going into second grade and is worried that he is not smart enough due to a fall that left a bump on his head during summer vacation. The chapter book is divided into four parts: teacher, father, sister and mother. Many students will identify with Billy and other characters in this story. In each part, Billy learns something important about the people around him and himself. While reading this story, I was waiting for the "big thing / problem" to occur. Unfortunately, this story does not have a major problem, but I believe this story will be enjoyed by many.

 

The writing style is simple enough that most second grades would not have a problem, but the length might be intimidating to some with 229 pages. I would recommend this book to second graders who enjoy long chapters book and most third and fourth graders.

 

 

12 Days of Christmas Book Review

Day Three:

 

 

COMMUNICATION THEN AND NOW

by Bobbie Kalman

Image Credit: www.booktopia.com.au

 

 

COMMUNICATION THEN AND NOW is a nonfiction book that compares how communication has changed over the years. The reader is presented with the simple knowledge of how and why things have changed. Readers are encouraged to critically think about these changes. For example, "How have televisions and the Internet changed the way we receive news today?" Most of the pages include a question to spark critical thinking. This book compares smart phones to old telephones, email to regular mail, the news, along with the how stories where told from one generation to the next. The book also includes a learn more section with websites and books for further learning. The pictures found throughout the book include a switchboard operator, general store, old classroom and library, and many more. I would recommend this nonfiction book to third graders and above. This would also be a good read aloud to younger students as well.