The Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Award:  Challenged Book

The Kite Runner is about a little boy named Hassan.  His father serves Amir's (Hassan's best friend) father.  The story is about their life together in the streets of Kabul.  The story takes a turn when Amir sits and watches as Hassan is abused.  This part of the book was very disturbing to me to say the least.  Amir eventually comes to America and always looks back and thinks of Hassan and what has happened to him. 
One of my college friends read this book and gave it to me quite awhile ago.  I never got around to reading it until I saw it on the challenged book list.  I did like the book, but didn't like parts of it.  I can completely understand why it was on the challenged book list. 

Hosseini, K. The Kite Runner. Riverhead Trade, 2004.

ISBN:  9781594480003

A Is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet.

Author: Stephen T. Johnson

Award: Notable Book Award

A Is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet is a wonderful book filled with ABC's for older kids.  This is not an early reader kind of book like I would think the name would suggest.  Each page has a photo of some art, like a sculptor or a painting. The author then created a description of that art work using the letter on the page.  The description uses mostly words beginning with that focus letter.  The words are for older kiddos. 
I made the mistake one day in my Kindergarten class of thinking I would read this book to my kids without reading it myself before hand.  I opened it up and read the first page, and was NOT pleasantly surprised by how it is NOT your typical ABC book.  It is a neat book with great letter usage, and wonderful artwork.  It is just not for younger students.

Johnson, S. A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet.  Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2008.

ISBN: 9780689863011

Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name

Author:  Tedd Arnold

Award: New York Times Best Seller

Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name is a book about a little girl who has everything going against her.  She is lanky, awkward, her eyes go in different directions, he legs aren't the same length and more.  When she grows up, she is still different, yet gets married to a guy named Smith.  This is the funniest book.  I read it to my class EVERY year, sometimes more than once.  All of my students know this is my most favorite book.  On a good day, I might even sing it to them. My book even has huge google eyes on the front cover.  Love it!

Arnold, T. Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name.   Scholastic, 2006.

ISBN: 9780590109944

Bud Not Buddy

Author:  Christopher Paul Curtis

Award: Newbery Award Winner 2000

Bud 'not Buddy' is a story about a little boy who is 10.  His mother has died, and his foster homes have been anything but desirable.  Bud 'not Buddy' has a poster of a musician that when his mother looked at it, she had gotten very upset.  Bud decided this was his father so he goes off in search of him.  The story tells of his trials along the way. 
This book was one our family listened to on CD on a trip to Nebraska for Christmas many years ago.  When I brought it home from the library, my kids wanted me to read it out loud so they could hear it again.  It brought back quite a few memories of the trip.  Funny how a good book can bring a whole family together.

Curtis, C.P. Bud Not Buddy. Laurel Leaf, 2004.

ISBN: 9780553494105

Cook A Doodle Doo

Author: Janet Stevens, and Susan Stevens Crummel

Award: Bluebonnet Nominee

Big Brown Hen is tired of eating chicken feed all day long every day.  So she looks around and finds her grandma's cookbook.  This is the tale of Big Brown Hen going through the cookbook.  It is funny, and has great pictures.  There is also a learning part, as the book itself has recipes, and hints on how to cook throughout.  We had Janet and Susan come to our school for an author visit when the book first came out.  I have signed copies for both my daughter and son.  Hopefully when they become parents, they will enjoy reading this book and doing a little cooking with their little ones!

Stevens, J. and Crummel, S. Cook A Doodle Doo.  Sandpiper, 2005.

ISBN: 9780152056582

Song and Dance Man

Author: Karen Ackerman

Award: Caldecott Winner 1989

Grandpa and the kids are in the attic looking through all the wonderful treasures up there.  He finds a trunk with his old vaudeville days clothing.  He performs for his grand kids as they watch and enjoy the show of their grandpa reliving the 'olden days'.  This is a cute book.  The pictures are well drawn, but I think if there was more detail, it would add the story so much more.  I don't know, the story line is great, but I think it is the pictures that just kind of turned me off to this story.  I have read it in my classroom before, the kids liked it, but there is just something about it. 

Ackerman, K. Song and Dance Man. Dragonfly Books, 1992.

ISBN: 9780679819950 

Interrupting Chicken

Author: David Ezra Stein

Award: Caldecott Honor Book

Little Red Chicken is listening to her papa read a bed time story.  Well...listening is stretching it a bit.  Papa wants to read the book, but Little Red Chicken can't seem to be quiet, she has to interrupt to warn the characters about the bad parts in the book.  Papa is tired and just wants to be done, so he decides to have Little Red Chicken write a book of her own.  I like this book because when Little Red Chicken writes her book, it looks like and sounds like a kid wrote the words.  This is a great inspirational book for young writers!

Stein, D.E. Interrupting Chicken. Candlewick Press, 2010.

ISBN: 9780763641689