Fantasy

Make Way For Ducklings

By: Robert McCloskey

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Non-Applicable

This is a very magical story about two ducks that are searching for the perfect home. They take a quick pit stop and decide to rest in the Public Garden. Here they realize there is a lot of people who will feed them when they swim near the boats on the water. They leave this area for a safer place to raise hatchlings and choose a small island in Charles River. The babies are born here and the father leaves to go to the Public Garden and wait for the hatchlings to come. Once they are big enough, they begin their journey through the town. The police officer in the park notices that they are trying to cross the road and stops the traffic. Another squadron of four police officers stop the traffic at Beacon Street. They allowed the Ducklings to cross into the Public Garden, where they live and follow the boats around for food. Overall, this is a very nice spring story about ducklings and a good book to use in the appropriate classroom. The illustrations are a bit dated though.

Queen of The Falls

By: Chris Van Allsburg

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Chris Van Allsburg

            The Queen of the falls is a story about an older woman (sixty-two) named Annie Edison Taylor, whom after having etiquette class that lost customers decided to do something outrageous.  She went to a barrel company and had them make her a barrel that was a little over four feet tall and just wide enough for her to fit in. Mrs. Taylor decided she would use her barrel and be the first woman to go over Niagara Falls. She hired a manager named Mr. Frank Russell who got publicity interested in the story. May were surprised that a woman of such age would go over the falls, but to everyone’s disbelief she went over the falls and survived. She had it in her mind that she would be rich and famous from her adventurous excursion in 1901. Unfortunately, her stardom was short lived because ten years later she was sitting with her barrel in Niagara Park selling postcards with her picture just trying to get by. The story ends with Mrs. Taylor talking to a news reporter about her excursion and how she the only one who was brave enough to face her fears and go over the falls.

            Overall, the falls are a place that I hold dear to my heart. My fathers’ side of the family, all live in Niagara Falls and Grand Island, New York. As I was reading this, I could picture the numerous times I would go to the falls and be amazed by the beauty and strength of them. It is something that is sheer excitement and fear when you experience it at the same time. As a little girl, I would see how far I could look over the edge until I got too scared and would step away. I truly enjoyed this book, as the Author stated at the end; it really is a secret story.

The Magic Hat

By: Mem Fox

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Tricia Tusa

           

            This is a cute story about a magic hat that flows throughout the park one windy fall day. The illustrations are bright and imaginative. The story is all in rhyming words that encourage the children to guess what the next animal the hat will fall on could be. For example one of the pages states, “Oh, the magic, the magic hat! It moved like this, it moved like that! From way over there and sat on the head of a sleepy old…(turn page) BEAR!” Suddenly, towards the end of the story a giant wizard appears and stopped the magic hat, he then waved his wand and all of the animals turned back into people. Overall, this is a very adorable book that would be great in a younger classroom where children are learning rhyming words.

Owen

By: Kevin Henkes

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Kevin Henkes

            This is a magical story about a mouse named Owen who had a fuzzy yellow blanket that he adored. The blanket went with him everywhere, inside, and outside, upstairs down or even downstairs. His parents were talking with their neighbor Mrs. Tweezers who suggested that they try to take the blanket away from him. She suggested a number of things, such as “The Blanket Fairy, The Vinegar Trick and saying No!” After all of these things failing to work Owens mother comes up with a clever idea for him to take his blanket to school and for Mrs. Tweezer to stop nagging his parents. His mother cut Fuzzy into many pieces and sewed them into small napkins. Now, Owen takes a little bit of Fuzzy with him wherever they go.  Overall, this is a very charming and clever story that has a positive spin on growing up.

 

*Fish Is Fish

By: Leo Lionni

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Leo Lionni

         Fish is fish; by Lio Lionne is a story about a fish and tadpole who start off living in a pond together. As time goes on the tadpole moves outside of the pond and leaves the fish at the pond. The frog comes back to the pond to visit fish and tells him about all of the stories and life outside of the pond. Fish gets frustrated that he is stuck inside the pond and jumps out of the water and onto shore. Frog quickly pushed fish back into the pond to save his live. After this experience fish decides that the pond has a multitude of life inside it and is grateful for life he has.

*Pecos Bill

By: Patsy Jensen

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Ben Mahan

         This is the story about a family who traveled to the west and on the road baby Pecos was bumped off of his families wagon. He ended up befriending a chayote and was raised by a pack of them. He was viewed as a renegade and roamed the west on his horse. One of his brothers bumped into him and tried to civilize him with new clothes and a wife. The story ends with no one knowing where Pecos went but everyone expects he is somewhere in the west. This story is very silly and intriguing, I would not put this book in my classroom but I could see myself recommending it to a specific child.

*A Busy Year

By: Leo Lionni

Fiction

Illustrated by: Leo Lionni

         This story is about two mice that start in January and become friends with a tree named Woody. The two small mice are twins and call themselves Winnie and Willie. They become good friends with the tree and take good care of it throughout every month of the year. This is a great story that shows the change of seasons and the growth of a tree throughout the year. A great book for a kindergarten classroom.

*It's Mine!

By: Leo Lionni

Fantasy: Fable

 Illustrated by: Leo Lionni

         This story is about three frogs who live on an island at Rainbow pond. They continually bicker selfishly saying the phrase; “It’s Mine! It’s Mine! It’s Mine!” One day a bad storm hits their island and a large toad help them realize that sharing is much more fun than being selfish. I enjoyed reading this story and seeing the different illustrations. Overall a great book to remind student about sharing!

*Who Wants an Old Teddy Bear?

By: Ginnie Hofmann

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Unknown

         This book is about a young boy who gets a stuffed teddy bear from his Grandma on his birthday instead of a train set. He kicks the bear aside and goes to bed. While asleep he has a dream that he is in a world of teddy bears and is being given as a gift to one. In this world he is kick aside by the bear because he wanted a rocket ship instead. When he wakes up he immediately wants his teddy bear back and loves it because of what he went through in the bear world. This is a great book that shows children different perspectives and points of view. I would use this as an opening into a discussion about valuing every gift you receive.

*Apples! Apples! Apples!

By: Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

     I found this book to be cute and interesting, the book was about a family of rabbits, Minna, Pip, Mom and Dad. They went to an apple orchard where they learned about different types of fruit. Their father makes apple pie with his apples, the mother makes crafts, the brother picks apples for his snack and the girl makes super secret applesauce with her apples. I enjoyed how this book had creative recipes that the children could use with the assistance of their parents or an adult. Overall, great fun fall book!

 

*Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

By: William Steig

Fantasy

Illustrated by: Not Listed

         This story was a bout a donkey named Sylvester who had a lovely rock collection. One day he found a red magic rock that would grant any of his demands. Sylvester was walking home when he realized a lion spotted him. In reaction he wished himself to become a rock in order to stay alive. This spontaneous idea made him stuck as a rock for three entire seasons, fall, winter and the spring. In the spring his very sad parents has a picnic on his rock body. They picked up the small red stone, and wished that Sylvester was there with them. The magic rock granted their wish and Sylvester was back with his family. Overall, I personally think this is a great book for children to be thankful with what they have and not to become greedy. I would place this book on a classroom library shelf.