This is a fun and interactive type of book. I think this one would be good to have in an elementary classroom because it is a nice relaxing fun to read book. The rule is don't laugh but if you do you have to start back over at the front of the book. Can you make it without laughing?

This book is very simple and easy to read. I liked the rhyme scheme that the author used in the text because it really made the book flow well off of your tongue. I liked this book because you could easily use it as a read aloud and it could kick off a unit where you look at transportation in big cities vs. where you live. In a round about way I think kids would get a sense of what a subway looks, sounds and feels like by reading this book.

This retelling of an old fairytale was not very interesting. I really didn't get the story and it did not make much sense throughout the book. I just found it weird and hard to follow and never really could get into the book at all. I probably wouldn't buy this book to put on my classroom shelf. I did like the illustrations even though I did not like the book, it was a style that was new and refreshing. I think students would find the art enjoyable and there is something to be said for that.

This book is all about following a childhood dream. I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book. The painting were so real I thought they were photographs. One idea that was neat about the story was an American girl marrying a Japanese man. This idea of interracial marriage is not played out very often in children's books and it is nice to see it. It gets rid of the stereotypes of whites, blacks and others marrying people who look like them. I also like how they author made Erika adapt to life in another culture. I think this is important because when you go somewhere else in the world it is only appropriate to practice their customs and not take an American approach to everything. This allows you to better understand how they live and what they value as apposed to American culture.

This book is not only striking to the eye but very interesting as well. It really makes learning about Abe fun for kids. There is a lot of information embedded in the story of the book. The only part I was concerned about was how true some of the events were. I know the main ideas were correct but wondered how accurate the storyline was. It was fun to read about a great leader in this nations past and find out he did some of the same things I did when I was a boy, it almost makes you feel as if anything is possible.

This is a must read book for anybody of any age. The first time I read this book was in high school but if I would have read it at an earlier age I think it would have touched me even more. It is hard to explain what you take away from this book except life isn't always fair but it is beautiful and precious no matter what. Mich Albom writes a wonderful story about his late mentor Morrie Schwartz. He speaks of the lessons that he learns from Morrie who's body is starting to surrender to Lou Gehrig's disease. He teaches Mitch to love and to let go of his greed and go back to the person he was as Morrie's student so many years ago. The best thing about this book is that it reminds you of the little pleasures in life like being able to walk, take yourself to the toilet and all the other things that we "normal" people take for granted. This book makes you, in a way, evaluate whats important in your own life and who is important in your life. As an elementary student I know kids will have read longer, "harder", books but none will carry the weight of a lifetime and the wisdom of Morrie Schwartz.

This is a very strong book with a lot of information packaged in a way that is useful and not overwhelming for elementary aged kids. I found this book would be a good jumping off point for a class discussion or a talk because although it answers some questions it doesn't really tell you how people contract HIV. I thought the book was done in a tasteful way and represented that HIV only lives in a persons blood not their tears, sweat or saliva. These facts are so important because most kids associate AIDS and HIV to bad people or bad things and that is not always the case. People who have the virus are moms, dads, teachers etc. and it makes children comfortable knowing more about these things and having the confidence that although the virus itself is bad the person is good and not contagious unless they are bleeding, cut etc. I think this book could be very useful in a classroom especially if you know of a child or a parent that has the AIDS/ HIV virus.