There's No Such Thing As A Dragon

Author: Jack Kent

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Addressing and facing problems

Year of Publication: 1975 (original), lots of reprints Sept 2009, most recent.

Publisher & Location: Dragonfly Books

ISBN-10: 0375851372

Target Age Level: Age 6 - adult.

# of Pages:

Quality of Illustrations: Good

Brief Summary: A little boy wakes up to find a dragon in his room. He tells his mom who informs him that there is no such thing as a dragon. The dragon continues to grow as it is ignored and eventually becomes as big as the house. Once acknowledged, the dragon shrinks to a manageable size.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: It is a kids book originally, but I use it with adolescents. I use it as an introduction to therapy a lot as a introduction for facing and dealing with problems.

Sunny: the death of a pet

Author: Judith E. Greenberg and Helen H. Carey

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death

Year of Publication: 1986

Publisher & Location: Franklin Watts New York

ISBN#:0-531-10102-9

Target Age Level: Elementary

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Old Black and white pictures

Brief Summary:

Bill is scared when his dog Sunny gets sick, but after her death a new puppy helps him stop grieving.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:

The book is not adequate for a school curriculum on death. It does not enlighten children about the joys of pets, nor does it help to deal with death. It just notes death as a sad event. The book is simplistic, cool, and poorly written, reading like a "Dick and Jane" reader. It just basicly tells kids to move on and get a new dog.

Activity:

Have kids draw picture of their favorite things they liked to do with their pets.

On Divorce: An Open Family Book for Parents and Children Together

Author: Sara Bonnett Stein
Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Divorce
Year of Publication: 1979
Publisher & Location: Walker and Company New york
ISBN#:0-8027-7226-9
Target Age Level: Elementary
# of Pages: 47
Quality of Illustrations: Old Photographs
Brief Summary: This book has two stories in one. a more adult one for parent to read about what they should tell their children and a younger geared story that explains how the children feel.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
This is very old and out of print, alot of the information is still relevent however and can be of some use even today.

Activity:
This book is designed to be read with the parent not a teacher so I might have the child read this book with the parents at home and then we could do a reaction session at the school to see how they felt.

Twister

Author:Darleen Bailey Beard

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Natural Disaster

Year of Publication:1999

Publisher & Location: Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. : CAN

ISBN#:0-374-37977-7

Target Age Level: elementary

# of Pages:32 pages

Quality of Illustrations: blury

Brief Summary:

A rural family and its neighbor face potential disaster as a tornado heads for their homes in this suspenseful though ultimately reassuring picture book. Natt and Lucille enjoy a sultry summer day eating Popsicles and pretending to be royalty. As they dart through the yard, a serious storm kicks up and brings them indoors. When Mama spots an ominous funnel cloud in the distance, she sends Natt and Lucille racing out toward the storm cellar built into the yard while she heads next door to help Mr. Lyle take shelter. During the next several minutes, Natt and Lucille hunker alone in the dark, waiting for the storm to pass and afraid for Mama and Mr. Lyle's safety. Happily, the twister moves on, having caused minimal damage, and Natt and Lucille are quickly reunited with Mama.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:

Beard gets all the details right: the sky turning the color of Mama's guacamole, an ominous silence followed by the "monstrous howling" of wind. The kids are really apealing and the book is a realistic look at what a tornado is like.

Activity:

I might read this book after a tornado drill to give the children a real sense of what they are prepairing for.

No-no the little seal

Author: Sherri Patterson

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Sexual Abuse

Year of Publication: 1986

Publisher & Location: Random House: New York

ISBN#: 978-0394880549

Target Age Level: preschool- elementary

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: very realistic looking seals, in new editions the seals are more cartoon looking

Brief Summary: A young seal is upset when his uncle starts touching his body in private places, until he finds the courage to tell Wise Whale.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:

It's a little wierd to hear about seals molesting eachother but the book has some good advice, asuming the child has a wise whale in their life.

Activity:

Stop the book after the sad song and ask the child what they would do and then read on to see how that compares to what No-No did.

Twelve is too old

Author: Peggy Mann

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed:Problems with parents and family

Year of Publication: 1980

Publisher & Location: Doubleday & company, inc: NY

ISBN#: 978-0385050999

Target Age Level: middle school

# of Pages:140 pages

Quality of Illustrations: NA

Brief Summary: Eleven-year-old Jody, living with her divorced mother and pot-smoking older sister, dreads her twelfth birthday and the adolescent problems it may bring. It tells about how she deals with her problems from a first person bases

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:

Deals with some adult issues but in a good way.

Activity:

Have a child keep a journal and compair their experiances with Jody's.

The Leprechaun in the Basement

Author:Kathy Tucker

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Financial Heard times

Year of Publication: 1999

Publisher & Location: Albert Whitman and Co, Ill.

ISBN#:0-8075-4450-7

Target Age Level: lower elementary

# of Pages:32 pages

Quality of Illustrations: pretty good

Brief Summary: It's St. Patrick's Day, but Michael McKeever has run out of luck. His dad has lost his job, the hot water heater is broken, and now his baseball shoes are falling apart. He and his dad never go out and "throw a few" like they used to, and his mom says they have to learn to Make Do. So when he accidentally discovers a leprechaun in the basement, Michael is sure his luck has changed. Unfortunately, he didn't count on this leprechaun being quite so cantankerous. Any child who has felt the pinch of hard times will relate to Michael's anxiety.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:

This book shows that there are not always magic answers to our problems. but sometimes it help to know the right people. The leprechaun doesn't just give the family money he helps by making new shoes, so it's not the magical solution you might think.

Activity: have the child think of friends or other ways they know, like the leprichaun, that can help them through hard times without giving them money or magic

Looking For Normal

Author:Betty Monthei

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Suicide, Death of Parents, Family Relationship Problems, Grief
Year of Publication: 2005

Publisher & Location: Harper Collins

ISBN#:0060725052
978-0060725051

Target Age Level: Mature Teen

# of Pages: 192

Quality of Illustrations: none

Brief Summary:

After being called out of class by the principal, 12-year-old Annie is told that her father shot and killed her mother and then turned the gun on himself. Annie and younger brother Ted experience all the stages of grief (shock, denial, sadness, acceptance) as they transition to living with grandparents who hated their father. Rather than pulling together, the family's healing is slowed by Grandma's drinking and misplaced anger, Grandpa's increasing absences from the home, and the children's disenfranchisement from their friends. Only after Grandma spirals out of control does the family finally begin to deal with its problems.

This book deals with some serious issues.

Sometimes I'm Bombaloo

Author: RAchel Vail

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Anger Controll

Year of Publication: 2002

Publisher & Location: Scholastic Inc., Singapore

ISBN#: 0439669413
978-0439669412

Target Age Level: Beginning

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Good

Brief Summary:
katie talks about how she's generally a good person: "...I'm a really good kid. I smile a lot because usually I'm happy, and I give excellent hugs."
"But," she explains, "sometimes I'm Bombaloo." She shows her teeth, makes fierce noises and scrunches up her face." I use my feet and my fists instead of my words." After a time-out, she'll calm down and apologize to her brother. The book doesn't minimize the strength of the feelings: "While she is Bombaloo, she is not sorry, she is angry and hates everything and everyone. After Katie calms down she is sorry and a little frightened. She says that it is scary being Bombaloo. Her mother hugs her and helps her to clean up the mess.

The book neither excuses nor judges Bombaloo-style anger. Instead, it shows the feelings that occur before, during, and after it, and offers parents and kids the hope of resolution.

Activity: The child could list what makes them angry and then identify ways they could calm down.

I Had A Friend Named Peter

Author:Janice Cohn, D.S.W.

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death of a Friend

Year of Publication: 1987

Publisher & Location: William Morrow and Company, USA

ISBN#: 0688066852

Target Age Level: Beginning

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Very Good

Brief Summary: Betsy learns of her friend Peter sudden death from her parents. Her parents help her to cope with the news in a loving, gentle way. Betsy is confused at first because she does not understand what it means to die. Her parents explain to her the finality of death. She has a lot of questions surrounding death, the funeral, and the casket that her parents answer. Betsy decides to a picture to put in her room as a reminder of Peter.

At the beginning of this book, the author discusses guidelines from experts that parents and teacher may have about talking to children about death. It is a great story to help children cope with a difficult time.

Activity: This book answers a lot of questions a child may have about death. It would be a great tool to discuss with a child any fears they may have and explore ways they could remember someone who has passed away.

A Book of Friends

Author:Dave Ross

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Making Friends

Year of Publication:1999

Publisher & Location:Harper Collins,

ISBN#: 0060283629

Target Age Level: Beginning

# of Pages: 40

Quality of Illustrations: Great

Brief Summary: This picture book discusses the many different kinds of friends someone can have pen pals, best friends, imaginary friends, family, new friends and old friends, etc. The author gives suggestions on how to be a good friend that could be very useful to children who are learning the basics of interaction in groups.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: The illustrations are bright and fun. Young children will enjoy reading this book.

Activity: Children could discuss ways they have been a friend to someone. They also could set a goal of one way they could make a new friend.

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

Author: Roald Dahl

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: family financial difficulties

Year of Publication: 1973

Publisher & Location: Knopf, New York

ISBN#: 0394810112

Target Age Level: lower and upper elementary school

# of Pages: 161

Quality of Illustrations: There are fun black and white sketches drawn throughout the book.

Brief Summary:
For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public – well, five members of the public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka himself. For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true because of his families desperate financial situation. And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two Wonka's Whipple–Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights – even though his impoverished family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper! The very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Augustus Gloop, steps through the factory gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory and its mysterious owner are true. What they find is that the gossip can't compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same again.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This is a favorite because of all of the fun fantasy elements. You can't help but love Charlie because of (and not in spite of) his humble circumstances and the genuine goodness of his family.

Activity: Identify good qualities of the main character that have nothing to do with his financial situation. Then talk about developing this qualities in ourselves and finding similar qualities in those around us (regardless of their socioeconomic status).

Tornadoes

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Author: Seymour Simon

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: natural disasters

Year of Publication: 2001

Publisher & Location: HarperTrophy, New York

ISBN#: 9780064437912

Target Age Level: lower and upper elementary school

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Clear, concise text and dramatic, full-color photographs this book shows tornadoes.

Brief Summary:
Simon investigates one of nature's most powerful and dramatic phenomena, from its origins to what you can do to detect and stay safe during a tornado.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: I've found children always have a lot of questions about natural disasters. Simon does an excellent job in defining and showing what a tornado looks like. Knowledge is power and the more students know about a tornado the less they will be afraid of them.

Activity: Make a KWL Chart about tornado before reading and follow through after reading the book (K-what they knew before reading the book W-what they want to learn about tornadoes L-what they learned). Point out that if students want to learn about natural disasters(or they're worried about a natural disaster) they can read about it and know more about it.

Elaine's Circle

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Elaine's Circle

Author: Bob A. Katz

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: serious/chronic/acute illness, death, and loss.

Year of Publication: 2005

Publisher & Location: Marlowe & Co., New York

ISBN#: 1569243840 9781569243848

Target Age Level: High School and above

# of Pages: 219

Quality of Illustrations: The cover page is the only illustration and it is warm and inviting.

Brief Summary:
Elaine Moore, a veteran teacher in Eagle River, Alaska, is a firm believer that the classroom is, first and foremost, a community—and that learning is best when shared in a circle of peers. When one of her students, ten-year-old Seamus Farrell, is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, Elaine, her students, and her innovative methods of teaching are put to their most severe test. Elaine’s Circle is the true account of this small-town teacher who led her fourth-grade students through the biggest challenge of their young lives. This book provides a heart-wrenching, intimate look at the utterly remarkable achievements of this dedicated teacher, a supportive community, and a group of children who rallied to make Seamus Farrell’s impending death an unforgettable lesson about life.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This is a personal favorite and should be read with a box of tissues. I would recommend this to students and teachers alike. It's inspiring what a teacher and students can do when one of their own is suffering from a terminal illness-love it!

Activity: In the book students make a quilt for Seamus. The class could make a quilt representing all of their unique contributions to the classroom.

Hooway for Wodney Wat

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Hooway for Wodney Wat

Author: Helen Lester

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: anger and conflict resolution

Year of Publication: 1999

Publisher & Location: Walter Lorraine Books, Boston

ISBN#:0395923921

Target Age Level: Lower and Upper Elementary School

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Lynn M. Munsinger has done colorful and funny illustrations of this little 'wat'.

Brief Summary:

Poor Rodney Rat can't pronounce his R's and the other rodents tease him mercilessly. But when Camilla Capybara joins Rodney's class and announces that she is bigger, meaner, and smarter than any of the other rodents, everyone is afraid. It seems she really is bigger, meaner, and smarter than all of the rest of them. Until our unwitting hero, Wodney Wat, catches Camilla out in a game of Simon Says.

He surprises himself and his classmates by single-handedly saving the whole class from the big bad bully. Children will delight as shy Rodney Rat triumphs over all and his tiny voice decides the day, R's or no R's.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: I like that Wodney confidently does the right thing in this story. It shows that you can be brave no matter the size and stick up for what is right in a conflict situation.

Activity: Verbalize a complaint and write it out in a sentence. Be a part of the solution and not the problem when verbalizing the problem and giving a solution.

Bullyville

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Bullyville

Author: Francine Prose

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: bullying

Year of Publication: 2008

Publisher & Location: Thorndike Press, New Jersey

ISBN#:9781410406361

Target Age Level: High School

# of Pages: 227

Quality of Illustrations: The cover has an illustration that describes the books content.

Brief Summary:

After eighth grader Bart Rangely is granted a "mercy" scholarship to an elite private school after his father is killed in the North Tower on 9/11, doors should have opened. Instead, he is terrorized and bullied by his own mentor. So begins the worst year of his life.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This book highlights many traumas in this young boys life they include parent's separation/divorce, 9/11 death of his father, private school, bullies.

Activity: How to handle a bully. Make a list as a class of better alternatives than fighting and then role play these alternatives.

All Families are Different

Thursday, June 18, 2009

All Families are Different

Author: Gordon, Sol

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: disrespect and insensitivity for individual and group differences

Year of Publication: 2000

Publisher & Location: Prometheus Books, New York

ISBN#:9781573927659

Target Age Level: Lower and Upper Elementary School

# of Pages: 50

Quality of Illustrations: The illustrations show an assortment of famlies of different cultures and races.

Brief Summary:

Is there such a thing as a "normal" family? Of course the answer to this question is no, but children are often led to believe otherwise. Young people need to understand and appreciate that when it comes to families, they are all different! Dr. Sol Gordon has written an uplifting book for young people age four and older who are curious about just what it means to be part of a family. While the many illustrations show a variety of family situations to stimulate awareness and acceptance of difference, the text places importance on children knowing they are loved by their family members — whoever they may be.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: Sol Gordon PhD. is a clinical psychologist with a special interest in children's education. She has written several other books on similar issues they include: Did the Sun Shine Before You Were Born?; Girls Are Girls, and Boys Are Boys; A Better Safe Than Sorry Book.

Activity: Read the book as a class and then have each student draw a picture of their family. A group discussion could then be led about similarities and differences of the families within the classroom.

Running for My Life

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Running for My Life

Author: Ann Gonzalez

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: mental illness of a parent/guardian

Year of Publication: 2009

Publisher & Location: WestSide books

ISBN#:978-1-934813-00-3

Target Age Level: High School

# of Pages: 210

Quality of Illustrations: The cover illustration is done by Michael Morgenstern and it is a catching title page.

Brief Summary:

Running for My Life is the powerful story of Andrea McKane, a fourteen-year-old who struggles to cope with her mother's schizophrenia. She must face the heartbreaking fact that her mother, with whom she once laughed and played, has vanished into her disease, possibly forever. The book accurately portrays the difficulties a teen faces when dealing with the illness, the abuse and absence of a psychotic parent. Running for My Life shows the effects of mental illness on a family, and a teenager's attempts to manage the changes that have shaken her life. With courage, strength, and the loving support of her friends, her father, and her therapist, Andrea finds salvation through running. Running for My Life represents a breakthrough effort in portraying the challenges children deal with when they have to protect themselves from a guardian.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This book addresses an older audience. I would want to read it with a student and not just give it to them and wish them good luck.

Activity: Highlight this students support system. Focus a lot on the characters by doing a character diagram or a character book report. How is the main character stronger for having gone through this experience.

I Never Knew Your Name

Thursday, June 18, 2009

I Never Knew Your Name

Author: Sherry Garland

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: suicide

Year of Publication: 1991

Publisher & Location: Ticknor & Fields Books for Young Readers, New York

ISBN#:0395696860

Target Age Level: Upper and Lower elementary

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: The illustrations are a soft wash color and leave the boy who has committed suicide faceless.

Brief Summary:
An observer laments the lonely life of a teenage suicide whose neighbors didn't even know his name. The author has the boy follow the nameless teenager through many different activities and expresses regret for not having invited him to play or joining any of the activities that he saw the boy play.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: I feel the book does a good job addressing the feelings that many students may have when a student in their school commits suicide and they do not really know the student but still have feelings about the event.

Activity: Students may write a letter to a student who has committed a suicide of things they may have wanted to say to that student.