When Paul Revere Rode by Sarah L. Thomson illustrated by Nik Henderson*

Voices from the First Night of the American Revolution

Ms. Thomson unveils various other people, several unnamed, who assist Paul Revere and his ride to warn the colonist that The Regulars (NOT the British, the colonist considered themselves British , so Paul Revere would not have used that word to describe them. The colonists called them The Regulars) were planning to attack. Before each poem, she introduces the person and their connection to the evening. She also indicates the  approximate time and date when this person's role occurred. Quotes from the person are included. After the main poetical text, she reveals even more information about each narrator.

I liked how Ms. Henderson illustrated in mostly in hues of blue and in a smudgy style to create a mood of night and not being able to see precisely.

A great book to read when studying this event in history.

A teacher could have their students take a point of time in history, research the individuals involved, and then create poems from their points of view to retell the event. It would be a hefty endeavor (& maybe not realistic?).

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Smell of Wet Dog & Other Dog Poems and Drawings by Barry Saltzberg*

 A wide variety of poems about dogs    

Some poems are from the dog's point of view; others are from the human's point of view. Based on his poems, Mr. Saltzberg has observed dogs and their antics very well! Fun poems!

I especially like the last poem! 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

How Many Miles to Bethlehem? by Kevin Crossley-Holland illustrated Peter Malone

 I loved the lavish, rich paintings in this book. This book is truly an art museum in your lap. Different people who are part of Christ's birth share their perspective-from Mary to the innkeeper to an ox to shepherds to wise men (to name a few). Some of the phrasing is poetic.

-Borrowed from the library.

 

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

 I am trying to find humorous and quality books for my eleven-year-old son to read.  I probably won't be suggesting this book to him.

Donovan is implusive and suffers many consequences from his antics.  When he whacks the Atlas statue's butt in front of his middle school, the metal world that Atlas was carrying, thumps to the ground, rolls down the hill into the middle school gym, and ruins the gym floor (and the entrance).  By crazy circumstances, Donovan is sent to the district's gifted school instead of getting in trouble.  He hides out in this challenging school and soon becomes friends with the robotics team.  Will the superintendent, Mr. Schultz, ever find the kid who destroyed the school?  Is Donovan really needed at the gifted school?  The teachers there are onto him and his charade . . .

The chapters alternate points of view with numerous characters.

Warnings/points to discuss: lying, cheating, destruction to property, brawls that show no respect for property/people  By accident the district had forgotten to offer the course Human Growth and Development to the eighth grade gifted students.  So there is some talk about "sex ed" and the need for summer school or "hands on experience"-you can imagine what inferences can be made with that phrase!

Voices from the Underground Railroad by Kay Winters illustrated by Larry Day

Poems from different perspectives share about the courage various people exhibited helping slaves escape.
End pages display an escape route map.  Back of the book contains lots of additional information.
-Borrowed from the library.

Colonial Voices Hear Them Speak by Kay Winters illustrated by Larry Day*

Readers follow Ethan, the printer's errand boy, through the streets of Boston as he delivers a message about the Patriot's meeting.  Each poem features a different person who receives Ethan's message and their diverse reactions.
The glossary and the further information about each trade/occupation were especially helpful and interesting.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
This author-illustrator team has also published similar books about the Oregon Trail and the Underground Railroad.

Grumbles from the Forest Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich illustrated by Matt Mahurin

Different poem structures revisit familiar fairy tales.  The speakers of the poems reveal new perspectives on these old tales. 
I read these poems aloud to my boys in the mornings. 
-We own this book.

A Tale of Two Beasts by Fiona Roberton

A girl is walking in the woods when she spies a strange little beast.  She thinks he is stuck in a tree so she frees him and takes him home.  Little does she realize how much he despises her care and his captivity!
The second half of the book shares the little beast's point of view.
The ending provides a perfect opportunity for kids to write a continuation story.
I read this book to  my eight year old to model point of view.
Pair with The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka.
-Borrowed from the library.

Frankly, I Never Wanted to Kiss Anybody! The Story of the Frog Prince as Told by the Frog by Nancy Loewen illustrated by Denis Alonso

Prince Puckett shares the story how he is turned into a frog during a baseball game and is freed from the curse by a princess who has a pretty great baseball arm.
Strategy: mentor text -point of view/perspective
-Borrowed from the library.

Echo Echo by Marilyn Singer illustrated by Josee Masse*

Reverso Poems about Greek Myths
Ms.Singer has created a new type of poem---she uses the exact words for two poems but in the second poem she starts the ending of the first poem at the beginning of the second!  The two poems are from two different Greek personalities' perspectives.
My boys enjoyed the cleverness of the poems.
I read this book aloud  for our morning poetry when we studied early Greeks.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
--Check out Ms. Singer's other reverso poems. 

Lincoln and His Boys by Rosemary Wells illustrated by P.J. Lynch*

Rosemary Wells shares about Lincoln's life through  his boys' point of view from 1859-1865 (1st person narrative).
Very well researched.
This book, however, made me and my oldest son quite sad as it does have a section about Willie's death and its affects on his parents and brother Tad.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
93 pages long

Terrible Storm by Carol Otis Hurst illustrated by S. D. Schindler*

Currently I am reading Quiet Power by Susan Cain and have been sharing the strengths of introverts with my boys.  So this book that features an introvert and an extrovert was apropos.
Two childhood gentlemen reminisce about the Blizzard of 1888.  The introvert is snowed in a the tavern with lots of people while the extrovert is snowed in a barn with only animals to keep him company!  Each page features two illustrations, one of the introvert and another of extrovert along with their point of view.  When I read this book aloud, my fourth grader read aloud the one grandfather's comments while I read aloud the other grandfather's point of view.
The men in this story are the author's grandfathers so the story is true.
I love this book for many reasons.
First, the illustrations depict that time well and are, at times,  humorous.
It is a perfect book for a mini Reader's Theater and/or for children to read aloud to practice fluency (two different grandfathers plus a narrator).
Lends itself to comparing/contrasting and point of view.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy illustrated by Emily Sutton

A fir tree grows in a crooked fashion so no one will purchase it for Christmas.  A homeless boy finds it, plants it in a cardboard box and brings Christmas joy under the bridge.  Before too long, the boy throws out the browning tree.  A street sweeper sees a green branch on it and plants it, knowing hope remains.
The tree grows and provides shade and life for many creatures and humans.
The last illustration of the page requires careful observation to fully appreciate the story.
-Borrowed from the library.

Treat by Mary Sullivan

Only one word is used to tell this story, "treat".
A dog obsesses about his owners giving him a treat.  His persistence only ends in frustration. When will he ever have a treat?
The illustrations and punctuation definitely tell the story.
Lots of humor!
This book would be a great one to use when teaching children how read punctuation correctly and how to read with expression.
I thought hearing the word "treat" for 32 pages was annoying! :-)
Although the text is sparse, this book is loaded with teaching opportunities/modeling (see "strategies" list).
Strategies: inferring, reading with expression, reading punctuation correctly, point of view
-Borrowed from the library.

Lost Cat by C. Roger Mader*

Beautiful illustrations!
Slipper, the cat, loves her life, especially her elderly owner's slippers.
Suddenly, Mrs. Fluffy Slippers moves to live with her daughter and family.  In the chaos, they forget Slippers. Slippers sets out to find a new owner.
A sweet, surprising ending!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library
Look at the beautiful illustrations!
Christmas sequel (2016)

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel*

Caldecott Honor Book

As a cat saunters through his day, various creatures encounter him.  How do they perceive him?
Very interesting!
A great book to utilize when discussing perspective/point of view.
-Borrowed from the library.
Highly recommend.

Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryan**

"Eleven slaves, their lives and dreams brought to life . . ."
This book is stunning.
From his collection of slave-related documents, Mr. Bryan choose the Fairchilds Appraisement of the Estate from July 5, 1828 to base this book.
He took the list of slaves to be sold on this appraisement and gives them a voice.  On the first page the slave describes his/her occupation and how he/she contributes to the success of the Fairchild plantation.  Then the second page, the same slave shares his/her dreams.
The artwork is incredible.
A necessary book to read and share during any Civil War unit or history unit during this time.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.