Syar's blog

  This tall tale and traditional literature book is retold and Illustrated by Steven Kellog. The age range group is from 4-8 years old and has received no awards. In this story, Johnny Appleseed, formerly known as Johnny Chapman, was fascinated in apples as small child so he began his journey in the wilderness, taking care of people and wildlife as he grew older with just his appleseeds. He supplied everyone apples from the Americans down to the Indians and soon befriended everyone because of his great deeds. He soon moved more westward to live in the wild where he spent his last years as he became ill. Stories about him spread quickly, even some that were exaggerated. People today still claim to know that they still see him. This is a great tall tale for story time to teach pre-k -- 3rd grade students about stories that can be passed down from generations. I could definitely use this book as a way to get my students to ask their parents about tales that they've heard and that'...

  Published on April 1, 1994, this traditional book is written by Stefan Czernecki and illustrated by Timothy Rhodes. The reading age ranges from 5- 8 years old. This book earned the "Américas Award in 1994. This tale and traditional book clarifies how Mexican people of Tzintzuntzan, Mexico, were taught to weave and make straw figures, which was inspired by Indians, specifically the Tarascans. A Mexican family one day experience a drought and are not able to provide for the hummingbirds, and their wheat is now drying up and dying. As they make pots decorated and fill them with sugar and water for the hummingbirds, they start to worry about their children having enough. Realizing how stressed the family is, the hummingbirds gather straw and show the family how to weave straw into figures. The family then decides to sell the figures they make at the Day of the Dead festival and they make enough money to last a year. Rain finally comes to their village which gives them hope and joy a...

 Retold by Yoshiko Uchida and illustrated by Martin Springett, this inspirational yet non award winning book has been told for many generations, which is why it is "retold" but doesn't have an original author. The suggested and appropriate age group for this book is from 5-9 years old. Taking place in Japan, the story is about a young farmer forcibly having to move his 70-year old mother to the mountains because his cruel leader thinks that people that age are useless and should be left to die. While walking her up the mountain, he changes his mind and decides to keep her hidden in the village so that nobody knows where she is. Later on, the same village is threatened to be taken over by Lord Higa unless the young lord completes three difficult tasks. No one in the village, not even the wisest men or creatures are able to do it until the young farmer secretly asks his mother for help. With her help and her wise mind, the village is spared by Lord Higa and the young lord r...

 Written by Lynne Cherry, A River Ran Wild is a traditional literature book that goes through an environmental part of history that can be read to pre k- 2nd grade students. This book has received no major awards.  This story is based on true events that took place near the Nashua River In Massachusetts. The book is about a group of Native Americans who decided to settle on the River for a better life with food, shelter, and of course, the river's fresh water. This was all ruined when white settlers came a long and polluted the River as new machines in an industrial revolution came in place. Because of this, wildlife deteriorated. Soon, people around started to notice the damage done and signed petitions while speaking to politicians to get change done. Once people started working hard to get the Nashua back to life, it finally but slowly became clean to the point where all the wildlife came back to dwell near it again. This is also a place where people can walk and tour....

  Hansel and Gretel is a traditional book that was originally written by Jacob Grimm, but this version of the story is adapted by Lucy Kincaid. Even though this version did not receive any awards, the original story. by Grimm earned the Randolph Caldecott Medal in 1985. Typically, 3-7 year olds would read this book.  This story is about two siblings, Hansel and Gretel, who are abandoned in the forest by their parents and suddenly and unfortunately fall into the hands of a cannibalistic woman who lives in a gingerbread house. As the old woman tricks the siblings into entering her home and older brother, Hansel, is almost cooked and eaten by the old woman, the younger sister, Gretel, comes in and outwits the woman and saves Hansel. They then return back home to live happily with their father at the end. Even though this book is said to be for toddlers and read through 2nd grade, it isn't a book that I would think about introducing to lower-grade children because reading about at...