Hatchet

Paulsen, G. (1987). Just for boys presents Hatchet . New York: Bradbury Press.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a 1988 Newbery Honor Book.

Brian Robeson, a 13 year old who is traveling from New York to Canada to visit his father, has been thinking about his parent's divorce, his mother had given him a hatchet before the trip and Brian had attached it to his belt. The plane's pilot complains about chest pain and when Brian realizes that the pilot is having a heart attack, he tries to use the radio but is unable to the pilot dies, the plane is falling and finally crashes on a lake. Brian wakes up and realizes that he is alone in the wilderness, he is hurt and hopes that soon a search will begin and he'll be rescued. Brian learns a few things trying to survive: making a save shelter, what to eat and what not to eat, about the animals that surround him and how to protect himself; all of this with the help of his hatchet. One day, Brian sees a plane fly by but when the plane flies away from him, Brian becomes loses hope to go back home to his family and friends. After a suicide attempt, Brian realizes that he must survive no matter what and he becomes a "new" Brian. During this new stage, Brian overcomes animal attacks and even a small tornado that destroys his shelter. While examining the area and the damage left by the tornado, Brian spots the tail of  the plane and decides to get the plane's survival pack. After a few unsuccessful attempts, Brian gets the survival pack and returns to his shelter. Brian finds several useful items in the pack, when he is preparing a meal with some of the food that he found, Brian hears an engine, a plane lands on the lake, the pilot comes out and tells Brian that they received a signal from that place. Brian tells the pilot his name and asks him "Would you like something to eat?"

Brian Robeson is a typical teenager that despite all odds survives on his own leaving behind all the worries of his life in the city. During his time in the wilderness, Brian matures and becomes self-sufficient, observant and determined to survive. The surprising end when Brian asks the pilot if he'd like something to eat, shows how Brian was not in a rush to go back home, he was comfortable and happy to have found a new life in the wilderness. I recommend this book to 5th grade and higher level students, students will enjoy the main character challenges to survive in the wilderness.

Julie of the Wolves

George, J. C., & Schoenherr, J. (1972). Julie of the wolves ([1st ed.). New York: Harper & Row.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George is a Most Challenged Book according to bookspot.com

1973 Newbery Medal Book

First part: Miyax is an Eskimo girl that is trying to communicate and learn from a pack of wolves in order to survive, she ran away from home to go to San Francisco wher her friend lives.

Second part (flashback): Miyax as a younger girl lived with her father until he had to go to war, she went to live with her aunt and attended school where she changed her name to Julie, she becomes pen pals with Amy Pollock who lives in San Francisco, after some time, Julie and her aunt are led to believe that Julie's father died, eventually Julie is taken to another village to marry Daniel but when he tries to hurt her, she escapes.

Third part: Miyax is adopted by the wolves and follows them, when it is hunting season, Miyax separates from the wolves and travels South, some hunters are after the pack that saved her life, she saves one of the pups and lives on her own for a while until she learns through some travellers that her father is alive, when she finds him, she is disappointed for he has married a white woman and does not follow with Eskimo traditions, he has become a hunter. Miyax decides to return to his father and leave behind the Eskimo life.

I enjoyed this book because the protagonist, a young teenager learns how to be independent but also knows the value of a family, in this case the family or community being a pack of wolves. She survives the harsh Alaska weather and becomes a mature teenager that eventually has to decide between living in the wilderness and returning to life with other humans. This predicament shows how Julie even though she was thankful to the wolves, knew that living on her own was probably not going to be the easiest choice, she had to leave that behind. Although she didn't agree with her father's new ways, she knew the importance of family and community.

Because of Winn Dixie

DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie . Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press. 

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo is a 2002 Bluebonnet Award Book

India Opal Buloni is a 10 year-old girl that moved to Florida with her father, a preacher that works at the Open Arms Baptist Church of Naomi. When she was only three, her mom left them. Both the preacher and Opal keep hoping that Opal's mom would return. While shopping at a Winn-Dixie store, Opal finds a dog that is causing trouble, she takes resposibility for the dog and names him Winn-Dixie. During their time together, Opal and Winn-Dixie make unusual friends, a nearly blind alcoholic woman, an ex-con that plays music, a librarian, and children too.

During a party, a thunderstorm scares Winn-Dixie away. Opal is devastated and seeks her father for help. At that point Opal and her father become closer than ever, now she feels that her father cares more about her and life in general. After hours of looking without results, they find Winn-Dixie hiding under a bed. In the end, Opal and her father became closer, she found new friends and she had peace about her mother's abandonment, all thanks to Winn-Dixie.

This book is a wonderful reminder of how the small things are the ones that matter most. Opal's particular way of treating others without any prejudice, help her friendships matter and brings people from different backgrounds together. Winn-Dixie plays an important part in Opal's character development. The story includes different real-life situations such as abandonment and alcoholism, DiCamillo handles these situations in a kid-friendly way in which at the end the characters find closure and move on with their lifes.

Cook-A-Doodle-Doo!

Stevens, J., & Crummel, S. S. (1999). Cook-a-doodle-doo!  San Diego: Harcourt Brace. 

Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! is a 2001 Bluebonnet Award Book.

Big Brown Rooster was tired of eating chicken feed, he decides that he will have no more of that, determined to change his meal, he looks for his great-grandmother's, Little Red Hen, cookbook. After looking through the book, Big Brown Rooster decides to make the strawberry shortcake. Turtle, Iguana, and Pig join Big Brown Rooster in his quest for a good meal, each one contributes to the making of the delicious strawberry shortcake in their own funny way. When the cake is done, Iguana accidentally drops the cake to the floor and Pig eats the whole thing! What a disaster! Big Brown Rooster tells his friends that they can make another cake and so they make another magnificent strawberry shortcake.

As I read and enjoyed this book, I thought of the many times I've cooked with my friends or my daughter, the book depicts the way things happen when three or more "cooks" are putting together the same meal so accurately!! It's disastrous and funny!

The pictures in this book are colorful and give support and more details to the story. An additional feature of this book is a sidebar explanation of the ingredients, kitchenware and safety. And the best part is at the end of the book where the reader can find the strawberry shortcake recipe, yum!!

The Quiet Book

Underwood, D., & Liwska, R. (2010). The quiet book . New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. 

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood is a 2011 Notable Children's book, illustrated by Renata Liwska.

The Quiet Book is a picture book that explains in a very simple way the different kinds of situations for being quiet, the characters are animals that are drawn and colored to represent young children and the times in which they are quiet. The artwork takes the reader to his/her own times in which remaining quiet is the best thing to do.

I enjoyed reading this book with my children, my favorite kind of quiet is the jelly side down quiet... It reminds me of times when I've made a mess and didn't want anyone to find out!

City Dog, Country Frog

Willems, M., & Muth, J. J. (2010). City Dog, Country Frog . New York: Hyperion Books for Children. 

City Dog, Country Frog is a 2011 Notable Children's book by Mo Willems, illustrated by Jon J. Muth

City Dog, Country Frog is a story about a dog that visits the country and becomes a frog's friend. The story takes place during five seasons, beginning in the spring time and ending in the next year's spring. In first three seasons, City Dog and Country Frog play different games. Then City Dog can't find his friend Contry Frog during the winter anymore. City Dog goes back to the country in the spring once more and is sad that he can't find his friend Country Frog for the second time, suddenly Country Chipmunk shows up and City Dog knows that now he has a new friend.

This book made me feel nostalgic in the last part when City Dog was waiting for his friend that would not return, I thought about the friends from the past that have moved to different places and how I miss them too! The illustrations in this book are colorful and provide support to the text. The pictures show the changes in the seasons and in the characters as well as the frog and dog's feelings, especially during fall and winter time.