INTRODUCTION

PERSONAL

My name is Sabrina and I am currently a studying to become an elementary school teacher.  I have one semester until I begin my student teaching experience.  I am excited to start my career as an educator.  I love children, and love helping them learn.  I really enjoy teaching young children, and I hope to teach in the primary grades.  I want to become a teacher to help children learn and grow as individuals. 

I am married and have two wonderful daughters, Brinley (age 1) and Teagan (age 6).  My daughters love to read, and I love to read to them.  I hope to instill the love of reading in as many children as I can.  I think a good book can change a person’s feeling about reading for the rest of their life.  They just need to find that one book.  Reading is amazing, wonderful, and an important part of my life.  In this blog I hope to introduce a variety of books for children to choose from, or for adults to introduce to the children in their lives.  

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Children’s literature is fascinating, there are so many genres, styles, age levels, and subjects covered.  I read children’s books daily to my two girls, and I enjoy finding new books to read to them.  Books are a huge part of my life, and I enjoy sharing good books with anyone who will listen.  This blog is intended to do just that, share books with everyone. 

I have found that good books contain great plots, fascinating characters, beautiful and well thought out illustrations, and effective word choice.  I have created a rating scale containing all four of these elements.  For each book I post and review, I will use this scale and explain why I gave each book the rating that I did.  Along with the ratings and book review, I will post the age level, genre, author, illustrator, and any other pertinent information. 

-RATING SYSTEM-

Element of Literature	Excellent	Average	Inadequate	Not Addressed
Plot	The plot is engaging; the reader is invested in the outcome.  Contains conflict, a climax and a resolution.    The reader buys into the story line; it is believable to the reader.	The plot is average it contains some of the essential elements such as conflict, climax and resolution.  One element is either missing or poorly developed.  The reader may or may not buy into the storyline, it is just not that believable.	Multiple essential elements, conflict, climax and/or resolution are missing or poorly developed.  It is not believable and overall a bad plot.
Characters	Characters are unique and believable.  The characters come to life when the reader is engaged in the story.  When the book is done, the reader still connects with the characters of the book.  Characters have personalities, flaws, and feelings. There is a protagonist, possibly an antagonist and some supporting characters.	Characters are similar to other books, have little to no uniqueness.  When the reader is done with the book, they are also done with the characters, there is no lasting connection.  Characters display little in terms of personality.  There are no supporting characters, or no clear protagonist.	Characters are dull and lifeless, there is no connection to the characters.  There is no clear protagonist and no supporting characters.  The characters are too farfetched.
Illustrations	The illustrations share in the story telling. The pictures help to develop the characters, establish the mood, and setting.  They contain some of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures themselves may be created out of different mediums in order to support the plot.  Visual elements are used effectively (line, shape, color, texture and composition).	The illustrations support the story telling.  The pictures help with some but not all of the following, establish mood and setting, and developing characters.  They contain few if any of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures are basic and do not use visual elements effectively.	The illustrations are in conflict with the story.  The pictures do not develop or establish anything in relation to the book.  There are no additional elements in the illustrations.  Visual elements detract from the plot.
Word Choice	There are a more than two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are one or two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are none of the following elements or they are not used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.