51. Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs

Bibliographic Citation:
Diggs, Taye. Chocolate Me! Illustrated by Shane Evans. New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends, 2011. 36 p. ISBN 978-0-312-60326-7. 

Awards/Selection Lists:
None

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
This book, through the story of a young, African American child, represents differences in race, accepting one's own identity, and accepting others' for who they are.

Personal Reaction:

The combination of the rhyming text with the description of the child's skin color as "chocolate" from his own perspective offers a little levity to a serious issue.  Children who might feel different from other children around them will identify with the main character in this book. The ending of the story demonstrates how our differences can be a positive thing.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Diversity, self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-identity

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Children are invited to become part of the narration of the story through the repetition of the title throughout the book, as well as through the rhyming text.


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is demonstrated in this book through rhyming phrases that are a part of the story.

Print Awareness:
The text of the story is printed on each page in spaces that are open of illustrations. The color of the font is changed on pages where the print may be more difficult to see. The repeated phrase, which is also the title of the book, "Chocolate me" is printed in brown, larger text, drawing attention to the words each time.

Print Motivation: 
The rhythmic, rhyming text of this book make it a fun read. The method of telling the story from the perspective of a young African American child  who feels different from other children in his community provides a realistic view of the way that a young child might feel, and children who identify with this character will enjoy reading this book.  

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary in this book deals with skin color, physical attributes, and self-acceptance. 



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://chocolatemetoo.com/

31. Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar? by George Shannon

Bibliographic Citation:

Shannon, George. Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar?. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 2013. 32 p. ISBN 978-0805091977. 

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:

Using the reverse of a familiar chant, the author tells the story of how many different people in different places it takes to make all the ingredients that make up a cookie.

Personal Reaction:
George Shannon uses a familiar chant used with young children to explain how a cookie is made, from the growing of wheat, to the delivery of the ingredients, to the person baking the cookies. Illustrations represent many different people, in different environments throughout the world, with many different cultures represented.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children ages 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Multicultural, food sources, global awareness

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Rhyming text encourages child participation, and narrative skills are modeled through the reading of the text.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is represented through rhyming text.

Print Awareness:
The text of the story is placed within the illustrations to draw attention to the text in a way that makes the print a part of the story.

Print Motivation: 
Interesting multicultural, festive looking illustrations, coupled with the explanation of the real story of how a cookie is made make this an interesting book for preschool-aged children. 

Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this book includes words that represent the ingredients that go into making a cookie, and the way they are formed and pulled together.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.georgewbshannon.comcastbiz.net/

11. Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

Bibliographic Citation:

Martin, Jr., Bill and John Archambault. Here are My Hands. Illustrated by Ted Rand. New York, NY: Henry Holt, 1998. 28p. ISBN 978-0805059113 

Awards/Selection Lists:
IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award

Format Examined:
Board book

Annotation:
Parts of the body and their functions are identified by children of different cultures.

Personal Reaction:
This book is perfect for small hands to hold as they learn to identify the names of parts of the body. The subtle way that diverse cultures are used through the illustrations to show that children are all the same but also different makes this a powerfully simple book.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 12 months-3 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Body parts, skin colors/diversity

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge:
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills:
Children become involved in the reading of this book through naming the body parts in the illustrations.

Phonological Awareness:
The rhyming text of the book almost reads like a poem, emphasizing how words can sound alike. 

Print Awareness:
The text on each page is in black and connects to the illustrations on the page. 

Print Motivation:
This book is a quick read and is fun for children who are learning their body parts. Small children are able to hold in their hands, making this an enjoyable book for very young children.

Vocabulary:
Body parts are named throughout the book, and functions are identified according to each part of the body, providing new words for the very young.

Author/ Illustrator Website:
Author website: http://www.billmartinjr.com/ 
Author website: http://www.johnarchambault.com/ 
No official illustrator site