Title: Nappy Hair Author: Carolivia Herron Illustrator: Joe Cepeda Published by: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York, 1997
	Summary: A unique picture book written in a call and response style about an African American girl, Brenda, and her hair--"it's the nappiest, the curliest, the twistiest hair in the whole family." The whole family delights in poking fun, all the while discovering the beauty and meaning of Brenda's hair. This story is full of pride and rythm for every reader big and small.
	Recommendation for parents: This is a fantastic book to read aloud because of the call and response rythm of the book. Children and adults of all ages can read along, or at least keep up with the rythm. It is a great book for helping emergent readers recognize according to rythm where to bigin their line. And the pictures are incredible.
	Recommendation for other teachers: This book is a great option if you plan to discuss the topic of individuality, family, pride, cultural diversity, prejudice, and stereotypes. You might want to preview this book by having students bring in baby pictures, and talk about what their hair was like when the were born, and throughout their early childhood. I would recommend reading aloud once, and then giving students  copies of the text and assigning characters so that students can fully engage in the call and response features of this book.
	Personal note: I thought this book was laugh out loud funny as well as being incredibly heartwarming and a reminder to all how sometimes the things that we hate about our bodies at first, we eventually grow to love and  eventually become how we define ourselves.

	Title: The Lorax Author/Illustrator: Dr. Seuss Published by: Random House, New York 1971
	Summary: A boy walks down the dark and grimy 'street in order to ask the mysterious Once-ler the story of how the Lorax was lifted away. The Once-ler recites a tale of how he and his family found the Truffula trees and  slowly began chopping them down in order to make a product for consumption by the masses. The Lorax, he speaks for the trees, tells the Once-ler of how the new machines, factories and subsequent polution are forcing all of the animals to leave the area, possibly never to return. The book culminates with the Lorax leaving after the last of the Truffula trees has fallen, leaving behind a pile of rocks with a message: "UNLESS." Unless someone stops the environmental devastation things will not improve.
	Recommendation for Parents: This book is appropriate for kids of all ages, and is especially nice for children who are learning to sounding out words. Most Dr. Seuss books have made-up words that need to be sounded out. This book has a rythm and rhyme that make it fun to read. It is also a nice way to introduce environmental topics to youngsters.
	Recommendation for Teachers: This book can be used as a read-aloud for kndergarteners, or as the start of an  ecology and pollution unit for the upper grades. Older students really get into predicting as the book is read. Many also enjoy going back over the book and linking up the cause and effect relationship between industry and the effects of pollution on the animals and on the environment. I recommend reading this book outside of the classroom, preferably under a big tree.
	Personal Note: I can hardly make it through the ending of this book without shedding a few tears. The message of this book is so powerful. Now that the Lorax is gone there is nobody to speak for the trees, and UNLESS we do something about the environmental devastation that is happening to many parts of our planet we could lose all that we know. I love this book.