E.B. White, Garth Williams, Charlotte's Web, December 14, 2004, HarperTrophy Summary: This is a story of friendship.  The story follows the life of Wilbur, a pig who was destined for death from birth (being a runt), who becomes friends with a spider, Charlotte.  Charlotte and Wilbur both live in a farm and Wilbur learns the hard way the awful fate a pig will eventually encounter.  Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig,"which convinces the farmer that this pig is special and shouldn't face death.  This book includes friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time, all of  which revolve around Wilbur and his barnyard friends.   "E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things. "-Amazon Review- Recommendation for Parents: This is a good book to read aloud to your children because there are many characters and a lot of good details that can help children write discriptively.   The themes that come up are also very good for exposure to tragedy, death, love, and hope which can lead to good discussions with your child.  There are not a lot of illustrations, but the few that are included help bring the characters and the story to life.  Recommendation for Teachers: I recommend Charlotte's Web as a read aloud for students 3rd grade and above because it is a chapter book and it includes a lot of themes that may be understood better in that grade.  Although it is long for a read aloud, it will be good to include in a daily routine that the students can look forward to.  The curiosity of wanting to know what Wilbur's fate will be, will keep the students wanting to hear what happens next each day. Personal Note:  When I was in 3rd grade my teacher was reading this book aloud to us; due to my move to another school I wasn't able to finish the story and I was devastated because I wanted to know what happened to Wilbur, but because a movie was made I got to see the end of the story.  My teacher had a routine though, I do not remember exactly how long she read for, but I remember being excited to come to class after lunch, because that was when she would read it.  She did such a great job at changing her voices with different characters, it was funny because she was known as the mean teacher of the school, but during the read alouds everyone got to see the silly, nicer side of her when she became the characters.  Although in the end I cheated when I saw the movie, I now want to read this book to my little brother before the new movie comes out because I want him to experience the different characters in this loving and hopeful novel.

Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising, October 1, 2000, Scholastic Press; 1st ed edition Summary: This book is the story of Esperanza, a thirteen year old girl who not only has to experience the changes a girl may experience during this age, but the changes she has to encounter growing up as a privileged rich girl from Mexico and having to lose it all and become a migrant worker in California.  Throughout the book we follow Esperanza through tragedy, hardships, and hope which keeps us wondering if happiness will come and how she will rise. Recommendation for Parents: This book would be great to read to your child because it can relate to anyone, the themes that come up in this book are also very good discussion openers because it will not only expose your child to hardships other children might have to live through, but it provides history that is very important not only as Californians, but as humans trying to feed our family and surviving. Recommendation for Teachers: This is a good book to read aloud because like Charlotte's Web, all you need to do is include it in a daily routine, maybe one where unwinding is needed, and a time where there can be discussion afterwards because it does have many incidents that will lead to intense discussions.  Although this book is usually read in a 5th grade classroom, I would recommend bringing this book into the classroom during the California history portion because there are a lot of events that happened in the 1930s that will teach our students a history of California that may be overlooked. Personal Note: I just read this book this year and at 22 years old I cried and I was curious of what was to happen next in Esperanza's life.  I had this book in the health center one day and the receptionists told me "Oh! Is that Esperanza Rising?  My daughter had to read that book for class and I loved it, we couldn't put it down."  That reinforces that it is a great book to read to your children and as a teacher is a great one to expose your students to as well.   I really liked this book for many reasons, especially because it shows how many immigrants had to lose so much when coming to this country "full of opportunities" and how many times they may end up in worst conditions, even when they had so much in their old nation.