5 comments about Born Blue.

1. Born Blue by Han Nolan is about a girl with a herion addict mother. Janie or Leshaya has been through many foster homes, physical abuse, unwanted pregnancy and death. The only thing that makes Leshaya feel good is signing. Leshaya is a survivor of her painful past.
   I liked this book because it tells people what some foster children go through. The book also tells me how hard it is to live in foster homes, and how hard it is to be physically abused. This book teaches me that if you have a goal and you want to achive it do what ever it takes no matter how bad your life has been. to survive you must be a survivor.-Tyeisha



2. This was an appropriate book at the high school for inner city students who find they can relate with the story and the characters. I had no trouble getting my students to take turns reading, doing their homework, and writing on this book. It hit home for my low-income students who are faced with sexuality, drugs, alcohol, running away, and poor choices. It was excellent for discussing what alternate choices could have been made and what those outcomes could have been.



3. As a little girl she was called Janie. She never really knew her last name, but it didn't really matter. Her first memories are of being in a foster home where she was occasionally beaten and usually ignored. Her only friend, Harmon, lived there, too. He was the one who introduced her to music. He had tapes of black lady jazz singers and he would play them for her and dream of dancing while Janie dreamed of singing. She knew someday she would be able to sing like the ladies. She also believed deep down in her heart that despite her blond hair and blue eyes, she must be black.
   
   Then Harmon is adopted and out of her life. Shortly after that, Janie's real mother, a heroin addict, kidnaps her from the foster home and hands her over to Shell, a white woman and Mitch, her black boyfriend. When Janie is told she will have to change her name, she chooses Leshaya, the name of her black caseworker's dead daughter. For a few years Leshaya lives with Shell and Mitch. She dreams that Mitch might be her real father. He likes to hear her sing, but Shell is jealous of the relationship between Mitch and Leshaya.
   
   Finally, Mitch and Shell are busted for selling drugs. Leshaya, just twelve years old, decides to set off on her own and become a famous singer like her idol, Etta James. But a twelve-year-old with no family who has never really known love will have a hard time making it in the world. Will she become famous? Will she figure out how to treat those who care about her?
   
   I liked the very end of the book and the decision that Leshaya made. I also liked the way that Leshaya eventually felt about her mother. However, I didn't really like the character of Leshaya herself. She wasn't easy to like; she ruined everything she came across and never really seemed to get why people didn't like her.



4. This is what a girl's life is all about. Born Blue is a book that will teach all girls a lesson. Han Nolan, the author, had a great story line. This is what girls need. They need to be able to read about people who actually experience hard times.
   
   This girl named Leyshya has a gift. This is a gift that few people have. Her child hood life is not normal. She had to be put into a foster home and grow up with a family that has a totally different background than her. Not only is this book a good book, for a girl to read but it can be a good book for guys too. They can have the chance to read exactly what a girl goes through and understand thing that they might not understand. This girl has to go through so many ups and downs and there are things that happen that stop her from going on with her gift. It is something that totally changes her whole life. Will this hold her back from wanting to go on? Will she make the right choice? And how will she end up? These are all questions that run through you head while reading this book.
   
   Other than all the emotion that is in this story there are some parts where you just have to laugh. See Leyshya is a southern girl and she has that southern accent. She uses words like "yall" and every word that ends in "ing" she leave the "g" out. It really makes you get into her character. I ended up starting to talk like her after I read the entire book.
   
   I normally do not read books. I am not a big fan of reading but while I started reading this book I kept wanting to read more and more and I didn't want to put the book down. The meaning of the book is so deep. She goes through such hard things that girls can really relate to this. It's intense. It also has a lot of suspense and it makes you wonder what's going to happen next.
   
   The only thing that I would change is change the ending. It ruins it all. It just ends and doesn't go on anymore, and I just want to keep reading but I can't because there are no more pages. The book has such a great theme, but when you get to the end it kills it.



5. Born Blue is a favorite book i have read.It's about a girl named janie who soon changes her name to Leshaya.She is a girl who lives in a Foster Home with her foster brother Harmon and there foster parents,Pete and Patsy.the reason she is in the Foster Home is because her mom left her and thats how it started.Then it started to get bed her foster brother got adopted and than she got kidnapped by her Mama Linda's friends Mitch and Shell.the reason they kiddnapped her was so Mama Linda couldtrad her for drugs.Than leshaya ranaway from them because they got arested.Then went to Harmons and ran away from them.After that got in to a band then she got pregnant. When she had the babythen named it Etta James.Shegave tha baby to Harmon and started a different band. Then song in a professional Band and started a record.She got kicked out her friends house 4 drugs. so she went to her Mama Lindas and took care of her until she died three monhs later. after that she started missin her baby so she went back and disceded to leave her baby were she will be happyer.

2 comments about Mary McLean and the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

1. This is a story of a little girl who searches for a four leaf clover so she can be in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. The fantasy and excitement of a leprechaun appeals to my students. It lends very nicely to creative writing in the classroom. This is a must, especially for primary teachers.



2. It is 1849 and Mary Mclean and her family are fresh off the boat from Ireland. Mary is excited to hear about stories and traditions from Ireland that are told by other members of the Irish community where she lives. One of the things she gets told about is the St. Patrick's Day parade. Mary is excited about this and all the stuff that surrounding it. More than anything, she wants to be part of it so she asks Mr. Finnegan, a local shop owner, if she can ride on his cart in the parade with him. Mr. Finnegan agrees but only if Mary McLean can find a perfect shamrock. This is an almost impossible task because it is winter. Mary searches and searches and she can't find one. She finally stumbles across a leprechaun who says he'll give her one later. Months later, he is back the day before St. Patrick's Day. Mary captures him and asks for the promised shamrock. The leprechaun says he lost it and tricks Mary into turning away. Mary goes home dejected. Her father comes home with a surprise! He found a shamrock for her and Mary is able to be in the parade. She's very happy.
   This book is priceless. The artwork is fabulous and reminiscent of Norman Rockwell. The artwork is very engaging. Each page is laid out exactly the same. On the left side, there is the text. On the right side, there is a color illustration. The moral of the story seems to be that good things do happen to good people. This is a wonderful theme. It also seems to have a theme of good things happen to those who wait. This is something important to instill in children because so often they want things right now this very instant. The story line is entertaining and easy to follow. It is a wonderful book to read.

1 comments about Fourth of July, Sparkly Sky (Sparkle 'n' Twinkle).

1. We gave these books away in baskets as party favors at our fourth of july kids' swimming party. I put the books in shiny blue lunch bags (from Target) with red, white, and blue snacks and toys (blowers, etc.) The kids loved them. We had red punch and strawberries, blueberries in plain yogurt for the blue and white part. Face painting red stripes and blue stars. Very fun.

1 comments about D.J. and the Jazz Fest.

1. You can almost hear the beat of tapping feet in D.J. and the Jazz Fest by Denise Walter McConduit, illus. by Emile F. Henriquez

   Although D.J. sometimes finds his mother's ideas boring, he changes his mind when she takes him to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. What a weekend - shrimp po' boys, strawberry snowballs, dancing, plus jazz, gospel, Cajun music, and the blues.

   The author places a fun-filled traditional New Orleans experience in a child's context.

2 comments about Happy, Happy Chinese New Year!.

1. Demi's celebration of Chinese New Year provides a short set of insights on how the Chinese prepare for their celebration from cleaning the home to cooking, preparing for planting, and making ready for a fresh start. The lively, whimsical drawings are classic Demi and provide easy insights into the Chinese New Year's meaning.



2. This is the very same book as " Happy New Year Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts' Ai! ISBN: 051788592,which is also by Demi. It's the very same illustrations & information, but this book has less pages. Save your money and buy Demi's other book and get more pages & information for your money!

No comments about Nueva en el Zoologico (Serie Para Lector Principante).

No comments about Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Holiday Histories).

4 comments about Angelina at the Fair (Angelina Ballerina).

1. This is a wonderful book. I have read it to my 3 year old daughter dozens of times. It has a scary element to the story, which she loves. But, not too scary for a 3 year old. The pictures are interesting as well as the story line. Angelina at the Fair is fun.



2. This is the first Angelina book I recieved and I believe that it is the best in the series of Angelina books. It has everything a terrific children's book should have. The characters were obviously created with great attention to details and are utterly charming. The fabulous watercolor illustrations were enriching to me as a child when I read Angelina at the Fair due to the pastel color choices. This book also has a perfect balance of intrigue, suspense, and adventure. Every little girl should have the opportunity to read this book.



3. In this next book in the Angelina Ballerina series, Angelina has spent the winter saving up her money for when the fair arrives in town. Disaster strikes (in Angelina's eyes) when she is forced to take her little cousin Henry along. She proceeds take her annoying little cousin on all of the rides that she loves, but he finds frightening. However, when Henry disappears, Angelina learns a lesson about others.

   My daughter and I do love the Angelina books. Katherine Holabird and Helen Craig make a formidable team! If you have a child (a girl especially), then we do recommend this book to you.




4. This book is a good one, especially if your child loves the fair, but beware that the word "hate" is used to describe how she feels about her cousin...not exactly the words I would have chosen to describe the fact that she doesn't want to take him along with her to the fair...but it's easy enough to change the words on the fly for younger listeners.

No comments about The Blizzard.

No comments about Lionel's Birthday (Easy-to-Read, Dial).