Black Dog - Levi Pinfold

Illustrated by the author

2011 - Templar Books; Candlewick

HC $15.99

24 pages

Goodreads rating: 3.97

My rating: 4.5 (awesome illustrations)

Endpapers same as the cover:

This is a great story about being afraid and being brave - with a touch of cockiness from the littlest girl, and wonderfully humorous illustrations.  This is a great book to use with older kids to talk about what you actually see when your stress level is high....how do you interpret what you see..... The artwork is exactly the type of thing that we talked about at a workshop I went to last week about the messages in what you see, not what you read.  I think this is one to show on the Smart Board in big gorgeous color for everyone to examine while I read it aloud - perfect for fourth grade discussion AND for reading to my 3-year-old grandson!

Goodreads says:  An enormous black dog and a very tiny little girl star in this offbeat tale about confronting one’s fears.  When a huge black dog appears outside the Hope family home, each member of the household sees it and hides. Only Small, the youngest Hope, has the courage to face the black dog, who might not be as frightening as everyone else thinks.

Some Things are Scary - Florence Parry Heide

(No Matter How Old You Are)
illustrated by Jules Feiffer
Published 2000, revised 2003
Candlewick
32 pages
$12.00
Rating: 4
Endpapers: Silvery purple

26 scary situations, each illustrated humorously.
26 scary situations that I could relate to as well---
A few:
....getting hugged by someone you don't like
....holding onto someone's heand that isn't your mother's when you thought it was
....brushing your teeth with something you thought was toothpaste but isn't
....playing hide and seek when you're IT and can't find anyone
....reaching under your bed for shoes and grabbing something - you don't know what -
....having people looking at you and laughing and you don't know why

I bet you can think of many more yourself, right this instant! I can. And so could kids. What a great extension - make a class book! Or....Some things are funny.....or...Some things are puzzling.....on and on adn on......ideas are limitless.