Children's LitBlog Chapter 1-5, Apple Pie 4th of July, and Buzz

Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

I found that Chapter 1 offered some good points on the question: why read?
The section of the chapter that discussed "Reading is Personally Motivating" was a section of Chapter 1 that took in my interest. The discussion of engaged reading and unengaged reading was intriguing to learn the difference between the two styles of reading. I have come to realize that many times when something is assigned to read it tends to be unengaged. However, perhaps if you all someone to have input in what the choose to read then maybe reading will become more engaged reading overtime. Tunnel and Jacob discuss that engaged is reading for your own purpose and not someone else. Perhaps more children would enjoy reading if teachers tend to make multiple assigned reading and the child could choose a book for his own purpose and not the teachers. In prior classes, I have found unengaged reading, however currently my reading for EDLL 5351 tends to be engaged reading.


Wong, Janet S. Apple Pie 4th of July. Illus. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Orlando FL: Voyager Books/Harcourt, Inc., 2002.

I thought that Apple Pie 4th of July was simple and cute. The main character was young Chinese-American girl. She was upset that her parent's store was open on the 4th of July. Who would want to eat Chinese food on an American holiday? Hours past while she longed to be playing with the other kids, wanting to go to the 4th of July parade and most of all eating apple pie. However, she was having to stay in her parent's store waiting on customer who she thought would never show up. Though to her surprise customers start showing, a few in the beginning and then more and more. Finally, the after a busy night of serving Chinese food, her family went on the rooftop and enjoyed watching fireworks and apply pie, of course.
I thought this was a wonderful children's book. Wong by incorporating different cultures into books allow for her books to be adaptable. She showed that America isn't only about hot dogs, apple pie, and fireworks but also about diversity. I thought the book was amazing and the ending with fireworks and apple pie was a perfect ending.


Wong, Janet S. Buzz. Illus. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Orlando FL: Voyager Books/Harcourt, Inc., 2000.

Buzz a fun-loving book! Who would of ever known that so many things make the sound buzz. This book allows for someone to experience the morning of a child. Buzz is a great book for children because they can notice other noises that they may notice in the morning when getting ready. It teaches the word buzz and gives many examples of objects that buzz. Wong did a wonderful job with the pictures, even though they were simple they had detail. I loved the picture of when his dad is shaving and the boy is impersonating his dad by pretending to shave his chin with his toy car. Buzz and Apple Pie 4th of July were wonderful books and I am looking forward to reading more of Janet Wong books.