An Evaluation Guide to Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Author: Angela Johnson

Title: When I Am Old with You
Publisher: Scholastic

Summary: The bond between grandparent and grandchild time and sometimes transcends an
adults sense of logic, reaching a deeper level of truth. In this story, a small child imagines a
future when he will be old with his granddaddy and will be sit beside him in a rocking chair and
talk about everything. They will go fishing, drink cool water form a jug, and play cards, till the
till lightning bugs shine in the trees. The poignant reality that time will never allow these two to
coexist at the same age is softened by the fact that they do not have to be the same age in order to
share happy times. What the boy dreams of doing with his granddaddy someday are the same
things that they are doing now. This tender story is complemented by Soman's beautifully
executed watercolors, which vibrate with life and love. The African-American child and
grandfather are distinct individuals, yet also universal figures, recognizable to anyone who has
ever shared the bond of family love across generations.
Evaluation
Plot:
Believability (absence of coincidence, sentimentality, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
Comment: Children like the one in the story only imagine to do things with their
siblings are they get older. A true story to believe.

Major dramatic question (clear early in book?) YEs

emerging)
NO

YES (but slow

Comment: When we are child we imagine different things we can do in life as we

grow older.
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: The conclusion ends when the child tells his granddad even if we are
tired are we sit next to you. The boy is showing love and bonding with his
granddaddy.
Style and Language (precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue,
cadence, understatement, unexpected insights, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Clear language easy to follow
Pacing:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The book narrates different activities the boy will do as he grow older
with his granddaddy
Character (dynamic protagonist, characters ring true
[including cultural considerations], etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment:
Setting (detail, texture)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The book portrays different settings where the child imagine when he
grows older the places and things he will do with his granddaddy. Such as go fishing,
play cards, drink water, looked for old clothes of his grand-grandfather, look for old
familys picture, cook bacon for breakfast, see the ocean, walk in the hot sand and
see the waves in the ocean, and after they get tired they will sit together in a
rocking chair.
Theme: (absence of over didacticism?)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The book teaches to love grandparents and to bond with them even if
we get older
Other considerations (mood, tone, etc.) 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Sentimental
It is a well-rounded piece?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: A little monotonous piece because each page say When I am old with
you and describes the activities the child will do with his granddaddy.
OVERALL RATING (10 High; 1 low)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Age recommended 4-8

Author: David Shannon

Title: No, David
Publisher: Scholastic

Summary: In this boisterous exploration of naughtiness, Shannon (How Georgie Radbourne Saved
Baseball) lobs one visual zinger after another as David, a little dickens, careens from one unruly deed to
the next--coloring on the walls, tracking mud all over the carpet, jumping on the bed in red cowboy boots.
Meanwhile, all those timeless childhood phrases echo in the background: "Come back here!" "Be quiet!"
"Not in the house, David!" and most vigorously--"No!" Shannon's pen whisks over the double-page
spreads in a flurry of energy, as he gains perspective on an image of a bare-bottomed David cavorting
down a quiet suburban street or closes in on the boy's face as he inserts a finger into his triangle nose,
his button eyes tense with concentration, and perfectly round head looming larger than the pages. While
Shannon gives David the purposeful look of a child's crude drawings, his background settings (the kitchen
sideboard, a toy-littered TV room) are fully rendered, effectively evoking the boy's sense of displacement.
This dead-on take on childhood shenanigans ends on a high note, with the penitent David (he broke a
vase with a baseball) enfolded in his mother's arms as she assures him, "Yes, David, I love you."

Evaluation

Plot:
Believability (absence of coincidence, sentimentality, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10

Comment: A true story that tells the life of any regular child who likes to
misbehave sometimes. Mom of course gets angry, and say no to do it, but
regardless of anything bad the child does the mom loves him.
Major dramatic question (clear early in book?) YEs
emerging)
NO

YES (but slow

Comment: Can children never get tired to do bad things that parents dont like?
Regardless of that parents love their children.
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Excellent conclusion because no matter how bad is David the mom told
him at the end. Yes, David I love you reassures her unconditional love for him.
Style and Language (precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue,
cadence, understatement, unexpected insights, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Easy vocabulary
Pacing:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment:
Character (dynamic protagonist, characters ring true
[including cultural considerations], etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: A true ring character because there is always a child who does not
listen to his/her mom and does thing she dislikes or are no right.
Setting (detail, texture)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment:
Theme: (absence of over didacticism?)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: No matter how many things as child we do bad, our parents always love
their children.
Other considerations (mood, tone, etc.) 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Humor as the author describes chaotic scenes that makes his mom mad
It is a well-rounded piece?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Yes, because depicts different bad things David does but no matter
what his mom love him.
OVERALL RATING (10 High; 1 low)
Comment: Age recommended 4-8 years old

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Author: Peggy Rathmann

Title: Officer Buckle and Gloria
Publisher: G. P. Putnams sons

Summary: This is one of those books that is not only entertaining for children to read but also teaches
them valuable life lessons. This classic children's book shows readers the importance of safety and
friendship. Upon closer look at the illustrations in this book readers will love seeing how the pictures on
each page fit perfectly with the page's words.

Evaluation

Plot:

Believability (absence of coincidence, sentimentality, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10
Comment: A believable story because it show a police officer and his working dog
Gloria giving safety tips to children.
Major dramatic question (clear early in book?) YEs
emerging)
NO

YES (but slow

Comment: The children need to be careful and dont accept ride from strangers,
dont do drugs, never play with matches. The story goes on and on with questions
and suggestion from the police officer of what to do.
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: I love the conclusion, the police officer last tip is always stick with your
buddy and Gloria is next to him.
Style and Language (precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue,
cadence, understatement, unexpected insights, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Easy language to understand
Pacing:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment:
Character (dynamic protagonist, characters ring true
[including cultural considerations], etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: The police officer and Gloria represent a ring true characters
Setting (detail, texture)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The book illustrates where the Officer Buckles gave speech in school,
received thank you letters from the students. Also, it shows a picture of him
receiving many phones from other people requesting to come to their school,
daycare to give safety lesson and they asked him to bring Gloria too.
Theme: (absence of over didacticism?)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The book teaches valuable safety lessons/ tips for children from a
police officer, who has experience and want to prevent children get injured.
Other considerations (mood, tone, etc.) 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Humor
It is a well-rounded piece?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Yes, a very good book that teaches many safety tips to children and it is
illustrated well for children to easy understand it.

OVERALL RATING (10 High; 1 low)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Age recommended 4-8 years old

Author: Kevin Lewis

Title: The Lot at the End of My Block
Publisher: Hyperion books

Summary: A rhyme book that follows the pattern of "This Is the House That Jack Built," a
young boy tells the story of how an empty lot is transformed into an apartment building. He first
introduces the workmen, then the wall they build with a hole in it, and everything he observes
through this window to their world. He introduces each piece of equipment, first the dump truck,
then the bulldozer, crane, and finally the cement mixer. He explains how each one works as the
building begins to rise, and as the building begins to grow, so does the amount of text on each
page, through repetition, opposite the illustration. The bold primary colors create almost threedimensional construction equipment, workers, and girders against the city skyline in fading
degrees of cobalt to sky blue. And to top it off, the little boy gets a new buddy, a child who
moves into the building.

Evaluation

Plot:
Believability (absence of coincidence, sentimentality, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
Comment: A true story since present workers and the equipment they use to build
the building at the end of corner.
Major dramatic question (clear early in book?) YEs
emerging)
NO

YES (but slow

Comment: How is equipment is used to build a building?

Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: The boy who narrated the story also started to build a new friendship
with a boy who moved in the building that was built at the end of his lot. And is how
the story concludes.
Style and Language (precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue,
cadence, understatement, unexpected insights, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Precise vocabulary with rhythm words
Pacing:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment:
Character (dynamic protagonist, characters ring true
[including cultural considerations], etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: A boy narrated the construction that was happening at the end of his
block. A ring true character
Setting (detail, texture)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The book starts with the boy pointing out the block at the end of the
block. Then, he introduces four construction workers with his working tools. Then, it
shows the wall that they constructed. Then it shows a dump truck moving the dirt
on the lot. Then, it shows a red shovel truck that fill the dirt from the construction.
Then introduces the bulldozer truck that removes piles of dirt from the lot. It shows
a red crane, it shows also a girder that carries heavy metal. A welding machine is
show with a man working with metal. Then shown a blue mixer truck that is mixing
concrete to put on the ground. At the end is a picture of the building that was built
with all these equipment and trucks and the boy new friend playing with him
baseball.

Theme: (absence of over didacticism?)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Yes, it teaches how each truck works for construction and the process to
build a building
Other considerations (mood, tone, etc.) 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Humor because of the rhythm words
It is a well-rounded piece?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: A good piece that teaches children how construction trucks work
OVERALL RATING (10 High; 1 low)
Comment: Recommended Age 4-7

Author: Jerdine Nolen

Title: In My Mommas Kitchen

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Publisher: Harper Collins

Summary: From Talking Pots Day, when the aunts all gather to make the biggest pot of soup in
town, to gathering round Gran Lee's stove on a cold winter afternoon, to serenades and stories
late at night, when the rest of the world is asleep, " It seems like everything good that happens in
my house happens in my momma's kitchen."

Evaluation

Plot:
Believability (absence of coincidence, sentimentality, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
Comment:
Major dramatic question (clear early in book?) YEs
emerging)
NO

YES (but slow

Comment: Do families member can cook together and show love by doing so
together?
Other considerations (satisfactory conclusion, tension, clear conflict, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment:
Style and Language (precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue,
cadence, understatement, unexpected insights, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Clear language easy to understand it and follow the story.
Pacing:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The story transport the reader from the girl Nadene that narrates the
story greeting her parents and different things that happened in her mom kitchen.
Character (dynamic protagonist, characters ring true
[including cultural considerations], etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: A true ring character since this could happen in any mom kitchen like
cooking together with family member
Setting (detail, texture)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The story is narrated in Nadenes mom kitchen and her home

Theme: (absence of over didacticism?)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The story teaches children how to bond with family member and
appreciated them when they come to our home and help us to do things like
cooking.
Other considerations (mood, tone, etc.) 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Humor
It is a well-rounded piece?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Yes, the author describes different events when the family members
come to mommas kitchen and help to make apple jelly. It shows the good
relationship and support of the family members
OVERALL RATING (10 High; 1 low)
Comment: Recommended 6-8 years old

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10