Annotated Bibliography

Writing an Annotated Bibliography: Grade 8

Annotated Bibliography

1. Arrange your books in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.
2. For each book, write a bibliographic entry and an annotation.

Last name, first name. Title of Book. City: Publisher, year.
Two sentences about the book, written in paragraph form.

3. Make sure that if you go to a second line for an entry that you start 3 spaces in the from the left margin. Write your annotation in paragraph form.
4. Don’t double-space an entry. Double-space between entries. Don’t number entries.

Write Picture Book Annotations
For each picture book, write two sentences:
    a. a summary of the story
    b. your opinion as to why the picture book format is effective

Write a one-sentence summary of a picture book.
1. Collect information:
        a. approximate age of main character
        b. name of main character
        c. the setting of the story (time and place)
        d. what happens
2. Use simple present tense to write.
        E.g. Young Bob, wanting an adventure, runs  away from his country home and visits a nearby city.
        E.g. Two young boys meet and make friends  in this simple picture book with hardly any words.
Give your opinion of a picture book.
1. Determine the purpose of the illustrations:
        a. to enhance the mood
        b. to evoke emotions
        c. provide information
        d. tell the story without words
2. Determine the most suitable audience:
        a. young children who will look at the pictures
            while an adult reads
        b. older students who are doing research
        c. all ages because of the emotional appeal

Carlstrom, Nancy White. Glory. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2001.
This beautifully illustrated poem by a well-known author is an adaptation of Gerard Manley Hopkins’s poem, ‘Pied Beauty’. The collage-and-paint pictures joyously reflect the miraculous wonders of nature and will be appreciated by readers of all ages.

Krishnaswami, Uma. Monsoon. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2003.
A young girl in an Indian city waits for the rains to start. Sensory details and full-page coloured illustrations combine to make this a powerful picture book, useful for teaching writing to middle-school students, reading aloud to younger children and comparing to Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse.

For the fiction books, write two sentences:
a. a summary of the story
b. your opinion as to who would enjoy the novel

Write a one-sentence summary of a novel.
1. Collect information:
        a. approximate age of main character
        b. name of main character
        c. the setting of the story (time and place)
        d. what happens
2. Use simple present tense to write.
Give your opinion.
1. Consider…
        a. the mood
        b. the theme
        c. the genre (mystery, adventure…)
        d. the author’s credentials
2. Determine the most suitable audience:
        a. elementary, middle or high school students
        b. boys or girls or either

Ruiz Zafon, Carlos. The Midnight PalaceNew York : Little, Brown, 2011.
Ben, raised in an orphanage in Calcutta, India, thinks he is alone in the world until he discovers, on his sixteenth birthday, that he has a twin sister and that a monstrous ghost from the past is trying to kill the two of them. Set in the 1930s, this suspense-filled novel, translated from Spanish, will be enjoyed by readers eleven to sixteen years old.

Gibbons, Alan. Caught in the Crossfire. Orion Children’s Books, 2003.
Set in England, this suspense-filled novel shows what happens when the brother of a member of The Patriotic League secretly becomes friends with a British Muslim girl. Fear, prejudice, pride and violence all combine to create a compelling novel for young adults.

Write Nonfiction Annotations
 For each nonfiction book, write two sentences that include…
    a. a summary of the information
    b. an observation about the style of writing

Write a one-sentence summary of a nonfiction book.
1. Collect information:
        a. main topic
        b. main subtopics
        c. a few interesting details
        d. the author’s credentials
2. Use simple present tense to write.
Give your opinion of the nonfiction book.
1. Observe the style of writing:
    a. length of sentences
    b. figures of speech
    c. size of font and margins
    d. intended audience
2. Observe the additional features:
    a. illustrations
    b. glossary and index
    c. list of websites

Haney, Johannah. Turtles. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2008.
This short illustrated book for elementary and middle school students describes different types of turtles and how to choose and care for a pet; the end of the book includes a glossary, index and list of websites.  The style of writing is factual in a friendly manner as if speaking to the reader: “It is also important to remember that turtles can live a long time. So when you get a pet turtle you are making a big commitment” (9).

Annotated Bibliography by Ilar in grade eight
Airth, Lesley Anne. What We Remember. Ashton, Ontario: General Store Publishing House, 2004.
A collection of narrative stories for elementary and middle school students about how World War I and II affected millions of lives in Canada; includes the famous poem, In Flanders Fields by John McCrae and acknowledgements and information sources. Completed with colourful illustrations, this friendly and informative book has a certain way of making even young children think about how brave the soldiers in the war were: “…every single day we should remember why we live in peace and we should be grateful” (35).
Barrett, Judi. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1978.
This incredibly imaginative picture book features a town that is supplied with food that falls from the sky. Beautified with hilarious full-paged illustrations, this story is great for young children and the young at heart.
Khan, Rukhsana. Wanting Mor. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2009.
Teenaged Jameela and her abusive father hurriedly move to Kabul, Afghanistan when her mother suddenly dies, where her stepmother and father decide to abandon her. This thoughtful and compelling novel about courage and living in Afghanistan will be enjoyed by girls in middle school.
Ransome, Arthur. The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship. Toronto: Sunburst Books, 1968.
A foolish peasant, rejected by his parents, sets off to build a flying ship to win the hand of the Czar’s daughter, only to discover that the Czar will try to make him do anything to stop him. Filled with a variety of vivid and cheerful colors and illustrations that add so much more the adventure, this retelling of the Russian tale is a great book for story-telling to young children.
Sturtevant, Katherine. A True and Faithful Narrative. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2006.
Seventeen-year-old Meg goes against her father’s will to write a book while she has to choose between two young men who fancy her. Set in London, England in the 1600’s, this dramatic and heartfelt novel will be enjoyed by girls in middle school.

Annotated Bibliography by Tyler in grade eight
Avi. Crispin: the Cross of Lead. New York: Hyperion, 2002.
Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned boy in England flees his village and meets a juggler who holds a dangerous secret. Readers aged 10 and up will love this book.
Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire New York: Scholastic, 2009.
By winning the Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss and Peeta have secured a life of safety, but by defying the rules the start a rebellion. For more mature readers.
Collins, Susanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008.
Rulers of Panem control a yearly televised survival Competition by putting young people to the test by taking a boy and girl, between the ages of 12-16, from each of the twelve districts to fight to the death. Suitable for more mature readers.
Guinness World Book Records. Guinness World Records 2011. London: Guinness World Records Ltd., 2010.
This factual book will tell you all the world records such as the longest hot to the biggest hamburger you can order. Suitable for all ages.
Seuss, Dr. Green Eggs and Ham. New York:Beginner Books, 1998.
This classic book is about Sam I Am who refuses to eat green eggs and ham. Recommended for young children.


 [This assignment may be copied for use with students if the following credit is provided: ©2012 Sophie Rosen.]

Writing an Annotated Bibliography: Grades 6 and 7

You need to use 5 books in total for this assignment and must include at least one book in each category. Remember to choose books that contain the information you need to complete this assignment!

For each picture book, give the following information:
1. a bibliographic entry (author, title, city, publisher, date)
2. a sentence from the book showing a figure of speech such as alliteration, hyperbole or a simile
3. an emotive sentence, the page number on which it is found and a 50-75 word paragraph telling how you connect to that emotion

For each novel, give the following information:
1. a bibliographic entry (author, title, publisher, date)
2. the genre and evidence for your choice
3. an emotive sentence, the page number on which it is found and a 50-75 word paragraph telling how you connect to that emotion

For each non-fiction book, give the following information:
1. a bibliographic entry (author, title, publisher, date)
2. five questions and answers that could be used with your book; each question should use one of the following key words: what, when, who, where, why

Criteria:
1. fully completed
2. thoughtful and accurate answers
3. correct English (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
4. attractive presentation skills
5. handed in on time

SOME EXAMPLES

Annotated Bibliography
Reid, Suzan. Follow that Bus. Victoria: Orca, 1993.
When a school bus leaves for a field trip without the teacher, nothing good can possibly come out of it. Or can it? The colourful, childlike pictures will appeal to all who read this superb story.
Jaimet, Kate. Slam Dunk. Victoria: Orca, 2009.
This short yet interesting story tells how a teenage boy tries out for a provincial basketball team, but at the same time, coaches a girls’ basketball team where the starting point guard suddenly disappears with her mom, the official coach. This action packed novel will appeal to all who love sports.
Erskine, Kathryn. Mockingbird. New York: Puffin, 2010.
This compelling story tells how a grade five girl, with Asperger’s Syndrome, struggles to overcome the grief caused by her brother’s death and make friends. This wonderful and moving novel will appeal to readers in grade five to eight.
Bossley, Michele Martin. Kicker. Victoria: Orca, 2007.
This mysterious action filled story tells how three teenagers risk their lives for some stolen jewellery. Readers in grade six to eight will enjoy this mystifying novel of persistence, perseverance and courage.
Sylvester, Kevin. Sports Hall of Weird. Toronto: Kids Can Press Ltd., 2005.
This hilarious yet very odd book tells all sorts of weird facts about sports and athletes. This book is suitable for readers in grade three to nine who love sports and trivia.

[This page may be copied for use with students if the following credit is provided: ©2009 Sophie Rosen.]

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