SPOILER ALERT: The summaries often contain information about surprise endings.
Date Finished: October 4, 2010
Title: The Kissing Hand
Author(s): Audrey Penn
Illustrator: Ruth E. Harper, Nacy M. Leak
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1993
Grade level: Pre-K – 3 (Reading Level: 3.3)
Genre: Picture Book, Fiction
Summary: Chester Racoon is dreading school. He wants to stay home with his mother. His mother gives him a special present, a kiss in his palm, which reminds him that he is loved.
Notes/reflection: Cute story, good for students with school anxiety
Theme, concept or classroom use: Animals, forest, school, love, anxiety, nervousness
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 3, 2010
Title: Duck! Rabbit!
Author(s): Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Date: 2009
Grade level: Pre-K – 2
Genre: Picture Book, Fiction, Comedy and Humor
Summary: Two unseen characters see a mysterious creature in the distance and debate over whether it is a rabbit or a duck until the creature disappears.
Notes/reflection: Simple plot, fun storyline, bold illustrations.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Disagreement, arguing, debate, animal story, duck, rabbit, cleverness, creativity, imagination, visual arts, illusion, different points of view
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: The Best Nest
Author(s): P.D. Eastman
Illustrator: P.D. Eastman
Publisher: Random House
Date: 1968
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 1.3)
Genre: Picture Book, Fiction
Summary: Mother bird decides she doesn’t like her old nest so she and Mr. bird set out to find a new nest. They search and search and finally build a nest on a bell—which they soon find out is a mistake. The bell tolls while Mr. Bird is gone and he returns to find Mrs. Bird gone. He searches and searches and can’t find her. He decides to rest in the old nest, where he finds Mrs. Bird, who has decided it is the best nest and lays an egg.
Notes/reflection: Good story and illustrations.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Disagreement, arguing, debate, animal story, duck, rabbit, cleverness, creativity, imagination, visual arts, illusion, different points of view
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: May 5, 2010
Title: Stellaluna
Author(s): Janell Cannon, Jewel Cannon
Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Date: 1993
Grade level: K – 4 (Reading Level: 4.9)
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: A story about a baby bat who gets separated from her mother. She is then raised by birds and learns to live like the birds do. She struggles with being a bird. When she finally learns to fly she is found by a colony of bats and reunited with her mother.
Notes/reflection: A beautiful story and illustrations.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Bats, family, belonging, friends, friendship, individuality, nocturnal animals, parents, siblings, nontraditional families
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: Chicken Sunday
Author(s): Patricia Polacco
Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Paperstar
Date: 1992
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 4.8)
Genre: Picture book, fiction, realistic fiction
Summary: A story about a young girl and her friends and their efforts to earn a hat for her friends’ grandmother. The children are blamed for egging the shopkeeper’s door, and have to prove to him they are good kids. They do this by decorating eggs for him, which they then sell in his shop and earn enough money to buy the hat (which he ends up giving to them for free).
Notes/reflection: A good story. It includes different cultures and has decent illustrations.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Culture, diversity, prejudice, tolerance, and respect, cross-cultural friendships.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: Thank You, Mr. Faulker
Author(s): Patricia Polacco
Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Philomel
Date: 1998
Grade level: 2 – 4 (Reading Level: 4.8)
Genre: Picture book, fiction, realistic fiction, autobiography
Summary: A story about a little girl who struggles with reading and the teacher who made all the difference.
Notes/reflection: An amazingly touching story that every teacher should read. Illustrations aren’t my favorite but the story makes up for it.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Challenges, different abilities, disabilities, elementary school, reading, perseverance
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: Abbie Against the Storm: The True Story of a Young Heroine and a Lighthouse
Author(s): Marcia Vaugham
Illustrator: Bill Farnsworth
Publisher: Beyond Words Publishing
Date: 1999
Grade level: K – 3 (Reading Level: 3.9)
Genre: Picture book, historical fiction
Summary: A girl named Abbie and her family move onto an island so her father can take care of the lighthouse. Abbie is interested in the lighthouse and assists her father. When supplies don’t come Abbie’s father has to go get supplies, leaving Abbie to care for the lighthouse herself. She has to take care of the lighthouse during a storm and weeks after until her father finally returns.
Notes/reflection: The illustrations are gorgeous oil on canvas.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Courage, perseverance, family
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale
Author(s): John Steptoe
Illustrator: John Steptoe
Publisher: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books
Date: 1987
Grade level: Pre-K – 5 (Reading level: 5.2)
Genre: Picture book, fiction, folklore
Summary: A powerful story about two sisters, one who is humble and caring, and the other who is arrogant. Both set out on a journey to be selected as the king’s wife. The arrogant sister treats people she meets on the way badly, and the other sister stopped to care for the young boy, treated the old woman with respect and was selected by the king (who was also a snake, the boy and the old woman) to be his wife.
Notes/reflection: This book is WONDERFUL, from the incredible illustrations to the
Theme, concept or classroom use: African tales, diversity, humility, pride, arrogance, folklore, compassion and honesty, manners and conduct
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: Knots on a Counting Rope
Author(s): Bill Martin Jr., and John Archambault
Illustrator: Ted Rand
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Date: 1987
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading level: 4.1)
Genre: Picture book, fiction, folklore
Summary: The story of a Native American boy retold by his grandfather by the campfire. The boy’s grandfather reminds him of the story of his birth, how the wind called that a boy would be born, how he got his name, the day his horse was born, and the day he raced.
Notes/reflection: A beautiful story about the abilities and how different cultures don’t consider differences disabilities.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Native Americans, disabilities, overcoming obstacles, self-confidence
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: The Popcorn Book
Author(s): Tomie de Paola
Illustrator: Tomie de Paola
Publisher: Holiday House
Date: 1978
Grade level: K – 3 (Reading level: 3)
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: A story about two brothers making popcorn. One makes the popcorn, while the other reads facts and stories about the history of popcorn.
Notes/reflection: A cute story with many things I didn’t know about popcorn. Contains some math facts.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Food, cooking, and percentages.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: The Little House
Author(s): Virginia Lee Burton
Illustrator: Virginia Lee Burton
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Date: 1987
Grade level: K – 3 (Reading Level: 3.8)
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: A story of a little house’s journey through the seasons, and the years as the city slowly engulfs her and finally she is relocated back into the country.
Notes/reflection: A cute story, very simple and sweet.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Changes, new experiences, city life, communities, ways of life, country life, rural, suburban, and urban communities
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: Miss Rumphius
Author(s): Barbara Cooney
Illustrator: Barbara Cooney
Publisher: Puffin Books
Date: 1982
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 2.9)
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: A young girl promises her father that she will go to far away places, come home to the sea, and to make the world a more beautiful place. She does the first two, but doesn’t know what to do for the third until she is brought joy by the beauty of her flower garden. She decides to spread Lupines across her town, and does. She makes her town a more beautiful place. The narrator, her niece later visits her and promises to do the same three things.
Notes/reflection: A cute, touching and inspiring story. This story has interesting implications for invasive non-native species (though one may have good intentions, bringing in non-native species isn’t always the best idea—the frog situation in Australia, or blackberry bushes here).
Theme, concept or classroom use: Discovery, learning, individuality, making a difference, plants.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: The Art Lesson
Author(s): Tomie dePaola
Illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Publisher: Paperstar
Date: 1989
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 3)
Genre: Picture book, fiction, comedy
Summary: A young boy loves to draw. He draws and draws and draws. When he enters school he is very excited for the first art lesson in first grade, but his teacher doesn’t let him use his 64 pack of crayons and makes him copy. The teacher and the art teacher talk and let him do the art project first and then he can do his own picture. He grows up to be an artist
Notes/reflection: A cute and simple story about a boy with ambitions. Good for young children.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Changes, new experiences, school life, visual arts, artists
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Snowflake Bentley
Author(s): Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
Publisher: HMCo
Date: 1998
Grade level: Pre-K – 4 (Reading Level: 4.1)
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Biography
Summary: “Snowflake” Bentley was a farmer who was very unlike other farmers. As a boy he loved the snow, so much that he asked his parents to buy him a camera to photograph it. They saved up and bought him the best camera they could, and he spent all the time he could taking photographs of snow and other small things that he found beautiful.
Notes/reflection: A sweet biography, a great example of woodcut illustrations
Theme, concept or classroom use: Photography, winter
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 31, 2010
Title: Cheyenne Again
Author(s): Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Irving Toddy
Publisher: Clarion Books
Date: 1995
Grade level: 3 – 5
Genre: Picture book, historical fiction
Summary: A story of how Cheyenne children were taken from their homes to schools by white people to become “more civilized.” It shows the sadness and discomfort of having your identity and heritage discounted, and tells a historical tale.
Notes/reflection: A good story with beautiful illustrations, great for talking about social justice with young children.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Diversity, Native Americans, social justice, school.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: April 3, 2010
Title: The Curious Garden
Author(s): Peter Brown
Illustrator: Peter Brown
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Date: 2009
Grade level: Pre-K – 4 (Reading Level: 4.4)
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: The story of a little boy who discovers life in a city full of man made objects. He nurses the plants back to life, creating his own garden, and inspires his city to do the same.
Notes/reflection: Beautiful illustrations, wonderful story. Could inspire children to make a difference.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Children making a difference, Earth day, conservation/sustainability, environmental studies, plants.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: April 3, 2010
Title: Martha Doesn’t Say Sorry
Author(s): Samantha Berger
Illustrator: Bruce Whatley
Publisher:
Date:
Grade level: Pre-K – 3
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: Story of a little girl who’s habit of never saying sorry begins to push away her family and friends. In the end she learns that saying sorry is not only the nice thing to do, but it feels good, too.
Notes/reflection: Cute and feminine illustrations, questionable story. It has a good message but questionable means to this end (rather superficial).
Theme, concept or classroom use: Apologizing, selfishness, family, bad behavior.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Giggle, Giggle, Quack
Author(s): Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 2002
Grade level: Pre-K – 2
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: In this story the farmer leaves on vacation and leaves his farm with his brother. The farmer warns his brother to keep an eye on Duck. The farm animals have pizza, and trick the farmer’s brother into washing the pigs with his favorite things. The farmer finds out that the animals are tricking his brother and rushes home.
Notes/reflection: Cute illustrations, clever plot
Theme, concept or classroom use: Animals (farm)
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Where the Wild Things Are
Author(s): Maurice Sendak
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1963
Grade level: Pre-K – 3
Genre: Picture book, fiction, classics
Summary: Max is sent to his room without his dinner for causing mischief and imagined a world within his room where he meets the wild things and becomes their king. When he returns he finds dinner in his room.
Notes/reflection: Wonderful book
Theme, concept or classroom use: Cleverness, creativity, imagination, parents, monsters
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: An Angel of My Own
Author(s): Beth Roberts
Illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church
Publisher: Parragon Publishing
Date: 2005
Grade level: 2 – 4
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: A little girl is very naughty for a day, but later that night she feels very sad and guilty about her actions. She goes to bed and an angel visits her and helps her find ways to act more appropriately. The next day she is good and her parents give her an angel of her own.
Notes/reflection: Contains religious references
Theme, concept or classroom use: Bad behavior, morals
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: April 4, 2010
Title: Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
Author(s): Mem Fox
Illustrator: Mem Fox
Publisher: Harcourt
Date: 2008
Grade level: Pre-K – 1
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: A story of the similarities and differences of babies in different cultures.
Notes/reflection: Wonderfully diverse illustrations, but doesn’t account for disabilities
Theme, concept or classroom use: Diversity, equality, acceptance, babies.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: April 3, 2010
Title: The Lion and the Mouse
Author(s): Jerry Pinkney
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Date: 2009
Grade level: Pre-K – 2
Genre: Wordless picture book, fable/folktale
Summary: A hungry lion spares a mouse that he was about to eat and the mouse later saves the lion from a poacher’s net.
Notes/reflection: Beautiful illustrations, wonderful story. Heartwarming.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Friendship, caring, reciprocity, Africa, loyalty
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Tuesday
Author(s): David Wiesner
Illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion Books
Date: 1991
Grade level: K – 3
Genre: Wordless picture book, adventure, science fiction, fantasy
Summary: On one mysterious Tuesday frogs began to levitate from their pond. They flew over power lines, scaring birds, into houses to watch TV, past windows, chased dogs… Finally as the night came to an end the magic ended and the frogs fell to the ground, leaving lily pads everywhere as they hopped back to their ponds. The next Tuesday, pigs seemed to be affected by the magic.
Notes/reflection: Wonderful illustrations, whimsical story
Theme, concept or classroom use: Animal story
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: The Magician’s Counting Book
Author(s): Helen Frances Stanley
Illustrator: Dorothy Grider
Publisher: Rand McNally
Date: 1973
Grade level: Pre-K – 1
Genre: Counting book, picture book
Summary: Counting story that progresses from one wand, through the magician’s bag of tricks, to nine children who don’t want him to leave.
Notes/reflection: Cute story, simple and good for children who are learning to count at an instructional level, and good for children who are learning to read at an independent level.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Counting, magic
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Across the Big Country: An Alphabet Adventure with Donald Duck
Author(s): G. Harrison Olesen
Illustrator: G. Harrison Olesen
Publisher: Walt Disney
Date: 1972
Grade level: Pre-K – 2
Genre: Alphabet book, picture book
Summary: Donald Duck’s trip through the alphabet, from his departure in an airplane, passed a hot air balloon, the circus, a dog, etc.
Notes/reflection: Disney characters, delightfully repetitive for the beginning reader, uses alliteration to enforce sounds, and rhyming to aide with beginning reading. Rather long for young readers.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Disney, alphabet, trips
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Find Your ABC’s
Author(s): Richard Scarry
Illustrator: Richard Scarry
Publisher: Random House
Date: 1973
Grade level: Pre-K – 2
Genre: Alphabet book, picture book
Summary: The story of Sam and Dudley, detectives who are in a search for every letter of the alphabet.
Notes/reflection: The illustrations are busy and the graphic design isn’t very kid friendly. There is an explanation at the beginning describing that the letter of the page is in pink and it is very wordy.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Animals, alphabet
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: May 3, 2010
Title: Rapunzel
Author(s): Paul O. Zelinsky
Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky
Publisher: Yearling
Date: 2008
Grade level: Pre-K – 3 (Reading Level: 4.5)
Genre: Fable/Folklore, Fiction, Picture Book
Summary: A pregnant woman sends her husband to steal rapunzel from a sorceress’s garden. The sorceress catches him and makes him promise to give her his first-born child. She locks away the girl in a tower. A prince found her locked away and climbs up her hair into the tower. They fall in love and marry. Rapunzel gets pregnant; the sorceress finds out and cuts off her hair and sends her to the wilderness. The prince climbs up the tower and finds the sorceress, who tells him that he’ll never see his wife again. He falls out of the tower and is blinded by thorns. He later meets up with Rapunzel again and her tears renew his sight.
Notes/reflection: Beautiful illustrations
Theme, concept or classroom use: Emotional, social development, life experiences, relationships, literature
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: April 1, 2010
Title: Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest
Author(s): Gerald McDermott
Illustrator: Gerald McDermott
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Date: 2001
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 2.8)
Genre: Picture book, fable/folktale
Summary: Raven wants to find light for the people but he has to find where the Sky Chief keeps it. He turns into a pine needle and has the chief’s daughter swallow him. He is born to her as a little boy. Raven then plays with the box that contains light and his mother lets him open it and play with the ball of sun inside. Raven returns to bird form and takes the sun into the sky.
Notes/reflection: Great book, fitting illustrations for the culture represented
Theme, concept or classroom use: Folktale, animals, birds
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Little Red Riding Hood
Author(s): Trina Schart Hyman
Illustrator: Trina Schart Hyman
Publisher: Holiday
Date: 1983
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 3.3)
Genre: Wordless picture book, adventure, science fiction, fantasy
Summary: The classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. A little girl is sent by her mother into the woods to bring her ill grandmother some bread and wine to make her feel better. There she meets a wolf who tricks her into straying into the forest. When she finally reaches her grandmother’s house the wolf is disguised as her grandmother and eats her, too. A hunter comes to check on the old woman and kills the wolf, cutting out Red Riding Hood and her grandmother.
Notes/reflection: Beautifully illustrated, a good retelling of the classic tale.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Cause and effect, summarizing, fables, obedience
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 3, 2010
Title: Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky
Author(s): Elphinstone Dayrell
Illustrator: Blair Lent
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Date: 1996
Grade level: K – 4 (Reading Level: 4.3)
Genre: Picture book, fiction, folktale
Summary: Sun and Water are friends. Sun visits Water, but Water does not visit Sun. Sun asks Water about this, and Water says Sun needs a bigger house to fit all of his people. Sun builds a bigger house and invites Water over. Water comes over and his people fill Sun and his wife Moon’s house until Sun and Moon are forced to live in the sky.
Notes/reflection: Good story and illustrations, accurate depictions of African culture in illustrations.
Theme/concept or classroom use: African folktale, companionship, mythology, friendship, personification
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: May 1, 2010
Title: Greek Myths for Young Children
Author(s): Heather Amery
Illustrator: Linda Edwards
Publisher: Usborne Publishing, Ltd.
Date: 2000
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 4.4)
Genre: Picture book, fiction, myth
Summary: A collection of Greek myths retold for children.
“The Adventures of Perseus”: King Acrisius hears a prophecy that his grandson will kill him. He puts Perseus and his mother, Danae, in a chest and sends them out into the ocean. They are saved by a fisherman, who brings them to King Polydectes. Polydectes allows them to live in his city because he wants to marry Danae. He sends Perseus to die by challenging him to kill Medusa so he can marry Danae, who keeps refusing his marriage proposals. Perseus accepts the challenge. Athene comes and tells Perseus how to kill Medusa and gives him gifts to help. Perseus kills Medusa. Perseus then meets Andromeda, saves her from the sea monster, and returns her to her father, King Cepheus, who tells them to marry. They do get married, return to his home, and find out that King Polydectes has arranged to marry his mother. Perseus uses the head of Medusa to kill Polydectes. Perseus then accidently kills his grandfather, King Acrisius in the Olympic games by hitting him with a discus.
Notes/reflection: This is a great collection of Greek myths, it covers a wide range of myths and retells them in a way that is appropriate for children. Illustrations are slightly cartoony, but represent accurate portrayals of the time period.
Theme/concept or classroom use: Greek mythology, heroes, karma, fate, character and values
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 4, 2010
Title: The Story of Jumping Mouse
Author(s): John Steptoe
Illustrator: John Steptoe
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Date: 1972
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 4.1)
Genre: Picture Book, Folktale
Summary: The story of a little mouse that dreamed of a far off land and his journey to find it. In the story Magic Frog gives him legs to jump with, he encounters many dangers, and ultimately he reaches the desert where Magic Frog turns him into an eagle so he can live in the desert forever.
Notes/reflection: Beautiful black and white pencil and charcoal illustrations, cute story
Theme, concept or classroom use: Animals, mice, character and values
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: April 9, 2011
Title: The Grouchy Ladybug
Author(s): Eric Carle
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: 1977
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 3.3)
Genre: Picture Book, Fiction
Summary: The grouchy ladybug goes on a search for the biggest animal to fight in order to prove how tough he is. The whale teaches him a lesson about manners.
Notes/reflection: Illustrations are great, could be used for an art project. The story has some iffy points, but the moral of manners and friendship is good.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Friends and friendship, insects, bugs, and animals, manners and conduct, circle of life, animal defences, time, measurement,
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Is Your Mama a Llama?
Author(s): Deborah Guarino
Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1989
Grade level: Pre-K – 1 (Reading Level: 1.6)
Genre: Picture Book, Fiction, Rhyming
Summary: A baby llama learns about the mama’s of her friends.
Notes/reflection: A cute story for young readers
Theme, concept or classroom use: Animal babies and parents
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: April 30, 2010
Title: Bone: Out from Boneville
Author(s): Jeff Smith
Illustrator: Jeff Smith
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 2005
Grade level: 3 – 8 (Reading Level: 3.6)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fiction
Summary: Smiley, Fone, and Phoney Bone, cousins, get lost in the desert and find their way into a strange forest. They meet Gran’ma Ben and Thorn at a farm and are reunited. Rat-like creatures try to take Phoney Bone and attack the farm. They call upon a dragon who helps them save the farm.
Notes/reflection: Part of a nine-part series
Theme/concept or classroom use: Compassion, honesty, cooperation, teamwork, courage, honor
Rating (out of five stars): **
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: In a People House
Author(s): Theodore Lesieg (Theodor Geisel)
Illustrator: Roy Me Kie
Publisher: Random House
Date: 1972
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 2.5)
Genre: Beginning Reader, Picture book, fiction
Summary: A mouse invites a bird into the house to see how people live and what they have in their house.
Notes/reflection: Typical Dr. Suess book.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Different points of view, animals, culture and diversity,
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Charlotte’s Web
Author(s): (Adapted by) Jennifer Frantz
Illustrator: Aleksey and Olga Ivanov
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Date: 2006
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 2)
Genre: Beginning Reader, Picture book, fiction
Summary: The Zuckermans head out to the county fair and bring Wilbur to compete. Wilbur is nervous so Charlotte the spider spins him a web above his pen that says “HUMBLE,” which brings Wilbur hope and he wins the contest.
Notes/reflection: Good young rendition of the movie.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Animals (farm)
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Magic Tree House #6: Afternoon on the Amazon
Author(s): Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Sal Murdocca
Publisher: Random House
Date: 1995
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 3.1)
Genre: Early Chapter book, fiction
Summary: Jack and Annie find a magic tree house, that belongs to a magic librarian, which they take many adventures in. In this book the magic tree house takes them to the Amazon rainforest where they need to find a “special thing” to save the owner of the tree house, Morgan le Fey.
Notes/reflection: Great series of books that informs children about many topics in history and places around the world
Theme, concept or classroom use: Travel, Amazon rain forest, animals, cooperation, teamwork, courage, honor, habitats, ecosystems, siblings, South and Central America
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 23, 2010
Title: The Century for Young People: Changing America 1961-1999
Author(s): Peter Jennings, Todd Brewster
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: ABC, Inc.
Date: 1999
Grade level: 3 – 8
Genre: Non-Fiction
Summary: The book chronicles the main points of the period of years from 1961 to 1999. It covers topics such as the assassination of President John F Kennedy, the Vietnam War, the rise of the women’s movement, Watergate, the Cold War, Neil Armstrong’s trip to the moon, and the environmental issues of the time.
Notes/reflection: The book covers a lot of ground for how few pages it contains, but does a good job at it. Witnesses describe their reactions and feelings about the incidents described, which adds a more informal interpretation of the events. This in an interesting read and a powerful story of history.
Theme/concept or classroom use: John F. Kennedy, Vietnam, women’s movement, Watergate, Cold War, Neil Armstrong’s trip to the moon, environmental issues, American History, World War 2
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 5, 2010
Title: Bats
Author(s): Gail Gibbons
Illustrator: Gail Gibbons
Publisher: Holiday House, Inc.
Date: 2000
Grade level: K – 3 (Reading Level: 3.8)
Genre: Picture book, nonfiction
Summary: A book about the different qualities and habits of bats.
Notes/reflection: A great nonfiction book
Theme, concept or classroom use: Bats, nocturnal animals
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 25, 2010
Title: Tornadoes
Author(s): Seymour Simon
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: 1999
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 6.7)
Genre: Non-Fiction
Summary: A book about tornadoes, how they form, the damage they wreak, where they are predominantly found, etc.
Notes/reflection: An informative book, but long for a picture book
Theme, concept or classroom use: Climate, earth science, weather, tornadoes
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 11, 2010
Title: Manatees
Author(s): Patricia A. Martin
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 2003
Grade level: 3 – 4 (Reading Level: 3.4)
Genre: Picture book, nonfiction
Summary: A book about manatees: endangerment, habitat, characteristics, etc.
Notes/reflection: A good book about manatees and endangered species
Theme, concept or classroom use: Endangered species, manatees, mammals
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: The Big Book of Dinosaurs
Author(s): N/A
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: DK Publishing
Date: 1994
Grade level: Pre-K – 3
Genre: Picture book, nonfiction
Summary: All about dinosaurs: all shapes and sizes, appearance, habitats, bone structure, archaeology, etc.
Notes/reflection: Very informative and directed at younger children
Theme, concept or classroom use: Dinosaurs
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: April 30, 2010
Title: Falling Up
Author(s): Shel Silverstein
Illustrator: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: 1996
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 3.5)
Genre: Poetry Collection
Summary: A collection of comical, clever and even outrageous poetry.
Notes/reflection: Comical, whitty and sometimes touching
Theme, concept or classroom use: Cleverness, creativity, and imagination
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: April 3, 2010
Title: The Tree That Time Built
Author(s): Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: 1996
Grade level: 3 – 6
Genre: Poetry Collection
Summary: A book containing boems about life, science and creation.
Notes/reflection: Illustrations are simple, don’t add to or take away from poetry. Poetry is beautiful and thought-evoking.
Theme, concept or classroom use:
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Title: The Secret Garden
Author(s): Frances Hodgson Burnett
Illustrator: Tasha Tudor
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Date: 1938
Grade level: 3 – 8 (Reading Level: 6.8)
Genre: Fiction, classics, chapter book
Summary: This is a story of a disagreeable little orphan who is sent to live with her uncle and unexpectedly sets out on a personal journey to better her life and the life of her supposedly invalid cousin. With the help of a boy named Dickon they find the secret garden that once belonged to her aunt, Colin’s mother, and they discover the magic of life.
Notes/reflection: The main character is hard to relate to, as she is portrayed as (and acceptingly so) a snotty, cold, and contemptuous character in the beginning of the book. The story contains enough mystery and magic to keep the pages turning, and ends up being a fantastic story that testifies for the power of positive thought.
Theme/concept or classroom use: Power of positive thinking, gardens, animals, magic, spirituality, changes and new experiences, coping with death, grief and loss, overcoming obstacles, understanding self and others
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Hyperion
Date: 2002
Grade level: 6 – 8 (Reading Level: 6.1)
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Summary: After the death of his mother, a grief-stricken, nameless boy is witness to an exchange that causes him to become victim of a manhunt. He soon runs into a juggler named Bear who helps him along his journey to enlightenment.
Notes/reflection: A great book!
Theme, concept or classroom use: Adventure, courage, honor, friends, friendship, middle ages, social issues and conditions, England, monarchy
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 6, 2010
Title: Hoot
Author(s): Carl Hiaasen
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Yearling
Date: 2002
Grade level: 5 – 8 (Reading Level: 5.8)
Genre: Fiction, mystery and suspense, realistic fiction
Summary: Roy is new in town and is bullied by Dana Matherson. Roy later discovers running boy, and decides to follow him, which takes him on a series of adventures and ultimately helps him to find a flock of owls, which he protects from a potential restaurant destroying their habitat.
Notes/reflection: A great story, inspiring.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Birds, owls, cleverness, creativity, imagination, endangered species, equality, fairness, justice, school life, bullying, new kid, kids taking action, humor, what does it mean to do the right thing?
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: May 4, 2010
Title: The Giver
Author(s): Lois Lowry
Illustrator: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Laurel-Leaf
Date: 1993
Grade level: 5 – 12 (Reading Level: 5.9)
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Summary: The Willoughby family has its differences. The children aren’t particularly fond of the parents and the parents are outright resentful to their children. Both parties hatch a plan to rid themselves of the other. The parents depart on a trip, leaving the children with a nanny whom they quickly come to love. While gone the parents sell their house out from under the children and die while hiking in the mountains. The orphaned children discover a wealthy, lonely man who takes them in as his own. Soon after his long lost son returns.
Notes/reflection: Covers some sensitive subjects such as suicide and murder
Theme, concept or classroom use: Compassion, courage, families, social structures, leadership, responsibility, social justice, power, authority, and governance
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: April 25, 2010
Title: The Willoughby’s
Author(s): Lois Lowry
Illustrator: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Yearling
Date: 2008
Grade level: 3 – 8 (Reading Level: 4.5)
Genre: Fiction (humorous, satirical)
Summary: The Willoughby family has its differences. The children aren’t particularly fond of the parents and the parents are outright resentful to their children. Both parties hatch a plan to rid themselves of the other. The parents depart on a trip, leaving the children with a nanny whom they quickly come to love. While gone the parents sell their house out from under the children and die while hiking in the mountains. The orphaned children discover a wealthy, lonely man who takes them in as his own. Soon after his long lost son returns.
Notes/reflection: Uses advanced vocabulary and allusions to other works. The characters are ruthless and mean, tone is critical, and the themes are questionable for young children.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Satire, family, comedy, cleverness, creativity, imagination, rising above situation, siblings, travel
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: August 5, 2010
Title: Encounter
Author(s): Jane Yolen
Illustrator: David Shannon
Publisher:
Date:
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 4.0)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: The landing of Christopher Columbus on San Salvador in 1492 through the eyes of a Taino Indian boy. The boy tries to warn his people of the dangers of the strangers, but they don’t listen.
Notes/reflection: Great book for differing perspectives on Christopher Columbus
Theme, concept or classroom use: Perspectives, exploration, discovery, Christopher Columbus, Indians, Native Americans
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: December 28, 2010
Title: Walk Two Moons
Author(s): Sharon Creech
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Date: 1994
Grade level: 4 – 7 (Reading Level: 4.9)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: The intertwined stories of two girls who’s moms have left their families, and a girl named Salamalanca’s journey to understanding the reasons why her mom left.
Notes/reflection: This book started out slow, but eventually gained momentum, turning into a page-turner. It has many literary elements such as imagery, detailed character descriptions, and a story within a story.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Divorce, coping with death, grief, and loss, native Americans
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: December 29, 2010
Title: The Hundred Dresses
Author(s): Eleanor Estes
Illustrator: Louis Slobodkin
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. (Orlando)
Date: 1944, 2004
Grade level: 2 – 5 (Reading Level: 5.0)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Little Wanda Petronski has a name that is different from the other children at her school, and wears the same faded blue dress everyday. One day she informs the girls at her school that she actually has one hundred dresses at home. The girls begin playing the “dress game” “with” Wanda, always asking about her hundred dresses. The teasing continues until Wanda moves away and the girls have to deal with the guilt of teasing her.
Notes/reflection: This book was a quick read, the illustrations are beautiful, and the story a powerful one. I didn’t find the writing particularly compelling, but the story was.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Bullying, compassion and honesty, prejudice and tolerance, school life, understanding self and others, perspectives, poverty, art, dresses.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: March 6, 2011
Title: The Westing Game
Author(s): Elen Raskin
Award(s): Newberry
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: Puffin Books (New York)
Date: 1978, 1992, 1997, 2004
Grade level: 6 – 8 (Reading Level: 6.1)
Genre: Fiction – Mystery
Summary: When sixteen people are called together for the reading of wealthy Sam Westing's will, they are surprised to learn that the will is actually a contest in which they are all to participate. Working with partners, the potential heirs take their clues to try to find the elusive answer to the Westing game and thus take their shares of the two-hundred-million-dollar prize. Only one discovers that the true answer is not the one they were looking for at all.
Notes/reflection: This book took a while to be truly engaging (until page 119) but by the ending nearly brought me to tears. This book would be great for teaching the genre of mystery, and character descriptions. It also has a very poignant theme (finding your identity). This book has two characters with disabilities and has an interesting stance on disability. There are two parts (one on p. 147) that describe drunkenness that could be considered inappropriate.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Identity, cooperation and teamwork, families and social structures, friends and friendship, disability.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: April 6, 2011
Title: The Big Orange Splot
Author(s): Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Award(s): Alabama Emphasis on Reading Award
Illustrator: Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1977
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 3.1)
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Mr. Plumbean decides to paint his house every color of the rainbow, much to the neighbors' dismay, but he inspires the neighbors to explore their individuality.
Notes/reflection: This is a cute and simple story about individuality. Could be used for an art project.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Individuality, art, self-expression.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: April 24, 2011
Title: Planting a Rainbow
Author(s): Lois Elhert
Award(s): ?
Illustrator: Lois Elhert
Publisher: Voyager Books
Date: 1988
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 2.5)
Genre: Fiction
Summary: The story of a young child and his/her mother planting a garden of many colors.
Notes/reflection: This story is a good metaphor for teaching cultural diversity.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Culture, diversity, plants
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 23, 2011
Title: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Author(s): Kate DiCamillo
Award(s): None
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoullie
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date: 2006
Grade level: 3 – 5 (Reading Level: 4.5)
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Edward Tulane is a stuck-up china rabbit who lives with a little girl who loves him. Edward doesn’t know how to love and is accidently cast overboard from a ship on the family’s vacation. Edward visits many different families and learns how to love.
Notes/reflection: This story has some questionable themes (drinking, child abuse, usage of the word hobo), but takes a viewpoint that children would understand and relate to.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Love and understanding, compassion, feelings and emotions, friends and friendship, diversity.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 23, 2011
Title: The Dot
Author(s): Peter H. Reynolds
Award(s): None
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date: 2003
Grade level: K – 2 (Reading Level: 2.1)
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary: Vashti is convinced she can’t do art. Her teacher gives her a simple assignment: “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” Vashti vindictively jabs her maker into the page, making a big dot in the center of the paper. Her teacher asks her to sign it. The next class she sees that her teacher has framed her artwork. She is determined to make a better dot and creates a series of pieces of artwork to prove she can. At the school art show people are impressed by her collection. A little boy approaches her with the same problem she had at the beginning of the story.
Notes/reflection: This story would be great for students with low confidence or who struggle in art.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Arts, discovery and learning, elementary school, self-confidence.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: June 23, 2011
Title: The Frog Prince Continued
Author(s): Jon Scieszka
Award(s): Steve Johnson
Publisher: Viking
Date: 1991
Grade level: K – 5 (Reading Level: 4.7)
Genre: Fiction
Summary: This story takes place at the end of the Frog Prince folk tale. The frog prince is tired of living happily ever after and goes looking for a witch to turn him back into a frog. None of the witches from various other fairy tales believe that he is a frog and he has to go deeper and deeper into the forest. Finally he runs into the fairy godmother and she turns him into a carriage. At midnight he turns back into a prince and returns to the princess who loves and believes him. They kiss and turn into frogs and live happily ever after.
Notes/reflection: This story would be great for students with low confidence or who struggle in art.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Comedy and humor, fables, folk tales, and myths, compare and contrast, making inferences, summarizing.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: July 15, 2011
Title: Maniac Magee
Author(s): Jerry Spinelli
Award(s): Boston Globe/Horn Book, Carolyn Field, Newberry medal, Charlotte, Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Flicker Tale, Indian Paintbrush Book, Rhode Island Children’s Book, Buckeye Children’s Book, Nevada Young Reader’s, Land of Enchantment Award, Mark Twain Award, Massachusetts Children's Book Award, Nevada Young Readers' Award, Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award, Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award, West Virginia Children's Book Award, William Allen White Award
Publisher: Little, Brown and Co.
Date: 1999
Grade level: 4-8 (Reading Level: 5.4)
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary: Jeffrey Lionel Magee, later to be known as Maniac Magee was orphaned as a small boy and forced to move in with his aunt and uncle, who hated each other. This was a horribly lonely and painful situation. So he decided to run away in search of a home. He meets many colorful characters on this journey and learns a lot about life. He also becomes a legend.
Notes/reflection: This story would be a great read aloud for fifth grade students. Does mention drinking, violence, and has some negative stereotypes.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Racism, writing with voice, families and social structures, individuality, prejudice and tolerance, stereotypes, homelessness, illiteracy.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: July 15, 2011
Title: The Lotus Seed
Author(s): Sherry Garland
Illustrator(s): Tatsuro Kiuchi
Award(s): ALA’s Pick of the Lists, ALA Notable Children’s Book, Reading Rainbow Feature Book, Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List
Publisher: Harcourt, Brace & co.
Date: 1993
Grade level: K-5 (Reading Level: 4.1)
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary: A Vietnamese woman sees the last emperor crying after losing his thrown and takes a lotus seed from the River of Perfumes to remember him by. She saves this lotus seed throughout her life as a symbol. Years down the line, after escaping during the Vietnam War, her grandson plants the seed and she is sad until it grows into a beautiful lotus and she shares the seeds with all her grandchildren.
Notes/reflection: A beautiful story in pictures and in words.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Friends and friendship, family heritage, immigration, Vietnamese, symbols, comprehension strategy questioning.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: July 15, 2011
Title: Stevie
Author(s): John Steptoe
Illustrator(s): John Steptoe
Award(s): Notable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)
"Best of the Best" Children's Books 1966–1978 (SLJ)
1978 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Society of Illustrators Gold Medal
Children's Books of 1969 (Library of Congress)
Children's Books of the Year 1969 (CSA)
Black Americans – Minority Groups List (BL)
Notable Books for the Portrayal of the Black in Children's Literature (Top of the News)
Select Children's Books of 1969 (Publishers Weekly)
Brooklyn Art Books for Children
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Date: 1968
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 3.6)
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary: A boy resents his foster brother when he comes to stay, but when he leaves he starts to realize that he misses the boy.
Notes/reflection: A beautiful story in pictures and in words.
Theme, concept or classroom use: African Americans, friends and friendship, family, character and values, brothers, siblings.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: July 15, 2011
Title: Everybody Needs a Rock
Author(s): Byrd Baylor
Illustrator(s): Peter Parnall
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Charles Scribner’s Sons
Date: 1974
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 3.6)
Genre: Realistic fiction/Nonfiction
Summary: A girl teaches the importance of having a rock.
Notes/reflection: The illustrations are really neat, how nature and human are almost one. Text: quirky but original.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Text structure, geology, toys
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: July 15, 2011
Title: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Author(s): Judith Viorst
Illustrator(s): Ray Cruz
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Date: 1972
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 3.9)
Genre: Realistic fiction, Series
Summary: A boy has a very bad day.
Notes/reflection: Cute story, very relatable.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Small moment story, families and social structures, friends and friendship, school life
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: July 15, 2011
Title: A Chair For My Mother
Author(s): Vera B. Williams
Illustrator(s): Vera B. Williams
Award(s): Caldecott Honor Book, Reading Rainbow, ALA Notable Children’s Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book, Horn Book Fanfare, Parents’ Choice Gold.
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: 1982
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 3.3)
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary: After a family’s home is destroyed by fire they take up a coin collection from the mother’s tips at work to buy the mother a comfortable chair. Their house burns down a second time and they lose their collection and have to begin again.
Notes/reflection: A touching story, great for writer’s workshop.
Theme, concept or classroom use: African American, determination and perseverance, families and social structures, homes and housing, furniture, small moment story.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date Finished: July 15, 2011
Title: The Paperboy
Author(s): Pav Pilkey
Illustrator(s): Dav Pilkey
Award(s): Caldecott Honor Book
Publisher: Orchard Books
Date: 1996
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 3.5)
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary: A boy, his dog, and his paper route.
Notes/reflection: Beautiful story and illustrations.
Theme, concept or classroom use: African Americans, jobs, careers, work, neighborhood life, responsibility, small moment story.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: July 15, 2011
Title: The Carrot Seed
Author(s): Ruth Krauss
Illustrator(s): Crockett Johnson
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date: 1945
Grade level: Pre-K-1 (Reading Level: 2.2)
Genre: Realistic fiction, classics
Summary: A little boy decides to plant a carrot seed. His family does not believe that it will grow. Despite this he patiently and persistently cares for the seed. In the spring it grows a magnificent carrot.
Notes/reflection: A cute, simple story.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Determination and perseverance, plant growth and development, small moment story.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: July 17, 2011
Title: Koala Lou
Author(s): Mem Fox
Illustrator(s): Pamela Lofts
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Gulliver Books/Harcourt Bract Jovanovich
Date: 1988
Grade level: Pre-K-2 (Reading Level: 2.8)
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
Notes/reflection: A cute story with beautiful illustrations, about diverse animals.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Family, parents, small moment story, feelings and emotions, determination and perseverance, Olympics, competition, losing, sentimental ending.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: July 17, 2011
Title: Bad Day at Riverbend
Author(s): Chris Van Allsburg
Illustrator(s): Chris Van Allsburg
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Trumpet Club
Date: 1995
Grade level: Pre-K-2 (Reading Level: 2.8)
Genre: Science fiction/Fantasy
Summary: The story of a boy’s adventures in coloring an old west coloring book.
Notes/reflection: Ending surprised me. I am still not a fan of the illustrations, despite the meaning.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Surprise ending, cleverness, creativity, and imagination, communities and ways of life, visual arts, cowboys, old west.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: Childhood
Title: The Giving Tree
Author(s): Shel Silverstein
Illustrator(s): Shel Silverstein
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date: 1964
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 2.9)
Genre: Fable, Fiction
Summary: A tree loves a little boy so much she gives him everything.
Notes/reflection: Good for starting discussion for how we treat the earth.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Earth day, trees, sustainability, friends and friendship, kindness and charity, loyalty.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: September 20, 2011
Title: Ronia, The Robber’s Daughter
Author(s): Astrid Lindgren
Illustrator(s): N/A
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Puffin Books
Date: 1985
Grade level: 3-5 (Reading Level: 5.7)
Genre: Adventure, Fiction
Summary: Ronia is the daughter of a robber, though she doesn’t know what that means. She is very happy with her life until she meets a boy named Birk, who turns out to be the son of the rival robber clan. They become extremely close and have to fight for their friendship.
Notes/reflection: Very sweet story about friendship and loyalty.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Friends and friendship, loyalty.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: October 5, 2011
Title: Tuck Everlasting
Author(s): Natalie Babbitt
Illustrator(s): N/A
Award(s): ALA Notable Book, Hornbook Magazine Fanfare List, Janusz Korczak Medal and the 1976 Christopher Award: Best Book for Young People, The 100 Best Books for Children.
Publisher: Sunburst: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Date: 1975, 1985
Grade level: 4-6 (Reading Level: 5.9)
Genre: Adventure, Fiction
Summary: Winnie Foster is a bored 11-year-old girl who is stifled by her parents. This all changes when she follows “elf music” into her family’s forest. There she runs into a boy who claims she cannot drink from a stream because it will make her live forever. His family whisks her off to their home to tell her the rest of the story, but there was a witness! This man blackmails her family into selling him their wood in exchange for Winnie’s location. They agree, and the man sets out to get Winnie. Mae Tuck is not about to let him tell everyone the secret of the spring, so she hits the man with a rifle. Mae is arrested and Winnie helps spring Mae from jail.
Notes/reflection: Great story about what is the right thing to do. Would really invoke discussion and prediction. Would be great to use in literature circles or as a fifth grade read aloud.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Friends and friendship, loyalty, changes and new experiences, confronting and resolving fears, courage and honor, growing up, immortality.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: October 10, 2011
Title: The Hat
Author(s): Jan Brett
Illustrator(s): Jan Brett
Award(s): American Booksellers Association, 1998 Abby Award,
Publishers Weekly #1 Children's Top Ten Bestseller List November, December 1997.
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1998
Grade level: Pre-K-2 (Reading Level: 2.2)
Genre: Fiction, comedy
Summary: Hedgie accidently acquires a stocking as a hat and the other animals find it quite strange. But when Hedgie tells them that it is going to keep him warm in the winter, they decide it is a good idea, too.
Notes/reflection: Cute story, funny ending, amazing illustrations.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Friends and friendship, farm and ranch life, and animal stories.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: October 26, 2011
Title: Ella Enchanted
Author(s): Gail Carson Levine
Illustrator(s): N/A
Award(s): Newberry Award, ALA Notable Children’s Book, Best Books for Young Adults, Quick Picks for Young Adults (1998), School Library Journal Best Books of 1997, Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of 1997.
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Date: 1998
Grade level: 2-5 (Reading Level: 5.1)
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Summary: Ella was given the gift of obedience at birth, a gift that turns out to be a curse. Upon the death of her mother and her father losing his fortune, Ella becomes a maid in her stepmother’s house. She has to turn down the love of the prince to protect him from her curse, but in this selfless task she ends the curse.
Notes/reflection: Beautifully unique remake of the fairy tale.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Fairytales, Cinderella, women’s experience, loyalty, pride and self-esteem, love story.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: November 4, 2011
Theme, concept or classroom use: Fairytales, Cinderella, women’s experience, loyalty, pride and self-esteem, love story.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: November 4, 2011
Title: The Mitten
Author(s): Alvin Tresselt
Illustrator(s): Yaroslava Mills
Award(s): Horn Book Fanfare, ALA Notable Children’s Book
Publisher: Mulberry Books
Date: 1964
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 3.3)
Genre: Fiction, Folktales
Summary: A little boy drops his mitten in the forest while gathering wood. All the animals of the forest try to squeeze into the mitten, and of course it rips apart. The boy comes back to find a ripped mitten.
Notes/reflection: Cute story, told from the perspective of the boy’s grandson. Has a sense of sarcasm or humor.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Animal survival and adaptation, perspective, storytelling, traditional tales.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: November 5, 2011
Title: Shrek!
Author(s): William Steig
Illustrator(s): William Steig
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Square Fish
Date: 1990
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 4.4)
Genre: Fiction
Summary: Shrek, the ugliest ogre of them all, is kicked out by his parents. He sets off on a journey and encounters a peasant, witch, and a dragon. The witch tells him of a princess, and Shrek sets off to marry the princess. When he arrives he defeats a knight and marries the ugliest princess of them all.
Notes/reflection: Strange, quirky story. Kids find it funny and like to compare and contrast between the story and the movie. Great read aloud 3-6. Uses the work “jackass.”
Theme, concept or classroom use: First sentence, leads, compare and contrast (movie), characters, word choice (verbs), alliteration (p. 7), rhyme (p. 11), poetic devices.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: November 6, 2011
Title: The Sneetches and Other Stories
Author(s): Dr. Seuss
Illustrator(s): Dr. Seuss
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Random House, New York
Date: 1961
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 4.4)
Genre: Fiction, Classics, Rhymes
Summary: Sneetches: The Star-Belly Sneetches think they are better than the Plain-Belly Sneetches because of their stars and treat the Plain-Belly Sneetches unfairly. Then, a stranger arrived and helped the Plain-Belly Sneetches to become Star-Belly Sneetches. The long-time Star-Bellies didn’t like this at all so they paid to get their stars removed. Then the new Star-Bellies wanted theirs removed. The Sneetches went through the machine so many times they didn’t know who was whom. The Zax: The Zax walk in particular ways. When a South Zax and a North Zax meet in the middle they refuse to budge. Too Many Daves: Mrs. McCave named her twenty-three sons Dave. It gets a little difficult. What was I scared of?: “I” was walking in the forest and spotted hovering pants. It was kind of scary. Later the pants were riding a bike and rowing a boat. They were quite scary, but I found out they were just as scared as I!
Notes/reflection: Amazingly insightful story, teaches tolerance in a way young students understand. Can be used K-8. Lesson plan: http://www.tolerance.org/activity/anti-racism-activity-sneetches.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Prejudice and tolerance, individuality, respect, rhyming, supply and demand, entrepreneurism, disagreements, point of view, perspective, fear
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: November 7, 2011
Title: Amazing Grace
Author(s): Mary Hoffman
Illustrator(s): Caroline Binch
Award(s): 2001 Texas Review Poetry Prize, 2002 Spur Award Finalist
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Date: 1991
Grade level: 1-3 (Reading Level: 4.1)
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary: Grace loves stories. She acts them all out. Her class is going to do Peter Pan as a school play and Grace decides she wants to be Peter Pan, but one student tells her she can’t because she’s a girl, and another tells her she can’t because she’s black. Her grandma and mother tell her later that these students just don’t know. Grace tries out for the play and gets the part! She makes an amazing Peter Pan.
Notes/reflection: Beautiful diverse illustrations.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Theater, determination and perseverance, racism and tolerance, school life, history, multicultural.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: November 8, 2011
Date Finished: November 8, 2011
Title: Martin’s Big Words
Author(s): Doreen Rappaport
Illustrator(s): Bryan Collier
Award(s): Jane Addams Children's Book Award, National Council of Teachers of English, Orbis Pictus Honor Book, Caldecott Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, ALA Notable Children's Book, New York Public Library 100 Best Books, Child Magazine, Best Children’s Book Award, New York Times Notable Book of the Year; Best Illustrated Books of the Year, Blue Ribbon list, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Children’s Books of Distinction, Riverbank Review, Children's Choice, Children's Book Council in conjunction with the IRA
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 2001
Grade level: 1-5 (Reading Level: 2.5)
Genre: Biography, picture book, general nonfiction
Summary: The story of Martin Luther King Jr.
Notes/reflection: Amazing multi-media collage illustrations.
Theme, concept or classroom use: African American History, Civil Rights Movement, historic figures, prejudice and tolerance, leadership, Martin Luther King Jr.
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: November 9, 2011
Title: Time to Sleep
Author(s): Denise Fleming
Illustrator(s): Denise Fleming
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Henry Holt
Date: 1997
Grade level: 1-5 (Reading Level: 2.5)
Genre: Read-aloud, picture book, fiction
Summary: It’s time for the animals to hibernate!
Notes/reflection: Pretty illustrations, cute story.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Autumn, winter, animal hibernation and migration, bedtime, sleep, dreams, friends.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: November 10, 2011
Title: This is the Teacher
Author(s): Rhonda Gowler Green
Illustrator(s): Mike Lester
Award(s): IRA-CBC Children’s Choice
Publisher: Puffin Books
Date: 2004
Grade level: PreK-3 (Reading Level: 4.5)
Genre: Read-aloud, picture book, fiction
Summary: It’s the first day of school and everything seems to go wrong.
Notes/reflection: Mildly funny. Repetition.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Comedy and humor, first day of school, school life.
Rating (out of five stars): *
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Theme, concept or classroom use: Culture and diversity, Friends and friendship, partner reading, rhymes, animals.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Award(s): N/A
Publisher: Reader’s Digest Kids
Theme, concept or classroom use: Winter, animal hibernation and migration, bedtime, sleep, friends, animals, bears, wolves.
Rating (out of five stars): HHHII
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Publisher: Scholastic
Theme, concept or classroom use: Culture and diversity, friends and friendship, rhyme, moving to a new place.
Rating (out of five stars): HHHII
Rating (out of five stars): *****
Award(s): IRA Teacher’s Choice 1990, Notable 1989 Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.
Date Finished: November 11, 2011
Title: You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You
Author(s): Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrator(s): Michael EmberleyAward(s): N/A
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Date: 2001
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 2.1)
Genre: Picture book, short stories, fiction
Summary: Little stories about animals that all end in the same refrain: “You read to me, I’ll read to you.”
Notes/reflection: Cute little rhyming stories and illustrations, the repeated ending gets a little old if you were to read straight through, but good for beginning readers.Theme, concept or classroom use: Culture and diversity, Friends and friendship, partner reading, rhymes, animals.
Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: November 12, 2011
Title: Little Bear’s Friend
Author(s): Muriel Pepin, Deborah Kovacs
Illustrator(s): Marcelle GenesteAward(s): N/A
Publisher: Reader’s Digest Kids
Date: 1992
Grade level: K-3 (Reading Level: 2.5)
Genre: Read-aloud, picture book, fiction
Summary: It’s time for the animals to hibernate, but little bear doesn’t want to! He wanders out into the woods to have some fun in the snow and meets a friend.
Notes/reflection: Cute story with animal facts at the end.Theme, concept or classroom use: Winter, animal hibernation and migration, bedtime, sleep, friends, animals, bears, wolves.
Rating (out of five stars): HHHII
Date Finished: November 13, 2011
Title: Three Jovial Huntsmen
Author(s): Susan Jeffers
Illustrator(s): Susan Jeffers
Award(s): Caldecott Honor
Publisher: Susan Jeffers
Date: 1973
Grade level: K-3 (Reading Level: 2.0)
Genre: Picture book, fiction, folk tale
Summary: Three huntsmen go hunting on St. David’s day and they can’t find anything to hunt!
Notes/reflection: Amazing illustrations of animals hiding in the woods, reminds me of Bev Doolittle.Theme, concept or classroom use: Winter, animal hibernation and migration, bedtime, sleep, friends, animals, bears, wolves.Rating (out of five stars): ***
Date Finished: November 14, 2011
Title: Knock! Knock!
Author(s): Jackie Carter
Illustrator(s): Nancy PoydarAward(s): N/APublisher: Scholastic
Date: 1993
Grade level: K-2 (Reading Level: 2.5)
Genre: Picture book, fiction
Summary: As a mother and daughter unpack boxes in their new home, they are surprised by a multitude of guests in this story written in rhyme.
Notes/reflection: Cute illustrations.Theme, concept or classroom use: Culture and diversity, friends and friendship, rhyme, moving to a new place.
Rating (out of five stars): HHHII
Date Finished: November 15, 2011
Title: Rules
Author(s): Cynthia Lord
Illustrator(s): N/A
Award(s): Newberry, Schneider Family
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 2008
Grade level: 4-7 (Reading Level: 4.5)
Genre: Realistic fiction, chapter book
Summary: Catherine is a teenager with a brother with autism. She loves her brother very much, but just wishes for a normal life. When a girl moves in across the street, all she wants is to have a friend to send Morse code messages to from her window. Her brother doesn’t understand normal social rules, so she makes up rules to help him understand. Catherine makes friends with a boy from her brother’s clinic who is in a wheelchair and uses a communication book to speak. Catherine learns to accept people for who they are.
Notes/reflection: Lovely story that really makes you think about your own assumptions and actions.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Compassion, challenges and different abilities, siblings, friends and friendship, understanding self and others, wheelchair, autism, art.Rating (out of five stars): *****
Date Finished: November 16, 2011
Title: Sarah Morton’s Day
Author(s): Kate Waters
Illustrator(s): Russ Kendall (Photographer)Award(s): IRA Teacher’s Choice 1990, Notable 1989 Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1989
Grade level: 3-5 (Reading Level: 2.3)
Genre: Picture book, general nonfiction, historical fiction
Summary: Sarah Morton tells about her daily tasks on the Plimoth Plantation in 1627.
Notes/reflection: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/sarah-mortons-day-discussion-guide.
Theme, concept or classroom use: Colonial America, Exploration, Colonization and Settlement, Clothing, Thanksgiving, Families and Social Structures.
Rating (out of five stars): ****
Date
Finished: April 1, 2012
Title:
James and the Giant Peach
Author(s):
Roald Dahl
Illustrator(s):
Nancy Ekholm Burkert
Award(s):
Massachusetts Children’s Award (1982)
Publisher:
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Date:
1961
Grade
level: 3-5 (Reading Level 6.7)
Genre:
Fiction, Adventure, Classics, Comedy and Humor, Fantasy
Summary:
James’s parents die when he is young and he is forced to move in with his
horrible aunts. He is miserable
with them until one day an old man gives him a bag of magic green things. He trips and spills the magic onto a
peach tree, which grows an enormous peach. When he crawls inside a hole in the peach he finds a host of
giant bugs that welcome him to their family. The go on a fantastic journey and end up in the United
States.
Notes/reflection: Contains the word “ass” and some
reference to tobacco use. My third
graders love it, though it is a difficult read for them. Contains a lot of great vocabulary. Tons of great teaching resources and a
movie to go along with the book.
Theme,
concept or classroom use: Orphans, magic, fantasy vs.
realism, just rewards, leadership and responsibility.
Rating
(out of five stars): ***
Date
Finished: March 30, 2012
Title:
Balto and the Great Race
Author(s):
Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Illustrator(s):
Nora Koerber
Award(s):
N/A
Publisher:
Random House
Date:
1999
Grade
level: 3-5 (Reading Level 3.5)
Genre:
Nonfiction
Summary:
It's
1925 and Balto, a Siberian husky, lives a quiet existence as a sled dog in
Nome, Alaska, until tragedy strikes. Dozens of children in the remote town of
Nome become sick with diphtheria. Without special medication, they will perish
-- and the closest supply is 650 miles away. The only way to get the medication
to Nome is by sled, but can the sled dogs get there in time? Heading bravely
into a brutal blizzard, Balto leads the race for life!
Notes/reflection: Very motivating for my third
graders. Good vocabulary and
resources and a movie to go along with the book. A little difficult to follow, use with a graphic organizer
to keep the mushers straight.
Theme,
concept or classroom use: Mushers, sled dogs, Iditarod,
culture and diversity, overcoming obstacles.
Rating
(out of five stars): ****
Date
Finished: June 11, 2015
Title:
Firegirl
Author(s):
Tony Abbott
Illustrator(s):
N/A
Award(s):
The Coldex Kite
Publisher:
Little, Brown and Company
Date:
2006
Grade
level: 6-8 (Reading Level 3.5)
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Summary:
Tom
is a normal self-conscious 7th grader. His school life is ordinary until Jessica Feeney walks into
his Catholic School one morning and turns his world upside down. Jessica Feeney was in a fire and her
entire body was badly burned. The
middle school is in an uproar of rumors about the mysterious fire that caused
Jessica to look that way. Tom
learns to stand up for what he believes in, and that making a difference in
someone’s life can be the difference between holding their hand or not.
Notes/reflection: This book has a slow start but a
powerful message. Good for
struggling older readers.
Theme,
concept or classroom use: Bullying, physical
differences, middle school, adolescent issues, coming of age, feelings and
emotions
Rating
(out of five stars): ****
Title:
Touching Spirit Bear
Author(s):
Ben Mikaelson
Illustrator(s):
N/A
Award(s):
N/A
Publisher:
Scholastic
Date:
2001
Grade
level: 6-8 (Reading Level 5.4)
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Summary:
Cole
Matthews is an angry person who has learned to lie and hurt people to prove his
worth. Peter Driscal informs
authorities of Cole’s latest break-in and Cole takes revenge by smashing
Peter’s face into a sidewalk. Now, Alex may have permanent brain damage and
Cole is in the biggest trouble of his life. Cole is offered Circle Justice, a system based on Native
American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal offender,
the victim and the community. With prison as his only alternative, Cole plays
along. He says he wants to repent, but in his heart Cole blames his alcoholic
mom his, abusive dad, wimpy Alex — everyone but himself — for his
situation. Cole receives a
one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by a
mysterious white bear of Native American legend. Hideously injured, Cole waits
for his death His thoughts shift from from anger to humility. To survive, he
must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life. Cole is rescued
and the attack from the Spirit Bear has deeply changed him. After rehabilitation, the Circle
decides to return him to the island.
Peter is deeply damaged and tries to commit suicide. The Circle decides to put Peter on the
island to face his fears and see how much Cole has changed.
Notes/reflection: This book would be great for boy
readers, though it does contain some gore. Its message is one of forgiveness and understanding. “Circle justice” matches closely with
what I believe for classroom management.
Theme,
concept or classroom use: Bullying, middle school,
adolescent issues, coming of age, feelings and emotions, courage, bravery, heroism,
equality, fairness, justice, abuse, parents, Native American, pride and
self-esteem, respect, friends and friendship, survival
Rating
(out of five stars): ****
Title:
Henry’s Freedom Box
Author(s):
Ellen Levine
Illustrator(s):
Kadir Nelson
Award(s):
Caldecott Honor
Publisher:
Scholastic
Date:
2007
Grade
level: 3-5 (Reading Level 2.3)
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Summary:
Henry
Brown is a slave who dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away
than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry
grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the
slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows
exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous
journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday, his first day of freedom.
Notes/reflection: Love this book. Great for a lesson on slavery, the
underground railroad or human rights.
Beautiful illustrations. Lesson
plan.
Theme,
concept or classroom use: Slavery, underground
railroad, abolition, human rights, perseverance, cleverness, determination and
perseverance.
Rating
(out of five stars): *****
Books for Teachers
Date
Finished: June 24, 2013
Title:
The Differentiated School
Author(s):
Caron Ann Tomlinson, Kay Brimijion, and Lane Narvaez
Publisher:
ASCD
Date:
2008
Subject:
Differentiation
Grade:
Pre-K – 12
Summary:
School reform is a sticky, difficult process. Implementing differentiation school wide is tricky, but
imperative. Principals need to be
strong leaders in the process, helping to instill a shared vision in the school’s
faculty, students, and parents. Teachers
will have to readjust their curriculum, and ways of thinking and planning. This book walks you through
implementing second-order change through the lens of two successful schools.
Notes/reflection:
Directed more towards administrators, this book was more skimming material for
me than a page-turner. It did have
some very important information, key insights, and inspiring anecdotes, though,
and I feel it was a worthwhile skim!
Rating
(out of five stars): ****
