Mrs. K’s Stellar Booklist

Fiction: Picture & Chapter Books Book Title, Published Date, Author, and Annotation Level Picture

Chapter Classroom Library

All the World (2009), by Liz Garton Scanlon – Winner of several awards including the 2010 Caldecott Honor and the Parents Choice Gold Award, among others, this rhyming, repetitive book helps us make sense of the world and identify what’s important. “All the world is old and new … hot and cold …” This would make a good read during a study of antonyms. It also makes a nice addition to a thematic unit on families.

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Amber on the Mountain (1994), by Tony Johnston, illustrations by Robert Duncan -- Sometimes learning to read is “like walking up a wall. Amber kept rolling off.” This warm-you-to-your-toes book is about a young pioneer-mountain girl who longs to learn how to read. She finally gets her chance when young Anna moves to the mountain. Learning to read is not easy, but one can “do anything they set their mind to” is a strong message that will resonate with many young readers. Beautiful illustrations by acclaimed painter Robert Duncan truly enhance this charming story that has a delightful and surprising ending. (Reading isn’t the only thing Anna learns to do).

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America: A Patriotic Primer (2002), by Lynne Cheney – This is an A-Z alphabet book with patriotic words and names as the theme, (e.g. “F is for Freedom and the flag that we fly”). As the title implies, it is extremely patriotic and a good addition to a study of American symbols. It is filled with rich vocabulary and would make a good mentor text for vocabulary development. Note: it is terribly difficult to use this as a read-aloud from cover to cover. It’s best to pick and choose, read portions, or leave it as one of those treasures students explore on their own.

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A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010), by Philip C. Stead – This 2011 Caldecott winner tells the story of Amos McGee, an elderly man who works at the zoo. Regardless of his workload, Amos always makes time to visit with his animal friends. When Amos gets sick, his animal friends return the favor. This book would make a great mentor text for teaching vocabulary to younger students. It is full of complex words such as amble, limbered, worsening, and perched.

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And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon (2001), by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel – This twist on the traditional nursery rhyme has won many awards including the California Young Reader Medal (2004) and ALA Noteable Book (2002). For the story line, the classic nursery rhyme gets read each night and all the actors act each part. But when the Dish and Spoon go missing, a search party ensues, and they use maps to find the missing characters. This book makes a great addition to thematic studies on mapping and nursery rhymes.

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Animalia (1986), by Graeme Base – This internationally acclaimed and multiple award-winning book contains stunning and vibrant illustrations. Although it’s an older book, it’s a brilliant classic for teaching alliteration… one I can’t and won’t live without. Note: it is also a terrific book for teaching vocabulary as it contains many complex words that are novel to most students (e.g. avoiding, basking, crimson, diabolical, devouring, intricate, impromptu, etc.).

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Because Brian Hugged His Mother (1999), by David L. Rice – When one person feels appreciated and valued, they have a tendency to pass that on to other people. This book explores the ripple effect, chain reaction, pay-it-forward mentality of being kind, doing good, and making people feel valued. In this story Brian hugs his mother and the kindness ripples out from there, eventually coming back to Brian. This would make a lovely read at the beginning of the school year, or anytime children need a reminder to be kind.

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Big, Bigger, Biggest (2009), by Nancy Coffelt – A fabulous mentor text for teaching vocabulary to young learners, this book made the 2010 list for Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts. Words like gigantic, petite, immense and enormous are used throughout this book.

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Blackout (2011), by John Rocco – This Caldecott award winner explores family, community life, and what can happen when life becomes “unplugged”. Simple, yet beautiful illustrations. Simple text with a great message.

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Boo to a Goose (1998), by Mem Fox; illustrated by David Miller – This is a must read when teaching idioms. The main character contrives a list of things he would do before he’d say Boo! to a goose. The cut paper illustrations for this book are stunning.

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Boy Who Loved Words, The (2006), by Roni Schotter – While the storyline of this book is not as brilliant as some, it is absolutely bursting with rich vocabulary words. Every page is packed with complex words that are novel to most young readers. Winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, among others, this book could make a good mentor text when teaching vocabulary.

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Brontorina (2010), by James Howe – This charmingly illustrated book takes us into the world of Brontorina, a dinosaur who wants to … is determined to …dance. She’s too big to dance and doesn’t have the right footwear, but none of that matters. Brontorina knows she was meant to be a dancer! A great read when talking about tenacity and determination.

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Carrot Seed, The (1945), by Ruth Krauss – First published in 1945, this classic has been in publication ever since. Not only is it a nice addition to life science, but it has a poignant and powerful message of tenacity, perseverance, and never giving up – no matter what people in your life might say. It’s one of my favorites, and one I won’t live without. Warning, the father in the story smokes a pipe…

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The Cat Who Wore a Pot on Her Head (1980), by Jan Slepian and Ann Seidler – Originally titled Bendemolena this book pays tribute to the benefits of listening rather than just hearing. Bendemolena insists on wearing a pot on her head. As a result, her mother’s messages are misunderstood. Instead of putting the soup on to heat, she irons the meat. This is funny and charming tale, and a great discussion starter.

2.5 P

Chicken Cheeks (2009), by Michael Ian Black – This crazy hilarious book has won many awards including being on the list of Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts for 2010. It’s all about team work, and, well…. butts; although, you’ll never see that word. Verbiage contains everything from gluteus maximus, to caboose, to bum, but no butts. For the storyline, the author introduces us to a bear who convinces other animals to form a live ladder (backside upon backside) so he can climb up and get his honey. Cute, clever, and very funny.

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Chico the Brave (2012), by Dave Horowitz – this new release is sure to win an award someday. Chico is a little chick born in Peru. Chico is afraid of everything, including his own shadow. To help him be brave, Chico’s father makes up a story about The Golden Chicken, a

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super hero who swoops down out of the Peruvian mountains to rescue those in need. Chico goes on a quest to find The Golden Chicken and, well … the book has a super hero ending. This is a good read-aloud that is sure to foster discussions about fears, courage, and what it really means to be brave. Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type (2000) by Doreen Cronin – This Caldecott Honor is a terrifically funny read and enhances letter writing units. “Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type” --- it only gets crazier and better from there.

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Diary of a Worm (2003), by Doreen Cronin -- This brilliant book has won many awards, including: School Library Best Book, Parents Choice Silver Honor, and IRA/CBC Children’s Choice, among others. In this book we follow the daily life of a worm and discover with him the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a worm. A great addition to a unit on plants or gardening.

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Dot,The (2003), by Peter H. Reynolds – An award winning book, The Dot introduces us to Vashti, a student who insists she can’t draw, but finds out she can. This book not only places value on individuality, but it also shows the powerful legacy teachers can leave. Winner of several awards including the Christopher Award and the Chapman Award for Best Classroom Read Alouds. This is a must read when teaching the five-elements of art.

1.9 P

Duck in the Truck (1999), by Jez Alborough – One of Junior Magazines top 100 picture books, this clever book about a duck driving home in a truck that gets stuck, is a great addition to a phonics lesson on /ck/. It is also a great read when teaching about the benefits of teamwork and problem solving.

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First the Egg (2007), by Laura Vaccaro Seeger – Recipient of both a Caldecott Honor and Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor, this book gives us a brief, yet charming, look into life cycles. Does the egg come first or the chicken? Simple die-cuts give us magical answers as we see an egg transform into a chicken, a tadpole into a frog, and so on. This sweet book would enhance a life science unit on life cycles.

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Grandpa Green (2011), by Lane Smith – This Caldecott honor book introduces us to a child who retells his great-grandfather’s life while exploring his great-grandfather’s topiary garden. A sweet story about aging and forgetfulness and relationship. This would enhance a unit on family.

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Have You Seen My Hat? (2011), by Jon Klassen – This book won the 2012 E.B. White Read-Aloud Award. It’s a clever book with a shocking ending! It’s about a bear who is missing his hat. He asks forest animal after forest animal, “Have you seen my hat?” The simple conversations are full of manners and politeness, but none of them have seen his hat. Then it dawns on the bear, he had seen his hat, and one of them was wearing it! Note: Bears are predators and this book, although cute, has a definitive food-chain ending.

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Henry’s Freedom Box (2007), by Ellen Levine – This Caldecott honor book takes us into the heart wrenching struggles and joys of Henry “Box” Brown’s life. Brown, who was born a slave and “wasn’t sure how old he was”, escaped to freedom by being mailed in a crate. Full of rich illustrations by Kadir Nelson, this fictionalized biography will enhance any study of slavery or civil rights in America. This book contains a few complex words that might be novel to most students, making it a good mentor text for teaching vocabulary. Tier 2 words include: beckoned, mistress, arranged, and right-side-up.

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Hot Air: The Mostly True Story of the First Hot Air Balloon Ride (2005) – A Caldecott Honor, this book begins and ends with a lot of facts about the Montgolfiers, their invention, and the people who came to witness their experiment. (e.g., Benjamin Franklin and Marie Antionette). The middle portion of the book is wordless and is “told” from the point of view of the balloon’s first passengers: a duck, a sheep, and a rooster. Although this is classified as fiction, it would make a nice addition to the study of inventors and their inventions.

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Houdini Box, The (1991), by Brian Selznik – This stunning book is about a boy named Victor who loves performing magic tricks. One day he has a chance encounter with Houdini and asks to know all of his secrets. Houdini gives him a box, which he says contains all the answers. Does Victor have the courage to open it? With a touching and moving storyline, this book is a cross between a picture book and chapter book. It makes a great read-aloud, but more accomplished readers will enjoy reading this on their own. The illustrations are good, but sparse, and are done in black and white. This would make a good mentor text for writing and for vocabulary instruction. (Novel words include: curious, wonderstruck, mysterious, monument, etc.).

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How I Learned Geography (2008), by Uri Shulevitz – A Caldecott Honor book, How I Learned Geography takes us into the real life events of the author. It is about a boy (Shulevitz) who survives war, endures near starvation, and loses himself in a larger-than-life map his father bought one day (instead of food). This is a moving, tear-inducing book that can be used for many things: mapping, history of World War II, and vocabulary instruction. This book is a brilliant choice for vocabulary instruction as it contains many words that would be novel to most students (e.g., devastated, steppes, scarce, bazaar, approached, etc.)

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How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? (2007), by Margaret McNamara – This fictitious story is bursting with math, and facts about pumpkins. Charlie (the smallest boy in the class) and his classmates count pumpkin seeds from different sized pumpkins. They investigate and they count, and what they discover helps Charlie understand that being small isn’t always so bad.

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I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! (2005), by Karen Beaumont & David Caltrow -- This award winning book introduces us to a mischievous little boy who paints nearly every conceivable body part. Set to rhyme, this book is a great way to model reading strategies. It’s also great fun and filled with an explosion of color. Warning: I hate to give away the ending, but there is a picture of the boy’s backside and underwear…. “I’m such a nut, gonna paint my … WHAT?! Ya’ll don’t faint cause there ain’t no paint, so I ain’t gonna paint no more.”

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If Everybody Did (1989), by Jo Ann Stover – First published in 1960 and then republished in 1989, this book makes a terrific read-aloud for the first day of school. “…this is what would happen if everybody did.” This book leads to discussions about good behavior and expectations, and does it with humor. Even though it’s an older book, it is timeless with its illustrations and message.

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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985), by Laura Nomeroff – although this book has been around awhile, this award winner is a brilliant introduction or wrap-up to a lesson on cause and effect. This hilarious book, about a boy who gives a mouse a cookie which leads to many other gifts, is the book that started the “If You Give a ….. “ series. Winner of the California Young Reader Medal, among others.

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If You Give a Pig a Pancake (1998), by Laura Numeroff – another award winning book by Numeroff, this is the female alternative to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985). Winner of the IRA/CBC Children’s Choice Award.

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Interrupting Chicken (2010), by David Ezra Stein – A Caldecott Honor book. This cleverly written story weaves fairytales (and one fable) into the plot. A great wrap up to a unit on genre.

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I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (2003), by Lauren Child – Winner of the Kate Greenway medal for outstanding illustrations, this picture book has an outstanding plot, too! Lola is an extremely fussy eater. She refuses to eat most things, and truly dislikes tomatoes. Her clever brother renames foods to get her to eat them, (e.g. carrots become orange twiglets from Jupiter, and peas become greendrops from Greenland). A sweet and endearing book that shows the power of problem solving. This book would certainly enhance a unit on nutrition or good choice making.

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Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (1999), by Simms Taback -- Winner of the 2000 Caldecott medal, this story shows us the life cycle of one coat and how it went from coat to button cover.

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King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub (1985), by Audrey & Don Wood – Winner of the 1986 Caldecott Medal, this repetitive and gorgeously illustrated book takes us through a day in the life of a king and his page. The king refuses to get out of the bathtub, and many court members think they have the solution. While this is an older book, it’s one I can’t part with.

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King Hugo’s Huge Ego (2011), by Chris Van Dusen – This E.B. White Honor book is overflowing with vocabulary-teaching potential. It is full of words like adoration, magnificent, arrogance, ermine, and annoying (among others). This would be a great teaching tool for expanding student word knowledge. For the story, Van Dusen introduces us to a very arrogant king. When his huge ego meets up with a spell from Tessa the sorceress, his head becomes as huge as his ego. Chaos ensues, and so does a romantic ending. Part Pinocchio, part Humpty Dumpty, this rhyming book is full of vibrant pictures. It makes a great read-aloud when discussions turn to bullying or how to change one’s attitude.

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Kipper’s A to Z: An Alphabet Adventure (2000), by Mick Inkpen – This cleverly written alphabet book was written by award-winning British author, Mick Inkpen. It is a great book for weaving phonics instruction and literacy together. The zebra is antsy for his letter to come up, but is told repeatedly that he must wait until the end. Witty, humorous, and cute.

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Knuffle Bunny (2004), by Mo Willems – This Caldecott Honor book introduces us to Trixie and her Knuffle Bunny. Trixie can’t talk yet, so when her Knuffle Bunny gets lost, communicating her concerns to her daddy is nearly impossible. Not only does this text present young readers with many text-to-self connections, it gives us unique illustrations to linger over and draw us in (photographs mixed with drawings). This is a great text to use when first modeling how to make text-to-self connections to young students (K-2). It would also make a fine read when working through phonics and silent k.

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Library, The (1995), by Sarah Stewart & illustrated by David Small – A delicious book about a book collector and how generous giving can bless both the giver and the recipient. This book was inspired by the real life of Mary Elizabeth Brown. A good read-aloud.

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Magic Hat, The (2001), by Mem Fox – This brilliant multi-award winning book is full of color and is a fun read. With rhymes and repetition, it makes a great book for modeling reading strategies. “Oh the magic hat, the magic hat, it moved like this, it moved like that. It spun through the air it’s true, it’s true, and sat on the head of a kangaroo…” The Best Children’s Books of the Year (2003).

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Max’s Words (2006), by Kate Banks – As a mentor text for teaching vocabulary and story writing, a book can’t get any better. On the NCBLA 2007 list of outstanding literature, Max’s Words introduces us to Max, a little brother without a collection. Wanting a collection like his brothers, Max begins to collect words. His collection grows and grows until he has enough for stories, and for sharing.

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Miss Rumphius (1982), by Barbara Cooney – All about making the world a better place, this heart-warming story takes us into the life of Alice Rumphius. As a young girl, she is told to make the world a better place. She grows up and does just that, by scattering lupine seed around the countryside. Not only does she leave lupines behind, she also leaves a legacy, telling other children what she was once told, “Make the world a better place”. This book is the winner of the American Book Award.

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Moonpowder (2008), by John Rocco – More than just a bedtime story, Moonpowder is bursting with a suspenseful story line. Inventor and fixer of “all things fixable” little Eli Treebuckle doesn’t want to sleep because of bad dreams. But then Mr. Moon visits him one night and asks him to fix the Moonpowder Factory, the place from which sweet dreams flow. Filled with delightful illustrations, the book flows like a movie and ends with a very sweet surprise. This would be a good read when learning about inventors. It also makes a fantastic mentor text for teaching vocabulary. Crackled, shuffled, dreading, and desperately are just a few of the more complex words found in this wonderful book.

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My Friend Rabbit (2002), by Eric Rohmann – This Caldecott Medal winner invites us to look at the friendship between Rabbit and Mouse. Rabbit is very kind, affectionate, and eager to help, but wherever he goes and whatever he does, “trouble follows”. This is a sweet book about forgiveness, acceptance, and overlooking mistakes. This book would be great fodder for conversations young children about character and community building.

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Olivia Saves the Circus (2001), by Ian Falconer – This charmingly simple book has won many awards including the Caldecott Honor (2001) and the School Library Journal Best Book of 2000. The story introduces us to a sweet little pig named Olivia, whose turn it is to tell the class about her vacation. “Olivia always blossoms (and embellishes) in front of an audience.” This would be a good book to introduce when teaching about and modeling story re-tells.

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One Cool Friend (2012), by Toni Buzzeo – This newly published book is sure to win an award! Elliot is a very proper young boy, well-versed in manners. He takes a trip to the local aquarium and finds the perfect pet: a penguin. All kinds of mischief and humor ensue once Elliot brings home Magellan, his new pet penguin (who, by the way is real, not the stuffed variety). Full of humor and jumping-off places for discussions on Antarctica, global warming, internet searches, and miscommunication.

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Owl Babies (1996), by Martin Waddell – Sarah, Percy, and Bill are three small owl babies who live in the trunk of a tree with their owl mother. One night they wake up and their owl mother is gone! The two older owls try to keep upbeat, but the littlest of the owls can only say, “I want my mommy!” This is, perhaps, one of my all time favorite picture books. It captures the fear of separation that most children feel when they are absent from their mom. The ending is a warm-you-to-your-toes kind of ending. If you have young children, this will be a book you’ll want to read over and over again.

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Passing the Music Down (2011), by Sarah Sullivan – I’m not a hard-hearted person, but there are few picture books that make me cry. This one did. Inspired by a true story about a musician and his aging mentor, Passing the Music Down weaves a rich story line together with rich language to make this a truly enjoyable and noteworthy book. One of the chosen

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for the Noteable Children’s Literature in the English Language Arts book list for 2012, this book is a must read for all musicians regardless of age. With words like strutting, heartland, slumbering, gnarled, and more, this book would make an excellent mentor text for teaching vocabulary. Redwoods (2009), by Jason Chin – This award winning book would make a great addition to any plant or tree living science unit. I debated whether or not to categorize this book as fiction or not, since it’s a little bit of both. The storyline is obviously fictitious, but it is also loaded with facts about these giant trees.

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Roxaboxen (1991), by Alice McLerran – This is an old favorite and is based on the true-life events of Alice McLerran’s mother. Children use their imaginations and build a “town” out of sticks, stones, and pieces of broken glass. There are many creative directions one could go with this book. I like to give groups of students a box of trinkets and treasures and watch them as they use their imaginations to create something altogether fantastic.

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Skippyjon Jones (2003),by Judy Schachner – This spicy picture book has won multiple awards including the E.B. White Award for great read alouds. The main character is a mischievous Siamese cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua. Hilarious. This book contains a few Spanish words, and would be ideal as a mentor text for English vocabulary instruction. (Some novel words include self-respecting, lecture, rifled, incognito, etc.).

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Skippyjon Jones In Mummy Trouble (2006), by Judy Schachner – This make-you-laugh book is part of the Skippyjon Jones series. As with the other books, the main character is a Siamese cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua. And, as with the other Skippyjon books, this is a great mentor text for teaching vocabulary. Some complex and novel words include: taboo, donned, hunkered, etc.

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Sometimes I’m Bombaloo (2002), by Rachel Vail – Katie Honor is a “really good kid”. She knows how to brush her teeth and give hugs. But sometimes she gets mad and becomes Bombaloo, a monsterish version of herself. A little time out makes things right, and then she’s Katie Honors again. This is a great read for younger students (K -2). It could be used as a great jumping-off place to discuss feelings and anger management.

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Spider and the Fly, The (2002), by Toni DiTerlizzi – This delicious Caldecott Honor book revisits the cautionary tale first written by Mary Howitt in 1829. As with the original, it is a wonderfully wicked tale that warns readers to not be taken in by the smooth and flattering words of predators. DiTerlizzi’s stunning black and white illustrations give humor and insight into this tale, and make it read like a movie. Brilliant! This would make a good read-aloud during discussions on media awareness, or to enhance a lesson on spiders and the food chain. With words like weary, affection, pantry, gauzy, and brilliant, also makes a good mentor text for teaching vocabulary to young students.

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Toot & Puddle (1997), by Holly Hobbie – This award winner is an extremely cute and endearing story about two pigs with two extremely different personalities. One likes to travel and the other is a homebody. A great book for enhancing geography, postcard writing, and celebrating our unique personalities.

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Utterly Me, Clarice Bean (2005), by Lauren Child -- If there is one key sentence from the book that ties the story line together it would be this: “And it is amazing what you can learn from any books you enjoy, and you don’t necessarily realize you are learning something because you are so busy enjoying it.” Clarice Bean is not perfect. She has a hard time sitting still, and cannot concentrate for long periods of time, and she’s chastised by her teacher for

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not being a good learner. Even so, she gobbles up her favorite detective books: Ruby Redfort. Reading and rereading each one in the series. When asked to choose a book that inspires learning for a book exhibit, Clarice chooses Ruby Redfort. But what has she learned? She and best friend Betty Moody solve a mystery and discover that they have learned something from the Ruby books. A delightful chapter book that is full of fun print and idioms, this is an excellent read for the 7-10 set. It’s a great text for modeling text to self connections. This book won the Literacy Association WOW Award. War Between the Vowels and the Consonants, The (1999), by Priscilla Turner – This is an absolute must-read when teaching phonics to younger students. In this clever story, the vowels and consonants rage war against each other, until one day, faced with a common enemy, they unite and begin to form words. This book is brilliant, and one of my all time favorites. This book would also be a good read aloud when discussing conflict resolution, or when learning about idioms. (The pen is mightier than the sword).

3.5 P

Water Hole, The (2001), by Graeme Base – This gorgeously illustrated counting book (1-10) has gained international recognition and has was nominated for multiple awards. A hole in each page shrinks as the water hole gets smaller. Animals from all the continents are represented. Great vocabulary (e.g. “delectable”). A brilliant and beautiful book that readers linger over.

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We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers (2009), by Lauren Child – This witty book takes us into the charming lives of Charlie and Lola. A recycling competition is in full swing and Charlie and Lola’s school. If the students in their school can recycle so much, they will win an actual tree to plant for their school. They are so close, but can they make it? With brilliant child-like illustrations and a fun text, this book can be used to start an extremely very good conversation about recycling.

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When Dinosaurs Came With Everything (2010), by Elise Broach – This E.B. White Read-Aloud Award winner takes into a day in the life of one little boy who is completely bored with going on errands with his mom. To his delight, for this day (and this day only), real dinosaurs come with everything. Instead of a sticker, he gets a dinosaur. Instead of a balloon, he gets a dinosaur. There are only two problems: Where will he keep his new pets, and how will he convince his mom to let him keep them? This book would makes a fantastic read-aloud when talking about pets and the responsibilities that come with owning them.

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When Washington Crossed the Delaware: A Wintertime Story for young Patriots (2004), by Lynne Cheney – When teaching a unit on the American Revolution, I pull this book out. The illustrations are classic and lovely and the text is punctuated with quotes from actual participants. Although this book is meant for older students, I’ve used it as a read aloud for second and third graders.

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Wild About Books (2004), by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown -- This book has won many awards including the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award, and the ALA Noteable Children’s Book Award. The story begins when Molly McGrew (in 2002) mistakenly drives her bookmobile to the zoo. Eventually, she instills a love of reading in each of the animals. With references to well-known and well-loved books and authors (like Harry Potter, Nancy Drew mysteries, and Dr. Seuss), this book leads to great conversations about great literature. Full of complex words such as resistance, stampeding, niches, and craved, this book would also make a wonderful mentor text for developing vocabulary. Note: The book also refers to haiku, so it may help if students have experience writing haiku prior to reading.

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Non-Fiction Picture Books Book Title, Published Date, Author, and Annotation Level Picture

Chapter Classroom Library

A Butterfly is Patient (2011), by Diana Hutts Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long – Full of beautiful illustrations and easy-flowing informational text, this award-winning book takes us into the world of butterflies. It’s a must-read for those learning about insects, and butterflies. 2012 Notable Children’s Books in the English Language Arts. Beneath, protected, molt, metamorphosis, pollinate, and reproduce are just a few of the more complex words found in this text. The book is rife with vocabulary teaching possibilities.

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Balloons over Broadway (2011), by Melissa Sweet – Winner of several awards including the Robert F. Sidel Medal, NCTE Orbis Pictus Award, and Notable Children’s Books in the English Language Arts. This biography takes us into the life of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer who invented the “upside down puppets” (the trademark helium balloons) used in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Great illustrations and text make this a must read when studying about inventors. Of course it would also be a refreshing read for Thanksgiving, too.

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Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet (2006), by David McLimans -- A Caldecott Honor book, Gone Wild includes 26 endangered animals that are illustrated in alphabet form (much like illuminated letters would be, only in black and white). Each animal letter is accompanied by an information box that lists class, habitat, range, threats to the animal’s survival, and its current status as of the publication date. Example: Madagascar Tree Boa is used for the letter B (picture a snake wrapped around a tree trunk forming the B shape). In its information box, we see that it is in the class Reptilia, its habitat is a tropical forest, its range is Madagascar, threats include habitat loss due to farming, and it’s listed as vulnerable. This would make a good browsing-box addition to a life science unit on animal kingdoms.

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Workshop (1999), by Andrew Clements & David Wisniewski -- Caldecott medalist David Wisniewski created cut-paper art for this extravagantly illustrated non-fiction book about the workshop and the various tools inside. Axe, saw, hammer, and other tools are each given a two-page spread and nearly leap off the page. While the text (by Andrew Clements) is unremarkable, the illustrations are superb.

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Fairytales, Fables, & Folklore Picture Books Book Title, Published Date, Author, and Annotation Level Picture

Chapter Classroom Library

Beware of the Storybook Wolves (2003), by Lauren Child – This award winning book pokes fun at the fairytale characters that scare us, and makes them seem a little less scary. Herb doesn’t mind being scared by storybook wolves and loves his bedtime stories (as long as Mom takes the book out of his bedroom when she leaves). One night, the book is left in his room and he is visited by storybook wolves. This could be where Herb meets his end (they’re hungry), but he calls on other fairytale characters (like Cinderella’s fairy godmother) to save him.

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Interrupting Chicken (2010), by David Ezra Stein – A Caldecott Honor book and New York Times Bestseller, this cleverly written story weaves fairytales (and one fable) into the plot. A great wrap up to a unit on genre. Note, young readers should have background knowledge of fairytales before exploring this book.

2.2 P

Princess and the Pea, The (2006 ), by Lauren Child – Child retells this Hans Christian Andersen classic fairytale in a witty and thoroughly charming way. When a girl shows up at the castle claiming to be a princess, what is the Queen to do? Even though she is pretty and has good manners, her royalty must be proven. If she sleeps on a stack of twenty feather mattresses and turns black and blue because a pea lies under them, then she must be a real princess.

5.1 P

Squids Will be Squids: Fresh Morals, Beastly Fables (1998), by Jon Scieszka – Aesop’s fables are wonderful and still hold nuggets of wisdom for contemporary readers, but fables don’t entirely belong to Aesop. In this deliciously clever book, Scieszka gives us a brief history of fable and then pokes fun at Aesop’s fables by creating a set of his own, each with a unique twist. Each fable (such as Grasshooper Logic, Frog’s New Shoes, Rock, Paper, Scissors, and Piece of Toast & Froot Loops) comes with its own moral to live by. For instance, we learn that “There are plenty of things to say to calm a hopping mad Grasshopper mom. ‘I don’t know’ is not one of them.” Clever and brilliant, this book makes a nice jumping-off place for children to write their own fables.

3.8 P

Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (1992), by Jon Scieszka– This Caldecott Honor book not only pokes fun at (and reinvents) fairytales, but it also is a spoof on book writing and publishing. With chapter titles such as The Princess and the Bowling Ball, Little Red Running Shorts, and Cinderumpelstiltskin, it’s a must-read after students have learned about the original fairytales.

3.4 P

Three Pigs, The (2001), by David Wiesner – This Caldecott Medal winner takes us on an outer-body/outer-story experience as we join three little pigs as they jump through pages of fairytales. Incredibly unique and fascinating. This is a must read when studying fairytales. At times it reads like a cartoon or graphic novel.

2.3 P

Three Snow Bears, The (2007), by Jan Brett – This new version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, presents us with Aloo-ki, an Inuit girl who steps, uninvited, into the ice house of three polar bears. As with the original story, Aloo-ki transitions from the “just right” bowl of something to eat to the “just right” mound of covers on the sleeping bench. Written and illustrated in true Jan Brett style, this stunning picture book is not only a treasure that will enhance a unit on fairytales, but also a great book for exploring Arctic life and Inuit culture.

3.1 P

True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, The (1989), by Jon Scieszka –Although an older book, this is a must-read when learning about fairytales. Told from the wolf’s point of view, this story gives us a twisted look at an old classic.

3.0 P

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Book? (2002), by Lauren Child – This award winning, and internationally recognized book introduces us to Herb who loves books but doesn’t treat them very well. He falls asleep and falls into the middle of fairytales. Craziness ensues as he meets Goldilocks, Hansel and Gretel, Puss ‘n’ Boots, Cinderella, and the like. This would make a good wrap up book for the end of a unit on fairytales. Students must have background knowledge of fairytales before encountering this book. This book would also make a good mentor text for teaching vocabulary. Some complex words and phrases include: Furthermore, scrabbled, illustrator, desperately, “dressed to the nines”, and “furious discussion”.

4.5 P

Wolf! Wolf! (2007), by John Rocco – This is another award winning book by author illustrator, John Rocco who takes an old classic (The Boy Who Cried Wolf) and gives it a heartwarming and engaging new twist. As with the classic, the wolf is the protagonist, yet the ending for

3.0 P

this modern version is sweet, and the message of friendship, powerful. The story is set in Asia.

Nursery Rhymes Book Title, Published Date, Author, and Annotation Level Picture

Chapter Classroom Library

And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon (2001), by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel – This twist on the traditional nursery rhyme has won many awards including the California Young Reader Medal (2004) and ALA Noteable Book (2002). For the story line, the classic nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle is read each night and all the actors act each part. But when the Dish and Spoon go missing, a search party ensues, and they use maps to find the missing characters. This book makes a great addition to thematic studies on mapping and nursery rhymes. It is also a good mentor text for teaching vocabulary. Some complex and novel words include smirked, and rummaged. The authors also incorporate several idioms and played with words such as fiddling around and in a jam.

2.6 P

Mary Engelbreit’s Mother Goose: One Hundred Best-Loved Verses (2005), by Mary Engelbreit -- Tradition doesn’t get much better than this. Mary puts her amazing talents as an artist to good use here, choosing the best of nursery rhymes and pairing them with vibrant, funny, draw-you-in illustrations. All of the best known nursery rhymes are here: Jack and Jill, Hey Diddle Diddle, Little Miss Muffet, and others. While this book is outstanding in many ways, it does not give you multiple verses for all of the nursery rhymes. So, if you need all the verses for Jack and Jill or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, you’ll need to select another book.

4.5 P

Poetry Book Title, Published Date, Author, and Annotation Level Picture

Chapter Classroom

Library

Autumnblings(2003), by Douglas Florian -- This book of poetry is a must-read during the crisp, cool days of fall. With simple, child-like illustrations, and poems that burst with rhyme and rhythm, this book of poems will fascinate students and possibly inspire them to write their own “autumnblings”. Florian likes to play with words and it shows up in his poems (e.g., leaf falling is an “autumn industree” and leaves fall “autumnatically”). Words are sometimes printed to give away meaning: “fall” is spelled in a falling manner, and “Up in a tree” is printed flowing upward on the page. Because of the play on words, and because there some complex words, this may be a good mentor text for teaching vocabulary to young students.

2.6 P

BookSpeak: Poems About Books (2011), by Laura Purdie Salas – This is one of my top picks for a poetry read-aloud. Not only does the author introduce us to various styles of poetry, she also gives voice to books and helps us celebrate them. With poems about well-loved-grape-jelly stained books, a bragging index, diaries, and late-night book parties, this award winning book helps us see life from a book’s point of view. It is absolutely brilliant and has so many applications in the classroom that it’s nearly impossible to describe them all. Any one of the poems can enhance book exploration, poetry writing, and authorship. Complex and novel words to enhance vocabulary instruction include: abandon, liberate, daring, boundless, desires, vague, etc.

N/A P

House in the Night, The (2008), by Susan Marie Swanson – Much like “The House that Jack Built” or “Hush, Little Baby Don’t Say a Word”, this is a poem with a cumulative pattern. It is a bedtime poem, intended to make night time, dark things comfortable and charming. A Caldecott Medal winner.

N/A P

Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed From A Single Word (2011), by Bob Raczka – On the NCBLA 2012 list for outstanding literature, this brilliant collection reveals Bob Raczka’s ability to play with words. For each poem, he takes one word (like bleacher, moonlight, and vacation) and turns into a word puzzle, and poem. This would make a brilliant addition when studying and learning to write poetry, and would enhance spelling strategies. It offers a great invitation to students to play with their words! Brilliant.

N/A P

Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors (2009), by Joyce Sidman – This multi-award-winning book received the 2010 Caldecott Honor Award and the Claudia Lewis Poetry Award, among others. Known for her poetry, Sidman takes us on an exploration of colors through the season (e.g. “In spring, even the rain tastes green.”). This is a possible mentor text for teaching vocabulary. Complex and novel words include: trembles, feathery, delicate, and sequined, among others.

3.2 P

Runny Babbit (2005), by Shel Silverstein -- This incredibly fun book of poems was completed before Shel’s death in 1999, but wasn’t published until 2005. It is full of word play and spoonerisms. Students love decoding each poem as well as creating their own Runny-Babbit-style books. When studying about or reading poetry, this book is a must!

4.2 P

Wordless Books Book Title, Published Date, Author, and Annotation Level Picture

Chapter Classroom

Library

Flotsam (2006), by David Wiesner – A Caldecott Medal winner that takes us on vacation to the beach. A boy discovers a camera like one would find a message in a bottle. He is amazed by the photographs the camera contains and we are taken on a journey through previous photographers and the stunning scenes they’ve captured (e.g a turtle with a shell city on its back). The illustrations stand alone in telling this incredible story.

0 P

Free Fall (1988), by David Wiesner -- A Caldecott Honor book that takes us on a journey into one boy’s dream. The opening page shows him asleep with a book in his arms and we are whisked away like a torn page from the book into a medieval landscape of knights, queens, and kings.

0 P

Lion and the Mouse, The (2011), by Jerry Pinkney – A Caldecott award winner. Set in the African Serengeti, this nearly wordless book explores the classic Aesop fable. The illustrations stand alone in this classic retell that contains the occasional onomonopia. A great resource, not only for teaching fables, but for habitat as well.

0 P

Red Book, The (2004), by Barbara Lehman – This Caldecott Honor book introduces us to a magical wordless book found by a little girl in the snow bank. The book appears to be live action, and as she opens it and explores the pictures inside, she finds a boy on an island walking, and he finds a wordless red book, too, and he sees her. Much like Flotsam, this book doesn’t have an ending… it is just the beginning of the story. This book could be used to model story retelling, as a story prompt, and as a book to enhance a unit on friendships or maps. (There’s a gridded map in the book).

0 P

Tuesday (1991), by David Wiesner -- This Caldecott winner introduces us to time, flying frogs, and the possibility of flying pigs. This amazing book lends itself to storytelling and story writing. Although it’s a wordless book, it is a definite must read.

0 P

Novels for Young Readers Book Title, Published Date, Author, and Annotation Level Picture

Chapter Classroom Library

Breadwinner, The (2001), by Deborah Ellis – This award winning book introduces us to Parvana, an eleven-year-old girl who lives in Afghanistan during the reign of the Taliban. Because she is a girl, Parvana has lived most of her life indoors. She cannot do what most American children take for granted (e.g., go to school, play outside, or go shopping). When her beloved father is imprisoned, Parvana realizes that she must be the one to provide for her family: she must become the breadwinner. And to do so, she must disguise herself as a boy. Full of suspense and heartbreaking moments, this page-turning book helps readers gain a global perspective of childhood in Afghanistan. Note: While this is definitely a good-read, because of the harsh realities covered in this book, it is not recommended that children read this on their own without a chance to discuss the issues that surface. This book is best read aloud or in a literature circle environment.

4.5 C

Moon Over Manifest (2010), by Clare Vanderpool – This 2011 Newberry Award winner is sure to become a classic. Set during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression era (AKA “The Dirty 30’s), the story makes us witnesses to the adventures and struggles of twelve-year old Abilene Tucker. Abilene feels abandoned when her wandering father sends her to live with a family-friend in Manifest, Kansas. Through various discoveries, she works with friends and community members to uncover the past: her father’s past, her past, and the past history of Manifest. In telling the story, Vanderpool weaves two time periods (World War I during 1918 and the Dust Bowl during 1936). Historical fiction through and through, Moon Over Manifest is grounded in fact. In this book we are introduced to the Flu Epidemic of 1918, Soldier life during World War I, and a detailed look into community life during the Dust Bowl era. While this story would make a great literature circle read or read-aloud to older students learning about the above topics, it is not a recommend read for students below fifth grade. Murder, death, moonshine, alcoholism, and one reference to sex make it, in my opinion, an unsuitable read for younger students. That aside, the historical references in this story are rich, and Vanderpool’s authoring style (which weaves newspaper articles and historically accurate advertisements) make this a fabulous mentor text for writing.

5.3 C