Revving Up Read Alouds Donalyn Miller

June 5, 2012

IL=Interest Level, RL=Reading Level * Annotations and leveling information courtesy of Titlewave

Alchemy and Meggy Swann By Cushman, Karen Meggy Swann, a girl who walks with the aid of two sticks, arrives in Elizabethan London, along with her goose Louise, to stay with her father who really does not want her, and while he pursues his dream of transforming base metal into gold, Meggy undergoes a transformation herself. IL:5-8 RL:5.9

Amelia lost: the life and disappearance of

Amelia Earhart By Fleming, Candace Traces the life of female aviator Amelia Earhart from her childhood to her final flight, discusses the extensive search for her and her missing plane, and includes photographs, maps, handwritten notes by Amelia, and sidebars. IL:5-8 RL:6.3

And then it's spring By Fogliano, Julie Simple text reveals the anticipation of a boy who, having planted seeds while everything around is brown, fears that something has gone wrong until, at last, the world turns green. IL:K-3 RL:1.6

Balloons over Broadway: the true story of the

puppeteer of Macy's Parade By Sweet, Melissa Tells the story of puppeteer Tony Sarg, the man who first invented the helium balloons that have become the trademark of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. IL:K-3 RL:5.4

Between shades of gray By Sepetys, Ruta In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil. Based on the author's family, includes a historical note. IL:YA

Beware the ninja weenies and other warped and

creepy tales By Lubar, David Contains thirty-three stories about stranded aliens, a horrifying cheesemaker, a boy with the power to make stars vanish, and other frightening things. Includes notes on how the author got his ideas for these stories. IL:3-6 RL:5

Biblioburro: a true story from Colombia By Winter, Jeanette Luis has so many books in his little house in Colombia that he buys two donkeys and travels throughout the land bringing the joy of reading to children. IL:K-3 RL:3.1

Big wig: a little history of hair By Krull, Kathleen Chronicles the history of hair, looking at hair facts and lore from ancient to modern times. IL:3-6 RL:4.8

Bigger than a bread box By Snyder, Laurel Devastated when her parents separate, twelve-year-old Rebecca must move with her mother from Baltimore to Gran's house in Atlanta, where Rebecca discovers an old breadbox with the power to grant any wish--so long as the wished-for thing fits in the breadbox. IL:3-6 RL:5.7

Bluefish By Schmatz, Pat Thirteen-year-old Travis, living in cramped quarters with his alcoholic grandfather, longs for his old life in the country, and struggles in school to hide the fact that he cannot read, but a persistent teacher and a special girl open his eyes to a new world. IL:YA

Bookspeak!: poems about books By Salas, Laura Purdie Books are given the opportunity to speak in an illustrated collection of humorous poems. IL:K-3 RL:2

Boy + Bot By Dyckman, Ame A boy and a robot strike up a friendship despite their differences. IL:K-3 RL:1.5

Breadcrumbs By Ursu, Anne Hazel and Jack are best friends until an accident with a magical mirror and a run-in with a villainous queen find Hazel on her own, entering an enchanted wood in the hopes of saving Jack's life. IL:3-6 RL:5.5

Can we save the tiger? By Jenkins, Martin Contains illustrations of rare animals, including tigers, ground iguanas, white-rumped vultures, and others, discusses the impact of human activities on the animals, and looks at how they can be saved. IL:K-3 RL:3.5 $14.49

Candy bomber : the story of the Berlin Airlift's

"Chocolate Pilot" By Tunnell, Michael Describes the efforts of US Air Force Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen to aid the children in Russian-blockaded West Berlin by dropping packages filled with candy from the air. Features personal photographs, along with letters and drawings from the children of Berlin. IL:5-8 RL:7.2

The case of the vanishing golden frogs: a

scientific mystery By Markle, Sandra Follows a team of scientists as they try to save Panamanian golden frogs, which began to disappear fifteen years ago, and looks at the reasons behind their decline. IL:5-8 RL:5.7

The cazuela that the farm maiden stirred By Vamos, Samantha A cumulative tale of a farm maiden who, aided by a group of animals, prepares "Arroz con Leche," or rice pudding. Includes recipe and glossary of the Spanish words that are woven throughout the text. IL:K-3 RL:2.4

The Cheshire Cheese cat: a Dickens of a tale By Deedy, Carmen Agra A community of mice and a cheese-loving cat form an unlikely alliance at London's Cheshire Cheese, an inn where Charles Dickens finds inspiration and Queen Victoria makes an unexpected appearance. IL:3-6 RL:5.1

Chime By Billingsley, Franny In the early twentieth century in Swampsea, seventeen-year-old Briony, who can see the spirits that haunt the marshes around their town, feels responsible for her twin sister's horrible injury until a young man enters their lives and exposes secrets that even Briony does not know about. IL:YA

Chopsticks By Rosenthal, Amy Krouse A pair of chopsticks gets separated, but after some traumatic moments the two friends eventually learn to stand on their own. IL:K-3 RL:2.7

City Dog, Country Frog By Willems, Mo When City Dog comes to the country, he meets Country Frog for the first time, and every season afterward, the two have a fun time playing together. IL:K-3 RL:2.1

Clever Jack takes the cake By Fleming, Candace A poor boy named Jack struggles to deliver a birthday present worthy of the princess. IL:K-3 RL:3.8

Countdown By Wiles, Deborah As 11-year-old Franny deals with drama at home, she tries to understand the larger problems in the world after Pres. Kennedy announces that Russia is sending nuclear missiles to Cuba. Features historic quotes and photographs. IL:5-8 RL:4.4

Dark emperor & other poems of the night By Sidman, Joyce A collection of poems that celebrate the wonder, mystery, and danger of the night, and describes the many things that hide in the dark. IL:3-6 RL:6

Dead end in Norvelt By Gantos, Jack In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses. IL:5-8 RL:6

Dear bully: 70 authors tell their stories A collection of stories in which seventy authors share their experiences with and feelings about bullying, including selections from Lauren Kate, R. L. Stine, Melissa Walker, Laura Kasischke, Amy Reed, Kurtis Scaletta, Carolyn Mackler, and others. IL:YA

A dog is a dog By Shaskan, Stephen Using various animals as examples, this rhyming picture book explores what makes them the same and what makes them different. IL:K-3 RL:2.3

Don't touch that toad & other strange things

adults tell you By Rondina, Catherine Examines the truth as well as the false premises behind a variety of things children are told by their parents, covering warnings about crossed eyes, the causes of acne, whether an elephant can actually forget, and more. IL:3-6 RL:5.8

The dreamer By Ryan, Pam Munoz A fictionalized biography of the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who grew up a painfully shy child, ridiculed by his overbearing father, but who became one of the most widely-read poets in the world. IL:5-8 RL:4.9

Everybody sees the ants: a novel By King, A. S. Overburdened by his parents' bickering and a bully's attacks, fifteen-year-old Lucky Linderman begins dreaming of being with his grandfather, who went missing during the Vietnam War, but during a visit to Arizona, his aunt and uncle and their beautiful neighbor, Ginny, help him find a new perspective. IL:YA

The five lives of our cat Zook By Rocklin, Joanne As ten-year-old Oona and younger brother Fred conspire to break their sick cat Zook out of the veterinary clinic, Oona tells the story of Zook's previous lives. IL:3-6 RL:4.6

Forgive me, I meant to do it: false apology

poems By Levine, Gail Carson A collection of poems with false apologies. IL:K-3 RL:5

The friendship doll By Larson, Kirby Follows the adventures of Miss Kanagawa, a doll made to serve as an ambassador from Japan to the United States, as she makes friends and learns about love during the twentieth century. IL:3-6 RL:5.2

The girl who was on fire: your favorite authors

on Suzanne Collins' Hunger games trilogy Presents a collection of essays about the trilogy Hunger Games, discussing the major themes, characters, and social and political commentary contained in the works. IL:YA

Grandpa Green By Smith, Lane A child explores the ordinary life of his extraordinary great-grandfather, as expressed in his topiary garden. IL:K-3 RL:3.4

The great wall of Lucy Wu By Shang, Wendy Wan Long Eleven-year-old aspiring basketball star and interior designer Lucy Wu is excited about finally having her own bedroom, until she learns that her great-aunt is coming to visit and Lucy will have to share a room with her for several months, shattering her plans for a perfect sixth-grade year. IL:3-6 RL:5.3

Greek myths By Turnbull, Ann An illustrated collection of Greek myths that includes the stories of Persephone, the Minotaur, Perseus, Medusa, King Midas, and others. IL:5-8

Green By Seeger, Laura Vaccaro Illustrations and simple, rhyming text explore the many shades of the color green. IL:K-3 RL:.8

Guantanamo boy By Perera, Anna Khalid, a fifteen-year-old Muslim boy from England, is kidnapped while on holiday with his family in Pakistan and struggles to understand when he is taken to Guantanamo Bay and held without charge. IL:YA

Guyku: a year of haiku for boys By Raczka, Bob A collection of haiku poetry for boys that features poems about tree-climbing, kite-flying, and other related topics. IL:K-3 RL:2.7

Half upon a time By Riley, James In the village of Giant's Hand Jack's grandfather has been pushing him to find a princess and get married, so when a young lady falls out of the sky wearing a shirt that says "Punk Princess," and she tells Jack that her grandmother, who looks suspiciously like the long-missing Snow White, has been kidnapped, Jack decides to help her. IL:3-6 RL:5.3

Heart and soul: the story of America and

African Americans By Nelson, Kadir Examines the history of the United States, focusing on events that influenced African-Americans and how they advanced liberty and justice in America. IL:3-6 RL:5.8

Hip hop dog By Raschka, Christopher A neglected dog finds his purpose through rapping and rhyming. IL:K-3 RL:3.9

The hive detectives: chronicle of a honey bee

catastrophe By Burns, Loree Griffin Discusses the strange disappearance of honey bees from hives around the world beginning in 2006, a condition called colony collapse disorder, examines the efforts of scientists to discover the cause of the problem, and includes information about bees, their hives, and their honey. IL:5-8 RL:6.8

Hound dog true By Urban, Linda Mattie, a shy fifth grader, wants to hide out at her new school by acting as apprentice to her Uncle Potluck, the custodian, but her plan falls apart when she summons the courage to speak about what matters most and finds a true friend. IL:3-6 RL:4.3

House held up by trees: not far from here, I

have seen a house held up by the hands of trees, this is its story By Kooser, Ted Tells the story of a house that began on a lot cleared of trees, but as the years pass and the family who lived there abandons it, nature begins to grow all around it until the house is lifted up by the trees that now surround it and hold it together. IL:3-6 RL:6.1

How many jelly beans? By Menotti, Andrea Aiden and Emma debate how many jelly beans are enough and how many are too many. IL:K-3 RL:1.4

How they croaked: the awful ends of the awfully

famous By Bragg, Georgia Shares the sometimes gruesome details of the deaths of nineteen famous historical figures, including King Tut, Pocahontas, George Washington, Edgar Allan Poe, and Marie Curie. IL:5-8 RL:5.2

I want my hat back By Klassen, J When Bear loses his hat, he patiently asks the animals he comes across if they have seen it, and just as he is about to give up his search, a deer helps him remember exactly where he left his beloved hat. IL:K-3 RL:1.4

Inside out & back again By Lai, Thanhha Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama. IL:3-6 RL:4.9

Interrupting chicken By Stein, David Ezra Little Red Chicken wants Papa to read her a bedtime story, but interrupts him almost as soon as he begins each tale. IL:K-3 RL:2.1

Jimi: sounds like a rainbow: a story of the

young Jimi Hendrix By Golio, Gary An illustrated biography of rock musician Jimi Hendrix, focusing on his childhood, and describing how he developed his unique vison and artistic talents. IL:K-3 RL:5.8

Just a second: a different way to look at time By Jenkins, Steve Describes a series of events in the natural world to provide an exploration of how people think about time. IL:K-3 RL:4.7

Keeper By Appelt, Kathi Ten-year-old Keeper heads to a sandbar in a small boat along with her dog BD and a seagull named Captain in order to find her mother, a mermaid who left her when Keeper was only three. IL:5-8 RL:4.7

Kindred souls By MacLachlan, Patricia Ten year-old Jake shares a special bond with his grandfather, Billy, but when Billy asks Jake to build him a sod house, Jake is not sure he wants to do it. IL:3-6 RL:3.5

The last summer of the Death Warriors By Stork, Francisco X Seventeen-year-old Pancho is bent on avenging the senseless death of his sister, but after he meets D.Q, who is dying of cancer, and Marisol, one of D.Q.'s caregivers, both boys find their lives changed by their interactions. IL:YA

Laundry day By Manning, Maurie A boy travels throughout his lively neighborhood, searching for the owner of a red cloth he has found. IL:K-3 RL:2.4

A leaf can be-- By Salas, Laura Purdie In rhyming text and illustrations, explores some of the many things a leaf can be, from tree topper to rain stopper. Includes facts about leaves and a glossary. IL:K-3 RL:1.5

Lemonade: and other poems squeezed from a

single word By Raczka, Bob A collection of poems based on a child's day-to-day experiences that includes a puzzle at the end of each poem. IL:3-6 RL:6.1

The lions of Little Rock By Levine, Kristin Twelve-year-old Marlee develops a strong friendship with Liz, the new girl in school, but when Liz suddenly stops attending school and Marlee hears a rumor that her friend is actually an African American girl passing herself off as white, the two young girls must decide whether their friendship is worth taking on integration and the dangers it could bring to their families. IL:5-8 RL:3.4

Lulu and the brontosaurus By Viorst, Judith Lulu's parents refuse to give in when she demands a brontosaurus for her birthday and so she sets out to find her own, but while the brontosaurus she finally meets approves of pets, he does not intend to be Lulu's. IL:K-3 RL:5.1

Marty McGuire digs worms! By Messner, Kate With help from her Grandma Barb, Marty builds a habitat for worms in her school cafeteria as part of the Save the Earth Project. IL:K-3 RL:3.8

Me-- Jane By McDonnell, Patrick Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals. Includes biographical information on the prominent zoologist. IL:K-3 RL:3.5

A meal of the stars: poems up and down By Jensen, Dana A collection of poems related to the concepts of up and down. IL:K-3 RL:4.3

Mirror mirror: a book of reversible verse By Singer, Marilyn A collection of short poems which, when reversed, provide new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature. IL:3-6 RL:4.1

A monster calls : a novel By Ness, Patrick Thirteen-year-old Conor awakens one night to find a monster outside his bedroom window, but not the one from the recurring nightmare that began when his mother became ill--an ancient, wild creature that wants him to face truth and loss. IL:YA

More By Springman, I. C. A team of well-intentioned mice saves a friend from hoarding too much stuff. IL:K-3 RL:.5

No bears By McKinlay, Megan Ella wants to tell a story without bears in it, but rather with princesses, castles, and perhaps a monster. IL:K-3 RL:3.9

The notorious Benedict Arnold: a true story of

adventure, heroism, & treachery By Sheinkin, Steve An introduction to the life of Benedict Arnold that highlights not only the traitorous actions that made him legendary, but also his heroic involvement in the American Revolution. IL:5-8 RL:7.3

Older than the stars By Fox, Karen C An illustrated discussion of the formation of the universe since the big bang, covering topics such as cosmology, planets, and minerals, and analyzes how humans are comprised of the same atoms that were once a part of stars. IL:K-3 RL:5.6

Olympians. 4, Hades, lord of the dead By O'Connor, George A fictionalized account, in graphic novel format, of the Greek myth of Hades, God of the Underworld, and his abduction of the goddess Demeter's daughter, Persephone, to make her his wife, and the chaos that ensued. IL:5-8 RL:4

The one and only Ivan By Applegate, Katherine When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life. IL:3-6 RL:4

One crazy summer By Williams-Garcia, Rita In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland to spend a month with the mother they barely know, 11-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a Black Panther summer camp. IL:5-8 RL:4.6

Out of my mind By Draper, Sharon Considered by many to be mentally retarded, a brilliant, impatient fifth-grader with cerebral palsy discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time. IL:5-8 RL:4.3

Over and under the snow By Messner, Kate During a cross country ski trip through the winter woods, adventurers can discover all sorts of animals living under the snow. IL:K-3 RL:3

Pablo Neruda: poet of the people By Brown, Monica Describes the life of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, covering his childhood, his decision to use a pen name and change his name from Neftali, his love of people, and his poetry. IL:K-3 RL:3.5

Passing the music down By Sullivan, Sarah A boy and his family befriend a country fiddler, who teaches the boy all about playing the old tunes, which the boy promises to help keep alive. Inspired by Melvin Wine and Jake Krack. IL:K-3 RL:2.7

Poetry speaks who I am Collects more than one hundred poems for young readers, with selections by Maya Angelou, Arthur Sze, Langston Hughes, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, William Butler Yeats, and others; and includes an audio CD with some of the poets reading their works. IL:YA

The president's stuck in the bathtub: poems

about the presidents By Katz, Susan A collection of poems that present miscellaneous facts about individuals who served as president of the United States throughout history. IL:K-3 RL:4.3

The quiet book By Underwood, Deborah From the quiet of being the first one awake in the morning to "sweet dreams quiet" when the last light is turned off, simple text explores the many kinds of quiet that can exist during the day. IL:K-3 RL:1.8

Requiem : poems of the Terezin ghetto By Janeczko, Paul Collects poems in which Paul B. Janeczko describes the experiences of prisoners of the Czechoslovakian concentration camp Terezin; and includes illustrations by inmates. IL:YA

Revolver By Sedgwick, Marcus Fourteen-year-old Sig is stranded at a remote cabin in the Arctic wilderness with his father, who died just hours earlier after falling through the ice, when a terrifying man arrives, claiming Sig's father owes him a share of a horde of stolen gold and that he will kill Sig if he does not get his money. IL:YA

Rubia and the three osos By Elya, Susan Middleton Retells the story of Goldilocks and the three bears in rhyming text interspersed with Spanish words, which are defined in a glossary. IL:K-3 RL:1.7

Sadie and Ratz By Hartnett, Sonya Hannah and her hands, named Sadie and Ratz, regularly get into trouble, especially when younger brother Baby Boy is around. IL:K-3 RL:2.3

The Scorpio Races By Stiefvater, Maggie Nineteen-year-old returning champion Sean Kendrick competes against Puck Connolly, the first girl ever to ride in the annual Scorpio Races, both trying to keep hold of their dangerous water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. IL:YA

Shout! Shout it out! By Fleming, Denise Mouse invites the readers to shout out what they know as they review numbers, letters, and easy words. IL:K-3 RL:.8

Spilling ink : a young writer's handbook By Mazer, Anne Authors Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter offer advice for aspiring young writers, discussing finding a voice, character development, plot, revisions, and other related topics. Includes writing prompts. IL:5-8 RL:6

The sports pages / (Guys Read Book 3) The third installment in the Guys Read series offers short stories about sports.

Stars By Ray, Mary Lyn Explores the wonder of stars, whether they are in the night sky, on a plant as a promise of fruit to come, or in one's pocket for those days when one does not feel shiny. IL:K-3 RL:2.1

Step gently out By Frost, Helen Examines nature through lyrical text and close-up photography. IL:K-3 RL:2.4

The strange case of Origami Yoda By Angleberger, Tom Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda. IL:3-6 RL:4.4

Stuck By Jeffers, Oliver Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, and he tries to knock it down with increasingly larger and more outrageous things. IL:K-3 RL:3.5

Stupid fast By Herbach, Geoff Just before his sixteenth birthday, Felton Reinstein has a sudden growth spurt that turns him from a small, jumpy, picked-on boy with the nickname of "Squirrel Nut" to a powerful athlete, leading to new friends, his first love, and the courage to confront his family's past and current problems. IL:YA

Sugar changed the world: a story of magic,

spice, slavery, freedom, and science By Aronson, Marc Songs, oral histories, maps, and more than eighty archival illustrations help trace the history of sugar and the sugar trade. IL:YA

A tale dark & Grimm By Gidwitz, Adam Follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering such wicked creatures as witches, along with kindly strangers and other helpful folk. Based in part on the Grimms' fairy tales Faithful Johannes, Hansel and Gretel, The seven ravens, Brother and sister, The robber bridegroom, and The devil and his three golden hairs. IL:5-8 RL:4.6

There is no long distance now: very short stories By Nye, Naomi Shihab Presents 40 extremely short stories by award-winning author and poet, Naomi Shihab Nye. IL:YA

These hands By Mason, Margaret H An African American man tells his grandson about a time when, despite all the wonderful things his hands could do, they could not touch bread at the Wonder Bread factory. Based on stories of bakery union workers; includes historical note. IL:K-3 RL:2.5

Tracing stars By Moulton, Erin In a small seaside town during the summer before sixth grade, Indie Lee Chickory tries to follow her older sister's popularity advice by working backstage on the upcoming community theater musical and by not revealing that she is looking for her beloved pet lobster and becoming friends with "loser" Owen Stone. IL:3-6 RL:5.4

Trapped: how the world rescued 33 miners

from 2,000 feet below the Chilean desert By Aronson, Marc Provides a detailed account of rescue efforts to save thirty-three miners, who were trapped in a copper-gold mine in San Jose, Chile. IL:5-8 RL:7.2

True (--sort of) By Hannigan, Katherine For most of her eleven years, Delly has been in trouble without knowing why, until her little brother, R.B., and a strange, silent new friend, Ferris, help her find a way to be good--and happy--again. IL:3-6 RL:3.8

The twins' blanket By Yum, Hyewon Two twin girls, who have always shared everything, sleep in separate beds with their own blankets for the first time. IL:K-3 RL:1.6

Ubiquitous: celebrating nature's survivors :

poetry By Sidman, Joyce Collects poems that examine survival in nature, and includes information about a number of plants and animals. IL:3-6 RL:6.8

Under the mesquite By McCall, Guadalupe Garcia Throughout her high school years, as her mother battles cancer, Lupita takes on more responsibility for her house and seven younger siblings, while finding refuge in acting and writing poetry. Includes glossary of Spanish terms. IL:YA

Walking on earth & touching the sky: poetry

and prose by Lakota youth at Red Cloud Indian

School Poems and prose by Lakota youth at Red Cloud Indian School, describe life on the reservation, Lakota culture and the present-day world. IL:4-8 RL:3.8

The watch that ends the night : voices from the

Titanic By Wolf, Allan Recreates the 1912 sinking of the Titanic as observed by millionaire John Jacob Astor, a beautiful young Lebanese refugee finding first love, "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, Captain Smith, and others including the iceberg itself. IL:YA

We are in a book! By Willems, Mo Piggie realizes that she and Gerald the elephant are in a book and that she can make the reader say words, but when Gerald comes to understand the danger of the book ending, Piggie comes up with a solution to get the reader to keep reading. IL:K-3 RL:1.3

Won-Ton: a cat tale told in haiku By Wardlaw, Lee A cat arrives at a shelter, arranges to go home with a good family, and settles in with them, all the while letting them know who is boss and, finally, sharing his real name. IL:K-3 RL:3

Wonder By Palacio, R. J. Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunts and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student. IL:3-6 RL:5.1

Z is for Moose By Bingham, Kelly Moose is terribly eager to play his part in Zebra's alphabet book, but when his letter passes him by, Moose behaves rather badly until Zebra finds a spot for him. IL:K-3 RL:.8

Zora and me By Bond, Victoria A fictionalized account of Zora Neale Hurston's childhood with her best friend Carrie, in Eatonville, Florida, as they learn about life, death, and the differences between truth, lies, and pretending. Includes an annotated bibliography of the works of Zora Neale Hurston, a short biography of the author, and information about Eatonville, Florida. IL:5-8 RL:5.3