Picture Books
By: Jean
and Claudio Marzollo
10. Nice
Try, Tooth Fairy
By: Mary
W. Olson
Genre: Picture
Book
Emma has
lost her first tooth, and put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy to find. She
has decided that she would like her tooth back one last time so that she may show her grandfather. The tooth fairy cannot find Emma’s tooth and has brought her the wrong one several times. Emma’s tooth is finally returned, but not before she loses another one.
11. The
Colt and The King
By: Marni
McGee
Genre: Picture
Book
The colt
that had never been ridden before was sold to a man in the market place. At first
the donkey was afraid and stubborn. Jesus comforted the donkey and made him feel
safe. Jesus rode the donkey often as others cheered for them both. The donkey waits for his king to return so that they may someday be together again.
12. Animals
in the Fall
By: Gail
Saunders-Smith
Genre: Picture
Book
Some animals
migrate south for the winter. Some species of geese, butterflies, and whales find warmer climates to inhabit during this time. Other animals grow winter coats and stay in colder climates.
13. Hide
and Seek
By: Taro
Gomi
Genre: Picture
Book
Jay and
Jeep are playing a game of hide and seek. Several other animals are playing hide
and seek as well. Every time Jay finds a place to hide, another animal has already
hidden there. Jay runs out of places to hide, and Jay finds him. Jeep and Jay play the rest of the day without the other animals taking their hiding places.
14. The
Little Engine that Could
By: Watty
Piper
Genre: Picture Book
The train
with all the toys and good things to eat for nice boys and girls has broken down. The
toys try and stop several trains to help pull them over the mountain, but the other trains feel that there are too important
or tired to help. Finally a small blue train comes to the rescue, and the toys
and good things to eat are delivered in time.
15. Nothing
By: Mick
Inkpen
Genre: Picture
Book
A family
is moving to a bigger house around the corner, as they are expecting a new baby. They
pack the house and prepare to leave, as a little stuffed animal hears them from the attic.
The family then goes to pack the attic and sees the old worn out stuffed animal.
They decide to leave the stuffed toy there, and refer to it as nothing. The
stuffed animal thinks that this is his name and becomes very sad that no one loves him.
A cat befriends the old stuffed animal and brings him to his owner. The
owner remembers the stuffed animal as one that he had as a baby. The old stuffed
animal is sown up and made to look like new. He is very happy, and learns that
his name is Little Toby instead of Nothing.
16. Tricky
Tortoise
By: Mwenye
Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway
Genre: Picture
Book
The self-important
elephant feels that he is the most significant animal in the forest. The tortoise
is tired of the elephant disregarding him as he runs through the forest. The
tortoise laughs at the elephant and tells him that his head is very small, and that he could jump over it. They make a bet that if he can, the elephant will host a feast in his honor. The tortoise agrees to this arrangement, and the other animals of the forest come to watch the tortoise
make a fool out of the elephant.
17. A Fly
Went By
By: Mike
McClintock, Illustrated by Fritz Siebel
Genre: Picture
Book
Several
animals in a line fear that the animal behind the next is chasing them. A small
boy sees what is occurring and makes them aware that each is afraid of nothing.
18. Wild
Boars Cook
By: Meg
Rosoff and Sophie Blackall
Genre: Picture
Book
Boris, Morris,
Horace, and Doris are very hungry boars. They are so hungry all of the time that
they eat anything and everything available. Doris is busy eating a cookbook when
she finds a delicious looking recipe. The four boars make a massive pudding and
gobble up every bite. Five minutes later they are still hungry and decide to
make another delicious recipe.
19. So,
What’s It Like to be a Cat?
By: Karla
Kuskin, Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Genre: Picture
Book
The life
of a cat is filled with many activities and abilities that we as humans do not possess or engage in. Cats enjoy a life full of naps, food, and nighttime activities. Cat’s are very independent and enjoy
their lifestyle.
20. From
Blossom to Fruit
By: Gail
Saunders-Smith
Genre: Picture
Book
From the
blossom to the ripened fruit, this book demonstrates the process of the developing apple. Apples come in several varieties
that are delicious to eat.
21.
Dogzilla
By:
Dav Pilkey
Genre:
Picture Book
The
mice of Mousopolis are plagued by a naughty dog named Dogzilla. He chewed up their city and ate all of their food.
They finally get rid of him by giving him a bath and he never bothers them again.
22. Please
try to Remember, the First of Octember!
By: Theo
LeSieg
Genre: Picture
Book
On the first
of Octember you will be able to get anything that you want. You need to make
a list describing all of the things that you wish for, and then you will receive them by delivery truck.
23.Little Witch’s
Bad Dream
By: Deborah Hautzig
Genre: Picture
Book
Aunt Bossy is coming
to visit Little Witch’s family. Little Witch has a hard time acting like
a nasty witch, and does many nice things for Aunt Bossy when she arrives. Aunt
Bossy is very unappreciative and Little Witch is disappointed. One night Little
Witch has a dream that she is mean to Aunt Bossy, and the next morning Aunt Bossy leaves to go back home.
24. From Bud to
Blossom
By: Gail Saunders-Smith
Genre: Picture
Book
Apple trees develop
buds that later turn into fruit. This book demonstrates the progression of this
action.
25. Cactus Soup
By: Eric A. Kimmel
Genre: Picture
Book
Cactus Soup is
an adaptation of the story Stone Soup, and occurs during the time of the Mexican Revolution, during the period of time from
1910 to 1922. Soldiers arrive in the town of San Miguel looking for food to feed
the soldiers but the townspeople pretend that they have no food. A soldier tricks them into giving food so that the soldiers
and the whole village may partake of the soup.
26. The Horned
Toad Prince
By Jackie Mims
Hopkins
Genre: Picture
Book
A girl named Reba
Jo rides into the Arroyo where she is not allowed, and her hat drops into a well. The
toad gets the hat for her and she tells him that she will reward him if he does so.
She feeds him, sings him a song, and then agrees to kiss him if he promises to leave.
After kissing him he turns into a prince.
27.The Prince Won’t
Go To Bed!
By: Dayle Ann Dodds
Genre: Picture
Book
This is a story
about a small prince that will not go to sleep. Those caring for the small prince
try everything to get him off to bed, but discover that all he really needed in order to sleep was a goodnight kiss.
28. Red Leaf, Yellow
Leaf
By: Lois Ehlert
Genre: Picture
Book
The maple trees
in the forest are collected and sold at a nursery. The trees much prefer it in
the forest, but are eventually sold and transplanted somewhere nice.
29. Baby Rattlesnake
By: Lynn Moroney
Genre: Picture
Book
Baby Rattlesnake
is anxious to receive his rattles, but is too young to get them. The older rattlesnake
people agree to let him have his rattle, but Baby Rattlesnake abuses this privilege.
He scares many animals with his rattle, and also the chief’s daughter.
Baby Rattlesnake ends up losing his rattle, because he misuses them.
30. The Hungary
Coat
By: Demi
Genre: Picture
Book
This book is about
a man that is kind and giving to all those that he meets. He is invited to a
banquet and does not go dressed nicely. The guests ignore him and refuse to let
him eat with them. He goes home and changes into his nicest coat. The guests invite him in and let him have the best seat. He
stuffs his coat full of food, and when the guests ask why he is feeding his coat he tells them that they only liked him for
his coat, so it must be the coat and not him they invited. The moral of the story
is, judge a person for how they act not for what they wear.
31. When I Was
Young In The Mountains
By: Cynthia Rylant
Genre: Picture
Book
Set in a time of
the past, this story speaks of what it was like to grow up in a rural mountainous region. There
were fun and relaxing things to do. The children often went to the swimming hole,
and the grandparents did chores around the house such as shelling beans while sitting on the porch.
32. Abiyoyo Return’s
By: Pete Seeger
and Paul Jacobs
Genre: Picture
Book
The towns people
need help from the giant Abiyoyo but don’t want him to eat the towns people. They
feed the giant lots of food and sing him songs until he helps them move a giant boulder.
They would use magic to make him disappear again but must learn to live with him as their magic wand gets broken.
Fantasy
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
By: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Harry Potter and
the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first in the Harry Potter series. Although
Harry Potter descended from wizards, this knowledge is kept from him. Shortly
before his 11th birthday he is made aware of the fact that he is from a long line of wizardry. Harry was raised by his non-wizard relatives the Dursley family.
The evil and powerful dark wizard, Lord Voldermort, killed Harry’s real parents.
Harry attends Hogwarts School for wizards and learns much of wizardry. Harry
is protected against Voldermort’s lethal spells, and is able to acquire the Sorcerer’s Stone, and prevents Voldermort
from obtaining his body.
2. Blood and Chocolate
By: Annette Curtis
Klause
Genre: Fantasy
The main character
Vivian is a 16-year-old loup-garou, or shape shifting human that can transform into a wolf like creature at will. After some of Vivian’s pack is killed, including her father, the group moves to a town in Maryland
where she meets a boy named Aiden. Vivian reveals her form to him but he is frightened
of her and decided that he wants nothing to do with her. Gabriel is to be alpha
male and wishes Vivian to be with him. She does not want to be with him but in
the end succumbs to his will, as Aiden and her will never really be able to be together.
3. Maybelle Goes
to Tea
By: Katie Speck
Genre: Fantasy
Maybelle
lives at the house on Number 10 Grand Street where absolutely no bugs are allowed. Herself
and a flea named Henry know that the only way to live in the house without the exterminators being called is to follow the
rules at all times and never be seen in the daylight. One day a fly named Maurice
arrives at the house and things begin to go get complicated. Maybelle breaks
the rules along with her other bug friends and barely avoid being exterminated! In
the end, all is well and Maybelle and Henry make an unexpected friend.
4. The Velveteen
Rabbit
By: Margery Williams
Genre: Fantasy
A boy receives
a gift for Christmas; a wood dust filled bunny. The boy loves the rabbit more
than any other toy and plays with him everywhere. He takes the rabbit outside
and plays with him in the woods where he and the boy enjoy themselves. One day
the boy calls the rabbit real, which is important because once you are real, it doesn’t matter how old and worn out
you are, you are special. The boy falls ill with Scarlet Fever and stops playing
with the bunny. He is too sick to play in the woods or go outside, until one
day he begins to feel better. The doctor recommends that all the boys’
books and toys be removed from his room and burned. The rabbit is among the items
collected for disposal. The rabbit is very sad that he will no longer be with
the boy and with the fate that awaits him. He sheds a tear and at that moment
a nursery fairy arrives. She turns him into a living breathing rabbit, and he
is saved from being burnt.
5. Butterfly Meadow
Twinkle and the Busy Bee
By: Olivia Moss
Genre: Fantasy
Twinkle,
Mallow, Dazzle and Skipper all loved to play in Butterfly Meadow. One day while
playing they come across a lone worker bee that appears to be lost. Sting is
new to collecting pollen and has strayed too far from the hive in search of flowers. With help from here new butterfly friends
and a woodpecker, Sting is able to find her way home again.
6.
The Prince of the Pond
By:
Donna Jo Napoli
Genre:
Fantasy
Pin
was once a prince but was turned into a frog by the ugly Hag. He must learn to
survive the dangers of the pond, but has some help from another frog named Jade. Jade
latter becomes his wife and they raise their family of frogs together until one day a strange turn of evens occurs.
Folktale
1. The Fables of Aesop
By: Aesop
Genre: Folktale
This is a collection
of short stories, many of them only being a page to two pages in length. They
are written in the language of the period, and are sometimes difficult to derive the meaning of the story for this reason. Although these tales are classified as children’s fables, I do not believe that
the language they are written in would appeal to children of the modern era.
2. The Stars In
The Sky
By: Joseph Jacobs
Genre: Folktale
This is a Scottish
Tale about a girl that is having a dream about playing with the stars in the sky. In
her dream a horse takes her to the end of the landmass, and a fish carries her to the stairs that climb toward the heavens. She wakes up and finds she had fallen from bed while dreaming.
3. The King’s
Ditch
By: Francine Jacobs
Genre: Folktale
The origins
of this folktale are Hawaiian. King Ola’s kingdom was drying up and he was worried
about what to do about the problem until Williwilli, King of the Menehune showed up and offered to help. Williwilli’s people would build a ditch if King Ola agreed to repay all those who dug the ditch. Thousands dug the ditch, and King Ola’s people had to provide each with a fish
as payment.
4. King of Magic Man of Glass
Retold By: Judith
Kinter
Genre: Folktale
Rudolf and his
mother have a quaint life together. Rudolph lives in a small cottage and sells
coal to the market. He is unhappy that he has a simple life, and his mother tells
him that he has a Godfather that lives in the forest. Rudolf decides to visit
his Godfather and receive payment for being the son of a seventh son. His Godfather
grants him money three different times and Rudolf is still unhappy in life. Rudolf
learns a valuable lesson, and finds that happiness does not come from money, but from love. The origins of this folktale
are German.
5. Onions and Garlic
Retold By: Eric
A. Kimmel
Genre: Folktale
The youngest son
of three merchants was named Getzel. Although his father loved him the most of
his sons, he was a poor merchant because he always lowered the price on all of his products to the point that he never gained
a profit. His family was upset with him and refused to let him sell any more
goods. He begged them to give him another chance and he was allotted a bag of
onions. While on a merchant ship, no one wanted his useless onions. They were of no real value, and Getzel became so hungry with no money that he began eating the onions. The ship wrecked and Getzel used his onion sack to float on and reached dry land. He discovers a land full of diamonds that are useless to the inhabitants. He trades onions for diamonds and becomes wealthy. His brothers
return to the king with garlic, hoping for a similar reward. As onions are very
valuable in the strange land they receive onions instead of diamonds as their payment.
6. The Woman Who Went To Fairyland
Retold by:
Rosalind Kerven
Genre:
Folktale
This is a Welsh
folktale about a girl named Elin that lived in the mountains with an old couple named Bet and Huw. Elin is fascinated with fairies and meets them one evening to dance and play with them. Bet warns Elin about the dangers of playing with the fairies and how they capture young women, never to
be seen again. One morning Elin is missing from her bedroom and is not seen for
a year. Bet is picked up and taken to a cave where she finds Elin and a new baby. She was brought there by the fairy King, and learns the magic of the fairyland. Bet rubs ointment into her eye and discovers that fairyland is quite beautiful, although
she can see all of the fairies now. One day she sees Elin and the King fairy
many months after visiting. The King takes away her ability to see them and old
Bet never sees them again.
7. Molly Whuppie
Retold by: Walter
de la Mare
Genre: Folktale
Three daughters
are sent into the forest to gather wood. They get lost along the way and become
very tired and hungry. They come upon a house and beg to have a meal and a place
to sleep for the night. The woman that lives there is married to a nasty giant
that would just as soon eat the girls than help them. The girls escape the house
before the giant can get them and run through the night until reaching the kings castle.
The King agrees to marry off each of his sons to the three girls if the youngest Molly can steal three items from the
giant. She does so and the girls, princes and King live happily ever after.
8. The Elves and
the Shoemaker
Retold by: Paul
Galdone
Genre: Folktale
This story is an
adaptation of the Brothers Grimm stories that was translated from German. A shoe
cobbler is very poor and only has enough leather to produce one more pair of shoes.
He cuts out the leather and finds that the shoes have been made for him in the morning.
This happens several times, and the shoes are so well made that he receives a good profit. One night, he and his wife decide to hide and see who is making the shoes.
They discover that naked elves are producing the shoes for them. The wife
makes them clothes and they are very happy about them. The elves never work as
cobblers again but the man and his wife live prosperously nonetheless.
9. Excalibur
Retold by: Carol
Heyer
Genre: Folktale
Arthur is engaged
in battle with the dark knight and his soldiers. His sword is broken and he is
prepared to die. Just before he is killed Merlin puts the great opposing army
to sleep. Arthur flees, as he feels like a failure and Merlin catches up to him. They
meet with the Lady of the Lake who gives him the great Excalibur sword. The dark
night agrees to no longer fight with Arthur and his men in battle, as they could have all been killed after the spell put
them to sleep. Arthur’s men are honorable and the dark knight and his men
agree to join them.
10. The Golden
Goose
Retold By: Uri
Shulevitz
Genre: Folktale
A man had three
sons; the youngest son was a simpleton. The first two sons went into the forest
to chop wood. They met a man who asked them both for some of their food. When the sons refused, the old man said very well and the sons were injured while
logging. The simpleton took his turn going into the forest to chop wood. When he was asked for a piece of his bread, he agreed and gave the man a piece. In return the man gave the simpleton a golden goose.
Any who touched the goose became down on their luck and had to follow the simpleton. A parade of people went to the
king’s castle behind the simpleton. He asked to marry the king’s
daughter and he told the simpleton he could if he brought him a boat, which worked on both land and water. The simpleton went back to the man in the forest, and his wish was granted.
Biography/Autobiography
1. Ezra
Jack Keats A Biography with Illustrations
Genre: Biography
Ezra
Jack Keats’ story is an inspiration, as he overcame difficult times, such as growing up in the depression when it was
more valuable to know a trade than to be a good artist. He served in the U.S.
Army in World War II to help liberate Paris from the Nazi régime. Ezra was discharged
from the Army in 1945 and returned home. After returning home and seeing that
all was in order, Ezra returned to Paris once again, only this time to practice his craft.
Ezra returned home and was losing hope that his artwork would be recognized or appreciated by anyone. One day he received a call that provided his first illustrating assignment.
He illustrated many books and later created his own stories. He earned
a Caldecott Medal for his book Snowy Day, in which he places an African American child as the hero.
2. I Am
Rosa Parks
By: Rosa
Parks and Jim Haskins
Genre: Autobiography
This autobiography
was written in a way that children could understand the importance of the civil rights movement and the significance of Rosa
Parks struggle toward equality. Rosa Parks lived in a time of great turmoil in
American history when segregation was commonplace, and African Americans struggled with their acceptance. The conclusion of her story truly signifies the purpose of telling her story. She hopes that the children of today can grow up with out hate, and accept one another.
3. Will
You Sign Here John Hancock?
By: Jean
Fritz
Genre: Biography
This book
discusses the life and historical account of John Hancock. It includes interesting
historical facts about how Hancock was one of Boston’s four representatives to Massachusetts’ governing body,
the Stamp Act, the Battle of Lexington, and of course the Declaration of Independence.
This is not only a biography, but also a historical account of an important time in American history.
4. Daniel
Boone and the Exploration of the Frontier
By: Richard
Kozar
Genre: Biography
Daniel Boone
is known as one of the great explorers of the western frontier. His contributions led to the expansion of the new world, and
what we call America today. Daniel Boone was known as an extraordinary hunter,
trapper, and outdoorsman. He traveled into dangerous country exploring where
others didn’t dare to travel. He is among the great explorers in American
history.
5. Surviving
Hitler: A Boy In The Nazi Death Camps
By: Andrea
Warren
Genre: Biography
This is
the amazing story about 12 year old Jack Mandelbaums survival after being sent to a concentration camp. Jack manages to keep an optimistic spirit although he is exposed to the cruel and terrible conditions of
racist Nazis. He was separated from his family and experienced the conditions
of several concentration camps. This is a story of survival that is truly amazing.
6. Ludwig
Van Beethoven
By: Richard
Tames
Genre: Biography
Beethoven
is one of the most recognizable composers in history. Beethoven had a natural aptitude with music and began playing at an
early age. This biography provides interesting details about the life of a man
that filled his life with work and had little time for socializing.
7. Ellen Ochoa:
The First Hispanic Woman Astronaut
By: Maritza Romero
Genre: Biography
Ellen Ochoa grew
up in Los Angeles California and was born in 1958. Growing up there weren’t
many women in the space program or in fields that required the use of math and physics skills.
In college she was discouraged from seeking an engineering degree but later obtained one after receiving her first
degree in physics. She is an accomplished musician as she plays the flute and
was the first Hispanic woman to go into space on the Discovery space shuttle in 1993.
She speaks at schools to students about working hard and making their dreams a reality.
8. Read About Johnny
Appleseed
By: Stephen Feinstein
Genre: Biography
John
Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was born in Massachusetts in 1774. He
grew up raising apple trees and harvesting the fruit. He loved the forest and
gained respect among Native Americans as he spent much time among them. He planted
seeds from Massachusetts to Ohio and sold the trees along the way until he had grown so many in the forest that he began to
give them away. He is still remembered today for his harmonious relationship
with nature.
9.
Mae Jemison
By: Eric Braun
Genre: Biography
Mae Jemison was
born in Alabama in 1956, and later moved to Chicago at the age of three. She
was always interested in space exploration but became a medical doctor and applied for a job in NASA in 1985. In 1992 she flew on the Endeavour shuttle mission that lasted 8 days.
10. George
Washington Carver An Innovative Life
Genre:
Biography
George Washington Carver was born to slave parents and was himself a slave.
Over his lifetime he accomplished many amazing things and worked his way through college in an era where segregation
and oppression were common. He educated others about how to improve soil and
farming conditions and invented many uses for peanuts. Although he is best known
for his work in agriculture, Carver first wanted a degree in art. He inspired
African Americans to receive degrees of their own and worked diligently throughout his life to
help others.
11. John Smith and the Settlement
of Jamestown
By: Robin S. Doak
Genre: Biography
John Smith is known
for his most important role as an early American leader and settler. John was
born in the late 1500’s in England but later traveled to the America’s to settle one of the first colonies. His life was filled with adventure and exploration and he is known as one of the great
contributors to the establishment of the American colonies.
Informational
1. The Civil
War A History in Documents
By: Rachel
Filene Seidman
Genre: Informational
The Civil
War was a milestone of great change in the United States. President Lincoln opposed
slavery, as did many in the north. Brothers and other family members fought and
died for the cause they felt was right. This book includes historical photographs
and facts about this period in American history.
2. Origami
Activities
By: Michael
G. LaFosse
Genre: Informational
Learn how
to fold paper into beautiful blossoms to good luck bats. This book demonstrates
many different shapes and uses for origami. They can be used as decorations or
given as gifts. This book will teach you how to create works of art.
3. Drawing
with Charcoal & Pastels
By: Paige
Henson
Genre: Informational
This instructional
book gives the history and techniques for drawing with charcoal and pastels. Discover
the color wheel and blending techniques to create a work of art. Information
on how to draw different objects allows children to explore their creative abilities.
4. How to Draw
Manga Warriors
By: Aaron Sautter
Genre: Informational
Refer to the supply
list and get started drawing your own Manga characters! This book discusses the
distinctiveness of Manga characters and their features. Illustrations demonstrate
step-by-step instruction to draw characters.
5. Iceland
By: Kathleen W.
Deady
Genre: Informational
This book
provides geographical information including geologic facts. Historical information
about the governmental system, both in past and present time as well as the cultural aspects of living in Iceland are provided.
6.
Kayaking
By: Julie Bach
Genre: Informational
This book discusses
the history of boat making, equipment needed to engage in the sport and the locations in which kayaking occurs. Many of today’s boats are made from fiberglass, but traditional boats like those used in Iceland
were made from wood. These boats were used for travel and fishing. Kayaking is a competitive sport and there are several different types of boats depending on the body of
water they will serve.
7. Martial Arts
In Action
By: Bobbie Kalman
Genre: Informational
This book covers
the different forms of martial arts including, Karate, Tae kwon do, Kung fu, Jujitsu, Judo, and Aikido. Each form of martial arts is unique and uses a different technique.
Some use the opponents force against them as in Judo, whereas others may use a combination of punches kicks and other
techniques. Martial arts are very disciplined and are mostly used for self-defense
and competition.
8. Venus
By: Franklin M.
Branley
Genre: Informational
An informative
and enjoyable book to read, Venus, makes Earth comparisons, discusses the telescopes use in planetary observance and
discovery such as the Galileo, and gives examples of weather patterns, magnetism, and other features of Venus’ surface.
9.
Kites on
the Wind
By: Emery J. Kelly and Jennifer Hagerman
Genre: Informational
This
is a how to manual that describes different types or kites and how to construct them.
It teaches the physics behind what makes kites fly and how different folds paired with bridle holes and tape can make
kites that do not require sticks for their assembly. Instructions for a total
of 13 different types are available.
10.
Insects
By: Barbara Taylor
Genre: Informational
There are millions
of different types of insects that can be divided into groups such as beetles, butterflies and moths, bees, wasps, flies and
other types of insects. This book explains the purpose of insects, their characteristics,
and life cycles.
11. Blimps
By: Kelly Baysura
Genre: Informational
This book describes
the early blimps that were used in WWII and that they were called Zeppelins. Blimps of the past used hydrogen, a highly flammable
gas. Today helium is used, as it is safer.
Today blimps are used in sight seeing and for advertising purposes.
Poetry
& Verse
By: Mary Howitt
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
The spider
knows that visiting his lair is irresistible. He has many nice things to eat
and a cozy place to sleep. The fly is fearful and leaves his company only to
return and parish by the spider’s hand. This story rhymes as it conveys
the message.
2. The Flag We
Love
By: Pam Munoz Ryan
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
A story told in
poetic form about the importance of the United States flag, and its meaning to our country.
Includes Illustrations and patriotic thoughts for all who turn its pages.
3. This is Just
to Say
By: Joyce Sidman
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
This book has
children’s poems that demonstrate feelings of sorrow and forgiveness. The
first half of the book has poems written from the perspective of children that are apologetic for various occurrences. The second half of the book holds poems about forgiveness.
4. All Creatures
Great and Small
By: Isaabelle Brent
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
A collection of
children’s poems about animals big and small. The images created are vivid and imaginative. These poems were a delight to read.
5. Music of Their Hooves
By: Nancy Springer
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
This book is filled
with poems about the relationship between humans and horses. Horses are loving
animals that not only take you where you need to go but are also your friend. The
poems feature different breeds of horses and environments.
6. How to Cross
a Pond
By: Marilyn Singer
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
Water not only
speaks to us, it also nurtures plants, animals and people. Water nourishes the land, and helps grow beautiful blooms. This books poetry emphasizes how wonderful water is, and all of the different environments
in which it flows.
7. Corn-Fed
By: James Stevenson
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
This is a
book of poems about observable objects in nature and on city streets. Many of
the poems use personification to create perspective. All of the poems in this
book are free verse, and are intended to help the reader look at the world through an enhanced lens.
8. Put Your Eyes
Up Here and Other School Poems
By: Kalli Dakos
Genre: Poetry and
Verse
This is a collection
of poems about school objects, students and classroom events. Most of the poetry
is free verse and written for the younger elementary ages.
9. Just Us Two
By: Joyce Sidman
Genre: Poetry and
Verse
This book contains
poems about many different species of animals in various regions of the world. All
of the poems are about the role of the male partner is taking care of their young. The
animals range from a Giant Water Bugs to the Arctic Wolf.
10. Laughing
Out Loud, I Fly
By: Juan Felipe
Herrera
Genre: Poetry and
Verse
This poetry book
contains poems in both English and Spanish. The poems are written for a 6th
grade level or higher. Many of the poems discuss individuals that the author
knows, and others are about market places or traditional meals.
11.
I Scream, You Scream
By: Lillian Morrison
Genre: Poetry and
Rhyme
This book is filled
with rhyming poems that are sure to make you hungry! Most are about
food although a few are about having manners and kitchenware.
12. Insectlopedia
By: Douglas Florian
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
Filled with run
rhyming poetry, this book uses imagination to describe insects and their lives. From
inchworms to ticks, these poems are fun to read. The illustrations make it a
good choice for younger audiences as well.
13. A Chill in the Air Nature Poems for Fall and Winter
By: John Frank
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
Poems that rhyme
and discuss winter and fall activities fill this book. Winter can be fun but
also very cold and long. The fall brings berries and falling leaves until the
snow begins to fall. This book is illustrated with color charcoal.
14. Dirt
on My Shirt
By: Jeff Foxworthy
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
Comedian
Foxworthy presents poems from the perspective of a child. Many of the poems are
about the outdoors and some are just about being a kid. The book is illustrated
and the rhyming poetry is fun to read.
15. Honey, I Love
By: Eloise Greenfield
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
This is a story
that is told while rhyming about all of the things that a little girl loves. Among
them are the cool water in the summertime and her mother.
16. Poetry in Motion GO!
By:
Dee Lillegard
Genre:
Poetry & Verse
This
collection of poems is suitable for younger elementary students. They are short
poems about all things that move. From riding bikes to watching the garbage truck,
these busy poems tell of a bustling active world.
17. All by Herself
By: Ann Whitford
Paul
Genre: Poetry &
Verse
These poems are
about women throughout history. They are written in a biographical form, and
are very informational. They are very well written and could be used not only
as a poetry teaching tool, but also as a way to learn about amazing women in history.
Graphic
Novel
1. Planet of the
Apes
By: Scott Allie
Genre: Graphic
Novel
Leo travels
through time and finds himself among apes that have evolved and are more powerful than the humans on the planet. An ape named Ari feels that humans should be treated equally and not enslaved. At the end of the story the Apes discover that humans are the reason they evolved. The humans and the apes have learned a valuable lesson from the foreign visitor. The end of the story is a starting point for peace.
2. Batgirl: A Knight
Alone
By: Puckett, Scott,
Campanella, Turnbull, and Davis
Genre: Graphic
Novel
Batgirl has lost
her powers that enable her to predict threats. She is given back her abilities
by Shiva, but must duel her in a battle to the death in one year. Batman offered
to retrain her but Batgirl has little patience. Cain the man who raised her is
a maniacal individual and Batman learns of his cruel training techniques. Government
officials put a hit out on Batgirl but the triggerman can’t kill her. She
saves his life, as he was to be killed for not complying with the government’s wishes, but a hit is placed on him and he dies anyway. At the end of the
story Batgirl gets a cave of her own.
3. Runaways A New
Friend
By: Brian K. Vaughn
Genre: Graphic
Novel
This book in number
four in a series, and the story line has been developed so that a one must follow by reading the books in succession. This book is about a secret order of parents that have superpowers but hide their
abilities from their children. The children are slowly learning that they too
have abilities unlike those of normal Earth children. The book ends with the
children hiding from their dangerously powerful parents.
Historical
Fiction
1. The Gift of
the Magi
By: O. Henry
Genre: Historical
Fiction
This is a story
about a poor couple that have little money to buy each other Christmas presents. They
have two possessions that they value above all others. Della has beautiful long
hair that anyone would be envious of. Her husband Jim, owns a beautiful pocket
watch. Della sells her hair and Jim sells his watch in order to buy the other
a gift. Knowing that those possessions are most valuable, the gifts they give
each other had to do with what they no longer have. They both sacrificed their greatest possessions in order to please the
other.
2. Changes For
Kit A Winter Story
By: Valerie Tripp
Genre: Historical
Fiction
The story takes
place during the Depression in Ohio. Kit is a girl that doesn’t have much,
but has more than other children living in and out of shelters and soup kitchens. After
receiving a new coat, Kit decides to give her old coat to a child in need. She
walks to the soup kitchen and finds that almost every child is in need of both shoes and coats. Her grumpy Uncle Hendrick is always having her write nasty letters to the paper about the homeless people
and President Roosevelt. One day Kit decides to write a letter of her own, in
order to insight change. Soon people begin to donate old shoes and clothes to
the children at the shelters and soup kitchens. Kit helps many people and feels good about herself.
3. Meet Felicity
An American Girl
By: Valerie Tripp
Genre: Historical
Fiction
This story takes
place in the late 1700’s. Felicity isn’t interested in being proper
like the other girls her age. She finds sowing boring and makes any excuse to
go help at her father’s store. One day while at the store, Felicity hears
about mean Jiggy Nye’s new horse. Felicity loves horses and decides to
take a look at the horse. The horse is beautiful and Felicity begins sneaking
out to visit with it. Jiggy Nye is full of hatred and knows how much Felicity
loves the horse but still refuses to sell it. Instead of leaving the horse in
Jiggy’s pasture to be mistreated, Felicity frees the horse so that it may live freely.
4. Thanks to Josefina
By: Valerie Tripp
Genre: Historical
Fiction
This story is set
in Santa Fe in the 1800’s. Josefina and her sisters decide to go into the
weaving business as a flood killed many of their sheep. They need to make back
some money so that they can buy more. The American’s visit Santa Fe in
the summer months and they can sell their weaves there. They must work together
to do the best jobs they can.
Realistic
Fiction
1.
Freckle Juice
By: Judy
Blume
Genre: Contemporary
Fiction
Andrew is
so desperate to have freckles like Nicky, that he would do almost anything to get them.
Sharon claims to have a secret freckle juice recipe that will help anyone get freckles by mixing together simple household
ingredients. Andrew pays her 50 cents for the recipe. He mixes the ingredients together but finds that they make him sick.
He is so upset that the recipe doesn’t work that he draws on freckles in blue marker on his way to school. His teacher helps him hide that his freckles aren’t real and he learns that
not having freckles isn’t so bad.
2. Otherwise
Known as Sheila the Great
By: Judy
Blume
Genre: Contemporary
Fiction
Sheila’s
family plans on taking a vacation and staying at a cabin that belongs to her father’s boss. They normally live in bustling New York City. Sheila is afraid
of many things but is most fearful of water and dogs. Throughout the book Sheila
must face her fears as she attends summer day camp. At the end of the book she
learns to swim and decides that dogs aren’t so bad.
3.
Cupid Doesn’t Flip Hamburgers
By: Debbie Dadey
and Marcia Thornton Jones
Genre: Contemporary
Fiction
The kids at Bailey
Elementary begin to act strange after a new school cafeteria worker is hired. Eddie
thinks that her special Valentine’s cookies are the key to everyone’s love sickness. He decides to make a special addition to the batter in order to break her spell. But will it work?
Science
Fiction
By: Jon Scieszka
Genre: Science
Fiction
Fred, Sam and Joe
travel to the year 2095 with a time traveling book. While attending a school
field trip the trio decide that it would be much more interesting to learn about the future than stay with their class and
learn about the past. They arrive in New York City 100 years in the future to
discover a land of robots, flying devices, and magic walls. They must gain the
help from their great grandchildren in order to return to their time and get back to where they belong.
2. The Time Warp
Trio Viking It and Liking It
By: Jon Scieszka
Genre: Science
Fiction
Fred, Sam and Joe
travel back in time to the era of Vikings. They meet Leif Eriksson and offer
to help him find America. After a confrontation with Native Americans the Vikings
must retreat back to their ship and sail out into the open sea. The trio must
then prove themselves or be thrown overboard, so they convince the Vikings they have mastered Rune magic and find a way to
adapt to their ever changing circumstances.
3. The Time Warp
Trio Sam Samurai
By: Jon Scieszka
Genre: Science
Fiction
The Time Warp Trio
travels back in time once again while working on haiku homework in their classroom.
The meet a samurai named Tada Honda and his cruel leader Owattabutt along the way.
They also run into their great granddaughters who are traveling back in time from the future. They experience 17th
century Japanese culture and struggle to overcome the language barrier and unique culture.
At the end of the book they make it back home safely and have learned much more about writing haiku’s and Japanese
culture.
Manga
Picture Books= 32
Fantasy=6
Folktale=10
Biography=11
Informational=11
Poetry&Verse=17
Graphic
Novel=3
Historical
Fiction=4
Realistic
Fiction=3
Science
Fiction=3
Manga=1
TOTAL= 101
