Picture book- “Are You My Mother” written by P.D. Eastman
This book is a wonderful book about a new bird’s way of discovering the world around him. As
his mother is off finding her new baby some food, her egg hatches and her curious baby pops out ready to see his mother. This
book is a virtual hide and seek. Will the baby bird find his mother? Will he make his way home again, in this large strange
world?
Picture book-“The Bernstein’s Bears The Spooky Old Tree” by Dan and Jan Bernstein
This is an adventurous book about two brother bears and a sister bear who wanted to find an adventure.
The three bears set out at night to investigate a spooky old tree. The adventure starts when the bears go into the tree. There
are twisty stairs, and swinging walls. Will the three bears get out of the spooky old tree? Will they make it back home again?
Picture book-“The President and Mom’s Apple Pie” written by Michael Garland
This fun-filled book follows the adventure of a child that helps the 27th President on an
adventure to find a wonderful smell. President Taft is a large President. He is visiting a small town on a train trip across
America. As he steps off of the train, he smells a wonderful food smell. The town
follows as a child leads him on an eating adventure, until he finally comes to the smell he has desired. This book is filled
with a funny, adventurous, tour of Small Town, America.
Picture book-“Little Quack” written by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Derek
Anderson.
Little Quack is the smallest duck in his family. He is not as brave as his siblings. He wants to follow
momma duck in to the pond, but is afraid. The pond is really large. This is a really good story about finding courage and
determination.
Picture book-“The Best Nest” by P.D. Eastman
What a cute book about the importance about home. Mr. and Mrs. Bird are on the look out for a new home
as they are expecting. They explore and explore new places, but one after another, the places do not work out. The tree is
occupied, and the church tower becomes too loud. Will they ever be able to find a home before it is time?
Picture book-“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated
by Felicia Bond.
Are we ever really satisfied with what we are given? This is a story about a mouse that is given a
cookie, and then wants a glass of milk, and then just keeps on wanting. It is a book about a very important lesson of being
happy with anything you are given.
Picture book-“Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” written and illustrated by
Eileen Christelow
This is a great counting book. We start with five and count down to "NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING IN THE
BED!"
Picture book-“Make Way
for the Ducklings” written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey
A Caldecott winner, this is a true picture of historical Boston.
A great book filled with wonderful pictures of Boston and
its famous swan boat rides.
Fiction book- “Charlotte’s
Web” written by E.B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams
A wonderful book about hope and determination and friendship. Wilber is a pig that is saved by a little girl and then by Charlotte, a very intelligent
spider. Read and find out how he is saved from certain death by two that love him.
Picture book- “Is your Mama a Llama?” written by Deborah Guarino and illustrated
by Steven Kellogg
A play on different animals and their mothers.
Students will love the pictures and the story as well.
Picture book- “The Napping House” written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don
Wood
Too Funny! A house full of nappers and the tiny mouse who woke them!
Picture book-“Junie B. Jones is a Graduation Girl” written by Barbara Park and
illustrated by Denise Brunkus
Will Junie B. Jones be ready for Graduation. She always seems to find trouble....or is it the other
way around?
Picture book-“Rainbow Fish” written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister
This is a great book about sharing! All of the other fish want one of Rainbow Fish's beautiful scales....Does Rainbow fish
make friends? How?
Picture book-“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” written
by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz Alexander is having a bad day...things just seem to be pilling up against
him...can he make it through? Do things get better? This is a great book for students that seem to have everything go wrong.
Picture book-“Fly Away Home” written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Ronald Himler
This is a sad book about a father and son who lost their wife and mother. They become homeless and
have to live in the airport. The boy and his father wear the same color (blue) clothes as to not draw attention to them selves.
This is a very sad story, but a little bird brings a glimmer of hope.
Picture book-“Stellaluna” written and illustrated by Janell Cannon
A must read! Stellaluna is a small fruit bat that is in the wrong place....Will she teach her new family
her ways? Will she find her way home?
Realistic Fiction- “The Penderwicks-A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a
Very Interesting Boy” written by Jeanne Birdsall This National Book Award Winner A grat book about sisters
and brothers and what their summer vacation was like...find out about their adventures and the life lessons they learn.
Picture book-“Roses are Pink Your Feet Really Stink” written and illustrated by
Diane de Groat
This is a funny book that is great for teaching the importance of choosing nice words, and telling
the truth. I read it with my son and he could not stop laughing.
Picture book-“Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten” written by Joseph
Slate and Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
What a great book to read on the first day of Kindergarten. This book describes how the students in
Miss Bindergarten’s new Kindergarten class get ready for the first day of class. It also goes over how much Mrs. Bindergarten
prepared her classroom for her class on their first day.
Picture book-“A Bad Case of Stripes” written and illustrated by David Shannon
A little girl Camellia is worried about what everyone thinks. She is so worried that she does not do
some things that she wants to do just because she knows others do not like them. This is a great story for teaching children
to not worry about what others might think of them. Camellia learns this lesson the hard way when her world suddenly gets
very colorful.
Historical Fiction- “The Drinking Gourd-A Story of the underground Railroad” written
by F. N. Monjo and illustrated by Fred Brenner
This is a good book that describes a song that was written about a drinking gourd and some other clues
that could help slaves reach the North and freedom. The drinking gourd was a reference for the big dipper. The book talks
about how a young boy, Tommy realizes that his family was sheltering run away slaves. Will Tommy and his family get caught?
Picture book-“Giggle, Giggle, Quack” written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by
Betsey Lewin
What a funny book! Farmer Brown is due for a much needed vacation. The animals on the farm are ready
for him to go on Vacation as well. Farmer Brown’s brother will watch over things while he is gone. Farmer Brown has
left detailed instruction about how things should be done. His number one concern is that Duck be watched. When Farmer Brown
calls to check on things, he finds that duck has been up to no good!
Picture book-“500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins” written by Dr. Seuss This
book is a very funny one. Bartholomew is a poor farm boy who goes into town to sell goods. He is surprised to see that the
king is in a precession and all are expected to take off their hats out of respect for the king. The crowd was astounded when
the carriage holding the king stopped in front of Bartholomew. The King was enraged that Bartholomew still had his hat on
and demanded that he remove his hat. The fun begins when Bartholomew removes hat after hat…Will he ever run out of hats,
and please the King?
Realistic Fiction-“Worth” written by A LaFaye
This was a great book about belonging. It is a story about two very different boys with two very different
dreams for their lives. One boy struggles for his father’s lost attention. Nathaniel is hurt and could no longer help
his father. It seems as if his father has turned his back on him. His father brings in John from New York. He arrives on the orphan train, and is put to work on the farm. Each boy resents
each other. It is interesting how the boys work through their feelings. Will they ever become what they want to be? Will they
ever become friends?
Realistic Fiction- “My Side of the Mountain” written by Jean Craighead George
This Newberry Honor book This is a great book of a boys survival adventure. How does he survive? Will
he make it on his own? This is a great bok for adventurous boys. A true survivor story!
Poetry and Verse-“Out of the Dust” written by Karen Hesse
This Newberry award book is a great book, but very sad. It is set in the age of the dust bowl. Billy
Jo looses her mother and sibling in an accident that involves her. Will she and her distant father ever have a relationship?
Does her loss keep her away from home? What comes of the tragedy?
Poetry and Verse-“Poetry for Young People” written by Emily Dickerson and illustrated
by Chi Chung
Emily Dickerson has a way of bringing every day things to life. The pictures for each of these poems
help the reader to feel a part of these poems. My favorite was "She Sweeps with Many Colored Brooms". It is a beautiful poem
about the colors of the sunset. You can just imagine the wonderful colors in the sky. I recommend that when you read these
poems, you read them and then close your eyes and see them in your imagination!
Realistic Fiction-“Riding Freedom” written by Pam Munoz Ryan
This is a wonderful story of a girl...Charlotte that is told that she can not do something because
she is a girl. Her passion are horses. She loves them and has a sort of bond with them. So what is this girl to do when she
is told that she can not be with horses? She makes herself a boy! Find out what Charlotte
does and if she is ever "found out".
Poetry and Verse-“Poetry for Young People: American Poetry” edited by John Hollander,
Ph. D. This is a great collection of poems by many
famous poets about the United States and the places of the United States. The wonderful pictures give the reader
a great sense of the poems and their meanings. My favorite is written by Robert Frost. It is “Stopping by Woods
on a Snowy Evening,” it is about a man who is ridding a horse and stops to marvel at the beauty of the woods during
a snow fall. I liked how he describes the man as being in a hurry, but he takes the time to admire the beauty of his surroundings.
Folktales- “The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses” written and illustrated by Paul Goble
What a wonderful tale of a Native American Girl that loved to be with wild horses. She learned to love
them and they learned to love and trust in her as well. A thunderstorm came and changed everything when she and the horses
found themselves a long way from home. Can she survive? How will she not be lonely? You will have to read this Caldecott winning
book.
Realistic Fiction-“Esperanza Rising” written by Pam Munoz Ryan
This Pura Belpre’ Award winning book is a wonderful tear jerker. It is set in the 1930’s.
Esperanza is a young girl that is living a privileged life in Aguascalientes,
Mexico. She has servants and a promising future. Her world
is then turned upside down when she suddenly looses her life as she knows it. She and her mother are forced to relocate to
a company farm in California. Esparanza has to learn to
do simple tasks and work long hours to support her and her ailing mother. This is a wonderful book that follows the times
and prejudice of the 30’s. It is a must read!
Realistic Fiction-“The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street” written by Sharon G. Flake; illustrated by Colin Bootman
Queen is a fifth grader that believes herself to be royalty. Her father has always told her that she
is a queen. Her brothers shower with Queen like gifts. She views the world around her (including her classmates and her teacher)
as her royal subjects. Queen realizes that being royal proves especially challenging when she tries to make friends with her
lowly subjects. She becomes frustrated when stinky, lying; Prince Leroy comes into her kingdom and seems to be taking the
spotlight off of her. This is a book about the importance of friendship, and the importance of having self-worth and being
gracious.
Realistic Fiction-“Just us Women” written by Jeannette Caines Illustrated by Pat
Cummings
Have you ever wanted to take a girls trip? This book does just that. The ladies go to Aunt Martha’s
house in North Carolina. This is a great book to share between
mothers and daughters. As their love and trust grows, the girls explore the country, and each others individual personalities.
Not all is fun, but the adventure is well worth it all.
Realistic Fiction-“Evans Corner” written by Elizabeth Starr Hill Illustrated by
Nancy Grossman
Evan is a latch key kid. He is looking for a place of his very own. This proves hard as he lives in
the crowded city. His mom helps him as he stakes out a corner of their apartment. Evan learns important lessons about being
alone, and sharing.
Realistic Fiction-“Clementine” written by Sara Penny Packer and illustrated by
Marla Frazee
What a wonderful book for all daydreamers! Clementine is a wonderful example of a little girl that
is in persistent trouble! She gets into trouble without even meaning to. She cuts a friends hair, pays attention to what she
wants when she wants, and renames her brother as she does not like her own name. Clementine is misunderstood, imaginative,
and fun to read about. As a side note, I could totally relate!
Realistic Fiction-“Piper Reed-Navy Brat” written by Kimberly Willis Holt and illustrated
by Christine Davenier
Piper and her family move to a new home in Pensacola,
Florida, where her dad is being relocated by the Navy. The story follows the
three sisters and their family across the country. Piper is the youngest and is a Tom-boy. She tries to make friends fast,
by hosting a meeting of the Gypsy Club. Piper’s dad is being called away, and takes her on one last journey. This is
the journey that effects the rest of her life. A must read for all Tom-boys and military families.
Realistic Fiction-“Where the Red Fern Grows” written by Wilson Rawls
This is a tear jerker about a boy that saves his money
to buy two coon dogs. The dogs save his life and they have great adventures together. The book is a great read and is hard
to put down. Read it to find out what happens.
Realistic Fiction-“Rules” written by Cynthia Lord
This is a great book about overcoming disabilities and dealing with others that have disabilities.
The Rules are serious and funny. It is about a sister that tries to deal with her brother’s disability and helps a friend
overcome his disability.
Realistic Fiction- “Scarlet Letter” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne
This is an odie but a goodie. A woman becomes pregnant and refuses to give the identity of her lover.
She is made to wear a scarlet letter “A” for adulator on her chest, so that all who see her will know what she
has done. Where is her husband? Who is her lover? You will have to read to find out!
Historical Fiction- “George Washington’s Teeth” written by Deborah Chandra
and Madeleine Camora Illustrated by Brock Cole
This Historical Fiction book delves into the life of George Washington. The authors examine key points
in President Washington’s life. They link key events to his loss of teeth. President Washington looses a tooth, and
something significant happens in his life. This book is a great and fun way to explore the life of one of the most significant
historical figures in American History.
Historical Non-Fiction-“I’ve Seen the Promised Land” written by Walter Dean
Myers and Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins
This book is a must have for Black History Month, or as a reference book. It follows the span of the
Civil Rights Movement and the very important life and events such as the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and three
little girls killed because of hatred. The writing is spectacular, and the pictures are stunning.
Historical Fiction-“Henry’s Freedom Box” written by Ellen Levine and illustrated
by Kadir Nelson
This book is a 2008 Caldecott Honor Book. It is a great book about
escaping slavery. Henry “Box” Brown was a slave that wanted to escape slavery in Virginia. He hides in a box. The book tells of his adventure. This is a must read! It is
interesting to see if Henry escapes from the South? Where does he end up? How does it end? You will have to read it to find
out!
Historical Fiction-“Abe Lincoln’s Hat” written by Martha F. Brenner and illustrated
by Donald Cook
What a fun book about Abraham Lincoln! The book describes a funny and witty Lincoln. He is a good lawyer that gets along with others. Over the years of his life, he
finds that he can remember better if he keeps documents in his hat. Follow his life and find out just what is in his hat.
Historical Fiction-“The Bravest Dog Ever The True Story of Balto” written by Natalie
Standiford and illustrated by Donald Cook
This is a great story about a town in Alaska
in desperate need of medicine. Due to some very brave men and dogs medicine will make it in time. Balto is a brave dog who
helps to save a population. You will have to read it to find out how.
Autobiography/Biography-“The Diary of Anne Frank” Edited by Otto Frank
What a classic story from the Holocaust! Read about a young girl and her families survival in Nazi
Germany. Find out what the family had to do to stay alive. Find out also how her family helped others as well. It is a tough
read, and heart breaking to read about a young girl’s personal accounts of fear and of her and her families bravery.
Autobiography/Biography- “The Story of Ruby Bridges” written by Robert Coles and
illustrated by George Ford
This is the true story of a little girl who was thrust into the middle of segregation. Ruby is six
years old when she is sent to a white school in New Orleans.
This brave little girl must endure the mobs of protesters on her way to school. She was the only student as white children
were kept home out of protest. This book is a tear jerker as little Ruby is brave and even prays for those who protest. I
recommend this book.
Science Fiction-“The Homework Machine” written by Dan Gutman What would
the world be like if a computer did all of our work for us? This story is set as a police investigation. Police Chief Rebecca
Fish is investigating four 5th grade students that have been accused of homework fraud. Suspicion is fueled when
two of the students begin to do well, except when given a test on their homework. A caller calls in evidence that the group
is using a computer to do all of their homework. When pieces of a computer are found by hikers, the investigation becomes
interesting. This story talks about technology, friendship, and responsibility.
Picture Book-“1776 Yankee Doodle America”
written by Wendell Minor
This is an alphabet book that details items and things that were found during the 1776. I like how
the author uses history to describe the time, using the alphabet.
