Poetry and Verse-“ The Cat In the Hat Comes Back”’ by Dr. Seuss
Well that famous cat is back. He brings more trouble with him this time A-Z trouble. He takes a bath, leaves a ring,
ruins mother’s dress, and then makes it all better again.
Poetry and Verse-“The Best Poems Ever”, Edited by Edric S. Mesmer
This little book was chopped full of great poets such as Emily Dickerson and Christina Rossetti My students love reciting
“Who has seen the Wind” by Christina Rossetti. My favorite poem in the book however was Dover
Beach by Matthew Arnold. Being from Louisiana,
I really miss the water. As I read the poem, I could hear the tide and smell the salt in the air.
Historical Fiction-“the Watsons Go to Birmingham”
by Christopher Paul Curtis
If you read only one book about the civil rights movement, then you should read this one. Byron is a bit of a trouble
maker. He is always getting into trouble. His grandmother lives in Birmingham,
AL. It is 1963 at the height of the civil rights movement. Byron’s parents
have threatened to send him to stay with his grandmother if he did not straighten up. As you have probably guessed, Byron
did not listen, and the family heads down to Alabama. In
reading this book you can feel the racism that his family faces as they head down south to Birmingham.
Historical Fiction-“Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis
Another terrific book by this author! What a funny book. Bud does not like to be called Buddy. He runs away from an
orphanage that is very abusive. Bud is convinced his father is a musician and he sets out to find him. His mother has died,
and all he has is a poster picture of his father to go by. Follow along as Bud takes us un a funny adventure.
Folktales-“The Mysterious Golem”, by Lucy Seifert
This is a wonderful pop-up book that I got when I was in Prague.
It is a folktale about a giant that wants to help. Sometimes a little too much.
Folktales-“Bubba the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale” by Helen Ketteman and illustrated by
James Warhola.
This is a great spin on the story of Cinderella. Bubba plays the part of Cinderella and has two step brothers and a
wicked step father. He works a ranch in Texas, and MS. Lurleen
is looking for a husband to help run her ranch.
Picture-“You, Me and the Big Blue Sea”, written and illustrated by
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
This is a great book about traveling the seas. It has fun surprises in each picture.
Folktales-“Steamboat Annie and the Thousand-Pound Catfish”,
This is a tye into Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. Annie runs for mayor and wins against Jefferson Jackson. Annie lands a
thousand-pound catfish named Ernie, she makes him give up the fight, but then has a change of heart. Can a Thousand-pound
catfish be the cause of the California earthquakes?
Picture-“Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire” by Diane deGroat
I really like this author. She wrote once again about Gilbert and his classmates. Gilbert picked the part of
George Washington and did not like the thought of having to speak in front of others. Gilbert practiced his lines and did
his best. Did he make it through? You will have to read to find out.
Picture-“No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher’s Dirty Looks!” by Diane deGroat
What does the last day of school really feel like? Gilbert thought that it was going to be the best day of his life.
Instead he realizes that Mrs. Byrd will no longer be his teacher.
Picture-“100th Day Worries” by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Arthur Howard
Jessica is a worrier. She always worries about everything. One day her teacher announces that they will celebrate
the 100th day of school. The class is to bring in 100 things to share with the class. Jessica is worried about
what she will bring. Will she find the things in time? You will have to read to find out!
Picture-“The Name Quilt” by Phyllis Root and pictures by Margot Apple
This is a great story about a little girl learning about her family. She has a quilt that contains the names of her
family. With each name is a memory of things that those people have done. Grandma loves to tell Sadie the stories of each
person whose names are on the quilt. This is a great story about the importance of family and memories. What happens when
the quilt gets blown away?
Historical Fiction-“Kit’s Wilderness” by David Almond
This book is a wonderful adventure book for boys. Kit’s grandfather lives in a mining town. He and his family
moves there to help him out. Kit makes a friend and is witness to what it means to be a miner, and the dangers and health
concerns that go along with working in the mines.
Poetry-“And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street”,
by Dr. Seuss
What a cute rhyming book about a wacky boys account of the things that he sees on Mulberry street. As with all of Dr. Seuss’ books, the action gets jumping and then
ends with a horse and cart.
Historical Fiction-“Coming On Home Soon”, by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E. B. Lewis
This is a great book about the times of WWII and the hardships faced by African American families struggling to make
a living. A young girl stays with her grandmother as she awaits her mother’s return from trying to find work during
the war.
Historical Fiction- “Boom Town”, by Sonia Levitin and illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith
Boom town is a fun filled book about the gold rush in the west and a little girl with an wonderful pie. She helps support
her family by selling these pies. It is a great story and the pictures are wonderful as well!
Historical –“Design For Victory-World War II Posters on The American Home Front” by William
L. Bird, Jr. and Harry R. Rubenstein
This is a great book containing a multitude of propaganda posters from WWII. The book delves into the way life was
at that time, and the use of posters to promote patriotism and fears into the American People in order to get them to support
the war efforts and to conserve. The book also gives short blurbs to explain the thinking behind the posters.
Fiction-“Night of the Ninjas” by Mary Pope Osborne
This is a great educational book. Jack and Annie are off on an adventure. They set off to their library and end up
on a journey learning about Ninjas. My son loved this book, and I have to admit…I could not put it down either. The
Author explains every little detail.
Autobiography/Biography-“Once Upon a Time in Chicago-The Story of Benny Goodman”, by Jonah Winter
and illustrated by Jeanette Winter
Benny was a boy who loved to play his clarinets. He loved Jazz and was a good student. Benny played all of the time
and eventually played in clubs. His father was killed in an accident, and he played to remember him.
Autobiography/Biography-”Hana’s Suitcase” by Karen Levine
This book is a Canadian Library Association book of the year, the Silver Birch award winner, and the national Jewish
book awards winner. It is a book about Japaneese children that found a suitcase of a child of the holocaust. They researched
the little girls life, and wrote about what they found out about her, her family, and her last days on earth. I got this book
when I visited a child concentration camp in central Europe. There are no words to describe
how I felt when I was there, but this book describes Hana’s struggles as she was there.
Autobiography/Biography-“Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
This book is for older students. It takes place in Pakistan.
It is about Greg Mortenson’s qwest to retrain hundreads of years of thinking. Mr. Mortenson has traveled to Pakistan and we learn that if someone offers you a glass of
tea it is good manners. If a person offers you a third glass of tea, then they are a part of the family. Mr. Mortenson’s
ultimate goal is to reform schools where there were not very good schools or there. Especially when it comes to the schooling
for girls. This book researches the life of young girls and the schools of Pakistan
and the changes made.
Autobiography/Biography-“Woodsong”, by Gary Paulsen
This is an older student’s book. A little gory for my taste. This is a book about one mans quest to understand
his dogs and sled team.
Science Fiction-“Stargirl”, by
Jerry Spinelli
What a funy book. Stargirl Caraway is anything but
normal. She does not fit in and will not conform. Her class mates think that she is strange and an alien. Will she ever be
excepted for who she is?
Poetry-"I Like Stars", by Margaret Wise Brown
and illustrated by Joan Paley
What a cute poem that ilustrates the different types
of stars. There are colored stars and shooting stars. This isa great little book and is fun for students of a young age.
