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Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6

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SukhiGoomer

This document provides a summary of a presentation on book recommendations for elementary grades 4-6. It includes sections on the purpose of the presentation, research behind grade-level recommendations, mentor texts for writing genres like personal narratives and arguments, and recommended books for each grade in categories like novels, picture books, and book clubs. Recommended books provide examples of writing styles and topics relevant to different grades.

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Books! Books! Books! Book Recommendations 4-6 Sukhi Goomer Lawrence Intermediate School, 5th Grade Email: sgoomer@ltps.org Twitter: @room7lis
Agenda • Purpose of presentation • Reasoning for researching book titles for elementary grades • Research behind grade-level recommendations • Mentor Texts for Writing • Mentor Texts for Notice & Note Signposts • Read Aloud Recommendations • Picture Books 4-6 • Novels 4-6 • Book Club Recommendations • Novels 4-6 • Questions & Comments
Purpose • Why did I choose to do a presentation on book recommendations for teachers? • What will you get out of this presentation?
Research • How did I go about selecting books for different grade levels? • Fountas & Pinnell recommend that children hear books read aloud that are three to four reading levels above their current level. • Guided reading of any kind should be done with novels at a child’s instructional level. • Independent reading should be a child’s independent reading level (but can often be higher depending on the child’s interest and background knowledge).
Research • https://www.heinemann.com/fountasandpinnell/ha ndouts/instructionallevelexpectationsforreading.pdf
Text Levels per Grade Grade MP 1 MP 2 MP 3 MP 4 4 Independent: O Independent: P Independent: Q Independent: R Instructional: P/Q Instructional: Q Instructional: R Instructional: S/T Read Aloud: T/U Read Aloud: U/V Read Aloud: V/W Read Aloud: W/X 5 Independent: R Independent: S Independent: T Independent: U Instructional: S/T Instructional: T Instructional: U Instructional: V/W Read Aloud: W/X Read Aloud: W/X Read Aloud: X/Y Read Aloud: Y/Z 6 Independent: U Independent: V Independent: W Independent: X Instructional: V/W Instructional: W Instructional: X Instructional: Y Read Aloud: Y/Z Read Aloud: Y/Z Read Aloud: Z Read Aloud: Z+
Text Levels per Grade 4TH GRADE 5TH GRADE 6TH GRADE Independent Instructional Read Aloud Independent Instructional Read Aloud Independent Instructional Read Aloud MP 1 O P/Q R/S R S/T U U V/W X MP 2 P Q S S T V V W Y MP 3 Q R T T U W W X Z MP 4 R S/T U U V/W X X Y Z+
Mentor Texts for Writing
Mentor Texts for Writing • Use these texts to support students’ writing • Examples, and models of high quality writing • Make texts available during units of study for students to refer to • Qualities: • You, the educator, needs to think the text is actually good. • Understandable for students • Relevant to what students are doing or learning currently
Personal Narratives Mentor Texts for Writing
We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past by Jacqueline Woodson, Diane Greenseid (Illustrator) • Teeka's family had a picnic this Sunday past. Everyone was there, from mean old cousin Terrance who put fake flies on the sweet corn, to Bible-toting Reverend Luke to Auntie Kim (Teeka's all- time favorite). And they were all dreading the arrival of Cousin Martha and her pie, which was always a bit on the dry side (but you had to eat every bit so you didn't hurt her feelings). But this year, where was Cousin Martha? And where was that dried-out apple pie?
Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, Dom Lee (Illustrator) • Shorty and his family, along with thousands of Japanese Americans, are sent to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Fighting the heat and dust of the desert, Shorty and his father decide to build a baseball diamond and form a league in order to boost the spirits of the internees. Shorty quickly learns that he is playing not only to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect as well.
Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon • Although his teacher insists there are stories everywhere, Ralph cannot think of any to write.
The Harmonica by Tony Johnston, Ron Mazellan (Illustrator) • When the Nazis invade Poland, a family is split apart. A harmonica keeps a boy's hope alive. The story is inspired by the life of a Holocaust survivor. • Level W • 5th Grade and up
Come On, Rain! By Karen Hesse, Jon J Muth (Illustrator) • "Come on, rain!" Tess pleads to the sky as listless vines and parched plants droop in the endless heat. Up and down the block, cats pant while heat wavers off tar patches in the broiling alleyway. More than anything, Tess hopes for rain. And when it comes, she and her friends are ready for a surprising joyous celebration.
Night Driving by John Coy, Peter McCarty (Illustrator) • A father and son drive into the night. As the sky turns shades of deep blue and purple they watch for night animals, swap baseball stories, and keep a lookout for eighteen wheelers. But they have miles to go before they can sleep, and it's a real challenge to stay awake for a whole night of driving.
A Different Pond by Bao Phi, Thi Bui (Illustrator) • As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, David Diaz (Illustrator) • Eve Bunting’s heartfelt story and David Diaz’s dramatic illustrations create a compelling child’s-eye view of urban violence. A young boy and his mother are forced to flee their apartment during a night of rioting in Los Angeles. Fires and looting force neighbors—who have always avoided one another—to come together in the face of danger and concern for their missing pets. • Level P (3rd grade and higher)
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts, Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator) • All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. But Jeremy’s grandma tells him they don’t have room for "want," just "need," and what Jeremy needs are new boots for winter. When Jeremy’s shoes fall apart at school, and the guidance counselor gives him a hand-me-down pair, the boy is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy comes to realize that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, Tara Calahan King (Illustrator) • It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. • Grades 3 to 5
Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting, Ronald Himler (Illustrator) • A homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal trying not to be noticed, is given hope when a trapped bird finally finds its freedom. • Level M (3rd grade and higher) • Can also use for Notice & Note Signpost: Tough Question, Aha Moment
Saturdays and Tea Cakes by Lester L. Laminack, Chris Soentpiet (Illustrator) In this poetic memory, a young boy rides his bicycle every Saturday up and down country roads past farms, a graveyard, and a filling station, until he reaches his beloved Mammaw's house. She is waiting for him. While she picks tomatoes, he pushes the lawnmower through the dew- wet grass. Afterwards, he always helps her make teacakes from scratch, breaking the eggs and stirring the batter. But the best part, he remembers, is eating the hot, sweet cakes fresh from the oven. Consider using for Notice & Note Signpost: Memory Moment
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, Ted Rand (Illustrator) By the warmth of a campfire beneath a starry night sky, a Navajo youth named Boy- Strength-of-Blue-Horses listens to the tale of his birth from his grandfather. Although blind, the boy learns that he has the strength to cope with his condition and meet any challenge that comes his way.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, John Schoenherr (Illustrator) • Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo- whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer. Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is.
Our Very Own Dog by Amanda McCardie, Salvatore Rubbino (Illustrator) • There's nothing more exciting than getting a dog! Join Sophie's new human family as they prepare their home for her and introduce her to life as a beloved pet. Follow along as they learn about bedding and bowls, treats and training, walks and washing--and even an unexpected dog show!
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) Clover's mom says it isn't safe to cross the fence that segregates their African- American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship, and get around the grown-ups' rules by sitting on top of the fence together. Can also be used for Notice & Note Signpost: Again & Again.
All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan, Mike Wimmer (Illustrator) • Within the sanctuary of a loving family, baby Eli is born and, as he grows, learns to cherish the people and places around him, eventually passing on what he has discovered to his new baby sister, Sylvie: “All the places to love are here . . . no matter where you may live.”
Other Resources to Consider: Short Stories • “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros • Great for 4th and 5th grade • “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan • Great for 6th grade and higher • “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie • Great for 5th grade and higher – excellent for metaphors • “A Plate of Peas” by Rick Beyer • Great for all ages, can also be used for Notice & Note Signposts • “Mississippi Mud” by Jessica Piper • Great for all ages, memoir • “So, What Are You Anyway?” by Lawrence Hill • Middle school and higher
Other Resources to Consider • Humans of New York • Photos, interviews, and videos of residents of New York City, plus stories from twenty different countries • Former students’ stories • Commercials and short films
Great Authors to Consider • Eve Bunting • Sandra Cisneros • Patricia Polacco • David Sedaris (generally good for middle school) • Tobias Wolff (generally good for middle school) • Jacqueline Woodson
Argument Opinion Essays Persuasive Writing Mentor Texts for Writing
One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck, Yasmeen Ismail (Illustrator) Sophia tries varied techniques to get the giraffe she wants more than anything in this playfully illustrated story about the nuances of negotiation. Sophia has one true desire for her birthday. But she has Four Big Problems in the way: Mom, Dad, Uncle Conrad...and Grand-mama. Will her presentations, proposals, and pie charts convince them otherwise? Great for vocabulary! Can also be used for Words of the Wiser
She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator) • Throughout American history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what’s right, even when they have to fight to be heard. In this book, Chelsea Clinton celebrates thirteen American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted. She Persisted is for everyone who has ever wanted to speak up but has been told to quiet down, for everyone who has ever tried to reach for the stars but was told to sit down, and for everyone who has ever been made to feel unworthy or unimportant or small.
Thank you, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt Faulkner (Illustrator) • We the people of the United States...Almost Lost Thanksgiving • Yes. That's right! • Way back when "skirts were long and hats were tall" Americans were forgetting Thanksgiving, and nobody seemed to care! • Thankfully, Sarah Hale appeared. More steadfast than Plymouth Rock, this lady editor knew the holiday needed saving. But would her recipe for rescue ever convince Congress and the presidents?
A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black, Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator) • Could anything possibly be more fun than a pig parade!? You wouldn't think so. But you'd be wrong. A pig parade is a terrible idea. Pigs hate to march, refuse to wear the uniforms, don't care about floats, and insist on playing country music ballads. Those are just some of the reasons. And trust me, this hysterical book has plenty more!
I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff, David Catrow (Illustrator) • Alex just has to convince his mom to let him have an iguana, so he puts his arguments in writing. He promises that she won't have to feed it or clean its cage or even see it if she doesn't want to. Of course Mom imagines life with a six-foot-long iguana eating them out of house and home. Alex's reassurances: It takes fifteen years for an iguana to get that big. I'll be married by then and probably living in my own house. and his mom's replies: How are you going to get a girl to marry you when you own a giant reptile? will have kids in hysterics as the negotiations go back and forth through notes.
I Wanna New Room by Karen Kaufman Orloff, David Catrow (Illustrator) • Ever since their baby sister came along, Alex has been forced to share a room with his little brother, Ethan, and it's a nightmare. Ethan always breaks stuff, snores like a walrus, and sticks crayons up his nose. No hardworking, well-behaved, practically grown-up boy like Alex should have to put up with that!Writing letters to his mom convinced her to let him get his pet iguana, so Alex puts pencil to paper again, this time determined to get his own room. Though all of his powers of persuasion can't get his dad to expand the house, he does come through with a fun alternative to give Alex some space of his own.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin (Illustrator) • Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears Click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. Clickety, clack, MOO. But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes....
Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague • When Ike Larue is "imprisoned" at the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy, he tries everything to get sent home--weepy letters to his owner, even illness. In reality, Brotweiler is more like camp than prison, but still, Ike's not cut out for life w/o Mrs. Larue & his creature comforts. Finally, he runs away only to find himself back in Snort City--just in time to save Mrs. Larue's life.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywelt, Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator) Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit! Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other. What is Duncan to do? Can also use for Notice & Note Signpot – Memory Moment.
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip & Hannah Hoose, Dibbie Tilley (Illustrator) • What would you do if the ant you were about to step on looked up and started talking? Would you stop and listen? What if your friends saw you hesitate?
Animals should definitely not wear clothing. By Judy Barrett, Ron Barrett (Illustrator) • ..because a snake would lose it, a billy goat would eat it for lunch, and it would always be wet on a walrus! This well-loved book by Judi and Ron Barrett shows why animals' clothing is perfect...just as it is.
Earrings! By Judith Viorst, Nora Langner Malone (Illustrator) • What's a young girl supposed to do when her mom and dad refuse to let her have her ears pierced? She can argue, she can beg, she can swear that-if only they'll say yes -- she'll be nice to her little brother for one whole year. And whether or not she persuades them, she can find herself in this true and funny tail of a charmingly persistent girl determined to have what she wants and needs and loves: beautiful, glorious earrings for pierced ears.
Stella Writes an Opinion by Janiel Wagstaff, Dana Regan (Illustrator) • Meet Stella. She has lots of opinions. Like, the best food is ice cream and kids should be allowed to bring toys to school and Ms. Merkley is the nicest teacher in the whole world. So, when Ms. M. tells the class they get to write an opinion, Stella gets excited. But how will she choose what to write about? Go with Stella on her writing journey and see how one kid's opinion can change a school. What could be more fun than to write what you think about an important topic. Now that's power! • Walks students through the writing process
This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman • Based on the National Public Radio series of the same name, "This I Believe" features eighty essayists--from the famous to the unknown--completing the thought that begins the book's title. Each piece compels readers to rethink not only how they have arrived at their own personal beliefs but also the extent to which they share them with others. • Featuring a well-known list of contributors-- including Isabel Allende, Colin Powell, Gloria Steinem, William F. Buckley Jr., Penn Jillette, Bill Gates, and John Updike--the collection also contains essays by a Brooklyn lawyer; a part-time hospital clerk from Rehoboth, Massachusetts; a woman who sells Yellow Pages advertising in Fort Worth, Texas; and a man who serves on the state of Rhode Island's parole board.
Dear Mr. President: Letters to the Oval Office by Dwight Young (editor) • Drawn from the extensive holdings of the National Archives--which includes all of the Presidential libraries--these carefully chosen letters remind us that ours is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people," which entitles us to make our views known to our leaders. Most of the letters come from working citizens; others were written by notable figures: John Glenn, Elvis Presley, Walt Disney, Ho Chi Minh, Nikita Kruschev, Upton Sinclair, John Steinbeck, Robert Kennedy, and many more. • Grouped thematically, the sections cover such topics as civil rights, the Cold War, physical fitness, joblessness, World War II, western expansion, and the space race.
Everything’s An Argument (8th ed.) by Andrea A. Lunsford, John J. Ruzkiewicz • A streamlined argument guide plus provocative thematic reader, Everything's an Argument with Readings helps students understand and analyze the arguments around them as well as create their own. Lucid explanations cover the classical rhetoric of the ancient Greeks through the multimodal rhetoric of today, with professional and student models of every type. New attention to rhetorical listening skills teaches students to communicate effectively and ethically as they work through potentially contentious discussions in and outside the classroom.
Speeches to Consider • ‘Give me liberty or give me death’ by Patrick Henry, delivered March 23, 1775, St. John’s Church, Richmond, Virginia • Sojourner Truth (1797-1883): Ain't I A Woman? Delivered 1851 Women's Convention, Akron, Ohio • Any speech by Barack Obama, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., or Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Other Texts to Consider • Newswela opinion pieces • Abigail Adams’ letters to John Adams • Commercials
Texts for Notice & Note Signposts
Creatrilogy: The Dot, Ish, Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds • The Dot An enchanting invitation to self-expression! Don’t worry, just make a mark — and see where it takes you. • Ish A creative spirit learns that thinking "ishly" leads to a far more wonderful outcome than "getting it right." • Sky Color The sky’s no limit in this gentle, playful tale — a reminder that if we open our eyes and look beyond the expected, inspiration will come.
You and Me by Susan Verde, Peter H Reynolds (Illustrator) • An adorable cat muses about the what-ifs in life: What if he had slept late that one special morning? What if he’d missed his train on that fateful day? Then he might never have met his favorite person in the world, and his entire life would be different! • Tough Questions, Memory Moment
The North Star by Peter H. Reynolds • It is often said that life is a journey, and it’s true. But sometimes it’s hard to know which path to follow when signs point in so many directions. • Can also use to teach Notice & Note Signpost – Again & Again.
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) • Chloe doesn't really know why she turns away from the new girl, Maya, when Maya tries to befriend her. And every time Maya asks if she can play with Chloe and the other girls, the answer is always no. So Maya ends up playing alone. And then one day she's gone. • When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the opportunity that's been lost. How much better could it have been if she'd just shown Maya a little kindness and opened her heart to friendship? • Tough Questions, Words of the Wiser
The Yellow Star The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Agra Deedy, Henri Sorensen (Illustrator) • Without the yellow star to point them out, the Jews looked like any other Danes. For centuries, the Star of David was a symbol of Jewish pride. But during World War II, Nazis used the star to segregate and terrorize the Jewish people. Except in Denmark. When Nazi soldiers occupied his country, King Christian X of Denmark committed himself to keeping all Danes safe from harm, and the bravery of the Danes and their king during that dangerous time has inspired many legends. The most enduring is the legend of the yellow star, which symbolizes the loyalty and fearless spirit of the king and his people. • Can also be used for Notice & Note Signpost – Tough Question, Memory Moment
Blackout by John Rocco • One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, "Mommm!" His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can't work on her computer, and Dad can't finish cooking dinner. What's a family to do? When they go up to the roof to escape the heat, they find the lights--in stars that can be seen for a change--and so many neighbors it's like a block party in the sky! On the street below, people are having just as much fun--talking, rollerblading, and eating ice cream before it melts. The boy and his family enjoy being not so busy for once. They even have time to play a board game together. When the electricity is restored, everything can go back to normal . . . but not everyone likes normal. • Great for contrasts & contradictions
Probuditi! by Chris Van Allsburg • For his birthday, Calvin’s mother gives him two tickets to see Lomax the Magnificent (magician and hypnotist extraordinaire!). Even though Mama hints that his little sister, Trudy, would love to go, Calvin doesn’t hesitate to invite his friend Rodney instead. The boys return home greatly impressed by the magician’s performance. When Calvin’s mother goes out, she leaves him in charge of Trudy. It’s a job Calvin dislikes because his sister does not want to be left out of anything. So Calvin and Rodney include her—by making her the first subject for their own hypnotizing machine. Much to the boys’ surprise, the machine works. But unfortunately they cannot undo what they have done. Trudy is stuck in her trance, convinced she is a dog— panting, drooling, and barking at squirrels. The only problem is, Calvin can’t remember Lomax’s magic word—Probuditi!—so Trudy won’t snap out of it! The boys are worried and decide to take Trudy to the one man they know can solve their problem—but will Lomax help them? Mama is on her way home . . . Who will have the last laugh? • Great for Aha Moment, Contrasts & Contradictions
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall • Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all. "Looks easy," says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. • Contrasts & Contradications
The Memory String by Eve Bunting, Ted Rand (Illustrator) • Each button on Laura’s memory string represents a piece of her family history. The buttons Laura cherishes the most belonged to her mother—a button from her prom dress, a white one off her wedding dress, and a single small button from the nightgown she was wearing on the day she died. When the string breaks, Laura’s new stepmother, Jane, is there to comfort Laura and search for a missing button, just as Laura’s mother would have done. But it’s not the same—Jane isn’t Mom. In Eve Bunting’s moving story, beautifully illustrated by Ted Rand, Laura discovers that a memory string is not just for remembering the past: it’s also for recording new memories. • Level N (3rd Grade and higher) • Great for all signposts – especially Aha Moment!
Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter, Kyrsten Brooker (Illustrator) • When Eva sits on her stoop trying to complete a school assignment by writing about what happens in her neighborhood, she gets a great deal of advice and action. • Great for Words of the Wiser
The Arrival by Shaun Tan • In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life- he's leaving home to build a better future for his family.
Contrast & Contradiction Notice & Note Signposts
The Bad Seed by Jory John, Pete Oswald (Illustrator) • He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He’s been bad since he can remember! This seed cuts in line every time, stares at everybody and never listens. But what happens when one mischievous little seed changes his mind about himself, and decides that he wants to be—happy?
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino, Isabelle Malenfant (Illustrator) • Morris has a great imagination. He paints amazing pictures and he loves his classroom's dress-up center, especially the tangerine dress. It reminds him of tigers, the sun and his mother's hair. • The other children don't understand-- dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isn't welcome in the spaceship his classmates are building--astronauts, they say, don't wear dresses. • One day Morris has a tummy ache, and his mother lets him stay home from school. He stays in bed reading about elephants, and her dreams about a space adventure with his cat, Moo. Inspired by his dream, Morris paints a fantastic picture, and everything begins to change when he takes it to school.
Allie’s Basketball Dream by Barbara E. Barber, Darryl Ligasan (Illustrator) • Allie's always been hooked on basketball, but the boys she knows won't play with her. On the verge of giving up, Allie has one last go at it- -and she makes the basket. Inspired by her persistence, her friends all want to join in. (According to the boys watching Allie play, girls can’t play basketball.)
A Tale of Two Beasts by Fiona Roberton • When a little girl rescues a strange beast from the woods, she takes him home. But for some reason, the little beast is not happy! There are two sides to every story, and this funny and charming tale is no exception. Author/illustrator Fiona Roberton offers both points of view in this discussion-starting tale of the importance of seeing the world in different ways.
I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty, Mike Boldt (Illustrator) • Frog wants to be anything but a slimy, wet frog. A cat, perhaps. Or a rabbit. An owl? But when a hungry wolf arrives—a wolf who HATES eating frogs—our hero decides that being himself isn’t so bad after all. In this very silly story with a sly message, told in hilarious dialogue between a feisty young frog and his heard-it-all- before father, young readers will identify with little Frog’s desire to be something different, while laughing along at his stubborn yet endearing schemes to prove himself right.
Tuesday by David Wiesner • Nearly wordless picture book. • Follows a group of frogs whose lily pads begin magically floating. • Contrast to what frogs normally do.
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown Are you bored with being so proper? Do you want to have more fun? Mr Tiger knows exactly how you feel. So he decides to go wild. But does he go too far? There is a time and place for everything...even going wild. Can also be used for Aha Moment.
The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza • The wolf loves to eat more than anything in the world and one day he has a terrible craving for chicken stew. He spots a chicken who seems just right, but then he thinks how much more stew there will be if he fattens her up before dining himself. So he goes home and begins to cook all kinds of scrumptious food for the chicken to eat. A big surprise is in store for the wolf when he finally visits Mrs. Chicken to collect his meal.
This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris, Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator) • Lights! Camera! Moose! MOOSE? Yes, Moose! When a movie director tries to capture the life of a moose on film, he's in for a big surprise. It turns out the moose has a dream bigger then just being a moose—he wants to be an astronaut and go to the moon. • His forest friends step in to help him, and action ensues. Lots of action. Like a lacrosse-playing grandma, a gigantic slingshot into space, and a flying, superhero chipmunk.
That Is NOT a Good Idea! By Mo Willems Inspired by the evil villains and innocent damsels of silent movies, Willems tells the tale of a hungry fox who invites a plump goose to dinner. One day a very hungry fox meets a very plump goose. A dinner invitation is offered. Will dinner go as planned? Or do the dinner plans involve a secret ingredient...? (Don't forget to listen to the baby geese!) Can also be used for Words of the Wiser.
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, Christian Robinson (Illustrator) • This is the story of four puppies: Fi- Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La, and Gaston. Gaston works the hardest at his lessons on how to be a proper pooch. He sips - never slobbers! He yips - never yaps! And he walks with grace - never races! Gaston fits right in with his poodle sisters.But a chance encounter with a bulldog family in the park-Rocky, Ricky, Bruno, and Antoinette-reveals there's been a mix- up, and so Gaston and Antoinette switch places. The new families look right...but they don't feel right. Can these puppies follow their noses-and their hearts-to find where they belong?
Pete & Pickles by Berkeley Breathed • Pete is a perfectly predictable, practical, uncomplicated pig. At least, he was . . . before a runaway circus elephant named Pickles stampeded into his life, needing a friend. Pickles is larger than life and overflowing with imagination. She takes Pete swandiving off Niagara Falls. (Sort of.) And sledding down the Matterhorn. (Sort of.) Pete goes along for the wild ride and actually begins to enjoy himself… until Pickles goes too far. And Pete tells her she must leave. Yet sometimes the simple life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Don’t Call Me Choochie Pooh! by Sean Taylor, Kate Hindley (Illustrator) • This dog doesn’t want to be carried in a handbag (how embarrassing!) or eat heart- shaped Mini Puppy Treats (I mean, come ON!) and under no circumstances does he ever want to be called... Choochie Pooh! If only his owner understood. All he wants to do is play with the big dogs in the park - chase sticks, jump in muddy puddles and be an ordinary, proper dog.
Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian, Tim Bowers (Illustrator) • With his bowl to himself, Goldfish loves his life...until one day... A personal account from a goldfish on life in his bowl as other intruders crowd him.
Don’t Call Me Grandma by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Elizabeth Zunon (Illustrator) • Nell isn't your typical great-grandmother. But in the course of this picture book from Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Vaunda Michaux Nelson, a young girl finds a way to express her affection for this prickly, independent woman.
North Woods Girl by Aimee Bissonette, Claudia McGehee (Illustrator) • “When Grandma tucks her pants into her oversized boots and grabs her walking stick, I run to catch up,” reports a young girl charmed by her visits to Grandma’s north woods home. Their walks take them through the seasons, to a pond with a downed tree just right for sitting, to a garden lush with tomatoes ready for canning, through a snowy nighttime woods where the only sounds are the squeak of boots on snow and the hooting of a distant owl. Whatever the month, there are plenty of woodland critters to observe: squirrels or rabbits or deer, geese or goldeneyes or mergansers. The forest of North Woods Girl is an active, populated place, brought to life by Claudia McGehee’s colorful scratchboard artistry. Time with Grandma teaches about quiet observation, generous sharing of resources, the beauty of the forest and pond at any hour. Grandma is the quintessential north woods girl, breathing deep the piney scents, relishing the chirping activity of her animal neighbors. • A Grandma that doesn’t quite fit the mold.
Little Red by Bethan Woolvin • Little Red Riding Hood meets a wolf on her way through the woods to visit her sick grandmother. The wolf is hungry, and Red Riding Hood looks tasty, so he hatches a dastardly plan, gobbles up Grandma and lies in wait. So far, so familiar. But this Little Red Riding Hood is not easily fooled, and this big bad wolf better watch his back. In this defiant interpretation of the traditional tale, the cheeky, brave little girl seizes control of her own story (and the wolf gets rather more than he bargained for).
Rotten Richie and the Ultimate Dare by Patricia Polacco • Seems like Richie's entire goal in life is to make Trisha's impossible. Especially when he takes to teasing her about her beloved ballet class. Trisha knows how much work it takes to be good at ballet-- much more than the stupid hockey Richie plays! So she challenges Richie to perform in her ballet recital, and Richie agrees, under one condition: Trisha has to join his hockey team for the big game!
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness • Read just the first chapter • The monster in Conor’s backyard is not the one he’s been expecting — the one from the nightmare he’s had every night since his mother started her treatments. This monster is ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. • Ages 12+
My Teacher Is a Monster (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown Bobby has a problem. You see, his teacher is a monster. But when Bobby runs into his teacher outside of school, he learns there is more to her than meets the eye.
Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes At first, big sister Lilly thought it might be fun to have a new baby in the family. But when her parents repeatedly coo, "Julius is the baby of world," Lilly's mouse hackles begin to rise. Soon the jealousy is too much for her, and she embarks on a rejection campaign that is hysterically funny, but also comforting for siblings who probably feel just as much resentment but would never go to Lilly's extremes. For example, she delights in insulting her oblivious baby brother: "If you were a food, you'd be a raisin," she whispers into his crib. "If you were a number you'd be zero." When she paints an elaborate family portrait, she leaves Julius out. When she throws a tea party, guess which baby doesn't get an invitation? But when a visiting cousin starts insulting baby Julius, we discover that the flip side of Lilly's intense jealousy is an even more powerful and lasting loyalty.
The Summer My Father Was Ten by Pat Brisson, Andrea Shine (Illustrator) Every year my father and I plant a garden. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, marigold, and zinnias grow in neat, straight rows...and every spring my father tells me about Mr. Bellavista and the summer my father was ten. -From the book. That was the summer the boy lost a baseball under a tomato plant in Mr. Bellavista's garden. And someone tossed a tomato back instead of the baseball. A lively battle took place, which seemed like great fun at the time, but in the end Mr. Bellavista's garden had been destroyed. In a touching story of one boy's efforts to make amends, we see the rebuilding of a garden and the forming of a relationship across generations.
The Raft by Jim LaMarche Nicky isn't one bit happy about spending the summer with his grandma in the Wisconsin woods; he'd much rather be back in the city. He's not too thrilled about all the chores either—especially fishing. Before long, though, a raft appears in the nearby river, and it changes everything. As Nicky explores, the raft works a subtle magic on the obstinate young boy, opening up the wonders all around him: the animals of river and woods, his grandmother's humor and wisdom, and his own special talent as an artist.
Contrast & Contradiction: Short Stories • “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes • “Priscilla and the Wimps” by Richard Peck • “The Boy Who Cried Wolf ” by Aesop
Aha! Moments Notice & Note Signposts
Drawn Together by Minh Le, Dan Santat (Illustrator) • When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens-with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words.
The Girl Who Ran by Kristina Yee, Frances Poletti, Susanna Chapman (Illustrator) • In 1966, the world believed it was impossible for a woman to run the Boston Marathon. Bobbi Gibb was determined to prove them wrong. She said she would do it, she wasn’t a liar; she’d show them by running like the wind in the fire.
A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting, Ronald Himler (Illustrator) Francisco, a young Mexican-American boy, helps his grandfather find work as a gardener, even though the old man cannot speak English and knows nothing about gardening.
After the Fall by Dan Santat • My name is Humpty Dumpty. I'm famous for falling off a wall. (You may have heard about it.) But that's only half the story... Because I decided to get back up. And when I did, something amazing happened. This story is about my life... AFTER THE FALL.
The Boy and the Giant (Grandpa’s Secret Giant) by David Litchfield There is a Secret Giant in Gableview who has hands the size of tabletops, legs as long as drainpipes, and feet as big as rowing boats. But little Billy thinks the Giant is just a tall tale that his grandad likes to tell. According to Grandad, the Giant keeps the bears away when they go camping and rescues Billy’s favorite kite when it gets tangled up in the tallest tree. Grandad swears the Giant is real, but Billy’s not buying it. Why has he never seen the giant before? Why does the Giant stay hidden? Grandad knows why: People are afraid of things that look different. When Billy suddenly finds himself face-to-face with the Giant, he runs away in fear—and hurts the Giant’s feelings. But now he’s got an opportunity to make it up to him, and, just maybe, to be friends with the nicest guy in town.
Small Things by Mel Tregonning • Wordless picture book • On the cusp of having everything slip from his grasp, a young boy has to find a way to rebuild his sense of self. An ordinary boy in an ordinary world. With no words, only illustrations, Small Things tells the story of a boy who feels alone with worries but who learns that help is always close by.
Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson, Sean Qualls (Illustrator) • This picture book biography tells the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who bicycled across Ghana- nearly 400 miles-with only one leg. With that achievement he forever changed how his country treats people with disabilities, and he shows us all that one person is enough to change the world.
Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) A glimpse into the boyhood of Civil Rights leader John Lewis. John wants to be a preacher when he grows up—a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm’s flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice.
The Soccer Fence by Phil Bildner, Jesse Joshua Watson (Illustrator) As a boy, Hector loved playing soccer in his small Johannesburg township. He dreamed of playing on a real pitch with the boys from another part of the city, but apartheid made that impossible. Then, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and apartheid began to crumble. The march toward freedom in South Africa was a slow one, but when the beloved Bafana Bafana national soccer team won the African Cup of Nations, Hector realized that dreams once impossible could now come true.
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, Elizabeth Baddeley (Illustrator) Get to know celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg— in the first picture book about her life—as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable! Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spent a lifetime disagreeing: disagreeing with inequality, arguing against unfair treatment, and standing up for what’s right for people everywhere. This biographical picture book about the Notorious RBG, tells the justice’s story through the lens of her many famous dissents, or disagreements.
A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts, Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator) Ruben feels like he is the only kid without a bike. His friend Sergio reminds him that his birthday is coming, but Ruben knows that the kinds of birthday gifts he and Sergio receive are not the same. After all, when Ruben’s mom sends him to Sonny’s corner store for groceries, sometimes she doesn’t have enough money for everything on the list. So when Ruben sees a dollar bill fall out of someone’s purse, he picks it up and puts it in his pocket. But when he gets home, he discovers it’s not one dollar or even five or ten—it’s a hundred-dollar bill, more than enough for a new bike just like Sergio’s! But what about the crossed- off groceries? And what about the woman who lost her money?
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) Each kindness makes the world a little better Chloe doesn't really know why she turns away from the new girl, Maya, when Maya tries to befriend her. And every time Maya asks if she can play with Chloe and the other girls, the answer is always no. So Maya ends up playing alone. And then one day she's gone. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the opportunity that's been lost. How much better could it have been if she'd just shown Maya a little kindness and opened her heart to friendship?
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she? Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.
Ish by Peter H. Reynolds Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere. Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right."
What Do You Do With an Idea? By Kobi Yamada, Mae Besom (Illustrator) This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child's confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. Can also be used for Tough Questions.
The Promise by Nicola Davies, Laura Carlin (Illustrator) On a mean street in a mean, broken city, a young girl tries to snatch an old woman’s bag. But the frail old woman, holding on with the strength of heroes, says the thief can’t have it without giving something in return: the promise. It is the beginning of a journey that will change the thieving girl’s life — and a chance to change the world, for good.
One Green Apple by Eve Bunting, Ted Lewin (Illustrator) Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn’t speak. It’s hard being the new kid in school, especially when you’re from another country and don’t know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter. As she helps the class make apple cider, Farah connects with the other students and begins to feel that she belongs.
My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco There's nothing worse than a rotten redheaded older brother who can do everything you can do better! Patricia's brother Richard could run the fastest, climb the highest, and spit the farthest and still smile his extra- rotten, greeny-toothed, weasel-eyed grin. But when little Patricia wishes on a shooting star that she could do something—anything—to show him up, she finds out just what wishes— and rotten redheaded older brothers—can really do.
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, Ed Martinez (Illustrator) Christmas Eve started out so perfectly for Maria. Snow had fallen and the streets glittered. Maria's favorite cousins were coming over and she got to help make the tamales for Christmas dinner. It was almost too good to be true when her mother left the kitchen for a moment and Maria got to try on her beautiful diamond ring . . . This is the story of a treasure thought to be lost in a batch of tamales; of a desperate and funny attempt by Maria and her cousins to eat their way out of trouble; and the warm way a family pulls together to make it a perfect Christmas after all.
The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg The enigmatic origins of the stranger that Farmer Bailey hits with his truck and brings home to recuperate seem to have a mysterious relation to the weather. Could he be Jack Frost? Can also be used for Contrasts & Contradictions
A Perfectly Messed-Up Story by Patrick McDonnell Little Louie's story keeps getting messed up, and he's not happy about it! What's the point of telling his tale if he can't tell it perfectly? But when he stops and takes a deep breath, he realizes that everything is actually just fine, and his story is a good one--imperfections and all.
Abigail the Whale by Davide Cali, Sonja Bougaeva (Illustrator) Abigail dreads swimming lessons. Every time she dives into the pool, she makes a big splash, and all the girls in her class shout: “Abigail’s a whale!” Abigail can see that she is larger than the other girls. She feels huge, heavy, and out of place. Abigail’s swimming teacher takes her aside and points out: we can change how we see ourselves. He offers a creative visualization technique she can use to feel bolder, more confident, and more accepting of herself. Abigail tries it out in challenging situations that week—walking home in the dark, eating her vegetables, trying to fall asleep. Next time she’s in swimming class, instead of feeling heavy, Abigail thinks sardine, eel, barracuda, shark! She starts to figure out how to draw on mindfulness, creative thinking, resilience, and positive self-esteem to embrace exactly who she is.
Edward Gets Messy by Rita Meade, Olga Stern (Illustrator) A very particular little pig discovers the joys that come with getting messy in this sweet and silly debut picture book. Edward the pig never pets friendly dogs on the street. He never, ever eats food that spills or splatters. And he never, ever, EVER uses markers or glue sticks or paint. They are just too messy. But what happens when—GLOOP!—a big tub of paint falls on Edward’s perfectly neat little head? Well, it might just turn out that getting messy has its upsides, too. After all, even particular pigs can clean up afterward.
Dear Dragon by Josh Funk, Rodolfo Montalvo (Illustrator) George and Blaise are pen pals, and they write letters to each other about everything: their pets, birthdays, favorite sports, and science fair projects. There’s just one thing that the two friends don’t know: George is a human, while Blaise is a dragon! What will happen when these pen pals finally meet face-to-face?
Aha Moment: Short Stories • “The Richer, The Poorer” by Dorothy West • “A-ha Moment” by Julia Alvarez
Words of the Wiser Notice & Note Signposts
Mr. Wayne’s Masterpiece by Patricia Polacco Speaking in front of an audience terrifies Trisha. Ending up in Mr. Wayne’s drama class is the last thing she wants! But Mr. Wayne gives her a backstage role painting scenery for the winter play. As she paints, she listens to the cast rehearse, memorizing their lines without even realizing it. Then, days before opening night, the lead actress suddenly moves away, and Trisha is the only other person who knows her part. Will the play have to be canceled? It won’t be an easy road— when Trisha tries to recite the lines in front of the cast, nothing comes out! But Mr. Wayne won’t let her give up, and with his coaching, Trisha is able to become one of his true masterpieces.
Zero by Kathryn Otoshi Zero is a big round number. When she looks at herself, she just sees a hole right in her center. Every day she watches the other numbers line up to count: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 . . . !" "Those numbers have value. That's why they count," she thinks. But how could a number worth nothing become something? Zero feels empty inside. She watches One having fun with the other numbers. One has bold strokes and squared corners. Zero is big and round with no corners at all. "If I were like One, then I can count too," she thinks. So she pushes and pulls, stretches and straightens, forces and flattens herself, but in the end she realizes that she can only be Zero.
Our Gracie Aunt by Jacqueline Woodson, John J. Muth (Illustrator) Johsnon and his sister, Beebee, seem to be all alone in the world. Their mama has gone away many times before, but something tells them that this time she won't be coming back. Then a social worker comes and takes them to meet their Aunt Gracie. Beebee barely remembers her, and Mama never even told Johnson about her. They wonder where she's been all this time--and why she would want to take care of them. Warily, though, the children begin to trust Aunt Gracie. And in the process, they come to a better understanding of what it means to be a family.
Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator) Sassy worries that her too-large feet, too-long legs, and even her big mouth will keep her from her dream of becoming a star ballerina. So for now she's just dancing in the wings, watching from behind the curtain, and hoping that one day it will be her turn to shimmer in the spotlight. When the director of an important dance festival comes to audition her class, Sassy's first attempts to get his attention are, well, a little wobbly. But Sassy just knows, somehow, that this is her time to step out from those wings, and make her mark on the world.
The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, Mary Grandpré (Illustrator) In this exuberant celebration of creativity, Barb Rosenstock and Mary Grandpre tell the fascinating story of Vasily Kandinsky, one of the very first painters of abstract art. Throughout his life, Kandinsky experienced colors as sounds, and sounds as colors--and bold, groundbreaking works burst forth from his noisy paint box.
I Wish I Were a Butterfly by James Howe, Ed Young (Illustrator) The littlest cricket of Swampswallow Pond is convinced only by the Wise Old One that being special has nothing to do with physical metamorphosis, flashy colors, or shimmering wings.
Tea with Milk by Allen Say At home in San Francisco, May speaks Japanese and the family eats rice and miso soup and drinks green tea. When she visits her friends' homes, she eats fried chicken and spaghetti. May plans someday to go to college and live in an apartment of her own. But when her family moves back to Japan, she soon feels lost and homesick for America. In Japan everyone calls her by her Japanese name, Masako. She has to wear kimonos and sit on the floor. Poor May is sure that she will never feel at home in this country. Eventually May is expected to marry and a matchmaker is hired. Outraged at the thought, May sets out to find her own way in the big city of Osaka. Allen Say has created a moving tribute to his parents and their path to discovering where home really is.
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco, William Nicholson (Illustrator) THERE was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen. On Christmas morning, when he sat wedged in the top of the Boy's stocking, with a sprig of holly between his paws, the effect was charming. There were other things in the stocking, nuts and oranges and a toy engine, and chocolate almonds and a clockwork mouse, but the Rabbit was quite the best of all. For at least two hours the Boy loved him, and then Aunts and Uncles came to dinner, and there was a great rustling of tissue paper and unwrapping of parcels, and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten.
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, J. Alison James (Illustrator) A beautiful fish learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena, Christian Robinson (Illustrator) Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them. Also great for Tough Questions!
Words of the Wiser: Short Stories • “Tuesday of the Other June” by Norma Fox Mazer • “Who Are You Today, Maria?” by Judith Ortiz Cofer • “Flowers and Freckle Cream” by Elizabeth Ellis
Tough Questions Notice & Note Signposts
White Water by Michael S. Bandy, Eric Stein, Shadra Strickland (Illustrator) It's a scorching hot day, and going into town with Grandma is one of Michael's favorite things. When the bus pulls up, they climb in and pay their fare, get out, walk to the back door, and climb in again. By the time they arrive in town, Michael's throat is as dry as a bone, so he runs to the water fountain. But after a few sips, the warm, rusty water tastes bad. Why is the kid at the "Whites Only" fountain still drinking? Is his water clear and refreshingly cool? No matter how much trouble Michael might get into, he's determined to find out for himself. Also good for Aha! Moment, and Contrast & Contradiction.
The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? Nikolai knows that he wants to be the best person he can be, but often he is unsure if he is doing the right thing. So he goes to ask Leo, the wise turtle. When he arrives, the turtle is struggling to dig in his garden, and Nikolai rushes to help him. As he finishes work, a violent storm rolls in. Nikolai runs for Leo's cottage, but on his way, he hears cries for help from an injured panda. Nikolai brings her in from the cold, and then rushes back outside to rescue her baby too.
The Numberlys by William Joyce, Christina Ellis (Illustrator) Once upon a time there was no alphabet, only numbers Life was fine. Orderly. Dull as gray paint. Very numberly. But our five jaunty heroes weren't willing to accept that this was all there could be. They knew there had to be more. So they broke out hard hats and welders, hammers and glue guns, and they started knocking some numbers together. Removing a piece here. Adding a piece there. At first, it was awful. But the five kept at it, and soon it was artful! One letter after another emerged, until there were twenty-six. Twenty-six letters - and they were beautiful. All colorful, shiny, and new. Exactly what our heroes didn't even know they were missing. And when the letters entered the world, something truly wondrous began to happen: Pizza! Jelly beans! Color! Books!
Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator) Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom. The Tough Question is not presented as a question – it’s the desire to be free. Great for modeling this idea.
Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting, Ronald Himler (Illustrator) Marianne, heading west with fourteen other children on an Orphan Train, is sure her mother will show up at one of the stations along the way. When her mother left Marianne at the orphanage, hadn't she promised she'd come for her after making a new life in the West? Stop after stop goes by, and there's no sign of her mother in the crowds that come to look over the children. No one shows any interest in adopting shy, plain Marianne, either. But that's all right: She has to be free for her mother to claim her. Then the train pulls into its final stop, a town called Somewhere… Also consider for Notice & Note Signpost: Memory Moment
The Gold Coin by Alma Flor Ada, Neil Waldman (Illustrator) uan has been a thief for many, many years. So many, in fact, that he can't even remember what it's like to be anything else. When he tries to steal Doña Josefa's gold, something strange begins to happen to Juan. His skin becomes tan instead of pale, his body straight instead of bent, and his mouth smiles instead of scowls. Juan also begins to remember things. He remembers eating good, home-cooked food, being among friends, and laughing. When the opportunity arrives for him to take Doña Josefa's gold, another strange thing happens. Juan realizes he can't. Maybe he isn't a thief anymore.
Riding the Tiger by Eve Bunting, David Frampton (Illustrator) Danny, new to town, is proud when a glittery-eyed tiger invites him for a ride. He climbs up onto the tiger’s massive back, and together they cruise the neighborhood. Everyone gives them respect—shopkeepers and passersby, even other kids. Danny feels powerful and much older than ten. Soon, though, he realizes it isn’t respect people feel for him and the tiger—it’s fear. And when he decides to get down off the tiger’s back, he discovers it’s a lot harder than climbing on.
Bully by Patricia Polacco Lyla finds a great friend in Jamie on her first day of school, but when Lyla makes the cheerleading squad and a clique of popular girls invites her to join them, Jamie is left behind. Lyla knows bullying when she sees it, though, and when she sees the girls viciously teasing classmates on Facebook, including Jamie, she is smart enough to get out. But no one dumps these girls, and now they're out for revenge.
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco When Sheldon Russell Curtis told this story to his daughter, Rosa, she kept every word in her heart and was to retell it many times. I will tell it in Sheldon's own words as nearly as I can. He was wounded in a fierce battle and left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. Pinkus' skin was the color of polished mahogany, and he was flying Union colors like the wounded boy, and he picked him up out of the field and brought him to where the black soldier's mother, Moe Moe Bay, lived. She had soft, gentle hands and cared for him and her Pink. But the two boys were putting her in danger, two Union soldiers in Confederate territory! They had to get back to their outfits. Scared and uncertain, the boys were faced with a hard decision, and then marauding Confederate troops rode in.
Tough Questions: Short Stories • “The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken
Again & Again Notice & Note Signposts
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in this hair. And it got worse... His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV!
Brick by Brick by Charles R. Smith Jr., Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) The home of the United States president was built by many hands, including those of slaves, who undertook this amazing achievement long before there were machines to do those same jobs. Stirring and emotional, Floyd Cooper's stunning illustrations bring to life the faces of those who endured hard, brutal work when the profit of their labor was paid to the master, not the slave. The fact that many were able to purchase their freedom after earning money from learning a trade speaks to the strength of those individuals. They created this iconic emblem of America, brick by brick. Also consider for Tough Questions.
Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds, Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) It seems like any other winter day in Montgomery, Alabama. Mama and child are riding where they’re supposed to – way in the back of the bus. The boy passes the time by watching his marble roll up and down the aisle with the motion of the bus, until from way up front a big commotion breaks out. He can’t see what’s going on, but he can see the policeman arrive outside and he can see Mama’s chin grow strong. “There you go, Rosa Parks,” she says, “Stirrin’ up a nest of hornets. Tomorrow all this’ll be forgot.” But they both know differently. Again & Again – consider the symbolism of the marble.
Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Brian Selznick (Illustrator) Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt were birds of a feather. Not only were they two of the most admired and respected women of all time, they were also good friends. Illuminated here for the first time in picture book form is the true story of a thrilling night when they made history together! On a brisk and cloudless evening in April 1933, Amelia and Eleanor did the unprecedented: They stole away from a White House dinner, commandeered an Eastern Air Transport jet, and took off on a glorious adventure--while still dressed in their glamorous evening gowns! The repetition is subtle in this book – better for when students have more experience with Again & Again, or for older students.
The Big Box by Toni Morrison, Slade Morrison, Giselle Potter (Illustrator) To make this group of kids abide by the rules, the grown-ups create a world inside a box . . . with toys, games, treats, and gifts, but these clever children are able to find their way out of the box and back into reality. Consider the repeated mention and symbolism of the box.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins! But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all. The Again & Again moment comes at the end of the book on the final page – the supper is still hot. Why does this matter and how does it link to earlier events?
A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson, Eric Velasquez (Illustrator) There's a sweet, sweet smell in the air as two young girls sneak out of their house, down the street, and across town to where men and women are gathered, ready to march for freedom and justice. Again & Again can be noticed in the use of the color red in illustrations as well as the repeated use of the phrase a sweet smell of roses.
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald, Freya Blackwood (Illustrator) Cartwheel moves to a new country with her auntie, and everything is strange: the animals, the plants— even the wind. An old blanket gives Cartwheel comfort when she’s sad— and a new blanket just might change her world. This multicultural story of friendship is about leaving home, moving to a foreign and strange place, and finding a new friend. It's a story for all who have experienced change. Consider the metaphor the two blankets represent.
The Boy Who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator) Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. Consider the repeated use of numbers, and phrases.
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson, Hudson Talbott (Illustrator) Soonie's great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts called Show Ways -- maps for slaves to follow to freedom. When she grew up and had a little girl, she passed on this knowledge. And generations later, Soonie -- who was born free -- taught her own daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at market and how to read.
Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Chris K. Soentpiet (Illustrator) A little girl longs to see beyond the scary sights on the sidewalk and the angry scribbling in the halls of her building. When her teacher writes the word beautiful on the blackboard, the girl decides to look for something beautiful in her neighborhood. Her neighbors tell her about their own beautiful things. Miss Delphine serves her a "beautiful" fried fish sandwich at her diner. At Mr. Lee's "beautiful" fruit store, he offers her an apple. Old Mr. Sims invites her to touch a smooth stone he always carries. Beautiful means "something that when you have it, your heart is happy," the girl thinks. Her search for "something beautiful" leaves her feeling much happier. She has experienced the beauty of friendship and the power of hope.
Shortcut by Donald Crews The train tracks ran right by Bigmama's house in Cottondale, and the children were warned to stay off the tracks. But one night they were late, and the tracks were a shortcut, so they started off. And when there was no turning back, they heard the train coming. Also a great mentor text for personal narratives.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect— until her first day of school. "You're named after a flower!" teases Victoria. "Let's smell her," says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance.
Again & Again: Short Stories • “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros • “Charles” by Shirley Jackson
Memory Moment Notice & Note Signposts
Emma & the Whale by Julie Case, Lee White (Illustrator) Emma lives in a crooked house in an old whaling town, and often takes her dog, Nemo, to the beach. On their walks, they find amazing treasures, like shells and stones and sea glass and even a loggerhead turtle. But one day, they find something completely unexpected: a baby whale, washed ashore. Emma empathizes with the animal's suffering, imagining what the whale is thinking and feeling. When the tide starts to come in, Emma pushes as the water swirls and rises, and eventually the whale swims free, back to her mother. There are two flashbacks that can be used for Memory Moments.
When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson, Julie Flett (Illustrator) When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother's garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away.
Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Bettye Stroud, John Holyfield (Illustrator) Sitting on a bench waiting for his mother, Alex spies a mule chomping on greens in someone's garden, and he can't help but ask about it.""Ol Belle?" says Miz Pettway next to him. "She can have all the collards she wants. She's earned it." And so begins the tale of a simple mule in Gee's Bend, Alabama, who played a singular part in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. When African-Americans in a poor community-- inspired by a visit from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-- defied local authorities who were trying to stop them from registering to vote, many got around a long detour on mule-drawn wagons. Later, after Dr. King's assassination, two mules from Gee's Bend pulled the farm wagon bearing his casket through the streets of Atlanta. As Alex looks into the eyes of gentle Belle, he begins to understand a powerful time in history in a very personal way.
This is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson, James Ransome (Illustrator) The story of one family’s journey north during the Great Migration starts with a little girl in South Carolina who finds a rope under a tree one summer. She has no idea the rope will become part of her family’s history. But for three generations, that rope is passed down, used for everything from jump rope games to tying suitcases onto a car for the big move north to New York City, and even for a family reunion where that first little girl is now a grandmother.
A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa, her mother and grandmother save their coins to buy a really comfortable chair for all to enjoy.
Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra, J. Otto Seibold (Illustrator) Big Bad Wolf’s first visit to his local library (as related in Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf) was such a success that he returns to tell his version of “The Three Little Pigs.” His outrageous spin on the tale draws skeptical remarks from his audience: “Isn’t that wolf’s nose getting longer?” asks Pinocchio. “It’s a cooked-up, half-baked tale,” snaps the Gingerbread Boy. And “Tell the truth, B.B. Wolf!” squeal the Three Little Pigs. Caught in his own lie, B.B. explains that he is a reformed villain: “Now I’m begging on my knees, Little Pigs, forgive me, please!” How B.B. turns his bad old deed into a good new one provides a happy ending to this fun-to- read fractured fairytale.
Sami and the Time of the Troubles by Florence Parry Heide, Judith Heide Gilliland (Illustrator) Ten-year-old Sami lives with his family in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Until the middle of the twentieth century, Beirut was one of the most splendid cities in the world. Today it is a place of ruin and trouble. And it is Sami’s home. Sami and his little sister Leila are like children everywhere, but their lives are like those of too many other children who live in places where violence has become the accepted way of resolving differences. Always, there are memories of good times to hold on to when the troubles come. Always, there is hope that this time will be the last time.
Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say This tale of one man’s love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places, as he goes between Japan and the United States over the course of his life.
Storm in the Night by Mary Stolz, Pat Cummings (Illustrator) torm in the night. Thunder like mountains blowing up. Lightning licking the navy-blue sky. Rain streaming down the windows, babbling in the downspouts. And Grandfather? . . . And Thomas? . . . And Ringo, the cat? They were in the dark. Too early to go to bed, and with only flashes of lightning to see by, Thomas and his grandfather happily find themselves re- discovering the half-forgotten scents and sounds of their world, and having a wonderful time learning important, new things about each other in a spirited conversation sparked by darkness.
Tough Cookie by David Wisniewski Sam Spade, move over! In his years on the force, Tough Cookie Busted the Ginger Snaps and broke up the Macaroons. Now living as a private eye at the bottom of the cookie jar, he learns that Fingers has gotten his old partner, Chips. With his best girl, Pecan Sandy, at his side, Tough Cookie sets out to put Fingers away, for keeps!
Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco When a bad leak ruins the sacristy wall in his father's church, Jonathan Jefferson Weeks thinks his family's first Christmas Eve service in Detroit will be ruined, too. But then he and his father find a beautiful tapestry for sale in a secondhand shop. Just the thing to cover the damaged wall and give the church a festive look! But then, amazingly, an old Jewish woman who is visiting the church recognizes the beautiful cloth. It is her discovery that leads to a real miracle on Christmas Eve.
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant, Diane Goode (Illustrator) Rylant delights in the simple joys of living with her grandparents in the Appalachian Mountains: fresh cornbread, the swimming hole, bathing in the tin tub, snakes, and the community church. Surrounding all of these memories is the loving relationship with her grandparents.
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote First published in 1956, this is the story from Capote's childhood of lovingly making fruitcakes from scratch at Christmas- time with his elderly cousin, and has stood the test of time to become known as an American holiday classic.
Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, James E. Ransome (Illustrator) Sunday afternoons are special for Sarah and Susan because that's when they visit Aunt Flossie -- she has a memorable collection of hats, each with a special story.
Memory Moment: Short Stories • “My Grandmother’s Hair” by Cynthia Rylant
Read Aloud Recommendations Picture Books
Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, Barbara Cooney (Illustrator) • Marian called it Roxboxen. There across the road, it looked like any rocky hill—nothing but sand and rocks, and some old wooden boxes. But it was a special place. And all children needed to go there was a long stick and a soaring imagination.
The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette, Julie Flett (Illustrator) While picking berries with her mother, a little girl wanders too far into the woods. When she realizes she is lost, she begins to panic. A large grey wolf makes a sudden appearance between some distant trees. Using his sense of smell, he determines where she came from and decides to help her. Through a series of questions from the wolf, the little girl realizes she had the knowledge and skill to navigate herself--she just needed to remember that those abilities were there all along.
Gift Horse: A Lakota Story by S.D. Nelson When his father gives him a gift horse, marking the beginning of his journey to manhood, Flying Cloud and the horse, Storm, spend their days hunting and roughhousing with the other boys and their horses. But when an enemy raiding party steals his beloved Storm, Flying Cloud faces the ultimate rite of passage. He must join the rescue party and earn the right to wear the shirt of a warrior.
Lotus & Feather by Ji-li Jiang, Julie Downing (Illustrator) A winter illness left Lotus, a little girl, without a voice and without friends. A hunter's bullet left Feather, a crane, injured and unable to fly. As Lotus nurses Feather back to health, their bond grows. Soon Feather is following Lotus everywhere, even to school! The bird dances to the girl's reed whistle, much to the delight of the other children. One day, when the village floods, Feather helps raise the alarm as Lotus and her grandfather urge their neighbors to get to high ground. Feather is a true friend to Lotus, but the time comes when Lotus must be a true friend to him--by encouraging him to migrate with the rest of the cranes. The next spring, Feather miraculously returns, and that's not all . . . he has brought new life to the nearby lake.
Read Aloud Recommendations Novels
Jubilee by Patricia Reilly Giff Judith lives with her beloved aunt Cora and her faithful Dog on a beautiful island. Years ago, when her mother left, Judith stopped talking. Now she communicates entirely through gestures and taps, and by drawing cartoons, speaking only when she’s alone—or with Dog. This year, Judith faces a big change—leaving her small, special classroom for a regular fifth-grade class. She likes her new teacher, and finds a maybe-friend in a boy named Mason. But Jubilee’s wandering feet won’t stop until they find her mother. And now she discovers that her mother has moved back to the mainland, nearby. If Jubilee finds her, will her mother’s love be what she needs to speak again?
Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes Wanted: One amazing forever home for one amazing sixth grader. "My name is Gaby, and I'm looking for a home where I can invite my best friend over and have a warm breakfast a couple of times a week. Having the newest cell phone or fancy clothes isn't important, but I'd like to have a cat that I can talk to when I'm home alone." Gaby Ramirez Howard loves volunteering at the local animal shelter. She plays with the kittens, helps to obedience train the dogs, and writes adoption advertisements so that the strays who live there can find their forever homes: places where they'll be loved and cared for, no matter what. Gaby has been feeling like a bit of a stray herself, lately. Her mother has recently been deported to Honduras and Gaby is stuck living with her inattentive dad. She's confident that her mom will come home soon so that they can adopt Gaby's favorite shelter cat together. When the cat's original owners turn up at the shelter, however, Gaby worries that her plans for the perfect family are about to fall apart.
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks, Gita Varadarajan Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they're both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL. Joe's lived in the same town all his life, and was doing just fine until his best friends moved away and left him on his own. Ravi's family just moved to America from India, and he's finding it pretty hard to figure out where he fits in. Joe and Ravi don't think they have anything in common -- but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week.
Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. EVER. Edited by Betsy Bird Funny Girl is a collection of uproarious stories, rollicking comics, rib- tickling wit, and more, from 25 of today’s funniest female writers for kids. What could be funnier than family? Read stories about Ursula Brown's grandmother driving her on a road trip to disaster, Lisa Brown's little brother getting a Tic-Tac stuck up his nose, and Carmen Agra Deedy's mom setting the bathtub on fire. What could be funnier than friends? Pretty much nothing, as Rita Williams-Garcia shows two besties hatching a bird-brained scheme to get on to a TV talk show, and Deborah Underwood introduces a dynamic dog-and- cat duo teaming up on a pet advice column. What could be funnier than YOU? Tell your future with Mad Libs, discover your Chinese Zodiac sign with Lenore Look, and learn the best tricks of the comedy trade from professional humorists like Adrianne Chalepah and Delaney Yeager. With clever contributions from award-winning and bestselling authors including Cece Bell, Sophie Blackall, Libba Bray, Shannon Hale, Lisa Graff, and Raina Telgemeier, this anthology of funny girls will make you laugh until you cry. Or cry until you laugh. Or maybe you won't cry at all. Either way, you'll definitely laugh. Funny Girl isn’t just an anthology: it’s a cause, a mission, a movement. Girls are funny. Now it’s time for the world to know it.
Salsa Stories by Lulu Delacre When Carmen Teresa receives a notebook as a holiday gift, the guests suggest she write down their own childhood stories, which they tell. But Carmen Teresa, who loves to cook, collects their family recipes instead! With energy, sensitivity, and warmth, Lulu Delacre introduces readers to a symphony of colorful characters whose 9 stories dance through a year of Latin American holidays and customs. Countries include Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Guatamala and Peru. Seventeen delicious and authentic recipes are included.
The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner Charlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life at college, everything seems more important than Charlie. Then one day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything . . . in the form of a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom. Charlie can't believe her luck but soon realizes that this fish has a very odd way of granting wishes as even her best intentions go awry. But when her family faces a challenge bigger than any they've ever experienced, Charlie wonders if some things might be too important to risk on a wish fish.
The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by Claudia Guadelupe Martinez Chela Gonzalez, the book’s narrator, is a nerd and a soccer player who can barely contain her excitement about starting the sixth grade. But nothing is as she imagined—her best friend turns on her to join the popular girls and they all act like Chela doesn’t exist. She buries herself in schoolwork and in the warm comfort of her family. To Chela, her family is like a solar system, with her father the sun and her mother, brothers, and sister like planets rotating all around him. It’s a small world, but it’s the only one she fits in. But that universe is threatened when her strong father has a stroke. Chela’s grandmother moves in to help the family. The smell of her old lady perfume invades the house. That smell is worse than Sundays. Sundays were sad, but they went just as sure as they came. Death was a whole other thing, and Chela doesn’t understand that’s what everyone is waiting for. In her grief and worry, Chela begins to discover herself and find her own strength.
George by Alex Gino When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He's got a dog named Beau and a best friend, Jessie. He likes to take photos and write haiku poems in his notebook. He dreams of climbing a mountain one day. But in one important way, Mark is not like other kids at all. Mark is sick. The kind of sick that means hospitals. And treatments. The kind of sick some people never get better from. So Mark runs away. He leaves home with his camera, his notebook, his dog, and a plan to reach the top of Mount Rainier--even if it's the last thing he ever does.
Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith Twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher was born into a family with a rich tradition of practicing folk magic: hoodoo, as most people call it. But even though his name is Hoodoo, he can't seem to cast a simple spell. Then a mysterious man called the Stranger comes to town, and Hoodoo starts dreaming of the dead rising from their graves. Even worse, he soon learns the Stranger is looking for a boy. Not just any boy. A boy named Hoodoo. The entire town is at risk from the Stranger’s black magic, and only Hoodoo can defeat him. He’ll just need to learn how to conjure first.
My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer by Jennifer Gennaro Twelve-year-old June Farrell is sure of one thing—she’s great at making pies— and she plans to prove it by winning a blue ribbon in the Champlain Valley Fair pie competition. But a backlash against Vermont’s civil union law threatens her family’s security and their business. Even when faced with bullying, June won’t give up on winning the blue ribbon; more importantly, she won’t give up on her family.
Book Club Recommendations Per Grade Level
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer Otto and Sheed are the local sleuths in their zany Virginia town, masters of unraveling mischief using their unmatched powers of deduction. And as the summer winds down and the first day of school looms, the boys are craving just a little bit more time for fun, even as they bicker over what kind of fun they want to have. That is, until a mysterious man appears with a camera that literally freezes time. Now, with the help of some very strange people and even stranger creatures, Otto and Sheed will have to put aside their differences to save their town—and each other—before time stops for good.
Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano Leonora Logroño’s family owns the most beloved bakery in Rose Hill, Texas, spending their days conjuring delicious cookies and cakes for any occasion. And no occasion is more important than the annual Dia de los Muertos festival. Leo hopes that this might be the year that she gets to help prepare for the big celebration—but, once again, she is told she’s too young. Sneaking out of school and down to the bakery, she discovers that her mother, aunt, and four older sisters have in fact been keeping a big secret: they’re brujas—witches of Mexican ancestry—who pour a little bit of sweet magic into everything that they bake. Leo knows that she has magical ability as well and is more determined than ever to join the family business—even if she can’t let her mama and hermanas know about it yet. And when her best friend, Caroline, has a problem that needs solving, Leo has the perfect opportunity to try out her craft. It’s just one little spell, after all…what could possibly go wrong?
The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu When you’re an identical twin, your story always starts with someone else. For Iris, that means her story starts with Lark. Iris has always been the grounded, capable, and rational one; Lark has been inventive, dreamy, and brilliant—and from their first moments in the world together, they’ve never left each other’s side. Everyone around them realized early on what the two sisters already knew: they had better outcomes when they were together. When fifth grade arrives, however, it is decided that Iris and Lark should be split into different classrooms, and something breaks in them both. Iris is no longer so confident; Lark retreats into herself as she deals with challenges at school. And at the same time, something strange is happening in the city around them, things both great and small going missing without a trace. As Iris begins to understand that anything can be lost in the blink of an eye, she decides it’s up to her to find a way to keep her sister safe.
The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh Everything in Bea's world has changed. She's starting seventh grade newly friendless and facing big changes at home, where she is about to go from only child to big sister. Feeling alone and adrift, and like her words don't deserve to be seen, Bea takes solace in writing haiku in invisible ink and hiding them in a secret spot. But then something incredible happens-- someone writes back. And Bea begins to connect with new friends, including a classmate obsessed with a nearby labyrinth and determined to get inside. As she decides where her next path will lead, she just might discover that her words--and herself--have found a new way to belong.
Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz To Molly Nathans, perfect is: • The number four • The tip of a newly sharpened number two pencil • A crisp, white pad of paper • Her neatly aligned glass animal figurines What’s not perfect is Molly’s mother leaving the family to take a faraway job with the promise to return in one year. Molly knows that promises are often broken, so she hatches a plan to bring her mother home: Win the Lakeville Middle School Slam Poetry Contest. The winner is honored at a fancy banquet with table cloths. Molly’s sure her mother would never miss that. Right…? But as time goes on, writing and reciting slam poetry become harder. Actually, everything becomes harder as new habits appear, and counting, cleaning, and organizing are not enough to keep Molly’s world from spinning out of control.
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly In one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted and feels out of place in his loud and boisterous family. Valencia Somerset, who is deaf, is smart, brave, and secretly lonely, and loves everything about nature. Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic, whose little sister Gen is always following her around. And Chet Bullens wishes the weird kids would just act normal so that he can concentrate on basketball. They aren’t friends -- at least not until Chet pulls a prank that traps Virgil and his pet guinea pig at the bottom of a well. This disaster leads Kaori, Gen, and Valencia on an epic quest to find the missing Virgil. Through luck, smarts, bravery, and a little help from the universe, a rescue is performed, a bully is put in his place, and friendship blooms.
The Sweetest Sound by Sherri Winston For ten-year-old Cadence Jolly, birthdays are a constant reminder of all that has changed since her mother skipped town with dreams of becoming a star. Cadence inherited that musical soul, she can't deny it, but otherwise she couldn't be more different - she's as shy as can be. She did make a promise last year that she would try to break out of her shell, just a little. And she prayed that she'd get the courage to do it. As her eleventh birthday draws near, she realizes time is running out. And when a secret recording of her singing leaks and catches the attention of her whole church, she needs to decide what's better: deceiving everyone by pretending it belongs to someone else, or finally stepping into the spotlight.
Millicent Min, Girl Genius Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn't know Millicent's IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. And if Millie can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother's advice, swear her parents to silence, blackmail Stanford, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend. What's it gong to take? Sheer genius.
Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes Ten-year-old Sugar lives on the River Road sugar plantation along the banks of the Mississippi. Slavery is over, but laboring in the fields all day doesn't make her feel very free. Thankfully, Sugar has a knack for finding her own fun, especially when she joins forces with forbidden friend Billy, the white plantation owner's son. Sugar has always yearned to learn more about the world, and she sees her chance when Chinese workers are brought in to help harvest the cane. The older River Road folks feel threatened, but Sugar is fascinated. As she befriends young Beau and elder Master Liu, they introduce her to the traditions of their culture, and she, in turn, shares the ways of plantation life. Sugar soon realizes that she must be the one to bridge the cultural gap and bring the community together.
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6
Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6

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Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6

  • 1. Books! Books! Books! Book Recommendations 4-6 Sukhi Goomer Lawrence Intermediate School, 5th Grade Email: sgoomer@ltps.org Twitter: @room7lis
  • 2. Agenda • Purpose of presentation • Reasoning for researching book titles for elementary grades • Research behind grade-level recommendations • Mentor Texts for Writing • Mentor Texts for Notice & Note Signposts • Read Aloud Recommendations • Picture Books 4-6 • Novels 4-6 • Book Club Recommendations • Novels 4-6 • Questions & Comments
  • 3. Purpose • Why did I choose to do a presentation on book recommendations for teachers? • What will you get out of this presentation?
  • 4. Research • How did I go about selecting books for different grade levels? • Fountas & Pinnell recommend that children hear books read aloud that are three to four reading levels above their current level. • Guided reading of any kind should be done with novels at a child’s instructional level. • Independent reading should be a child’s independent reading level (but can often be higher depending on the child’s interest and background knowledge).
  • 6. Text Levels per Grade Grade MP 1 MP 2 MP 3 MP 4 4 Independent: O Independent: P Independent: Q Independent: R Instructional: P/Q Instructional: Q Instructional: R Instructional: S/T Read Aloud: T/U Read Aloud: U/V Read Aloud: V/W Read Aloud: W/X 5 Independent: R Independent: S Independent: T Independent: U Instructional: S/T Instructional: T Instructional: U Instructional: V/W Read Aloud: W/X Read Aloud: W/X Read Aloud: X/Y Read Aloud: Y/Z 6 Independent: U Independent: V Independent: W Independent: X Instructional: V/W Instructional: W Instructional: X Instructional: Y Read Aloud: Y/Z Read Aloud: Y/Z Read Aloud: Z Read Aloud: Z+
  • 7. Text Levels per Grade 4TH GRADE 5TH GRADE 6TH GRADE Independent Instructional Read Aloud Independent Instructional Read Aloud Independent Instructional Read Aloud MP 1 O P/Q R/S R S/T U U V/W X MP 2 P Q S S T V V W Y MP 3 Q R T T U W W X Z MP 4 R S/T U U V/W X X Y Z+
  • 9. Mentor Texts for Writing • Use these texts to support students’ writing • Examples, and models of high quality writing • Make texts available during units of study for students to refer to • Qualities: • You, the educator, needs to think the text is actually good. • Understandable for students • Relevant to what students are doing or learning currently
  • 11. We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past by Jacqueline Woodson, Diane Greenseid (Illustrator) • Teeka's family had a picnic this Sunday past. Everyone was there, from mean old cousin Terrance who put fake flies on the sweet corn, to Bible-toting Reverend Luke to Auntie Kim (Teeka's all- time favorite). And they were all dreading the arrival of Cousin Martha and her pie, which was always a bit on the dry side (but you had to eat every bit so you didn't hurt her feelings). But this year, where was Cousin Martha? And where was that dried-out apple pie?
  • 12. Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, Dom Lee (Illustrator) • Shorty and his family, along with thousands of Japanese Americans, are sent to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Fighting the heat and dust of the desert, Shorty and his father decide to build a baseball diamond and form a league in order to boost the spirits of the internees. Shorty quickly learns that he is playing not only to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect as well.
  • 13. Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon • Although his teacher insists there are stories everywhere, Ralph cannot think of any to write.
  • 14. The Harmonica by Tony Johnston, Ron Mazellan (Illustrator) • When the Nazis invade Poland, a family is split apart. A harmonica keeps a boy's hope alive. The story is inspired by the life of a Holocaust survivor. • Level W • 5th Grade and up
  • 15. Come On, Rain! By Karen Hesse, Jon J Muth (Illustrator) • "Come on, rain!" Tess pleads to the sky as listless vines and parched plants droop in the endless heat. Up and down the block, cats pant while heat wavers off tar patches in the broiling alleyway. More than anything, Tess hopes for rain. And when it comes, she and her friends are ready for a surprising joyous celebration.
  • 16. Night Driving by John Coy, Peter McCarty (Illustrator) • A father and son drive into the night. As the sky turns shades of deep blue and purple they watch for night animals, swap baseball stories, and keep a lookout for eighteen wheelers. But they have miles to go before they can sleep, and it's a real challenge to stay awake for a whole night of driving.
  • 17. A Different Pond by Bao Phi, Thi Bui (Illustrator) • As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.
  • 18. Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, David Diaz (Illustrator) • Eve Bunting’s heartfelt story and David Diaz’s dramatic illustrations create a compelling child’s-eye view of urban violence. A young boy and his mother are forced to flee their apartment during a night of rioting in Los Angeles. Fires and looting force neighbors—who have always avoided one another—to come together in the face of danger and concern for their missing pets. • Level P (3rd grade and higher)
  • 19. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts, Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator) • All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. But Jeremy’s grandma tells him they don’t have room for "want," just "need," and what Jeremy needs are new boots for winter. When Jeremy’s shoes fall apart at school, and the guidance counselor gives him a hand-me-down pair, the boy is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy comes to realize that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.
  • 20. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, Tara Calahan King (Illustrator) • It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. • Grades 3 to 5
  • 21. Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting, Ronald Himler (Illustrator) • A homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal trying not to be noticed, is given hope when a trapped bird finally finds its freedom. • Level M (3rd grade and higher) • Can also use for Notice & Note Signpost: Tough Question, Aha Moment
  • 22. Saturdays and Tea Cakes by Lester L. Laminack, Chris Soentpiet (Illustrator) In this poetic memory, a young boy rides his bicycle every Saturday up and down country roads past farms, a graveyard, and a filling station, until he reaches his beloved Mammaw's house. She is waiting for him. While she picks tomatoes, he pushes the lawnmower through the dew- wet grass. Afterwards, he always helps her make teacakes from scratch, breaking the eggs and stirring the batter. But the best part, he remembers, is eating the hot, sweet cakes fresh from the oven. Consider using for Notice & Note Signpost: Memory Moment
  • 23. Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, Ted Rand (Illustrator) By the warmth of a campfire beneath a starry night sky, a Navajo youth named Boy- Strength-of-Blue-Horses listens to the tale of his birth from his grandfather. Although blind, the boy learns that he has the strength to cope with his condition and meet any challenge that comes his way.
  • 24. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, John Schoenherr (Illustrator) • Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo- whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer. Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is.
  • 25. Our Very Own Dog by Amanda McCardie, Salvatore Rubbino (Illustrator) • There's nothing more exciting than getting a dog! Join Sophie's new human family as they prepare their home for her and introduce her to life as a beloved pet. Follow along as they learn about bedding and bowls, treats and training, walks and washing--and even an unexpected dog show!
  • 26. The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) Clover's mom says it isn't safe to cross the fence that segregates their African- American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship, and get around the grown-ups' rules by sitting on top of the fence together. Can also be used for Notice & Note Signpost: Again & Again.
  • 27. All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan, Mike Wimmer (Illustrator) • Within the sanctuary of a loving family, baby Eli is born and, as he grows, learns to cherish the people and places around him, eventually passing on what he has discovered to his new baby sister, Sylvie: “All the places to love are here . . . no matter where you may live.”
  • 28. Other Resources to Consider: Short Stories • “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros • Great for 4th and 5th grade • “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan • Great for 6th grade and higher • “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie • Great for 5th grade and higher – excellent for metaphors • “A Plate of Peas” by Rick Beyer • Great for all ages, can also be used for Notice & Note Signposts • “Mississippi Mud” by Jessica Piper • Great for all ages, memoir • “So, What Are You Anyway?” by Lawrence Hill • Middle school and higher
  • 29. Other Resources to Consider • Humans of New York • Photos, interviews, and videos of residents of New York City, plus stories from twenty different countries • Former students’ stories • Commercials and short films
  • 30. Great Authors to Consider • Eve Bunting • Sandra Cisneros • Patricia Polacco • David Sedaris (generally good for middle school) • Tobias Wolff (generally good for middle school) • Jacqueline Woodson
  • 32. One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck, Yasmeen Ismail (Illustrator) Sophia tries varied techniques to get the giraffe she wants more than anything in this playfully illustrated story about the nuances of negotiation. Sophia has one true desire for her birthday. But she has Four Big Problems in the way: Mom, Dad, Uncle Conrad...and Grand-mama. Will her presentations, proposals, and pie charts convince them otherwise? Great for vocabulary! Can also be used for Words of the Wiser
  • 33. She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator) • Throughout American history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what’s right, even when they have to fight to be heard. In this book, Chelsea Clinton celebrates thirteen American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted. She Persisted is for everyone who has ever wanted to speak up but has been told to quiet down, for everyone who has ever tried to reach for the stars but was told to sit down, and for everyone who has ever been made to feel unworthy or unimportant or small.
  • 34. Thank you, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt Faulkner (Illustrator) • We the people of the United States...Almost Lost Thanksgiving • Yes. That's right! • Way back when "skirts were long and hats were tall" Americans were forgetting Thanksgiving, and nobody seemed to care! • Thankfully, Sarah Hale appeared. More steadfast than Plymouth Rock, this lady editor knew the holiday needed saving. But would her recipe for rescue ever convince Congress and the presidents?
  • 35. A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black, Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator) • Could anything possibly be more fun than a pig parade!? You wouldn't think so. But you'd be wrong. A pig parade is a terrible idea. Pigs hate to march, refuse to wear the uniforms, don't care about floats, and insist on playing country music ballads. Those are just some of the reasons. And trust me, this hysterical book has plenty more!
  • 36. I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff, David Catrow (Illustrator) • Alex just has to convince his mom to let him have an iguana, so he puts his arguments in writing. He promises that she won't have to feed it or clean its cage or even see it if she doesn't want to. Of course Mom imagines life with a six-foot-long iguana eating them out of house and home. Alex's reassurances: It takes fifteen years for an iguana to get that big. I'll be married by then and probably living in my own house. and his mom's replies: How are you going to get a girl to marry you when you own a giant reptile? will have kids in hysterics as the negotiations go back and forth through notes.
  • 37. I Wanna New Room by Karen Kaufman Orloff, David Catrow (Illustrator) • Ever since their baby sister came along, Alex has been forced to share a room with his little brother, Ethan, and it's a nightmare. Ethan always breaks stuff, snores like a walrus, and sticks crayons up his nose. No hardworking, well-behaved, practically grown-up boy like Alex should have to put up with that!Writing letters to his mom convinced her to let him get his pet iguana, so Alex puts pencil to paper again, this time determined to get his own room. Though all of his powers of persuasion can't get his dad to expand the house, he does come through with a fun alternative to give Alex some space of his own.
  • 38. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin (Illustrator) • Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears Click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. Clickety, clack, MOO. But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes....
  • 39. Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague • When Ike Larue is "imprisoned" at the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy, he tries everything to get sent home--weepy letters to his owner, even illness. In reality, Brotweiler is more like camp than prison, but still, Ike's not cut out for life w/o Mrs. Larue & his creature comforts. Finally, he runs away only to find himself back in Snort City--just in time to save Mrs. Larue's life.
  • 40. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywelt, Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator) Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit! Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other. What is Duncan to do? Can also use for Notice & Note Signpot – Memory Moment.
  • 41. Hey, Little Ant by Phillip & Hannah Hoose, Dibbie Tilley (Illustrator) • What would you do if the ant you were about to step on looked up and started talking? Would you stop and listen? What if your friends saw you hesitate?
  • 42. Animals should definitely not wear clothing. By Judy Barrett, Ron Barrett (Illustrator) • ..because a snake would lose it, a billy goat would eat it for lunch, and it would always be wet on a walrus! This well-loved book by Judi and Ron Barrett shows why animals' clothing is perfect...just as it is.
  • 43. Earrings! By Judith Viorst, Nora Langner Malone (Illustrator) • What's a young girl supposed to do when her mom and dad refuse to let her have her ears pierced? She can argue, she can beg, she can swear that-if only they'll say yes -- she'll be nice to her little brother for one whole year. And whether or not she persuades them, she can find herself in this true and funny tail of a charmingly persistent girl determined to have what she wants and needs and loves: beautiful, glorious earrings for pierced ears.
  • 44. Stella Writes an Opinion by Janiel Wagstaff, Dana Regan (Illustrator) • Meet Stella. She has lots of opinions. Like, the best food is ice cream and kids should be allowed to bring toys to school and Ms. Merkley is the nicest teacher in the whole world. So, when Ms. M. tells the class they get to write an opinion, Stella gets excited. But how will she choose what to write about? Go with Stella on her writing journey and see how one kid's opinion can change a school. What could be more fun than to write what you think about an important topic. Now that's power! • Walks students through the writing process
  • 45. This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman • Based on the National Public Radio series of the same name, "This I Believe" features eighty essayists--from the famous to the unknown--completing the thought that begins the book's title. Each piece compels readers to rethink not only how they have arrived at their own personal beliefs but also the extent to which they share them with others. • Featuring a well-known list of contributors-- including Isabel Allende, Colin Powell, Gloria Steinem, William F. Buckley Jr., Penn Jillette, Bill Gates, and John Updike--the collection also contains essays by a Brooklyn lawyer; a part-time hospital clerk from Rehoboth, Massachusetts; a woman who sells Yellow Pages advertising in Fort Worth, Texas; and a man who serves on the state of Rhode Island's parole board.
  • 46. Dear Mr. President: Letters to the Oval Office by Dwight Young (editor) • Drawn from the extensive holdings of the National Archives--which includes all of the Presidential libraries--these carefully chosen letters remind us that ours is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people," which entitles us to make our views known to our leaders. Most of the letters come from working citizens; others were written by notable figures: John Glenn, Elvis Presley, Walt Disney, Ho Chi Minh, Nikita Kruschev, Upton Sinclair, John Steinbeck, Robert Kennedy, and many more. • Grouped thematically, the sections cover such topics as civil rights, the Cold War, physical fitness, joblessness, World War II, western expansion, and the space race.
  • 47. Everything’s An Argument (8th ed.) by Andrea A. Lunsford, John J. Ruzkiewicz • A streamlined argument guide plus provocative thematic reader, Everything's an Argument with Readings helps students understand and analyze the arguments around them as well as create their own. Lucid explanations cover the classical rhetoric of the ancient Greeks through the multimodal rhetoric of today, with professional and student models of every type. New attention to rhetorical listening skills teaches students to communicate effectively and ethically as they work through potentially contentious discussions in and outside the classroom.
  • 48. Speeches to Consider • ‘Give me liberty or give me death’ by Patrick Henry, delivered March 23, 1775, St. John’s Church, Richmond, Virginia • Sojourner Truth (1797-1883): Ain't I A Woman? Delivered 1851 Women's Convention, Akron, Ohio • Any speech by Barack Obama, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., or Franklin D. Roosevelt.
  • 49. Other Texts to Consider • Newswela opinion pieces • Abigail Adams’ letters to John Adams • Commercials
  • 50. Texts for Notice & Note Signposts
  • 51. Creatrilogy: The Dot, Ish, Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds • The Dot An enchanting invitation to self-expression! Don’t worry, just make a mark — and see where it takes you. • Ish A creative spirit learns that thinking "ishly" leads to a far more wonderful outcome than "getting it right." • Sky Color The sky’s no limit in this gentle, playful tale — a reminder that if we open our eyes and look beyond the expected, inspiration will come.
  • 52. You and Me by Susan Verde, Peter H Reynolds (Illustrator) • An adorable cat muses about the what-ifs in life: What if he had slept late that one special morning? What if he’d missed his train on that fateful day? Then he might never have met his favorite person in the world, and his entire life would be different! • Tough Questions, Memory Moment
  • 53. The North Star by Peter H. Reynolds • It is often said that life is a journey, and it’s true. But sometimes it’s hard to know which path to follow when signs point in so many directions. • Can also use to teach Notice & Note Signpost – Again & Again.
  • 54. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) • Chloe doesn't really know why she turns away from the new girl, Maya, when Maya tries to befriend her. And every time Maya asks if she can play with Chloe and the other girls, the answer is always no. So Maya ends up playing alone. And then one day she's gone. • When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the opportunity that's been lost. How much better could it have been if she'd just shown Maya a little kindness and opened her heart to friendship? • Tough Questions, Words of the Wiser
  • 55. The Yellow Star The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Agra Deedy, Henri Sorensen (Illustrator) • Without the yellow star to point them out, the Jews looked like any other Danes. For centuries, the Star of David was a symbol of Jewish pride. But during World War II, Nazis used the star to segregate and terrorize the Jewish people. Except in Denmark. When Nazi soldiers occupied his country, King Christian X of Denmark committed himself to keeping all Danes safe from harm, and the bravery of the Danes and their king during that dangerous time has inspired many legends. The most enduring is the legend of the yellow star, which symbolizes the loyalty and fearless spirit of the king and his people. • Can also be used for Notice & Note Signpost – Tough Question, Memory Moment
  • 56. Blackout by John Rocco • One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, "Mommm!" His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can't work on her computer, and Dad can't finish cooking dinner. What's a family to do? When they go up to the roof to escape the heat, they find the lights--in stars that can be seen for a change--and so many neighbors it's like a block party in the sky! On the street below, people are having just as much fun--talking, rollerblading, and eating ice cream before it melts. The boy and his family enjoy being not so busy for once. They even have time to play a board game together. When the electricity is restored, everything can go back to normal . . . but not everyone likes normal. • Great for contrasts & contradictions
  • 57. Probuditi! by Chris Van Allsburg • For his birthday, Calvin’s mother gives him two tickets to see Lomax the Magnificent (magician and hypnotist extraordinaire!). Even though Mama hints that his little sister, Trudy, would love to go, Calvin doesn’t hesitate to invite his friend Rodney instead. The boys return home greatly impressed by the magician’s performance. When Calvin’s mother goes out, she leaves him in charge of Trudy. It’s a job Calvin dislikes because his sister does not want to be left out of anything. So Calvin and Rodney include her—by making her the first subject for their own hypnotizing machine. Much to the boys’ surprise, the machine works. But unfortunately they cannot undo what they have done. Trudy is stuck in her trance, convinced she is a dog— panting, drooling, and barking at squirrels. The only problem is, Calvin can’t remember Lomax’s magic word—Probuditi!—so Trudy won’t snap out of it! The boys are worried and decide to take Trudy to the one man they know can solve their problem—but will Lomax help them? Mama is on her way home . . . Who will have the last laugh? • Great for Aha Moment, Contrasts & Contradictions
  • 58. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall • Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all. "Looks easy," says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. • Contrasts & Contradications
  • 59. The Memory String by Eve Bunting, Ted Rand (Illustrator) • Each button on Laura’s memory string represents a piece of her family history. The buttons Laura cherishes the most belonged to her mother—a button from her prom dress, a white one off her wedding dress, and a single small button from the nightgown she was wearing on the day she died. When the string breaks, Laura’s new stepmother, Jane, is there to comfort Laura and search for a missing button, just as Laura’s mother would have done. But it’s not the same—Jane isn’t Mom. In Eve Bunting’s moving story, beautifully illustrated by Ted Rand, Laura discovers that a memory string is not just for remembering the past: it’s also for recording new memories. • Level N (3rd Grade and higher) • Great for all signposts – especially Aha Moment!
  • 60. Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter, Kyrsten Brooker (Illustrator) • When Eva sits on her stoop trying to complete a school assignment by writing about what happens in her neighborhood, she gets a great deal of advice and action. • Great for Words of the Wiser
  • 61. The Arrival by Shaun Tan • In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life- he's leaving home to build a better future for his family.
  • 63. The Bad Seed by Jory John, Pete Oswald (Illustrator) • He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He’s been bad since he can remember! This seed cuts in line every time, stares at everybody and never listens. But what happens when one mischievous little seed changes his mind about himself, and decides that he wants to be—happy?
  • 64. Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino, Isabelle Malenfant (Illustrator) • Morris has a great imagination. He paints amazing pictures and he loves his classroom's dress-up center, especially the tangerine dress. It reminds him of tigers, the sun and his mother's hair. • The other children don't understand-- dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isn't welcome in the spaceship his classmates are building--astronauts, they say, don't wear dresses. • One day Morris has a tummy ache, and his mother lets him stay home from school. He stays in bed reading about elephants, and her dreams about a space adventure with his cat, Moo. Inspired by his dream, Morris paints a fantastic picture, and everything begins to change when he takes it to school.
  • 65. Allie’s Basketball Dream by Barbara E. Barber, Darryl Ligasan (Illustrator) • Allie's always been hooked on basketball, but the boys she knows won't play with her. On the verge of giving up, Allie has one last go at it- -and she makes the basket. Inspired by her persistence, her friends all want to join in. (According to the boys watching Allie play, girls can’t play basketball.)
  • 66. A Tale of Two Beasts by Fiona Roberton • When a little girl rescues a strange beast from the woods, she takes him home. But for some reason, the little beast is not happy! There are two sides to every story, and this funny and charming tale is no exception. Author/illustrator Fiona Roberton offers both points of view in this discussion-starting tale of the importance of seeing the world in different ways.
  • 67. I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty, Mike Boldt (Illustrator) • Frog wants to be anything but a slimy, wet frog. A cat, perhaps. Or a rabbit. An owl? But when a hungry wolf arrives—a wolf who HATES eating frogs—our hero decides that being himself isn’t so bad after all. In this very silly story with a sly message, told in hilarious dialogue between a feisty young frog and his heard-it-all- before father, young readers will identify with little Frog’s desire to be something different, while laughing along at his stubborn yet endearing schemes to prove himself right.
  • 68. Tuesday by David Wiesner • Nearly wordless picture book. • Follows a group of frogs whose lily pads begin magically floating. • Contrast to what frogs normally do.
  • 69. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown Are you bored with being so proper? Do you want to have more fun? Mr Tiger knows exactly how you feel. So he decides to go wild. But does he go too far? There is a time and place for everything...even going wild. Can also be used for Aha Moment.
  • 70. The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza • The wolf loves to eat more than anything in the world and one day he has a terrible craving for chicken stew. He spots a chicken who seems just right, but then he thinks how much more stew there will be if he fattens her up before dining himself. So he goes home and begins to cook all kinds of scrumptious food for the chicken to eat. A big surprise is in store for the wolf when he finally visits Mrs. Chicken to collect his meal.
  • 71. This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris, Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator) • Lights! Camera! Moose! MOOSE? Yes, Moose! When a movie director tries to capture the life of a moose on film, he's in for a big surprise. It turns out the moose has a dream bigger then just being a moose—he wants to be an astronaut and go to the moon. • His forest friends step in to help him, and action ensues. Lots of action. Like a lacrosse-playing grandma, a gigantic slingshot into space, and a flying, superhero chipmunk.
  • 72. That Is NOT a Good Idea! By Mo Willems Inspired by the evil villains and innocent damsels of silent movies, Willems tells the tale of a hungry fox who invites a plump goose to dinner. One day a very hungry fox meets a very plump goose. A dinner invitation is offered. Will dinner go as planned? Or do the dinner plans involve a secret ingredient...? (Don't forget to listen to the baby geese!) Can also be used for Words of the Wiser.
  • 73. Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, Christian Robinson (Illustrator) • This is the story of four puppies: Fi- Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La, and Gaston. Gaston works the hardest at his lessons on how to be a proper pooch. He sips - never slobbers! He yips - never yaps! And he walks with grace - never races! Gaston fits right in with his poodle sisters.But a chance encounter with a bulldog family in the park-Rocky, Ricky, Bruno, and Antoinette-reveals there's been a mix- up, and so Gaston and Antoinette switch places. The new families look right...but they don't feel right. Can these puppies follow their noses-and their hearts-to find where they belong?
  • 74. Pete & Pickles by Berkeley Breathed • Pete is a perfectly predictable, practical, uncomplicated pig. At least, he was . . . before a runaway circus elephant named Pickles stampeded into his life, needing a friend. Pickles is larger than life and overflowing with imagination. She takes Pete swandiving off Niagara Falls. (Sort of.) And sledding down the Matterhorn. (Sort of.) Pete goes along for the wild ride and actually begins to enjoy himself… until Pickles goes too far. And Pete tells her she must leave. Yet sometimes the simple life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
  • 75. Don’t Call Me Choochie Pooh! by Sean Taylor, Kate Hindley (Illustrator) • This dog doesn’t want to be carried in a handbag (how embarrassing!) or eat heart- shaped Mini Puppy Treats (I mean, come ON!) and under no circumstances does he ever want to be called... Choochie Pooh! If only his owner understood. All he wants to do is play with the big dogs in the park - chase sticks, jump in muddy puddles and be an ordinary, proper dog.
  • 76. Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian, Tim Bowers (Illustrator) • With his bowl to himself, Goldfish loves his life...until one day... A personal account from a goldfish on life in his bowl as other intruders crowd him.
  • 77. Don’t Call Me Grandma by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Elizabeth Zunon (Illustrator) • Nell isn't your typical great-grandmother. But in the course of this picture book from Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Vaunda Michaux Nelson, a young girl finds a way to express her affection for this prickly, independent woman.
  • 78. North Woods Girl by Aimee Bissonette, Claudia McGehee (Illustrator) • “When Grandma tucks her pants into her oversized boots and grabs her walking stick, I run to catch up,” reports a young girl charmed by her visits to Grandma’s north woods home. Their walks take them through the seasons, to a pond with a downed tree just right for sitting, to a garden lush with tomatoes ready for canning, through a snowy nighttime woods where the only sounds are the squeak of boots on snow and the hooting of a distant owl. Whatever the month, there are plenty of woodland critters to observe: squirrels or rabbits or deer, geese or goldeneyes or mergansers. The forest of North Woods Girl is an active, populated place, brought to life by Claudia McGehee’s colorful scratchboard artistry. Time with Grandma teaches about quiet observation, generous sharing of resources, the beauty of the forest and pond at any hour. Grandma is the quintessential north woods girl, breathing deep the piney scents, relishing the chirping activity of her animal neighbors. • A Grandma that doesn’t quite fit the mold.
  • 79. Little Red by Bethan Woolvin • Little Red Riding Hood meets a wolf on her way through the woods to visit her sick grandmother. The wolf is hungry, and Red Riding Hood looks tasty, so he hatches a dastardly plan, gobbles up Grandma and lies in wait. So far, so familiar. But this Little Red Riding Hood is not easily fooled, and this big bad wolf better watch his back. In this defiant interpretation of the traditional tale, the cheeky, brave little girl seizes control of her own story (and the wolf gets rather more than he bargained for).
  • 80. Rotten Richie and the Ultimate Dare by Patricia Polacco • Seems like Richie's entire goal in life is to make Trisha's impossible. Especially when he takes to teasing her about her beloved ballet class. Trisha knows how much work it takes to be good at ballet-- much more than the stupid hockey Richie plays! So she challenges Richie to perform in her ballet recital, and Richie agrees, under one condition: Trisha has to join his hockey team for the big game!
  • 81. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness • Read just the first chapter • The monster in Conor’s backyard is not the one he’s been expecting — the one from the nightmare he’s had every night since his mother started her treatments. This monster is ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. • Ages 12+
  • 82. My Teacher Is a Monster (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown Bobby has a problem. You see, his teacher is a monster. But when Bobby runs into his teacher outside of school, he learns there is more to her than meets the eye.
  • 83. Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes At first, big sister Lilly thought it might be fun to have a new baby in the family. But when her parents repeatedly coo, "Julius is the baby of world," Lilly's mouse hackles begin to rise. Soon the jealousy is too much for her, and she embarks on a rejection campaign that is hysterically funny, but also comforting for siblings who probably feel just as much resentment but would never go to Lilly's extremes. For example, she delights in insulting her oblivious baby brother: "If you were a food, you'd be a raisin," she whispers into his crib. "If you were a number you'd be zero." When she paints an elaborate family portrait, she leaves Julius out. When she throws a tea party, guess which baby doesn't get an invitation? But when a visiting cousin starts insulting baby Julius, we discover that the flip side of Lilly's intense jealousy is an even more powerful and lasting loyalty.
  • 84. The Summer My Father Was Ten by Pat Brisson, Andrea Shine (Illustrator) Every year my father and I plant a garden. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, marigold, and zinnias grow in neat, straight rows...and every spring my father tells me about Mr. Bellavista and the summer my father was ten. -From the book. That was the summer the boy lost a baseball under a tomato plant in Mr. Bellavista's garden. And someone tossed a tomato back instead of the baseball. A lively battle took place, which seemed like great fun at the time, but in the end Mr. Bellavista's garden had been destroyed. In a touching story of one boy's efforts to make amends, we see the rebuilding of a garden and the forming of a relationship across generations.
  • 85. The Raft by Jim LaMarche Nicky isn't one bit happy about spending the summer with his grandma in the Wisconsin woods; he'd much rather be back in the city. He's not too thrilled about all the chores either—especially fishing. Before long, though, a raft appears in the nearby river, and it changes everything. As Nicky explores, the raft works a subtle magic on the obstinate young boy, opening up the wonders all around him: the animals of river and woods, his grandmother's humor and wisdom, and his own special talent as an artist.
  • 86. Contrast & Contradiction: Short Stories • “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes • “Priscilla and the Wimps” by Richard Peck • “The Boy Who Cried Wolf ” by Aesop
  • 87. Aha! Moments Notice & Note Signposts
  • 88. Drawn Together by Minh Le, Dan Santat (Illustrator) • When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens-with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words.
  • 89. The Girl Who Ran by Kristina Yee, Frances Poletti, Susanna Chapman (Illustrator) • In 1966, the world believed it was impossible for a woman to run the Boston Marathon. Bobbi Gibb was determined to prove them wrong. She said she would do it, she wasn’t a liar; she’d show them by running like the wind in the fire.
  • 90. A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting, Ronald Himler (Illustrator) Francisco, a young Mexican-American boy, helps his grandfather find work as a gardener, even though the old man cannot speak English and knows nothing about gardening.
  • 91. After the Fall by Dan Santat • My name is Humpty Dumpty. I'm famous for falling off a wall. (You may have heard about it.) But that's only half the story... Because I decided to get back up. And when I did, something amazing happened. This story is about my life... AFTER THE FALL.
  • 92. The Boy and the Giant (Grandpa’s Secret Giant) by David Litchfield There is a Secret Giant in Gableview who has hands the size of tabletops, legs as long as drainpipes, and feet as big as rowing boats. But little Billy thinks the Giant is just a tall tale that his grandad likes to tell. According to Grandad, the Giant keeps the bears away when they go camping and rescues Billy’s favorite kite when it gets tangled up in the tallest tree. Grandad swears the Giant is real, but Billy’s not buying it. Why has he never seen the giant before? Why does the Giant stay hidden? Grandad knows why: People are afraid of things that look different. When Billy suddenly finds himself face-to-face with the Giant, he runs away in fear—and hurts the Giant’s feelings. But now he’s got an opportunity to make it up to him, and, just maybe, to be friends with the nicest guy in town.
  • 93. Small Things by Mel Tregonning • Wordless picture book • On the cusp of having everything slip from his grasp, a young boy has to find a way to rebuild his sense of self. An ordinary boy in an ordinary world. With no words, only illustrations, Small Things tells the story of a boy who feels alone with worries but who learns that help is always close by.
  • 94. Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson, Sean Qualls (Illustrator) • This picture book biography tells the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who bicycled across Ghana- nearly 400 miles-with only one leg. With that achievement he forever changed how his country treats people with disabilities, and he shows us all that one person is enough to change the world.
  • 95. Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) A glimpse into the boyhood of Civil Rights leader John Lewis. John wants to be a preacher when he grows up—a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm’s flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice.
  • 96. The Soccer Fence by Phil Bildner, Jesse Joshua Watson (Illustrator) As a boy, Hector loved playing soccer in his small Johannesburg township. He dreamed of playing on a real pitch with the boys from another part of the city, but apartheid made that impossible. Then, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and apartheid began to crumble. The march toward freedom in South Africa was a slow one, but when the beloved Bafana Bafana national soccer team won the African Cup of Nations, Hector realized that dreams once impossible could now come true.
  • 97. I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, Elizabeth Baddeley (Illustrator) Get to know celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg— in the first picture book about her life—as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable! Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spent a lifetime disagreeing: disagreeing with inequality, arguing against unfair treatment, and standing up for what’s right for people everywhere. This biographical picture book about the Notorious RBG, tells the justice’s story through the lens of her many famous dissents, or disagreements.
  • 98. A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts, Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator) Ruben feels like he is the only kid without a bike. His friend Sergio reminds him that his birthday is coming, but Ruben knows that the kinds of birthday gifts he and Sergio receive are not the same. After all, when Ruben’s mom sends him to Sonny’s corner store for groceries, sometimes she doesn’t have enough money for everything on the list. So when Ruben sees a dollar bill fall out of someone’s purse, he picks it up and puts it in his pocket. But when he gets home, he discovers it’s not one dollar or even five or ten—it’s a hundred-dollar bill, more than enough for a new bike just like Sergio’s! But what about the crossed- off groceries? And what about the woman who lost her money?
  • 99. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) Each kindness makes the world a little better Chloe doesn't really know why she turns away from the new girl, Maya, when Maya tries to befriend her. And every time Maya asks if she can play with Chloe and the other girls, the answer is always no. So Maya ends up playing alone. And then one day she's gone. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the opportunity that's been lost. How much better could it have been if she'd just shown Maya a little kindness and opened her heart to friendship?
  • 100. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she? Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.
  • 101. Ish by Peter H. Reynolds Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere. Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right."
  • 102. What Do You Do With an Idea? By Kobi Yamada, Mae Besom (Illustrator) This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child's confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. Can also be used for Tough Questions.
  • 103. The Promise by Nicola Davies, Laura Carlin (Illustrator) On a mean street in a mean, broken city, a young girl tries to snatch an old woman’s bag. But the frail old woman, holding on with the strength of heroes, says the thief can’t have it without giving something in return: the promise. It is the beginning of a journey that will change the thieving girl’s life — and a chance to change the world, for good.
  • 104. One Green Apple by Eve Bunting, Ted Lewin (Illustrator) Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn’t speak. It’s hard being the new kid in school, especially when you’re from another country and don’t know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter. As she helps the class make apple cider, Farah connects with the other students and begins to feel that she belongs.
  • 105. My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco There's nothing worse than a rotten redheaded older brother who can do everything you can do better! Patricia's brother Richard could run the fastest, climb the highest, and spit the farthest and still smile his extra- rotten, greeny-toothed, weasel-eyed grin. But when little Patricia wishes on a shooting star that she could do something—anything—to show him up, she finds out just what wishes— and rotten redheaded older brothers—can really do.
  • 106. Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, Ed Martinez (Illustrator) Christmas Eve started out so perfectly for Maria. Snow had fallen and the streets glittered. Maria's favorite cousins were coming over and she got to help make the tamales for Christmas dinner. It was almost too good to be true when her mother left the kitchen for a moment and Maria got to try on her beautiful diamond ring . . . This is the story of a treasure thought to be lost in a batch of tamales; of a desperate and funny attempt by Maria and her cousins to eat their way out of trouble; and the warm way a family pulls together to make it a perfect Christmas after all.
  • 107. The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg The enigmatic origins of the stranger that Farmer Bailey hits with his truck and brings home to recuperate seem to have a mysterious relation to the weather. Could he be Jack Frost? Can also be used for Contrasts & Contradictions
  • 108. A Perfectly Messed-Up Story by Patrick McDonnell Little Louie's story keeps getting messed up, and he's not happy about it! What's the point of telling his tale if he can't tell it perfectly? But when he stops and takes a deep breath, he realizes that everything is actually just fine, and his story is a good one--imperfections and all.
  • 109. Abigail the Whale by Davide Cali, Sonja Bougaeva (Illustrator) Abigail dreads swimming lessons. Every time she dives into the pool, she makes a big splash, and all the girls in her class shout: “Abigail’s a whale!” Abigail can see that she is larger than the other girls. She feels huge, heavy, and out of place. Abigail’s swimming teacher takes her aside and points out: we can change how we see ourselves. He offers a creative visualization technique she can use to feel bolder, more confident, and more accepting of herself. Abigail tries it out in challenging situations that week—walking home in the dark, eating her vegetables, trying to fall asleep. Next time she’s in swimming class, instead of feeling heavy, Abigail thinks sardine, eel, barracuda, shark! She starts to figure out how to draw on mindfulness, creative thinking, resilience, and positive self-esteem to embrace exactly who she is.
  • 110. Edward Gets Messy by Rita Meade, Olga Stern (Illustrator) A very particular little pig discovers the joys that come with getting messy in this sweet and silly debut picture book. Edward the pig never pets friendly dogs on the street. He never, ever eats food that spills or splatters. And he never, ever, EVER uses markers or glue sticks or paint. They are just too messy. But what happens when—GLOOP!—a big tub of paint falls on Edward’s perfectly neat little head? Well, it might just turn out that getting messy has its upsides, too. After all, even particular pigs can clean up afterward.
  • 111. Dear Dragon by Josh Funk, Rodolfo Montalvo (Illustrator) George and Blaise are pen pals, and they write letters to each other about everything: their pets, birthdays, favorite sports, and science fair projects. There’s just one thing that the two friends don’t know: George is a human, while Blaise is a dragon! What will happen when these pen pals finally meet face-to-face?
  • 112. Aha Moment: Short Stories • “The Richer, The Poorer” by Dorothy West • “A-ha Moment” by Julia Alvarez
  • 113. Words of the Wiser Notice & Note Signposts
  • 114. Mr. Wayne’s Masterpiece by Patricia Polacco Speaking in front of an audience terrifies Trisha. Ending up in Mr. Wayne’s drama class is the last thing she wants! But Mr. Wayne gives her a backstage role painting scenery for the winter play. As she paints, she listens to the cast rehearse, memorizing their lines without even realizing it. Then, days before opening night, the lead actress suddenly moves away, and Trisha is the only other person who knows her part. Will the play have to be canceled? It won’t be an easy road— when Trisha tries to recite the lines in front of the cast, nothing comes out! But Mr. Wayne won’t let her give up, and with his coaching, Trisha is able to become one of his true masterpieces.
  • 115. Zero by Kathryn Otoshi Zero is a big round number. When she looks at herself, she just sees a hole right in her center. Every day she watches the other numbers line up to count: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 . . . !" "Those numbers have value. That's why they count," she thinks. But how could a number worth nothing become something? Zero feels empty inside. She watches One having fun with the other numbers. One has bold strokes and squared corners. Zero is big and round with no corners at all. "If I were like One, then I can count too," she thinks. So she pushes and pulls, stretches and straightens, forces and flattens herself, but in the end she realizes that she can only be Zero.
  • 116. Our Gracie Aunt by Jacqueline Woodson, John J. Muth (Illustrator) Johsnon and his sister, Beebee, seem to be all alone in the world. Their mama has gone away many times before, but something tells them that this time she won't be coming back. Then a social worker comes and takes them to meet their Aunt Gracie. Beebee barely remembers her, and Mama never even told Johnson about her. They wonder where she's been all this time--and why she would want to take care of them. Warily, though, the children begin to trust Aunt Gracie. And in the process, they come to a better understanding of what it means to be a family.
  • 117. Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator) Sassy worries that her too-large feet, too-long legs, and even her big mouth will keep her from her dream of becoming a star ballerina. So for now she's just dancing in the wings, watching from behind the curtain, and hoping that one day it will be her turn to shimmer in the spotlight. When the director of an important dance festival comes to audition her class, Sassy's first attempts to get his attention are, well, a little wobbly. But Sassy just knows, somehow, that this is her time to step out from those wings, and make her mark on the world.
  • 118. The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, Mary Grandpré (Illustrator) In this exuberant celebration of creativity, Barb Rosenstock and Mary Grandpre tell the fascinating story of Vasily Kandinsky, one of the very first painters of abstract art. Throughout his life, Kandinsky experienced colors as sounds, and sounds as colors--and bold, groundbreaking works burst forth from his noisy paint box.
  • 119. I Wish I Were a Butterfly by James Howe, Ed Young (Illustrator) The littlest cricket of Swampswallow Pond is convinced only by the Wise Old One that being special has nothing to do with physical metamorphosis, flashy colors, or shimmering wings.
  • 120. Tea with Milk by Allen Say At home in San Francisco, May speaks Japanese and the family eats rice and miso soup and drinks green tea. When she visits her friends' homes, she eats fried chicken and spaghetti. May plans someday to go to college and live in an apartment of her own. But when her family moves back to Japan, she soon feels lost and homesick for America. In Japan everyone calls her by her Japanese name, Masako. She has to wear kimonos and sit on the floor. Poor May is sure that she will never feel at home in this country. Eventually May is expected to marry and a matchmaker is hired. Outraged at the thought, May sets out to find her own way in the big city of Osaka. Allen Say has created a moving tribute to his parents and their path to discovering where home really is.
  • 121. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco, William Nicholson (Illustrator) THERE was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen. On Christmas morning, when he sat wedged in the top of the Boy's stocking, with a sprig of holly between his paws, the effect was charming. There were other things in the stocking, nuts and oranges and a toy engine, and chocolate almonds and a clockwork mouse, but the Rabbit was quite the best of all. For at least two hours the Boy loved him, and then Aunts and Uncles came to dinner, and there was a great rustling of tissue paper and unwrapping of parcels, and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten.
  • 122. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, J. Alison James (Illustrator) A beautiful fish learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions.
  • 123. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena, Christian Robinson (Illustrator) Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them. Also great for Tough Questions!
  • 124. Words of the Wiser: Short Stories • “Tuesday of the Other June” by Norma Fox Mazer • “Who Are You Today, Maria?” by Judith Ortiz Cofer • “Flowers and Freckle Cream” by Elizabeth Ellis
  • 125. Tough Questions Notice & Note Signposts
  • 126. White Water by Michael S. Bandy, Eric Stein, Shadra Strickland (Illustrator) It's a scorching hot day, and going into town with Grandma is one of Michael's favorite things. When the bus pulls up, they climb in and pay their fare, get out, walk to the back door, and climb in again. By the time they arrive in town, Michael's throat is as dry as a bone, so he runs to the water fountain. But after a few sips, the warm, rusty water tastes bad. Why is the kid at the "Whites Only" fountain still drinking? Is his water clear and refreshingly cool? No matter how much trouble Michael might get into, he's determined to find out for himself. Also good for Aha! Moment, and Contrast & Contradiction.
  • 127. The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? Nikolai knows that he wants to be the best person he can be, but often he is unsure if he is doing the right thing. So he goes to ask Leo, the wise turtle. When he arrives, the turtle is struggling to dig in his garden, and Nikolai rushes to help him. As he finishes work, a violent storm rolls in. Nikolai runs for Leo's cottage, but on his way, he hears cries for help from an injured panda. Nikolai brings her in from the cold, and then rushes back outside to rescue her baby too.
  • 128. The Numberlys by William Joyce, Christina Ellis (Illustrator) Once upon a time there was no alphabet, only numbers Life was fine. Orderly. Dull as gray paint. Very numberly. But our five jaunty heroes weren't willing to accept that this was all there could be. They knew there had to be more. So they broke out hard hats and welders, hammers and glue guns, and they started knocking some numbers together. Removing a piece here. Adding a piece there. At first, it was awful. But the five kept at it, and soon it was artful! One letter after another emerged, until there were twenty-six. Twenty-six letters - and they were beautiful. All colorful, shiny, and new. Exactly what our heroes didn't even know they were missing. And when the letters entered the world, something truly wondrous began to happen: Pizza! Jelly beans! Color! Books!
  • 129. Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator) Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom. The Tough Question is not presented as a question – it’s the desire to be free. Great for modeling this idea.
  • 130. Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting, Ronald Himler (Illustrator) Marianne, heading west with fourteen other children on an Orphan Train, is sure her mother will show up at one of the stations along the way. When her mother left Marianne at the orphanage, hadn't she promised she'd come for her after making a new life in the West? Stop after stop goes by, and there's no sign of her mother in the crowds that come to look over the children. No one shows any interest in adopting shy, plain Marianne, either. But that's all right: She has to be free for her mother to claim her. Then the train pulls into its final stop, a town called Somewhere… Also consider for Notice & Note Signpost: Memory Moment
  • 131. The Gold Coin by Alma Flor Ada, Neil Waldman (Illustrator) uan has been a thief for many, many years. So many, in fact, that he can't even remember what it's like to be anything else. When he tries to steal Doña Josefa's gold, something strange begins to happen to Juan. His skin becomes tan instead of pale, his body straight instead of bent, and his mouth smiles instead of scowls. Juan also begins to remember things. He remembers eating good, home-cooked food, being among friends, and laughing. When the opportunity arrives for him to take Doña Josefa's gold, another strange thing happens. Juan realizes he can't. Maybe he isn't a thief anymore.
  • 132. Riding the Tiger by Eve Bunting, David Frampton (Illustrator) Danny, new to town, is proud when a glittery-eyed tiger invites him for a ride. He climbs up onto the tiger’s massive back, and together they cruise the neighborhood. Everyone gives them respect—shopkeepers and passersby, even other kids. Danny feels powerful and much older than ten. Soon, though, he realizes it isn’t respect people feel for him and the tiger—it’s fear. And when he decides to get down off the tiger’s back, he discovers it’s a lot harder than climbing on.
  • 133. Bully by Patricia Polacco Lyla finds a great friend in Jamie on her first day of school, but when Lyla makes the cheerleading squad and a clique of popular girls invites her to join them, Jamie is left behind. Lyla knows bullying when she sees it, though, and when she sees the girls viciously teasing classmates on Facebook, including Jamie, she is smart enough to get out. But no one dumps these girls, and now they're out for revenge.
  • 134. Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco When Sheldon Russell Curtis told this story to his daughter, Rosa, she kept every word in her heart and was to retell it many times. I will tell it in Sheldon's own words as nearly as I can. He was wounded in a fierce battle and left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. Pinkus' skin was the color of polished mahogany, and he was flying Union colors like the wounded boy, and he picked him up out of the field and brought him to where the black soldier's mother, Moe Moe Bay, lived. She had soft, gentle hands and cared for him and her Pink. But the two boys were putting her in danger, two Union soldiers in Confederate territory! They had to get back to their outfits. Scared and uncertain, the boys were faced with a hard decision, and then marauding Confederate troops rode in.
  • 135. Tough Questions: Short Stories • “The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken
  • 136. Again & Again Notice & Note Signposts
  • 137. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in this hair. And it got worse... His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV!
  • 138. Brick by Brick by Charles R. Smith Jr., Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) The home of the United States president was built by many hands, including those of slaves, who undertook this amazing achievement long before there were machines to do those same jobs. Stirring and emotional, Floyd Cooper's stunning illustrations bring to life the faces of those who endured hard, brutal work when the profit of their labor was paid to the master, not the slave. The fact that many were able to purchase their freedom after earning money from learning a trade speaks to the strength of those individuals. They created this iconic emblem of America, brick by brick. Also consider for Tough Questions.
  • 139. Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds, Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) It seems like any other winter day in Montgomery, Alabama. Mama and child are riding where they’re supposed to – way in the back of the bus. The boy passes the time by watching his marble roll up and down the aisle with the motion of the bus, until from way up front a big commotion breaks out. He can’t see what’s going on, but he can see the policeman arrive outside and he can see Mama’s chin grow strong. “There you go, Rosa Parks,” she says, “Stirrin’ up a nest of hornets. Tomorrow all this’ll be forgot.” But they both know differently. Again & Again – consider the symbolism of the marble.
  • 140. Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Brian Selznick (Illustrator) Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt were birds of a feather. Not only were they two of the most admired and respected women of all time, they were also good friends. Illuminated here for the first time in picture book form is the true story of a thrilling night when they made history together! On a brisk and cloudless evening in April 1933, Amelia and Eleanor did the unprecedented: They stole away from a White House dinner, commandeered an Eastern Air Transport jet, and took off on a glorious adventure--while still dressed in their glamorous evening gowns! The repetition is subtle in this book – better for when students have more experience with Again & Again, or for older students.
  • 141. The Big Box by Toni Morrison, Slade Morrison, Giselle Potter (Illustrator) To make this group of kids abide by the rules, the grown-ups create a world inside a box . . . with toys, games, treats, and gifts, but these clever children are able to find their way out of the box and back into reality. Consider the repeated mention and symbolism of the box.
  • 142. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins! But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all. The Again & Again moment comes at the end of the book on the final page – the supper is still hot. Why does this matter and how does it link to earlier events?
  • 143. A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson, Eric Velasquez (Illustrator) There's a sweet, sweet smell in the air as two young girls sneak out of their house, down the street, and across town to where men and women are gathered, ready to march for freedom and justice. Again & Again can be noticed in the use of the color red in illustrations as well as the repeated use of the phrase a sweet smell of roses.
  • 144. My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald, Freya Blackwood (Illustrator) Cartwheel moves to a new country with her auntie, and everything is strange: the animals, the plants— even the wind. An old blanket gives Cartwheel comfort when she’s sad— and a new blanket just might change her world. This multicultural story of friendship is about leaving home, moving to a foreign and strange place, and finding a new friend. It's a story for all who have experienced change. Consider the metaphor the two blankets represent.
  • 145. The Boy Who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator) Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. Consider the repeated use of numbers, and phrases.
  • 146. Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson, Hudson Talbott (Illustrator) Soonie's great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts called Show Ways -- maps for slaves to follow to freedom. When she grew up and had a little girl, she passed on this knowledge. And generations later, Soonie -- who was born free -- taught her own daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at market and how to read.
  • 147. Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Chris K. Soentpiet (Illustrator) A little girl longs to see beyond the scary sights on the sidewalk and the angry scribbling in the halls of her building. When her teacher writes the word beautiful on the blackboard, the girl decides to look for something beautiful in her neighborhood. Her neighbors tell her about their own beautiful things. Miss Delphine serves her a "beautiful" fried fish sandwich at her diner. At Mr. Lee's "beautiful" fruit store, he offers her an apple. Old Mr. Sims invites her to touch a smooth stone he always carries. Beautiful means "something that when you have it, your heart is happy," the girl thinks. Her search for "something beautiful" leaves her feeling much happier. She has experienced the beauty of friendship and the power of hope.
  • 148. Shortcut by Donald Crews The train tracks ran right by Bigmama's house in Cottondale, and the children were warned to stay off the tracks. But one night they were late, and the tracks were a shortcut, so they started off. And when there was no turning back, they heard the train coming. Also a great mentor text for personal narratives.
  • 149. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect— until her first day of school. "You're named after a flower!" teases Victoria. "Let's smell her," says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?
  • 150. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance.
  • 151. Again & Again: Short Stories • “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros • “Charles” by Shirley Jackson
  • 152. Memory Moment Notice & Note Signposts
  • 153. Emma & the Whale by Julie Case, Lee White (Illustrator) Emma lives in a crooked house in an old whaling town, and often takes her dog, Nemo, to the beach. On their walks, they find amazing treasures, like shells and stones and sea glass and even a loggerhead turtle. But one day, they find something completely unexpected: a baby whale, washed ashore. Emma empathizes with the animal's suffering, imagining what the whale is thinking and feeling. When the tide starts to come in, Emma pushes as the water swirls and rises, and eventually the whale swims free, back to her mother. There are two flashbacks that can be used for Memory Moments.
  • 154. When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson, Julie Flett (Illustrator) When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother's garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away.
  • 155. Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Bettye Stroud, John Holyfield (Illustrator) Sitting on a bench waiting for his mother, Alex spies a mule chomping on greens in someone's garden, and he can't help but ask about it.""Ol Belle?" says Miz Pettway next to him. "She can have all the collards she wants. She's earned it." And so begins the tale of a simple mule in Gee's Bend, Alabama, who played a singular part in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. When African-Americans in a poor community-- inspired by a visit from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-- defied local authorities who were trying to stop them from registering to vote, many got around a long detour on mule-drawn wagons. Later, after Dr. King's assassination, two mules from Gee's Bend pulled the farm wagon bearing his casket through the streets of Atlanta. As Alex looks into the eyes of gentle Belle, he begins to understand a powerful time in history in a very personal way.
  • 156. This is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson, James Ransome (Illustrator) The story of one family’s journey north during the Great Migration starts with a little girl in South Carolina who finds a rope under a tree one summer. She has no idea the rope will become part of her family’s history. But for three generations, that rope is passed down, used for everything from jump rope games to tying suitcases onto a car for the big move north to New York City, and even for a family reunion where that first little girl is now a grandmother.
  • 157. A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa, her mother and grandmother save their coins to buy a really comfortable chair for all to enjoy.
  • 158. Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra, J. Otto Seibold (Illustrator) Big Bad Wolf’s first visit to his local library (as related in Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf) was such a success that he returns to tell his version of “The Three Little Pigs.” His outrageous spin on the tale draws skeptical remarks from his audience: “Isn’t that wolf’s nose getting longer?” asks Pinocchio. “It’s a cooked-up, half-baked tale,” snaps the Gingerbread Boy. And “Tell the truth, B.B. Wolf!” squeal the Three Little Pigs. Caught in his own lie, B.B. explains that he is a reformed villain: “Now I’m begging on my knees, Little Pigs, forgive me, please!” How B.B. turns his bad old deed into a good new one provides a happy ending to this fun-to- read fractured fairytale.
  • 159. Sami and the Time of the Troubles by Florence Parry Heide, Judith Heide Gilliland (Illustrator) Ten-year-old Sami lives with his family in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Until the middle of the twentieth century, Beirut was one of the most splendid cities in the world. Today it is a place of ruin and trouble. And it is Sami’s home. Sami and his little sister Leila are like children everywhere, but their lives are like those of too many other children who live in places where violence has become the accepted way of resolving differences. Always, there are memories of good times to hold on to when the troubles come. Always, there is hope that this time will be the last time.
  • 160. Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say This tale of one man’s love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places, as he goes between Japan and the United States over the course of his life.
  • 161. Storm in the Night by Mary Stolz, Pat Cummings (Illustrator) torm in the night. Thunder like mountains blowing up. Lightning licking the navy-blue sky. Rain streaming down the windows, babbling in the downspouts. And Grandfather? . . . And Thomas? . . . And Ringo, the cat? They were in the dark. Too early to go to bed, and with only flashes of lightning to see by, Thomas and his grandfather happily find themselves re- discovering the half-forgotten scents and sounds of their world, and having a wonderful time learning important, new things about each other in a spirited conversation sparked by darkness.
  • 162. Tough Cookie by David Wisniewski Sam Spade, move over! In his years on the force, Tough Cookie Busted the Ginger Snaps and broke up the Macaroons. Now living as a private eye at the bottom of the cookie jar, he learns that Fingers has gotten his old partner, Chips. With his best girl, Pecan Sandy, at his side, Tough Cookie sets out to put Fingers away, for keeps!
  • 163. Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco When a bad leak ruins the sacristy wall in his father's church, Jonathan Jefferson Weeks thinks his family's first Christmas Eve service in Detroit will be ruined, too. But then he and his father find a beautiful tapestry for sale in a secondhand shop. Just the thing to cover the damaged wall and give the church a festive look! But then, amazingly, an old Jewish woman who is visiting the church recognizes the beautiful cloth. It is her discovery that leads to a real miracle on Christmas Eve.
  • 164. When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant, Diane Goode (Illustrator) Rylant delights in the simple joys of living with her grandparents in the Appalachian Mountains: fresh cornbread, the swimming hole, bathing in the tin tub, snakes, and the community church. Surrounding all of these memories is the loving relationship with her grandparents.
  • 165. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote First published in 1956, this is the story from Capote's childhood of lovingly making fruitcakes from scratch at Christmas- time with his elderly cousin, and has stood the test of time to become known as an American holiday classic.
  • 166. Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, James E. Ransome (Illustrator) Sunday afternoons are special for Sarah and Susan because that's when they visit Aunt Flossie -- she has a memorable collection of hats, each with a special story.
  • 167. Memory Moment: Short Stories • “My Grandmother’s Hair” by Cynthia Rylant
  • 169. Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, Barbara Cooney (Illustrator) • Marian called it Roxboxen. There across the road, it looked like any rocky hill—nothing but sand and rocks, and some old wooden boxes. But it was a special place. And all children needed to go there was a long stick and a soaring imagination.
  • 170. The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette, Julie Flett (Illustrator) While picking berries with her mother, a little girl wanders too far into the woods. When she realizes she is lost, she begins to panic. A large grey wolf makes a sudden appearance between some distant trees. Using his sense of smell, he determines where she came from and decides to help her. Through a series of questions from the wolf, the little girl realizes she had the knowledge and skill to navigate herself--she just needed to remember that those abilities were there all along.
  • 171. Gift Horse: A Lakota Story by S.D. Nelson When his father gives him a gift horse, marking the beginning of his journey to manhood, Flying Cloud and the horse, Storm, spend their days hunting and roughhousing with the other boys and their horses. But when an enemy raiding party steals his beloved Storm, Flying Cloud faces the ultimate rite of passage. He must join the rescue party and earn the right to wear the shirt of a warrior.
  • 172. Lotus & Feather by Ji-li Jiang, Julie Downing (Illustrator) A winter illness left Lotus, a little girl, without a voice and without friends. A hunter's bullet left Feather, a crane, injured and unable to fly. As Lotus nurses Feather back to health, their bond grows. Soon Feather is following Lotus everywhere, even to school! The bird dances to the girl's reed whistle, much to the delight of the other children. One day, when the village floods, Feather helps raise the alarm as Lotus and her grandfather urge their neighbors to get to high ground. Feather is a true friend to Lotus, but the time comes when Lotus must be a true friend to him--by encouraging him to migrate with the rest of the cranes. The next spring, Feather miraculously returns, and that's not all . . . he has brought new life to the nearby lake.
  • 174. Jubilee by Patricia Reilly Giff Judith lives with her beloved aunt Cora and her faithful Dog on a beautiful island. Years ago, when her mother left, Judith stopped talking. Now she communicates entirely through gestures and taps, and by drawing cartoons, speaking only when she’s alone—or with Dog. This year, Judith faces a big change—leaving her small, special classroom for a regular fifth-grade class. She likes her new teacher, and finds a maybe-friend in a boy named Mason. But Jubilee’s wandering feet won’t stop until they find her mother. And now she discovers that her mother has moved back to the mainland, nearby. If Jubilee finds her, will her mother’s love be what she needs to speak again?
  • 175. Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes Wanted: One amazing forever home for one amazing sixth grader. "My name is Gaby, and I'm looking for a home where I can invite my best friend over and have a warm breakfast a couple of times a week. Having the newest cell phone or fancy clothes isn't important, but I'd like to have a cat that I can talk to when I'm home alone." Gaby Ramirez Howard loves volunteering at the local animal shelter. She plays with the kittens, helps to obedience train the dogs, and writes adoption advertisements so that the strays who live there can find their forever homes: places where they'll be loved and cared for, no matter what. Gaby has been feeling like a bit of a stray herself, lately. Her mother has recently been deported to Honduras and Gaby is stuck living with her inattentive dad. She's confident that her mom will come home soon so that they can adopt Gaby's favorite shelter cat together. When the cat's original owners turn up at the shelter, however, Gaby worries that her plans for the perfect family are about to fall apart.
  • 176. Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks, Gita Varadarajan Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they're both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL. Joe's lived in the same town all his life, and was doing just fine until his best friends moved away and left him on his own. Ravi's family just moved to America from India, and he's finding it pretty hard to figure out where he fits in. Joe and Ravi don't think they have anything in common -- but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week.
  • 177. Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. EVER. Edited by Betsy Bird Funny Girl is a collection of uproarious stories, rollicking comics, rib- tickling wit, and more, from 25 of today’s funniest female writers for kids. What could be funnier than family? Read stories about Ursula Brown's grandmother driving her on a road trip to disaster, Lisa Brown's little brother getting a Tic-Tac stuck up his nose, and Carmen Agra Deedy's mom setting the bathtub on fire. What could be funnier than friends? Pretty much nothing, as Rita Williams-Garcia shows two besties hatching a bird-brained scheme to get on to a TV talk show, and Deborah Underwood introduces a dynamic dog-and- cat duo teaming up on a pet advice column. What could be funnier than YOU? Tell your future with Mad Libs, discover your Chinese Zodiac sign with Lenore Look, and learn the best tricks of the comedy trade from professional humorists like Adrianne Chalepah and Delaney Yeager. With clever contributions from award-winning and bestselling authors including Cece Bell, Sophie Blackall, Libba Bray, Shannon Hale, Lisa Graff, and Raina Telgemeier, this anthology of funny girls will make you laugh until you cry. Or cry until you laugh. Or maybe you won't cry at all. Either way, you'll definitely laugh. Funny Girl isn’t just an anthology: it’s a cause, a mission, a movement. Girls are funny. Now it’s time for the world to know it.
  • 178. Salsa Stories by Lulu Delacre When Carmen Teresa receives a notebook as a holiday gift, the guests suggest she write down their own childhood stories, which they tell. But Carmen Teresa, who loves to cook, collects their family recipes instead! With energy, sensitivity, and warmth, Lulu Delacre introduces readers to a symphony of colorful characters whose 9 stories dance through a year of Latin American holidays and customs. Countries include Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Guatamala and Peru. Seventeen delicious and authentic recipes are included.
  • 179. The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner Charlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life at college, everything seems more important than Charlie. Then one day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything . . . in the form of a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom. Charlie can't believe her luck but soon realizes that this fish has a very odd way of granting wishes as even her best intentions go awry. But when her family faces a challenge bigger than any they've ever experienced, Charlie wonders if some things might be too important to risk on a wish fish.
  • 180. The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by Claudia Guadelupe Martinez Chela Gonzalez, the book’s narrator, is a nerd and a soccer player who can barely contain her excitement about starting the sixth grade. But nothing is as she imagined—her best friend turns on her to join the popular girls and they all act like Chela doesn’t exist. She buries herself in schoolwork and in the warm comfort of her family. To Chela, her family is like a solar system, with her father the sun and her mother, brothers, and sister like planets rotating all around him. It’s a small world, but it’s the only one she fits in. But that universe is threatened when her strong father has a stroke. Chela’s grandmother moves in to help the family. The smell of her old lady perfume invades the house. That smell is worse than Sundays. Sundays were sad, but they went just as sure as they came. Death was a whole other thing, and Chela doesn’t understand that’s what everyone is waiting for. In her grief and worry, Chela begins to discover herself and find her own strength.
  • 181. George by Alex Gino When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
  • 182. The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He's got a dog named Beau and a best friend, Jessie. He likes to take photos and write haiku poems in his notebook. He dreams of climbing a mountain one day. But in one important way, Mark is not like other kids at all. Mark is sick. The kind of sick that means hospitals. And treatments. The kind of sick some people never get better from. So Mark runs away. He leaves home with his camera, his notebook, his dog, and a plan to reach the top of Mount Rainier--even if it's the last thing he ever does.
  • 183. Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith Twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher was born into a family with a rich tradition of practicing folk magic: hoodoo, as most people call it. But even though his name is Hoodoo, he can't seem to cast a simple spell. Then a mysterious man called the Stranger comes to town, and Hoodoo starts dreaming of the dead rising from their graves. Even worse, he soon learns the Stranger is looking for a boy. Not just any boy. A boy named Hoodoo. The entire town is at risk from the Stranger’s black magic, and only Hoodoo can defeat him. He’ll just need to learn how to conjure first.
  • 184. My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer by Jennifer Gennaro Twelve-year-old June Farrell is sure of one thing—she’s great at making pies— and she plans to prove it by winning a blue ribbon in the Champlain Valley Fair pie competition. But a backlash against Vermont’s civil union law threatens her family’s security and their business. Even when faced with bullying, June won’t give up on winning the blue ribbon; more importantly, she won’t give up on her family.
  • 186. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer Otto and Sheed are the local sleuths in their zany Virginia town, masters of unraveling mischief using their unmatched powers of deduction. And as the summer winds down and the first day of school looms, the boys are craving just a little bit more time for fun, even as they bicker over what kind of fun they want to have. That is, until a mysterious man appears with a camera that literally freezes time. Now, with the help of some very strange people and even stranger creatures, Otto and Sheed will have to put aside their differences to save their town—and each other—before time stops for good.
  • 187. Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano Leonora Logroño’s family owns the most beloved bakery in Rose Hill, Texas, spending their days conjuring delicious cookies and cakes for any occasion. And no occasion is more important than the annual Dia de los Muertos festival. Leo hopes that this might be the year that she gets to help prepare for the big celebration—but, once again, she is told she’s too young. Sneaking out of school and down to the bakery, she discovers that her mother, aunt, and four older sisters have in fact been keeping a big secret: they’re brujas—witches of Mexican ancestry—who pour a little bit of sweet magic into everything that they bake. Leo knows that she has magical ability as well and is more determined than ever to join the family business—even if she can’t let her mama and hermanas know about it yet. And when her best friend, Caroline, has a problem that needs solving, Leo has the perfect opportunity to try out her craft. It’s just one little spell, after all…what could possibly go wrong?
  • 188. The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu When you’re an identical twin, your story always starts with someone else. For Iris, that means her story starts with Lark. Iris has always been the grounded, capable, and rational one; Lark has been inventive, dreamy, and brilliant—and from their first moments in the world together, they’ve never left each other’s side. Everyone around them realized early on what the two sisters already knew: they had better outcomes when they were together. When fifth grade arrives, however, it is decided that Iris and Lark should be split into different classrooms, and something breaks in them both. Iris is no longer so confident; Lark retreats into herself as she deals with challenges at school. And at the same time, something strange is happening in the city around them, things both great and small going missing without a trace. As Iris begins to understand that anything can be lost in the blink of an eye, she decides it’s up to her to find a way to keep her sister safe.
  • 189. The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh Everything in Bea's world has changed. She's starting seventh grade newly friendless and facing big changes at home, where she is about to go from only child to big sister. Feeling alone and adrift, and like her words don't deserve to be seen, Bea takes solace in writing haiku in invisible ink and hiding them in a secret spot. But then something incredible happens-- someone writes back. And Bea begins to connect with new friends, including a classmate obsessed with a nearby labyrinth and determined to get inside. As she decides where her next path will lead, she just might discover that her words--and herself--have found a new way to belong.
  • 190. Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz To Molly Nathans, perfect is: • The number four • The tip of a newly sharpened number two pencil • A crisp, white pad of paper • Her neatly aligned glass animal figurines What’s not perfect is Molly’s mother leaving the family to take a faraway job with the promise to return in one year. Molly knows that promises are often broken, so she hatches a plan to bring her mother home: Win the Lakeville Middle School Slam Poetry Contest. The winner is honored at a fancy banquet with table cloths. Molly’s sure her mother would never miss that. Right…? But as time goes on, writing and reciting slam poetry become harder. Actually, everything becomes harder as new habits appear, and counting, cleaning, and organizing are not enough to keep Molly’s world from spinning out of control.
  • 191. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly In one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted and feels out of place in his loud and boisterous family. Valencia Somerset, who is deaf, is smart, brave, and secretly lonely, and loves everything about nature. Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic, whose little sister Gen is always following her around. And Chet Bullens wishes the weird kids would just act normal so that he can concentrate on basketball. They aren’t friends -- at least not until Chet pulls a prank that traps Virgil and his pet guinea pig at the bottom of a well. This disaster leads Kaori, Gen, and Valencia on an epic quest to find the missing Virgil. Through luck, smarts, bravery, and a little help from the universe, a rescue is performed, a bully is put in his place, and friendship blooms.
  • 192. The Sweetest Sound by Sherri Winston For ten-year-old Cadence Jolly, birthdays are a constant reminder of all that has changed since her mother skipped town with dreams of becoming a star. Cadence inherited that musical soul, she can't deny it, but otherwise she couldn't be more different - she's as shy as can be. She did make a promise last year that she would try to break out of her shell, just a little. And she prayed that she'd get the courage to do it. As her eleventh birthday draws near, she realizes time is running out. And when a secret recording of her singing leaks and catches the attention of her whole church, she needs to decide what's better: deceiving everyone by pretending it belongs to someone else, or finally stepping into the spotlight.
  • 193. Millicent Min, Girl Genius Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn't know Millicent's IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. And if Millie can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother's advice, swear her parents to silence, blackmail Stanford, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend. What's it gong to take? Sheer genius.
  • 194. Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes Ten-year-old Sugar lives on the River Road sugar plantation along the banks of the Mississippi. Slavery is over, but laboring in the fields all day doesn't make her feel very free. Thankfully, Sugar has a knack for finding her own fun, especially when she joins forces with forbidden friend Billy, the white plantation owner's son. Sugar has always yearned to learn more about the world, and she sees her chance when Chinese workers are brought in to help harvest the cane. The older River Road folks feel threatened, but Sugar is fascinated. As she befriends young Beau and elder Master Liu, they introduce her to the traditions of their culture, and she, in turn, shares the ways of plantation life. Sugar soon realizes that she must be the one to bridge the cultural gap and bring the community together.

Notas do Editor

  1. Personal narrative/Memoir
  2. Personal Narrative/Memoir
  3. Personal narrative/memoir
  4. Personal narrative/memoir
  5. Personal narrative/memoir
  6. Personal narrative, great descriptions
  7. Personal narrative/memoir
  8. Personal narrative, memoir
  9. Personal narrative, memoir. Also great for Contrasts and Contradictions signpost.
  10. Personal narrative, memoir
  11. Personal narrative, memoir
  12. Personal narrative, memoir
  13. Personal narrative, memoir
  14. Personal narrative, memoir, how-to
  15. Personal narrative, memoir
  16. Personal narrative, memoir
  17. Persuasive, argument, opinion
  18. Persuasive
  19. Argument, opinion, persuasive
  20. Persuasive
  21. Persuasive
  22. Notice & Note Signposts
  23. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  24. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  25. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  26. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  27. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  28. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  29. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  30. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  31. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  32. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  33. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  34. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  35. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  36. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  37. Notice & Note: Contrasts & Contradictions
  38. Great for beginning of the year – about using your imagination to find a special place – use your imagination to make our classroom a special place.