Genre: Folklore Title: Anansi The Spider, a tale from the Ashanti Author/Illustrator: Gerald McDermott Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1993 Age level: 5-8 years Synopsis: Anansi the Spider is a popular African tale that originated from the Ashanti people of Ghana, Africa. It’s the story of how Anansi’s family, each with their own unique talents, helped to save their father from a fish and place the moon in the sky! This is a beautiful story that has been passed down through generations of the Ashanti people and their culture is so evident in the telling of the story. The illustrations are also beautiful and rich in the African culture. They look different from most stories, as they are filled with African patterns, but they really help to draw the reader into the story and the culture. Thematic Applications: Africa Family Spiders Talents Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Study African and the African culture together Watch a video on Africa Try some African foods together Assign an African country to each child and have them research it and write a report on it Learn about the Ashanti people and their culture Learn about spiders and bring one in to look at together for the day Have each child make a name tag with a “symbol” representing something they are talented at, just like Anansi’s children had symbols on them representing what they were good at Make a spider snack together out of crackers and pretzels and enjoy them Have the children draw a “family portrait” of their family as spiders, each with a unique marking for their talent, like Anasi’s family Put on a class talent show together in which everyone participates

Genre: Folklore Title: Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China Author/Illustrator: Ed Young Publisher: Philomel Books Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1989 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: Lon Po Po is the beautiful Chinese telling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood fairytale. Three children are left at home alone for the night when their mother goes to visit their grandma. What a surprise it is when they hear a knock on the door and hear a voice claiming to be their grandma! But, grandma has such a deep voice, and a furry tail…can it really be grandma? The artwork in this book is made of beautiful pastels, and the Chinese background can easily be seen through the faces of the children in the book. The artwork adds richly to the culture that the story itself already overflows with. I really enjoyed reading this book because it gave a different twist to a story I’m familiar with, and added Chinese culture to it, as well. I think kids will find this story, with its beautiful pictures and rich culture brings them to a different time and place. Thematic Applications: Cultural Differences China/Chinese culture Grandparents Comparing/Contrasting Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Compare and contrast the Chinese version of the story with the version the students know Watch a movie on China and learn about their culture Bring in some Chinese food for the children to try Have the children find out what their cultural heritage is and discuss the differences Have the children discuss the different names they call their grandparents Discuss different cultural traditions the students may have in their families Ask the children to bring in any stories they may have at home from a different culture Eat some Gingko nuts while reading the story together

Genre: Folklore Title: Oh, Kojo! How Could You! Author: Verna Aardema Illustrator: Marc Brown Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1984 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: Oh, Kojo! How Could You! is a tale that derived from the Ashanti people of Ghana, Central Africa. It’s the story of a woman, Tutuola, and her son Kojo, who was given to her by the River Spirit which warned Tutuola that her son would only “like to spend her money” but will “one day repay her.” Every time Kojo goes to run on an errand with his mother’s money, Tutuola warns him to beware of Anase because he is very tricky, and every time Kojo still falls for Anase’s tricks. Tutuola and the reader will find themselves wondering by the end…will Kojo ever manage to repay his mother like the River Spirit predicted? This art in this book accurately depicts the roots of the story. It’s beautiful and full of African patterns and colors. The plants, the villages, the animals, and the people are all distinctly African and beautiful and really draw the reader into not only the story, but the African culture as well. I loved the richness of the culture in this book and the story presented in it, as well, and I know children will find it hard not to fall in love with as well. Thematic Applications: Africa Tall tales Onomatopoeia Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have each child create and write their very own tall tale Study African and the African culture together Watch a video on Africa Try some African foods together Assign an African country to each child and have them research it and write a report on it Talk about different examples of Onomatopoeia and point them out in the book Look through comic strips together as a class and highlight the onomatopoeia words, then have them create their own comic strips using onomatopoeia Learn about the Ashanti people and their culture Genre: Folklore

Title: The Magic Babushka: An Original Russian Tale Author/Illustrator: Phyllis Limbacher Tildes Publisher: Talewinds Books Place of Publication: Watertown, Massachusetts Date of Publication: 1998 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: The Magic Babushka is an old Russian tale about a girl who wants so bad to be able to make beautifully decorated Easter eggs, called pysanky, but is unable to because of her poor eyesight. She is sad when the Tsarina announces that she will give a prize for the most beautiful pysanky and she is unable to join in the decorating fun with her friends. But one day, she rescues an ancient butterfly woman who grants her a wish and gives her a magic scarf, or babushka. What will Nadia use the magic gift for? This story is rich with Russian culture, incorporating many Russian words into the text. The pictures are full of beautiful and bright colors, just like the Russian pysanky. Children will love reading about how a girl with a disability becomes a girl with special magic, as well as learning a bit about the Russian people in the process. Overall, I think this is a great book to introduce children to new cultures and places. Thematic Applications: Russia Easter Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have everyone decorate their very own Easter eggs together as a class Learn about Russia, learn a few Russian words together, and maybe even try some Russian foods together Bring in different scarves for the children to put on and wear while you read the story together Have the children write about what they would do with one magic wish and a magic scarf Learn about the history of pysanky and Easter eggs together and discuss how maybe that’s where our tradition of making Easter eggs comes from together Watch a video on how pysanky eggs are still made today

Genre: Folklore Title: The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark Author: Carmen Agra Deedy Illustrator: Henri Sorensen Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, Ltd. Place of Publication: Atlanta, Georgia Date of Publication: 2000 Age level: 9-12 years Synopsis: The Yellow Star is a legend that originated in Denmark about a king who all the people of Denmark loved, King Christian X. The Danish depended on their king and him on them. When Nazis invaded his country the King put up a peaceful resistance to them, refusing to let the Nazi flag be flown. When they wanted to force all the Jewish people of Denmark to wear a yellow star to segregate and terrorize them, King Christian X came up with a plan. With the idea that he would hide a star “among its sisters,” he, along with all his people, wore the yellow star of the Jewish people, so the Nazis couldn’t tell people apart! This story is a great way to introduce a concept and a story that’s so horrific to children in a much less threatening way. Teachers can use this book to teach about the Holocaust without it being such a graphic and frightening thing for children. The portraits in this book use subtle colors, but they portray beautifully what the words are saying. Overall, I think this is a legend that we all wish was true and children will love hearing about. Thematic Applications: World War II/Holocaust Denmark King Christian X Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the children do some research on King Christian X of Denmark and see what the story says about him is and isn’t true Learn about World War II and the Holocaust together Talk about how what the Nazis did to the Jews was wrong and went against their human rights, then have the children investigate some violations of human rights today in the world and then write a persuasive essay on it Follow up this book by reading Number the Stars by Lowis Lowry as a class together Learn a bit about Denmark and its history and point out where it, along with other countries from World War II are located on the map Have the children research the account of a child who lived through the Holocaust and then, either write a paper about it, or just share the information with each other as a class

Genre: Contemporary Realism Title: Frindle Author: Andrew Clements Illustrator: Brian Selznick Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1996 Age level: Grades 3-7 Synopsis: Frindle is the goofy story of how Nick Allen became famous. Nick learns in school one day about how new words are created and suddenly he has a genius idea. He invents his own word for a pen: frindle. Nick gets his friends to start using the word and he thinks he’s pretty cool, but he never thought his new word would begin to spread across the country! Before he knows it, Nick’s in trouble for his new word and it’s spreading rapidly, but there’s nothing he can do to stop it! Upper elementary kids will love this comical book. They will fall in love with Nick and his creative, amusing ideas and probably even be able to relate a bit to his relationship with Mrs. Granger. Not only will they enjoy reading the humorous book, but they will, unknowingly, learn a bit about how words come about in a language, as well. Overall, I think this would be a fun book to read as a class, enjoyed by both the students and the teacher! Thematic Applications Language Vocabulary Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have students create their own word for an ordinary object and share it with the class, explaining why they chose that word for that particular object Have the children look through dictionaries together and look for the origin of certain words and then discuss them together Have the children create their own word for an object and then write a dictionary entry for it. Then, put them all together and create a class dictionary Have the children create their own word for an object and, in groups, use their new word in a sentence and have their friends try to guess what they are referring to Give the students a list of new vocabulary words and have them look them up in a dictionary

Genre: Contemporary Realism Title: Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl Author: Barbara Park Illustrator: Denise Brunkus Publisher: Random House Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2001 Age level: Grades Late Kindergarten-3 Synopsis: In Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl, Junie B. Jones is getting ready to graduate Kindergarten! Her teacher, referred to by Junie as “Mrs.,” hands out their brand new, white graduation cap and gowns, instructing them to keep them in their boxes until graduation day. But, when Junie gets home, she can’t help but show off her brand new gown to her stuffed animal friends and, of course, then she gets thirsty—for some grape juice! Suddenly, Junie’s brand new, white gown has purple polka-dots. Can she fix it? Or will she stay in Kindergarten forever?! This book is perfect for younger elementary students, especially nearing the end of their school year. The five-year old like dialogue that Junie uses will easily draw young readers into the story and they will find themselves easily relating to Junie and her comic mishaps will have them laughing and enjoying reading the story. Thematic Applications: Graduation Growing up Grammar Using meaning clues (ie: pictures, title, cover headings, etc.) Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Read the book together at the end of the year and then have a class graduation party together, complete with cap and gowns! Discuss as a class some of Junie’s grammatical mistakes and go through some of them as a class and how you would fix them so that they are correct Make “diplomas” for each student and give them to them as they finish the book and near the end of the school year Bring a plain white sheet for each child and make them into “gowns” and allow children to splatter purple paint on them, just like Junie B. Jones! Then, maybe re-tell the story together and act it out. Look at the cover of the book together and have the children write about what they predict will happen in the book

Genre: Contemporary Realism Title: Junie B., First Grader (at last!) Author: Barbara Park Illustrator: Denise Brunkus Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2002 Age level: Grades 1-3 Synopsis: In Junie B., First Grader (at last!) we find Junie B. Jones beginning her first grade year. She’s less excited about this year as everything is different! She has a new class, a new teacher, and even has to find new friends. She also finds out that she may need glasses…what else could go wrong?! This book is perfect for younger elementary grades because they will easily be able to identify with Junie’s story as she begins a new grade and even as she gets new glasses! They will enjoy the journal-like style in which the story is written because it will make them feel like they are simply listening to a friend tell a story. As a kid, I know I loved to read Junie B. Jones books because I could really relate to them and I think kids still love them for that very same reason. Thematic Applications: New school year Being different Spanish (like José speaks in the book) Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Learn some simple Spanish together Talk about how we are all different, but that’s not a bad thing Have children write about a change that occurred at some point in their life and how they had to get used to it Have the children write their own journals throughout the year, just like Junie B. is journaling in the book Bring in white and brown eggs and give each child one, crack them open together, and then, use this as an example to discuss how we may all be different on the outside, but we are the same on the inside, and that’s what matters! Have the students decorate a paper bag to look like themselves and then have them write some things they like about themselves and each other on little pieces of paper and stick them inside the bag to show how we all look different on the outside, but it’s the stuff inside that matters

Genre: Contemporary Realism Title: Ramona Quimby, Age 8 Author: Beverly Cleary Illustrator: Tracy Dockray Publisher: Harper Trophy Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1981 Age level: Grades 2-7 Synopsis: Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is a classic story that children will still love today. Ramona is beginning the third grade and is excited about growing up! Of course, as is usual with Ramona, nothing goes quite right. She gets raw egg in her hair, gets teased by a boy in her class, and even throws up in school one day! On top of that, Ramona overhears her teacher one day and, misunderstanding what was said, thinks she’s a “nuisance” to her teacher. Being eight isn’t always easy, but it’s definitely not uneventful! Elementary students will love this book, especially if they are around the same age as Ramona in this story. They will easily be able to relate to Ramona and all of her daily mishaps. I truly think this is a book students will enjoy reading because of how easily they can relate to Ramona and her life, and, in the end, I think, like Ramona, they will learn a little bit about themselves too. Thematic Applications Growing up/Independence Bullying Family/Siblings Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Ramona has to do a book report in the book, so have the kids do a book report about this book! Discuss together how Yard Ape teases Ramona and ask the children to think of a time they have been teased and how it made them feel. Then, discuss and learn about bullying together. Ramona realizes her family is a family that sticks together and she loves them even when they have ups and downs...tell the children to think about this and write about what they like about their family and siblings For her book report, Ramona decided to make a commercial and her teacher really liked it! So, have the students pick a book they really enjoyed and make a “commercial book report,” too! Have the students write about a time when things didn’t quite turn out like they wanted them to Watch the “Ramona and Beezus” movie together after reading the book and then, have the students compare how Ramona is portrayed in the movie with how she is portrayed in the book they read

Genre: Contemporary Realism Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Author/Illustrator: Jeff Kinney Publisher: Amulet Books Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2007 Age level: Grades 5-8 Synopsis: Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the fictional journal of young Greg Heffley who is just beginning his middle school years. The journal follows Greg through the year as he faces the many challenges of growing up. Along with the challenges of growing up, Greg writes about being a middle child, being a safety patrolman, the dreaded “cheese touch,” and dealing with all of his very different classmates, including his best friend Rowley. Paired with his hilarious cartoons, Greg’s journal gives the perfect feel for middle school life and the challenges it can bring, and in the end Greg even learns a valuable lesson about friendship. Upper elementary and middle school kids will love this book! The character of Greg Heffley is an ordinary kid who is just trying to make it through middle school. Kids will be able to easily identify with his character and the daily struggles he encounters. The humorous cartoons throughout the novel that illustrate the storyline will also help draw the kids’ attention into the book…so much so that they won’t be able to put it down! Thematic Applications Growing up Journaling Cartoons Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the children keep a journal throughout the year, just like Greg does. Allow them to decorate it or draw in it as much as they like…let them personalize it! Assign a character to each child and have them analyze them as they read the book and share At the end of the year, have them write some advice that they would give to students who will be entering middle school next year Have each child create their very own cartoon strip and share them with each other Have the children journal about growing up and how it makes them feel, etc. Create a “class favorites page” and nominate a title for every child, like class clown, etc. Write a school newspaper together as a class, assigning a group of kids to each different newspaper section Have class elections

Genre: Fantasy Title: Eragon Author: Christopher Paolini Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2003 Age level: Grades 3-8 Synopsis: In Eragon, our main character, Eragon, finds a strange blue stone while out in a field hunting one day. When he is unsuccessful in trading it for something, he decides to take it home with him. To his surprise, out of the stone, hatches a dragon! Suddenly, Eragon finds himself thrown into a whole new world filled with ancient languages, magical powers, danger, and sudden battles! But the story doesn’t end here, readers will be left hanging and wanting to read the next book in the series! Overall, I think kids will love reading this book because of all the fantasy elements and the climactic plot line. Christopher Paolini even includes a map of the places in the story, as well as a glossary for all the different ancient languages found within its covers. Children will find themselves liking Eragon because he is a kid just like them and they will be unable to resist his lovable dragon, Saphira. Thematic Applications Responsibility Good vs. Evil Fantasy Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Watch the movie of Eragon together as a class and compare and contrast the two together Have the children write about what might happen if they found a strange, blue stone Discuss how Christopher Paolini was only 15 years old when he began writing Eragon and have the children do an author study on him Have the students create travel brochures of all the places Eragon traveled, pointing out the good and bad things about them Discuss real-life “good vs. evil” situations, such as wars as a class Go to the computer lab and let the students explore the official website for the “Inheritance” series (www.alagaesia.com)

Genre: Fantasy Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Author: J.K. Rowling Publisher: Scholastic Press Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1998 Age level: Grades 4-8 Synopsis: In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry finds himself in a whole new world, literally! Things begin when Harry begins receiving letters in the mail and then, one night is told by a giant named Hagrid, that he’s a wizard! And so begins Harry’s first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He learns about what really happened to his parents and his encounter as a child with Voldemort that won him his title in the wizarding world as “The Boy Who Lived.” Overall, I think kids will love all the fantasy and magical elements in this story. They will also easily fall in love with The Boy Who Lived and his rags-to-riches story. I think this would be a great book to read in a classroom because it goes beyond always reading traditional literature and let’s them read something they actually want to and will enjoy reading. Thematic Applications Writing letters Owls England Fantasy Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Divide the class into the four Hogwarts houses and then compete for the “House Cup” by receiving good grades, behaving well, etc. for a month or so Have the children practice writing letters and sending them, just like Harry does with Hedwig Learn about owls and maybe even bring one in for the kids to see Take the kids to the school gym, if available, and play a version of Quidditch together After reading the book, have a movie day together as a class and watch the movie Learn about England together and maybe even try to find a class in England to be penpals with for the year Have the students write about what they would do if they could spend a day in Hogwarts

Genre: Fantasy Title: The Hobbit Author: J.R.R. Tolkien Publisher: Ballantine Books Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1982 Age level: Grades 5 and up Synopsis: The Hobbit is another classic tale that can still be enjoyed by older children today. It is the story of Bilbo Baggins, uncle of Frodo Baggins, our hobbit hero in The Lord of the Rings, and how he obtained the famous ring from Gollum. Along the way he encounters dark forests, dragons, elves, and so much more! The children will love joining Bilbo in his journey and all of his encounters with strange creatures. I know as a child, I loved this book and think children today will still appreciate all the magic and fantasy that are contained in the pages of this book. It’s a great book to introduce children to classic literature in a way that they can still enjoy. Thematic Applications Fantasy Old English language Rhyming Riddles Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the children create a story map for The Hobbit of all the places that Bilbo travels Learn about how some words in The Hobbit are Old English and learn about how the English language has changed over time Have the students create their own rhyming poems about the book Read some riddles together as a class and have a competition with prizes to see who can figure them out Encourage the students to read the rest of the series and maybe watch the first movie together as a class Have the students write about what they would have done if they had obtained the ring

Genre: Fantasy Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Author: Rick Riordan Publisher: Disney Hyperion Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2005 Age level: Grades 4-8 Synopsis: In The Lightning Thief, Percy’s school year takes an interesting turn as he finds himself being chased by mythological creatures! He also finds out that he is a Demigod, and Poseidon is his father! Then, he is sent on a quest to find whoever stole Zeus’ lightning bolt, accompanied by Annabeth and Grover. In the end, after Percy returns the lightning bolt, just when he thinks everything is normal again, he is betrayed by his friend Luke, and the readers are left wondering what will happen next! Upper elementary and middle school kids will love this book, especially boys! The author of this book did a great job of taking an ordinary boy with problems, such as ADD, and making him into a special character. He also did a great job of bringing Greek mythology into the story in modern ways, which I think kids who enjoy fantasy stories will really enjoy. Overall, I thought this was a great read and think kids will love reading it as well. Thematic Applications Mythology Teamwork AD/HD Greece/Greek people Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the children each pick a Greek god, research it, and share about them in class Watch a movie on Greece Have the children write a paper picking a current world event and explaining it using the Greek gods as the source Discuss as a class whether they think Percy really has AD/HD or just has some special powers As you read the book, have the children make a chart of who each god/goddess is and what they are god/goddess of to help them keep track throughout the book Play capture the flag together as a class, diving them into teams so they have to use teamwork Learn some of the Greek alphabet together Create a map of Camp Halfblood or the Underworld together as a class to help follow the story

Genre: Fantasy Title: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Author: C.S. Lewis Publisher: Harper Collins Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1994 Age level: Grades 4-8 Synopsis: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is a classic tale, but one that children will still easily fall in love with. It’s a story of four children, Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and Susan, who live in England during World War II. Because of the war, they are forced to go live in an old Professor’s house. One day, while playing hide-and-seek, Lucy stumbles across an old wardrobe that takes her into a whole other world, Narnia! Before they know it, the children find themselves amidst a battle in Narnia. In the end, who will win out, the White Witch or Aslan? This is a story that I grew up with and loved reading. I think children will love this book because they can relate to the main characters that are around their age, easily. They will fall in love with the magical world of Narnia and of course, the gentle giant, Aslan. This is a great piece of classical literature that can definitely still be enjoyed and applied to children’s lives today. Thematic Applications World War II England Medieval times/castles Lions Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Allow the students to try some Turkish Delight while watching the movie together Study the medieval time period together as a class and point out element of it during the story, particularly in Narnia and then, have the kids design their own medieval castles Learn about World War II, particularly what it would have been like for children during that time, especially in England Create “Narnia Passports” together Compare and contrast the movie with the book If in a Christian school, discuss how C.S. Lewis wrote the story to tell the story of Christ and discuss how C.S. Lewis portrayed it Learn about lions and the other animals in the Narnia story and if possible, take a field trip to the zoo together

Genre: Historical Fiction Title: Civil War on Sunday (Magic Tree House #21) Author: Mary Pope Osborne Illustrator: Sal Murdocca Publisher: Random House Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2000 Age level: Grades 2-4 Synopsis: Civil War on Sunday is yet another exciting tale of the adventures of Jack and Annie in their Magic Tree House! This time, the tree house has taken them back to the time period of the American Civil War. While there, they meet the famous nurse, Clara Barton, and assist her in caring for wounded soldiers, even one who they find out is related to them! But, will the two siblings be able to get home or will they stay stuck amidst a fight for their lives? Children will love reading this book as it places them right into action on the battlefield! The easy-to-read format is perfect for younger students who are just learning to read, and the accurate historical facts and fast-paced plot draws older students in to the story as well. Overall, personally, I think this is a great book to bring into a classroom. It’s one that students will enjoy reading, but also teaches them a lot about the Civil War. So, it’s a win-win situation! Thematic Applications American Civil War Clara Barton Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Make a large “magic treehouse” out of large cardboard boxes and invite the children to join you in it while you read the book together! Discuss how Clara Barton was the founder of the current-day Red Cross. Discuss what the Red Cross does and then, do something as a class to help the Red Cross, such as collecting items. Hardtack was eaten by soldiers in the Civil War, so make some for the kids to try eating Re-enact the battle, dividing the class into the North and South. Give the North more ammo (paper wads) and the South more cover (mats to hide behind, etc.). Since the Civil War was the first war photography was used in, take some time to view several pictures from the Civil War in a powerpoint or something of the like As you learn about the Civil War, create a timeline of all major events together as a class Make little drums out of coffee cans and pretend the children are the drummer boys/girls Bring in lots of informational books about the Civil War, Slavery, Abraham Lincoln, Clara Barton, etc. and let them look through them in their free time

Genre: Historical Fiction Title: Hour of the Olympics (Magic Tree House #16) Author: Mary Pope Osborne Illustrator: Sal Murdocca Publisher: Random House Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1998 Age level: Grades 2-4 Synopsis: In Hour of the Olympics Jack and Annie travel way back in time…to the time period of ancient Greece! If this wasn’t exciting enough, they are arriving during a special time of year for the people of Greece, the Olympics! Jack and Annie quickly learn that these are far from being like the Olympics at home and they’re upset when they realize Annie can’t participate because girls weren’t allowed in the Olympics. Will Annie cause trouble and join in anyway? This book is one the both the students and teacher will love. The students will love the fact that the main characters in this story are kids just like them! Teachers will love it because it allows students to read something they enjoy AND they’re learning about ancient Greece and the Olympics at the same time! I think this book is perfect to integrate into a history curriculum. Thematic Applications Greek mythology Olympics Greece Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Make a large “magic treehouse” out of large cardboard boxes and invite the children to join you in it while you read the book together! Have a class Olympics and allow the students to participate for medals in different events, highlighting events that were in the Olympics in ancient Greece Make little headpieces out of leaves like the winners in Olympics games wore Learn about the first alphabet created..by the Greeks! Then, make some paper scrolls together and allow them to write little messages on them in the Greek alphabet Learn about the Greek gods/goddesses and allow the kids to pick one god/goddess to research and then share about them together in class, even allowing them to dress up in costume like the god/goddess they are presenting! Using plastic straws, have a “javelin throwing” contest, practicing measuring how far each person threw their “javelin”

Genre: Historical Fiction Title: Little House on the Prairie Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder Illustrator: Garth Williams Publisher: Harper Trophy Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1935 Age level: Grades 3-6 Synopsis: In Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls and her family are moving from their log cabin in the woods to the less-crowded lands of the West! Her family packs up the covered wagon with as many of their belongings as then can and they’re off on a whole new adventure. The trip isn’t easy, but when they reach their destination, the land yields everything Laura’s family needs and the whole, long trip seems worth it. This is a story that many of the students’ parents probably grew up enjoying and one that they can likewise enjoy! It is told through the eyes of young Laura Ingalls, giving them the feel that they are actually there with her. Detailed descriptions truly give children a feel for what it’s like to ride the wagon and to build a house from scratch on the prairie. The occasional drawing throughout the book enhances the story even more and, of course, teachers will love the fact that their students are learning at the same time! Overall, I think this is a great book to weave into a history curriculum for elementary students. Thematic Applications Westward expansion Colonization and settlement Laura Ingalls Wilder Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the students create an advertisement promoting westward expansion, encouraging them to research facts about the westward expansion Create little covered wagons out of cereal boxes, but leave most of the creativity up to them! Have the kids research the life of Laura Ingalls and write a research paper about her or even a biography Watch an episode or two of Little House on the Prairie television show Laura Ingalls Wilder is writing from about her memories, so have the children write about a specific memory of their own Make homemade butter together as a class, just like many frontiersmen and women did When Laura left in the wagon, she could only take a few things with her. Have the students write about what things they would take with them if they could only take a few.

Genre: Historical Fiction Title: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Author: Mildred D. Taylor Publisher: Dial Books Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1976 Age level: Grades 4-8 Synopsis: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the story of Cassie Logan and her family. Set in Mississippi, during the height of the Great Depression, Cassie begins to realize the difference between how white people are treated and how black people are treated. Her family struggles to keep the land they own and they endure many racial injustices. Throughout the course of a hard year, her community is ripped apart by angry night riders who threaten African American families. One thing after another happens that causes Cassie to realize the true injustices of racism. This sobering book is a great story to introduce children to racism and its effects. They will learn about the terrible things that happened to African Americans in the past simply because of their color, all told through the eyes of a young girl, like them. I read this story in school when I was young and I know that it is a story with concepts that children won’t quickly forget. Thematic Applications Racism and Prejudice The Great Depression Civil Rights Movement Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the students create a collage out of pictures from magazines, etc. to show their response to the story, using things to represent people, events, places, and how it made them feel Have the students research things such as the Great Depression and Civil Rights movements and then share what they find with the class together Give a picture to each child that somehow depicts a scene of segregation and have them brainstorm possible events and pictures that could be illustrated in that picture and then, have them write about it As they read the book, have the students journal about what they feel throughout the events that occur to help them relate more to the characters Have the children pretend they are living in Cassie’s time and write a short persuasion on why African Americans should be treated better and then, learn about the Civil Rights Movement Compare and contrast life for African Americans in Cassie’s time to now After reading the book, watch the movie together

Genre: Historical Fiction Title: Westward to Home: Joshua’s Diary of the Oregon Trail, 1848 Author: Patricia Hermes Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2001 Age level: Grades 3-5 Synopsis: Westward to Home is the diary of young Joshua McCullough. The year is 1848 and his family decides to move from his home in Missouri to find a new home in a faraway place called Oregon. They set out on the Oregon Trail and Joshua faces many new experiences and even has to conquer his fear of water to save his little sister from drowning! After traveling over 2,000 miles, his family finally makes it to Oregon together, but will it really become “home” for them? Children will love reading this book because it tells about a time in history through the eyes of a child just like them! It’s perfect to help re-enforce learning about the Oregon Trail and even comes with a “historical note” at the end for the children to read that tells about the time and setting in which the book is written. I think this is a great book that kids will love to read and, whether they realize it or not, will learn about our nation’s history through a child’s eyes at the same time! Thematic Applications The Oregon Trail Diaries and journaling Westward expansion/settlement Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Joshua was only allowed to bring a few things with on the journey, so have the students make a list of what things they would bring if they could only bring a few Have the students begin a journal of some sort, maybe write one based on a family vacation they took somewhere and write it day by day like Joshua did Bring a large rock into class and let each child carve their name or something to represent them on it, just like Joshua’s family did at Independence Rock Joshua mentions a hog fiddle/dulcimer in his journal, so play a clip for the students of what that instrument sounds like Have the students create an advertisement promoting westward expansion, encouraging them to research facts about the westward expansion Compare prices of goods then to prices of goods now Create little covered wagons out of cereal boxes, but leave most of the creativity up to them!

Genre: Holiday Picture Book

Title: 10 Fat Turkeys Author: Tony Johnston Illustrator: Rich Deas Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2004 Age level: 3-8 years Synopsis: 10 Fat Turkeys is a simple story about ten turkeys on a fence and the silly things they do! Children will enjoy counting down from ten with the turkeys as they display their silly tricks and fall off the fence. In the end, when the turkeys all fall off and destroy the fence, what will they do next? This is a simple story with silly little rhymes on each page that incorporate counting. Children will love all the silly things the turkeys do and they will love looking at the pictures that so comically depict them, as well. I think this would be a great silly, little book to read to children during the time of Thanksgiving because the topic is..turkeys! Thematic Applications: Turkeys Thanksgiving Counting Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Learn to count, forward and backwards, from 1-10, using little turkeys labled 1-10 Make little turkey headbands out of construction paper with the head in the front and the feathered tails in the back Learn about the real meaning behind Thanksgiving and discuss things we’re thankful for Make little turkeys and, on each one of his tail feathers, write one thing the child is thankful for When telling the story, use 10 turkey finger puppets and take one off each time one falls of the fence to help emphasize the counting of the turkeys Play the “thankful” game where children pass a beanbag around and whoever has it says one thing they’re thankful for Talk about how the Native Americans introduced popcorn to the Pilgrims in the New World and munch on it, while you learn about the first Thanksgiving or even while you read the story Bring in Lincoln Logs and have the children build log houses, such as the ones the pilgrims lived in

Genre: Holiday Picture Book

Title: Arthur’s Thanksgiving Author/Illustrator: Marc Brown Publisher: Little Brown and Company Place of Publication: Park Avenue, New York Date of Publication: 1983 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: It’s Thanksgiving time in Arthur’s Thanksgiving and Arthur is the director of his class’s Thanksgiving play. Francine wants to be the narrator, Brain wants to be the Indian chief, and Buster wants to be William Bradford, but Arthur can’t find anyone to be what he thinks is the most important role, the turkey! Will Arthur find someone to be the turkey in time for the play? This story is a fun story to read during the time leading up to Thanksgiving. Kids will love reading yet another adventure of the lovable aardvark Arthur, while learning a little bit about Thanksgiving at the same time. The pictures add perfectly to the words and draw the reader in, along with the climactic plot. Overall, I think this is a fun little book to read during Thanksgiving time. Thematic Applications: Thanksgiving Turkeys Pilgrims and Native Americans Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the children put on their own class Thanksgiving play Make turkey beaks for each of the children like the kids wear at the end of the story and have them wear them while you read the story Have a “Thanksgiving Lunch” together as a class, eating traditional Thanksgiving foods, and then learn about and discuss the first thanksgiving together Make with finger paints out of their handprints Talk about things that the children are thankful for The pilgrims learned lots of things from the Native Americans, like how to plant corn. Re-enact this by using Oreos as the dirt and Candy Corn as the corn for the children to plant. Then, enjoy it while discussing the first thanksgiving and thinks they’re thankful for. Have someone of Native American descent come in and talk to the children about their traditions and culture, preferably a parent, if possible Make little, paper black pilgrim hats for the boys to wear and white bonnets for the girls to wear

Genre: Holiday Picture Book

Title: The Little Christmas Tree Author: Kathryn Smith Illustrator: Simon Mendez Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2006 Age level: 3-8 years Synopsis: The Little Christmas Tree is the story of how the animals in the forest come together to save their tree from being cut down and used as a Christmas tree. Jack wakes up early one morning to go find a Christmas tree with his father. They pick one out that Jack thinks looks lonely and decide to come back the next day to cut it down, but the animals who live in the tree overhear. They spend their night decorating their tree to show Jack and his father that their tree isn’t lonely, but it has lots of friends! In the end, will Jack and his father still cut down the tree? Though the story in this book is cute, the art is probably the most important part. Its beautiful paintings are layered in such a way that they look 3-Dimensional and at the end, when the tree is decorated, it even has actual lights that sparkle when you turn to that page! The art is so beautiful and really draw the reader into the story, making them feel like they are actually there. Overall, I think this is a beautiful book with a cute story that’s perfect for Christmas time. Thematic Applications: Christmas Trees Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Bring in a fake Christmas tree and let the children decorate it together, like the animals did Have each child decorate their very own ornament and take it home to hang on their tree Sing some popular Christmas songs together around a Christmas tree in the classroom, like the characters did in the story Go on a hunt to collect pinecones from outside together, talk about how those are the seeds for trees like pine trees that we use as Christmas trees and learn about trees together Give each child a Christmas-tree shaped cookie to munch on while you read the story Paint Christmas tree pictures, but use a branch from a pine tree instead of a paint brush, along with red and green colored paints

Genre: Holiday Picture Book

Title: The Night Before the Night Before Christmas Author: Natasha Wing Illustrator: Mike Lester Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2002 Age level: 3-8 years Synopsis: In The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, a family finds everything going wrong the night before Christmas Eve! Mom is sick, the stockings have holes, the lines at the mall are long, and the clock is ticking! The family begins to wonder if everything will be ready in time for Christmas, but they are reminded of what Christmas is really about. This is a cute little story that children will enjoy reading. The colorful artwork fills the pages and easily draws children in, along with the characters that they can easily identify with. Overall, I think this story is a great reminder for children of what things Christmas is really about amidst all the craziness of everything. Thematic Applications: Christmas Giving and not receiving Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Read the original “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” together as a class Find an organization, such as the Angel Tree project, for the kids to participate in that emphasizes them giving without receiving something Make an ornament or some sort of craft to give to their parents/caretakers for Christmas If in a Christian school, read parts of the Christmas story from the Bible and discuss how that’s the real reason we are celebrating, not the presents, trees, etc. Make Christmas cards together as a class and then, take a trip to a local nursing home or hospital and go caroling while handing out the cards they made to the people there

Genre: Holiday Picture Book

Title: The Story of Valentine’s Day Author: Nancy J. Skarmeas Illustrator: Stacy Venturi-Pickett Publisher: Candy Cane Press Place of Publication: Nashville, Tennessee Date of Publication: 1999 Age level: 2-5 years Synopsis: The Story of Valentine’s Day is simply what its title implies, a story of how Valentine’s Day came about. The story is told in few, simplistic words so that it is understood by preschoolers. It tells of how Valentine’s Day began long ago in Rome, but also talks about how Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many different ways today. This simple story is a great way to teach younger children about Valentine’s Day and why we do what we do. The story is simple and easy for them to understand. The book is small and perfect for little hands to hold. The bring pictures take up most of the pages, which helps to draw the child into the story. I think, overall, this simple book is unique and such a perfect way to teach young children about Valentine’s Day. Thematic Applications: Valentine’s Day Love Rome Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Make Valentine’s to give to family members or to each other Make magnets using empty conversation heart boxes and placing the child’s picture in it or a picture of their family or someone they love Decorate Valentine cupcakes together Learn a little bit about Rome together Give the children little candies or even their own Valentine to have before you read the story To teach children that we need to love each other and not be mean, cut out a paper heart and then crumple it up. Talk about how when you say mean things or are mean to someone that’s what it does to their heart and even though they may get over what you said/did, it will never totally be forgotten.

Genre: Picture Book Title: 17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do Anymore Author: Jenny Offill Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter Publisher: Schwartz and Wade Books Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2007 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: 17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do Anymore is a book about a girl who is full of brilliant ideas, such as doing her George Washington report on beavers instead. Unfortunately, her teacher and her parents never seem to realize the brilliance of her ideas and instead she finds seventeen of her brilliant ideas become things she is forbidden to do any longer. The illustrations in this book are really unique. They combine the artists’ drawings with photos of real objects to create a sort of collage that immediately draws the reader in. Overall, I really liked this book because I think kids will be able to relate with the character and her ideas very quickly and immediately fall in love with the story. Thematic Applications: Rules/Misbehavior/Consequences Listening Sign Language Beavers Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the students write about brilliant ideas they had that turned out to be not so brilliant Discuss how no matter what we do, even if we break the rules sometimes, our teachers and parents will always love us and then, have the students draw pictures of themselves with their parents Discuss together how even though at the end of the book the girl said she was sorry, but didn’t really mean it, and how we shouldn’t say sorry when we don’t really mean it Play Simon Says together and then discuss how in order to play the game, the children had to listen to instructions from “Simon” Discuss classroom rules together and some of the consequences if students break them Learn some sign language together as a class Do a lesson on beavers Discuss together how sometimes when we break rules there are consequences

Genre: Picture Book Title: Alice the Fairy Author & Illustrator: David Shannon Publisher: The Blue Sky Press (an imprint of Scholastic Inc.) Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2004 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: Alice the Fairy is a book with a linear plot about a little girl who uses her imagination to pretend she’s a fairy—a temporary fairy! The book follows her around throughout her day as she shows the readers the many things she can do as a fairy. Alice uses her imagination to make things that may seem ordinary appear magical. The art in this book was very typical of a David Shannon book with a double-page spread, lots of bright colors, and large pictures that correlated perfectly with the words on the page to draw the reader in. Overall, this book was full of imagination and perfect for preschool-aged children. Thematic Applications: Creativity and Imagination Rhyming (when Alice made up her spells) Difference between temporary and permanent Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Make magic wands or crowns Have students write about what they would change if they had a magic wand Talk about things that are temporary and things that are permanent Have students dress up as something they’d like to be

Genre: Picture Book Title: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Author: Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault Illustrator: Lois Ehlert Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1989 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: In Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, all the letters of the alphabet are racing to the top of a coconut tree. But, oh no, there isn’t enough room! It’s all fun and games until—Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! --they all fall out of the tree and get all tangled up. In the end, will the letters have learned their lesson? The concept of this book is pretty simple, but the rhyming enhances it. Along with the bright pictures and a simple plotline, this book is one children will quickly fall in love with and teachers will enjoy using to help their students learn the alphabet. I, personally, think this would be a great book to use, especially with younger children, in a classroom to teach the alphabet. It’s a fun little story to teach an important, basic concept. Thematic Applications: Alphabet Rhyming Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Make “Chicka” trees using Alphabet Cereal as the letters Let the children fill empty, plastic bottles with alphabet letters, glitter, beads, and anything else to make noise! Then, when you read the book together, have them shake their “chicka boom boom bottles” whenever you say “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! “ together Create a coconut with construction paper and put it on a metal cookie sheet with contact paper and then, use magnetic letters to place on the tree as you tell the story to the children Sing the alphabet together Use letter flashcards to review the letters and the sounds they make Have students practice tracing their letters Play a “fishing for letters” game where you place letters on a paper clip in a large bucket and use a magnet to “fish” out the letters. Then, have the child say the name and sound of the letter.

Genre: Picture Book Title: Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type Author: Doreen Cronin Illustrator: Betsy Lewin Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2001 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type is a book about how Farmer Brown’s cows mysteriously learn how to type one day. They begin typing notes to Farmer Brown demanding they be given electric blankets or else there will be no more milk! Other farm animals begin making requests as well, and soon Farmer Brown has a problem on his hands. He has no choice but to grant the cows their wish in return for the type writer. Unfortunately, in the end, to Farmer Brown’s surprise, the cows aren’t the only ones who can type their requests! The art in this book was made with beautiful watercolors. The pictures are simple, yet very colorful, and set up in a large, two-page spread. The art, along with the linear plot, easily draws the reader in, with the help of the lovable farm animal characters as well. I found this book to be a fun read and really enjoyed the artwork. Thematic Applications: Communication (Between humans and between animals) How to work out and solve problems as well as creating compromises Farms and farm animals Writing letters Typing Skills Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Discuss problems and how we solve them, and how we can sometimes make compromises, like Farmer Brown and the Cows Take students to the school’s computer lab and begin lessons on typing Discuss the different ways we, as humans, communicate with each other (email, phone, face-to-face, etc.) Discuss farm animals and the sounds they make to communicate (moo, quack, neigh, etc.) and play a matching game with them Have students draw pictures of what they think Farmer Brown’s barn looks like and what animals may be inside Have students write letters to someone and discuss how a letter should be formatted

Genre: Picture Book Title: Count on Culebra Author: Ann Whitford Paul Illustrator: Ethan Long Publisher: Holiday House, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2008 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: Count on Culebra is a silly tale about Iguana, Culebra (snake in Spanish), and their friends. When Iguana stubs her toe, everyone is sad because she can no longer make her candies that everyone loves! Thankfully, Doctor Culebra thinks he has a cure and he orders his friends to begin tying different cooking utensils to Iguana’s tail. Will Doctor Culebra’s cure work or will they just have to wait for their candies another day? The art in this book is full of bright colors and illustrations that match the story perfectly. But what’s probably most unique about this book is the fact that it weaves many Spanish words in with the English story. The children will actually learn how to count from 1-10 in Spanish by reading this book, along with a few other Spanish words thrown in there. I think this would be a great book to introduce children to another language or for use in a bilingual or ESL classroom. Thematic Applications: Spanish Counting Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Use the beginning of the book that shows all the numbers of items to practice counting in Spanish together Use the glossary at the back of the book to teach the Spanish words scattered throughout the book to the children Make Iguana’s Cactus Butter Dulces (Candies), using the recipe in the glossary at the back of the book Do a Spanish-English word matching game together Bring in other English-Spanish books and English-Spanish picture dictionaries and allow them to look at them during free time throughout the week Make sock puppets of the characters and then, retell the story in groups, using the puppets

Genre: Picture Book Title: David Goes to School Author/Illustrator: David Shannon Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1999 Age level: 3-8 years Synopsis: In David Goes to School, young David is constantly running into problems. He’s late for class, he talks too much, and he likes to daydream! David seems unable to do anything right, and his teacher makes him stay after school. But when he’s given the chance to redeem himself by cleaning all the desks, he does! And he receives a gold star as his reward. This book is made up of large two-page spread pictures, with lots of color, humorous depictions, and a child-like familiarity. The text, which looks as if it was written by a child, ties in perfectly with the pictures and the story. School-aged children will easily identify with David and quickly fall in love with him. Even I, who gets the privilege of working with a “David” or two, had a hard time not falling in love with the character of David! Thematic Applications: First day of school Rules Manners Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Read the book together as a class on the first day of school Discuss classroom rules together and make a list of them to display in class Talk about an appropriate way to get the teacher’s attention, and act out inappropriate ways together Discuss manners and then, bring in a snack to eat together and practice manners with each other Fingerpaint a picture, like David did in the story

Genre: Picture Book Title: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Author/Illustrator: Mo Willems Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2003 Age level: 2-5 years Synopsis: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is a funny and interactive book. At the beginning of the book, readers receive instructions from the bus driver, which are simply “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!” The book continues with the readers meeting the pigeon who begs to drive the bus making excuses as to why the reader should let him drive the bus. Before the book ends, the bus driver returns and thanks the reader for not allowing the pigeon to drive. In the end, the sad, dejected pigeon finds a different, much larger ride to sport around town instead. The art in this book is fairly simple, with the words taking up the majority of the pages as the pigeon begs to drive the bus. The colors are fairly neutral, again drawing the attention to the words. Though the illustrations are simple, they do an awesome job of animating the pigeon, giving the reader the sense that they can actually hear the pigeon begging to drive! Overall, this goofy book is perfect for children 2-5 years old because it allows them to actually interact with the pigeon and tell him “NO!” Thematic Applications: Emotions and when parents/teachers say no (how they react) Buses Pigeons/Birds Responsibility Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Discuss what students do when parents/teachers say no (beg, throw a tantrum, etc.) and why parents/teachers sometimes say no Look at pictures of different kinds of buses/what they do (school buses, double-deckers, etc.) Learn about and take a look at pigeons and other kinds of birds Discuss the different emotions they can see in the pigeon throughout the book, and compare them to how they feel, especially when parents/teachers tell them no List emotions they see in the pigeon, and then have each child illustrate one emotion Discuss how it would be irresponsible to let the pigeon drive the bus, and then discuss what kinds of responsibilities the children have at home, at school, etc.

Genre: Picture Book Title: Fancy Nancy Author: Jane O’Connor Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser Publisher: Harper Collins Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2006 Age level: 4-7 years Synopsis: Fancy Nancy is the story of a young girl named Nancy who does ordinary, everyday things, the fancy way! And she is determined to share her fancy ways with her family. Together, they enjoy a “fancy” day, orchestrated by Nancy including lessons on how to be fancy, a fancy lunch, and even some fancy French words! The art in this work is full of bright colors that really draw the readers in, especially if they’re little girls! The art is super detailed and goes along perfectly with the story. Kids will love using their imaginations to make everything fancy, just like Nancy does! Overall, I thought this was a cute story that I would love to read with kids, especially little girls. Thematic Applications: Drama/Acting/Pretending Manners French Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have a “fancy” lunch together as a class; let them dress up, practice manners, etc. Perform a play together, dressing up and pretending like Nancy does in the story Allow the children to dress up in “fancy” clothes before you read the story together Learn a few French words together, so they can be “fancy” like Nancy Learn some cursive and talk about how the writing is “fancy” Have a “fancy” day where the kids can dress up fancy and then practice using manners and maybe even some “fancy” French words

Genre: Picture Book Title: Giggle, Giggle, Quack Author: Doreen Cronin Illustrator: Betsy Lewin Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2002 Age level: 3-7 years Synopsis: Giggle, Giggle, Quack is the cute sequel to Click, Clack, Moo: Cow That Type and features the same lovable animal characters. This time, Farmer Brown is going on vacation and leaves his brother Bob in charge of the farm. Before he leaves Farmer Brown tells Bob to keep an eye on the duck. Unfortunately, Bob doesn’t keep a close enough eye on duck and soon silliness ensues! The art in this book is a large two-page spread made with watercolors. The beautiful art, easy-to-follow plot and of course, the clever and lovable animal characters, quickly draw the reader in. Kids will love to read of all the silliness Duck and his farm animal friends cause! Thematic Applications: Animals sounds Farms and farm animals Chores and responsibility Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Watch the story told online together from Scholastic, which really brings the book to life Discuss farm animals and the sounds they make to communicate (moo, quack, neigh, etc.) and play a matching game with them Have students draw pictures of what they think Farmer Brown’s barn looks like and what animals may be inside Make farm animal paper bag puppets Discuss with the students how sometimes they try to change the rules when they are left with a babysitter Discuss how the pictures in the story are made of watercolors and then create your own watercolor art pictures Have the children write out their daily routine and discuss them and note how many of them are chores Use pizzas, like the animals ate in the story, to begin learning fractions

Genre: Picture Book

Title: Hot Air Author/Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2005 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: Hot Air is a goofy story based loosely on some facts about the first hot-air balloon ride. The first hot-air balloon ride is about to take place, but who’s riding inside the basket isn’t who you’d expect! The brave first passengers are a duck, a sheep, and a rooster! Their ride is filled with silly happenings and, needless to say, they happy when their feet are safely back on the ground. This book has very few words, but very beautiful, bright, and detailed pictures. The pictures are what make this book as spectacular as it is. They tell most of the story without words by what’s depicted. This book is also filled with lots of silliness, which kids are sure to love. I, personally, loved this cute story and think children will find it hard to love, as well. Thematic Applications: Animals Travel Science experiments and projects Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Read together some of the history of air balloons at the back of the book and use them to make a timeline together Watch a video of how a hot-air balloon works Do the science experiment where you use vinegar and baking soda in a bottle to inflate a balloon and discuss why this happens and how it’s like a hot-air balloon Have the students write a paper about where they would go if they could ride a hot-air balloon anywhere that they wanted Discuss why they sent animals on the first hot-air balloon ride instead of people Bring in some play farm animals to let them play with and then learn about them together and the sounds they make

Genre: Picture Book Title: Jumanji Author & Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1981 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: In Jumanji, Peter and Judy’s parents leave them at home for the afternoon. They go outside to play for a while and find a game under a tree. They decide to take it inside and play it, but they are in for quite the surprise! Everything that happens to them in the game happens for real in their house, including a lion on the piano and monkeys in the kitchen! Will they be able to finish the game and clean up before their parents come home? Or will they find themselves in big trouble? The illustrations in this book have no color and are simply black and white, but they are full of beautiful details. They, along with the exciting and suspenseful plot, have the reader feeling like they are actually there in the house with Peter and Judy! Overall, I thought this was a really creative book that children will love reading and using their imagination with. Thematic Applications: Siblings Using your imagination Games/toys Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have a “game day” and bring a bunch of games for kids to play throughout the day Have the students write a creative story, using their imagination, about something crazy that happens when their parents leave them and their siblings (if they have any) at home for a day Watch clips from the movie “Jumanji” together to help the students visualize the events even more The author of this book hides his dog, Fritz, in every one of his books…see if you can spot him while you flip through it together again! Bring in some poster board, game pieces, and dice and let the children, in groups, make their own board games...then play them! Watch the entire “Jumanji” movie and then, have the students compare and contrast the movie and the book…it’s really different!

Genre: Picture Book Title: Market Day Author/Illustrator: Lois Ehlert Publisher: Harcourt Books Place of Publication: Orlando, Florida Date of Publication: 1989 Age level: 3-7 years Synopsis: Market Day is a unique story all about taking a trip to the marketplace! The truck is loaded up with many fresh fruits and vegetables and driven to the marketplace in the town square. The day is spent in the marketplace buying and selling freshly grown goods, until the sun goes down and we load up the car to drive home again. Then, what a better way to end the day than eating all the fresh things we got at the market? The art in this book is extremely unique and plays a huge role in the story (so much so that at the end of the book there are pages describing where the items are from and what they’re made of). The author used different items she has obtained from her travels around the world, particularly in Hispanic countries, to create beautiful collages for her story. The collages are filled with bright colors and interesting artifacts, to really draw the reader into the story. Overall, I loved this book and the rich amount of culture that can be seen in the author’s collages. Thematic Applications: Markets Different cultures (mainly Hispanic) Fruits and Vegetables Creating collages Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the children make collages of their own and compare them to the art in the book Discuss the different things seen in the artwork, where they are from, and how they’re made Take a field trip to a local market (if there is one) and then discuss what you saw while there Create a market in the classroom where the students can “trade” items with each other Taste some fresh fruits and vegetables, like those found in markets, and discuss their nutrition Study Hispanic countries and their cultures and discuss the importance of the marketplace Watch a movie on Hispanic countries, marketplaces, or something similar Learn a few Spanish words and phrases, especially of things you can find in the market! Plant some fruits and vegetables together

Genre: Picture Book Title: Miss Spider’s Tea Party Author/Illustrator: David Kirk Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1994 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: In Miss Spider’s Tea Party, Miss Spider wants nothing more but to throw a tea party with some friends. Unfortunately, all the other bugs are scared she’s going to eat them! But one night, during a rainstorm, a little moth finds himself stranded with Miss Spider. She gladly takes him in, warms him up, and gives him some tea! Surprised by her friendliness and the fact that she didn’t eat him, the moth tells all the other bugs about how nice she is. The next day, they all come over to join Miss Spider for her tea party This book is made up of bright, beautiful paintings and paired with poetry to create a masterpiece. Readers will love reading this book and cheering for Miss Spider as she struggles to make friends, something they can relate to. I loved this book as a child because of the beautiful pictures and of course, the lovable Miss Spider, which I’m sure children today will find just as hard to resist as I did. Thematic Applications: Bugs Rhyming Making friends Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have a tea party together as a class, practicing their manners Sing the itsy-bitsy spider together with the actions Watch a movie on bugs and insects Have the students choose a bug to write a poem about Make little Miss Spiders out of little pom-poms Set out books that have lots of pictures of insects/bugs in them and allow the children to look through them for a while and then discuss all the similarities and differences they saw in them

Genre: Picture Book Title: Move Over, Rover! Author: Karen Beaumont Illustrator: Jane Dyer Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. Place of Publication: Orlando, Florida Date of Publication: 2006 Age level: 3-7 years Synopsis: Move Over Rover! is exactly what Rover the puppy hears one day in his warm doghouse where he’s seeking shelter from a thunderstorm. Before he knows it, his doghouse is crowded with a menagerie of creatures who also want warmth and shelter from the storm. But, there’s a surprise guest too…skunk! Suddenly, the doghouse is very empty! This book is a cute little story that, especially younger students, are likely to enjoy. It uses repetition to help recall earlier parts of the story and has rich, pictures painted in watercolors. Children will love all the snuggly animals in this book and the goofy ending it has. Overall, I thought this was a cute book that younger students will love reading and laughing about, and would enjoy reading it to a group of students in a classroom. Thematic Applications: Animals Sharing Weather Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Throughout the story, ask the children to help you finish the repeating sequences as you read Bring in little, stuffed dogs and allow children to hold them and play with them while you read Have a paper bag, along with cutouts of each animal in the book. Let the children create their “dog houses” out of the paper bag and then read the story again, allowing them to put the animals in the dog house in the order they do in the book Discuss the different animals together and the sounds they make, particularly pointing out what skunks do Hand out a sheet of paper with the outline of a doghouse on it. Then, read the story again and let the children draw the different animals mentioned in the story as they listen to you read it. Watch a movie on thunderstorms Do a craft in which only limited supplies are available and the students have to share them with each other and then, discuss sharing after you finish the project

Genre: Picture Book Title: Officer Buckle and Gloria Author/Illustrator: Peggy Rathmann Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1995 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: Officer Buckle and Gloria is the story of an ordinary safety officer named Officer Buckle. Every day he speaks to the students of Napville School, and every day they sleep through his safety speeches. One day, Officer Buckle brings along the new police dog, Gloria, and from then on, his career skyrockets! When Officer Buckle finds out that Gloria is the only reason people like listening to him, he gets upset, but in the end both Gloria and Officer Buckle realize that they work best together! The artwork is beautifully detailed, and the details help to draw the reader easily in to the book. The readers can’t help but fall in love with Officer Buckle and his tricky dog, Gloria. I remember reading this book when I was little with my mom and brother and we all loved it, so I know that it’s a great book that kids will ask to read again and again Thematic Applications: Working together Heroes: Policemen, firemen, doctors, etc. Safety Pets Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the students work together on a project to show them how we can sometimes do things better together Bring in dress up clothes and allow students to dress up as their heroes Have a policeman/fireman/etc. come visit and talk to the class about what they do Talk about the different kinds of pets we have and how we care for them Discuss different safety rules the students have at school, at home, etc. and why they have those rules Create a large list of safety rules as a class to emphasize both working together and safety Let the children create “safety stars” as shown at the beginning and end of the book and hang them in the classroom

Genre: Picture Book Title: Oh, No, Toto! Author: Katrin Hyman Tchana and Lousie Tchana Pami Illustrator: Colin Bootman Publisher: Scholastic Press Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1997 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: Oh, No, Toto! is the story of Toto Gourmand, a little boy who lives in Cameroon, West Africa. He got his name because he loves to eat all the time! This becomes very evident when Big Mami decides to take him with on a trip to the market and he eats everything in sight! Exasperated, Big Mami takes Toto home and tells him to stay in his bedroom until she is done cooking her soup. Toto ends the book by thinking of what a wonderful day he had, wishing Big Mami would talk him to the market every day and falling fast asleep. This book is full of such rich West African culture. The pictures of African marketplaces are beautiful and depict the words very well. The mention of many Cameroonian foods along with phrases of Pidgin English adds to the story as well. And of course, kids will be unable to fall in love with little Toto, who just can’t help eating what he sees! Overall, I loved this book and the culture it shows. Maybe I’m a little biased because I was in Cameroon for a time, but I thought it was a cute story and one children will truly enjoy. Thematic Applications: Cameroon/Africa Marketplaces Different cultures Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Try some Cameroonian foods and use the recipe on the back of the book to make and eat Egussi soup Learn about the country and the people of Cameroon Have each student bring in a different home-made goodie and then have the children trade and “barter” for each other’s goodies, like they do in African marketplaces Take a trip to a lock marketplace (if there is one) and then discuss what you saw there Learn a little bit of Cameroonian Pidgin English together Using the recipe on the back of the book, make Egussi soup together and try it! Discuss differences in African cultures and ours together

Genre: Picture Book Title: The Giving Tree Author/Illustrator: Shel Silverstein Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1964 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: The Giving Tree is a classic story about a boy who lived a tree, and the tree that just wouldn’t stop giving. When the boy was young he would simply swing on the tree’s branches and eat her apples, but as he got older, he began to want more and more from the tree. Not until the end of the story does the boy, now an old man, realize how much gratitude he owes to the tree. The art in this story was really simple, to keep the focus on the actual story, I think. The story is great for children because it has a moral behind it to learn from. I remember one of my teachers reading this story to us one time and I would love to read it to children in my classroom someday as well. Thematic Applications: Thankfulness/giving Trees Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Do a craft where the children make a tree and then make leaves that say all the things they are thankful for on them Learn about family trees and have the children try to find out more about their family trees and then discuss them together Do a class project together where the children raise money or collect something in the school for some type of charity or something and then take a field trip together to drop it off Find a place to plant a tree or a few trees together as a class Discuss together all the ways the tree gives of itself, without receiving

Genre: Picture Book Title: The Grouchy Ladybug Author/Illustrator: Eric Carle Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1996 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: The Grouchy Ladybug is a story about simply that: a very grouchy ladybug! The grouchy ladybug doesn’t want to share his breakfast, and in an angry tantrum, flies about looking for someone he deems worthy enough for him to fight. In the end, he finds someone a bit too big for his size, and tired, hungry, and with a wounded pride, he flies back to where he began his day. After all he’s been through in the day, the grouchy ladybug gladly agrees to share his dinner. This book is full of colorful illustrations and clever die-cut pages that easily draw the reader in. The illustrations and the humorous text combine to create a story filled with numerous lessons for the reader, and a story they will surely want to read again and again. As a child, I know I did! Thematic Applications: Time Ladybugs/Bugs Size Sharing Manners Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Make ladybug wind sox Go on a ladybug hunt outside Give a small clock to the kids and have them move the hands to match the time said in the story as we read it together For younger kids, play a kind of sorting game with different sized items sorting them by size Discuss different kinds of bugs and have the kids draw their favorite Do a craft of some sort, but with limited resources forcing the kids to learn how to share with each other and to use their manners when they want things saying “please” and “thank you” Have the children write about things that make them grouchy and why Make grouchy ladybug puppets together

Genre: Picture Book

Title: The Hello Goodbye Window Author: Norton Juster Illustrator: Chris Raschka Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2005 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: The Hello, Goodbye Window is a cute story about a little girl’s trip to her grandparents’ house. At her grandparents’ house is a special window called the “hello goodbye” window. It can be used as a mirror, to view the stars at night, to surprise grandma and grandpa, and even to watch for visitors, such as the Queen of England who loves to come over for tea! When she is with her grandparents, ordinary things seem so much more exciting and she can’t wait to visit them again! The art in this book is full of bright colors and a unique sort of painting on a double-page spread. The plot is simple and something children can relate to! Kids will love reading this because it will remind them of all the things they do with their grandparents and they will love the idea of the “magical” window! Overall, I think this is a great book that children will really enjoy reading, especially younger children. Thematic Applications: Grandparents Times in a day Houses/Windows Extension ideas or curriculum activities: As a group, discuss your daily routine together Eat some oatmeal together and bring some bananas and raisins that they can bury inside it Learn about day and night and which way is North, South, East, and West Learn the days of the week, months, and how to tell time; Sing days of the week/month songs together to emphasize times of day, etc. Have the students write about a special memory they have with their grandparents or someone else special to them, if they have no grandparents Have the children draw their house Put a piece of paper in a cardboard frame so it looks like a window and have the children draw what they see in the “hello goodbye” window Have students bring in pictures of their grandparents and make a class scrapbook

Genre: Picture Book

Title: The Kissing Hand Author: Audrey Penn Illustrators: Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak Publisher: Tanglewood Press, Inc. Place of Publication: Terre Haute, Indiana Date of Publication: 2006 Age level: 4-6 years Synopsis: The Kissing Hand is a story about Chester Raccoon, who is going to be starting his first day of school. To help ease his fears of being away from her, his mom tells him about the secret “kissing hand.” She tells him that whenever he feels scared or alone, he simply needs to hold his hand near his face and the kiss that she placed on his hand will jump from his hand to his face! The paintings in this book are rich and full of beautiful colors. The two-page spread along with the lovable little critters will pull the reader into the story. Any child who has apprehensions about being away from their parents for any period of time will love this story and find it a comfort. Personally, I think this would be a great book to read on the first day of school for little children who are unsure about being away from their parents. Thematic Applications: First day of school Raccoons Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Do a craft using each child’s handprint and gluing a red heart to the center of it Learn about raccoons together Eat heart-shaped cookies together while reading the story Give each child a Hershey’s kiss before the story Bring in a stuffed raccoon and let the children take turns having him throughout the day, and perhaps the week Tell the children to go home and tell their parents (or caretaker) about the story and have them kiss their hand, and then discuss it the next day together Make raccoon paper bag puppets Draw little red hearts in the palm of each student’s hand

Genre: Picture Book Title: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs Author: Jon Scieszka Illustrator: Lane Smith Publisher: Puffin Books Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1996 Age level: 3-8 years Synopsis: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is a clever, new twist on a classic tale. This version of the story is told from the perspective of the Big Bad Wolf, who really isn’t that big and bad. The wolf tells how all of this crazy nonsense about him being big and bad started simply because he had a bad cold and kept sneezing all over the place! All that the wolf really wanted from the pigs was a cup of sugar to make his grandma’s birthday cake, but when he accidentally knocked down their houses by sneezing, how could he waste food?…what a misunderstanding it all turned out to be! The art in this book is beautifully detailed in such a way that they add another dimension to the story and help to draw the reader in even more. Readers will find themselves, strangely, sympathizing with the Big Bad Wolf, as he is simply misunderstood throughout the story. Personally, I loved this story and thought it was a clever take on a story most children are bound to know. Thematic Applications: Comparing and Contrasting What animals eat and what people eat Point of view News and media Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Compare and contrast the original story of the three little pigs with this version Have the children write a news story about a classic fairy tale with a new twist Discuss the different things animals like to eat and what things we as humans eat Make houses out of straw, wood, and brick and see which ones hold up best in the “wind” (a fan, leaf blower, etc.) Discuss which point of view the story is written from and how that changes the story Act out the story together either in small groups or as a class Discuss how sometimes the things we see on TV or on the news aren’t always what really happened, and how there’s always another side to a story

Genre: Picture Book

Title: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly Author/Illustrator: Simms Taback Publisher: Penguin Group Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1997 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is a story based off of the old poem. Of course, we all know how it goes..she swallows a fly and then, a spider, and then, a bird, and continues eating bigger and bigger items until she finally meets her end because of it! What makes this book so unique and more exciting than the poem that everyone knows is the art and the way that the story is presented. The art is made with rich colors, mixed media, and a sort of collage. It also uses a hole that grows bigger and bigger with the animals in the lady’s stomach to show what’s inside her. I think this book is a fun one that children will truly enjoy because it takes something that’s probably familiar to them and shows it to them in a new way. I enjoyed this book myself and would love to share it with a classroom full of kids. Thematic Applications: Songs and Rhymes Cumulative stories Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Have the students write a new ending to the story or a whole new version of the story, using different animals or things that the lady swallowed Sing the song the book is based on together As you read the book, have the children repeat it with you to emphasize the repetition and the building of ideas Make an “old lady” with a hole in her stomach and a place where the students themselves can place in the items that she eats while you read the book Point out the parts of the story that rhyme and have the children practice matching words together that rhyme, play a matching game!

Genre: Picture Book Title: Tops and Bottoms Author/Illustrator: Janet Stevens Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 1995 Age level: 3-8 years Synopsis: Tops and Bottoms is a story whose roots come from the time of the slave trade. It’s the story of a Hare who decides to provide for his family by working for a lazy bear. Hare promises to do all the work and split the crops with Bear, but Bear must choose either tops or bottoms. Bear quickly finds out that, with Hare in charge, it does matter what he picks. Bear never wins! This book is unique in the fact that it opens up vertically, rather than in the traditional horizontal style, giving you the whole “tops” and “bottoms” kind of feel. The illustrations are beautifully made with a combination of watercolors and colored pencils, and really draw the reader into the story. I remember being totally drawn into this story as a child by the clever story line and lovable animal characters, and am sure children are still sure to quickly fall in love with it! Thematic Applications: Healthy eating Plants Hard work pays off Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Plant some vegetables together as a class Make a healthy salad and eat it together, while discussing healthy foods Make a cookbook together featuring healthy meals students brought from home Take several days to have kids create a large mural together, and when it’s done, take time to admire it and discuss how their hard work paid off to create a beautiful result Bring in some plants to examine and discuss the different parts of the plant and what things are needed for the plant to grow

Genre: Picture Book Title: What Teachers Can’t Do Author: Douglas Wood Illustrator: Doug Cushman Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2002 Age level: 4-8 years Synopsis: What Teachers Can’t Do is a book students will love to read. It’s all about what their teachers can’t do! They can’t spell, they can’t be tardy, and they can’t even buy their own apples! But, there is one thing they’re good at: teaching you! This book is full of bright colors and a humorous story line that children will love. The story line refers directly to something they can relate easily with, and draws them in through it. The students will love reading about all the different things that they can do and their teachers can’t. Overall, I thought this was a cute book with a clever and humorous story line. Thematic Applications: Opposites (difference between can and can’t) Careers Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Munch on apples while you read the story together Read this book with other books about occupations and then discuss what the kids want to be when they grow up Have an “opposite” day where things are done backwards than usual Have students write about what they want to be when they grow up Bring in dress-up clothes to allow the kids to dress up as what they think they’d like to be when they grow up Do an opposites matching worksheet Compare things such as day and night to show how they are different and opposite of each other

Genre: Picture Book Title: Que Voy a Ser?/What Will I Be? Author: Phoebe Beinstein Illustrator: Zina Saunders Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books Place of Publication: New York, New York Date of Publication: 2007 Age level: 1-5 years Synopsis: Que Voy a Ser?/What Will I Be? is a bilingual book from our beloved friend, Dora. Dora explores many different things that she and her friends can be when they grow up. A soccer player, a teacher, a musician, or a clown..which one will you choose? This book is obviously in both English and Spanish, which I think makes it perfect for introducing a new language to young children or even to use in ESL classrooms. It’s fun for children to hear the story in both languages. Kids will love hearing all about jobs from characters they already know and love, Dora and her friends! Overall, I loved this book and would love to share it in a classroom someday, especially since Spanish is my minor. Thematic Applications: Jobs Spanish Extension ideas or curriculum activities: Bring in dress clothes and allow the children to dress up as something they want to be when they grow up Read the book in both languages and then, play a matching game with some of the basic words, such as teacher=maestro, etc. Discuss the question Dora asks at the end of the book together “If you could be anything, what would you be?” Have different members from the community come into the classroom and talk about their jobs, such as a teacher, a policeman, a doctor, a musician, etc. Roleplay together some of the jobs described in the book