CB #14: The Black Stallion

The Black Stallion

Author:  Walter Farley
Illustrator:  N/A
Genre:  Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre:  Animals/ Fantasy
Themes: friendship, horses, shipwreck
Primary Characters:  Alec Ramsay and Black
Secondary Characters:  N/A
Awards:  N/A
Date of Publication:  2011

Publishing Company:  Random House Digital

This book of wonderful adventure with a man and his horse in a shipwreck situation is fun for all ages to read.  it is full of disaster and full of companionship.  They work together to make things work, human and animal!  This would be a wonderful addition to my library, simply because it incorporates a lot of important life lessons!

CB #13: The Rock and the River

The Rock and the River

Author:  Kekia Magoon
Illustrator:  N/A
Genre:  Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre:  African American
Themes:  civil rights, teenagers
Primary Characters:  Sam
Secondary Characters:  Stick
Awards:  Coretta Scott King
Date of Publication:  2009

Publishing Company:  Simon and Schuster

Set in 1968 in Chicago Sam is a son of a man who is part of the civil rights activist.  Sam finds something interesting under his dad's bed.  Who can Sam trust?  This is a wonderful story that implies trust and friendship.  Such a great novel to have in a classroom library!

CB #12: My Father's Dragon

My Father's Dragon

Author:  Ruth Chrisman Gannett

Illustrator:  Ruth Chrisman Gannett

Genre:  Fiction

Subgenre:  Animals

Themes:  Dragons

Primary Characters:  Elmer Elevator

Secondary Characters:  n/a

Awards:  Newberry Honor Book

Date of Publication:  2008

Publishing Company:  Random House Digital, Inc.

This book is a wonderful adventure for all kids to read.  It is about a boy named Elmer Elevator and his flying dragon in a far away land.  With the help of all the knick knacks he carries, it will help him fight off evil! Any child would be intrigued by this story just because of the cover! 

CB #11: Indian in the Cupboard

Indian in the Cupboard

Author:  Lynne Reid Banks

Illustrator:  Brock Cole

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  Fantasy

Themes:  friends, indian, culture, magic

Primary Characters: 

Secondary Characters:

Awards:  n/a
Date of Publication:  1980

Publiching Company:  Random House Digital, Inc.

When the plastic indian in the cupboard comes to life, the little boy begins to ask himself what kind of gifts were given to him.  He begins to realize that this indian is a great friend and advice seeker for him now in his life.  This is a fantastic tale of two people who are set apart and brought together for eachother's benefit.

CB #10: Heidi

Heidi

Author:  Johanna Spyri
Illustrator:  Johanna Spyri
Genre:  Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre:  Family Life
Themes:  orphans, family, grandparents
Primary Characters:  Heidi
Secondary Characters:  Grandfather
Awards:  n/a
Date of Publication:  2006

Publishing Company: J.B. Lippincott Company

The wonderful tale is of a little girl who becomes an orphan when her aunt drops her off at her grandfathers house.  The grandfather takes her in and makes her part of her home; not easily of course.  It all takes a lot to get used to, but everything takes a little time.  Any child should read this book and take in all of the descriptivness it has to offer about everything that goes on inside this novel.

CB #9: The Borrowers

The Borrowers

Author:  Mary Norton
Illustrator:  n/a
Genre:  Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre:  fantasy
Themes:  little people, borrowing, friendship, beating the odds
Primary Characters:  Homily, Pod and Arrietty
Secondary Characters: Arrietty's friend (human bean)
Awards: n/a
Date of Publication:  2003

Publishing Company:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

This cute adventure is about a tiny family, the Clocks, who live under the kitchen floor in the "human bean's" house.  Their household items are little things that were borrowed from the house they were living in.  This is a cute story that shows how this little family beat the odds and made it in the word of big people.  This is an amazing chapter book for kids of all ages.  If I enjoyed it, I know everyone will.

PB #26: Something Might Happen

Something Might Happen

Author:  Helen Lester

Illustrator:  Lynn Munsinger

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  Animal Fantasy

Themes:  lemurs, scared

Primary Character:  Twitchly Fidget

Secondary Character:  n/a

Awards:  n/a

Date of Publication:  2003

Publishing Company:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Twitchly hates having things around him because he is scared that everything is going to go wrong.  He always is looking out for things falling and scaring him because he does not want to twitch and make an even bigger mess.  This story and it's illustration are very cute and exciting.  It makes me enjoy children's literature even more!

PB #25: Old Black Witch!

Old Black Witch!

Author:  Harry Devlin
Illustrator: Harry Devlin
Genre:  Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre:  Fantasy and Magic
Themes:  witches, tearooms, family
Primary Characters:  Nicky
Secondary Characters:  his mother
Awards:  n/a
Date of Publication:  1992

Publishing Company:  Four Winds Press

A family wants to move to New England to buy something that will change their lives.  They are so caught up with the greatness of it, that they forget that they are having to reconcile with the owner of the place named black witch!  This is a cute tale that could be read to any group of children and keep them entertained.

PB #24: The Ugly Vegetable

The Ugly Vegetables

Author:  Grace Lin

Illustrator:  Grace Lin

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  Family

Themes:  planting

Primary Characters:  Irma

Secondary Characters: the mom

Awards:  n/a

Date of Publication:  1999

Publishing Company:  Charlesbridge

A little girl thinks that her mom's garden is the ugliest one of them all.  But what she doesn't know is that the garden does not have to be the prettiest to make the best food out of all the gardens in the world.  The book is really cute considering that you have a recipe at the end that you can try all of the foods!

PB #23: The Umbrella

The Umbrella

Author:  Jan Brett
Illustrator:  Jan Brett
Genre:  Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre: Animal Fantasy
Themes:  friends, adventure, animals
Primary Characters:  Carlos
Secondary Characters:  the animals
Awards: N/A
Date of Publication:  2011
Publishing Company:  Penguin Group Inc.

This is a book about a little boy named Carlos who goes on a slight adventure into the jungle to see a jagaur and toucan.  He meets so many new animals and gets to experience the jungle as well.  This would be a wonderful story to tell your kids if you wanted to incorporate spanish lesson and different cultures into your daily classroom. 

PB #22: Where is Grandpa?

Where is Grandpa?

Author:  T.A. Barron

Illustrator:  Chris K. Soentpiet

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre:  Death, Grief

Themes:  Grandparents, love, heaven, learning

Primary Characters:  Grandpa and grandson

Secondary Characters:  Mom, dad, brother, sister

Awards:  N/A

Date of Publication: 2003

Publishing Company: Turtleback Books

"Where is Grandpa?" is a sad but trialing children's story that would most definitely show a child how to cope with something like this and realize how much feelings do not need to be kept inside.  This story is one that I most certainly enjoyed and many students could quite possibly relate to this story very easily.  The illustrations are beautiful and truely add to the story.

PB #21: Betty Doll

Betty Doll

Author:  Patricia Polacco

Illustrator:  Patricia Polacco

Genre:  Juvenile Nonfiction

Subgenre: toys, dolls, memorablia

Theme:  family, concern, memories

Primary characters:  Trisha, Ginny

Secondary characters: Momma and Daddy

Awards: N/A

Date of publication: 2001

Publishing company: Scholastic Inc.

This is a picture book based on the relevance of a Betty Doll and what the mean to the granddaughter.  It is a tragic story of the loss of all the family's possessions in a house fire, and the grandmother makes it up to her granddaughter in this amazing story about a family who loses everything, yet still continues to put together through the odds.  I think this would be a great addition to the library in my classroom because of how much it can show children that no matter how bad it gets, things can still prosper.

PB #20: Mrs. Katz and Tush

Mrs. Katz and Tush

Author:  Patrica Polacco

Illustrator:  Patrica Polacco

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  Cats, Friendship, generations

Theme: caring, family, animals

Primary characters:  Larnel, Mrs. Katz

Secondary characters: Larnel's parents

Awards: N/A

Date of publication: 2009

Publishing company:  Random House Children's Books

This children's book is an intrigueing story about a little African-American boy named Larnel, who becomes close with an older woman named Mrs. Katz.  Not only do they become close, but take in a little kitten that they name Tush.  This abandoned cat becomes something they both share, and would be an amazing lesson to implement inside the classroom.  This will encompass how important sharing and caring for someone else is respectful and important in life as a human being.

PB# 19: Thunder Cake

Thunder Cake
Author:  Patricia Polacco
Illustrator:  Patricia Polacco
Genre:  Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre:  family, adventure
Themes:  caring, brave, thunder
Primary Characters:  grandma and granddaughter
Secondary Characters: n/a
Awards:  n/a
Publishing Date: 1992
Publishing company:  First Scholastic
This is a wonderful children's book that could be greatly used inside my classroom.  The grandmother shows her granddaughter how to be brave.  She does so by helping her fear of thunder go away.  They do many things to race the storm rolling up and bake their thunder cake.

PB# 18: The Scarecrow's Hat

 The Scarecrow's Hat
Author:  Ken Brown
Illustrator:  Ken Brown
Genre:  Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre:  Animal Fantasy
Theme:  giving, selflessness, caring
Primary Characters:  Chicken and Scarecrow
Secondary Characters:  Badger, Owl, Donkey, Sheep
Award(s):  n/a
Date of Publication:  2011
Publishing company:  Peachtree Pub Ltd
"The Scarecrow's Hat" is a wonderful tale about a chicken who gives herself freely to those who need help.  This type of selfless act is something that would be great for students to learn, and understand the meaning of true caring.  There is also a lesson that could teach children, that if you want something bad enough, you must work for it to get there.

PB# 17: The Lotus Seed

The Lotus Seed   
Author: Sherry Garland
Illustrator: Tatsuro Kiuchi
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre: Vietnam, Moving, Plants
Theme:  family, caring, symbolism
Primary:  Ba
Secondary Characters: Ba's grand children
Award(s): n/a
Date of Publication:  1997
Publishing company:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
This is a wonderful children's picture book about a woman named Ba who is forced out of Vietnam to a place where she is not familiar.  She has collected a lotus seed from the Imperial Garden to keep with her through heartache, trials, happiness, and good deed.  This lotus seed was something that she cherished and wanted to share the story behind the beautiful flower...

CB #8: Almost Astronauts- Robert F. Sibert

13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Author:  Tanya Lee Stone

Illustrator:  N/A

Genre:  Juvenile Nonfiction
Subgenre:  Astronauts, careers
Themes:  NASA, Project Mercury
Awards:  Robert F. Sibert
Date of Publication:  2009
Publishing Company:  Candlewick Press
What does it take to be an astronaut? You should be able to fly, have courage, be intelligent, cope with stress, and be in top physical shape. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the fact that you do not have to be a man. They were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the note of one of the most powerful men in Washington. But even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they did not lose, for their example empowered young women to take their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. "Almost Astronauts" is the story of thirteen true women for the coming of space!

CB #7: Number the Stars- Newberry

Author:  Louis Lowry

Illustrator:  N/A

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  Astronomy, science

Themes:  Friendship, Nazi, Jewish

Primary Characters:  Annemarie Johansen

Secondary Characters:  Ellen Rosen

Awards:  Newberry

Date of Publication: 1989

Publishing Company:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life could have been before the war. It's now the year 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers always on watch. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be a part of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life.

Not only would this book be a great story to just tell the children in general, I feel that bringing in a book that has some historical background on things that did happen during the holocaust, that it would not only send a message but also teacher a valuable lesson!

CB #6: The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm- Newberry

Author:  Nancy Farmer

Illustrator:  N/A

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  people and places, african americans

Themes:  Zimbabwe, family, love, courage

Primary Characters:  Tendai

Secondary Characters:  Family and chief

Awards: Newberry
Date of Publication:  1994
Publishing Company:  Scholastic Inc.
This story is set inside Zimbabwe, and the year is 2194. This is Africa of the future, and General Matsika's world. The general is a strick man; he has had to be. It is this strictness that has saved Zimbabwe. Amadeus Matsika is Chief of Security for the Land of Zimbabwe and he carries the weight and responsibility for the safety of 10 million people. He has saved his country from the enemies within, gangs, leaders, etc...and also the enemies at the border, the Gondwannans. He has seen the evils of crime and war, and he's determined to fight the crazy with order. But you know what they say about plans...

CB #5: The View from Saturday- Newberry

Author:  E.L.  Konigsburg

Illustrator:  N/A

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  School & Education

Themes:  family and friendship

Primary Characters:  Noah, Nadia, Ethan

Secondary Characters:  Julian, and Mrs. Olinski

Awards:  Newberry

Date of Publication: 1999

Publishing Company:  Simon & Schuster

Here comes the curious Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian wondering so many questions!  How did Mrs. Olinski, returning to teaching ten years after being paralyzed in an car accident, choose these four to be her 6th grade Academic Bowl team? And how did this unlikely foursome become even unlikelier champions, in far more than just the state middle school competition? "The View From Saturday" is a rewarding novel that answers these questions and raises many more.

PB #16: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!- Caldecott

Author:  Mo Williams

Illustrator:  Mo Williams

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre: Nature, Animals

Themes:  Children, descions, guilty

Primary Characters: pigeon

Secondary Characters:  the bus driver

Awards: Caldecott

Date of Publication:  2004

Publishing Company:  Scholastic Inc.
When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, demands, and begs his way through the book, children will have the chance to answer back to the pigeon's questions.  This is a great book for interaction between the reader and the students.

PB #15: Where the Wild Thing Are- Caldecott

Author:  Maurice Sendak

Illustrator:  Maurice Sendak

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  Action and Adventure

Themes:  Dreams, Monsters

Primary Characters:  Max

Secondary Characters:  Monsters

Awards:  Caldecott

Date of Publication: 1991

Publishing Company:  Harper Collins

This is a wonderful children's book to show off a child's imagination.  This book is based on a child's dream world.  It is a fantastic book filled with great illustrations and wonderful story background.  Max is a boy who is full of adventure in his bones.  He is always trying to create some kind of story in his head and he is sent to his room without supper.  In this particular troubled night, a forest grows inside of his room.....where the adventure may lead, you will have to figure out.

PB #14: The Secret Olivia Told Me- Coretta Scott King

Author:  N. Joy

Illustrator:  Nancy Devard

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  African Americans

Themes:  Friendship

Primary Characters:  Olivia

Secondary Characters:  Her Bestfriend

Awards:  Coretta Scott King

Date of Publication:  2007

Publishing Company:  Just Us Books

This would be an amazing book to teach your students about trust.  Olivia has a secret that is very big and very juicy.  She puts trust into her best friend with this secret and expects her to keep it!  Do you think you can you keep a secret?  Olivia is about to find out is her best friend can keep a secret as well. 

PB #13: The Cat, or How I Lost Eternity- Mildred L. Batchelder

Author:  Jutta Richter

Illustrator:  Rotraut Susanne Berner

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre: Animals

Themes:  actions, concious, enemies

Primary characters: Christine

Secondary Characters:  Alley cat

Awards:  Mildred L. Batchelder

Date of Publication:  2007

Publishing Company:  Milkweed Editions

A wonderful story about a girl who meets an alley cat on her way to school.  The little girl is very nervous for the fact that she can talk to this alley cat, and also that the alley cat can convince her of anything.  She is late to school, she is in trouble by her headmaster, she is talking to cats! What could happen next?....or better question, why is this happening?!

PB #12: Balloons Over Broadway- Orbis Pictus

Author:  Melissa Street

Illustrator:  Melissa Street

Genre:  Juvenile Nonfiction

Subgenre:  people and places

Themes:  Macy's Day Parade, Puppeteers

Primary Characters: N/A

Secondary Characters: N/A

Awards:  Orbis Pictus

Date of Publication:  2011

Publishing Company:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

This is a wonderful picture book telling the story of how the first Macy's Day Parade Balloon was made!  Such a wonderful pictures and a great nonfiction story that should be told to all children!

PB #11: Officer Buckle & Gloria- Caldecott

Author:  Peggy Rathmann

Illustrator:  Peggy Rathmann

Genre:  Fiction, mystery & detective

Subgenre:  Saftey education

Themes:  friendship, saftey, caring

Primary characters: Officer Buckle and Gloria

Secondary characters:  students and teachers

Awards:  Caldecott

Date of Publication:  1996

Publishing Company:  Scholatic Inc.

The children of Napville Elementary always ignore Officer Buckle when he tries to give out his safety tips.  They ignore him until his right hand woman/dog is there to accompany him in teaching what not to do.  This picture book is filled with comedy and adventure for both characters in the story and for the reader as well!  This book would be a great addition to the student's library in my classroom because of its fun and intriguing story line!

PB #10: The Faithful Friend- Caldecott

Author:  Robert D. San Souci

Illustrator:  Brian Pickney

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  African American, people and places

Themes:  friendships, love

Primary Characters:  Clement and Hippolyte

Secondary Characters:  Pauline

Awards:  Caldecott

Date of Publication:  2011

Publishing Company:  Simon and Schuster

Clement and Hippolyte are handsome,smart, and are so close they could be brothers. When Clement falls in love with the beautiful Pauline, he asks Hippolyte to join his quest to court her, and the two friends set out toward danger and adventure. This is a wonderful story of courage and friendship.  They stick through everything together and never leave each other's side.

PB #9: No, David!- Caldecott

Author:  David Shannon

Illustrator:  David Shannon

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  Behavior, Children

Theme:  parenting, behaving, caring, mothering
Primary Characters:  David
Secondary Characters: David's mother
Awards:  Caldecott
Date of Publication:  1998

Publishing Company:  Scholastic Inc.

He chewed with his mouth open, he jumped on the furniture, and he broke his mother's vase! All David ever heard his mother say was "No, David!" Here is a cute picture book of a boy who always received punishment, but at the end of the day, just wanted a hug from his mother!

CB #4: Shiloh

Shiloh
Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Illustrator: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Realistic
Theme: friendship, companionship, caring, dogs, mans best friend
Primary Characters: Marty, Shiloh
Secondary Characters: mother, father
Awards: Newberry medal, Blue Bonnet
Date of Publication:  1991
Publishing company:  Simon and Schuster
What so you do when a dog you suspect is being mistreated runs away and comes to you?  When it is someone else's dog?  When the man who owns him had a gun?  This is Marty's problem, and he finds it is one he has to face alone.  When his solution gets too big for him to handle, things become more frightening still.  Marty puts his courage on the line, and discovers in the process that it is not always easy to separate right from wrong.  Sometimes, however, you do almost anything to save a dog.  This is a wonderful chapter book to read to children or have them start reading.  This is just enough challenge for children who need more experience with chapter books.  Such a wonderful, easy read!

CB #3: The Last Bit Bear

The Last Bit Bear
Author:  Sandra Chisholm de Yonge
Illustrator:  Ellen Meloy
Genre:  Fiction
Subgenre:  Fable
Theme:  animals, bears, pollution, life, careing
Primary Characters:  Clover, bit-bear
Secondary Characters:  other animals
Awards: N/A
Date of Publication:  2004
Publishing Company:  Roberts Rinehart Publishers
This special all-color edition of a classic children's environmental fable tells the story of Clover, the last bear of his kind, and his search for the leaves of the oak tree--the food upon which his life depends!

CB #2: The Updise-Down Reader

The Upside-Down Reader
Author:  Wilhelm Gruber
Illustrator:  Marlies Rieper-Bastian
Genre:  Fiction
Subgenre: behavioral challenge
Theme:  school, brothers and sisters, help, literacy
Primary Characters:  Tina, Tim
Secondary Characters: mother, teacher, friends
Awards:N/A
Date of Publication: 2000
Publishing Company: North-South
Tim's big sister Tina goes to real school and she is learning to read.  Tim is stuck in playschool, where all he learns is tumbling.  He wants to read too and he tries to catch up with Tina by sitting across from her while she words on her reading.  As Tina sounds out each word, Tim follows along from the opposite side of the table.  Soon, they're both reading--but Tim does it upside-down.  This is a great book to read to children who are just starting to read.  This is a wonder addition to any school library.  It is made for ages 6-9 and would be perfect for literacy lessons.

CB #1: The Whale

The Whale
Author:  Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator:  Preston McDaniels
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre:  Fable
Theme:  friendship, caring, love, kindness
Primary Characters: Whistler, Lila, Pandora, Seabold, Huck
Secondary Characters: Sebastian, Honey, Tiny, Whale Pod
Awards: N/A
Date of Publication:  2003
Publishing Company:  Simon and Schuster
Pandora, Seabold, Whistler, Lila, and Tiny have all been enjoying the love and comfort that being a family brings.  It is a comfort they are unexpectedly reminded of when Whistler and Lila hear the cries of a lonely beluga whale names Sebastian.  When they learn that he has lost his mama, the Lighthouse Family, with the help of a cranky but noble old cormorant named Huck, does all it can to reunite mother and child.  This book is a great way to teach children responsibility to someones feelings and how to care for someone in general.

PB #8: Beautiful Blackbird

Beautiful Blackbird

Author:  Ashley Bryan
Illustrator:  Ashley Bryan

Genre:  Fiction

Subgenre:  Folklore

Theme:  country, ethnic, zambia, birds, color

Primary characters: blackbird

Secondary characters:  other birds

Awards: Coretta Scott King Award

Date of Publication: 2003

Publishing Company:  Atheneum Bookf for Young Readers

Coretta Scott King Award winner Ashley Bryan's adaption of a tale from Ila-speaking people of Zambia resonates both with rhythm and the tale's universal meaning-- appreciating one's heritage and discovering the beauty within.

PB #7: Blueberries for Sal

Blueberries for Sal
Author:  Robert McCloskey
Illustrator:  Robert McCloskey

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Fairytale

Theme:  motherhood, obedience, love, adventure

primary characters: Sal, Little Bear

Secondary Characters: Mother, Mama Bear
Awards:  Caldecott Honor Book
Date of Publication:  1987

Publishing Company: Scholastic

Kuplink! Kuplink! Kuplink!  Sal and her mother are picking blueberried to can for the winter.  But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter.  Meanwhile, Sal's mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries.  Will each mother go home with the right little one?

PB #6: Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time

Author: Niki Daly
Illustrator:  Niki Daly

Genre:  Fiction

Subgenre:  Realistic

Theme:  reading, friendship, self-esteem

Primary Characters:  Sarie, Auntie Anna

Secondary Characters:  Mr. Adonis, Emile

Awards:  n/a

Date of Publication:  2003

Publisher: Macmillan

Niki Daly's illustrations set Sarie's tale under the vast and beautiful skies of the South African Karoo, and his encouraging story shows daunted young readers the power and magic of a good book-- and the joy of having a good friend to share it with.

PB #5: Those Shoes

Those Shoes
Author:  Maribeth Boelts
Illustrator:  Noah Z. Jones

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre: Realistic

Theme:  Social Issues, friendship, peer pressure

primary characters:  Jeremy

secondary characters: Mr. Alfrey, Grandma, Antonio

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication:2007

Publishing Company:  Candlewick Press

This book is a great book to read to a classroom.  Not only does it have great illustrations, but it also has great themes to show people that you do not eed everything everyone has.  It teaches great lessons and also has great pictures that coincide with the story it is telling.  It talks about a boy who is haunted by this pair of shoes he has been wanting, that everyone else wears at school.  He trys to convince his Grandma how much he wants them, and meets a new friend along the way!

PB #4: The Drowsy Hours: Poems for bedtime

The Drowsy Hours: Poems for Bedtime

Complied by: Susan Pearson
Illustrator:  Peter Malone

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre:  Poem

Theme:  sleeping, night time, poetry

Primary Characters:  many in all stories

Secondary characters:  many in all stories

Awards:  n/a

Date of Publication:  2002

Publishing company:  HarperCollins

This book is a great reference to show what poetry is to students.  Not only is it about poetry it is great to utilize to students about themed poetry as well.  I enjoyed reading this book because everything had a purpose for being in a book about lullabies and bedtime stories.

PB #3: Lies and Other Tall Tales

Lies and Other Tall Tales

Compiled by: Zora Neale Hurston
Illustrator:  Christopher Myers

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Subgenre:  Fairy Tales & Folklore
Theme:  Unites Sates, Afircan American, People and Places
Primary Characters: many in each story
Secondary Characters: many in each story
Awards:  n/a
Date of Publication:  2005

Publishing Company:  HarperCollins

This book would only be sufficent when talking about different types of stories in the classroom.  This is a great book about tall tales and stories that describe things that are not true.  There are many reviews that say a teacher should not tell these stories in a classroom, but I think telling a couple of stories out of this book would not hurt a thing.

PB #2: The Featherless Chicken

The Featherless Chicken
Author:  Zhiyuan Chen
Illustrator: Chih-Yuan Chen

Genre:  Juvinile Fiction

Subgenre:  picture book; animals, birds

Theme:  self-acceptance

Primary Characters:  the Featherless chicken

Secondary Characters:  the feather chickens

Awards:  n/a

Date of Publication:  2006

Filled with bold illustrations and wry humor, this twist on the ugly duckling tale places a chicken in the lead role. The chicken has no feathers and he longs to play with the other beautiful chickens in the yard, but they turn him down, ridiculing him for his bare skin. When he discovers a creative camouflage for his paltry plumage, however, the other chickens allow him to join them on a boat ride, never expecting that a surprising accident will change the way they see themselves and the (formerly) featherless chicken.

PB #1: "The Rainbow Fish"

The Rainbow Fish

Marcus Pfister

Fiction

Fable

Sharing and Friendship

Characters include "The Rainbow Fish", "The Starfish", and "The Octopus".

Christopher Award, Storytelling World Award, Learning Magazine Teachers' Choice Award

Northsouth Company

The Rainbow Fish would be a great addition to my library in my classroom for the students to read and listen to if I were to ever read it to the class.  "The Rainbow Fish" is a great book that discusses friendship.  The Rainbow Fish is a great story about a fish who was fully concerned about himself and the belongings he had on his back.  He continues to believe that his belongings are what brings his so called "friends" around and he does not want to lose that.  The Rainbow Fish learns a valuable lesson throughout his journey through the sea with his sparkling scales...