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!