Leave Me Alone!

Written & Illustrated by: Vera Brosgol

Genre: fantasy, realistic fiction

Awards: Caldecott Honor, 2017

               New York Times Notable Children's Book

              National Public Radio Best Book of 2016

              Horn Book Best Book of 2016

             Huffington Post Best Picture Book of 2016

Summary:

In a small village, an old woman lived with her very large family in a very small home. The woman had a lot of sweaters to knit in preparation for the winter. She had all her yarn, but she could not seem to get any work done so, she packed her things and left, yelling, "Leave Me ALONE!" She went to a forest but was bothered by a family of bears. She went to a cold mountainside but couldn't escape a herd of goats. She even went all the way to the moon, but she couldn't get away from the curious aliens. Finally, the old woman stepped through a wormhole into a space void; she finally completed all her sweaters but realized that she was lonely. She stepped back through the wormhole, right back into her family's home. 

Teacher Evaluation:

This story would be beneficial for students in first or second-grade classrooms. I would use it to discuss ways to communicate our needs or feelings. Teachers could talk about the different seasons and how our needs change with the seasons. Learners could group up to create a chart with some basic necessities for the seasons and present them to the class. We could also discuss different environments such as a forest, a mountain, and space. We could think about what we would need to survive in different areas. Students could find information about the different environments such as natural resources and other creatures that live there.

Olivia

Written & Illustrated By: Ian Falconer

Genre: fiction, fantasy

Awards: Caldecott Honor, 2001

               ALA Notable Children's Books, 2001

               SLJ Best of the Best Books

              Children's Literature Choice List

              Bulletin Blue Ribbon

Summary:

Olivia is a lively little pig who is especially good at wearing people out. She loves to do a bit of everything, including playing dress-up and painting. Her family encourages Olivia to explore her interests by taking her to the museum, the beach, and other places. After she gets too enthusiastic, Olivia lands herself in timeout, which eventually helps her wind down. She settles into bed with a story from her mom and ends her festive day. 

Teacher Evaluation:

I would recommend this story for kindergarten or first-grade classrooms. Kindergarten classes could work on art projects to draw their families as Olivia did in the story. Teachers could create an art gallery for classroom visitors to see the work. First-grade classes could work on comparing and contrasting using a Venn diagram. Students could find similarities and differences between themselves and Olivia. Students could also compare the pigs in the book to real pigs.

The Undefeated

Written by: Kwame Alexander

Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

Genre: non-fiction, poetry

Awards: 2020 Coretta Scott King Award

                2020 Caldecott Medal

                2020 Newbery Honor Book

Summary:

This book, written in verse poetic form, delivers a tribute to the history of black people. Author Kwame Alexander honors all components of the black experience, ranging from slavery to the times of our greatest heroes. Readers learn of the passion and perseverance of black people in America through beautiful language and rich drawings. 

Teacher Evaluation:

I would use this book in a fifth or sixth-grade classroom. We would study significant people in American history and their contributions to society. Students could complete research about an important historical figure, then create a story to share with the class. We would also evaluate the value of illustrated stories and consider why stories should or should not have illustrations. Students would benefit from a project like this since they are likely losing interest in picture books. This study could encourage them to reconnect with picture books and use them while on their educational journeys. 

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille

 Written by: Jen Bryant

Illustrated by: Boris Kulikov

Genre: biography

Awards: 2017 Schneider Family Book Award

               2018-19 Cy-Fair ISD Horned Toad Tale List

               2017 Texas Topaz Reading List

               2016  Science Teachers Association Best STEM Books

Summary:

Louis Braille lost his sight after an accident in his father's shop and an infection. His family worked hard to make life in the village normal for him, but they struggled without the resources. Louis especially disliked that there were no books for the blind to read since it kept him from living life completely. After an invitation to study at the Royal School for the Blind, Louis learns that there aren't many resources for blind people anywhere. With some help from a French army captain, Louis developed a language system that would give blind people an opportunity to read and write as normal. 

Teacher Evaluation:

This story encourages innovation and inspires a desire to learn, which makes it beneficial for second through fifth-grade classrooms. Teachers could use this book to focus on reading analysis. I would begin the unit with an evaluation of the illustrations and discuss how they contribute to the story's progression.  While reading, we would discuss key vocabulary and determine some differences between the language of that century and modern language. After reading, students could complete a book review to express their thoughts and evaluate the message. 

Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade

 Written & Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography

Awards: ALA Sibert Medal 2012

                NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2012

                Bank Street College of Education Cook Prize 2012

                Bank Street College of Education Flora S. Straus                        Award 2012

Summary:

Tony Sarg is the mastermind behind the giant balloon animals that grace the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades. His love for puppets began at a very young age and, he dedicated many years to honing his craft. Macy's granted him an opportunity to take his puppeteering skills to a grand scale when they asked him to be in charge of the floats in the parade. This book encourages innovation and art appreciation for all ages. 

Teacher Evaluation:

Balloons Over Broadway is a high-interest book and is beneficial for students in early education classrooms through third grade. Classes could use this book to discuss their future careers or life plans. Early learners could draw pictures of what they'd like to be in adulthood. Older students could draw and write descriptions of their life expectations. All grade levels could create puppets and demonstrate what their future career would be. 

Locomotive

 

Written & Illustrated by: Brian Floca

Genre: Nonfiction, Informational Text

Awards: 2014 Caldecott Medal

               2014 Sibert Award Honor

Summary: 

In this book, readers follow a family as they ride on the newly built transcontinental railroad. The family boards in Omaha, Nebraska, heading West to meet up with family in San Francisco. We explore the novel sights, sounds, and landscapes as they travel across the country. This book also explains how the steam engine works and the material the railroad is made of. 

Teacher Evaluation:

Locomotive would be a fun book for second through fourth-grade classrooms. This book deals with history, geography, and engineering, making it useful for various lessons. Teachers could use this book to discuss The Great Plains landscape and how it contributed to the formation of the United States. Students could draw the environment, research animals that live there, and discuss its location in relation to their homes. Classes could work on projects where they have to create a steam-powered model using the information found in the book. 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul

 

Written by: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by: Frank Morrison

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography

Awards: 2021 Coretta Scott King Illustration Award

                2020 Eureka! Nonfiction Award Honor

                2021 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List

Summary:

This book tells of Aretha Franklin's journey to becoming the Queen of Soul. It begins with a look at her childhood and her experiences with the church; she learned to sing gospel music from her mother and father, a pastor. The family then moves to Detroit, where Aretha records her first album at only 14 years old. She also got involved with the Civil Rights Movement, using her voice to protest injustice. The book goes on to share about Ms. Franklin's decade-spanning career, giving readers insight into her most memorable moments in the spotlight. The author's note at the end gives more information and includes a list of her greatest hits to enjoy.

Teacher Evaluation:

I would recommend this book for students in grades three through six. This biography explains the cultural significance of Aretha Franklin's career, so I would use it to discuss how popular media helps shape culture. We would do a culture research project where students explore their culture and find significant media that have molded it. This book is written in couplets so, it would be beneficial in a poetry unit. Classes could study poetic form and create their own biographical poems to share with the class. 

Sleep: How Nature gets its Rest

 

Written & Illustrated by: Kate Prendergast

Genre: Nonfiction, Informational Text

Awards: N/A

Summary: 

Have you ever wondered how animals sleep? Well here is where you can find out. This book explains the resting habits of all kinds of animals, from cats and dogs to tigers and bears. At the end of this tale, readers get some facts about the animals in the story. Information such as where they are native to and how often they rest can be found in the final pages of this book. 

Teacher Evaluation:

I would use this book for students in kindergarten and first grade. This is a high-interest, low-readability book, which will make it popular with young students. I would use this book to teach students about the importance of sleep to animals and humans. We would draw and color classroom posters that share the information we found in this book. Students would create a sentence using the sentence stem "Sleep is important for animals and humans because..." These would also be posted for visitors to see what students are working on. 

Tani's New Home: A Refugee finds Hope & Kindness in America

 

Written by: Tanitoluwa Adewumi

Illustrated by: Courtney Dawson

Genre: Nonfiction, Autobiography

Awards: N/A

Summary:

Tani Adewumi was a small child when his family fled Nigeria to be safe in America. The family is devoutly Christian and needed to escape persecution from the terrorist group, Boko Haram. Tani's brother Austin taught him a version of chess to help him feel more comfortable during the familiy's upheaval. When the Adewumi family got to New York, they lived in a shelter, and Tani was not very comfortable with living arrangements. At PS 116, Tani's new school, Coach Shawn teaches him how to play chess. He learns that hard work is the only way to win in chesss, a lesson he carries with him throughout life. A year after arriving in America, Tani advanced to the chess state championship, where he won the first place prize.

Teacher Evaluation:

This book would be best used in for third or fourth-grade classes. Students could learn about the history of refugees in America after reading about Tani's experiences. Teachers could also discuss cause and effect from the book and study some causes of refugeeism. For reading comprehension practice, students could do a gallery walk that asks them to retell events from the story. If I were an elementary educator, I would use this book to discuss cultural sensitivity. This book simplifies common issues other cultures face, which gives teachers an opportunity to teach students kindness and respect for all people.

Molly, by Golly!: The Legend of Molly Williams, America's First Female Firefighter

Written by: Dianne Ochiltree

Illustrated by: Kathleen Kemly

Genre: historical fiction

Awards: Amelia Bloomer Book List for Feminist Literature

                IASL Book Honor for Language Arts Grades K-6

                Children’s Bronze Medal Florida Book Awards

Summary:

Molly Williams is a great benefit to the firemen of Company No. 11 in New York City. She is a great cook and the men always let her know what a "wonderous fine" she was. Molly did everything wholeheartedly, giving 100% every time she was needed. When a fire overtakes a wooden house, Molly jumps into action to help put it out. She fights against the blinding snowstorm to help the fire company dampen the flames. The fireman and fire captain are grateful for her bravery and kindness. 

Teacher Evaluation:

I think Molly, by Golly! would be a fun read-aloud activity for readers in first through third-grade classrooms. This is a high-interest, low-difficulty book so it will keep readers entertained while allowing them to develop their skills. With this story, I would have students focus on story retelling and response. First, we would create a story string to organize the events of the story; then we would hold a group book club for students to share their thoughts on the story. This would allow them to focus on carefully interpreting their thoughts and communicating with their peers. 

Hello Lighthouse

 

Written and Illustrated by: Sophie Blackall

Genre: historical fiction

Awards: Caldecott Medal Winner 2019

Summary:

The lighthouse keeper has a very important job; he is responsible for the upkeep of the lighthouse so that ships can find their way. He polishes it, refills the oil, sets the clock, and paints it for everyone to see. His wife comes to help him and soon they have a daughter to care for. The family continues to tend to the lighthouse, helping many ships and sailors. The family grows in love, living happily in the lighthouse. When the coast guard comes to automate the lighthouse, the family is saddened. They move across the sea where they can still see the lighthouse as it greets all who sail.

Teacher Evaluation:

This book lends itself well to exploring more in-depth topics, such as loneliness and inspiration. Early learners in kindergarten through third grade could focus on the environment the lighthouse creates. They could focus on the animals and ocean habitat by designing an ocean setting with appropriate plants and animals. Fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade classes could deal with the literary features of this story. I would have my students think about how sentence structure contributes to the mood and tone of this story. We would discuss the historical significance of lighthouses and why the author may have chosen to write about them. 

Freedom Bird: A Tale of Hope and Courage

 

Written by: Jerdine Nolen

Illustrated by: James E. Ransome

Genre: historical fiction

Awards: Parents’ Choice Silver Award 2020

Summary: 

John and Millicent Wheeler are sister and brother who have spent their lives working on the Plenty Plantation. Their parents, Samuel and Maggie, had always told them of a time when enslaved people could fly, encouraging them to dream of a life beyond their chains. Tensions leading up to the civil  caused great change on the plantation, starting with Samuel and Maggie being sold away. The children worked tirelessly to avoid the wrath of the overseer; when a beautiful bird flies over the field, John and Millicent are once again reminded of their desire to be free. After John returns from working in a factory, the two prepare to set themselves free. They follow the bird, running through the night towards the free West.

Teacher Evaluation:

I would recommend this story as a read-aloud for kindergarten through second-grade. Students could discuss the plot, characters, and settings of the story. The class could complete a story map to identify these parts and help facilitate their discussion. For students in third through fifth-grade, teachers could focus more on the language used to convey the overall theme of the story. Learners could create classroom posters that explain the different types of figurative language presented in this story. They could work individually to write a short analysis of the theme and what figurative language supports it. Older students could also determine how people were affected by Westward expansion in a history unit. 

Prisoner 88

Written by: Leah Pileggi

Genre: Historical fiction

Awards: Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts 2014

Summary: 

10-year-old Jake Evans has been convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in the Idaho Territorial Penitentiary, the only prison in town. He is surrounded by hardened criminals while learning to navigate childhood in a cell. He makes friends in a guard, the warden, and even some of the prisoners to help him find his way. Though some would hate life in jail, Jake learns to love it; he has people who care for him, a place to sleep, and three meals a day. Jake gets a job on a hog farm, learns to read, and finds surprising comfort in what should be a terrible situation. As he grows up, Jake is faced with tough choices regarding right and wrong, and readers are left to wonder what he will choose. 

Teacher Evaluation:

I think this book would be best for fourth through sixth grade classrooms since it focuses on the experiences of a 10-year-old. Students may understand some of the issues he is having regarding growing up and learning about life. Teachers could use this book for several topics in social studies or history. There are some references to historically relevant songs like "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Camptown Races." Teachers could have students research the lyrics to the songs and discuss the impact they had on American society or how society affected the production of the song. Classes could learn about government proceedings and why a 10-year-old was sent to prison with adults. I also think this book could be used to discuss language variations since Jake's speech is quite unique. I would use this book in a secondary class to help students think about how the language an author uses affects the overall mood of a story. 

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

Written by: Ellen Levine

Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

Genre: historical fiction

Awards: ALSC Notable Children's Book Award 2008

                Caldecott Honor 2008

                IRA Notable Books for a Global Society 2008

Summary:

Henry longs for freedom; he's always known that something would change his life drastically and has waited for his time to come. He works in a tobacco factory, but he is happy at home with his wife and children. When his family is sold at the slave auction, Henry knows that it is time for him to take control of his life. With the help of Dr. Smith, a white abolitionist, Henry devises a plan to mail himself to freedom. He travels by steamboat and railroad car to establish himself as a free man. On March 30, 1849,  Henry "Box" Brown celebrated his first day of freedom.

Teacher Evaluation:

This book is a great read-aloud option for all classrooms; it could be used to teach history or reading analyzation. I think this book would be best for third through fifth-grade classrooms. Since this book deals with slavery and the Underground Railroad, teachers could focus on the timeline of American history. Classes could discuss how slavery affects the lives of African Americans over time. This book could also be used to discuss characterization and what features make a well-rounded character. Students could also practice close reading with this book by completing gallery walks or conducting individual book clubs. I would use this book as a read aloud in a secondary ELA classroom as a short intro to multicultural literature. We would talk about how authors and readers are impacted by the cultural experiences depicted in stories. 

My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I am Not.)

Written & Illustrated by: Peter Brown

Genre: contemporary realistic fiction

Awards: N/A

Summary:

Bobby has the worst teacher; Ms. Kirby is loud, she yells, and if you throw paper airplanes, she won't let you play at recess. She is a monster! Luckily, Bobby can relax at his favorite spot in the park on weekends. One day, he finds his teacher sitting in the park! Bobby and Ms. Kirby spend the day together doing lots of fun things. They climb a mountain, quack with ducks, and even fly paper airplanes. Over the day, Bobby realizes that Ms. Kirby is less of a monster than he thought.

Teacher Evaluation:

Although this is a fun book, I don't think I would use it in my classroom. Kindergarten and first-grade teachers could use this book to teach kindness and understanding of others. Teachers could create a kindness chart that shows some ways to practice kindness in the classroom. The teacher could model the methods then allow students to do it themselves. Teachers could also have students talk about their likes or dislikes during school. Something unique about this story is that it sheds light on an important teaching strategy: being relatable to students. I think this would be a good reminder for teachers of all grades. 

I Pledge Allegiance

Written by: Libby Martinez & Pat Mora

Illustrated by: Patrice Barton

Genre: contemporary realistic fiction 

Awards: 

Denton Record-Chronicle Award, 2015

International Latino Book Award, 2015

CCBC Choices, 2015

Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 2015

Summary:

Libby's great aunt, Lobo,  is preparing to become a United States citizen. She and Libby have been working diligently to memorize the Pledge of Allegiance for the upcoming citizenship ceremony. Libby's teacher is also letting her lead the morning Pledge recitation. The two practice the pledge very often, using every moment to get it right. They share stories and memories of why American citizenship is valuable to them. Libby successfully leads her classmates during the morning pledge and supports her aunt at the ceremony the next day. Libby and Lobo stand proudly with their hands over their hearts as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the citizenship ceremony.

Teacher Evaluation:

I think this is a great book and would be beneficial for a lesson on citizenship or analyzing language. For lower grades, kindergarten through second, I would use this book for teaching what it means to be a good citizen. We would define citizenship and give examples of good citizenship skills. We would also identify what it means to be a good citizen in the classroom, and I would help students practice citizenship daily. 

For older students, we would use this book as an introductory text for analyzing language. We would do a station assignment where each group would evaluate a different part of the story. Students will look for how the language used establishes the theme of the story. Students would then present their assigned section and explain their findings. 

Those Shoes

Written by: Maribeth Boelts

Illustrated by: Noah Z. Jones

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Awards: 

               READ Boston Readaloud, 2007

               Notable Children's Video, 2010

               CCBC Choices, 2008

Summary:

At school, everyone has the newest pair of shoes-except for Jeremy. Everywhere he looks, he sees the shoes and is upset that he doesn't have them. Jeremy asks his grandmother to buy the new shoes, but she says that they don't have money for "wants." When Jeremy's shoe breaks and everyone laughs at him, he is even more anxious for black and white sneakers. Jeremy is luckily enough to find a pair of the new shoes at a thrift store, except they're too small. He buys them anyway, forcing himself to deal with the pain they cause. His friend Antonio also has broken shoes, but Antonio's feet are much smaller than his. Jeremy understands what Antonio is dealing with and gives the too-small sneakers to him. 

Teacher Evaluation: 

I think this book would be best for second-grade classrooms. Those Shoes would be my class' anchor text for two subjects: social studies and ELA. For our social studies lesson, we would establish the differences between wants and needs. We would then identify some things in our lives that we need and things we want. For the ELA lesson, we would complete a Think, Feel, Do assignment. Students will reflect on the story to clarify what they thought while reading. Then they will discuss their reflections and explain what they felt. Finally, we will discuss some ways to practice kindness and empathy to our peers. Students will need to complete a short writing assignment as they do each component. 

The Water Princess

Written by: Susan Verde

Illustrated by: Peter H. Reynolds

Genre: contemporary realistic fiction

Awards:   ALA Award for Notable Children's Book, 2017

Summary: 

Gie Gie lives in a beautiful village in Africa; she is the "princess" of her family and has dominion over the land around her. Unfortunately, she was missing one thing: clean water. Gie Gie and her mother travel daily to get water from the well. They deal with pain and tiredness but continue to demonstrate strength and courage. After the water is gone and the family is preparing for the next day, Gie Gie dreams of the future. She anticipates the day her village will have immediate access to clean water.

Teacher Evaluation:

The Water Princess would be suitable for second through fifth-grade classes. I would use this book to teach reading or STEM. I would have students create a story map identifying parts of the story plot. We would use this to demonstrate how plot points assist help students to comprehend the story. For older students, I would create a STEM project where they have to build water filters. We would discuss the importance of clean water and what societal changes we could make to ensure everyone has access to clean water. 

I would also use this book in a secondary geography class to discuss differences in world cultures. The illustrations and storyline of this book demonstrate unique aspects of the culture in Africa, making it an easy lead-in to defining culture. After this book, we would go on to higher-difficulty stories that demonstrate culture. 

The Invisible Boy

Written by: Trudy Ludwig

Illustrated by: Patrice Barton

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Awards: 2013 NAPPA Gold Medal

Summary:

Brian is the invisible boy; everyone overlooks him and dismisses his presence in the classroom. He is last picked for all the games, sits alone at lunch, and no one invites him to any parties. When the new student, Justin, is introduced to the class, Brian sees an opportunity to make a new friend. Brian understands how Justin feels when the other students laugh at his lunch; Brian leaves Justin a note complimenting his unique culture. Justin and Brian connect over a love for art, and Justin is careful to include Brian throughout the school day. Brian has come out of his shell and is no longer the invisible boy.

Teacher Evaluation: 

I would recommend this book for first to second-grade classrooms for a lesson on sequencing. I would help students differentiate between the beginning, middle, and end of the story. We would discuss features that define each point of the story then students would complete a retelling assignment. Students would need to explain the story in their own words and draw pictures that match each event. I would also use The Invisible Boy to help students reflect on their classroom behavior and treatment of others.