Poetry
and Verse
1. Where
the Sidewalk Ends. By: Shel
Silverstein
A book about hundreds of silly poems. Some of the poems make no sense at all,
and others just grab your imagination and won’t let go.
Homemade
Boat
This
boat that we just built is just fine-
And
don’t try to tell us it’s not.
The
sides and the back are divine-
It’s
the bottom I guess we forgot…
Page
12
2. Heartsongs. By: Mattie J.T. Stepnek
A book wrote by an inspirational
little boy who thought he could change the world with his words. He wrote about
nature and God.
3. Teaching
With Fire, Poetry that sustains the courage to teach. By: Sam M. Intrator & Megam Scribner
I chose to include this book because it has several powerful poems that I think I will need to remember
when I am teaching. I was put together by asking teachers what poems inspired
them and helped them get out of a rut if they were in one. Some of the poems
are, “Where the Mind is Without Fear”, “It is I who must begin”, “ego-tripping”…just
the name a few.
4. Leaf
by Leaf: An Autumn Poems Selected
by Barbara Rogasky
Beautiful poems and pictures about the season. Poems are written by famous
poets.
Nonfiction/Informational
1.
Who Lives In A Tree? By: Susan Canizares and Daniel Moreton
Pictures of animals
that live in a tree. I thought this was good if I had the children work on animals
and there habitats.
2. The
Earth. By Cynthia Pratt Nicolson
This book starts with Space and works it way into the atmosphere of Earth.
It has the myths of the earths beginning, Major forces of the earth like volcanoes and earthquakes.
3.
The German Shepard By: Charlotte Wilcox
This book was very informational. It talked about how to take care of the dogs, but also how important German Shepards were in the past wars
we have fought in. It talked about the dogs being used as police dogs.
4.
September 11, 2001 By:
Nancy Poffenberger
A fact book about the events that happened
on this dreadful day. I would probably go for second grade or above just because
it is very descriptive and factual. A lot of big words.
5. Journey
of the Red Wolf by Ronald Smith
A true account of wolves from around the world. It talked about what they
ate, where they lived, and how they lived.
6. Raging
Reptiles by Jan Jenner
A book about all the reptiles and where they live, what they eat, and who are there enemies.
7. I
Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.
This book is the powerful speech that Dr. King spoke to thousands of people about living a better life and having America
become unsegregated.
Picture
Books
1.
Are You My Mother? By: P.D.
Eastman
This book is so cute, it’s about a little
bird that hatches from its egg and does not see its mother. He searches all over
and encounters all sorts of things. The little bird finally finds its mother;
she was looking for food for her newly hatched baby bird.
2.
Bears In The Night By:
Stan and Jan Berenstein
This book was very fun to read to little children. It is very simple and fun, with words like, over, around, under, between…
3.
Anthony The Perfect Monster By: Angelo De Cesare
Anthony is a little boy who does everything
he is told to do, and he is just so very perfect, then he goes to school and sees that being perfect isn’t what it is
all cracked up to be. Anthony turns into a monster and doesn’t listen and
do what he is supposed to do. The books message is that no matter what your teachers
and parents will love you.
4.
Old Turtle By Douglas Wood
This book is a beautiful work of art. Cheng-Khee Chee did the watercolors and they just blend into the story so well. The message for this book was about knowing about God and doing what he tells us to. God made us and we should respect everything that God has made.
5.
Dinosaurumpus By Tony Mitton
This is one of my favorite books. It talks about different kinds of dinosaurs, and it has a song that the children can sing to. I also have my children dance as I read the words.
6.
Mrs. Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten By: Joseph Slate
This book is really cute for maybe the first
day of school, for younger children. It is about the ABC’s and how a teacher
gets ready for her first day.
7.
The Teacher From The Black Lagoon By Mike Thaler
This is about the first day of school; he thinks
the worst about his teacher. The teacher destroys all the children when they
ask a question. By the end it was just a dream and the real Mrs. Green is there
and she is normal. He is excited that she is not a monster.
8. Let
Me Hold You Longer By Karen Kingsbury
A book written about all the “lasts”
that a child experiences. Parents always look to find
the “firsts” as the “lasts” just pass them by. The last
time you hold them, the last time you read them a story…etc. Very sad.
9. Outside
Over There By Maurice Sendak
A very strange and kind of disturbing book
about goblins and a baby. The book does not make sense and there are pictures
of naked babies in book. Probably not appropriate for little children.
10. Heckedy
Peg By Audrey Wood
A good book for children learning the days of the week, the children’s names are Monday, Tuesday…
11. Piggie
Pie By Margie Palatini
A story about a witch who must find eight plump piggies for her piggie pie. The
story is set to the EIEIO song.
12. Without
You By Sarah Weeks
The story is about penguin and the experience it goes through when the mother leaves
for food and the father must take care of it.
13. The
Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything By Linda Williams
A good book to read around Halloween, because it is about a scarecrow who has
to become whole.
14. Little
Miss Spider By David Kirk
A spider is born and must find her mother, she comes upon a beetle named Betty
and she loves Miss Spider and they live together.
15. I
Love You the Purpelest by Barbara M.
Joosse
Two little boys compete for their mothers love and attention. The mother always has nice things to say to make them equal but different
16. Alexander
and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
A little boy has a rotten day. Good example to let children know everyone
has bad days and make mistakes. Illustrations are simple. Children can see their selves in this book.
17.
Little Bird’s House
A big book about a bird, who wants his friends to com to his house. All
his friends were too big. He has to figure out what to do.
18. The
Berenstein Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstein
A very simple story with little words on the page. This is very good for
beginning readers.
19. Hop
On Pop By Dr. Seuss
Another easy read for young readers. A lot of rhyming words.
20. Would
You Rather Be A Bullfrog? By Theo Lesieg
This book is silly it’s about being one thing or another. You could
do a mini lesson and then go off on several different avenues.
21. The
Little Engine That Could: Here She Comes
By Amanda Glassman
Same moral of the story, don’t give up. This one had lights and
the sound of a train.
22. Goodnight
Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
There is no main character, just the child reading the book gets to tell everyone goodnight.
23. God’s
Noisy 1-2-3 by Christine Harder Tangvald
A book for learning to count. The child can count the animals and make
the sounds the animal make.
24. Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by
Charlotte Zoloton
A little girl needs a present for her mother’s birthday, the rabbit helps, and they go through different elements,
but end up with fruit, so she takes her a fruit basket.
25. Critters
of the Night, Pirate Soup by Erica Farber and J.R. Sansevere
A good book if we were learning about oceans and pirates. Lately in the
news there was an actual pirate in the ocean.
26.
Gone Fishing by Earlene Long
A story about a son and father, they leave early on a fishing trip and return home with fish for the mother to cook.
27. The
Shark Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Brian James
A lesson about finding true friends and looking inside yourself to find the true you.
28. B-I-N-G-O illustrated by Dorthy Stott
The song set to pictures and words.
29. The
Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta and Ralph Masiello
A book of the alphabet with pictures of reptiles that start with a letter.
30. Sally
Goes To the Vet by Stephen Huneck
Sally is a dog and she has to go to the vet to get her shots and get checked up.
31.
The Jolly Barnyard by Annie North Bedford
This book introduces all the animals of the farm.
32. Green
Eggs and Ham By Dr. Seuss
Favorite rhyming book!! A book about trying new things and liking them.
33. The
Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
A rhyming book about a cat who causes trouble for two little kids.
34. Alexander
Who Use To Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst
A book about trying to save money as a child. Who spends his money unwisely
And wonder why he can’t be rich.
35. In
The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
A crazy story about a little boy who dreams of baking in the kitchen, the pictures are very inapproiate for little
children.
36. Clockwise: A Time Telling Tale By Sara Pinto
A wonderful tale of a boy who is learning how to tell time. It teaches
children to tell time on a real clock.
37. Row
Row Row Your Boat by Iza Trapani
A beautiful picture book depicting the song row row row your boat.
38. This
Next New Year by Janet S Wong
A story about a little Chinnese boy who wants to do things different next year.
It also talks of other religions.
39. The
Boy Who Painted Dragons By Demi
A story about finding your true destiny and never giving up or being afraid.
The dragons are beautifully depicted in this story of things bigger than we are.
40. BellaDonna:
A Story of Hope By Suzanne and Greg Roberts
This was written for their children when they found out their grandmother had cancer.
It is about a queen who has to fight off enemies and become stronger.
41. Baby
Steps By Peter McCarthy
A beautifully written and realistic book about a baby’s first year of life and all the obstacles it endures.
42. The
Magic School
Bus: Going Batty
A book about bats. The children follow Ms. Frizzle and they think she
is a vampire. The magic School bus turns into a bat and then the children turn
into bats. They have to figure out how to survive as a bat and turn back into
children.
43. Kiss
Goodnight by Amy Hest
A book about a night routine, using first, second, and third. Sam’s
mother must kiss him goodnight twice before he can fall asleep.
44. Tuesday by David Wiesner
A picture book with five words in it. You must look at the pictures carefully
to depict the story that is going on.
45. The
Very Lazy Ladybug by Isobel Finn and Jack Tickle
A story about being lazy and not getting anywhere. Once the ladybug realizes
that she can fly she is able to do anything.
46. Snowmen
at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Tells of why some snowmen are sloppy and melting the next day. They play
all night and they are tired. This book has rhyming words and hidden pictures
in the picture.
47. The
House That Drac Built by Judy Sierra
Series of events, that happen because something else happened. Growing
suspense. Trick or treaters start the whole sequence of events.
48. The
Butterfuly by Patricia Polacco
This book is set in WWII times. It is about a family who lives in France and they help several Jew families hide in their cellar,
to keep them safe from the Nazi’s.
49. Thank
You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
This book is about a little girl who never learned to read. No one took
the time to help her, until she moves to a new city and her
third grade teacher sets aside time to help her learn to read and soon she is reading chapter books.
50. A
House for Herbit Crab by Eric Carle
This book has the months of the year. In each month Herbit meets a new
sea thing and invites them to live on his shell and he is never alone.
51. The
Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
A good book for learning to tell time. The ladybug won’t share any
aphids.
52. Stella
Luna by Janell Cannon
This is about a bat who’s mother is attacked by owls, she is separated from her family. She is a fruit bat who befriends a family of birds. Stella
learns the ways of the birds but soon she realizes that she is different. She
finds her bat family and realizes that she is in fact a bat!
53.
Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving by Stan and Jan Berenstein
A story about the legend of Bigpaws. A huge bear that comes if the bears are not nice and thankful around Thanksgiving.
54.
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll
Walsh
A story that introduces the color wheel and
how colors can be mixed to make new colors.
55.
Bunny Cakes by Rosemary
Wells
This is about a little bunny who has to be
patient in order to get what he wants from the grocer. He does not know how to
write so he can not tell the grocer what he needs, after a couple of trips to the grocery store, he finally draws a picture
and he get what he wants.
56.
Thanksgiving Day by Anne
Rockwell
The story of why we have turkey, cranberry
sauce and corn.
57.
The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing
This is a poem set similarly to the tune of
Night before Christmas. It was very simple and easy to read.
58. Freddy’s
Best Christmas by Jonathan London
Freddy is a frog that usually hibernates through winter, but this Christmas he is awoken by his friend and they celebrate
Christmas together with their other friends turtle, beaver, and bear.
59. The
Christmas Humbugs By Colleen Monroe
A story about how important it is to believe in the Christmas spirit. The
Humbugs come into houses and tear everything up and make a mess, but someone else comes in and cleans up the mess and makes
everything better again.
60. The M&M's counting book
by Barbara Barbieri McGrath
Children play
with m&m's and learn to count. They also are working with colors. There is addition and subtraction.
61. The Hershey's Kisses Addition Book
by Jerry Pallotta
A great
book that introduces vocabulary for addition. It lets the students count the kisses by adding.
62. Domino Addition by Lynette
Long, P.H. D
Dominos are
used to help the studnets add. It would be great to have a center set up for this book. The children could read
and play with the dominos.
Folktales
1. Lon Po Po By Ed Young
This is a version of the Little
Red Riding Hood, but it is from China
so there is a whole new spin and viewpoint of this classic story.
2. Bloody Mary Retold by S.E. Schlosser
The story
of a witch named Bloody Mary, who enchanted young girls with a wand. Bloody Mary became younger and more attractive with each young girl. The townspeople finally caught Bloody Mary and as they were burning her body she put a spell over the town.
3. Hansel and Greta
The story of two children, who leave a trail
when they are kidnapped by a witch who lives in the forest.
4. Crossing Bok Chitto by Tim Tingle
A story of Choctaw’s who befriend the slaves
across the river.
5. Scary Stories To Tell
In The Dark By AlvinSchwartz
Many stories combined in this spookishly scary
book.
Fantasy
Novels
1.
Twilight By Stephanie Myer
This book is about a girl who moves to rainy
Oregon to live with her dad.
She starts at a new school and meets some beautiful friends, who aren’t quite normal. She looks into their backgrounds and figures out they are vampires.
So the book is about her dealing with her feelings for one in particular vampire Edward. She is in love with him, but has to deal with the fact that he is not a human.
2.
New Moon By: Stephanie
Myer
This is the second book in the series, Edward
and Bella are in love but he soon realizes that he is putting her in danger so he leaves her.
She is almost destroyed over his leaving but she soon becomes really good friends with Jacob, who soon finds out he
is a werewolf the enemy of all vampires. He falls in love with Bella and this
book is learning about his side of the story.
3.
Eclipse By Stephanie Myer
This is the third book in the series. Edward and Bella are back together trying to make it work. Her being a human and him a vampire.
4. Breaking Dawn By: Stephanie
Myer
This is the fourth book in the series. Bella finally graduates high school
and becomes a vampire through a series of events that are totally unexpected. They have one last battle where the whole family is involved.
5. The Old Willis Place By: Mary Downing Hahn
A ghost story about a girl who moves with
her dad to a haunted house to be a caretaker. The girl soon realizes that there
are two ghosts who are children and she must help them so they can move on. Not too scary maybe third grade.
6. Tuck Everlasting By: Natalie Babbitt
A book about everlasting life, a child
wanders in the woods and happens upon a spring that is guarded by a family, who never grows old. The stream has the magic to bring the drinker eternal life.
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone By J.K. Rowling
A beautifully written novel about a
young boy who is a wizard by birth and at the age of eleven he must attend a school for witchcraft and wizardry.
8. The Prince of the Pond
By Donna Jo Napoli
A beautiful written novel
about a prince that is turned into a frog. His name is pin and he has to learn to live like a frog. Some very funny
parts.
9. The Last Dragon by
Silvana De Mari
This book was translated so it was very difficult to use. Most of the words were very difficult
to read I would have to say this is defiantly for seventh and above.
10. Deep, Dark Dangerous
By Mary Downing Hahn
A scary ghost story that keeps you guessing until the very end.
11. Charlotte’s Web
By E.B. White
A book about a young girl who saves a runt pig, and takes him on as a pet. Her
father tells her the pig must be killed, but Fern takes him to a farm where Wilbur finds many farm animals who becomes his
friends. Charlotte
the spider saves Wilburs life by writing in her web.
12. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
A well written fairy tale, who princes, magic and of course a girl looking to find her true self. This book is awesome because the entire castle sings, so most of the book is written into verse, which
I loved!
13. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
A wonderful
fairy tale. Two children are taught how to care for their grandparents magical land. It is only after they drink
some special milk that the butterflies turn into fairies, and the forest comes to life with fun and dangerous creatures.
14 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
by J.K. Rowling
Harry and his
friends endure another year at Hogwarts. They get into more mischief and find out about the chamber of secrets, and
Harry has to fight Voldermort, and his ever impending death.
Graphic Novels
1. Archie’s T.V. Laugh-Out
The first couple of pages was interesting, but I really don’t care
for these comic books. Sabrina
the Teenage witch was also in this comic.
2. Richie Rich Billions
Richie is a spoiled little kid who thinks he can get away with anything, there are several other stories in the comic.
3. Hot Stuff: The Little
Devil
Hot stuff is being attacked by mosquitos and he has to try and stop them from biting him.
Realistic
Fiction
1. Ruby
Hollar by Sharon Creech
A wonderful book about two orphans who live in a home, they never can find, happiness until they are adopted by two older people and move to Ruby Hollar, there they find happiness and
magic.
2. Summer
of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
A very funny heartwarming story about a young boy who happens upon some
crazy circus monkeys he has to keep them secret and take care of them.
3. The
Broccoli Tapes by Jan Slepian
A story about a young girl who moves to Hawaii, and
she has no friends. Her brother and her find a cat she names Broccoli, and she
decides to keep in touch with her friends back home by making cassette tapes about her life in Hawaii,
through all her ups and downs she comes to find out that Hawaii
is not so bad.
4. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I love this book, it is about a young girl is very mischievous and lovable. She
gets into trouble and finds her way into the readers heart.
5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
A tangled web of love and sacrifices, that ruins Heathcliffs life and he wants to get revenge on those who betrayed
him. Sometimes this book was confusing because there were several characters
with the same name.
6. Halloween Party by
R.L. Stine
A scary story that keeps you guessing until the end. Justine is a new girl at school and she lives on Fear Street. She throws a party and invites nine people who have nothing in common or so they think. During the party everybody is joking around and pranking each other. Till the very end when someone ends up really hurt.
7. A Spy in the Whitehouse
by Ron Roy
Someone is informing newspapers about private matters in the White House. KC
starts to investigate who could be the spy. Her mom is marring the president
so all the information being leaked is about her life. KC and her friend Marshall
know that the newspaper lady Darla Darling is up to something.
