Recommended Children's Books

Title: Moonbear’s Shadow
Author: Frank Asch
Illustrator: Frank Asch
Year Published: 2000
Type: Picture Book/Series
Culture/Diversity: Animals
Age Level: 5 to 8
Topic: Bears
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions:  Can you get away from your shadow? Why? Have you ever seen your shadow? Where?
When Little Bear's shadow gets in the way of his catching a fish, he decides to get rid of it. No matter what he does though, it won't go away!


Title: We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Year Published: 1997
Type: Picture Book
Culture/Diversity: White
Age/Grade Level: K
Topic: Bear Hunt
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: What was your favorite sound word in the book? Why? Have you ever seen a bear? Where?
Brave bear hunters go through grass, a river, mud, and other obstacles before the inevitable encounter with the bear forces a headlong retreat.


Title: Dinosaur Roar
Year Published: 1997
Type: Picture Book
Culture/Diversity: Animals
Age/Grade Level:
Topic: Dinosaurs
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: What do you know about dinosaurs? What was your favorite page? Why?
Dinosaurs of every shape and size race, roar, and stomp through this colorful book of opposites. And where are all these silly-looking creatures off to? A dinosaur picnic, of course!


Title: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Author: Mo Willems
Illustrator: Mo Willems
Year Published: 2003
Type: Picture Book
Culture/Diversity: White
Age/Grade Level: K
Topic: Pigeon
Awards: Caldecott
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: What do you know about pigeons? Do you think the pigeon got to drive the truck after? Why?
A pigeon is on a mission to drive a bus.


Title: Edward the Emu
Illustrator: Rod Clement
Year Published: 1998
Type: Picture book
Culture/Diversity: Animals
Age/Grade Level: 3 to 6
Topic: Zoo
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: What do you know about emu’s? Have you ever seen one before? What part did you think was funniest and why?
Tired of being an emu, Edward decides to try being like other animals at the zoo, but he soon discovers that being himself is the best after all.

Title: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Author: Judi Barrett
Illustrator: Ron Barrett
Year Published: 1982
Type: Picture book
Culture/Diversity: White/Black
Age/Grade Level: 4 to 8
Topic: Weather
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: Would you like it if it rained food? Why? Did you think this book is funny? Why?
Life is delicious in the town of Chewandswallow where it rains soup and juice, snows mashed potatoes, and blows storms of hamburgers--until the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Title: Feathers for Lunch
Author: Lois Ehlert
Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Year Published: 1996
Type: Picture book
Culture/Diversity: White/Black
Age/Grade Level: 4 to 7
Topic: Cats
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: Have you ever seen a cat chase something? If so, what? Do you think a cat can catch a bird? Why?
An escaped housecat encounters twelve birds in the back yard but fails to catch any of them and has to eat feathers for lunch.


Title: Biscuit's Big Friend
Illustrator: Pat Schories
Year Published: 2003
Type:  Beginning chapter book series
Culture/Diversity: Animals/middle class
Age/Grade Level: K-1
Topic: Dog
Awards:
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Questions: Why do you think Biscuit wanted to be bigger? Do you like puppies or dogs better? Why?
Biscuit, a little puppy, and Sam, a big dog, play together despite their difference in size.

Title: Jamaica's Find
Illustrator: Anne Sibley O'Brien
Year Published: 1987
Type: Picture book     
Culture/Diversity: Black
Age/Grade Level:  5 to 8
Topic: Honesty
Awards:
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Questions: Why did Jamaica give the dog to the lost and found? How do you think the little girl felt to find her lost dog? Why?
There are happy endings all around when Jamaica finds an old stuffed animal and has the satisfaction of returning it to the grateful owner.


Title: Mice Are Nice:
Illustrator: Jon Goodell
Year Published: 1999
Type: Beginning chapter book series
Culture/Diversity: Animals/White
Age/Grade Level: 4 to 6
Topic: Mice
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: What do you think is the best pet? Why? Do you like mice? Why or why not?
This book is funny and tells why mice are the best pet to have.


Title: Motorcycles!
Author: Susan E. Goodman, Michael Doolittle
Illustrator: Michael Doolittle
Year Published: 2007
Type: Beginning chapter book series
Culture/Diversity: White
Age/Grade Level: 6 to 8
Topic: Motorcycles
Awards:
Genre: Informational
Questions: Do you know anyone who has a motorcycle? Who? What is the most important job for a motorcycle to do? Why?
This book is about motorcycles and tells what they are used for.

Title: Stray Dog
Author: Marc Simont
Illustrator: Marc Simont
Year Published: 2003
Type: Picture book
Culture/Diversity:White
Age/Grade Level: 4 to 8
Topic: Dog
Awards: Caldecott
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Questions: Have you ever seen a stray animal? When? What would you have done in the children’s situation? Why?
This story is about a stray dog a family finds at a picnic and in the end rescues him from the pound.
Title: Make Way for Ducklings
Author: Robert McCloskey
Illustrator: Robert McCloskey
Year Published: 1941
Type: Beginning chapter book
Culture/Diversity: Animals
Age/Grade Level: 4 to 8
Topic: Ducks
Awards: Caldecott Medal
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: Do you like ducks? Why or why not? What was your favorite part in this book? Why?
The quaint story of the mallard family's search for the perfect place to hatch ducklings. Once the ducklings learn to walk in a straight line, they stroll past famous Boston landmarks into the Public Garden.

Title: Are You Ready to Play Outside?
Author: Mo Willems
Illustrator: Mo Willems
Year Published: 2008
Type: Beginning chapter book/Series
Culture/Diversity: Animals
Age/Grade Level: 6 to 8
Topic: Friends
Awards: Theodor Seuss Geisel
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: What was your favorite part of the story? Why? Can you relate to the main character? If so, how?
Piggie can't wait to go play in the sunshine with her friends  but will a rainy day ruin all the fun? 


Title:  Just in Case
Author: Yuyi Morales
Illustrator: Yuyi Morales
Year Published: 2008
Type: Picture book
Culture/Diversity: Latino
Age/Grade Level:  4 to 8
Topic: Alphabet
Awards: Pura Belpre
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: What’s your favorite letter of the alphabet, why? Do you like Halloween with skeletons? Why or why not?
Senor Calvera, a skeleton can’t figure out what to get his grandma for her birthday so he gets one gift for every letter of the alphabet.

Title: When You Reach Me
Author: Rebecca Stead
Illustrator: Rebecca Stead
Year Published: 2009
Type:  Beginning chapter book
Culture/Diversity: White
Age/Grade Level:  9 to 12
Topic: Mystery
Awards: Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Questions: What did you like about this book? Why? Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever.

Title: Louise, the Adventures of  a Chicken
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Harry Bliss
Year Published: 2008
Type: Picture book
Culture/Diversity: Animals
Age/Grade Level: 4 to 8
Topic: Adventure
Awards: Odyssey Award
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: Do you like chickens? Why or why not? Did you think any parts were funny? Which one?
A chicken endures many adventures.


Title: The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Dave Mckean
Year Published:2008
Type: Beginner chapter book
Culture/Diversity: White
Age/Grade Level:  9 to 12
Topic: Graveyard
Awards: Newbery Medal
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: Did any parts scare you? Which one? Would you recommend this book to your friends? Why or why not?
A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an aboandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens.

Title: First The Egg
Author:  Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Year Published:2007
Type: Picture book
Culture/Diversity: Animals
Age/Grade Level: 4 to 6
Topic: Transformations
Awards: Caldecott and Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Questions: Do you like chickens? Why or why not? Did you learn anything? If so, what?
This is a book about transformations...from egg to chicken, seed to flower, and caterpillar to butterfly.

Title: An Extraordinary Egg
Author: Leo Lionni
Illustrator: Leo Lionni
Year Published: 1998
Type: Picture book
Culture/Diversity: Animals
Age/Grade Level: K-2
Topic: Animals
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions:
Jessica the frog befriends the animal that hatches from an egg she brought home, thinking it is a chicken.

Chapter Books

Title: Because of Winn-Dixie
Illustrator: Kate DiCamillo
Year Published: 2009
Type: Chapter book
Culture/Diversity: White
Age/Grade Level:  9
Topic: Dogs
Awards: Newbery
Genre: Realistic fiction
Questions: Do you like this book why or why not? Have you ever had a pet dog? When?
Why this section: I chose this section to do a read aloud to because I thought it was a great introduction about the dog and it is humorous for the students.

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie.

Title: Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Illustrator: Tracy Dockray
Year Published: 1992
Type: Chapter book
Culture/Diversity:White
Age/Grade Level:  8 to 11
Topic: School
Awards: Newbery
Genre: Realistic fiction
Questions: What was your favorite part and why? Can you relate to Ramona in any way? How?
Why this section: I chose this section for a read aloud because it is humorous and students always like those kinds of books. It is also written very visual so that students can picture in their mind exactly what is happening. 

The further adventures of the Quimby family as Ramona enters the third grade.

Title: Beast in Ms. Rooney's Room (The Kids of Polk Street School)
Illustrator: Blanche Sims
Year Published: 1984
Type: Chapter book
Culture/Diversity:White
Age/Grade Level: 7 to 9
Topic: School
Awards:
Genre: Realistic fiction
Questions: What was your favorite part? Why? Did you think any parts were funny? When?
Why this section: I chose this section for a read aloud because I thought students could relate to having a new student come into their classroom. At the end it is very funny also so I thought the students would get a kick out of it.

Held back for a year in second grade, Richard can't seem to help getting into trouble, until he gets really interested in reading and helps his class in a special way.


Title: Tooth Trouble (Ready, Freddy!)
Author: Abby Klein
Illustrator: John McKinley
Year Published: 2004
Type: Chapter book
Culture/Diversity:White
Age/Grade Level: 4 to 8
Topic: Teeth
Awards:
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Questions: Have you lost any teeth? When? Can you relate to Freddy in the story? When and how?
Why this section: I chose this section for a read aloud because I thought the students could really relate to the main character of losing a tooth. It is also very humorous which I thought students would enjoy.

Unhappy to be the only one in his class who still has not lost a tooth, first-grader Freddy tries to find a way to expedite matters but then is faced with another problem.

Title: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Illustrator: E. L. Konigsburg
Year Published: 2002
Type: Chapter book
Culture/Diversity:
Age/Grade Level: 10 to 12
Topic: Adventure
Awards: John Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Questions: What was your favorite part of the book? Why? Would you recommend this book to your friends? Why or why not?0
Why this section: I chose this section for a read aloud because it is very visual and you want to know what is going to happen next. I thought the risk of the students getting caught would interest my students to listen closely.

Having run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself.

Title: Stuart Little
Author: E. B. White
Illustrator: Garth Williams
Year Published: 1974
Type: Chapter book
Culture/Diversity: Animals/White
Age/Grade Level: 5 to 12
Topic: Mouse
Awards:
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Questions: Do you like mice? Why or why not? Did you like this book why or why not?
Why this section: I chose this section for a read aloud because it is an intense couple pages about the mouse almost drowning. This would keep the students interested to see what happens and it would keep their focus.

The adventures of the debonair mouse Stuart Little as he sets out in the world to seek out his dearest friend, a little bird that stayed for a few days in his family's garden.

Title: The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby
Illustrator: Dav Pilkey
Year Published: 2002
Type: Chapter book series
Culture/Diversity: White/Black
Age/Grade Level: 7 to 10
Topic: Superpowers
Awards:
Genre: Modern fantasy
Questions: Did you like this book why or why not? What was the funniest part in the book to you? Why?
Why this section: I chose this section of the book for a read aloud because it was the funniest part, in my opinion of the book. Students attention span lasts longer when there is humor involved so I thought it’d be the perfect section to share.

Irrepressible friends George and Harold create a new comic book superhero, Super Diaper Baby.

Title: Fish Face
Illustrator: Blanche Sims
Year Published:1984
Type: Chapter book series
Culture/Diversity: White
Age/Grade Level: 6-8
Topic: School
Awards:
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Questions: Did you like this book? Why or why not? Could you relate to Emily in school at all? How?
Why this section: I chose this section to read aloud because I thought students could relate to going to their school nurse. I also thought the way it was written was very visual for the students to see.

Making friends with the new girl in her class is hard for Emily after she replaces Emily as the fastest runner and steals her lucky unicorn.

Title: The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
Year Published: 1997
Type: Chapter book
Culture/Diversity: Black
Age/Grade Level: 9 to 12
Topic: Prejudice
Awards: Newbery and Coretta Scott King
Genre: Historical fiction
Questions: How did you feel towards the end of the book? Why? Would you recommend this book to your friends why or why not?
Why this section: I chose this section to read aloud because it was the most visual part of the book, in my opinion. I think students could relate to the character involved in playing with something they weren’t supposed to.

The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.

Title: Frindle
Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Year Published: 1998
Type: Chapter book
Culture/Diversity:White
Age/Grade Level: 8 to 12
Topic: School
Awards:
Genre: Realistic fiction
Questions: Have you ever made up your own word? What was it? Did you like this book why or why not?
Why this section: I chose this section to read aloud because it was a good introduction to the main character of the book. It is very visual and humorous for the students to hear so I thought it’d be perfect for them.

When he decides to turn his fifth grade teacher's love of the dictionary around on her, clever Nick Allen invents a new word and begins a chain of events that quickly moves beyond his control.