The Araboollies of Liberty Street

The Araboolies of Liberty Street

By: Sam Swope 

Illustrated by: Barry Root
Grades: 2-5

Liberty Street is a suburban neighborhood with all white houses.  There is a general and his wife who live on the street and despise happiness.  The two of them are constantly treating to call the army when they see fun.  One day, the Araboolies came into town.  The Araboolies are a very large family who is all about having fun.  The general tries to stop them from having fun but they do not stop because they do not understand the language. 

Theme: Through colorful pages, students will learn that they do not need to conform to be like others; they need to be proud of who they are.

About the Author:  
Sam Swope started off by working as a props man before he started to write for both children and adults.  He won the 2006 James Thurber Fellowship for children's writers.  He helped find the website chapbooks.com which make it easy for teachers to inexpensively publish their students work into books but the website ended up failing and is no long around. 

Pre-Reading Activities:

What do you think this book is about?  Who do you think the Araboolies are and what do you notice about them from the cover?

Post Reading Activities:
Students will pair up with another student in the class and interview them.  After the interview, each student will present on their partner.  Students will point out what is special about their partner and what is something about them that is not like anybody else.

A Day's Work

A Day's Work

By: Eve Bunting

Illustrated by: Ronald Himler

A Day's Work is about a young boy, Francisco, and his grandfather.  His grandfather recently came over from Mexico to California to live with Francisco and his mother.  On a Saturday, Francisco decided to help his grandfather get a job for the day, since he grand father new no English.  A man came looking for a gardener and although Francisco's grandfather knew nothing about gardening, Francisco said he did.  The two of them got the job and worked all day in the sun.  At the end, they found out that they pulled the plants instead of the weeds and were caught in a lie.  This is a great book to learn about a new culture.

Theme:  Through Francisco's lie to better himself, students will learn that even though sometimes lying can help them, it will end up having consequences later.

About the Author:  

Eve Bunting was born in Ireland and came over to America in 1958.  Since Bunting was interesting in a variety of things and wanted to share this information, she decided to do this by writing children's books.  She has since written more than a 100 books for children. 

Pre-Reading Activities:
Discuss different types of jobs and explore a variety of Spanish words.  Also, it is important to talk about immigration and what it is.  

Post Reading Activities:
Students will discuss and compile a piece about a time that they lied to help themselves or someone else.  They will talk about the problems it may have caused and why they decided to lie in the first place. 

Here Are My Hands

Here Are My Hands

By: Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault

Illustrated By: Ted Rand

Ages: 2-6

Here Are My Hands is a rhyming book about body parts and what they are used for.  This is a fun and colorful book that is great for young students who are learning about their bodies.

Theme: Students learn about different things to do with a variety of body parts.

About the Author:  
Bill Martin Jr.  wrote children's books for over 60 years.  He was a well known writer who wrote books such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  Martin was noted as one of America's best known authors. 
John Archambault writes in the form or poetry of song.  One of his best known books is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  Since the third grade he knew he wanted to be a writer and through the inspiration of one of his teachers and the book Charlotte's Web, he lived out his dream.

Pre-Reading Activities:

Students should brainstorm all the things that they use their hands for. 

Post Reading Activities:
Students can work together to think of a variety of things they do with each body part and act it out.  Older students can create their own book. 

Mostly Monty

Mostly Monty

By: Johanna Hurwitz

Illustrated by: Anik McGrory
Ages: 6-9 

Monty is a first grade boy who struggles with asthma.  While reading this book, children will realize that even though children may have asthma (or other problems) and not be able to do certain things, there is a lot that they can do.  Monty tells his story and while doing so, the reader forgets that Monty has asthma which ultimately shows the reader that while it is something that must be monitored, it is something that does not stop you from living your life and being you.

Theme:  Through Monty learning to be proud of himself, readers will learn to be proud of themselves, flaws and all.

About the Author:  
Johanna Hurwitz has been interested in books since as long as she remembers.  She was always writing books.   She went to Queens College and got a Master’s Degree in Library Science from Columbia University.  She worked as a librarian and finally wrote her first book about her children.  Hurwitz is now a grandmother who gets inspiration and ideas from her family members.

Pre-Reading Activities:
What is asthma?
The teacher should also show students an inhaler and discuss difficult language that is used throughout the book.
 

Post Reading Activities:
Students can write a piece about something that they worry about.  This is a great activity for the beginning of the year so that teachers can possible learn new information about their students which they may not have wanted to share in a different way.

Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia

Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia
By: Sy Montgomery
Photographs by: Nic Bishop 
Grades: 5-8
 

Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia is a non-fiction piece revolving around snow leopards and their life in Mongolia.  This book is not only about snow leopards but also about the team that went on a search for these wonderful creatures.  Snow leopards are hard to find because they blend in with their surrounds which ultimately makes this search that much more challenging. Sy Montomery and Nic Bishop take you on the journey with the team through word and amazing pictures while sharing interesting facts about the snow leopards throughout the book.

Theme:Students will learn about snow leopards and the science behind how scientists look for these animals.

About the Author:

Sy Montgomery is extremely interested in nature who writes for both children and adults.  Many of which have won awards.  Most of what she writes about is based on her experiences and travels around the world.

Pre-Reading Activities:

The teacher will discuss what non-fiction books are so that students understand that what they are reading is true information.

Post Reading Activities:  
This book should be read in parts and discussed after stopping.  Students should take notes on what they learn from the book.  
This book can be done in literature cycles so that different groups have different books.  When each group is done, they will put together a presentation and share the information that the learned with the rest of the class.

Twimericks: The Book of Tongue-Twisting Limericks

Twimericks: The Book of Tongue-Twisting Limericks

By: Lou Brooks
Ages: 9-12

"A twimerick is a limerick and a tongue twister all rolled into one (xii)."  This book is filled with challenging twimericks for students to read and try to read as fast as they can.  Lou Brooks provides the reader with clear definitions of limericks, tongue twisters, and twimericks so that there is no confusion.  This collection of poems will get students thinking about poetry in a positive way as well as get them thinking about their own poetry.

Theme:  Students will learn about poetry (limericks) through challenging themselves with tongue twisters.

About the Author:  
Lou Brooks has been illustrating for a long time.  When he came up with the idea to write twimericks, he was simple writing.  Lou Brooks had not come up with the title and did not know that it would end up being a book.  By publishing this book, Brooks wanted to show the world that poetry is fun.

Pre-Reading Activities:
Ask students: What do you think a twimerick is?  What is a tongue twister?  What is a limerick? 
After these discussions, the teacher should introduce limericks and their individual qualities.

Post Reading Activities:
Have students create their own limerick and challenge them to by having them make it a twimerick.  These can all be compiled to make a class book.  

Let it Snow

Let it Snow

By: Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Ages: 3-6

Siblings see the first snow and then experience the joys of winter.  Students will learn all that they can do in the cold snowing weather before it turns to spring.  The pictures are interesting and the text is written in an interesting format instead of simply across the page.

Theme: Students start learning about the seasons when they hear these students experiences through winter. 

About the Author:
Maryann Cocca-Leffer grew up in Everett, Massachusetts with four other siblings.  She was very interested in art which ultimately got her into the Massachusetts College of Art.  Cocca-Leffer ended up using part of her parents basement as her first studio as she dreamed about illustrating children's books.  Her dream finally came drew in 1981 and she has been illustrating and writing ever since. 

Pre-Reading Activities:
Students should be introduced to the seasons and discuss what each season looks like.
The teacher can also read Let it Fall by Maryann Cocca-Leffer which discusses fall leading into winter.

Post Reading Activities:

Students will discuss the many activities that they like to do in winter.  After they do this, they can complete a writing piece about their favorite winter activity.

Diary of a Spider

Diary of a Spider

By: Doreen Cronin

Illustrated by: Harry Bliss

Ages:4-8

 Diary of a Spider introduces students to what a life of a spider may be like.  The book is written in a diary format with a young spider sharing his daily experiences.  Students will learn about the spiders fears, about how they shed, and the many struggles that they have to deal with.  

Theme: Without even knowing, students will learn about spiders when they read this particular spiders diary. 


About the Author:
Doreen Cronin grew up in New York and published her first book in 2000.  This book was called Clack Clack Moo: Cows That Type.  This book won many awards and Cronin continued to write children's books. 


Pre-Reading Activities:
Teachers should lead a discussion about what diaries are and what they look like so that students become familiar with the genre. Students can also discuss what they already know about spiders.


Post Reading Activities: 
Students should discussion what they learned about spiders.  Students can then go on to write their own journal entry about themselves or even an animal of their choice.   

Where Are You Going? To See My Friend.

Where Are You Going? To See My Friend.

Written and Illustrated by: Eric Carle and Kazuo Iwamura

 Grades: K-12

This book is about a dog who meets a friend.  The dog meets a cat and they go together to meet another friend.  Every time they meet a new friend, they all go together to meet the next friend.  In the end, they all sing and dance together.  This is all done half in English (Eric Carle) and the other half in Japanese (Kazuo Iwamura).  In the middle of the book, the two come together. 

About the Author: 
Eric Carle was born is Syracuse, New York in 1929 then when he was six, he moved to Germany with his parents.  In 1952 he came back to America and got a job in New York with the New York Times.  His career in children's literature started when a friend of his asked him to illustrate a book of his.  Carle has illustrated over seventy books.

Theme: Using a variety of animals, the authors teach students that their friends do not have to be just like them.  

Pre-Reading Activities:

Have the students find someone that is not one of their best friends or someone they have not talked to before.  The students should get to know the person; introduce themselves and talk about likes and dislikes.  Have the students pick three more people and do the same activity with them. 

Post Reading Activities:

Ask students: Did the animals do the right thing? Is it good to make new friends? Would you do what the animals in this book did?

Teach the students the “Make New Friends” song.

 

What Makes A Magnet?

What Makes a Magnet?

By: Franklyn M. Branley

Illustrated by: True Kelley

Grades: 3-5

This is a fun and educational science book which discusses how magnets work and how to make your own magnet.  A girl experiments with different objects to learn what magnets attract and what they do not.  Students can use this book to complete their own experiments with magnets. 

About the Author:
Dr. Franklyn M. Branley originated the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series in the 1960s.  He has also written over 150 children's science books. 

Theme: Students will learn about magnets and how they are used in our everyday lives.

Pre-Reading Activities:

Ask students: Do you use magnets?  What are some objects that you can think of that are attracted to magnets?

Give students a variety of objects then have them predict what will be attracted to a magnet and what will not.  Then, give them a magnet and have them see if they were right.

Post Reading Activities:

Ask students: What did you learn about magnets?  What happens when you put similar sides of a magnet together?  What about opposites?  How do you make a compass?

Give students a sheet that contains a chart.  One column will say magnetic, the other will say non-magnetic.  Students will have to go around their homes find objects that fit in each category to fill in their charts (be sure to warn students to stay away from computers and televisions).

Stephanie's Ponytail

Stephanie's Ponytail

By: Robert Munsch

Illustrated by: Michael Martchenko

Grades: K-3

Stephanie decided that she wants to be different then anyone else.  She noticed that no one had a ponytail so she had her mom put her hair in a ponytail.  When she went to school everyone made fun of her but the next day they all wore a ponytail.  Because of this, Stephanie changed her hairstyle again.  This process repeated until Stephanie got so fed up she told the other students that she was going to shave her head the next day.  Everyone came in with shaved heads and Stephanie came in with a ponytail. 

About the Author:

Robert Munsch has been a goof his entire life.  He almost did not pass most grades in elementary school but did write poetry just for fun.  In high school he did not get along with most people and decided to become a priest.  He studied seven years to be a Jesuit priest before he figured out it was not for him.  Munsch ended up deciding he wanted to teach and attended Elliot Pearson School of Child Studies at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.  Through this experience, he was placed to student teach at Wellsley College Child Studies Preschool where he wrote his first story.  While teaching, Munsch came up with a variety of stories but never wrote them down until his wife pushed him to write them down and send them into a publisher.  Munsch then quit his job so that he could keep writing and travel all around to tell his stories.

Theme: Children will learn to be themselves when they see that copying someone else could put them in a sticky situation.

Pre-Reading Activities:

Ask students: Has someone you known done anything that you liked and wanted to do? Have you done what they did? Has someone done something that you have done? How did this make you feel?

Have a group discussion and have students contribute saying what they believe is something special about them. 

Post Reading Activities:
Ask Students: Did you like the book? How do you think Stephanie felt when everyone copied her hair style? How do you think everyone else felt when they shaved their head and everyone else did not?
Have a conversation with the students so that they can learn about what it feels like to be copied and that you should do something because you want to not because someone else is doing it. 

Chicken Soup With Rice: A Book of Months

Chicken Soup With Rice: A Book of Months

By: Maurice Sendak

Grades: K-5

This is a book that consists of a poem for every month of the year. It is a book that can be read throughout the year while discussing each month or in a short period of time while discussing poetry. 

About the Author:

Maurice Sendak became interested in books and fantasy when he was a child because he was sick a lot of the time and stuck inside so he turned to books.  In the 1950s he published about fifty children's books.  Sendak wanted the illustrations of his books to create more mystery rather than simply describe the pictures.

Theme: Students learn about months and poetry at the same time.

Pre-Reading Activities:

Work with the class to come up with a class definition of poetry.  What does poetry mean to you?

Post Reading Activities:

At the end of reading each poem, ask the students why they believe that the author chose to write about the specific thing that they did for that month.  Have them come up with other ideas that could have been used for that month.

Have the students write their very own poems.  For the younger students have the class work together to make their very own Chicken Soup With Rice poems.  For the older students have them work on their own to write their very own Chicken Soup With Rice poems for each month and put them together so they have their own book with a poem for each month. 

Divide and Ride

Divide and Ride

By: Stuart J. Murphy

Illustrated by: George Ulrich

Grades: 2-4

A group of students go to a carnival where there are many rides to go on.  Different rides held a different amount of students per chair.  The students have to figure out how many more students they needed to find to fit all their friends and fill the chairs. While students are reading this book, they can work with the students in the book to find the answers.  Students learn math without knowing it!

About the Author:

Stuart J. Murphy started to really enjoy writing when his forth grade teacher told him that he should start to write his stories down.  He ended up attending the Rhode Island School of Design for art.  He became interested in educational text which led him to being on text book committees and working on curriculum.  While working with older students, Murphy found that pictures helped reluctant learners which lead him to think that pictures would help young students with math.  Ultimately, Murphy started to write a collection of math books for children. 

Theme: Students learn about math through real life situations which makes learning math enjoyable.

Pre-Reading Activities:

Ask students: Have you ever been to a carnival?  What kinds of rides have you been on?  Have you had to split up when you go to the carnival with a big group of friends?  How did it turn out?

Turn to a partner and discuss going on rides and how many seats each ride has.  Discuss what you would do if all of your friends did not fit in the seats and there was one friend left without a seat.

Post Reading Activities:

Ask students: Did any of the students get left out on a ride?  What did the students do if one of the seats were not filled?  What did they do when all of the student could fit on the ride but there were still empty seats? 

Have the class all stand up.  Tell them that they are going to be given different numbers and they have to split up into groups of that number. By doing this they will be able to see how many other people they have to find to make sure that each group has the correct amount.

Fraction Action

 

Fraction Action

By: Loreen Leedy

Grades: 3-4

This book a great book to help students learn about fractions and get them interested in fractions.  It is about a teacher, Miss Prime, who is teaching her class about fractions. She takes examples from the real word to show what fractions are.  After using examples, they show how they practice fractions and use it in their own lives.

About the Author:
Loreen Leedy attended college for art.  With her art degree she started designing jewelry which ultimately became characters in her books.  She has now written and illustrated over 40 children's books and she is still writing to this day. 

Theme: The theme of this book is math and how it can be fun.  This is done by using animals and a variety of situations that students would find interesting.

Pre-Reading Activities:

Ask students: Do you ever share anything with your brothers or sisters or friends?  Do you split it evenly?  If you and I were to split it with two of you, how much do you have?

Also, show students sample questions to go along with these questions. 

Post Reading Activities:

Ask students: What did Miss Prime’s Class learn about fractions?  How can you use fractions at home, in school, on the playground?

Write some examples of fractions on the board: Use fraction form and pictures.  The students will be encouraged to answer questions asked about what each fraction is.

The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales

 

The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales

Compiled By: Dawn Casey 

Illustrated By: Anne Wilson 

Ages: 5-11 

The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales is a collection of folktales from a variety of places around the world.  This is a great book for teachers or families to have on file.  Before each story is some background information on the folktales from that particular part of the world.  After each story, an activity is provided that can be done with the class.  Overall, this is a fun and educational book that is beneficial to any library.  The book can be used over a variety of time as read alouds to go along with geography lessons or lessons about folktales.

Theme: The is a great book to teach students about different cultures around the world by providing different stories for a variety of parts of the world.

About the Author:
Dawn Casey has been very interested in traditional tales beliving that they can teach us alot about people.  Dawn works in publishing and as a primary teacher in England.
Anne Wilson has illustrated many children's books after attending St. Martin's college for illustration.  Anne's inspirations come from her travels.

Pre-Reading Activities:

For each place in the world, teachers should show students where each place is located on a map and then discuss information that students already know about the particular country.  Teachers should also read the blurb provided on folktales from that area.

Post-Reading Activities: 

After each story there is an activity that can be done.  These activities relate to the story and the country that the story is about.

Sticky Burr: Adentures in Burrwood Forest

Sticky Burr: Adventures in Burrwood Forest

By: John Lechner
Ages: 6-10

Sticky Burr is an interesting graphic novel about a burr and difficulties that he deals with.  Sticky Burr has problems with a bunch of bullies in his village and is made to feel useless.  He ends up getting stuck to a variety of objects and animals until he is finally saved.  While Sticky Burr is trying to escape a bunch of bees, he ends up at the Maze Tree.  After this, Sticky Burr ends up making a variety of friends and being the hero of his village.  Periodically, throughout the book, the author stops to define different vocabulary that he uses.  This is an entertaining and educational book for children of all ages. 

Theme: The is a great book to teach students about bullying by showing students how to be the bigger person.  It is also a sciencetific book to teach students about burrs.

About the Author:
John Lecher is a writer, illustrator, animator, musician, puppeteer, and interactive designer.  He was one of seven children who grew up in a creative environment.  He attended Carnegie Mellon University where he studied art and creative writing.  He has a twitter and a blog so that fans of his book can follow him. 

Pre-Reading Activities:

Students will predict what they think will happen in this book.  The cover of the book provides a couple small pictures of different things that occur through the book which are great for predictions.  Also, students can brainstorm what they think a stick burr is. 

Post-Reading Activities: 

Students should be encouraged to write their own epilogue.  After students come up with a new story about what happens to Sticky Burr, they can make it their own book and share it with the class. 

Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry

Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry

Written and Illustrated by: Ashley Bryan

Ages: 4-8

Coretta Scott King Honor Award 1998

Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry  is a collection of African poetry.  Each poem starts with a different letter going from A to Z.  This is a great book to expose children to different cultures and types of poetry.  Along with the poetry comes amazing artwork that both children and adults will enjoy.

Theme: Poetry is an essential part of education and this book exposes children to a different culture's poetry.

About the Author:
Ashley Bryan's inspiration for most of his books sprouted from his travels to Africa.  He decided he wanted to retell and illustrate African folktales which he is known for.  Currently, he travels the word telling stories and reading poetry to his audiences.  Along with receiving the Wilder Metal (2009), many of his books have received Coretta Scott King Honor Awards.

Pre-Reading Activities:
Students will discuss a variety of poetry that they have been learning about.  Students will pick apart the similarities and differences that they see in poetry.

Post-Reading Activities: 
The class will make a venn diagram comparing the poems in this book to another type of poetry.  
Students can also pick a different letter from the alphabet and to use to write a poem.  The class can put their poems together to make their own ABC African American Poetry book.  

Big Anthony: His Story

Big Anthony: His Story

Written and Illustrated by: Tomie dePaola

Ages: 4-8

What was Big Anthony's life like before he met Strega Nona?  This is a great book to read with students before or after reading Strega Nona.  Big Anthony did not pay attention, starting as a young boy.  By the time he was a teenager his father sent him away to find work because he no longer wanted Big Anthony working on the farm.  Every job that Big Anthony found he managed to mess up which caused him to be fired and ultimately led him to Strega Nona's door.

Theme:Paying attention is an important part of life because you never know what will happen if you do not know what is going on.

About the Author:

Tomie dePaola developed a love for books starting at a very young age because his mother read to him everyday and at age four he told everyone that he wanted to write and draw stories for books.  Tomie dePaola has written and/or illustrated over 200 books within 40 years.  

"Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure." Tomie dePaola is also the 2011 winner of the Wilder Award.

Pre-Reading Activities:
Like with Strega Nona, it will be important for the teacher to point out Italy and the particular cities that Big Anthony travels through on a map.  This could start before the book and then as the book is being read, point out these cities again.

Post-Reading Activities: 
Students can write a story about a time that they did not pay attention.  How did it turn out?  Were they confused?  Did they get in trouble?  What happened?

Strega Nona

Strega Nona

Retold and Illustrated by: Tomie dePaola

Ages: 4-8
Caldecott Honor Book

Strega Noma  is an old Italian women who had a magical pot and could use magic to cure headaches, get rid or warts, and help young women find a husband.  Since Strega Nona was getting old, she needed someone to help care for her garden.  Big Anthony was the helper.  He was given strict instructions by Strega Nona not to touch her pot.  One day, Big Anthony saw Strega Nona do magic to make pasta.  When Strega Nona was away he repeated the words that he had heard Strega Nona say to make pasta for everyone in the Village.  Big Anthony did not hear and see everything that Strega Nona said and did and because of this the pasta overflowed the village.

Theme: Listening to rules is important because like Big Anthony learns, bad things can happen if you do not listen.

About the Author:

Tomie dePaola developed a love for books starting at a very young age because his mother read to him everyday and at age four he told everyone that he wanted to write and draw stories for books.  Tomie dePaola has written and/or illustrated over 200 books within 40 years.  

"Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure." Tomie dePaola is also the 2011 winner of the Wilder Award.

Pre-Reading Activities:

The teacher should point out that "Strega Nona" means Grandma Witch.  The teacher can then go on to discuss how this is an Italian name and show students where Italy is and more specifically where Calabria is (the setting).

Post-Reading Activities: 
Students will talk about how Big Anthony felt a different points of the book.
Students can also go on to write the story through the perspective of Big Anthony.


*Before or after this book,  students can  read Big Anthony: His Story. Which would ultimatly lead to a different understanding of Strega Nona.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Retold and Illustrated by: James Marshall
Ages: 4-7
Caldecott Honor in 1989

Goldilocks is sent to buy muffins for her mother in the village.  Even though Goldilocks was told to not take the shortcut through the forest, Goldilocks did as she pleased and did go through the forest.  On her way she stopped at the bears house, who were out on a bike ride.   She went in without knocking and ate their porridge, broke a chair, and took a nap.  The bears returned to see the mess that Goldilocks made. 

Theme: Readers learn that it is important to listen to their parents so that they can stay safe.

About the Author:

James Marshall received a Caldecott Honor in 1989 for Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  He then went on to receive the Wilder Award for his collection in 2007.

In 1971 Marshall was laying on a hammock drawing pictures.  He heard the TV coming from inside and he was inspired for his first book.  His first book was called George and Martha.  These books went on to be a series and James Marshall went on to write and/or illustrate a variety of books throughout his life until he passed away in 1992. 

Pre-Reading Activities:

Have you heard a version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears?  What happened in that one?

Post-Reading Activities:
Read a different version of the book and compare and contrast the two. 
What do you think Goldilocks learned?
 

Miss Nelson is Missing!

Miss Nelson is Missing

By: Harry Allard  
Illustrator: James Marshall

Ages: 5-8

Miss Nelson is Missing was named one of the most memorable books of the 20th Century.  It is a book about a class who is very disrespectful of their teacher, Miss Nelson.  One day Miss Nelson does not come into school and a substitute comes in, Miss Viola Swamp.  Miss Viola Swamp was the meanest teacher the children could have imagined.  When Miss Nelson did return, the students had a new found respect for her and were now respectful, listening students. 

Theme: This book teaches students about respectful behavior.  It goes along with the idea that you should treat someone like you want to be treated.

About the Author:
Harry Allard met James Marshall in Boston.  The two became friends and Marshall's artwork inspired Allard to write his first book The Stupids Step Out.  The two continued to work together to complete the Stupids series as well as the Miss Nelson series. 

About the Illustrator:

James Marshall received a Caldecott Honor in 1989 for Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  He then went on to receive the Wilder Award for his collection in 2007.

In 1971 Marshall was laying on a hammock drawing pictures.  He heard the TV coming from inside and he was inspired for his first book.  His first book was called George and Martha.  These books went on to be a series and James Marshall went on to write and/or illustrate a variety of books throughout his life until he passed away in 1992.

 

Pre-Reading Activities:
Have students look at the cover of the book and come up with predictions of what they believe happened to Miss Nelson.  Students can write these ideas down and then discuss them with the class. 

Post-Reading Activities:  
Students can work together to compile a list of classroom rules that they believe Room207 should have followed and that they can follow themselves. 
Why do you think the students were so disrespectful of Miss Nelson?
What lesson did the students learn?

In the Small, Small Pond

In the Small, Small Pond

Written and Illustrated by: Denise Flemming

Ages: 2 - 6

Awards: Caldecott Honor 

In the Small, Small Pond is a great book to teach young children about pond life.  There are great illustrations and descriptions to go with each animal that lives in and around a pond. 

Theme: This book teachers students about different aspects of nature in relation to ponds

About the Author:
Denise Fleming is and artist and writer.  To complete her artwork in her books she uses pulp painting; this involves pouring colored paper pulp through hand cut stencils.  She also writes the words to her books which are very few.  Since Fleming enjoys strong words, she starts with hundreds of words and continues until she believes she has reached the best of the best.

 

Pre-Reading Activities:
What do you think this book is about?
What animals do you think live in ponds?
Have you been to pond? If so, what animals did you see?

Post-Reading Activities:  
Create a pond mural.  Students will work together to create a pond habitat including pictures of animals and plants that live in and around the pond.  Students can use this book as well as related books to complete the mural.

The M&M's Counting Book

The M&M's Counting Book

By: Barbara Barbieri McGrath

Ages: 3-7
Awards: The Teacher's Choice Award from Learning Magazine

The M&M's Counting Book is a great book to help students learn about counting, adding, subtracting, and shapes.  Students love candy and teachers already use food for math so an exciting book is the best addition.  Older students can use the book and complete the given activities on their own.  The book helps students by giving them instruction and then praise for after they completed a task.  For younger students, this is a great book for teachers to use as a visual as they teach their math lesson. 

Theme: Shapes, addition, subtraction, and counting are important part of the book in the sense that the students have to use these aspects of math while they read the book.

About the Author:
Barbara McGrath obtaining her degree in Early Childhood Education from Lasell College.  With this degree she opened a preschool where she taught four and five year olds for sixteen years.  While working she did freelance writing and then went on to write over twenty children's books.  McGrath travels to talk about writing and math to students so that they will be inspired to complete writing pieces of their own.

 

Pre-Reading Activities:

This book is an activity within it self.  Supply each student with an appropriate amount of M&M's then select a few pages from the book and complete these activities with the students. 

Post-Reading Activities:  
Have a discussion with the students about what they liked and disliked about the activities.  Tell the students that this activity will be available for them.  Have a center with either M&M's or colored circles at a table so that students can sit down and try to complete different pages of the book (a teacher will need to be present for the younger students).