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The Spider and the Fly
A cunning spider lures a fly into his web for dinner with flattering words and smooth character. The fly is too trusting and falls into his trap (literally). Fantastic artwork and all written as a poem with the rhyme scheme AA, BB. A unique tale to teach the lesson of blind trust. (Early Childhood)
DiTerlizzi, Tony. (2002). The Spider and the Fly. New York: Scholastic. -
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
Ella Sarah is testing her new-found stage of defiance with her parents regarding which outfit she will wear. After several suggestions, Ella Sarah refuses and wears her favorite outfit of all time...hat included. Few words per page and great color with the pictures. (Early Childhood)
Chodos-Irvine, Margaret. (2003). Ella Sarah Gets Dressed. New York: Harcourt. -
What Am I? Passover
This boook gives clues to different aspects (food, events, Biblical references) of the Jewish Passover and Seder. Pages are great for little fingers and can be flipped open to reveal the correct answer. This would be great to use with middle schoolers during my WWII unit; great explanation why the Passover is so important to the Jewish community. There are many What Am I? books: Easter, Texas, etc. (Early Childhood)
Lewis, Anne. (2012). What Am I? Passover. China: Albert Whitman and Company. -
Yesterday I had the Blues
This book ties together moods with colors. "Daddy says he got the grays." It's a great way to introduce dialect and culture to young emergent readers. (Early Childhood)
Frame, Jeron. (2003). Yesterday I had the Blues. China: Tricycle Press. -
Milly, Molly, and Jimmy's Seeds
Jimmy is a classmate who passes away during the school year. All of the studetns are dealing with the loss, but Milly and Molly find a packet of seeds in Jimmy's desk (he loved to help the school gardener). They decide to plant these seeds in the school garden as a memorial for their friend Jimmy. A great book to help explain the concept of death. (Early Childhood/Early Adolescence)
Pittar, Gill. (2003). Milly, Molly and Jimmy's Seeds. New Zealand: Milly Molly Books. -
My Dad is Big and Strong, But...
A switch of persepctives; the little boy is narrating how difficult it is to get his dad to bed. His dad storms around the house professing that he "won't go to bed", needs multiple bedtime stories read to him (by his son), asks to sleep with his son, and needs the hall light on because he's afraid of the dark. Large, thick pages and a big, oversized book itself to easily hold. (Early Childhood)
Saudo, Coralie. (2012). My Dad is Big and Strong, But. New York: Enchanted Lion Books. -
Alphasaurs
This book hits every kind of prehistoric dinosaur from A-Z. Full of facts, textured pages that flip open, and all letters of the alphabet, a great nonfiction book for beginning readers. (Early Adolscence)
Forss, Sarah and Werner, Sharon. (2012). Alphasaurs and other Prehistoric Types. New Jersey: Blue Apple Books. -
Al Capone Does My Shirts
Moose Flanagan has to move to Alcatraz Island due to his dad's job. He is 12 and has a sister, Natalie, with severe Autism. Set in 1935, there are mentions of Al Capone, no telephone, and his nemesis Piper, who happens to be the warden's daughter. Moose needs to make new friends, protect his sister, and realize the importance of family. (Early Adolescence)
Choldenko, Gennifer. (2004). AL Capone Does My Shirts. New York: Puffin Books. -
Stargirl
Leo's world gets rocked when a new girl comes to town: Stargirl. She breaks all high school "norms" and doesn't care what people think or say about her. Although she ends up getting shunned by the entire school, Leo needs to find the balance between conformity and love. (Middle Adolescence)
Spinelli, Jerry. (2000). Stargirl. New York: Random House. -
Acceleration
Duncan works in the "lost and found" department of the Toronto subway system; complaining about how boring it is until he finds a journal that belongs to a serial killer. He feels he needs to make up for not saving a drowning girl a year prior and has a drive to help save the women mentioned in the diary. Great teen humor with cliffhangers galore! Themes of forgiveness, loyalty, and acceptance are portrayed. (Middle Adolescent)
McNamee, Graham, (2003). Acceleration. New York: Random House.
