Babushka's Mother Goose

Bibliographic Information (APA): Polacco, P. (1995). Babuska's Mother Goose. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Brief Annotation: These are mother goose poems from the Ukraine. They are stories that have been told for years.

Genre: Mother Goose

Grade Level: 1st-3rd

Readers who will like this: Children who enjoy rhyming stories or poetry will especially enjoy this book.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3; This is a great little mother goose book that is different than what we are used to. The illustrations are beautiful and the stories are silly. The rhyming makes you want to keep reading on and on. This tells stories of the Ukraine and uses words like Babushka throughout it. This will give the children a peek into the culture of someone other than the one they live in.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Does anyone know what a Babushka is?

Wemberly Worried

Bibliographic Information (APA): Henkes, K. (2000). Wemberly Worried. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Brief Annotation: This is a very cute little story about a mouse that worries about everything.

Genre: PictureBook Fiction

Grade Level: Preschool-2nd

Readers who will like this: Many children will enjoy this book. Children that have similar problems with worry or have experienced worry about the first day of school will be able to identify with this book.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is a very cute book that I would highly recommend for the shy or worrisome child. I would use this book in the classroom near the first day of school. It would be great to tie in some questions about their first day of school and feelings they were having. They could talk about what they did and what made it better.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Were you scared on the first day or school? Was it what you were expecting?

Reading Strategies Connection: Quilts: The teacher will choose a large piece of butcher paper and lay out several types of media and art work for the children. Each child will choose a quilt square tI decorate. Each child is responsible for creating a quilt square. The children are asked to create a square that represents their first day of school. When the children have finished they will have the opportunity to share with the class what their square is and what it means. When all the children have shared as well as the teacher, the teacher will tape all of them together on the large piece of butcher paper to create a quilt. The teacher can explain that everyone has a different experience and quilt square but together we create a whole. This can be used as a bonding experience for the classroom.

Kitten's First Full Moon

Bibliographic Information (APA): Henkes, K. (2004). Kitten's First Full Moon. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Brief Annotation: This is a cute little story about a kitten that gets the moon and a bowl of milk confused.

Genre: PictureBook, Animal

Grade Level: Preschool-2nd

Readers who will like this: Most children will enjoy this book. Children who enjoy animals books will love this as well.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is such a sweet book and epitomizes a curious kitten and the trouble that they can get in to. Children will giggle at the kitten and how she has mistaken the moon for a bowl of milk. The children will root for the kitten and hope that she figures out that the moon isn't reachable.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever been really curious about something?

The Old Sultan

Bibliographic Information (APA): The Brothers Grimm. Old Sultan. http://storynory.com/2008/09/07/old-sultan/

Brief Annotation: This is a Brother's Grimm story about an old dog that his owner decides to put down. The dog makes friends with a wolf and finds a way to save himself.

Genre: Folktale

Grade Level: preschool-4th grade

Readers who will like this: Children who enjoy animals stories will enjoy this. Children who also enjoy a hero and a story that shows cleverness.

Response/Rating (1-4): 2; This is a typical Brothers Grimm story. It has death in it as well as a clever hero. It's a good story but I wasn't super impressed with it. This could definitely be used in a folk tale and fairy tale unit.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Who has ever heard of The Brothers Grimm?

The Three Little Pigs and the Fox

Bibliographic Information (APA): Hooks, W. (1989). The Three Little Pigs and the Fox. Illus. S.D. Schindler. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Brief Annotation: This is a different spin on the folklore three little pigs. This book is written with a southern twang and is about three little pigs that are forced to leave home. Two of the three pigs are kicked out of their moms house for being too fat and aren't clever enough to outsmart the fox.

Genre: PictureBook, Folk Tale

Grade Level: 1st-3rd

Readers who will like this: Most children that enjoy picture books will enjoy this. Children that like the story of The Three Little Pigs and children that enjoy books that have someone to root for.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3; This book was written in true southern drawl. It was pretty cute. I liked that the girl pig was the more clever one and she figured out how to outsmart the fox. This was a cute way of telling the story of the three little pigs. It wasn't my favorite story of the three little pigs but it was a cute spin.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever heard of a pig outsmarting a fox?

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Bibliographic Information (APA): Henkes, K. (1996). Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Brief Annotation: This is a cute story about a little mouse named Lilly. Lilly is a happy mouse that loves school and her teacher. One day she brings her purse to school and ends up in trouble. She gets very angry and reacts in a poor way.

Genre: PictureBook,

Grade Level: preschool-3rd

Readers who will like this: Any child that has gotten in trouble at school will be able to relate to this book very well.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is a really great book about humility. Lilly loses her temper and does something she regrets.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever gotten so angry you did something you regret?

The Three Pigs

Bibliographic Information (APA): Weisner, D. (2001). The Three Pigs. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Brief Annotation: This is a cute little story about three pigs that escape from the book and put a different spin on the common folk tale.

Genre: PictureBook, Folktale

Grade Level: Pre-3rd

Readers who will like this: Many children will like this book. Children that have heard of this story will enjoy it.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is a cute spin on the folk tale story. The pigs are able to escape the story and jump into other stories. The pigs are able to go into another stories . The pigs rescue other animals that have bad endings in their stories. The illustrations are my favorite part of the story. They look very real and almost 3D.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you think would happen if characters could jump out of a book?

The Hunger Games

Bibliographic Information (APA): Collins, S. (2008). Hunger Games. New York, NY: Scholastic Books.

Brief Annotation: This is a science fiction young adult novel about a post-apocalyptic world with a love triangle to boot.

Genre: Young Adult, science fiction, survival

Grade Level: 6th-8th

Readers who will like this: Children that enjoy science fiction novels with a survival spin.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is a beautifully written story about a girl named Katniss that bravely volunteers in place of her sister for the Hunger Games. This is set in a post apocalyptic world that consists of twelve districts. Each district is to send a girl and a boy under the age of 18 to fight to the death in The Hunger Games. This story is violent and can sometimes evoke anger but the plot and characters make it well worth the read.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever thought what you would do if you had to survive on your own?

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Bibliographic Information (APA): Scieszka, J. (1989). The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs!. Lane Smith. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

Brief Annotation: This is a cute spin on the typical story of the three little pigs. This is told from the perspective of the wolf.

Genre: PictureBook, Folktale Comparison

Grade Level: Preschool-3rd

Readers who will like this: Any child that has heard the story of the three little pigs will love this story.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is a great little book and it's a different spin on the typical Folktale three little pigs. It was funny as well as beautifully illustrated. This would be a great book for the classroom that would make children laugh as well as learning about folktales.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you heard the story of the three little pigs?

Odysseus and The Cyclops

Bibliographic Information (APA): Hutton, W. (1995). Odysseus And The Cyclops. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Brief Annotation: This is a mythical book about Odysseus and the Cyclops. Odysseus discovers a new land and decides to explore it with his men and runs into a mean cyclops.

Genre: PictureBook, Myth

Grade Level: 3rd

Readers who will like this: Children who enjoy mythical stories or hero stories.

Response/Rating (1-4): 1; The illustrations in this book were boring and plain. This book was very violent as well. The cyclops in the story eats several men before Odysseus finds a way to set them free. I wouldn't recommend this book for children of the faint of heart. Some children may respond very well to this book but it may give others nightmares. I wouldn't recommend this book to be used in the classroom.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know what a Myth is?

When You Reach Me

Bibliographic Information (APA): Stead, R. (2009). When You Reach Me.New York, Ny: Yearling Newberry.

Brief Annotation: This is a realistic fiction novel about friendship. Miranda and her best friend Sal reach a tough spot after Sal is punched in the stomach. Miranda spends her sixth grade year making new friends and trying to rekindle her relationship with Sal all while navigating the streets of New York City.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 4th-5th

Readers who will like this: Children that have lost friends or any child who likes to read about things that could really happen.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This book was wonderfully written. Miranda is a girl that many girls in sixth grade could identify with. Feeling as though she never fits, in her best friend Sal has been a constant in her life. When Sal stops speaking to her she is forced to make new friends. The ending of this book is thought provoking and unexpected. This is a great read.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever had to make new friends?

Reading Strategies Connection:

Sketch to stretch:

This is a great activity to help recognize themes in a particular book. After reading the book the children are given the opportunity to write in a journal ands reflect on the themes. The teacher will gather the children in a group to discuss the themes that they found. The children will then break into small groups and use one sheet of paper to make an illustration about a particular theme. The children will draw what they think represents the theme of the book. When the children are done the teacher will gather them together again to share and discuss. The children will see that there are many interpretations for a book as well as no right or wrong answer.

Agate

Bibliographic Information (APA): Dey, Joy. (2007). Agate. Illus. Nikki Johnson. Duluth, MN: Lake Superior Port Cities Inc.

Brief Annotation: This is a cute book about a moose that doesn't see the good in himself. He thinks his friends are all beautiful but he is knobby kneed and ugly.

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Grade Level: Preschool-3rd

Readers who will like this: Many children will enjoy this book. It is colorful book that includes animals and many adjectives.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; I love this book. This is a great book about being happy with yourself and loving yourself inside and out. It finds the positive in others as well. Agate is a sad little moose but at the end he sees how beautiful he truly is.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever wished you were more like one of your friends?

Reading Strategies Connection:

Have the children bring in things that make them unique. The children can also bring in the boxes decorated to represent the book. Tell the children to put things in the box that relate to the book as well. The children will learn a lot about each other. The teacher can then better understand the students and their comprehension levels

Little White Rabbit

Bibliographic Information (APA): Henkes, K. (2011). Little White Rabbit. Illus. Kevin Henkes. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Brief Annotation: This is a cute little picture book about a rabbit that goes on an adventure. Little white rabbit has a huge imagination.

Genre: Children's Animal Picture Book

Grade Level: preschool-K

Readers who will like this: Young Children that enjoy colorful pictures and any child with an imagination.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3; The illustrations are beautiful in this book. I love how little rabbit questions and wonders about so many things. The ending of this book bothered me because it says the rabbit didn't question who loved him. Children that may come from broken homes or in foster care would have a hard time relating to this book.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be something or someone else?

Show Way

Bibliographic Information (APA): Woodson, J. (2005). Show Way. Illus. Hudson Talbott. New York, NY: Putnam's Sons.

Brief Annotation: This is a book about slavery. It is a family history of Jacqueline Woodson and how her family sews quilts to help slaves make it to safety when running away.

Genre: Children's Historical Fiction

Grade Level: 1st-3rd

Readers who will like this: Many children will like this book. The illustrations are beautiful and the text is a great learning tool on history.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; I loved this book. It is beautiful in every way. Although it is a little confusing keeping Woodson's family tree straight it tells a beautiful story of slavery. Woodson's ancestors would sew quilts that would help guide slaves to freedom and safe places.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know your family history?

The Graveyard Book

Bibliographic Information (APA): Gaiman, Neil. (2008). The Graveyard Book. Illus. Illustrator Chris Riddell. London, England: Bloomsbury.

Brief Annotation: This is a novel about a boy named Nobody Owens, "Bod" for short, that finds himself orphaned as a toddler. He wanders into a graveyard and the graveyard inhabitants take him under their wings and raise him.

Genre: Children's Fantasy

Grade Level: 5th- 8th grade

Readers who will like this: Many children will like this but it is not for the faint of heart. It does involve murder and ghosts.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This book had a slow start but when you get almost halfway through the plot quickens and becomes much more interesting. Bod is a quiet little guy that is very inquisitive. He meets many of the graveyard inhabitants and learns a lot from them. It does have some scary parts so it is definitely for older children.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever wished you could talk to ghosts?

Reading Strategies Connection:

Reading Logs:

This book could be used as a read aloud in the classroom. After each read aloud the children should write into a reading log. This can be a spiral notebook titled with the name of the book or white paper stapled together. Each page would be titled whatever the children think fits. They will write their thoughts and reactions to what they just heard in the book. The teacher can also assign a specific topic to write about in the logs. The teacher will monitor the logs to check for comprehension. It is a great way to get the children thinking and writing.

Alphabet City

Bibliographic Information (APA): Johnson, S. (1995). Alphabet City. Illus. Stephen Johnson. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Brief Annotation: This is a wordless picture book. This book uses pictures of letters of the alphabet that the author found.

Genre: Alphabet Children's Book

Grade Level: Preschool-Kindergarten

Readers who will like this: Children who are learning the alphabet or children who like search and finds.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3; The pictures seem a little outdated but I love that this is so different that most alphabet books. When looking through this book sometimes I had to pause and try and find the letter in the picture. Not all of the letters in this book are obvious and jump out at you. It would be fun to use this as a read aloud and have the children try to find the letters in the picture as well as determine what letter will come next in the book.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Who has ever noticed letters in things such as trees, rocks, or anything outside?

Reading Strategies Connection:

Alphabet Book:

Children will examine this alphabet book as well as some others. The teacher will write all the letters of the alphabet on a large piece of paper. The children will each choose a letter to create for the book. When all of the children have a letter the teacher can talk about ways they can make a page for their letter. They can draw it, take a picture, or paint it. Each of the letters will be compiled into a class book. The teacher will bind it and then read it to the class.

Seven Blind Mice

Brief Annotation: This is about seven mice using their senses to discover something new that moved into their pond.

Genre: Children's PictureBook

Grade Level: Preschool-1st

Readers who will like this: Many children will like this. The children can guess along with the mice to figure out what it is that moved by their pond.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3; It is a cute book about using only your other senses to discover something new. This is a great book that has unique collage illustrations. A game could easily be made from this book to help teach the five senses.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever tried to find something in the dark?

Reading Strategies Connection:

Book Boxes:

This is a great way to tie the book together with a science unit. Have each child gather a box, this can be a plastic tub, old ice cream container, or even a shoe box. Have the children decorate the outside of their boxes with things that pertain to the book. Inside the box they will put 3 things that relate to the book. It could even just be things that are the same color as the mice. The children will then share their boxes with the classroom. To make things more interesting the children can use all their senses except sight to figure out what is in each box. The children can shake it, reach in and feel it, and even try to smell it. The children will each get a guess or the teacher can call on individual kids to try to guess and then the item will be shared after the guessing is done.

Just in Case

Bibliographic Information (APA): Morales, Y. (2008). Just in Case. Illus. Yuyi Morales. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Brief Annotation: This is an ABC story about Señor Calavera and his journey to Grandma Beetle's birthday party. He meets Zelmiro the ghost and Zelmiro helps him find a birthday present for grandma.

Genre: ABC PictureBook

Grade Level: Preschool-1st grade

Readers who will like this: Most children would enjoy this book that is so vividly illustrated. Children of a Spanish background would be able to relate to this book well.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is a very cute book using the Spanish Alphabet and vivid colors to illustrate it. This book has a wonderful ending and is a great multicultural choice.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know what the difference is between the Spanish Alphabet and the English Alphabet?

Ten Little Rabbits

Bibliographic Information (APA): Grossmam, V. (1991). Ten Little Rabbits. Illus. Illustrator Sylvia Long. San Fransisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

Brief Annotation: This is a counting book that uses rabbits dressed at Native Americans.

Genre: Counting Picture Book Grade Level: Preschool- K

Readers who will like this: Children who are learning to count or are interested in or learning about Native Americans.

Response/Rating (1-4): 2; the colors aren't very vivid and seem muted, nut the overall theme is great. It is a great way to get young children interested in Native Americans. It would be great to start a unit on Native Americans with this book.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you like to count? Do you know anything about Native Americans?

Reading Strategies Connection: Anticipation Guide: Create a worksheet with four to six misconceptions about Native Americans. Discuss the statements with the class and then have the children fill out the worksheet before reading stating whether they agree or disagree. The children will then do the same thing when the read aloud is done. Discuss how their ideas have changed.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Bibliographic information: Pinkney, J. (2011). Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Illus. Jerry Pinkney. New York, NY: Little Brown and Company.

Brief Annotation: This is a beautifully illustrated book that illustrates the song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. It has several verses that I had not heard before.

Genre: Children's PictureBook

Grade Level: Preschool-K

Readers who will like this: Any child who has heard the song before would enjoy this book.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is beautifully illustrated and so much fun to sing with the children. The children can sing along because often times they have heard it before.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you picture when you sing the song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"?