Picture Books
The reason I picked the following picture books is the quality of their illustrations as well as the text. All five books picture books have illustrations that are vivid, and add dimension that the text alone could not give readers. The text is easily interpreted by young readers and relatable in some way to children and their world. The plots and characters are rich and well developed, providing readers with a high quality and age appropriate piece of literature.
Author: Audrey Penn
Title: The Kissing Hand
Publisher and Year: Child Welfare League of America, 1993
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading level: Read Aloud, Kindergarten. Independent, 2nd or 3rd
This picture book is about a young raccoon, Chester, who is nervous about his first day of school and being away from his mother. In order to reassure her son that he has nothing to worry about, mother raccoon kisses the palm of her sons hand. Chester is confused but his mother tells him that when ever he feels lonely and needs some love, he should press his hand against his cheek and think, “Mommy loves you.” This gives Chester the courage to go to school and never feel lonely.
Noteworthy traits: The illustrations in this book are vivid and soft, matching the content of the text. The book is great to share on a first day of school, especially with Pre-K or Kindergarten students who may be nervous about being away from home.
Author: Rafe Martin
Title: The Rough-Face Girl
Publisher and Year: Penguin Young Readers Group, 1998
Type of book: Folk Tale
Reading Level: 5th grade
This Native American adaptation of Cinderella tells the story of a disfigured Algonquin girl. In the book she has two wicked sisters that force her to sit by and tend the fire, scarring her hands, arms, face, and even singes her hair. There is a magical man that lives in their village known only as the Invisible Being, and according to his sister only his true love will be able to see him and marry him. Rough-Face-Girl’s sisters attempt to marry the Invisible Being but are discovered by his sister, but it is the Rough-Face-Girl herself that can truly see him and ends up with him. There is a surprise twist as to the Invisible Man’s appearance, and Rough-Face-Girl’s ending appearance.
Noteworthy traits: A lot of differences from the Disney and traditional versions of Cinderella. Good book to use when teaching Native American culture, folk tales, and alternate versions of classic tales.
Author: Shel Silverstein
Title: The Giving Tree
Publisher and Year: HarperCollins Publishers, 1964
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading Level: 1st-2nd grade
This picture book follows the life of a female apple tree and “Boy” who are able to communicate with one another. Boy enjoys swinging from her branches as a child, but as Boy’s life goes on he asks more and more of the tree (money, a house, and a boat) until there is nothing left of the tree. The tree is always happy to give to the boy, but when he comes back as an old man tree has nothing left to give. However, this last time Boy is looking for just a place to sit and rest, this the tree can give him and she is happy.
Noteworthy traits: This book is a classic picture book that most beginning readers should not have much trouble reading. The repetitive nature of the text makes it a great first read for first and reread for second graders.
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Title: The Polar Express
Publisher and Year: Houghton Mifflin, 1985
Type of book: Holiday
Reading Level: 3rd-4th grade
This holiday classic tells the story of a once avid believer in Santa that has reached the age where he has begun to doubt whether or not it’s all true. On Christmas Eve night, to his astonishment, a train appears in front of his house with a conductor who claims that they are going to the North Pole, this is the Polar Express. The boy makes the decision to come aboard and along with the other children they head to the North Pole. Upon their arrival, seeing the town and thousands of elves gathered in the center waiting to send Santa on his way, the boy is chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas. The gift is magical and there is some trouble that arises with the gift, but all ends well.
Noteworthy traits: Caldecott Medal winner for 1986. This book is a holiday classic and the illustrations are well detailed. This story is great to share at Christmas and will keep children engaged at all levels of elementary school.
Author: Janell Cannon
Title: Stellaluna
Publisher and Year: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1993
Type of book: Fiction
Reading Level: 2nd-3rd grade
Stellaluna is a young bat who as a child is separated from her mother and is taken in by a family of birds, a mother and three baby birds Pip, Flitter, and Flap. The mother bird teaches Stellaluna how to be a good baby bird, eating bugs, sleeping at night, and not hanging by her feet, and when they are all old enough they are taught how to fly. One night Stellaluna keeps flying after dark even though her bird siblings must go home and something amazing happens. This amazing event helps Stellaluna understand why she is so different from her bird family but decides that those differences do not change the fact that Mother, Pip, Flitter, and Flap are her family and friends.
Noteworthy traits: This book is a great read for readers who are starting to read more independently. Could be used in a lesson about flying animals, or to teach students that appearances do not matter, friends and family come in all different types.
The reason I picked the following picture books is the quality of their illustrations as well as the text. All five books picture books have illustrations that are vivid, and add dimension that the text alone could not give readers. The text is easily interpreted by young readers and relatable in some way to children and their world. The plots and characters are rich and well developed, providing readers with a high quality and age appropriate piece of literature.
Author: Audrey Penn
Title: The Kissing Hand
Publisher and Year: Child Welfare League of America, 1993
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading level: Read Aloud, Kindergarten. Independent, 2nd or 3rd
This picture book is about a young raccoon, Chester, who is nervous about his first day of school and being away from his mother. In order to reassure her son that he has nothing to worry about, mother raccoon kisses the palm of her sons hand. Chester is confused but his mother tells him that when ever he feels lonely and needs some love, he should press his hand against his cheek and think, “Mommy loves you.” This gives Chester the courage to go to school and never feel lonely.
Noteworthy traits: The illustrations in this book are vivid and soft, matching the content of the text. The book is great to share on a first day of school, especially with Pre-K or Kindergarten students who may be nervous about being away from home.
Author: Rafe Martin
Title: The Rough-Face Girl
Publisher and Year: Penguin Young Readers Group, 1998
Type of book: Folk Tale
Reading Level: 5th grade
This Native American adaptation of Cinderella tells the story of a disfigured Algonquin girl. In the book she has two wicked sisters that force her to sit by and tend the fire, scarring her hands, arms, face, and even singes her hair. There is a magical man that lives in their village known only as the Invisible Being, and according to his sister only his true love will be able to see him and marry him. Rough-Face-Girl’s sisters attempt to marry the Invisible Being but are discovered by his sister, but it is the Rough-Face-Girl herself that can truly see him and ends up with him. There is a surprise twist as to the Invisible Man’s appearance, and Rough-Face-Girl’s ending appearance.
Noteworthy traits: A lot of differences from the Disney and traditional versions of Cinderella. Good book to use when teaching Native American culture, folk tales, and alternate versions of classic tales.
Author: Shel Silverstein
Title: The Giving Tree
Publisher and Year: HarperCollins Publishers, 1964
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading Level: 1st-2nd grade
This picture book follows the life of a female apple tree and “Boy” who are able to communicate with one another. Boy enjoys swinging from her branches as a child, but as Boy’s life goes on he asks more and more of the tree (money, a house, and a boat) until there is nothing left of the tree. The tree is always happy to give to the boy, but when he comes back as an old man tree has nothing left to give. However, this last time Boy is looking for just a place to sit and rest, this the tree can give him and she is happy.
Noteworthy traits: This book is a classic picture book that most beginning readers should not have much trouble reading. The repetitive nature of the text makes it a great first read for first and reread for second graders.
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Title: The Polar Express
Publisher and Year: Houghton Mifflin, 1985
Type of book: Holiday
Reading Level: 3rd-4th grade
This holiday classic tells the story of a once avid believer in Santa that has reached the age where he has begun to doubt whether or not it’s all true. On Christmas Eve night, to his astonishment, a train appears in front of his house with a conductor who claims that they are going to the North Pole, this is the Polar Express. The boy makes the decision to come aboard and along with the other children they head to the North Pole. Upon their arrival, seeing the town and thousands of elves gathered in the center waiting to send Santa on his way, the boy is chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas. The gift is magical and there is some trouble that arises with the gift, but all ends well.
Noteworthy traits: Caldecott Medal winner for 1986. This book is a holiday classic and the illustrations are well detailed. This story is great to share at Christmas and will keep children engaged at all levels of elementary school.
Author: Janell Cannon
Title: Stellaluna
Publisher and Year: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1993
Type of book: Fiction
Reading Level: 2nd-3rd grade
Stellaluna is a young bat who as a child is separated from her mother and is taken in by a family of birds, a mother and three baby birds Pip, Flitter, and Flap. The mother bird teaches Stellaluna how to be a good baby bird, eating bugs, sleeping at night, and not hanging by her feet, and when they are all old enough they are taught how to fly. One night Stellaluna keeps flying after dark even though her bird siblings must go home and something amazing happens. This amazing event helps Stellaluna understand why she is so different from her bird family but decides that those differences do not change the fact that Mother, Pip, Flitter, and Flap are her family and friends.
Noteworthy traits: This book is a great read for readers who are starting to read more independently. Could be used in a lesson about flying animals, or to teach students that appearances do not matter, friends and family come in all different types.
Nonfiction
The following nonfiction books were chosen because of their content and quality. The mark of a high quality children’s nonfiction book is one that appeals to the interests of children and describes complex ideas in a way that they understand. For children’s nonfiction, the author must appeal to their audience and the best way to do this is by writing about events and information that they can relate to and make personal connections with.
Author: Anne Frank
Title: The Diary of a Young Girl
Publisher and Year: Contact Publishing, 1947
Type of book: Autobiography
Reading Level: 5th-6th grade
This autobiographical diary follows the life of a Jewish girl named Anne Frank who lived in Amsterdam between June of 1942 and August 1944. Anne Frank was only thirteen years old when her family was forced into hiding to escape anti-Semitic persecution of the Germans during World War II. Her family as well as Mr. Dussel and the van Daan family move into a small secret annex above the office of Anne’s father, Otto Frank. Anne’s diary documents her thoughts as she deals with finding what type women she wants to be, feeling lonely and misunderstood by the adults in her world, and understanding what love truly means all while living in a hostile environment where your identity is enough to get you killed. There is a surprise ending to the story that may shock most readers.
Noteworthy traits: This diary is an easy read, vocabulary wise, sense the author is around the age of the intended reading level. It discusses many themes that the students have prior knowledge of as well as some that they will need some insight on. This book could be used to teach first person narrative and autobiographical material as well as historical eyewitness accounts and the impact of WWII on the Jewish people.
Author: Brian Floca
Title: Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
Publisher and Year: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books, 2009
Type of book: Science and technology
Reading Level: 1st-3th grade
Moonshot is a retelling of the Apollo 11 space mission. The author also provides young readers with a look into what it was like to be an astronauts on the first moon landing from the feeling of excitement and mystery to worrying about the dangers and uncertainty. He also describes for the reader how the astronauts lived on the space ships, from how they slept to how they used the bathroom! This book does a great job of providing information and answering questions about the Apollo 11 mission in ways that are interesting for students who are being read to or are reading it for themselves.
Noteworthy traits: Unlike some nonfiction books Moonshot has painted illustrations rather than photographic. This makes the story vivid and exciting for young readers. The author uses simple language in a way that describes what happened without bogging the reader down with too much technical information.
Author: Jim Murphy
Title: The Great Fire
Publisher and Year: Scholastic, Inc., 2006
Type of book: Historical examination/Narrative
Reading Level: 5th or 6th grade
This historical examination of the events that led up to, occurred during, and the personal accounts of survivors, recreates one of the greatest disasters in American history, The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This narrative reveals how this disaster came about and what circumstances literally fed the flames. Nearly 100,000 individuals were left homeless and searching for lost family members in the rubble of the city. This book also discusses how even in the face of such disaster, human spirit and determination triumphs as the citizens of Chicago rebuild their city.
Noteworthy traits: This book incorporates first hand accounts of the survivors effortlessly. This book will be useful for teaching the rise of urban cities, the dangers of living in cities, as well as how humans have continued to progress in the face of adversity.
Author: Johanna Reiss
Title: The Upstairs Room
Publisher and Year: HarperCollins Publishers, 1987
Type of book: Autobiographical novel
Reading Level: 6th and 7th grade
This autobiographical novel is the life story of the author Johanna Reiss, but in the story she goes by the name Annie. Annie is a six year old Jewish girl living in Europe during Hitler’s rise to power, and her family is forced into hiding to avoid being sent to concentration camp. Annie’s family is taken in by a Gentile family as their safety hangs in the balance.
Noteworthy traits: This is 100% true story. The only changes that are made are the names for the sake of privacy. This book would be great to used to compare and contrast with other Holocaust journals, like The Diary of a Young Girl.
Author: George Hart
Title: Ancient Egypt
Publisher and Year: DK Children, 2004
Type of book: Informational
Reading Level: 3rd or 4th grade
This book is a study of Ancient Egypt written for children. The information covers the creation of the empire, life of the ordinary people, and the great civilization of the Nile valley as seen through the artifacts left behind for archaeologists to discover today. Children can learn about the ancient Egyptians by examining the mummies of humans and animals, reed brushes and papyrus, children’s toys and so much more.
Noteworthy traits: This book is full of illustrations, including photos of discovered artifacts, temples, and pyramids, as well as artists’ interpretations of these things as they are described in writings from this time period. The text is written for children to comprehend and the author does a great job of conveying information in a way that children can understand.
The following nonfiction books were chosen because of their content and quality. The mark of a high quality children’s nonfiction book is one that appeals to the interests of children and describes complex ideas in a way that they understand. For children’s nonfiction, the author must appeal to their audience and the best way to do this is by writing about events and information that they can relate to and make personal connections with.
Author: Anne Frank
Title: The Diary of a Young Girl
Publisher and Year: Contact Publishing, 1947
Type of book: Autobiography
Reading Level: 5th-6th grade
This autobiographical diary follows the life of a Jewish girl named Anne Frank who lived in Amsterdam between June of 1942 and August 1944. Anne Frank was only thirteen years old when her family was forced into hiding to escape anti-Semitic persecution of the Germans during World War II. Her family as well as Mr. Dussel and the van Daan family move into a small secret annex above the office of Anne’s father, Otto Frank. Anne’s diary documents her thoughts as she deals with finding what type women she wants to be, feeling lonely and misunderstood by the adults in her world, and understanding what love truly means all while living in a hostile environment where your identity is enough to get you killed. There is a surprise ending to the story that may shock most readers.
Noteworthy traits: This diary is an easy read, vocabulary wise, sense the author is around the age of the intended reading level. It discusses many themes that the students have prior knowledge of as well as some that they will need some insight on. This book could be used to teach first person narrative and autobiographical material as well as historical eyewitness accounts and the impact of WWII on the Jewish people.
Author: Brian Floca
Title: Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
Publisher and Year: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books, 2009
Type of book: Science and technology
Reading Level: 1st-3th grade
Moonshot is a retelling of the Apollo 11 space mission. The author also provides young readers with a look into what it was like to be an astronauts on the first moon landing from the feeling of excitement and mystery to worrying about the dangers and uncertainty. He also describes for the reader how the astronauts lived on the space ships, from how they slept to how they used the bathroom! This book does a great job of providing information and answering questions about the Apollo 11 mission in ways that are interesting for students who are being read to or are reading it for themselves.
Noteworthy traits: Unlike some nonfiction books Moonshot has painted illustrations rather than photographic. This makes the story vivid and exciting for young readers. The author uses simple language in a way that describes what happened without bogging the reader down with too much technical information.
Author: Jim Murphy
Title: The Great Fire
Publisher and Year: Scholastic, Inc., 2006
Type of book: Historical examination/Narrative
Reading Level: 5th or 6th grade
This historical examination of the events that led up to, occurred during, and the personal accounts of survivors, recreates one of the greatest disasters in American history, The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This narrative reveals how this disaster came about and what circumstances literally fed the flames. Nearly 100,000 individuals were left homeless and searching for lost family members in the rubble of the city. This book also discusses how even in the face of such disaster, human spirit and determination triumphs as the citizens of Chicago rebuild their city.
Noteworthy traits: This book incorporates first hand accounts of the survivors effortlessly. This book will be useful for teaching the rise of urban cities, the dangers of living in cities, as well as how humans have continued to progress in the face of adversity.
Author: Johanna Reiss
Title: The Upstairs Room
Publisher and Year: HarperCollins Publishers, 1987
Type of book: Autobiographical novel
Reading Level: 6th and 7th grade
This autobiographical novel is the life story of the author Johanna Reiss, but in the story she goes by the name Annie. Annie is a six year old Jewish girl living in Europe during Hitler’s rise to power, and her family is forced into hiding to avoid being sent to concentration camp. Annie’s family is taken in by a Gentile family as their safety hangs in the balance.
Noteworthy traits: This is 100% true story. The only changes that are made are the names for the sake of privacy. This book would be great to used to compare and contrast with other Holocaust journals, like The Diary of a Young Girl.
Author: George Hart
Title: Ancient Egypt
Publisher and Year: DK Children, 2004
Type of book: Informational
Reading Level: 3rd or 4th grade
This book is a study of Ancient Egypt written for children. The information covers the creation of the empire, life of the ordinary people, and the great civilization of the Nile valley as seen through the artifacts left behind for archaeologists to discover today. Children can learn about the ancient Egyptians by examining the mummies of humans and animals, reed brushes and papyrus, children’s toys and so much more.
Noteworthy traits: This book is full of illustrations, including photos of discovered artifacts, temples, and pyramids, as well as artists’ interpretations of these things as they are described in writings from this time period. The text is written for children to comprehend and the author does a great job of conveying information in a way that children can understand.
Poetry
Qualities of high quality children’s poetry books are found within the five books that I put in this bibliography. High quality children’s poetry books have vivid imagery, imagination, and create some type of emotion that children have experienced. The five poetry books I chose for this bibliography take children to either unfamiliar worlds where whimsy and imagination is prominent, or to real life where struggling today does not deny hope for tomorrow.
Author: Jack Prelutsky
Title: The New Kid on the Block
Publisher and Year: Scholastic, Inc., 1989
Type of book: Poetry
Reading Level: 1st-3rd grade
This book contains the poetic works of Jack Prelutsky. The poems in this book are whimsical and odd, but are especially fun for children. The book contains 100 hilarious poems about strange creatures and even stranger humans, and the illustrations bring the poems to life in new and exciting ways.
Noteworthy traits: As mentioned previously the poems in this book are hilarious. The whimsical quality of the poems appeal to children in a way that many are entertained by.
Author: Shel Silverstein
Title: Where the Sidewalk Ends
Publisher and Year: HarperCollins Publishers, 2004
Type of book: Poetry
Reading Level: 2nd-4th grade
In this wonderful magical world where the sidewalk ends, nothing seems to make much sense but everything is fun and awesome. Once we have fun in this world beyond the sidewalks we hear about the land where the sidewalk reigns which is not fun by any means. Journeying from one place to another, Shel Silverstein introduces new ideas and worlds that exist where the sidewalk ends.
Noteworthy traits: The imagination used to create this world is beyond what many are capable of. The use of rhythm and rhyme are especially well done and make the poems interesting for children.
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Title: Locomotion
Publisher and Year: Penguin Young Readers Group, 2010
Type of book: Verse Novel
Reading Level: 4th-6th grade
Lonnie Collins Motion, or “Locomotion,” was seven years old when his parents died. Now eleven years old, Lonnie has never been able to express how he feels about the loss of his parents, his separation from his sister, Lili, and the life he has with his foster mom, Miss Edna. However, this all changes when his teacher, Ms. Marcus, begins teaching the class how to write poetry. Told completely through Lonnie’s poetry journal, readers experience Lonnie learning how to express his jumbled emotions such as loss, heartbreak, love, determination, and hope that one day he will be reunited with his sister.
Noteworthy traits: The poems in this book are written from a child’s perspective, which makes them relatable to children near or around Lonnie’s age. Lonnie’s experience may not be exactly like every students, but his way of dealing with his emotions is similar to what students may be experiencing in their own lives.
Author: A. A. Milne
Title: When We Were Very Young
Publisher and Year: Penguin Young Readers Group, 1924
Type of book: Poetry
Reading level: 2nd-4th grade
Written for his son Christopher Robin, A. A. Milne’s poems of bubbly nonsense make them fun and entertaining for most young readers. Full of rhythm, the poems are easy reads for newly independent readers and show the life of a young English boy growing up in the early 20th century. Reading this book can help students make connections with how their lives are similar and how they are different to someone their age that grew up long ago.
Noteworthy traits: This book contains a poem with the first references to A. A. Milne’s famous Winnie-the-Pooh. The illustrations in the book are by Ernest H. Shepard, and his illustration of Winnie in a red t-shirt would become the appearance used by Disney in their movie adaptation, which most children will be familiar with.
Author: David T. W. McCord
Title: Every Time I Climb a Tree
Publisher and Year: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1999
Type of book: Poetry
Reading Level: 2nd-3rd grade
The poems in this book are excellent for children and adults who love language. McCord’s use of wordplay, rhythm, onomatopoeia, and observation allow readers to take a look at their world and the magic that lies within reality. These poems cover a variety of subjects that appeals to the interests of many different students.
Noteworthy Traits: This collection of poems can be introduced as early as Kindergarten as read alouds. The whimsical nature of McCord’s poems captures the fun and excitement that children experience while reading or hearing these poems.
Qualities of high quality children’s poetry books are found within the five books that I put in this bibliography. High quality children’s poetry books have vivid imagery, imagination, and create some type of emotion that children have experienced. The five poetry books I chose for this bibliography take children to either unfamiliar worlds where whimsy and imagination is prominent, or to real life where struggling today does not deny hope for tomorrow.
Author: Jack Prelutsky
Title: The New Kid on the Block
Publisher and Year: Scholastic, Inc., 1989
Type of book: Poetry
Reading Level: 1st-3rd grade
This book contains the poetic works of Jack Prelutsky. The poems in this book are whimsical and odd, but are especially fun for children. The book contains 100 hilarious poems about strange creatures and even stranger humans, and the illustrations bring the poems to life in new and exciting ways.
Noteworthy traits: As mentioned previously the poems in this book are hilarious. The whimsical quality of the poems appeal to children in a way that many are entertained by.
Author: Shel Silverstein
Title: Where the Sidewalk Ends
Publisher and Year: HarperCollins Publishers, 2004
Type of book: Poetry
Reading Level: 2nd-4th grade
In this wonderful magical world where the sidewalk ends, nothing seems to make much sense but everything is fun and awesome. Once we have fun in this world beyond the sidewalks we hear about the land where the sidewalk reigns which is not fun by any means. Journeying from one place to another, Shel Silverstein introduces new ideas and worlds that exist where the sidewalk ends.
Noteworthy traits: The imagination used to create this world is beyond what many are capable of. The use of rhythm and rhyme are especially well done and make the poems interesting for children.
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Title: Locomotion
Publisher and Year: Penguin Young Readers Group, 2010
Type of book: Verse Novel
Reading Level: 4th-6th grade
Lonnie Collins Motion, or “Locomotion,” was seven years old when his parents died. Now eleven years old, Lonnie has never been able to express how he feels about the loss of his parents, his separation from his sister, Lili, and the life he has with his foster mom, Miss Edna. However, this all changes when his teacher, Ms. Marcus, begins teaching the class how to write poetry. Told completely through Lonnie’s poetry journal, readers experience Lonnie learning how to express his jumbled emotions such as loss, heartbreak, love, determination, and hope that one day he will be reunited with his sister.
Noteworthy traits: The poems in this book are written from a child’s perspective, which makes them relatable to children near or around Lonnie’s age. Lonnie’s experience may not be exactly like every students, but his way of dealing with his emotions is similar to what students may be experiencing in their own lives.
Author: A. A. Milne
Title: When We Were Very Young
Publisher and Year: Penguin Young Readers Group, 1924
Type of book: Poetry
Reading level: 2nd-4th grade
Written for his son Christopher Robin, A. A. Milne’s poems of bubbly nonsense make them fun and entertaining for most young readers. Full of rhythm, the poems are easy reads for newly independent readers and show the life of a young English boy growing up in the early 20th century. Reading this book can help students make connections with how their lives are similar and how they are different to someone their age that grew up long ago.
Noteworthy traits: This book contains a poem with the first references to A. A. Milne’s famous Winnie-the-Pooh. The illustrations in the book are by Ernest H. Shepard, and his illustration of Winnie in a red t-shirt would become the appearance used by Disney in their movie adaptation, which most children will be familiar with.
Author: David T. W. McCord
Title: Every Time I Climb a Tree
Publisher and Year: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1999
Type of book: Poetry
Reading Level: 2nd-3rd grade
The poems in this book are excellent for children and adults who love language. McCord’s use of wordplay, rhythm, onomatopoeia, and observation allow readers to take a look at their world and the magic that lies within reality. These poems cover a variety of subjects that appeals to the interests of many different students.
Noteworthy Traits: This collection of poems can be introduced as early as Kindergarten as read alouds. The whimsical nature of McCord’s poems captures the fun and excitement that children experience while reading or hearing these poems.
Novel
The following ten novels were chosen because they have compelling plots, well developed characters, and tap into children’s imaginations in a special way. Each book takes children on a journey either to the world they know but from a different viewpoint, or to places they’ve never dreamed of traveling to with creatures they’ve never imagined existing. Each book delivers themes that speak to children and relate to their own experience. All of these qualities are necessary in creating a noteworthy children’s novel.
Author: Barbara Park
Title: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
Publisher and Year: Random House Children’s Books, 1992
Type of book: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: 2nd-4th grade
This is the first of the Junie B. Jones series. Junie B. Jones is a spunky and outspoken young lady whose charm comes from her fearless approach to saying exactly what’s on her mind, even though it often gets her into trouble. In the Stupid Smelly Bus, Junie B. is starting her first day of Kindergarten, and is terrified at the prospect of taking the school bus. When her fears are confirmed, Junie B. has to take drastic measures in order to avoid the ride back home.
Noteworthy traits: The humor in this book is perfect for children of all ages. This is a great first chapter book for young girls and boys.
Author: J.K. Rowling
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Publisher and Year: Scholastic, Inc., 1997
Type of book: Science fiction and fantasy
Reading Level: 4th-6th grade
Harry Potter is sent to live with his mean spirited aunt and uncle as a baby after his parents are die in a “car accident,” and spends his first 10 years of life feeling like an outsider. However, his world is turned upside down on his 11th birthday when he receives a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from a large burly man named Hagrid, who tells Harry that he is in fact a wizard like his father and mother. Harry discovers quickly that he is not this unimportant outsider he was in the Muggle world, rather he is the legendary “Boy Who Lived.” Harry, with the help of his friends Ron and Hermione, must find his place in the wizarding world and also fight evil inside the walls of Hogwarts.
Noteworthy traits: This is the first of the Harry Potter series. The imagination and imagery used to create this magical world that exists within the world we know is entertaining for young readers. Children can start this series in the 4th or 5th grade and mature as readers as the content of the remaining six books matures.
Author: Mark Twain
Title: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Publisher and Year: Charles L. Webster & Co., 1884
Type of book: Adventure and Bildungsroman
Reading Level: 6th-8th grade
Huckleberry Finn, or as everyone calls him Huck, is a friend of Tom Sawyer, who with the help of Huck discovered a treasure in his own novel. Stuck in Missouri being “sivilized” by two sisters, Huck’s life is changed when his deadbeat dad comes to take Huck and his share of Huck’s money. When Huck runs away from his dad’s shack, Huck goes on an adventure down the Mississippi River with a runaway slave named Jim.
Noteworthy traits: The adventures and antics that Huck finds himself in are entertaining for young readers, especially boys. The diction in this book is sometimes difficult to understand, but adds depth to the characters in this book.
Author: Gary Paulsen
Title: Hatchet
Publisher and Year: Bradbury Press, 1987
Type of book: Adventure and survival
Reading Level: 5th-7th grade
Brian Robeson, thirteen, leads a seemingly normal life where his only major struggle up until this point is dealing with his parent’s divorce. However, Brian is put to the test when flying to visit his father in the Canadian oil fields the pilot of the plane has a heart attack and the plane crashes into a lake in the forest. With nothing but the hatchet his mother gave him, Brian must learn how to survive in the woods as he battles the cold, animals, and his fears of never being rescued.
Noteworthy traits: This survival story is fascinating for young boys and girls who are interested in the outdoors. Transitioning into more mature reading material, this book is excellent for late elementary students who are reluctant to read because they are uninterested in the material.
Author: E. B. White
Title: Charlotte’s Web
Publisher and Year: Harper & Brothers, 1952
Type of book: Chapter book
Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade
Wilbur the pig, the runt of the litter, has his life is on the line before it barely begins, but is spared by a eight year old girl named Fern Arable who convinces her papa to let her keep Wilbur as a pet. However, when Wilbur becomes too big to keep as a pet Fern decides to give Wilbur to her Uncle Homer Zuckerman, and at his farm Wilbur meets many friends but his best friend is a tiny spider named Charlotte. Charlotte protects Wilbur many times and towards the end of the book, Wilbur finally gets the chance to repay Charlotte for her kindness in a very special way.
Noteworthy traits: A Newbery Award winner, this book is a great first chapter book for maturing readers. There are many illustrations, and the text is simple for most readers.
Author: C. S. Lewis
Title: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Publisher and Year: Geoffrey Bles, 1950
Type of book: Fantasy novel
Reading Level: 4th-6th grade
Siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are sent to live with a professor in his large home in the countryside for safety during World War I. With little to do the children explore the house, and during a game of hide and seek, the youngest, Lucy, comes upon a room that is empty other than a large wooden wardrobe. When Lucy enters she is taken to a magical land called Narnia that is in a perpetual winter brought on by a wicked witch, and it can only be broken by the return of the prophesied kings and queens of Narnia and the great lion, Aslan.
Noteworthy trait: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic children’s novel full of imagination and magic. The imagery used by C. S. Lewis is especially well done and creates a world few could develop in their own minds.
Author: Louis Sachar
Title: Holes
Publisher and Year: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998
Type of book: Adventure, satire
Reading Level: 5th-7th grade
Stanley Yelnats IV has inherited little money but plenty of bad luck from his father due to a curse placed on his great great great grandfather when he broke a deal with a powerful fortune teller. This bad luck gets Stanley into trouble when a pair of expensive sneakers falls from the sky and Stanley is accused of stealing them. Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake, which is the farthest thing from your childhood summer camp, to serve out his punishment digging holes to build character. Originally outcasted, Stanley finds his place within the rag tag group of juvenile delinquents, one in particular named Zero, as he figures out the history behind the camp and what exactly they are trying to find in the desert.
Noteworthy traits: Newbery Medal winner 1999. The plot of this book is very interesting and can’t be matched by many other children’s novels. The authors ability to blend the three separate story lines into one cohesive conclusion is really spectacular.
Author: Lois Lowry
Title: The Giver
Publisher and Year: Houghton Mifflin, 1993
Type of book: Social Science
Reading Level: 5th-8th grade
In this futuristic society based on the alienation of individuality and human emotion, Jonas and his two best friends have reached the point in their lives where the chief leaders will assign them their careers. When Jonas is skipped over during the ceremony he worries that there is no place for him in society, however, Jonas has been chosen for a special and mysterious position called the Receiver, who is the keeper of all memory and history of the entire world. His mentor, called Giver, exposes Jonas to color, music, happiness, and love, but also hatred, war, and loss. Jonas’ role as Receiver causes him to question the way of their society which leads to dangerous consequences for Jonas and the future of their society.
Noteworthy traits: Newbery Medal winner 1994. This book brings into question many conventions of society and the nature of human beings. Children are challenged to imagine a world devoid of human emotion and learn the value of human nature despite its flaws.
Author: Lemony Snicket
Title: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
Publisher and Year: HarperCollins, 1999
Type of book: Mystery or Absurdist
Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are orphaned by a mysterious fire that burnt down their family home. Inheriting their parents fortunes but not old enough to live on their own, the three siblings are sent to live with distant and devious cousin Count Olaf. The ingenious children, Violet the inventor, Klaus the researcher, and Sunny the biter, use their skills to help them survive Count Olaf’s terror as he does everything in his power to get his hands on their fortunes.
Noteworthy traits: Although the plot is quite morbid and dark, readers are drawn to this book, as well as the remaining books in the series, because of the strange circumstances that the children have found themselves in. The ingenuity of the children is inspiring for young readers and there is an element of hope that develops as these children face adversity with their heads held high, and makes readers want to discover what will happen to these three siblings.
Author: Roald Dahl
Title: James and the Giant Peach
Publisher and Year: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1961
Type of book: Fantasy
Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade
James Henry Trotter, four years old, happily lives with his parents by the sea in south England, but tragedy strikes when his parents are killed by an escaped rhinoceros. James is sent to live with his wicked aunts, Spiker and Sponge, and for three years James lives a life of cruelty, brutality, and misfortune. One day his life is changed when he spills a magical potion, given to him by a strange old man, on a peach tree that grows a single peach as large a as a house. Inside the peach James finds a ragtag group of human sized insects, and together they go on a remarkable adventure with the peach as their mode of transportation.
Noteworthy traits: This story is full of magic and imagination. It is a great transitional book for children moving from picture books into chapter books. Depending on the edition, there are illustrations that appeal to young readers.
The following ten novels were chosen because they have compelling plots, well developed characters, and tap into children’s imaginations in a special way. Each book takes children on a journey either to the world they know but from a different viewpoint, or to places they’ve never dreamed of traveling to with creatures they’ve never imagined existing. Each book delivers themes that speak to children and relate to their own experience. All of these qualities are necessary in creating a noteworthy children’s novel.
Author: Barbara Park
Title: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
Publisher and Year: Random House Children’s Books, 1992
Type of book: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: 2nd-4th grade
This is the first of the Junie B. Jones series. Junie B. Jones is a spunky and outspoken young lady whose charm comes from her fearless approach to saying exactly what’s on her mind, even though it often gets her into trouble. In the Stupid Smelly Bus, Junie B. is starting her first day of Kindergarten, and is terrified at the prospect of taking the school bus. When her fears are confirmed, Junie B. has to take drastic measures in order to avoid the ride back home.
Noteworthy traits: The humor in this book is perfect for children of all ages. This is a great first chapter book for young girls and boys.
Author: J.K. Rowling
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Publisher and Year: Scholastic, Inc., 1997
Type of book: Science fiction and fantasy
Reading Level: 4th-6th grade
Harry Potter is sent to live with his mean spirited aunt and uncle as a baby after his parents are die in a “car accident,” and spends his first 10 years of life feeling like an outsider. However, his world is turned upside down on his 11th birthday when he receives a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from a large burly man named Hagrid, who tells Harry that he is in fact a wizard like his father and mother. Harry discovers quickly that he is not this unimportant outsider he was in the Muggle world, rather he is the legendary “Boy Who Lived.” Harry, with the help of his friends Ron and Hermione, must find his place in the wizarding world and also fight evil inside the walls of Hogwarts.
Noteworthy traits: This is the first of the Harry Potter series. The imagination and imagery used to create this magical world that exists within the world we know is entertaining for young readers. Children can start this series in the 4th or 5th grade and mature as readers as the content of the remaining six books matures.
Author: Mark Twain
Title: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Publisher and Year: Charles L. Webster & Co., 1884
Type of book: Adventure and Bildungsroman
Reading Level: 6th-8th grade
Huckleberry Finn, or as everyone calls him Huck, is a friend of Tom Sawyer, who with the help of Huck discovered a treasure in his own novel. Stuck in Missouri being “sivilized” by two sisters, Huck’s life is changed when his deadbeat dad comes to take Huck and his share of Huck’s money. When Huck runs away from his dad’s shack, Huck goes on an adventure down the Mississippi River with a runaway slave named Jim.
Noteworthy traits: The adventures and antics that Huck finds himself in are entertaining for young readers, especially boys. The diction in this book is sometimes difficult to understand, but adds depth to the characters in this book.
Author: Gary Paulsen
Title: Hatchet
Publisher and Year: Bradbury Press, 1987
Type of book: Adventure and survival
Reading Level: 5th-7th grade
Brian Robeson, thirteen, leads a seemingly normal life where his only major struggle up until this point is dealing with his parent’s divorce. However, Brian is put to the test when flying to visit his father in the Canadian oil fields the pilot of the plane has a heart attack and the plane crashes into a lake in the forest. With nothing but the hatchet his mother gave him, Brian must learn how to survive in the woods as he battles the cold, animals, and his fears of never being rescued.
Noteworthy traits: This survival story is fascinating for young boys and girls who are interested in the outdoors. Transitioning into more mature reading material, this book is excellent for late elementary students who are reluctant to read because they are uninterested in the material.
Author: E. B. White
Title: Charlotte’s Web
Publisher and Year: Harper & Brothers, 1952
Type of book: Chapter book
Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade
Wilbur the pig, the runt of the litter, has his life is on the line before it barely begins, but is spared by a eight year old girl named Fern Arable who convinces her papa to let her keep Wilbur as a pet. However, when Wilbur becomes too big to keep as a pet Fern decides to give Wilbur to her Uncle Homer Zuckerman, and at his farm Wilbur meets many friends but his best friend is a tiny spider named Charlotte. Charlotte protects Wilbur many times and towards the end of the book, Wilbur finally gets the chance to repay Charlotte for her kindness in a very special way.
Noteworthy traits: A Newbery Award winner, this book is a great first chapter book for maturing readers. There are many illustrations, and the text is simple for most readers.
Author: C. S. Lewis
Title: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Publisher and Year: Geoffrey Bles, 1950
Type of book: Fantasy novel
Reading Level: 4th-6th grade
Siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are sent to live with a professor in his large home in the countryside for safety during World War I. With little to do the children explore the house, and during a game of hide and seek, the youngest, Lucy, comes upon a room that is empty other than a large wooden wardrobe. When Lucy enters she is taken to a magical land called Narnia that is in a perpetual winter brought on by a wicked witch, and it can only be broken by the return of the prophesied kings and queens of Narnia and the great lion, Aslan.
Noteworthy trait: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic children’s novel full of imagination and magic. The imagery used by C. S. Lewis is especially well done and creates a world few could develop in their own minds.
Author: Louis Sachar
Title: Holes
Publisher and Year: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998
Type of book: Adventure, satire
Reading Level: 5th-7th grade
Stanley Yelnats IV has inherited little money but plenty of bad luck from his father due to a curse placed on his great great great grandfather when he broke a deal with a powerful fortune teller. This bad luck gets Stanley into trouble when a pair of expensive sneakers falls from the sky and Stanley is accused of stealing them. Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake, which is the farthest thing from your childhood summer camp, to serve out his punishment digging holes to build character. Originally outcasted, Stanley finds his place within the rag tag group of juvenile delinquents, one in particular named Zero, as he figures out the history behind the camp and what exactly they are trying to find in the desert.
Noteworthy traits: Newbery Medal winner 1999. The plot of this book is very interesting and can’t be matched by many other children’s novels. The authors ability to blend the three separate story lines into one cohesive conclusion is really spectacular.
Author: Lois Lowry
Title: The Giver
Publisher and Year: Houghton Mifflin, 1993
Type of book: Social Science
Reading Level: 5th-8th grade
In this futuristic society based on the alienation of individuality and human emotion, Jonas and his two best friends have reached the point in their lives where the chief leaders will assign them their careers. When Jonas is skipped over during the ceremony he worries that there is no place for him in society, however, Jonas has been chosen for a special and mysterious position called the Receiver, who is the keeper of all memory and history of the entire world. His mentor, called Giver, exposes Jonas to color, music, happiness, and love, but also hatred, war, and loss. Jonas’ role as Receiver causes him to question the way of their society which leads to dangerous consequences for Jonas and the future of their society.
Noteworthy traits: Newbery Medal winner 1994. This book brings into question many conventions of society and the nature of human beings. Children are challenged to imagine a world devoid of human emotion and learn the value of human nature despite its flaws.
Author: Lemony Snicket
Title: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
Publisher and Year: HarperCollins, 1999
Type of book: Mystery or Absurdist
Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are orphaned by a mysterious fire that burnt down their family home. Inheriting their parents fortunes but not old enough to live on their own, the three siblings are sent to live with distant and devious cousin Count Olaf. The ingenious children, Violet the inventor, Klaus the researcher, and Sunny the biter, use their skills to help them survive Count Olaf’s terror as he does everything in his power to get his hands on their fortunes.
Noteworthy traits: Although the plot is quite morbid and dark, readers are drawn to this book, as well as the remaining books in the series, because of the strange circumstances that the children have found themselves in. The ingenuity of the children is inspiring for young readers and there is an element of hope that develops as these children face adversity with their heads held high, and makes readers want to discover what will happen to these three siblings.
Author: Roald Dahl
Title: James and the Giant Peach
Publisher and Year: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1961
Type of book: Fantasy
Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade
James Henry Trotter, four years old, happily lives with his parents by the sea in south England, but tragedy strikes when his parents are killed by an escaped rhinoceros. James is sent to live with his wicked aunts, Spiker and Sponge, and for three years James lives a life of cruelty, brutality, and misfortune. One day his life is changed when he spills a magical potion, given to him by a strange old man, on a peach tree that grows a single peach as large a as a house. Inside the peach James finds a ragtag group of human sized insects, and together they go on a remarkable adventure with the peach as their mode of transportation.
Noteworthy traits: This story is full of magic and imagination. It is a great transitional book for children moving from picture books into chapter books. Depending on the edition, there are illustrations that appeal to young readers.