Pura Belpre Awards

Krull, K., & Morales, Y. (2003). Harvesting hope, the story of cesar chavez. Harcourt Children's Books.

Genre: Non-fiction - Biography

The biography of Cesar Chavez is presented from childhood to the success of the grape strike in California. The author’s note gives more information about Chavez.

Children will be drawn to the bold illustrations and also, the multicultural details that relate to Hispanic students’ lives.

This book is best used with upper elementary, possibly during a Social Studies unit or lesson about biographies. There is a lot of body language to discuss in the illustrations, as well. 

Morales, Y. (2003). Just a minute, a trickster tale and counting book. Chronicle Books Llc.

Genre: Fiction - Folk Tale
When Senor Calavera visits Grandma Beetle to take her to the after-life, she has ten different excuses to avoid going. As she counts her jobs in English and Spanish, she is actually preparing for her birthday party. Senor Calavera decides to let her enjoy another birthday with her family.

Children love a birthday party but they sometimes forget the preparation that goes into the party. This book is a fun reminder. It also incorporates vocabulary, food, and experiences that are familiar to Hispanic children.  

I would use this book as a read-aloud first and then, use it in a small group to further explore the details of the illustrations. You could also create a bilingual numeral/set book or pocket chart. 

Andrews-Goebel, N. (2002). The pot that juan built. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books, INC.

Genre: Non-fiction - Biography

This cumulative poem gives the history of Juan Quezada, a Mexican potter, and his art based on the Casas Grandes people’s pottery. It also has an afterword explaining the process, in detail.

The poetry, with cumulative and rhyming lines, gives a history lesson in an engaging manner. It makes history seem more fun and vibrant than most other books. The illustrations are vibrant and eye-catching, too.

Because the book has poetry and prose, I would introduce the book’s poetry during a group lesson but use the biographical information in a small group. Using this book with other cumulative poems would be a fun way to present children’s biographies for Open House.

Gonzalez, M. (2007). My colors, my world: Mis colores, mi mundo. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Gonzalez’s character is based on herself, as a young child, growing up in the Mojave desert in California. The young girl in this book sees only one color – sand. But her feathered friend helps her see that the desert has many colors. The colors are presented in English and Spanish.

Most children think of the desert as a brown or beige place, the desert in this book is multi-colored. The new perspective is interesting and captures children’s curiosity.

This would be a nice way to introduce colors at the beginning of the year, especially with a bilingual or ELL group. I would have student make a flap-book with items of respective colors on each page. 

Pura Belpre Award

Orbis Pictus Award

Freedman, Russell. Children of the great depression. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007. Print.

Genre: Non-fiction - Narrative Non-Fiction

Because the Great Depression seems far removed from today’s children, it is easier to teach them from a youngster’s view. What did children of the 1930’s experience? What were their thoughts?

This book is best used for upper elementary – first in large group and then, smaller groups to absorb the details.

Text-to-self connections make history lessons more relevant. After reading this book, I would ask students to begin journaling their stories for their own grandchildren of the future.

Brimner, L. D. Birmingham sunday. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek Books, 2010. Print.

Genre: Non-fiction - Narrative Non-Fiction

In 1963, racial bombings in Birmingham were frequent but rarely deadly until Sunday, September 15. Four children, all girls, were killed in this bombing. The public was so outraged that it helped propel the adoption of the Civil Rights Act. The book uses historical documents in a scrapbook format to tell the story.

Children often find history books to be dry but this book uses text, photographs, song lyrics, and more to make the lesson meaningful and interesting.

This book is best used for upper elementary – first in large group and then, smaller groups to absorb the details.

Using the children’s biographies gives the history lesson more impact and I would expect my students to create an “All About Me” foldable, giving facts about the bombing victims.

Balloons over Broadway

Genre: Non-Fiction - Biography

Tony Sarg develops his love of marionettes into puppets for Macy’s department store window. The window displays are so successful that Macy’s asks Sarg to produce more.  He then invents a new type of marionette, on a grand scale,  for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Children are drawn to the bright colors, large letters, and subject matter of parades and puppetry. The mixed media adds interest to the illustrations. The illustrations include sketches, collages, diagrams, maps, horizontal and vertical pages, newspaper clippings, and photographs to tell the story of Tony Sarg.

This book could be used in a social studies or art lesson but the illustrations are best absorbed in small groups.

I would have students create a self-portrait parade balloon. What do you want others to see when they look at you? What are your best features?

Orbis Pictus Award

Schneider Family Book Award

Lyon, G. E., and L. Avril. The pirate of kindergarten. New York: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books, 2011. Print.

Genre - Fiction  - Realistic Fiction

Ginny sees everything in double-vision and thinks that is normal until her vision screening. Her doctor prescribes glasses, exercises, and a patch! Ginny becomes the Kindergarten Pirate who can see things correctly!

This book should be shared, in whole group, at the beginning of school to discuss acceptance of people’s differences and compassion for others.

Immediately, I thought my class would enjoy this book because pirates are so popular right now. Once I read the book, I thought my students would still enjoy the book because the illustrations are colorful and Ginny is a typical student who is easy to relate to.

After reading this with my class, I would try to supply pirate patches for my class. How does the patch affect your sight? How would you function if your vision was obscured? We would continue the lesson with a discussion about disabilities.

Seeger, P., & Jacobs, P. (2006). The deaf musicians. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Genre - Fiction  - Realistic Fiction

Lee plays with a jazz band every night until he loses his hearing. After he learns sign language, he gradually creates a new kind of band, made entirely of deaf musicians.

The musical and rhythmic language in this book is engaging and interesting.

Keeping the lyrical language in mind, I would be sure to use this during story time. 

Because this book uses so much onomatopoeia, I would reinforce this by having students brainstorm other onomatopoeia phrases for inanimate objects.

Parker, R. (2008). Piano starts here: the young art tatum. Random House, Inc.

Genre - Non-Fiction - Biography

Art Tatum, who was born with limited vision that continued to worsen, became a famous piano player despite his vision difficulties.

Parker uses vivid language to describe Tatum’s environment. His descriptive language adds to the visualization of Tatum’s world and experiences.

I would use this book with older students during a large group lesson about visualization. I would first read several pages to my students who cannot see the illustrations. Then, I would ask them to sketch out the scene/experience described in the book. When completed, we would compare the students’ sketchbooks to the actual book illustrations.

Schneider Family Book Award

Robert H. Sibert Award

Kerley, B. (2008). What to do about alice?, how alice roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father teddy crazy!. Scholastic.

Genre - Non-fiction - Biography

A fun biography of Alice Roosevelt, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, who broke social conventions set for women of the early 20^th century.

Alice Roosevelt was a true comedienne and one of the first celebrities before “paparazzi”. Her stories are outlandish and fun. Children will see her as a fun person rather than an old-fashioned history lesson.

This book is a fun history lesson for upper elementary students because it has a different perspective about a historical figure. I would share before studying women of history.

After introducing additional female historical figures, I would use a Venn diagram to compare/contrast women and men in history. What is the same? What is different? Have the roles changed in the last century? Why?

Floca, B. (2009). Moonshot. Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books.

Genre - Non-fiction - Narrative Non-fiction

Richly informative text and superbly accurate illustrations tell the story of Apollo Flight 11.

There is a plethora of information related to Apollo Flight 11 and the national space program. It is presented in child-friendly language and interesting illustrations (almost a comic book style).

I would use this in upper elementary children’s social studies lesson – first as whole group for informative text and then, in classroom library for information gleaned from illustrations.

Encourage small groups to research a historical topic and use a comic strip format to retell the important details. 

Robert H. Sibert Award

Bank Street College Best Books for Children List

Brun-Cosme, N., Tallec, O., & Bedrick, C. (2011). Big wolf & little wolf. Brooklyn, NY: Enchanted Lion Books.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Big Wolf has always lived alone and thought he liked it. Then, Little Wolf arrived and worked his way into Big Wolf’s heart. When Little Wolf disappears, Big Wolf began to realize how much he needed Little Wolf. They both decided to end the loneliness and stay together from then on.

This story will resonate with children who have new siblings and are not used to sharing a home, bed, or room with that younger child. It can be a challenge to share but before long, it is hard to imagine what life was like before the new person came.

I would share this one-on-one with a loved one or a child who is expecting a younger sibling. This would be a gentle introduction to a discussion about sibling rivalry, too.

After reading this book, you could write a letter or make a card to welcome the new sibling.

McDonald, M. (2009). It's picture day today!. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Genre – Fiction – Fantasy

It is picture day but this class picture has a different kind of student: art supplies! Various art supplies (buttons, feathers, strings, rings, yarn and more) gather together to make artsy characters for the photograph. One item got “stuck in traffic.”

The illustrations look festive, the text is rhythmical, and the concept is fun. The art supply characters have humorous personalities, too. Children want to join this art party.

The rhyming words and large illustrations are useful for story time for early childhood students.

Before starting a craft activity with found items, I would use this book for inspiration. What could you make with these supplies? Could you make an animal? A person? What else?

Mora, Pat, and Rafael López. Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day, Celebremos El dia de los ninos/El Dia de lose libros. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2009. Print.

Genre: Fiction - Poetry

Mora celebrates The Day of the Child with a “book party” in this bilingual book. Mora also provides, in the back of the book, suggestions for celebrating Book Day.

Colorful illustrations, vibrant verses, and just another reason for a party should interest young children in this book!

This book is best shared with a group – modeling voice inflection and rhythm.

The Day of the Child is a small celebration. I would ask students to think about what books should have a party. Create a party, complete with invitations, which will motivate classmates to read new books.

Parenteau, S. (2009). Bears on chairs. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Four bears and one BIG bear try to share four chairs. What is the solution?

The bears in this book are so cute and look cuddly. Young children will want to know what happens to them. The rhyming text is soothing as well.

I would share this during bedtime or during toddler story time.

Retelling and acting out this short book would be so fun. I would make little headbands for the children and have them share chairs. We could also play Musical Chairs as an extension activity.

Emberley, R., & Emberley, E. (2009). Chicken little. New York: Roaring Brook.

Genre: Fiction - Fairy Tale

Chicken Little and his friends run to find shelter when they fear the sky is falling. Foxy Loxy offers his mouth as a shelter but their feathers make his sneeze – throwing the group back out to escape HIM!

The rhyming names, bright illustrations, and repetitive text make this book an enjoyable story for young children.

Because this book is short and has repetitive text and funny names, I would share this during story time for young children. I would ask the children to participate in the reading.

After reading this book, I would ask children to make new character names and create a new ending for a spin on this story.

Bank Street College Best Books for Children List

Charlotte Zolotow Award

Henkes, K. (2004). Kitten's first full moon. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

When Kitten sees a full moon for the first time, she tries to follow it and lick it. She experiences failure but when she returns home, a full bowl of milk is waiting for her.

Children like stories about animals and they can especially relate to Kitten’s feelings in the book.

I would use this book as a bedtime story or during story time for young children.

This book has several opportunities for text-to-self connections in a discussion about feelings. When do you feel sad? Tired? Scared? Etc.

Graham, B. (2008). How to heal a broken wing. Candlewick.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

In a large metropolitan city, Will is the only person who notices an injured bird lying on the pavement. With the help of his parents, Will learns how to let time AND hope heal a broken wing. This book contains more body language than text and the message is still very clear to children.

This book could be shared in a small group but the illustrations are better understood after much exploration. The illustrations contain several details, soft coloring (with spotlighted characters), and even symmetry in architecture and various objects. Reading facial cues and body language are important life lessons and this book would be a good introduction.

Willems, M. (2004). Knuffle bunny, a cautionary tale. New York, NY: Hyperion.

Genre: Fiction - Humor

Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny go to the Landromat but only Trixie and Daddy return. Daddy cannot understand Trixie’s pleas for help until Mom intervenes. When Trixie sees Knuffle Bunny, she speaks for the first time.

Young children relate to losing a “lovey” and non-readers can understand the story without reading the words. The illustrations are very interesting, too.

Due to the subject matter, I would use this book for story time with young children.

This book is a nice introduction to a lesson about feelings. How do you feel when things get lost? What do you do? Scream? Whine? Ask for help? Role play different scenarios and brainstorm positive solutions. 

Charlotte Zolotow Award

Texas 2x2 Reading List

Becker, B. (2009). A visitor for bear. Candlewick Press.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

All Bear wants is to be left in peace. He has a sign – “No Visitors,” but Mouse just ignores it. Bear repeatedly throws Mouse out of the house but each time, Mouse appears in another unexpected place. Finally, Bear and Mouse sit down for tea and begin a friendship.

Children can relate to wanting to strike up friendships with new people. They, like Mouse, are not always sure how to do that, though.

This book is to be read aloud to a small group of younger children. It is a conversation starter about beginning friendships and also, manners when visiting friends’ homes. 

Urbanovic, J. (2008). Duck soup. HarperCollins Publishers.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Max wants to make his own masterpiece soup but he goes out to the garden to get the “missing” ingredient. As he is busy, his friends walk in and, not seeing Max, decide that Max must have fallen into the pot of soup. They mistakenly pour out the soup, looking for Max. In the end, Max and his friends eat pizza instead of soup.

Bold graphics and multicultural references make this book fun to read in small groups. I would type out various sentences without punctuation marks to sort into statements, questions, and exclamations. You could also introduce a lesson about sequential order of cooking before writing/drawing a “how-to.”

Rocco, J. (2011). Blackout. (1 ed., Vol. 1). New York: Disney Hyperion Books.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

On a busy summer night, a neighborhood experiences a blackout. One family plays inside until it gets too hot and then, discover it is more fun outside. Suddenly, no one is too busy to visit! When the lights come back on, the children decide to try “blackout” nights for family fun.

This story is told from the child’s perspective. The story is depicted as a graphic novel with speech bubbles and very little text. The colors are bright and the family is young and “hip.”

This would be fun to use during story time, with the lights off (of course!).

Using this during summer story time would be ideal. I would introduce board games after this book since many children do not know how to play basic board games. 

McDonnell, P. Me... jane. New York: Little Brown & Co, 2011. Print.
Genre: Non-fiction - Biography

This is a light-hearted look at Dr. Jane Goodall’s childhood dream to live in Africa where she would live with and study animals. Original sketches drawn by young Jane are included in the illustrations.

This book could be shared with a whole group, in a small group, or at bedtime, depending on what you want to emphasize.

The illustrations are done in a comical style, almost like a cartoon, that makes the history lesson seem less daunting and more fun. Children will find the young and curious Jane to be a “regular” little girl.

After reading this book to an elementary group, I would ask students to think of their biggest dream and sketch it out, just like Jane did. “Now, what will you need to do to make that dream happen?”

Alter, A. (2010). Disappearing desmond. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Desmond is very shy and does not like to be noticed. But when Gloria shows up, she notices him and helps him come out of his shell. He becomes so confident that he begins to notice other shy children, too.

Several children experience anxiety and shyness in new situations. They can relate to Desmond’s wish to disappear.

Due to the apparent age of Desmond, I would likely use this during story time for young children at the beginning of the school year. 

This book, along with ice breaker games, would help youngsters feel more comfortable during story time and set the tone for a new school year. 

Texas 2x2 Reading List

Theodor Seuss Giesel Awards

Willems, M. (2011). We are in a book!. Hyperion Books.

Genre: Fiction - Humor

Gerald and Piggie are best friends in this series of books. In this edition, they interact with the reader, speaking directly to the reader and also, talking about the reader. Willems uses simple illustrations, color-coded speech bubbles, and varied text sizes to engage the reader.

Gerald and Piggie are funny! They tell jokes and use kid-friendly humor.

This book lends itself to lessons about speech bubbles and dialogue. It is also a fun book to encourage reluctant readers.

Seeger, L. V. (2007). First the egg. New Milford, Connecticut: Roaring Brook Press.

Genre: Non-fiction - Narrative Non-fiction

Die-cuts illustrate various life cycles and transformations: egg to chicken, tadpole to frog, seed to flower, caterpillar to butterfly, word to story, paint to illustrations of this book!

These vibrant and fun illustrations help children make predictions about the next page.

This book would best be used in a small group so each child could see the illustrations, complete with die cuts, to make predictions and inferences based on them.

Portis, A. (2006). Not a box. Harpercollins Childrens Books.

Genre: Fiction - Humor

A simple book with two characters: the narrator and an unnamed rabbit. The narrator asks questions about the box and the rabbit says repeatedly, “It’s not a box!” Then, the rabbit explains what his imagination sees.

The illustrations are simple and the text is predictable. The concept is interesting for children, too.

My copy is a board book and is best shared one-on-one to discuss the illustrations and to orally elaborate on them. 

Beaumont, K. (2006). Move over, rover!. Harcourt, Inc.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Rover lives in his own house but when it starts raining, he gets several visitors. Is there enough room for them all? The skunk is the last animal!

Most children have a pet and have seen these types of animals. They also understand the need to cuddle with someone during a storm (or other scary event).

I would use this book during a read-aloud due to the rhyming text. I typically use this during our “Mitten” unit to compare/contrast with Jan Brett’s The Mitten. You could also explore verbs.

Litwin, E. (2012). Pete the cat and his four groovy buttons. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

The text is catchy and the illustrations are fun. Pete the Cat does not move one single facial feature but the text and the background illustrations capture a real sense of humor that children respond to.

This book is best used during a group lesson, possibly as an introduction to a subtraction unit, due to the counting down aspect.

I like that the illustrator used the number word, the numeral, and the subtraction sentence. I would like to extend this by creating foldables or anchor charts about numbers 0-5.

Theodor Seuss Giesel Award

ALA Notable Children's Recordings

Henkes, K. Lilly\'s purple plactic purse. New York, NY: Greenwillow, 1996. Print.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
Lilly loves school and her teacher, Mr. Slinger, but she gets very angry after he takes away her purple plastic purse. After she lashes out, she feels guilty and learns how to apologize.
The recording is so fun - full of little background noises - and Lilly is a character that children relate to.
This book and CD would be shared with large group and then, put into a listening center.
After reading together, students will create a story map, complete with illustrations. 

Yolen, Jane, and Mark Teague. How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?. Blue Sky Pr, 2000. Print.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
Various dinosaurs, in mother and father roles, tuck in children and say good night. 
Children can relate to the dinosaurs, even though it is very silly. The sound effects in the recording are fun, too.
This book and CD would be shared with large group and then, put into a listening center.
Brainstorm, as a group, bedtime routines. What is the same? What is different? What would change if you were a dinosaur?

Moss, Lloyd. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. Print.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
This book is a unique counting book - slowly introducing members of an orchestra. 
The illustrations and lyrical recording are so inviting to children. The book is a basic introduction to the orchestra - making it fun and less intimidating.
This book and CD would be shared with large group and then, put into a listening center.
View video clips of musical instruments. Have students write a persuasive essay explaining why their favorite instrument is the "best" instrument in the orchestra.

ALA Notable Children's Recordings

ALA Children's Notable Books

Stevens , J. (2001). And the dish ran away with the spoon. Harcourt Children's Books
Genre: Fiction - Poetry
Cat, Cow, and Dog set out to find Dish and Spoon who do not return one night. In the process, they meet several other classic story characters.

Children who know this story will enjoy the new plot twists.

This story is perfect for toddler or early childhood story time. 

After reading, I will introduce several nursery rhymes, some which may be unfamiliar. We will create a small notebook to take home for family-home connection.

DiCamillo, K., McGhee, A., & Fucile, T. (2011). Bink and gollie. Candlewick.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
Graphic novel about two best friends who embark on three adventures. Noted for use of higher level vocabulary words.

The girls are cute and they have episodes of true fun. Children will want to live vicariously through the girls. 

This book would be a lively read-aloud, chapter by chapter. I would share during daily story time. 

There are several uncommon words in this book. This book could be an introduction to using the dictionary to learn new words in context. Students could even create a glossy for the book.

Thomson, B. (2010). Chalk. Marshall Cavendish Publishing.
Genre: Fiction - Fantasy
Wordless picture book about magical chalk drawings that come to life.

The illustrations are brightly colored and the plot is highly imaginative. Children like dinosaurs and this book might give them a chance to think about dinosaurs in present day.

Because this book has only text, it is best used in a small group where every child can see the illustrations. 

With younger children, I would ask them to help me think of one sentence to narrate each page. With older children, I would challenge them to independently create a wordless picture book.

Willems, M., & Muth, J. J. (2010). City dog, country frog. Hyperion.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
Watercolor illustrations complement a seasonal tale of friendship from spring to winter. A simple metaphor about life and death.

The animals in this book are so vividly drawn that children see them as real people. The body language is a large part of the story and children who cannot read can still understand the plot. 

Because of the topic, I would probably share this book with a small group or during bedtime. 

This book lends itself to a discussion about loss and how to deal with losing a friend.

Lester, H. (1999). Hooway for wodney wat. Scholastic Inc.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
Wodney Wat (Rodney Rat)’s speech troubles help him defeat the school bully.

Almost every child has had some experience dealing with a bully. This book gives a comic spin on this life experience.

This book would be useful in a large group during the first few weeks of school.

After reading this book, I would lead a discussion about classroom family and how we should take care of each other. We would also brainstorm strategies for dealing with bullies.

Mavor, S. (2010). Pocketful of posies: A treasury of nursery rhymes. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
Genre: Non-fiction - Poetry
Collection of classic nursery rhymes, all illustrated with incredibly detailed fabric and cloth scenes. Each scene took nearly a month to complete.
The illustrations are very detailed and I think they are very appealing to children. Also, nursery rhymes are the first introduction to poetry. These rhymes are fun and lyrical.
This book is good for story time or large group in an early childhood classroom. The book should be shared in a classroom library so children can enjoy the illustrations.
After reading this book, I would be sure to point out rhyming words in each poem. Then, using each poem, brainstorm word families. Create anchor charts or word family foldables based on the poems.

ALA Children's Notable Books

USSBY Book List

Gormley, G. (2011). Dog in boots. New York, NY: Holiday House Inc.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

After Dog reads Puss in Boots, he decides he wants his own pair of boots. However, with each pair, Dog finds something missing until the shopkeeper suggests the perfect things. They are good for digging, swimming, scratching, and running because they are his own paws!

Children can easily see the humor in this book. Dogs do not need shoes! They already have paws which are perfect for dog activities! The illustrations are silly and the dog, with his wagging tongue, is endearing.

This book is good for story time with children who are somewhat familiar with the classic story Puss in Boots.

I would like to use this book with physical movement and verbs. How many action words do young children know? Can we act them out? 

Davies, N. Just ducks!. Candlewick press, 2012. Print.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
A young girl lives near a river and shares her observations about the ducks who live near the river. The book also provides facts about ducks. The book also has an index at the back of the book.
Children like to learn more about animals. This book provides information in a fun format.
I would use this book during story time or large group but spend time in a small group to read the facts, too.
As a class, create a bubble map to brainstorm facts about ducks.

Daly, Niki. The herd boy. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2012. Print.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
A young herd boy spends time tending to his family's herd and even faces danger. An older man tells him that he will make a fine leader. The story alludes to the childhood of Nelson Mandela. A glossary of unfamiliar words is in the back of the book.
Children sometimes do not understand that their childhood chores are preparing them for jobs of the future. This story adds some insight to this idea.
I plan to use this in a large group with upper elementary children.
Brainstorm childhood chores and discuss how those chores will help in adulthood. Create "If... then..." foldables. 

USSBY Book List

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

Hughes, L., & Smith, J. (1994). My people. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Genre: Fiction - Poetry

Smith used photos of black people to illustrate Langston Hughes’ poem “My People.” They are young, old, middle-aged, light-skinned, dark-skinned, and every other variation of “black.” It is a celebration of “my people.”

I think that young children will be drawn to the relevance of REAL people in these photographs. For African-American children, this book shows people who look like them and their family members.

This book is best shared with a small group since the illustrations are large but darker toned. It would also be nice to share with young African-American children, either in small groups or individually, to strengthen self-concept and self-realization.

Depending on the age of the student, it would be interesting for children to draw and/or photograph their own family members to extend the book and make it even more relevant. 

Myers, C. (1999). Black cat. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Genre: Fiction - Poetry

Mixed-media illustrations and rhythmic poetry create a memorable jaunt through New York City in a cat’s perspective.

The collage and realistic views of city life appeal to children who have been to New York or would like to go there. The perspective is unique, too.

This book could be used in story time as a poetry read-aloud.

With upper elementary students, I would extend this book by having groups create poems about our school and illustrate them with photos taken inside and outside the school building. 

Rappaport, D. Martin\'s big words. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2001. Print.
Genre: Non-fiction - Biography
Collages, quotes in large text, and powerful art create a powerful biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
This book makes Martin Luther King, Jr's grand speeches easier for young children to understand.
Due to the subject matter, this book is appropriate for elementary-aged children, possibly in a large group setting.
After discussing the Civil Rights movement, I would have student create a timeline with student-drawn illustrations. 

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

Due 

Caldecott Award

Falconer, Ian. Olivia. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. Print.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction
Olivia, a fictional female pig, has daily adventures: dressing, dancing, making sand castles, and making a mess in her room, all before bedtime.

Olivia is a typical little girl, full of imagination and energy. Most children, even boys, will relate to her.

This story is great for story time because so many children have the same experiences.

I would use this book to introduce timelines. What do you do in a typical day? What is first? Last? What would you do on a SPECIAL day?

Stead, P. C., & Stead, E. E. (2012). A sick day for amos mcgee. New York: Roaring Brook.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Everyday Amos, a sweet and gentle zookeeper, makes time to visit his animal friends at the zoo. But one day, he falls ill and he does not go to work. His friends worry about him and they surprise Amos at his home. The care that Amos gives his friends is reciprocated by the animals.

Because children cannot visit the zoo on a daily basis, they have a natural curiosity about what happens to the animals when they are not there. Imagine what zoo animals do before and after visiting hours!

Schertle, A. (2007). Very hairy bear. Harcourt Childrens Books.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

The Very Hairy Bear has hair everywhere BUT his nose. Every season, Bear’s nose helps him find food but in the winter, Bear has a problem. His nose cannot get warm. He needs to solve this problem so he can sleep in the winter.

This book introduces the four seasons in a gentle tone. The soft colors of the illustrations and the differing perspectives capture young children’s attention.

This book is best read to one or two children, in a soft voice, perhaps at bedtime.

Rathmann, P. (1995). Officer buckle and gloria. Putnam Juvenile.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Officer Buckle and his faithful partner Gloria give safety tips to Napville’s children. Unbeknownst to Officer Buckle, Gloria is adding her comedic spin to the presentations. After some reflection, Officer Buckle realizes out that some things are better with a buddy.

The vivid illustrations, funny episodes, and silly dog tricks are sure to engage children of any age.

This book could be shared during story time or with a large group but I would be sure to put in the classroom library so the illustrations could be fully explored.

Naturally, I would use this book at the beginning of the school year. I would have students brainstorm ideas for classroom safety and post their ideas on stars like the end pages. 

Scanlon, L., & Frazee, M. (2009). All the world. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Genre: Fiction - Poetry

This is a calming poem reassuring children that we are the world and the world is us. “All the world is all of us.”

I would share this book with young child during bedtime or story time for young children.

Make a connection with this book: Where else do we belong? What group do we belong to? (Ex: family, neighborhood, school, scouts, etc) Where do we spend time? Where do we visit?

Caldecott Award