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The Rainbow Fish

Author: Marcus Pfister

Illustrator: Marcus Pfister

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: 1992

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 1-5 years old

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: Selfishness

Setting: The ocean

Summary: The rainbow fish has iridescent scales and is the most beautiful fish in the ocean. But being the most beautiful also makes him vain and proud. He is also a very lonely fish learning that beauty does not bring him happiness.

Personal Response: This book has an amazing message for students and even adults. I love the colorful illustrations and the story line.

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The Berenstain Bears Go to School

Author: Stan and Jan Berenstain

Illustrator: Stan and Jan Berenstain

Publisher: Random House Books

Date: July 12, 1978

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Colorful Illustrations

Ages: 3-6 years old

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Positive experiences about experiencing school

Setting: Berenstain School

Summary: We get to see and read about the Berenstain bears going to school. Their experiences of school and their feelings.

Personal Response: This is a great book for students going to school or in school.

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Oh, The Places You’ll Go

Author: Dr. Suess

Illustrator: Dr. Suess

Publisher: Random House

Date: January 22nd, 1990

Number of pages: 56 pages

Visual elements: Colorful Illustrations

Ages: 5-17 years old

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: Self-confidence

Setting: The waiting places

Summary: We follow a man’s journey through different places, in a hot air balloon or through the forest. Through his journey, he gets to find himself and his identity.

Personal Response: This book is amazing, knowing everything you have gone through makes you who you are and what makes you. Great book for students.

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Sylvester and The Magic Pebble

Author: William Steig

Illustrator: William Steig

Publisher:

Date: September 24th, 1969

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 3-7 years old

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: Be happy with what you have

Setting: Fictional community of Oatsdale

Summary: Sylvester is a donkey who finds a magic pebble. When Sylvester finds out that the magic pebble can give him what he wishes. Eventually, Sylvester wishes he was a rock and goes missing. The whole town of Oatsdale cannot find him anywhere. A whole year goes by and Sylvester’s father finds a rock and sits on it when he spots a magic pebble with the magic pebble he wishes for his son back and all of a sudden Sylvester and his family are reunited.

Personal Response: I read this book to a class when I was substituting and I fell in love with it. I loved the message and the colorful illustrations.

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Alexander and The Terrible Horrible no Good Very Bad Day

Author: Judith Viorst

Illustrator: Ray Cruz

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Date: September 22nd, 2009

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 3-7 years old

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: Everyone has bad days but it doesn’t make it worse than anywhere else

Setting: Alexander House

Summary: We follow Alexander through his very terrible horrible no good very bad day, where everything that could go wrong goes wrong. From the minute that Alexander wakes up to the minute he goes to sleep something bad happens. Eventually, Alexander learns that some days are just bad and that’s ok.

Personal Response: I remember watching the movie that was based on this book and reading it was even better. Sometimes I get into the mindset that everything bad that could happen to me is but it doesn’t make it ok to treat anybody differently from that. It’s also a great message for children.

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Click clack cows that type

Author: Doreen Cronin

Illustrator: Betsy Lewin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: 2000

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 2-6 years

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: Communication

Setting: A Barn

Summary: Farmer Brown’s Cows find an old typewriter, and it keeps them busy. The cows write letters to Farmer Brown requesting many different things pretending to be someone else.

Personal Response: I remember reading this book as a child but reading it now it is a little different. I love that the book mentions a typewriter, which could be a great lesson for students to teach them about typewriters.

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The Snowy Day

Author: Ezra Jack Keats

Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats

Publisher: Viking Press

Date: 1962

Number of pages: 40 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 4-8 years old

Genre: Picture book, Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: Experiencing snowfall

Setting: In the winter

Summary: We get to see Peter, an African American boy who gets to experience his first snowfall.

Personal Response: This is a great book for anyone experiencing their first snowfall. Getting to see the emotions of Peter and knowing what he was feeling during this moment is cool. A great book for children who haven’t experienced snow.

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The Giving Tree

Author: Shel Silverstein

Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

Publisher: Harper & Row

Date: October 7th, 1964

Number of pages: 64 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 2+ years older

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: Growing old, giving everything even when you have nothing

Setting: The Giving Tree

Summary: We get to see the relationship between an apple tree and a boy. The giving tree gets to watch the boy grow up and through all his different stages. They both have nothing but giving everything to each other.

Personal Response: This book takes an amazing message and turns it into a deeply illustrated story. I love the aspect of giving everything when you have nothing and it being in the form of a tree is truly wonderful.

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Llama Llama Red Pajama

Author: Anna Dewdney

Illustrator: Anna Dewdney

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Date: May 5th, 2015

Number of pages: 34 pages

Visual elements: Beautiful Illustrations

Ages: 1-3 years old

Genre: Bedtime story, Fiction

Theme: Bedtime story, parental love

Setting: Llama House

Summary: This is a rhythmic pattern book that is a perfect bedtime story. Mama Llama puts Baby Llama to bed, but when Baby Llama starts hollering because of a nightmare Mama Llama is right there. We get to see the bedtime struggle through a child's and parent's view.

Personal Response: This is an amazing story for children getting ready for bed. Knowing the struggle for parents putting their kids to sleep and the struggle for kids going to sleep. We get to see both sides and I love it.

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The Hello, Goodbye Window

Author: Norton Juster

Illustrator: Chris Raschka

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Date: 2005

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 2-5 years old

Genre: Picture book, Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: A relationship between grandparents and grandchildren

Setting: Grandparents house

Summary: We get to read about a little girl's story about her relationship with her grandparents. She visits her grandparents’ house and there is a kitchen window where life is expanded and cherished.

Personal Response: This book was beautiful. I had a very close relationship with my grandparents because I lived with them for most of my childhood. I feel very connected to my grandpa, and I can relate very deeply to this story. It is an amazing story for children learning the important relationship of grandparents.

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Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School

Author: Herman Parish

Illustrator: Herman Parish, Lynee Avril Cravath

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Date: June 23rd, 2009

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: Pre-K-3rd grade

Genre: Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: First day of school

Setting: School

Summary: Amelia Bedelia goes to school and at school, she finds herself in a couple of different scenarios. Amelia takes everything a little too literally, for example when she’s asked by the teacher to glue herself to the seat, she does it. We get to follow Amelia through her school day.

Personal Response: This is a great book to read to students on their first day of school. For the younger students who have never been to school and don’t know some of the terms that teachers use this book can help them navigate that. I also found that there are a lot of activities that you can do along with reading this book which I think is a great idea.

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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Author: Laura Numeroff

Illustrator: Felicia Bond

Publisher: Harper and Row

Date: 1985

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Colorful illustrations

Ages: 4-8 years old

Genre: Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: If you give someone something they will always want more

Setting: The boy's house

Summary: The boy sees a mouse and decides to give him a cookie, only to realize that was a mistake. The mouse then asks the boy for some milk to go with his cookie. This goes on for the entirety of the book. The mouse asks for something, and the boy delivers. Eventually, after the mouse has asked for everything, he decides to sit down with the boy and enjoy another cookie.

Personal Response: This is classic children’s literature. I love the concept and message behind the book. The message can be applied to almost everything in life. Instead of wanting what you don’t have you should be grateful for what you’re given.

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There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves

Author: Lucille Colandro

Illustrator: Jared Lee

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Date: 2012

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Colorful Illustrations

Ages: 2-5 years old

Genre: Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: Don’t swallow some leaves

Setting: Fall weather

Summary: This book is a twist on the original There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. But this time it’s autumn-themed. First, the old lady swallows some leaves and in order to get the leaves down she swallows pumpkin pie, a shirt, some hay, etc. This book is a classic and a great story to kid children a good life.

Personal Response: I loved the original book and love this one even more. The original book was hilarious and a great read for students and I love that this has a similar story but with that autumn twist.

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The Sour Grape

Author: Jory John

Illustrator: Pete Oswald

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: November 2022

Number of pages: 40 pages

Visual elements: Beautiful Illustrations

Ages: 5-8 years old

Genre: Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: Holding grudges

Setting: Grape land

Summary: The sour grape is sour because he holds grudges against any and everyone. That is until his friend holds a grudge against him without any explanation. The sour grape realizes that grudges are not worth a friendship and that forgiveness is more important.

Personal Response: This book is another great read for a powerful message but also very creative writing. I love the message behind the book and can be a great read for students in a classroom

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A Bad Case of Stripes

Author: David Shannon

Illustrator: David Shannon

Publisher: Blue Skey Press

Date: 1998

Number of pages:33 pages

Visual elements: Colorful Illustrations

Ages: 5-9 years old

Genre: Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: Being true to yourself

Setting: Camilla’s Home

Summary: Camilla loves lima beans. She is teased by others for eating lima beans so eventually she stops eating them. Because she stopped eating something she loved she got a case of the bad stripes and the only way to get rid of it is to eat what she loves again.

Personal Response: This book is so fun and colorful. I also love the message behind the book itself. It is a great message to students and even adults who need to hear that they should never stop doing something or in this case eating something because they tease you about it.

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Whose Habitat is That (pop-up book)

Author: Lucile Picketty

Illustrator: Lucile Picketty

Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group

Date: August 4th, 2020

Number of pages: 12 pages

Visual elements: Colorful illustrated pop-up book

Ages: 5-8 years old

Genre: Children’s Literature

Theme: Learning about animals’ habitats

Setting: Nature

Summary: A pop-up book that has a jungle canopy and grasslands. We venture through the different habitats of the wild creatures in the forest and savannas. The book gives us clues about them and the reader must guess who they are.

Personal Response: I love this book and it’s even better that it’s a pop-up. I love that it’s a great colorful illustrated book that also teaches students about animals' habitats.

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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Author: Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: 1989

Number of pages: 36 pages

Visual elements: Colorful illustrations

Ages: 1- 4 years old

Genre: Picture book, Children’s Literature, Fiction

Theme: Teaches students the alphabet

Setting: The coconut tree at an alphabet beach

Summary: It’s a fun interactive story about the alphabet climbing a coconut tree. First, the lower -case letters then the tree falls over. Then the upper-case letters help the lower-case letters back into the tree.

Personal Response: this is a great book for students learning their alphabet. I even got to use it for one of my tutoring sessions this semester. It has a fun rhythmic pattern and very colorful illustrations that all bring life into the book.

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The Lorax

Author: Dr. Seuss

Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books

Date: June 23rd, 1971

Number of pages: 72 pages

Visual elements: Colorful Illustrations

Ages: 5 and older

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fantasy Fiction

Theme: Protect Nature, Stand up to protect nature before it’s all gone

Setting: Unnamed Wasteland

Summary: The Once-er discovers a place of magical trees. He decided to cut down the tree and sew a Thneed out of the tree material. The Lorax is a small creature who speaks for the trees, and he comes up to the Once-ler telling him he won't make any money from his creation, and that he should stop cutting down nature. The Once-ler got his family to build a thneed business which ended up running the environment and he used up all the trees. He was all alone and sad. Eventually, the Once-ler throws the last Truffula tree into the boy's hand and urges him to plant more trees.

Personal Response: I remember watching the movie and it was so good, but reading the book was even better. Being able to visualize everything with the amazing illustrations was amazing.

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Clifford The Big Red Dog (Audiobook)

Author: Norman Bridwell

Illustrator: Norman Bridwell

Publisher: Scholastic

Date: 1963

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Audio Book

Ages: 3-7 years old

Genre: Children’s Literature, Science Fiction

Theme: Anyone has the power to make a change

Setting: Birdwell Island

Summary: Emily Elizabeth receives a tiny red puppy. She later finds out isn’t very tiny at all. Emily names him Clifford and Clifford becomes a 10-foot hound. Emily, Clifford, and Emily’s uncle take on New York City and set out for some adventure.

Personal Response: I remember always hearing about this book but never got to read it until now. It has some great rhythmic patterns and is such a great book for children seeking adventure and science fiction.

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Green Eggs and Ham

Author: Dr. Seuss

Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Publisher: Random House

Date: August 12th, 1960

Number of pages: 72 pages

Visual elements: Colorful pictures

Ages: 2-6 years old

Genre: Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: You have to try it to know if you like it

Setting: Around and on the Ocean

Summary: The main character does not have a name, but we soon find out he is a picky eater. He does not want to try the green eggs and ham. His friend Sam-I-am tries to get him to try it to see if he likes it or not. Sam-I-am even tries getting him to try it in different settings but his friend does not want to.

Personal Response: This is such a classic read with a great rhythmic pattern to it. I have enjoyed reading this as a child and even more as an adult. I would love to read this to my students one day. Maybe even with a side of green eggs and ham

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Brown bear brown bear what do you see

Author: Bill Martin, Jr.

Illustrator: Eric Carle

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, Inc.

Date: 1967

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Colorful pictures of animals

Ages: 1-3 years old

Genre: Picture book, Children’s Literature

Theme: Once you learn it you should practice it

Setting: Animals

Summary: The narrator walks the audience through what animals they see and what color of animal they see. It’s a rhythmic pattern book.

Personal Response: This is such a great book for young children. It gets them in the habit of repetition, and they can easily follow along. Great color and illustrations for children as well.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Author: Jeff Kinney

Illustrator: Jeff Kinney

Publisher: Amulet Books

Date: April 1st, 2007

Number of pages: 221 pages

Visual elements: Stick figure illustrations

Ages: Grades 3rd-12th

Genre: Satirical Realistic Fiction Comedy

Theme: The whole series has many themes, but the first book is about new beginnings

Setting: Massachusetts, U.S

Summary: Greg Heffley is the middle child of 3 boys. We follow Greg through his life and adventure. The first book starts with him in middle school, trying to navigate the meaner taller older classmates.

Personal Response: I was obsessed with this series as a child and had read all the books. It was such a classic read that it became too good to put down. Re-reading the first book has taken me back to the times when I was in middle school and had to navigate life with other students who were bullies. This book is such a good read and has to be a must on everyone's reading list.

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Matilda (chapter)

Author: Roald Dahl

Illustrator: Quentin Blake

Publisher: Jonathan Cape

Date: 1988

Number of pages: 256 page

Visual elements: Chapter Book

Ages: 9-11 years old

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Theme: No matter how big or small you are you can still accomplish anything you set your mind to

Setting: Matilda’s home is set in an English village, Miss Honey’s cottage in the country, and school

Summary: Matilda is the youngest in her family, and when she was born her family didn’t pay much attention to her. Her father cheeped people out on used cars, her mother played bingo and her brother was either at school or watching the TV. Matter of fact her entire family only ever watched TV. Matilda was different because she was left alone all the time, she enjoyed spending her alone time reading. She was also different because Maltdia had superpowers, she could move things with her mind. Maltdia was smart and wanted to be in school. She eventually went to Ms. Trunchbull's school where Miss. Honey was her teacher. Miss. Honey and Matilda, both needed each other. They helped each other and soon eventually became family to each other.

Personal Response: Matilda is an amazing book and I highly recommend it to everyone. This book has so many life lessons but also the fantasy aspect of Matilda having superpowers. As you read you learn that Miss. Honey and Matilda, both needed each other in their lives and became each other's person.

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The BFG

Author: Roald Dahl

Illustrator: Quentin Blake

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers

Date: August 16th, 2007

Number of pages: 224 pages

Visual elements: Chapter book

Ages: 7-8 years old

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Theme: We can’t judge others based on their looks

Setting: Sophie’s orphanage in England

Summary: An orphaned little girl Sophie becomes friends with the BFG (Big Friendly Giant). Together they travel to the Queen of England to help get rid of the child-eating giants that are plaguing England. The BFG is a giant known to take and give good dreams to children and Sophie wants a friend together they make a great team.

Personal Response: this is such a good chapter book read for children. It has a fantasy fiction aspect that allows children to enter a different world. I would definitely recommend parents read the book first before letting their child read it because it does mention child-eating giants which might be scary for some kids.

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Holes (Chapter)

Author: Louis Sachar

Illustrator: Vladimir Radunsky

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Date: 1998

Number of pages: 233 pages

Visual elements: Chapter book

Ages:  Grades 3rd-8th

Genre: Young adult fiction

Theme: Adventure, Satire, Mystery

Setting: Camp Green Lake

Summary: Stanley had very bad luck because of a curse that was placed on his great, great-great-grandfather. Stanley was falsely accused of theft and sent to Camp Green Lake which is a juvenile detention camp. At this camp, they are forced to dig holes every day. If the boys at this camp find anything interesting in their holes, they must report it. Stanley became friends with Zero another boy at this camp. They make a deal where Stanley teaches Zero how to read and Zero digs Stanley's holes. Eventually Stanley and Zero run away together when that doesn’t turn out they go back to camp and decide to dig in the same spot he finds a metal tube, and suddenly, they find a treasure chest with Stanley's name written on it. Stanley and Zero become rich with what is in their chest and live happily ever after.

Personal Response: This is another one of the books I had to read in 5th grade and when I first read it I fell in love. I watched the movie and even read it a second time in 7th grade for a different reading record. Re reading this book I feel more deeply connected to it. As I am older, I can understand the emotions these boys were feeling as they ran away or the cursed feeling that Stanley had. It is a great read and I highly recommend it to everyone.

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The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (chapter book)

Author: J. R. R. Tolkien

Illustrator: J. R. R. Tolkien

Publisher: Mariner Books

Date: September 21st, 1937

Number of pages: 320 pages

Visual elements: Chapter book

Ages: Grades 7th-9th

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Theme: Character development of Bilbo

Setting: Middle Earth

Summary: Dwarfs and Wizards embark on their adventure as they try to reclaim the treasure that was once theirs. We get to follow Bilbo the main character along his journey as he becomes the dwarf burglar. They run into many different obstacles one of them being Gollum which is a Stoor Hobbit of the River-folk.

Personal Response: I remember having to read this book in 7th grade and I didn’t care for it much because it was forced reading but reading it again as I am older, I love it. It is so cool to put yourself into a different world with fantasy fiction.

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What Happens When a Loved One Dies?

Author: Dr. Jillian Roberts

Illustrator: Cindy Revell

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Date: April 15, 2016

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Pictures

Ages: Pre-K- 2nd grade

Genre: Nonfiction

Theme: How to deal with grief in losing a loved one

Setting: With loved ones

Summary: The concept of death to a young child can be very hard to

understand. This book walks young children through the process and what

that looks like. This book allows children to understand grief and how

parents can talk them through it.

Personal Response: Death is a hard concept, especially for young children. Dr. Jillian

Roberts is a child psychologist and has experience in dealing with young

ones. She is the perfect person to write this book.

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Everything Sad Is Untrue

Author: Daniel Nayeri

Illustrator: Daniel Nayeri

Publisher: Levine Querido

Date: August 25th, 2020

Number of pages:

Visual elements: Young/Middle grade autobiographical novel

Ages: Middle school

Genre: Non-Fiction

Theme: Pushing forward

Setting: Iran

Summary: his book is an autobiography of a boy named Khosrou, who becomes Daniel because he doesn’t want to make his readers try to sound out Khosrou. We follow Daniel through his life in Iran as he lives two separate lives. We can see his family fight for refuge in the United States because they left Iran when he was just 8 years old

Personal Response: . I loved reading through this book and because it’s a non-fiction we get a deeper more real understanding of who Daniel is as a person. We can see his character development throughout the story as his family leaves Iraq. We also see his family life and how he tells the story of his grandmother being stolen from her inheritance and how her husband was killed. Overall, this book was such an amazing read and I highly recommend it to everyone.

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Ban This Book

Author: Alan Gratz

Illustrator: Alan Gratz

Publisher: Starscape

Date: August 29th, 2017

Number of pages: 256 pages

Visual elements: Chapter book

Ages: 9-12 years old

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Fight for what is right

Setting: School

Summary: Amy stands up against book banning in her school library. She gets suspended and grounded for her proud stance against censorship. She comes together with her friends to take a stand on the banning of books with-in her library. She makes a change within the school and her voice is heard.

Personal Response: This story was very interesting. I loved the aspect of a young girl taking on the stand of censorship. She was mad about something and figured out what she could do to make a point.

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Love you forever

Author: Robert Munsch

Illustrator: Sheila McGraw

Publisher:

Date: October 1, 1986

Number of pages: 31 pages

Visual elements: Illustrations of the child growing up

Ages: 3 -6 years old

Genre: Picture book, Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: No matter how old you get your parent will always love you

Setting: At their house

Summary: The book starts with the mother who just had a baby. Every time she rocks the baby to sleep, she sings him the lullaby “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I am living my baby you’ll be” As the baby turns into a toddler who makes the mistake of dropping his mother’s watch down the toilet the mother still sings the lullaby. The book shows the development of the child all the way until the child is an adult and moved out. But the adult still comes back to his home to rock his mother to sleep, while singing the lullaby.

Personal Response: My mother read this book to be when I was little, and her mother did the same. This book has been passed down from generations, but it means so much more now that I am older. I would love to show this book to my future students. It is the perfect book for mother’s and letting them know that time is valuable, and they should take in every moment they have with their children.

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Egyptian Cinderella

Author: Shirley Climo

Illustrator: Ruth Heller’s

Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition

Date: September 15, 1989

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Illustrations in a children’s book are culturally significant.

Ages: 3-4 years old

Genre: Fairy Tale

Theme: Breaking Racial barriers

Setting: Egypt

Summary: A young girl who was taken from her home and sold as a slave in Egypt. She looked and acted different than everyone else. She had animals that loved to watch her dance. She was gifted rose slippers to dance in until one day a falcon took them. The rose slippers ended up in the hands of the Pharoah’s who was determined to find the woman who fit these slippers. Pharaoh eventually found his wife and they lived happily ever after

Personal Response: This book was very interesting and had some same similarities to the many other Cinderella books I’ve read. This one however was the most similar. It kept the same concept, but it added a twist of cultural into it which I really loved. Being able to see how women are treated in their culture and what it means to have a wife was super interesting to read.

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Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters

Author: John Steptoe

Illustrator: John Steptoe

Publisher: Scholastic(1989)

Date: 1987

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Folktale fairy tale

Ages: 3-9 years old

Genre: Fairy Tale, Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: Importance of kindness and treating others with kindness

Setting: Zimbabwe

Summary: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughter story was based on two daughters marrying someone to make their father proud. It wasn't someone that the girls necessarily fell in love with but someone who could make them and their families happy.

Personal Response: It was very interesting to read this story compared to when I have previously read the original Cinderella story. To see how the culture aspects of family and tradition affect someone’s love life is very interesting.

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The Cat in The Hat

Author: Dr. Seuss

Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Publisher:  Random House, Houghton Mifflin

Date: March 12th, 1957

Number of pages: 61 pages

Visual elements: Picture Book

Ages: Pre-K- 2nd grade

Genre: Children’s Literature

Theme: Who you should trust, and why

Setting: inside Sally and her brother’s house on a rainy day

Summary: Sally and her brother are left alone inside while it is raining. They are bored and complain of nothing to do, until a Cat in a Hat bring chaos into their home. The Cat in the hat likes to play games with the children, but the children aren’t too sure of him. He messes up the house and the children are stressed that their mother will be home soon and see it. Sally and her brother demand the Cat leave and he does leave the messy house in the hands of the children. Just before their mother gets home Cat in the Hat comes back to save the day, in his enormous machine to help clean up the mess.

Personal Response: I remember reading Cat in the Hat when I was younger and then watching the movie along with it. It is a classic read with such a great aspect of rhyming words. Great for students learning their rhyming words but keeping them engaged with a fun interactive story. Reading this book again brought up some fun memories and I really enjoyed it.

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Corduroy

Author: Don Freeman

Illustrator: Don Freeman

Publisher: Viking Press

Date: 1968

Number of pages: 28 pages

Visual elements: Colors, shapes

Ages: 1-4 years old

Genre: Children’s Literature, Picture. book

Theme: Everyone is worthy of appreciation no matter our flaws

Setting: Department Store

Summary: Corduroy is a stuffed bear in a department store who has no home. One day a little girl notices him, but her mother won’t let her have him because of his missing button. Corduroy goes throughout the department store trying to find his missing button. Lisa on the other hand is determined to find Corduroy a home so she collects her piggy bank money and heads to the store. Lisa the little girl brings Corduroy home without his button, but it never mattered to her anyways, and Corduroy has a home with Lisa.

Personal Response: I have always loved this book, and I read it to my kindergarteners at church all the time. They love the aspect of the bear being alive walking through the department store trying to find this lost button. Although the book is such an amazing read with very great illustrations it also has a very impactful message that all children should hear once in their life.

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The Thing about Jellyfish

Author: Ali Benjamin

Illustrator: Terry Fan and Eric Fan

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Date: September 22nd, 2015

Number of pages: 352

Visual elements: Some environmental issues

Ages: 10-12 years old

Genre: Novel, Fiction

Theme: Death & Grief, Friendship

Setting: Massachusetts

Summary: Suzy and Franny were best friends, before Suzy pulled really mean prank on Franny on the last day of school Franny went to the beach for a family summer vacation, where she tragically drowned. The only way Suzy knew how to grieve was to find something to blame. She searched high and low and ultimately decided that a jelly fish stung Franny and that is the reason she died.

Personal Response: I personally relate to this book because I had a close friend pass away. When I first found out he passed away I assumed the worse, tried to find an explanation for any and everything I could. But the thing about grief is the guilt that comes along with it is its own punishment. This book can be a little deeper to understand for small students but is great for students understanding the different stages of grief and what that looks like. This could be used to show students that death happens, and sometimes there is nothing we can do about it.

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How I Became a Ghost

Author: Tim Tingle

Illustrator: Steven Walker

Publisher: Roadrunner Press

Date: September 8th, 2015

Number of pages:141 pages

Visual elements: Chapter book

Ages: 9-12 ages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Theme: Innocence and resilience in the face of tragedy

Setting: Mississippi

Summary: This is a fascinating read. It has different aspects of the magic realm, such as future visions and shapeshifting. The storyline is straightforward but has many characters, so having a journey map near you as you read is very important. Tim, the author, does a fantastic job of showcasing family and community and how important that is to the Choctaw Nation. Through the story, we learn that family is not blood, but family can mean whatever you make of it. We see that throughout Issacs's journey, as he meets people, they shortly become a part of his family.

Personal Response: I loved reading this book; it hit home because family can be whatever you make of it. I have a huge family with 14 siblings who somehow relate to me. I could see how Issacs treats the people around him and how close their Choctaw nation is genuinely inspiring. Having the Journey map is very helpful. I love that I can show anyone my journey map, and they will be able to understand it without having to read the book for themselves, although I will still encourage them to read it. This can be very beneficial for students when they are reading a fantasy or science fiction book because many witch or magic aspects may be hard to follow. Having a journey map keeps them all in one area, and we can see the flow of a story well.

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The Gardener

Author: Sarah Stewart

Illustrator: David Small

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Date: August 30th, 1997

Number of pages: 40 pages

Visual elements: Lyrical text and detailed illustrations

Ages: 4-7 years old

Genre: Historical Fiction

Theme: Time and Talent are far more than any money can do

Setting: The Great Depression

Summary: This is a story through letters Lydia Grace the Gardener sent. At first, she and her family struggled with money during the Great Depression. She goes to the big city to work for her uncle and brings a suitcase of seeds. She helps Uncle Jim at the bakery, and her mission while staying with him is to make him smile. She transformed the bakery by bringing light and color into it. Lydia works on her secret place that she will eventually make Uncle Jim so happy he might smile. Lydia isn’t called Lydia Grace anymore. She is called Lydia Gardener because she has a special touch for various plants.

Personal Response: This was a beautifully written book. I loved that it was told through letters that Lydia wrote to everyone. I love that it showed the family life through the great depression and how many people were losing their business because of it. Lydia was an influential person, and she changed the people around her. This is the perfect message to send: Lydia changed people through her work in gardening.

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Beautiful Blackbird

Author: Ashley Bryan

Illustrator: Ashley Bryan

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: January 1,2003

Number of pages: 40 pages

Visual elements: Culture specific picture book.

Ages: 4-7 years old

Genre: Zambian Folktale

Theme: Being true to oneself

Setting: Zambia

Summary: Starts with a tale of people from Zambia. The birds go through different lives of other birds living in their world of color and imagination. All the other colorful birds wish to be the blackbird but soon find out it’s not about what you look like on the outside but what’s on the inside. Teaches children the aspect of not judging someone’s skin color until you’ve walked in their shoes.

Personal Response: The cover points out that it is a lla speaking people of Zambia. I did not know who IIa people were and had to look it up before reading the story. IIa people are an ethnic group in the Republic of Zambia. They make up 0.8 % of the total population. In this ethnic group, men hunt, fish. While women gather goods and take care of cultivation.  I think it’s very important to understand who the IIa people are and some of their important cultural traditions before reading this book.

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Charlotte’s web (Chapter Book)

Author: E.B. White

Illustrator: Garth Williams

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: October 15,1952

Number of pages: 191

Visual elements: Some drawings

Ages: 7 and up

Genre: Novel, Fiction

Theme: Never give up

Setting: Ferns uncle’s barn.

Summary: Fern’s father is planning to put down the smallest pig. When Fern finds this out, she does everything in power to stop him. Once her father agrees, Fern names the pig Wilbur. But Wilbur gets too big, and Fern must give him away to her uncle. Wilbur finds out that he is going to be Christmas dinner, so he sits in the corner of the barn and sulks. Charlotte the barn spider hears him. Charlotte doesn’t talk to the pig, but spins words in her web, helping and encouraging Wilbur to do the right thing. When Charlotte was at the country fair helping Wilbur, she became weak after laying too many eggs. Wilbur takes charlottes egg sack and raises her offspring.

Personal Response: This book is so detailed. It makes the book came to life in so many ways. I remember reading this book for the first time and crying, but as I read it know it doesn’t make me cry. Probably because I am not a child anymore. But the message behind it is so beautiful. To learn that there are people or spiders out there that will sacrifice their life for someone else’s.

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Magic treehouse Dinosaurs before dark (Chapter Book)

Author: Mary Pope Osborne

Illustrator: Salvatore Murdocca

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Date: July 28, 1992

Number of pages: 80 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 6-8 years old

Genre: Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: Teamwork

Setting: Prehistoric Cretaceous period.

Summary: Jack and Annie come across a treehouse that has the capabilities to time travel. In this book Jack and Annie time travel to the prehistoric ages where dinosaurs roomed the earth. Jack and Annie come across many different dinosaurs. One even was named Henry a Triceratops. Although their time during this period has been fun, Jack and Annie don’t know how to get back to tree house. Annie finds her way back, but Jack is stuck until a Pteranodon rescues him and safely delivers him back to the treehouse. Now Annie and Jack must work together to figure out where this Treehouse came from and who it belongs too?

Personal Response: I have also loved the Magic Tree house series. I believe when I read them I get lost inside of them and can envision myself as Annie. I love adventure and these books allow you to experience all of that through words. I haven’t ever read this one before and I am so glad I did.

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Goodnight Moon

Author: Margaret Wise Brown

Illustrator: Clement Hurd

Publisher: Harper & Brothers

Date: September 3,1947

Number of pages: 32

Visual elements: Drawings

Ages: Baby – 3 years old

Genre: Picture book

Theme: Not worrying about the future or the past but focusing on the present

Setting: A cold snowy night in the Rabbit’s bedroom

Summary: The rabbit goes through his room and says goodnight to different objects as he slowly falls asleep.

Personal Response: This is a childhood favorite book of mine. It deeply connected with me so much that I would sit in my bed and have to say goodnight to all the objects in my room. It allows you to be present in the moment and take in everything that is happening around you. As you read this to students in your classroom you can have them point out specific objects and saying hello or goodbye to, like the rabbit does.

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How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Author: Dr. Suess

Illustrator: Dr. Suess

Publisher: Redbook Random House

Date: October 12, 1957

Number of pages:

Visual elements: Drawings, illustrations

Ages: 4-8 years old

Genre: Children’s Literature

Theme: Hurting people does not benefit you

Setting: Whoville

Summary: The grinch is an evil hurt person who was banished by the Who’s in Whoville. He wants to get revenge. So, he steals Christmas away from the who’s in Whoville. That is until he meets Cindy Lou, who changes the Grinch and loves him despite everything he has done. The Grinch’s heart triples in size, and he joins the Who’s for Christmas dinner.

Personal Response: I have always loved this book and even more the movie. It’s such a great fiction tale that can be shared for any meaning and purpose. I believe that once this book is read to a class it’s important for children to understand why the Grinch felt like he needed to steal their Christmas. This can be a really good book for a good lesson.

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The very hungry caterpillar

Author: Eric Carle

Illustrator: Eric Carle

Publisher: World Publishing Company

Date: June 3, 1969

Number of pages: 22

Visual elements:

Ages: 2-7 years old

Genre: Picture Book

Theme: Growth

Setting: Starts on the leaf

Summary: We watch the transformation of a once caterpillar on a leaf eat a lot of food and then eventually morphs into a butterfly

Personal Response: This is a beautiful book and can be easily read to children. This would be a great book for specific science lessons about butterfly’s or even having children relate personal experiences of growing up.

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You Matter

Author: Christian Robinson

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Publisher: Atheneum Books

Date: June 2, 2020

Number of pages: 40 pages

Visual elements:

Ages: 4-8 years old

Genre: Fiction

Theme: For anyone who isn’t sure if they matter

Setting: Bright and very well illustrated

Summary: It follows the story of a young African American girl who observes all the different bugs under a microscope. She notices that all this individual matter. She recognizes that even how small or how big or where they come from not of that matters because all she knows is that they matter.

Personal Response: This book has such an amazing message, and all students should read this book. They need to understand and have a sense of belonging no matter how big or small they are.

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We believe in you

Author: Beth Ferry

Illustrator: Molly Idle

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Date: October 27, 2020

Number of pages: 32 pages

Visual elements: Picture books filled with animals accomplishing specific goals. Very fun, colorful, and enjoyable.

Ages: 3-6 years old

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Bedtime and Dreams, Self- Esteem and Self- Reliance

Setting: Animal homes

Summary: This beautifully written and illustrated book walks through different animals being able to accomplish these specific goals. It walks through other animals and how they can achieve the goals that they set their minds to.

Personal Response: This is an excellent book for students, encouraging them to be courageous and allowing them to understand the importance of setting goals and accomplishing them

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What a Wonderful Word

Author: Nicola Edwards

Illustrator: Lusia Uribe

Publisher: Kane Miller Books/ EDC Publishing

Date: January 1, 2018

Number of pages: 64 pages

Visual elements: Every word is beautifully illustrated, and with every word comes colorful detail that surrounds those traditions.

Ages: All ages

Genre: Editor's choice, non-fiction

Theme: Art and Creativity

Setting: The world through different languges

Summary: Nicola does a beautiful job of taking a different approach to untranslatable words from around the world and turning them into beautiful pictures. The words that Nicola uses are other lived-in experiences, not just labels. It also has some very beneficial information about countries and cultures.

Personal Response: This book sheds light on a different meaning of culture. We know and understand how much culture means. But Nicola allows us to visualize that through art. It's so amazing how inclusive this book is. How it teaches and informs but also showcases the beauty behind different traditions. This would be a great book to share with students who are learning or want to learn about other cultures and traditions. Overall, this book is well crafted, and the illustrations take it to a different level.

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Author: Cece Bell

Illustrator: Cece Bell, David Lasky

Publisher: Amulet Books

Date: September 2, 2014

Number of pages: 248

Visual elements: The book uses a lot of graphics to demonstrate the message and importance behind the words.

Ages: 3-7

Genre: Children’s literature, Graphic Novel

Theme: Disability and Alienation

Setting: based of her growing up in Virginia in 1970s
Graphic Novel

Summary: It is about a deaf bunny named CeCe. CeCe is embarrassed about her hearing aid at school. To boost her confidence CeCe creates an identify as a superhero named El Deafo. All CeCe wants is to fit in and not be worried of people making fun of her for her disability.

Personal Response: This book was truly amazing. It represented disabilities in a way that uplifted students with disabilities. It does of fantastic job of showcasing these disabilities in way that they can be seen as superpowers. It allows children to see themselves being represented. It also allows other children to learn about disabilities in a very powerful message.

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The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Author: Peter Christen Asbjrnsen, Jorgen Moe

Illustrator: Jon Klassen

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: September 15,1981

Number of pages: 32

Visual elements: The visual elements are represented through drawings.

Ages: 3-7 years old

Genre: Fiction

Theme: Never give up

Setting: Grassy field, with the bridge.

Summary: It is a fiction of 3 Billy goats that have eaten all the lush green grass on their side of the hill. They can cross over the bridge to the other side of lush’s green grass but there is a mean troll that lives on the bridge. First the smallest Billy goat crosses and tells the troll not to eat him because he has an older brother that is a lot bigger and more delicious. This continues the largest Billy goat runs the troll off the bridge; and they all reunited on the other side of the bridge.

Personal Response: I remember reading this book when I was younger, so it brought back a lot of memories. Being able to not fully understand the message behind it is a lot more meaningful.

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Title: You Are the Loveliest

Poet/Illustrator: Hans & Monique Hagen

Award: The Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Publication Date: March 29, 2022

Ages: 3-9 years old

Genre: Poetry

Theme: Poetry, Emotions & Feelings

Summary: This poetry book follows a young child experiencing deep, unexplained feelings. These questions and wonderings are unexplainable to a young child. The illustrations are out of this world and connect vividly throughout the book.

Facts about the author:

They are married and from the Netherlands.

Hans wrote historical poetry novels for children and even received the Golden Griffels Prize for his book Drummers Dance.

Monique Hagen is mainly known for her television appearance on Het Klokhuis.

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Title: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

Author: Jon Scieszka

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Publisher: Penguin Press

Date: 1989

Number of pages: 32

Ages: Pre-K- Elementary

Genre: Picture book, Fiction, Children’s Literature

Theme: Traditional story telling

Setting: Wolfs house, Straw house, Stick house and Brick house

Summary: This is a twist on the original 3 Little Pigs. But instead of the Pigs point of views it’s the wolf. the wolf was just trying to fetch ingredient from his neighbors to eventually make his grandma a birthday cake. As he visited, he made around to the different neighbors, he had a cold so he sneezed and their house fell down. The third house he visited the pig was very rude to him and said mean things about the wolfs granny. The police showed up and was arrested because no one believe the wolfs story.

Personal Response: My whole childhood I assumed that the wolf was bad, and he was this mean character. But what I didn’t understand was that was always told from the perspective of the pigs. We never got to hear the wolfs side of the story and now that we do it makes sense.