# data[].attributes.body
Publication Date: 2000
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Reading Level: Grades Pre-K–2
Setting: A farm
Summary: Cows find a typewriter and write letters demanding electric blankets—sparking a hilarious negotiation.
Main Characters: Farmer Brown, cows, duck
Teaching Activities:

1. Create animal protest posters.

2. Act out a "barnyard negotiation" role-play.

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Publication Date: 2015
Illustrator: Robert Weinstock
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Dessert-themed fantasy world
Summary: A rude little cake learns manners after a giant cyclops gives him a taste of his own behavior.
Main Characters: Rude Cake, Cyclops
Teaching Activities:

1. Bake and decorate polite vs. rude cupcakes.

2. Make a manners collage using magazine clippings.

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Publication Date: 2014
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 5–8
Setting: Contemporary school and home
Summary: Josh Bell narrates his life in verse as he and his twin brother face basketball, family tension, and coming of age.
Main Characters: Josh, Jordan, their father
Teaching Activities:

1. Write personal stories in poetic verse.

2. Compare poetic structure in different novels-in-verse.

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There was an old lady who swallowed a fly Simms Taback

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There was an old lady who swallowed a fly Simms Taback

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Publication Date: 1997
Illustrator: Simms Taback
Reading Level: Grades Pre-K–2
Setting: Nonspecific / folktale setting
Summary: A cumulative tale of a lady who swallows increasingly absurd animals.
Main Characters: The Old Lady
Teaching Activities:

1. Sequence the story using puppets.

2. Write new versions (e.g., “There was an old robot who swallowed a bolt”).

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There was an old lady who swallowed a fly Simms Taback

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The Butterfly Alphabet by Kjell B. Sandved

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The Butterfly Alphabet by Kjell B. Sandved

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Publication Date: 1996
Illustrator: Kjell B. Sandved (photographer)
Reading Level: Grades 2–4
Setting: Various natural habitats around the world
Summary: This photographic book features real butterfly wings that resemble every letter of the alphabet. Sandved documents how nature can create art, showing beauty and symmetry in unexpected places.
Main Characters: N/A
Teaching Activities:

1. Alphabet Hunt: Have students explore outside or in magazines for natural objects shaped like letters.

2. Science & Art Connection: Students research one butterfly species and create an artistic representation of a butterfly letter.

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The Butterfly Alphabet by Kjell B. Sandved

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Publication Date: 2009
Illustrator: Scott Magoon
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Kitchen/household
Summary: Spoon feels down because he’s not like Fork or Knife, but learns to appreciate his own uniqueness. A great metaphor for self-worth.
Main Characters: Spoon, Fork, Knife, Chopsticks
Teaching Activities:

1. Character comparison chart.

2. Self-portrait collage titled “I Am Unique Like Spoon.”

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Where does the butterfly go When it Rains By May Garelick pictures by Leonard Weisgard

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Where does the butterfly go When it Rains By May Garelick pictures by Leonard Weisgard

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Publication Date: 1961
Illustrator: Leonard Weisgard
Reading Level: Grades Pre-K–2
Setting: Outdoors/nature during rain
Summary: This lyrical picture book explores where animals go during a rainstorm, inviting wonder and curiosity.
Main Characters: Butterfly, narrator (implied child)
Teaching Activities:

1. Go on a nature walk and journal animal behaviors in weather.

2. Create a classroom mural showing animal shelters during rain.

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Where does the butterfly go When it Rains By May Garelick pictures by Leonard Weisgard

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The top of the World climbing mount Everest By Steve Jenkins

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The top of the World climbing mount Everest By Steve Jenkins

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Publication Date: 1999
Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Reading Level: Grades 3–5
Setting: Mount Everest, Nepal
Summary: This informational picture book explains the geography, history, and challenges of climbing Mount Everest. It uses stunning cut-paper illustrations and engaging text to show how climbers prepare for and tackle the world's tallest mountain.
Main Characters: N/A
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a map and timeline of Everest expeditions.

2. Research mountain climbing gear and simulate a gear checklist.

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The top of the World climbing mount Everest By Steve Jenkins

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Publication Date: 2013
Illustrator: Demi
Reading Level: Grades 4–6
Setting: Poland and France, late 1800s to early 1900s
Summary: A biography of Marie Curie, the pioneering scientist who discovered radium and polonium and won two Nobel Prizes. The book presents her scientific achievements and personal struggles with captivating gold-accented illustrations.
Main Characters: Marie Curie
Teaching Activities:

1. Build a timeline of Marie Curie’s life and discoveries.

2. Experiment with magnets or simple circuits to connect with physics and chemistry.

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Exclamation Mark  by Amy Krouse Rosenthal 

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Exclamation Mark  by Amy Krouse Rosenthal 

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Publication Date: 2013
Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Punctuation-themed environment
Summary: An exclamation mark doesn’t fit in with the periods until he learns his value—perfect for introducing punctuation and self-esteem.
Main Characters: Exclamation Mark, Period, Question Mark
Teaching Activities:

1. Act out punctuation emotions.

2. Create punctuation characters and stories.

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Publication Date: 2023
Illustrator: Travis Jonker
Reading Level: Grades PreK–2
Setting: A neighborhood in winter
Summary: Liam tries to catch a single snowflake on his tongue, but wind, movement, and timing all get in the way in this relatable winter story.
Main Characters: Liam
Teaching Activities:

1. Make paper snowflakes with goals written on them.

2. Graph snowfall or weather in a weekly chart.

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The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson

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The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Publication Date: 2009
Illustrator: Ard Hoyt
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Zoe’s home and classroom
Summary: Zoe’s hair has a mind of its own—it brushes teeth and opens doors—but when she goes to first grade, her new teacher doesn’t approve.
Main Characters: Zoe, Miss Trisk
Teaching Activities:

1. Design your own character with “magic” traits.

2. Compare preschool vs. elementary expectations.

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The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Publication Date: 2012
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 4–6
Setting: Brooklyn, New York
Summary: Georges befriends an eccentric boy who believes a neighbor is a spy, but secrets unravel and truths come to light.
Main Characters: Georges, Safer
Teaching Activities:

1. Create spy notebooks with codes and secrets.

2. Explore themes of honesty and identity in group discussion.

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Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day by Judith Viorst

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Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day by Judith Viorst

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Publication Date: 1972
Illustrator: Ray Cruz
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Alexander's home, school, and city
Summary: Alexander has a day where everything goes wrong—from gum in his hair to lima beans for dinner—and wishes he could move to Australia.
Main Characters: Alexander, his family, his classmates
Teaching Activities:

1. Write “My No Good Day” stories.

2. Class discussion on how to cope with bad days.

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Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day Judith

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Publication Date: 1939
Illustrator: Ludwig Bemelmans
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Paris, France
Summary: Madeline, the smallest girl in a boarding school, shows courage and cheerfulness—even when she needs surgery.
Main Characters: Madeline, Miss Clavel
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a Paris travel brochure based on the story.

2. Practice rhyming by continuing the book’s verse style.

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Publication Date: 2021
Illustrator: C.G. Esperanza
Reading Level: Grades 1–4
Setting: Family home, kitchen and dining area
Summary: A family prepares for a meal around a handcrafted table, celebrating traditions, food, and togetherness.
Main Characters: Grandaddy, narrator (young boy), family
Teaching Activities:

1. Write a recipe and share its family story.

2. Build a classroom cookbook or collage of food memories.

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The legend of rock paper scissors by Drew Daywalt

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The legend of rock paper scissors by Drew Daywalt

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Publication Date: 2017
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Lands of Rock, Paper, and Scissors
Summary: In this humorous origin story, three warriors seek worthy opponents—until they finally meet each other.
Main Characters: Rock, Paper, Scissors
Teaching Activities:

1. Create battle cards for other school supplies.

2. Act out dramatic “battles” with props

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Publication Date: 1991
Illustrator: None
Reading Level: Grades 5–8
Setting: 1840s Massachusetts
Summary: Lyddie, a poor farm girl, becomes a factory worker to pay off family debts, facing harsh conditions and growing independence.
Main Characters: Lyddie, Rachel, Mr. Marsden
Teaching Activities:

1. Research the Industrial Revolution.

2. Compare working conditions then vs. now.

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Publication Date: 2015
Illustrator: None
Reading Level: Grades 4–7
Setting: WWII-era England
Summary: Ada, born with a clubfoot and abused at home, finds healing and freedom when evacuated during WWII.
Main Characters: Ada, Jamie, Susan
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a character growth chart for Ada.

2. Research WWII evacuations and compare to modern displacements.

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Publication Date: 1986
Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky
Reading Level: Grades 2–4
Setting: A medieval kingdom
Summary: This version of the Brothers Grimm tale follows a miller’s daughter who must spin straw into gold, aided by a mysterious man with a secret name.
Main Characters: Rumpelstiltskin, the miller’s daughter, the king
Teaching Activities:

1. Name activity—students create their own coded names.

2. Dramatize the story with simple costumes.

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Publication Date: 2004
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
Reading Level: Grades 3–6
Setting: 1930s Mississippi
Summary: James, a white boy, slowly discovers the injustice and racism embedded in his community and family during the Depression.
Main Characters: James, his father, friends in town
Teaching Activities:

1. Discuss courage and standing up for justice.

2. Create a "Then and Now" poster on racism.

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Publication Date: 2000
Illustrator: Geoff Stevenson
Reading Level: Grades 1–4
Setting: Children’s home and imagined connection spaces
Summary: A mother explains that people are connected by invisible strings of love, no matter the distance or circumstance.
Main Characters: Jeremy, Liza, Mom
Teaching Activities:

1. Create an “invisible string” craft with connections to loved ones.

2. Discuss how we stay connected with family when apart.

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Mary wears what she wants  by Keith Negley

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Mary wears what she wants  by Keith Negley

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Publication Date: 2019
Illustrator: Keith Negley
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Historical town
Summary: Based on Mary Edwards Walker, this book shows a girl challenging gender norms by choosing to wear pants instead of dresses.
Main Characters: Mary
Teaching Activities:

1. Research women who challenged stereotypes.

2. Design “freedom outfits” and explain their symbolism.

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Mary wears what she wants  by Keith Negley

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Publication Date: 2010
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 5–7
Setting: Sudan
Summary: This dual narrative tells the stories of Salva, a Lost Boy of Sudan, and Nya, a girl walking for water. Their experiences illustrate hardship and hope.
Main Characters: Salva, Nya
Teaching Activities:

1. Water conservation discussion and chart.

2. Journal entry from Salva’s or Nya’s perspective.

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star of fear star of hope by Jo Hoestlandt

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star of fear star of hope by Jo Hoestlandt

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Publication Date: 1993
Illustrator: Johanna Kang
Reading Level: Grades 3–6
Setting: Nazi-occupied France
Summary: Helen recounts how she lost her Jewish friend Lydia when the Nazis began rounding up families during WWII.
Main Characters: Helen, Lydia
Teaching Activities:

1. Draw Star of David symbols and discuss their meaning.

2. Reflect on what friendship and bravery look like in hard times.

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Publication Date: 1997
Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky
Reading Level: Grades 2–4
Setting: A remote tower in a magical kingdom
Summary: A beautifully illustrated retelling of the classic fairy tale about a girl with magical hair locked in a tower by a witch. Rapunzel’s escape is helped by a prince who finds her.
Main Characters: Rapunzel, the witch, the prince
Teaching Activities:

1. Compare this version to another Rapunzel story.

2. Create a story map showing key events.

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Publication Date: 1950–1956
Illustrator: Pauline Baynes
Reading Level: Grades 4–8
Setting: Narnia, a magical parallel world
Summary: Siblings stumble into the magical world of Narnia and become key players in epic battles between good and evil.
Main Characters: Lucy, Edmund, Susan, Peter, Aslan
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a Narnia board game.

2. Write an additional chapter for a favorite book in the series.

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Publication Date: 2015
Illustrator: Charles Santoso
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: A boy’s home and bedroom
Summary: Adam dislikes his creepy stuffed Koala, but eventually comes to appreciate the toy’s quiet companionship.
Main Characters: Adam, Koala, Adam’s parents
Teaching Activities:

1. Bring in favorite (or least favorite) stuffed animals and write stories.

2. Talk about how feelings about things can change.

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Publication Date: 2017
Illustrator: Andrea Tsurumi
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Town and public library
Summary: Lola causes a mess at home and panics, running to the library where everyone else is also hiding from their own accidents.
Main Characters: Lola, community members
Teaching Activities:

1. Share stories about accidental mistakes.

2. Draw a “mistake monster” and ways to fix it.

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Publication Date: 2014
Illustrator: Scott Campbell
Reading Level: Grades PreK–1
Setting: A small neighborhood
Summary: A boy becomes a “hug machine,” hugging everything from people to animals to inanimate objects, spreading joy and kindness.
Main Characters: The Hug Machine (boy)
Teaching Activities:

1. Create “Kindness Coupons” to give to classmates.

2. Start a kindness chain reaction bulletin board.

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The Very Inappropriate Word by Jim Tobin

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The Very Inappropriate Word by Jim Tobin

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Publication Date: 2013
Illustrator: Dave Coverly
Reading Level: Grades 2–4
Setting: School and home
Summary: Michael loves words, but when he uses one that’s “inappropriate,” he learns about the power of language and respect.
Main Characters: Michael, his teacher, and family
Teaching Activities:

1. Make a personal “word collection” journal.

2. Discuss the impact of kind vs. unkind words.

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The Very Inappropriate Word by Jim Tobin

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Publication Date: 2018
Illustrator: Ryan T. Higgins
Reading Level: Grades PreK–2
Setting: School classroom
Summary: Penelope Rex is a young T. rex who struggles with not eating her human classmates. Funny and heartwarming.
Main Characters: Penelope, Mr. Rye, classmates
Teaching Activities:

1. Make class rules posters.

2. Roleplay good classroom behavior using puppets.

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Publication Date: 1991
Illustrator: Ronald Himler
Reading Level: Grades 3–5
Setting: Airport
Summary: A homeless boy and his father live in an airport, trying not to be noticed. The boy finds hope watching a trapped bird find its way out.
Main Characters: The boy, his father
Teaching Activities:

1. Journaling about what "home" means.

2. Discuss homelessness and create care packages.

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Publication Date: 2009
Illustrator: Thomas Gonzalez
Reading Level: Grades 3–5
Setting: Kenya and the United States
Summary: This true story follows how a Maasai village in Kenya gifted 14 cows to the U.S. after the 9/11 attacks. It conveys themes of global empathy and healing.
Main Characters: Kimeli Naiyomah
Teaching Activities:

1. Discuss global citizenship and acts of kindness.

2. Create a classroom mural of symbols of peace and unity.

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Publication Date: 2014
Illustrator: Marianne Dubuc
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Forest
Summary: A lion finds an injured bird and takes care of it through winter, showing gentle friendship and seasonal change.
Main Characters: Lion, Bird
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a seasons wheel showing the changes in the story.

2. Write thank-you letters from the bird to the lion.

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Publication Date: 2017
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Modern city/grocery store world
Summary: A "bad seed" learns that he doesn’t have to live up to his label and can choose to change.
Main Characters: The Bad Seed
Teaching Activities:

1. Create "seed stories" about growth and change.

2. Chart behavior choices and how to turn a bad day around.

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Publication Date: 2014
Illustrator: Barry Blitt
Reading Level: Grades PreK–2
Setting: Home
Summary: A child is told an exaggerated tale of all the fun things missed during a nap, filled with silly humor and sibling exaggeration.
Main Characters: Older sibling narrator, napping child
Teaching Activities:

1. Write tall tales about naps or chores.

2. Make nap-time themed story puppets.

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Publication Date: 2013
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Countryside/race path
Summary: A wordless retelling of the classic fable about perseverance, where a slow but steady tortoise beats a fast, boastful hare.
Main Characters: Tortoise, Hare
Teaching Activities:

1. Have students retell the story in their own words.

2. Discuss the lesson of persistence and make a chart of "Things We Have to Practice."

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Publication Date: 1994
Illustrator: Jan Brett
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Countryside and city
Summary: A detailed and cozy retelling of the classic fable about two mice visiting each other's homes and learning that simple life can be safer and more satisfying.
Main Characters: Town Mouse, Country Mouse
Teaching Activities:

1. Venn diagram comparing country and city life.

2. Create dioramas of the two settings.

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Publication Date: 2016
Illustrator: Meg Owenson
Reading Level: Grades 3–5
Setting: Poland during World War II
Summary: This book tells the story of Irena Sendler, who saved Jewish children from the Holocaust by hiding their names in jars. It’s an inspiring true story of bravery.
Main Characters: Irena Sendler
Teaching Activities:

1. Timeline of Irena’s rescue efforts.

2. Write letters of gratitude to modern-day heroes.

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Publication Date: 2007
Illustrator: Michael Austin
Reading Level: Grades 2–4
Setting: Cuban village
Summary: A Cuban folktale about a cockroach seeking a husband and using a clever "coffee test" to reveal her suitors' true selves.
Main Characters: Martina, Abuela, suitors
Teaching Activities:

1. Perform the story as a short play.

2. Write advice letters to Martina with pros/cons of each suitor.

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the three little wolves and the big bad pig

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the three little wolves and the big bad pig

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Publication Date: 1993
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Reading Level: Grades 1–3
Setting: Various houses built by the wolves
Summary: A twist on the classic tale, where gentle wolves build strong homes and the Big Bad Pig tries to destroy them—but learns kindness by the end.
Main Characters: The three little wolves, Big Bad Pig
Teaching Activities:

1. Create new fractured fairy tales.

2. Build model houses from different materials and test their strength.

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Publication Date: 2015
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Nature/Outdoor environments
Summary: This poetic nonfiction book explains the water cycle in a relatable, rhythmic way. Children follow the transformations of water through clouds, rain, fog, and snow.
Main Characters: N/A – focus on natural elements
Teaching Activities:

1. Water cycle diagram craft.

2. Movement activity showing water states (solid/liquid/gas).

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Publication Date: 2006
Illustrator: Bonnie Timmons
Reading Level: Grades 2–5
Setting: Various illustrated scenes
Summary: A humorous look at how punctuation changes meaning, this book uses playful examples to show how commas can create completely different sentences.
Main Characters: N/A – concept-based text
Teaching Activities:

1. Create posters of silly punctuation mistakes.

2. Punctuation scavenger hunt in classroom texts.

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Publication Date: 2003
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Reading Level: Grades K–2
Setting: Ocean, coastlines, icy poles
Summary: A tiny snail hitches a ride on a great big whale and saves him when he’s beached.
Main Characters: Snail, Whale
Teaching Activities:

1. Research sea creatures and map their journey.

2. Act out the book with sound effects and music.

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Publication Date: 1995
Illustrator: David Small
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: 20th-century town
Summary: Elizabeth Brown loves books so much, she eventually turns her house into a public library.
Main Characters: Elizabeth Brown
Teaching Activities:

1. Create your own library cards and favorite book display.

2. Write letters recommending books to Elizabeth Brown.

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Publication Date: 2000
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 3–6
Setting: Naomi, Florida
Summary: Ten-year-old Opal finds a stray dog who helps her make friends and cope with her mother’s absence.
Main Characters: Opal, Winn-Dixie, Gloria Dump
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a character web of everyone Opal meets.

2. Write diary entries from the dog’s point of view.

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Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

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Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

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Publication Date: 1985
Illustrator: None
Reading Level: Grades 2–5
Setting: Midwestern prairie, late 1800s
Summary: A mail-order bride, Sarah, visits a widowed farmer and his children, and they all learn about love, hope, and family.
Main Characters: Sarah, Anna, Caleb, Papa
Teaching Activities:

1. Write personal ads or letters from each character.

2. Create prairie life dioramas.

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Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

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Publication Date: 1981
Illustrator: Alan Tiegreen
Reading Level: Grades 3–5
Setting: Portland, Oregon
Summary: Ramona starts third grade and deals with growing up, her family’s finances, and sibling dynamics.
Main Characters: Ramona, Beezus, Mr. and Mrs. Quimby
Teaching Activities:

1. Compare Ramona’s school experiences with your own.

2. Create a comic strip of a favorite chapter.

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Publication Date: 1998
Illustrator: Douglas Florian
Reading Level: Grades 2–5
Setting: Varied habitats (poetic format)
Summary: A collection of witty and factual poems about different kinds of insects, paired with watercolor illustrations that capture their quirky traits.
Main Characters: Various insects
Teaching Activities:

1. Have students write their own insect poems.

2. Create a class book of illustrated bug poetry.

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Al Capone does my shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

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Al Capone does my shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

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Publication Date: 2004
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 5–8
Setting: Alcatraz Island in 1935
Summary: Moose moves to Alcatraz where his father works, while navigating life with his autistic sister and meeting unusual kids.
Main Characters: Moose, Natalie, Piper
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a historical timeline of 1930s America.

2. Debate: Should kids live on prison grounds?

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Publication Date: 2016
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 7–9
Setting: WWII, Baltic Sea
Summary: This historical fiction novel follows four teens trying to escape war-torn Europe on the doomed Wilhelm Gustloff. It’s a powerful tale of survival and hidden stories of WWII.
Main Characters: Joana, Florian, Emilia, Alfred
Teaching Activities:

1. Compare this story to other WWII events.

2. Create a character web showing connections and motivations.

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John Muir: America's first Environmentalist

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John Muir: America's first Environmentalist

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Publication Date: 2006
Illustrator: Stan Fellows
Reading Level: Grades 4–6
Setting: United States, 1800s
Summary: This biography highlights John Muir’s passion for nature and his role in founding national parks. Rich watercolors bring to life his love for wild places.
Main Characters: John Muir
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a nature journal.

2. Research and present on a U.S. national park.

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Publication Date: 1996
Illustrator: Ronald Himler
Reading Level: Grades 3–5
Setting: United States, late 1800s
Summary: This story follows a girl riding the Orphan Train, hoping to find a new family. It portrays the emotions of abandonment and belonging.
Main Characters: Marianne
Teaching Activities:

1. Write a diary entry from an Orphan Train child’s view.

2. Create a character map with emotional responses

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Publication Date: 2017
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Near the wall
Summary: This is the story of what happens after Humpty Dumpty falls—about fear, recovery, and resilience.
Main Characters: Humpty Dumpty
Teaching Activities:

1. Write your own version of "after the fall" for another nursery rhyme.

2. Build confidence towers with index cards to symbolize overcoming fear.

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Publication Date: 1908
Illustrator: None
Reading Level: Grades 4–7
Setting: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Summary: Orphan Anne Shirley brings imagination and chaos to Green Gables as she grows up and learns to belong.
Main Characters: Anne, Marilla, Matthew, Diana
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a map of Avonlea.

2. Hold a "Tea with Anne" reader’s theater.

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Publication Date: 2019
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Refrigerator and community
Summary: A perfectionist egg tries too hard to be good and ends up cracking under pressure. He learns that it’s okay not to be perfect.
Main Characters: The Good Egg, other eggs
Teaching Activities:

1. Discussion on self-care and balance.

2. Draw and write about what makes you a “good egg.”

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Publication Date: 2020
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Reading Level: Grades K–3
Setting: Inside a home
Summary: A couch-loving potato learns the joys of being active and stepping away from screens after a power outage changes his perspective.
Main Characters: Couch Potato
Teaching Activities:

1. Make a screen time vs. active time graph.

2. Brainstorm fun, no-tech activities.

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Publication Date: 2003
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 4–7
Setting: The underground city of Ember
Summary: In the city of Ember, power is failing, and the inhabitants face a future of darkness. Two children, Lina and Doon, try to unravel the mystery of the city's crumbling infrastructure to find a way out.
Main Characters: Lina, Doon, Arlin, the Mayor
Teaching Activities:

1. Create a blueprint of the city of Ember and its key locations.

2. Write a letter from the perspective of one of the characters to future generations of Ember.

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Publication Date: 2001
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 3–5
Setting: A classroom setting
Summary: Jack, a young boy, starts out hating poetry but slowly learns to express his emotions through writing. His journey is narrated through his poems, reflecting his growth and relationship with his teacher and his dog.
Main Characters: Jack, Miss Stretchberry, Sky (the dog)
Teaching Activities:

1. Have students write their own poems about a significant person or pet in their lives.

2. Discuss how the book portrays the power of writing and create a class poetry wall.

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Publication Date: 2012
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 4–7
Setting: A middle school in the U.S.
Summary: Auggie Pullman, a boy born with facial differences, navigates life at a new school. The book follows his story, and the stories of others around him, as they experience empathy, kindness, and growth.
Main Characters: Auggie Pullman, Via (his sister), Jack Will, Summer
Teaching Activities:

1. Discuss the theme of kindness in the book and create a class kindness tree with contributions from all students.

2. Role-play situations where students can practice empathy and handling conflicts with kindness.

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The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (Book 1) by John R. Erickson

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The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (Book 1) by John R. Erickson

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Publication Date: 1983
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 2–4
Setting: A Texas ranch
Summary: Hank the Cowdog, the self-proclaimed "Head of Ranch Security," narrates his hilarious misadventures as he tries to protect the ranch and its inhabitants.
Main Characters: Hank the Cowdog, Drover, Sally May
Teaching Activities:

1. Have students write a funny story from Hank's point of view.

2. Create a character comparison chart between Hank and other famous fictional dogs (e.g., Clifford, Scooby-Doo).

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The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (Book 1) by John R. Erickson

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Publication Date: 2020
Illustrator: N/A
Reading Level: Grades 7–10
Setting: The Midnight Library (a magical library between life and death)
Summary: Nora Seed is given the chance to explore parallel lives in the Midnight Library, experiencing different versions of herself based on choices she could have made.
Main Characters: Nora Seed, Mrs. Elm
Teaching Activities:

1. Have students explore "what if" scenarios in their own lives through journaling.

2. Create a discussion around the concept of regrets and choices and how they shape our lives.