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By Alice Dalgliesh

Dear Mr. Roberts,
I came across this book, The 4th of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh and found it very useful and a great addition to my social studies lesson for Independence Day. This book is about what happened on the 4th of  July, when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The story opens on a stormy afternoon at the State House in Philadelphia, as the vote was taken on the Declaration. The story goes back to see why the nation needed the Declaration and how and when it was written. The narrative is told simply enough to bring it close to children who may be hearing the story for the first time. The author has other books that cover other American holidays. Hope this is of great use to you.
Sincerely,
Luz Alvarez

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By Valorie Fisher
The book has a collection of math word problems which include addition, subtraction, money, skip counting, and estimating. Each story is silly and intriguing.  They do not follow any sort of story line. The author simply uses tails and riddles to tell math problems. The back of the book includes suggested questions to ask with each math problem. The pictures help the students solve each problem. This is a book meant to be read slowly with a lot of interaction if read out loud in class. I would use the problems in the book as “problem of the day” in math class. Valorie Fisher is the creator of several inventive books for children which use silly stories and a wild imagination to engage the students learning. The students are able to learn how to read math problems looking for clues on how to solve them, and refine their basic arithmetic. This is a must have in any teachers classroom.

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By Steven Kellogg

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By Jacqueline Woodson

"This is what kindness does, -- Each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world."

We are always told and shown to be nice and kind to everyone we come in contact with. We read stories about how to be kind and they include happy endings. In this book the author shows us what it may look like if we miss the chance to be kind. That person we turned down every time may just one day disappear without a trace or a good bye. Take each day as a chance to share a smile or kind words to a stranger. You never know where you can find a true friend. Maya was a new student, who seemed to be poor and lacked everything new. The students in her class would not talk to her. She tried to make friends and always smiled at them. The other kids would ignore her. One day her family moved away without saying a thing. After learning about kindness, the narrator of the story was fool of regrets. She wondered if she would ever see her again or if things would have been different if she had just smiled and played with Maya.

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By David Wiesner
Holly Evens launches vegetable seedlings up into the sky, to find out the effect of extraterrestrial conditions effect the vegetables. She figured they would come down after a few weeks. After launching her seedlings, a few days go by and giant vegetables start appearing in the sky all over the world. She wonders if they are her seedlings?!
This story is a post modern story, you have to go at it with an open mind. The end will bring it all together and is unexpected. It is great book to use to get your students engaged in predicting what may happen ahead in the story. The illustrations help tell the story so make sure you share if reading out loud to someone or a class.

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by Beverly Cleary
Mr. Quimby's going to college, Mrs. Quimby's going to work. Now that Ramona is eight, she can go to a new school with a new teacher and ride the bus all by herself. But after school she has to stay with Grandmother Kemp and be nice to that bratty little Willa Jean until Beezus, who's tempermental enough to ruin anyone's daycomes to take her home. Life isn't as easy for Ramona as it used to be. All the Quimby’s have to adjust, and Ramona gets her chance to prove that she's "big enough for her family to depend on."
I loved reading Ramona Quimby books as I was growing up. They are always filled with fun chaos and her clever ways to help her family and make the day better. This one is no different than any of the other books by Beverly Cleary. They are meant to be read and taken lightly. I could never put them down and would also get in trouble for reading in class.

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By Lois Sachar
The story kicks off with the description of Camp Green Lake, which is far from being a camp. Camp Green Lake is a juvenile detention center in Texas. Stanley Yelnats finds himself headed to camp, for a crime he did not commit. Stanley’s arrest was the last straw in his long list of mishaps. We learn that the Yalnats were cursed by a gypsy a few generations back. Stanley meets Zero, which uncovers their connection. I will no ruin the end and let you enjoy the book on your own. The book offers several themes to take with you, such as the power of free will. The author sets the story up to take what you want and not necessarily believing everything you are told. So keep that in mind. Overall, the book Holes is a great read, filled with adventure and choosing your fate wisely.

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By Cynthia DeFelice
Living in Fossil Glen, nothing exciting ever happens. Allie Nicols is a seventh grader who has always used her imagination to make life more interesting. She loves to invent stories about her lunch lady and her teachers. When she is rock climbing in Fossil Glen, Allie has climbed up too far, in order to retrieve a fossil. Not knowing what to do or how to get down, she hears a voice. The voice guides her gently down from the ledge, saving her life. Allie wants to tell others what she heard, but her 'friends' are claiming that Allie is a liar, because of her imagined stories. No one would believe she has heard a ghost, not even her parents.

This book is a real page turner, it also won the Bluebonnet Award in 2000. I would recommend this book for middle school kids who seem to think reading is boring. The book is meant for older children. Also, they can find themselves relating to Allie. Making that connection with main character is surly to keep them turning the pages.

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By Christopher P. Curtis
It was refreshing to read The Watsons Go to Birmingham. The story depicted the everyday life of a family of color surrounding monumental movements. Though the Watson family is fictional, the characters are based on members of the author's family and the events are inspired by events from his childhood, especially in the first part of the book. Events later in the story center on the historically factual 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, a critical catalyst of the American Civil Rights Movement which occurred soon after its successful Birmingham campaign. Fictional historic novels serve to illustrate the everyday lives of people and stories that go untold. Do they take away from the importance of events such as the American Civil Rights Movement?

I find myself going back and forth, they help the reader imagine what life would be like during big historical events. They tell the normal life stories of people, erasing prejudice lines. They bridge that border well. Historical fiction helps bring historical events to life in a realistic way by adding a fictional story based on accurate historical events.

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By Langston Hughes

I, Am too America is a simple read, wonderful book that may be spare with words, but is loaded with power. It speaks of the relentless courage and dignity the Pullman porters were able to show while working day in and out, in a job and a country where they suffered injustice solely based on the color of their skin. Though out the illustrations the stars and strips theme is carried out. It speaks of the nationality of the porters regardless of skin color. This book speaks to everyone and shows that regardless of skin color you are American as well.When reading the book you should pay attention to the illustrations they tell a strong story to back up Hughes well-known poem. It is a powerful tool to teach equality and history in a different perspective.

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By Jerry Pinkney

The Lion and the Mouse is a classic tale of acts of kindness. The story is told without words and mostly animal sounds and distinct beautiful illustrations.  A lion, disturbed from his slumber by a mouse, has a sudden a change of heart after catching his prey and decides to let it go. We then learn that the mouse is not just any mouse-but a mama who then gets to return home to her nest of babies (a change from the original fable). With no words there is no begging or pleading on the mouse’s part-or bargaining on the lions- just great facial expression drawn to clearly show the emotions of each character. The lion’s feelings in particular are shown quite beautifully here as he makes the decision to free the mouse. The Lion later ends up in trouble and his kindness is rewarded when an unlikely rescuer comes to his aid.
I recommend this book. It shows that no act of kindness is every to small. Since the book has no words you might have to do some explaining if reading to a younger child. The book lends itself for interactive reading. It is a classroom must have for sure.

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By Jon Klassen

If you have never read a post modern book you should! Post modern books are not your traditional books with a beginning and an end. Sometimes they do not have any words and pictures tell the story.
In This is Not My Hat, a little fish steals a big fish's hat. He believes he wont ever be caught because the big fish was asleep. He swims away to hide "where the weeds are tall and close together". A crab gives away his hiding spot and the big fish finds him. Afterwords, the book has no words only pictures of the big fish going in and coming back out. THAT IS ALL. It leaves you to wonder. What happened to the little fish? One has to make up their own ending. When you read this book, come at it with an open mind. That applies to all post modern books. Everyone should read a post modern book at some point. It triggers the brain and exercises creativity and independent thinking.
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By Beverly Cleary
Dear Mr. Henshaw is a classroom favorite. The book won the Newberry Award in 1984.
The book start with Leigh Botts writing to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. It then turns out he then has to write a letter to an author as an assignment. Of course he wrote Mr. Henshaw.  Initially Leigh is reluctant to reply to Mr. Henshaw, but Leigh's mother finds out and demands he show Mr. Henshaw the courtesy of a reply, too.  Leigh's personal concerns and conflicts are revealed, such as his struggles with his parents' divorce, his complex relationship with his father, being the new kid in school, and a mysterious lunch thief.  By writing to Mr. Henshaw, Leigh must learn to accept that there are parts of his life he cannot change. For example, his parents will never remarry, people will continue to steal his lunch even though he has made an alarm for his lunch box, and he can never fully rely on his father to be available when he is needed. He must deal with problems that many other children also have to cope with, such as feeling lonely because he is new in town, school assignments, etc.
This book has life long lessons to teach. It shows children that they must face their problems and make the best of their situation. Somethings you cannot change, learning to cope and move through problems is something we must all learn to move smoothly through life.
A must read!

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By David Elliot
David Elliot takes the beauty of birds and poetry and creates a beautiful educational book all about birds. Each poem is unique to the bird it is describing, from a pelican to the majestic bald eagle. For the Macaw he writes a simple "Who spilled the paint?" It is clever and the words describe the bird in a simple and clever way. Other poems go into more detail about each bird. I would recommend this simple book for your science read.

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By Dr. Suess
"A Guide to Life
for Those Just
Starting Out...
and Those Already
on Their Way!"
Dr. Suess books are wonderful! They are ageless. It does not matter who or where you are they will always find a way to get your spirits up. This book is a collection of poems and quotes collected from various of his works. It is great for all ages. It talks about keeping your eye on the prize and embracing the mysteries of life. To be flexible and take chances. Surround yourself with good people and listen to good advice. You can share this book with whomever you wish and guaranteed they will find something inspiring!
Dr. Suess will always be one of my favorites.

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by Colleen AF Venable

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By Patricia Polacco
Tucky Jo and Little Heart is a heart felt story of a soldier, Johnnie Wallon, who served during the World War II. The story tells the story about a soldier who gave as much as he could and never expected his kindness would come back to him when he needed it most.

It was right after the attack on Pearl Harbor when Johnnie saw the news about the United States was headed to war. He wanted nothing more than to fight for his country. His parents lied about his age at enlistment and the army took him right in at the age of 15. He was the youngest in his unit. They all called him “the kid from Kentucky.” On one of his treks surveying the jungle he came across a little girl, Little Heart. She made him forget about all the chaos around him with the war. The soldiers and the villagers became friends. One day the jungle came under attack. They evacuated everyone to safety and merely survived the war. Time goes by and in Johnnie’s old age by chance he meets Little Heart again. She made it to the US and where she became a nurse and as luck would have it Johnnie was one of her patients. She intern helped him with his health issues and saved his life like he did once for her long ago.

In a war torn country beautiful stories blossom. They usually go untold and merely survive within the memories of chaos in our soldiers memories. This story is a rare and beautiful side of war. Even though war is not something to wish for nor necessary, it shows a different side of war. I would recommend this book to anyone. It will tug at your heart.  Patricia Polacco is a well-known house name among children books. She definitely does not disappoint in this one.

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By David Wiesner

http://vocaroo.com/i/s08wG3thSzgI

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By Jacqueline Woodson
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ixiX4w8Kwr

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By David Maculay

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By Karen Katz

Peace is a action spoken in the same language all around the world. It may not sound the same. In Iran it is sohl, in Mexico it is paz in France it is paix (pay), in China it is he ping (hey ping), in Japan heiwa (hey-wah), in Russia mir (meer). It does not matter how you say "peace". It is a universal language and a state of being that every child deserves to grow in. Kids in war torn countries or countries filled with poverty deserve to live in peace like many do. As a society we should strive to give the two things anyone can afford regardless of social status. On International Day of Peace, and every day throughout the year, children all over the world wish for peace. Karen Katz takes readers on a bright and colorful journey around the world to show us about the many ways to say peace. How can you celebrate peace not just one day of the year? Try these simple free things. A smile. A hug. A friendly gesture. Small things add up to big things. Lets teach our youth peace and love.
Always choose Love and Peace.

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By Kevin Henkes

Moon I wonder what you are?
Are you a bowl of milk up in the sky?
Do you get lonely up there?
Did the cow really jump over you?
Moon I wonder what you are?
Are you a big ball of cheese up in the sky?
Moon what does the world look like to you?
Moon I wonder what you are?

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By Clyde R. Bulla
Dear Mrs. Masters,

I found this great book you may like to include in your fifth grade social studies. It is a biography about an Indian named Squanto. The book tells about all his adventures. Squanto is fascinated with the white men on the big ships that stop outside of his village. He is determined to travel with and learn from these men. Finally Squanto gets the chance to ride on the big ship and sail to England. Once there, Squanto is intrigued with all the new sights. The English are amazed with him also. He is put on display, literally, for people to look at. Squanto tires of England and wants to travel back to MA, and return to his family. However there are no ships going and he waits over one year to return to America. Upon his return, he finds his village empty and learns that all the people of his tribe are gone. Squanto is captured, sold into slavery in Spain, rescued by monks. He eventually returns to America and befriends the Pilgrims.  The author, Clyde Robert Bulla has long list of novels which include many points of our American history.
The book was of great help in the unit we did around Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,
Luz Alvarez
History Department

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By Katherine Applegate

"Growing up gorilla is just like any other kind of growing up. You make mistakes. You play. You learn. You do it all over again."

Reading this book sparked many thoughts about how we as humans treat animals. The story makes you think about the quality of life animals deserve. They are not made for our entertainment to be locked up in a cage. The quote above is my favorite from this book. Here Ivan compares his growing up to ours. “Growing up gorilla is just like any other kind of growing up.” It resonated deep. We humans are not far different than animals. We all deserve to grow up safe and enjoy the little things. Sometimes in life we fail but you get up and do it all over again. We learn from our mistakes and our accomplishments. Ivan made the best of his life in the cage.  Failing does not mean you stop trying, no, it means you get up and do it all over again.

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Deborah Chandra and co-author Madeleine Comora

This book is a funny story about our nation’s first president George Washington. It tells stories from battling the British to battling tooth aches. The author uses Washington’s letters, diaries, and other historical records to tell a funny story about how he really lost his teeth and the truth about them. The students are able to learn all about our first president and historic facts in funny poetic story about his teeth. The text is easy to read and flows in poetry form with rhymes at every page. The illustrations throughout the book bring history to life and add to the comic story about George Washington’s teeth. The authority of the authors: Deborah Chandra and co-author Madeleine Comora have both written children’s book and poetry. Comora teaches at UCLA.

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By Patricia MacLachlan

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By James Marshall

``Once there was a little girl named Goldilocks. `What a sweet child,' said someone new in town. `That's what you think,' said a neighbor.'' From the very first sentence this book takes off in typical Marshall style. Goldilocks is a self-satisfied girl used to doing exactly as she pleases. So when signs around the entrance to the shortcut read ``DANGER,'' ``TURN BACK,'' ``VERY RISKY'' and even ``GO THE OTHER WAY,'' the careless little girl tromps head-strait into adventure. Once inside the house of the three bears, Goldilocks notices a lot of coarse brown fur and thinks, ``They must have kitties.'' She thrashes her way through the bears' home. Eventually, they return and scare the girl off, but whether or not she has learned her lesson is left to the imagination. Marshall's wonderfully unique characters are as offbeat and self-propelled as ever; the book boasts many jolly details and the pictures burst with color.

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By Michael Dahl

Dear  Mrs. Solomon Ph D,

I found a book that was of great use during my synonym unit. The title of the book is If you were a Synonym, by Michael Dahl. Dahl has multiple books about the use of language in his Word Fun series. The book shows the reader what a synonym is and uses several words that mean the same thing in each example. The examples are told in sentence form on each page which is then brought to life in pictures. The author uses the weather to illustrate what synonyms are, describing different activities or temperatures. The synonyms are written in a different color and font. The ones that belong together are kept in the same format. The book also shares where synonyms can be found, in a thesaurus and their job in language. Students will know how to use synonyms and where to find them by the end of the book. It made my unit very enjoyable to the children and I hope it does the same for you.

Sincerely,
Luz Alvarez
4th Grade ELA

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The Adventures of Beekle the Unimaginary Friend

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The Adventures of Beekle the Unimaginary Friend

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By Dan Santat

I found that we all share a little bit in common with that one child in class that seems to be too shy to make friends. Or they find themselves playing alone. As mothers, teachers, or care givers we want what is best for all children. I encountered this book, The Adventures of Beekle the Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat. This book is a Caldecott award winner. It tells a sweet story about an imaginary friend who waits and waits for a child to play with. He soon grows tired of waiting and sets out to explore and find his own friend. It is a great book to read to your child or students. I have linked bellow several websites that offer lesson plans and ideas how to integrate this book in your class or simply at home.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did and find some ideas to help you out!
https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=39130
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2014/08/helping-students-make-friends

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By Roald Dahl

James, a young boy who is orphaned when his parents are eaten by a rhinoceros. James is sent to live with his two aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. These relatives are very cruel to him, and he is incredibly lonely, since he has no friends yet longs to play with children his own age. One day, James's luck changes, an Old Man appears in the backyard garden and offers James a packet of magical green objects. If James follows a set of specific instructions, something spectacular will happen. James is very excited, but as he runs back to his house and he trips and the magical green objects burrow into the ground. Then a peach began to grow on a top branch of a previously barren peach tree. The peach becomes larger and larger, until it is bigger than the aunts' entire house. Seeking to capitalize on this strange event, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker set up a fence and begin charging admission to see the peach. They forbid James from interfering, fearing that he will ruin their profit-making scheme. The night after the first day of visitors, James sneaks out of the house to visit the peach. He sees a hole at the bottom of the peach, and he realizes that this hole is the opening to a tunnel. He begins to crawl through, and he eventually enters the hollow peach pit at the center of the fruit. When James enters the pit's inner chamber, he meets an odd creatures, who initially scare him: Miss Spider, Centipede, Earthworm, Old-Green-Grasshopper, and others. The next day James and his new companions begin their journey away from Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. Centipede cuts the peach away from its tree and the peach begins to roll, flattening everything in its way - including Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, who are killed. The peach then rolls off of a cliff several miles away and lands in the Atlantic Ocean.