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Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse (PB)
Author and Illustrator: Leo Lionni
Copyright: 1969
Award: Caldecott Honor
Summary:
The story is about a mouse named Alexander that meets a wind-up mouse named Willy. Alexander is envious of the love and attention that Willy gets from Annie because he is a toy. Alexander wants to turn into a wind-up mouse so Annie will cuddle and play with him. He finds a lizard that can change him into another animal, if he brings him a purple pebble. While Alexander is searching for a pebble, Willy informs him that he is being thrown away because Annie has new toys. When Alexander brings the purple pebble to the lizard, he decides to use it to help Willy turn into a real mouse so they can stay together.
Uses:
Teaching Setting-Students can practice identifying setting
Compare and Contrast- Students can compare and contrast real mice from a toy mice. They can use venn diagrams to organize their ideas.
Age Group: 3-7 years old
Rating: 5

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Absolute stone-cold classic. Maybe Lionni's best book. The story is complicated enough for a young kid that it gives them a lot to think about, and the message is very good. Top 10 kids book of all time.

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Absolute stone-cold classic. Maybe Lionni's best book. The story is complicated enough for a young kid that it gives them a lot to think about, and the message is very good. Top 10 kids book of all time.

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The Bat Boy and his Violin (PB)
Author: Gavin Curtis
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis
Copyright: 1998
Award: Coretta Scott King Award
Summary:
The story takes place during the segregation era where people of color and whites were not allowed to play sports together. This is apparent when the baseball team is denied service at a hotel, due to being black. The story follows Reginald, a young boy that is very interested in being a violin player. His father is the manager of a baseball team, the Dukes. Reginalds father invites him to be the bat boy for the team. Reginald is not interested and just wants to practice playing his violin. His father also did not appreciate his violin music. Eventually, Reginald begins playing for the team, helping them win a couple of games. Towards the end of the story, the team loses to the Monarchs and the season ends. Reginald's father starts to appreciate his violin interest and finally accepts it and supports him.
Uses:
Students can practice identifying the theme of the story. They will learn about passion and provide details from the text that support the theme. This can also be used to identify the main idea of the story. Students can also write about their passion and make connections to the story.
Students can also reflect and write about discrimination.
Age Group: 4-8 years
Rating: 5

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Separate Is Never Equal
Sylvia Mendez and Her Families Fight for Desegregation (PB)
Author and Illustrator:: Duncan Tonatiuh
Copyright: 2014
Award: Jane Adams Book Award
Summary:
The story begins with Sylvia Mendez attending Westminster school. She notices that she looks different and is made fun of by the white students. They tell her to go back to Mexico. Sylvia tells her mom how unhappy she is at that school but her mom then explains the struggle that took place in order for her to attend that school. Sylvias parents filed a lawsuit in 1945 against the Westminster school for segregation involving race and ethnicity. As a result, in 1947, Governor Warren signed a law that eliminated segregation in schools in  all of California.
Uses:
Teaching key ideas and details
Teaching about the Civil Rights Movement
Cause and Effect- How one families struggles helped change laws
Age Group: 7 - 12
Rating: 5

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Separate Is Never Equal book. Read 1,293 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Almost 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Syl...

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A Chair for my Mother (PB)
Author and Illustrator: Vera B. Williams
Copyright: 1982
Award: Caldecott Honor Book
Summary:
In the story, a family is saving up money in a jar to buy a new chair for the family. Their previous house was in a fire and all of their belongings were destroyed in the fire. The main character works hard to save up all her change so her mother can have a place to rest and her grandmother can have a comfortable place to sit. After the jar is filled and they realize that they have enough money to buy a new chair, the family picks out a couch with a floral design.
Uses:
Students can read and learn about perseverance. They can also make connections to the text by writing about a time they had to work hard to persevere.
The book can be used to discuss character traits and can practice summarizing the main events of the story.
Age Group: 4 - 8 years
Rating: 4

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Author: Margarita Engle (CB)
Copyright: 2010
Award: Pura Belpre Honor Book
Summary:
The book describes the journey of three women, Fredrika, Cecelia, and Elena. Although, the women come from different backgrounds and social economic classes, they become good friends and are in search of freedom. During this era, women were treated as livestock and were limited to what they could do. The story follows their journey and their desire to fight for women's rights.
Uses:
This book can be used to practice identifying the author's purpose. This book is historical fiction which will allow students to learn about the struggles of women in the nineteenth century.
Students can also compare and contrast the events that took place and how more work on women's rights is still needed today.
This book also demonstrates point of view.
Age Group: 10-14 years
Rating: 5

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Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre (PB)

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator: Floyd Cooper

Copyright: 2021
Award: Coretta Scott King Book Award

Summary:
The books tells the story of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It describes the life of African Americans and their prosperous businesses that they created in Greenwood and was known as the nation's wealthiest black community. During that time, whites and African Americans were segregated and not allowed to attend the same schools or facilities. Many of them did not like that blacks could be successful. As a result a white mob, with the help of the police and city officials, burned down and destroyed Greenwood. Many left the town and eventually Greenwood was not the same.
Uses:
Making connections- Students can discuss and share how the events that occurred in the book are similar to other events in history.
Teaching History and segregation
Age Group: 8-12 years old
Rating: 5

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Unspeakable book. Read 316 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. A must-have--Booklist (starred review)Celebrated author Carole Bosto...

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Tomás and the Library Lady (PB)
Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator: Raul Colón
Copyright: Dragonfly books 1997
Award: Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
Summary:
The book tells the story of Tomas, on how he discovered his love for books. When Tomas was younger, his parents were farm workers that spent half the year in Texas and the other half in Iowa. Tomás' grandfather, Papa Grande was a storyteller and Tomás enjoyed listening to his stories. Papa Grande tells Tomás that he should go to the library to learn more stories that he could share with them. When Tomás went to the library, he met the librarian that helped select books for him to read. Tomás would spend all summer at the library reading and teaching the librarian how to speak Spanish. Eventually, Tomás had to leave and move back to Texas for his parents farm work. The book shows how Tomás and the librarian became good friends and how she supported his love for reading.
Uses:
Students can learn and write about the main character of the story.
They can also practice finding the theme of the story, such as kindness.
Age Group: 3 - 7 years old
Rating: 5

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Author: Tomie dePaola
Illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Copyright: 1999
Award:
Summary: A town comes together to reenact the scene of Joseph and Mary, when they were looking for shelter to give birth in. This is called Las posadas and is celebrated in Mexican culture around Christmas time. The story shows how a whole town participated and had a role to play.
Uses: Students can learn about the traditions of other cultures. They can make connections to the text by sharing their own traditions from their culture.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 3

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Inside Out and Back Again (CB)
Author: Thanhha Lai
Copyright: 2011
Award: Newberry Honor Book, National Book Award
Summary:
This book tells the story of a young girl, Hà and her family. They are refugees that need to leave Vietnam in 1975 and resettle in Alabama. Hà's mother works hard and pushes her family to assimilate to the new culture. However, Hà is homesick and misses her home country. The family also faces discrimination and lies about being Christian, in order to be accepted.
Uses:
This book is great for reading narrative poems. Students will learn the point of view of the main character.
Inside out and Back again is written as poetry. There are many literary devices used throughout the book. Students can practice identifying smilies, metaphor, and many others.
Age Group: 8-12 years
Rating: 5

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Author: Samantha Berger
Illustrator: Mike Curato
Copyright: 2018
Award:
Summary: The story tells about a young girl who enjoys creating with several forms of art. She discusses that if she no longer has a pencil she will use paper to create, and if paper is no longer available, she will use sand or wood to create. She states that as long as she lives, she will always find a way to create.
Uses: Students can discuss theme and the importance of being able to keep moving forward despite any obstacles they may face.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 4

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Exquisite The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks (PB)

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Author: Suzanne Slade
Illustrator:  Cozbi A. Cabrera
Copyright: 2020
Award: 2021 Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Honor Book, 2021 Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book
Summary: The picture book tells the biography of famous poet Gwendolyn Brooks, from her childhood to adulthood. It begins with how she started writing poetry and her struggle growing up during the Great Depression and facing discrimination. Gwendolyn kept writing poetry despite not earning enough money and eventually winning her first Pulitzer award for her second book Annie Allie. Gwendolyn was very determined and hard working to have her poems noticed and published.
Uses: Teaching the Biography of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, learning about the Great Depression and how it affected people
Age Group: 6 - 9 years old
Rating: 5

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The Book ItchFreedom, Truth & Harlem's Greatest Bookstore (PB)

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Author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie
Copyright: 2015
Award: Jane Addams Children's Book Award, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, ALA Notable Children's Book
Summary: The story takes place in 1930 when people of color owned limited business, and faced discrimination. Lewis Michaux Jr's father opens a book store in Harlem after working hard for years and being denied a loan from the bank because of his skin color. The bookstore, National Memorial African Bookstore was a place where many people came to read books, buy books and hold rallies. Important people such as Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X came to talk to Lewis Michaux Jr's father and give speeches to educate and encourage people of color. They gave speeches about freedom and encouraged people to keep fighting for freedom.
Uses: Teaching about theme and determination, standing up for what is right, and working hard.
Discussing racism and how difficult it was to start a business during that time.
Age Group: 7 - 10 years old
Rating: 5

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Author: Deborah Underwood
Illustrator: Cindy Derby
Copyright: 2020
Award: Caldecott Honor Book
Summary: A young girl explains how nature is in every part of our lives and how it affects people. She also discusses the beauty of nature and that even though we are outside, we can be outside as well. She explains the outside makes its way inside through our furniture, the light through the windows, and the water that runs through our pipes. The outside also calls people to come outside to enjoy its beauty.
Uses: Students can learn about personification and how nature is personified to have human characteristics. Students can also search for metaphors.
Age Group: 4-7
Rating: 4

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Author & Illustrator: Yuyi Morales
Copyright: 2018
Award: Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award (2019), Pura Belpré Award, Illustrator (2019), Monarch Award Nominee (2021), Kirkus Prize Nominee, Young Readers' Literature (2018), CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards Nominee, Read (2019)
Summary: Yuyi tells the story of when she first left Mexico, her birth country with her baby son, Kelly. They traveled to the U.S to meet with Kelly's father and his family. When they first arrived, Yuyi shares that it was difficult to adjust to a new country with different rules and ways of doing things. She felt that she did not fit it because they could not speak English at first. Eventually, Yuyi and Kelly fall in love the the public library. They would spend hours looking and checking out books. With books, Yuyi learns to read in English. She calls herself a dreamer because the books bring out her story.
Uses: Dreamers can be used to teach about theme and the experience of immigrants
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 4

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The Teachers March! How Selma's Teachers Changed History (PB)

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Author: Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace
Illustrator: Charly Palmer
Copyright: 2020
Award: Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book, Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year, Notable Book for a Global Society
Summary: The story tells how Reverend F.D. Reese led over 100 teachers to march to the courthouse to register to vote. During the 1960's, many people of color could not register to vote because of the impossible to pass voting test they had to take. They were also denied entry to the courthouse by the officers. One day, Reverend F.D. Reese became frustrated with the situation and convinced the teachers at his school to march. Although they were terrified that they would lose their jobs and be arrested, Reverend F.D. Reese wanted the world to see that a group of educated professionals should have the right to vote. Reverend F.D. Reese also wrote to Dr. King and invited him to his church. Eventually, with Reverend F.D. Reese persistence and determination, the march was successful and caught the attention of the town and president, eventually leading to the 1965 Voting Acts Right, banning having to take tests to vote.
Uses: This book is great for teaching about the civil rights movement and the struggle that people of color had to endure in order to earn their right to vote. The book can also be used to teach the theme of persistence, determination, and leadership.
Age Group: 7-10
Rating: 5

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After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) (PB)

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Author: Dan Santan
Illustrator: Dan Santan
Copyright: 2017
Award:
Summary: Humpty Dumpty narrates his life after the great fall. He shares how his life has changed and how the accident affected him. Humpty Dumpty missed the views of being up high and seeing the birds and sky. But he knew it was unsafe to climb back up the latter. To make up for this, he faces his fears and climbs the wall again. When he makes it to the top, Humpty hatches from his egg and turns into a bird. He avoids falling by flying.
Uses: Inferencing, comparing and contrasting to the original rhyme. Students can also discuss the theme of not giving up, determination, and perseverance.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 5

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Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Rilla Alexander
Copyright: 2018
Award:
Summary: In this story, a young girl is visited by many different animals such as a bear, skunk, possum, and many others. She can not make them leaves and lets them all hang out on her porch. Eventually, the weight of all the animals causes the porch to break. All the animals help the young girl clean up and rebuild the porch. Afterwards, she makes them lunch for helping her and they all enjoy the food together.
Uses: This book is great for teaching students how to sequence events in a story. Each event builds up upon another. Students can also practice the concept of cause and effect. They can discuss what caused the porch to break.
Age Group: 3-5
Rating: 5

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Author: Arree Chung
Illustrator: Arree Chung
Copyright: 2018
Award: N/A
Summary: The three primary colors live in separate towns and did not interact or like each other. They each thought one was better than the other. Eventually, the color blue and yellow enjoyed being around each other, were married and had a child named Green. All the colors were against Blue and Yellow getting together but eventually fell in love with Green. Blue and Yellow paved the way for the mixing of colors to be accepted. At the end, because all of the colors started to mix and create many different new colors, they all decided to merge their towns and live peacefully with each other.
Uses: This book can be used for the teaching of art. It explains how to mix colors to make new colors. Students can also use this book to practice finding the theme, such as acceptance, diversity, and inclusiveness.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 5

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Author: Patricia Polacco
Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Copyright: 2019
Award:
Summary: The story takes place in 1912 on the Titanic. It tells the story of a fictional character named Jonathon and on how he met the bravest man in the world, Wallace Hartley. Hartley was a musician on the Titanic that taught Jonathon how to play the piano. He helped Jonathon secure a spot at a music school in New York. Although fictional, Wallace Hartley is a real musician that died when the ship sank. He is known as the bravest man because he kept playing music with his band to try to calm down the scared passengers.
Uses: This book can be used to teach children how to find the plot of the story. Students can name important elements such as the climax, rising action, characters and setting. They can discuss the importance of the plot and how it affected the characters.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 4

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Author: Rajani LaRocca
Copyright: 2021
Award: Newbery Medal Nominee (2022), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee, Middle Grade & Children's (2021), Walter Dean Myers Award
Summary: The books tells the story about Reha, who is Indian American and her experiences growing up in America while being Indian. Reha wants to be like the other American girls, wear dresses, let her hair down, and just have fun. She goes to a private school where she meets her best friend Rachel. Reha explains that on the weekends, Reha explains to her friend that every weekend she will be "Indianing". She uses this term to describe how at home, she follows her Indian traditions while at the same time learning the culture in America. Reha later learns that her mother is sick with cancer and needs a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, the doctors could not find a match for her.
Uses: This books can be used to learn about other cultures and comparing and contrasting them. Students can also make connections to this book and write about their culture and how some things are done differently.
Age Group: 8-12
Rating: 5

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Sharuko El arqueólogo peruano Julio C. Tello / Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello (PB)

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Author: Monica Brown
Illustrator: Elisa Chavarri
Copyright: 2020
Award: Pura Belpré Award Honor
Summary: The book tells the story of the first indigenous Peruvian archeologist and his contributions to the findings of important Peruvian history. Julio C. Tello was known as Sharuko because of his braveness while exploring caves for bones. Sharuko means brave in the indigenous Peruvian language of Quechua. Julio C. Tello studied to become a doctor and eventually attended Harvard to become an archaeologist. His findings in the early 1900s, proved that Peruvian culture had begun on its own soil and not influenced by other cultures.
Uses: Students can learn about the indigenous population in Peru and how the colonizers took over. Students can also summarize the important events in Sharuko's life.
Age Group: 8-12
Rating: 5

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Author:  Hena Khan
Illustrator: Saffa Khan
Copyright: 2020
Award:
Summary: The narrator of the story is a mother who always tells her children "inshallah" when she wishes something for their future. Inshallah translates to god willing from Arabic. The illustrations show with great detail how the mother cares for her children and how she always wants the best for them. She wishes them well with everything they do.
Uses: Learning and teaching about other cultures
Age Group: 3-5
Rating: 3

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The Piñata That the Farm Maiden Hung (PB)

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Author: Samantha R. Vamos
Illustrator: Sebastia Serra
Copyright: 2019
Award:
Summary: This bilingual book shows how a piñata is made from the beginning to end and how it is filled with candy to celebrate a young girl's birthday. A young boy, his family, and the animals around him come together to create a piñata. They all help contribute in some way to have it completed just in time for the celebration. The piñata is filled with candy and hung on a tree so it could be it with a stick. While swinging at the piñata the family sings a traditional song that is sang every time a piñata is used.
Uses: Teaching about how other cultures celebrate birthdays, can be used in a bilingual classroom to teach Spanish or English
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 4

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Author: Andrea Wang
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Copyright: 2021
Award: Caldecott Medal, Newbery Honor Book, Notable Children's Books

Summary: A short but interesting picture book that tells the story of a young girl and her Chinese family. One day they were driving and quickly stop because their mother spots watercress by the side of the road. The young girl is embarrassed and hopes that no one she knows sees her picking the watercress. The girl shares that she wishes she could like the other children and not follow her mother's Chinese traditions. After they pick the watercress, the mother creates a meal with it for her family to eat. At first, the girl is disgusted by the idea of eating it but soon learns why her mother enjoys watercress. It reminds her of the famine in China, when her family did not have enough to it. The girl eventually comes around to eating the watercress after hearing her mother's struggles.
Uses: The book can be used to discuss theme, such as not taking things for granted and being grateful. Students can also infer on why the mother does not mind picking watercress from the road and what the watercress represents to her.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 5

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Author: As told by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk
Illustrator: Baird Hoffmire
Copyright: 2017
Award:
Summary: Anansi goes to his grandmother's house and helps plant beans. It was a very hot day and Anansi became tired quick. His grandmother says she will need to go to the market to buy more spices and tells Anansi not to go near the beans. Anansi decides to take a taste and puts some in his hat. After a group of birds get into the house, Anansi puts his hat on and ends up burning his hair off. He goes in the garden to hide because he was so embarrassed.
Uses: Students will listen to traditional African folktales and learn about other cultures.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 3

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The Princess and the Pea Janet Stevens (PB)

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Author: Janet Stevens
Illustrator: Janet Stevens
Copyright: 1996
Award:
Summary: In this version of The Princess and the Pea, the characters are animals. The princess is a tiger that was searching for shelter during a storm. The King and his family are lions. They test the princess to see if she is a real princess. They eventually get married. The queen places the pea for display at a museum.
Uses: Students can compare and contrast this version of The Princes and the Pea with another version, written by another author. Young readers can also discuss and learn about the difference between fiction and nonfiction.
Age Group: 5-6
Rating: 4

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Author: Tomie dePaola
Illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Copyright: 1997
Award:
Summary: In this story, a Duke in Italy falls ill at the start of winter. Before winter, his daughter and him enjoyed listening to the birds chirp and play music outside the window. But when winter came, the birds would leave and fly to a warmer climate. The daughter begs the bird not leave because the birds singing help the Duke feel better. One day their favorite bird goes into the chimney and comes back as a black bird. It is known that black birds come show up on the last three days of winter.
Uses: Students can write about the main idea of the story and provide supporting details.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 4

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Fin M'Coul, the Giant of Knockmany hill (PB)

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Author: Tomie dePaola
Illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Copyright: 1981
Award:
Summary: In this Irish folktale, a community of giants live by Knockmany hill. Cucullin is said to be the strongest giant. Every giant has recieved a good beating from him except for Fin. Fin has spent a long time hiding from Cucullin to avoid the beating. One day, Cucillin is in town and searches for Fin. Fin is terrified and comes up with a plan with his wife to help hide him.
Uses: Students can compare and contrast the different books that Tomie DePaola has written.
Age Group: 5-8
Rating: 4

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Author: Amanda Gorman
Illustrator: Loren Long
Copyright: 2021
Award:
Summary: The narrator of the story is a young girl who sings about bringing and being the change that the world needs. This includes practicing tolerance, celebrating differences, and helping those in need. The illustrations show how she goes out into her community and helps others. She wants to see change and begins by becoming the change.
Uses: Students can practice identifying rhyming words with the poem. The book can also be used to discuss the theme of tolerance, acceptance, and the importance of helping others. Students can also make connections by reflecting on the themes and if they have helped others.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 5

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The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade (PB)

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Author: Justin Roberts
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Copyright: 2014
Award:
Summary: Sally McCabe is the smallest girl in her class. Although she is small and may go unnoticed, Sally notices everything that goes on around her. She sees how some children treat others poorly. Finally, one day Sally is fed up about the bullying that is occurring at her school. During lunch time she speaks up and tells everyone that she has seen everything and is tired of it. The other students laugh and do not pay attention to her until another student puts his hand up in support. Afterwards, all the students join in.
Uses: This is a great book to teach students about theme and standing up for what you believe is right. Students can also right about the story elements and identify the plot.
Age Group: 3-5
Rating: 5

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Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrator: James E. Ransome
Copyright: 2020
Award: Notable Children's Books
Summary: A young girl and her family embark in a journey from the south to the north where whites and blacks are not segregated. Many families made the journey during the Great Migration. While traveling, the young girl shares her experience on the train and how while still in the south, the train was segregated, but once reaching the north, the train conductor allows everyone to sit where ever they would like. Eventually, the family arrives to New York.
Uses: Students can learn about rhyme and mood from the poem. They will also learn about the great migration and the not so well known overground railroad.
Age Group: 4-8
Rating: 4

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Author: E. B. Goodale
Illustrator: E. B. Goodale
Copyright: 2020
Award: N/A
Summary: A young girl thinks about running away because her mom is too busy giving flute lessons and her sister Hannah, does not want to spend time with her. She finds a spot under a lilac bush and builds a small shelter where she plans to live with her cat, Mango. She believes that her cat may start to miss the sister and mother. The young girl imagines her mother giving flute lessons in new home she build and all of her family living in there so they would not be lonely or miss each other.
Uses: Students can use this book to identify the main idea of the story and identify the theme.
Age Group: 4-7
Rating: 3

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Author: Misty Copeland
Illustrator: Christopher Myers
Copyright: 2014
Award: Coretta Scott King Book Award, Notable Children's Books

Summary: Misty Copeland is a ballerina that wrote this book to help young aspiring ballerinas. She explains that in the beginning, it may be difficult but with time and practice it can get better. Misty explains that in order to be successful, one must believe and be patient with themselves.
Uses: Student can use this book to identify character traits to describe Misty Copeland.
Age Group: 5-8
Rating: 4

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I Will Come Back for You A Family in Hiding During World War II (PB)

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Author: Marisabina Russo
Illustrator: Marisabina Russo
Copyright: 2011
Award:
Summary: The story takes place in Italy, throughout World War II. Nonna narrates the story to her granddaughter, when she asks about her charm bracelet. Nonna tells the story about how her family was separated when Italy joined the war with Germany. Nonna's father had to go into hiding and eventually so did her mother. Her and her brother stayed with another family until the end of the war. Eventually, the family was reunited, except for her father, who was killed.
Uses: Students will learn about WWII and how it affected many people. They can summarize the events and research the war.
Age Group: 8-9
Rating: 5

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Author: Ezra Jack Keats
Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats
Copyright: 2003
Award: N/A
Summary: Jennie receives a hat in the mail that her aunt had bought her. She was disappointed that the hat was simple and not colorful like the others she saw people wearing. After trying on a lamp shade, pot, and a basket, Jennie could not find the perfect hat. She then goes outside to feed the birds like she does everyday. One day, when Jennie was walking with her hat on, the birds around her started to decorate her hat with flowers, pictures, valentines, and even a birds nest with real chicks in it. The birds helped create the hat that Jennie had been wanting.
Uses: Students can learn about the main idea and identifying the problem and solution of the story.
Age Group: 3-7
Rating: 4