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Flat Stanley has been used in classrooms across the country for years. His adventure is engaging and educational!

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When Stanley Lambchop wakes up one morning, his brother, Arthur, is yelling. A bulletin board fell on Stanley during the night, and now he is only half an inch thick! Amazing things begin happening to him. Stanley gets rolled up, mailed, and flown like a kite. He even gets to help catch two dange...

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This Newberry Honor Book is full of poetry about growing up as an African American in the midst of the Jim Crowe laws. Emotionally charged, this book teaches about diversity in a powerful way!

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Editorial Reviews

* "The writer's passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir, explicitly addressed in her early attempts to write books and implicitly conveyed through her sharp images and poignant observations seen through the eyes of a child. Woodson's ability to listen and glean meaning from what she hears lead to an astute understanding of her surroundings, friends, and family." - Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

* "Mesmerizing journey through [Woodson's] early years. . . . Her perspective on the volatile era in which she grew up is thoughtfully expressed in powerfully effective verse. . . . With exquisite metaphorical verse Woodson weaves a patchwork of her life experience . . . that covers readers with a warmth and sensitivity no child should miss. This should be on every library shelf." - School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

* "Woodson cherishes her memories and shares them with a graceful lyricism; her lovingly wrought vignettes of country and city streets will linger long after the page is turned. For every dreaming girl (and boy) with a pencil in hand (or keyboard) and a story to share." - Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

* "[Woodson's] memoir in verse is a marvel, as it turns deeply felt remembrances of Woodson's preadolescent life into art. . . . Her mother cautions her not to write about her family but, happily, many years later, she has and the result is both elegant and eloquent, a haunting book about memory that is itself altogether memorable. - Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

* "A memoir-in-verse so immediate that readers will feel they are experiencing the author's childhood right along with her. . . . Most notably of all, perhaps, we trace her development as a nascent writer, from her early, overarching love of stories through her struggles to learn to read through the thrill of her first blank composition book to her realization that 'words are [her] brilliance.' The poetry here sings: specific, lyrical, and full of imagery. An extraordinary-indeed brilliant-portrait of a writer as a young girl." - The Horn Book, STARRED REVIEW

* "The effect of this confiding and rhythmic memoir is cumulative, as casual references blossom into motifs and characters evolve from quick references to main players. . . . Revealing slices of life, redolent in sight, sound, and emotion. . . . Woodson subtly layers her focus, with history and geography the background, family the middle distance, and her younger self the foreground. . . . Eager readers and budding writers will particularly see themselves in the young protagonist and recognize her reveling in the luxury of the library and unfettered delight in words. . . . A story of the ongoing weaving of a family tapestry, the following of an individual thread through a gorgeous larger fabric, with the tacit implication that we're all traversing such rich landscapes. It will make young readers consider where their own threads are taking them." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED REVIEW

* "Woodson uses clear, evocative language. . . . A beautifully crafted work." - Library Media Connection, STARRED REVIEW

From the Publisher

...I suspect this book will be to a generation of girls what [Nikki] Giovanni's [ Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day] was to mine: a history lesson, a mash note passed in class, a book to read burrowed underneath the bed covers and a life raft during long car rides when you want to float far from wherever you are, and wherever you're going, toward the person you feel destined to be...Woodson's writing can seem so spare, so effortless, that it is easy to overlook the wonder and magic of her words. The triumph of Brown Girl Dreaming is not just in how well Woodson tells us the story of her life, but in how elegantly she writes words that make us want to hold those carefully crafted poems close, apply them to our lives, reach into the mirror she holds up and make the words and the worlds she explores our own. This is a book full of poems that cry out to be learned by heart. These are poems that will, for years to come, be stored in our bloodstream.

The New York Times Book Review - Veronica Chambers

★ 05/26/2014
Written in verse, Woodson's collection of childhood memories provides insight into the Newbery Honor author's perspective of America, "a country caught/ between Black and White," during the turbulent 1960s. Jacqueline was born in Ohio, but spent much of her early years with her grandparents in South Carolina, where she learned about segregation and was made to follow the strict rules of Jehovah's Witnesses, her grandmother's religion. Wrapped in the cocoon of family love and appreciative of the beauty around her, Jacqueline experiences joy and the security of home. Her move to Brooklyn leads to additional freedoms, but also a sense of loss: "Who could love/ this place-where/ no pine trees grow, no porch swings move/ with the weight of/ your grandmother on them." The writer's passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir, explicitly addressed in her early attempts to write books and implicitly conveyed through her sharp images and poignant observations seen through the eyes of a child. Woodson's ability to listen and glean meaning from what she hears lead to an astute understanding of her surroundings, friends, and family. Ages 10-up. Agent: Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

* "Woodson uses clear, evocative language. . . . A beautifully crafted work.

Library Media Connection

* "The effect of this confiding and rhythmic memoir is cumulative, as casual references blossom into motifs and characters evolve from quick references to main players. . . . Revealing slices of life, redolent in sight, sound, and emotion. . . . Woodson subtly layers her focus, with history and geography the background, family the middle distance, and her younger self the foreground. . . . Eager readers and budding writers will particularly see themselves in the young protagonist and recognize her reveling in the luxury of the library and unfettered delight in words. . . . A story of the ongoing weaving of a family tapestry, the following of an individual thread through a gorgeous larger fabric, with the tacit implication that we're all traversing such rich landscapes. It will make young readers consider where their own threads are taking them.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

* "A memoir-in-verse so immediate that readers will feel they are experiencing the author's childhood right along with her. . . . Most notably of all, perhaps, we trace her development as a nascent writer, from her early, overarching love of stories through her struggles to learn to read through the thrill of her first blank composition book to her realization that 'words are [her] brilliance.' The poetry here sings: specific, lyrical, and full of imagery. An extraordinary-indeed brilliant-portrait of a writer as a young girl.

The Horn Book

* "[Woodson's] memoir in verse is a marvel, as it turns deeply felt remembrances of Woodson's preadolescent life into art. . . . Her mother cautions her not to write about her family but, happily, many years later, she has and the result is both elegant and eloquent, a haunting book about memory that is itself altogether memorable.

STARRED REVIEW Booklist

★ 07/01/2014
Gr 4-7-"I am born in Ohio but the stories of South Carolina already run like rivers through my veins" writes Woodson as she begins her mesmerizing journey through her early years. She was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1963, "as the South explodes" into a war for civil rights and was raised in South Carolina and then New York. Her perspective on the volatile era in which she grew up is thoughtfully expressed in powerfully effective verse, (Martin Luther King is ready to march on Washington; Malcom X speaks about revolution; Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat only seven years earlier and three years have passed since Ruby Bridges walks into an all-white school). She experienced firsthand the acute differences in how the "colored" were treated in the North and South. "After the night falls and it is safe for brown people to leave the South without getting stopped and sometimes beaten and always questioned; We board the Greyhound bus bound for Ohio." She related her difficulties with reading as a child and living in the shadow of her brilliant older sister, she never abandoned her dream of becoming a writer. With exquisite metaphorical verse Woodson weaves a patchwork of her life experience, from her supportive, loving maternal grandparents, her mother's insistence on good grammar, to the lifetime friend she meets in New York, that covers readers with a warmth and sensitivity no child should miss. This should be on every library shelf.-D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH

School Library Journal

★ 2014-06-25
A multiaward-winning author recalls her childhood and the joy of becoming a writer.Writing in free verse, Woodson starts with her 1963 birth in Ohio during the civil rights movement, when America is "a country caught / / between Black and White." But while evoking names such as Malcolm, Martin, James, Rosa and Ruby, her story is also one of family: her father's people in Ohio and her mother's people in South Carolina. Moving south to live with her maternal grandmother, she is in a world of sweet peas and collards, getting her hair straightened and avoiding segregated stores with her grandmother. As the writer inside slowly grows, she listens to family stories and fills her days and evenings as a Jehovah's Witness, activities that continue after a move to Brooklyn to reunite with her mother. The gift of a composition notebook, the experience of reading John Steptoe's Stevie and Langston Hughes' poetry, and seeing letters turn into words and words into thoughts all reinforce her conviction that "[W]ords are my brilliance." Woodson cherishes her memories and shares them with a graceful lyricism; her lovingly wrought vignettes of country and city streets will linger long after the page is turned.For every dreaming girl (and boy) with a pencil in hand (or keyboard) and a story to share. (Memoir/poetry. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

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"The writer's passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir, explicitly addressed in her early attempts to write books and implicitly conveyed through her sharp images and poignant observations seen through the eyes of a child. Woodson's ability to listen and glean meaning from what she hears lead to an astute understanding of her surroundings, friends, and family."

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Llama Llama is full of laughs and easily relatable to children. It's lesson on making boring tasks fun makes it a great option for a read aloud!

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Llama Llama Mad at Mama (Unabridged) by Anna Dewdney on iTunes

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Listen to a free sample or buy Llama Llama Mad at Mama (Unabridged) by Anna Dewdney on iTunes on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.

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A hilarious account of what a child's crayon thinks, The Day the Crayons Quit is great for teaching with its relatable content. The bright colors and interesting drawings will keep your child engaged from the first page!

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The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers on iBooks

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Read a free sample or buy The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers. You can read this book with iBooks on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.

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The Napping House is a great choice for teaching repetitive text and patterns in literature. The hilarity and rhyming words make it a great instructional text for emerging readers.

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A cozy bed, a snoring granny, a dreaming child, a dozing dog, a snoozing--WAIT! There's a surprise in store, and little ones will want to discover it over and over again. So pull on your sleeping cap and snuggle in for a timeless cumulative tale that's truly like no other.

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The intriguing tale of Despereaux uses a mix of fun ideas and educational vocabulary that leaves readers desperate for more.

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The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

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The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread [DiCamillo, Kate, Ering, Timothy Basil] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

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This story about a little boy who looks different deals with the emotions behind bullying and the importance of choosing kindness. With well rounded characters and figurative language, this book is engaging as well as instructional.

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Discover and share books you love on Goodreads.

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A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

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A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

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A Series of Unfortunate Events is an easy chapter book that gets readers hooked on a book series. With near constant introduction of vocabulary and characters who get out of bad situations by reading, Lemony Snicket keeps readers attentive and interested in learning.

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orphans! (a series of unfortunate events

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adventure stories (children's / teenage)

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juvenile fiction / action & adventure / general

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juvenile fiction / family / orphans & foster homes

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juvenile fiction/family - orphans & foster homes

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personal & social issues: family issues (children's / teenage)

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juvenile fiction / action & adventure / general

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juvenile fiction / family / orphans & foster homes

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juvenile fiction/family - orphans & foster homes

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adventure stories (children's / teenage)

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personal & social issues: family issues (children's / teenage)

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The Bad Beginning: Or, Orphans! (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1)

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NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIESAre you made fainthearted by death? Does fire unnerve you? Is a villain something that might crop up in future nightmares of yours? Are you thrilled by nefarious plots? Is cold porridge upsetting to you? Vicious threats? Hooks? Uncomfortable clothing?It is likely that...

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Eloise's adventures at the Plaza keep children giggling and entertained. Useful for teaching that personality is bigger than looks, I would recommend Eloise at the Plaza for a read aloud!

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juvenile fiction/lifestyles - city & town life

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For the first time ever, Eloise and her friends are in a board book story adapted from the original classic. How Marvelous!Eloise is a very special-and very precocious-six-year-old girl who lives at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. She may not be pretty yet, but she's definitel...

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This book is a great introduction to using old things in a new way! Teaching children that home isn't a place but a feeling, Tiny House goes on engaging adventures for almost any reader.

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people & places - united states - general

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The adventure begins when an old farmhouse gets salvaged and recycled into Tiny, a snug little house with a big heart -- and WHEELS! With the help of Big Truck, Tiny sets off across America to discover if he is still a real home. Tiny makes friends on the road, like Shiny the Airstream, Waverly t...

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Full of wonder, A Wrinkle in Time is an original book that finds a home in children's hearts.  Great for inciting imagination, A Wrinkle in Time pairs well with fun writing activities for upper elementary and middle school.

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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle on iBooks

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Read a free sample or buy A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. You can read this book with iBooks on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.

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A Classic in Children's literature, The Indian in the Cupboard has won many literature awards. It can be praised for its convincing characters!

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Full of magic and appealing characters, this classic novel takes readers on a remarkable adventure.It's Omri's birthday, but all he gets from his best...

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Guess How Much I Love You is a great story that helps teach emerging readers about emotional development. Very relatable to children, I highly recommend this book as a read aloud in lower elementary.

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Read 2,137 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. "Guess how much I love you," says Little Nutbrown Hare. Little Nutbrown Hare shows his d...

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Full of rhyming and great illustrations, Goodnight Moon is engaging for many preschoolers. It can also be used to teach preschoolers about night.

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children's / teenage fiction: general fiction

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children's / teenage fiction: general fiction

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In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room-to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by...

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This heartwarming tale provides lessons and morals for children of all ages! The focus on giving as an act of love is engaging and great for teaching.

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As The Giving Tree turns fifty, this timeless classic is available for the first time ever in ebook format. This digital edition allows young readers and lifelong fans to continue the legacy and love of a household classic that will now reach an even wider audience.

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Where the Wild Things Are is full of interesting grammar that can be the subject of lessons. It can also be used for teaching about how others might feel if you take a step in their shoes! The pictures and vocabulary are engaging.

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Maurice Sendak's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. A must for every child's bookshelf.

This iconic story has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations. When Max dresses in his wolf suit and causes havoc in the house, his mother sends him to bed. From there, Max sets sail to an island inhabited by the Wild Things, who name him king and share a wild rumpus with him. But then from far away across the world, Max smells good things to eat...

Let the wild rumpus continue as this classic comes to life like never before with new reproductions of Maurice Sendak's artwork. Astonishing state-of-the-art technology faithfully captures the color and detail of the original illustrations. Sendak himself enthusiastically endorsed this impressive new interpretation of his art.

Mary Pols of Time magazine wrote that "what makes Sendak's book so compelling is its grounding effect: Max has a tantrum and in a flight of fancy visits his wild side, but he is pulled back by a belief in parental love to a supper 'still hot." Generations have shared this beautiful picture book, and children of all ages will want to return to it again and again.

New York Public Library's #4 book on the list of "Top Check-Outs of All Time"

One of the National Education Association's "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children"

The top picture book in School Library Journal's survey of its readers

Maurice Sendak was also the creator of such classics as In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There , Higglety Pigglety Pop!, and Nutshell Library .

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Where the Wild Things Are [Maurice Sendak, Maurice Sendak] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Where the Wild Things Are

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Jenny is not happy about her uncle's fiancee getting more attention than her, but by participating in a different culture, she learns to appreciate it! The bright oil illustrations keep readers engaged! This topic can help children process diversity in their lives.

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Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese Wedding by Lenore Look | Scholastic

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A Chinese American girl is upset when her special uncle is getting married, but she soon learns the bride-to-be is just as special.

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This funny chapter book explores the themes of justice and mercy. The unusual content of a frog detective makes the story engaging for all ages!

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Detective Gordon has 298 ratings and 97 reviews. Autumn said: What a charming piece of Scandinavian crime fiction for children! I love it when animals ha...

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Judy Blume: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

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Judy Blume: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

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Any older sibling will be able to relate to Judy Blume:Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing! This upper elementary chapter book can be used to inspire many writing prompts as well as entertain its readers!

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Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume | Scholastic

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Two is a crowd when Peter and his four-year-old brother, Fudge, are in the same room. Grown-ups think Fudge is adorable, but Peter and his pet turtle know the t

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Scooby-Doo Case Files 004: The No Good Knight

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Scooby-Doo Case Files 004: The No Good Knight

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The Scooby-Doo Case Files get readers involved in trying to solve a mystery! Great for teaching attention to textual and illustration detail, students will be able to learn inference and more with this interactive text

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SCOOBY-DOO CASE FILES 04: The No-Good Knight by Jo Hurley | Scholastic

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Readers can help the Mystery, Inc. gang by solving word puzzles and picture puzzles at the end of each chapter to find the suspects and clues to crack the case.