# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jon Agee
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 2015
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: The family hears odd noises throughout the night and they constantly reassuring themselves that "It's only Stanley" making the noises. It turns out, Stanley was making the house into a rocket ship to take them to another planet.
Uses: Teach/review rhyming words - students identify the rhyming words throughout the story
Age Group: Grades Kindergarten-1
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.headline
The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) (PB)

# data[].attributes.subject
The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) (PB)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Barbara Kerley
Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham
Copyright 2010
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: This book was written from the perspective of his daughter. She wanted people to know her Papa entirely, so she wrote her own biography about him. This book acknowledges different details Susy placed in the biography. Her parents found out and her Papa subtly said and did things to make things clearer and easier for her. Susy documented her observations of her father.
Uses: Small group study of a historical figure - applicable to history or literature to appropriately make clear of what might go into a biography
Age Group: Grades 2-4
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
Copyright 1998
Award(s): Caldecott Medal Award
Synopsis: This book acknowledges Wilson Bentley's fascination for snowflakes beginning early in his childhood. It also describes how he grew a passion for drawing and photographing snowflakes.
Uses: Supplement a science lesson once the season changes to winter. Finish this reading with a snowflake craft or activity.
Age Group: Grades 2-4
Rating: 3

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Natalie Babbitt
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 1975
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: Winnie and Jesse met after she ran away from her home. Upon meeting, she learns their secret of being immortal by drinking from a spring in the woods her family owns. Afraid she will tell their secret, the Tuck family keeps Winnie. A man in a yellow suit observes all this and makes a deal with Winnie's family to return Winnie in exchange for ownership of the woods, then sell the spring water and make a fortune. He's killed by the Mae Tuck and she is thrown in jail and faces execution. She is saved by her family and they run away. When they return, they learn that Winnie has died.
Uses: Whole group study - book genre, plot, character analysis
Age Group: Grades 5 - 6
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Pam Munoz Ryan
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 2000
Award(s): The Pura Belpre Award
Synopsis: The main character, Esperanza, was the daughter of a successful ranch owner, who was killed by bandits. After this, she and her mother fleed to California to work and provide for themselves to escape from Esperanza's uncle, who threatened to marry her mother. The struggle rises when her mother becomes extremely ill and Esperanza faces more responsibility by herself. Her mother recovers and they are grateful for each other.
Uses: To enhance a history unit on the Great Depression - students will learn about the depression from a Mexican-American point of view.
Age Group: Grades 4 - 5
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Mary Shelley
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 1818
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: When Robert Walton and his crew are traveling by sea, they encounter Victor Frankenstein floating along near death. The story begins as Victor is nursed back to life and tells his tragic account. Victor has a fascination and a gift for science, and he uses this to bring life to a lifeless body. Frightened by his creation, Victor runs away, leaving his creation to wander and cause torment. After long, the two run into each other and the "monster" tells a story of how he taught himself literature and learned about his creation through letters that Victor lost. He shares how he has been downcast by everyone around and asks Victor for a mate. Victor refuses. On Victor's wedding night, the monster appears and strangles his new wife. Victor chases the monster to seek revenge, gets washed up and is found by Walton's ship.
Uses: Challenge students to find a moral lesson within the story - How you treat people could strongly influence how they treat others (the monster caused hurt because people hurt him).
Age Group: High school - grade 10 or 11
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: n/a
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: When King Hrothgar throws one of his big parties, a monster named Grendel is stirred in his nearby swamp. Angered, Grendel sets off to seek revenge by menacing Hrothgar's people for many years. Beowulf, a young prince of the Geats, comes to Hrothgar's aid and defeats Grendel without a weapon. As they celebrate Beowulf's success, Grendel's mother then sets off to redress her son's death. Beowulf kills her, too. Beowulf comes to rule his native land for 50 years until he must face another evil creature. In his old age, though Beowulf conquers yet another beast, he is wounded and dies.
Uses: Whole group reading - I would teach the Old English language and the genre of the epic poem.
Age Group: High school - grade 11 or 12
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Peter Sis
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 1996
Award(s): Caldecott Medal Award
Synopsis: This book explores Galileo Galilei and how his passion for the heavens came to be. It highlights his knowledge, time and effort he put forth. The book also recognizes the struggles and persecution he faced from the church. He pursued the stars nevertheless.
Uses: Whole group reading as a supplement to a science unit on the solar system. Finish with a craft or activity on the solar system.
Age Group: Grades 2-4
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Christopher Myers
Illustrator: Christopher Myers
Copyright 1999
Award(s): Coretta Scott King Award
Synopsis: This poem is about a stray black cat who roams the streets of New York searching for a home. It is a story of identity and belonging.
Uses: Whole group, circle time - lesson about identity and self-worth
Age Group: Grades 3 - 4
Rating: 3

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Gary Paulsen
Illustrator: Drew Willis
Copyright 1987, 2017
Award(s): John Newberry Medal
Synopsis: Brian is on his way to visit his father after his parents divorced. While on the plane, the pilot experiences a heart attack and dies right next to him. Brian must attempt to drive the plane, but crashes into the woods. Brian is stranded and faces many obstacles when trying to eat and find shelter. He is constantly beat by nature, so bad that he attempts suicide. After surviving his attempted suicide, the boy finally finds success by catching a fish and eating it. However, he is knocked back down (literally) when he is attacked by a moose, then a tornado struck the woods where Brian resided. Brian has the idea to search for and retrieve a survival kit from inside the plane. He finds it, finds help inside of it, then he is finally rescued.
Uses: whole group reading - teach a unit on literary plots
Age Group: Middle School - grade 7 or 8
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.headline
The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm (CB)

# data[].attributes.subject
The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm (CB)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, edited by Noel Daniel, newly translated by Matthew R. Price
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 2011
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: This book is comprised of sixteen fairy tales originally written by the Grimm brothers. They are revised and translated to make more easily understandable by young readers.
Uses: To teach traditional literature or fairy tale genre, to teach how students' favorite fairy tales authentically were told. To compare and contrast the original stories with the contemporary versions we know today.
Age Group: Grades 3-5
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Cindy Gainer
Illustrator: Miki Sakamoto
Copyright 2011
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: I'm Like You, You're Like Me is filled with examples of how alike and how different one is from their neighbor - Things like holiday celebrations, outward appearances, and interests that make someone the same or different from another. The book constantly reminds the reader of the importance to learn and accept these similarities and differences.
Uses: Whole group - Converse about accepting one another despite differences.
Age Group: Preschool - Kindergarten
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Susie Caldwell Rinehart
Illustrator: Anisa Claire Hovemann
Copyright 2004
Award(s): International Reading Association Children's Book Award
Synopsis: Eliza finds a dragonfly on her toothbrush and runs to tell Aunt Doris. They take a trip to a nearby pond and learn many things about dragonflies. Eliza makes this a daily activity with her favorite dragonfly she named Horace, learning that they begin their life underwater, eventually hatch into their air-breathing selves, and even eat mosquitoes.
Uses: Small group - Science lesson
Age Group: Grades 2 - 3
Rating: 3

# data[].attributes.headline
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear (PB)

# data[].attributes.subject
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear (PB)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Lindsay Mattick
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Copyright 2015
Award(s): International Reading Association Children's Book Award
Synopsis: Lindsay Mattick wrote this book about her own family story, which became the eventual story of the popular children's character, Winnie the Pooh. During WWI, a Canadian veterinarian named Captain Harry Colebourn bought a bear cub and named it Winnie after his hometown. Colebourn took the bear with him to his military duty. When Harry was called to the frontlines, he made the decision to take Winnie to a zoo, where she inspired a young boy, Christopher Robin, to name his stuffed bear at home Winnie. His father was A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh.
Uses: Whole group, circle time history lesson
Age Group: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd grades
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.headline
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (CB)

# data[].attributes.subject
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (CB)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Frederick Douglass
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 1845
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: Frederick Douglass provides a clear perspective into the life of a slave on a plantation. He shares details of being traded and transferred around like an inanimate object. He also shared his experience learning how to read and write, learning about the malicious reality of slavery, and developing a hunger for escape. Douglass begins educating his neighbors. Soon after, he plans an escape to freedom despite its risks. He grows a passion for spreading awareness and eventually became the active abolitionist we all know him as today.
Uses: Whole group - Study during the month of February, Black History Month
Age Group: High school - grade 10
Rating: 2

# data[].attributes.headline
The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story (PB) 

# data[].attributes.subject
The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story (PB) 

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Joseph Bruchac
Illustrator: Anna Vojtech
Copyright 1993
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: The first man and the first woman, married, pick a fight with each other. When the woman leaves, the man realizes what has happened and begins to chase after her. With the help of the personified sun in the sky, strawberries spring from the ground. The woman stops to pick them and is reminded of her sweet relationship with her husband upon her first taste.
Uses: Small group popcorn reading - possibly introduced in the beginning of springtime to teach the new season of new fruits
Age Group: Grades 2 -3
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: John Schoenherr
Copyright 1987
Award(s): Randolph Caldecott Medal
Synopsis: A girl and her father went "owling" on a snowy night. The reader learns that to find owls, one must be extremely quiet. Once they find an owl, they walk home with satisfaction.
Uses: Small group science lesson
Age Group: Grades 1 -2
Rating: 3

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Diane Goode
Copyright 1982
Award(s): Randolph Caldecott Medal
Synopsis: This story recalls a childhood home in the mountains. It includes memories such as sitting on the porch swing in the evenings, church and baptisms on Sundays, and spending quality time with family.
Uses: Small group - assessing reading fluency
Age Group: Grades 2 - 3
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Camila Kuhn
Illustrator: Camila Kuhn
Copyright 2016
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: Samira finds out she and all her friends and family have a skeleton. She is not happy about it - she's horrified that she has a skeleton. Through the book, the reader learns facts about the skeleton and its significance in the human body through Samira's day-to-day actions.
Uses: Whole group science lesson - introduction to the skeletal system
Age Group: Grades 2-4
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Marie Sellier
Illustrator: Catherine Louis
Copyright 2008
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: This book reviews the spirits that adopt different creatures around the world - in the air, sea, low plains, fields, and more.
Uses: Small group guided reading - during January to study the Chinese New Year
Age Group: Grades 2-3
Rating: 2

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Edward Marshall
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 1980
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: An alien visits a neighborhood and passes for a trick-or-treater and a robot.
Uses: Small group reading assessment
Age Group: Grades Kindergarten-1
Rating: 1

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Lisa Heydlauff
Illustrator: Nitin Upadhye
Copyright 2005
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: This book touches on various details about school life in India such as transportation vehicles, landscapes, classroom location, and other aspects that vastly differ from our school life in America.
Uses: On the first week of school, teach about our school and its structures and properties. Read this book as a class and compare and contrast the two school situations.
Age Group: Kindergarten
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.headline
Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmer's Market (PB)

# data[].attributes.subject
Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmer's Market (PB)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Michelle Schaub
Illustrator: Amy Hauntington
Copyright 2017
Award(s): Northern Light Book Award
Synopsis: This poem describes a day at the farmers' market from the journey over there, to everything it has to offer, and getting back home with the goodies.
Uses: Small group reading assessment - assess reading fluency
Age Group: grades 1-2
Rating: 3

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Dianne White
Illustrator: Beth Krommes
Copyright 2014
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: This poem is about a rainy day and the different shades and colors of the sky throughout the day.
Uses: Small group reading assessment
Age Group: Grade Kindergarten
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.body
Author: John Langstaff
Illustrator: Nancy Winslow Parker
Copyright 1974/1991
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: This is a repetitive poem that takes the reader along a "hunt" of a variety of animals.
Uses: Whole group read-aloud. Then, sing it as a song and perform an imaginary play along with it.
Age Group: Kindergarten
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Vera Brosgol
Illustrator: Vera Brosgol
Copyright 2016
Award(s): Randolph Caldecott Medal
Synopsis: An old woman living in a house with thirty grandchildren longs for peace any quiet. After searching everywhere and finally finding her peaceful alone time in a wormhole, she returns home feeling refreshed and happy to be back.
Uses: small group reading assessment - assess comprehension and reading fluency
Age Group: grades 1-2
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Brian Wildsmith
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 2000
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: This is a children's version of the Easter story beginning from Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, to the resurrection.
Uses: Compare and contrast the worldly story of Easter (bunnies, eggs) to the Christian story of Easter (Jesus' resurrection).
Age Group: Grades Kindergarten-1
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.headline
Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story (PB)

# data[].attributes.subject
Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story (PB)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Robert San Souci
Illustrator: Daniel San Souci
Copyright 1997
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: Similar to the traditional Cinderella, Sootface's sisters bullied and put her down often. A warrior who had the power to become invisible vowed to marry the woman who could see him. Sootface set out to meet him and successfully marry him.
Uses: Compare and contrast the traditional Cinderella story to this Native American version using a Venn diagram
Age Group: Grades 2-3
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.headline
The Upside Down Boy/El Nino de Cabeza (PB)

# data[].attributes.subject
The Upside Down Boy/El Nino de Cabeza (PB)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Juan Felipe Herrera
Illustrator: Elizabeth Gomez
Copyright 2000
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: A young boy shares his experience and feelings of being a new Mexican student in his school and how "upside down" he felt. He finds comfort and confidence in music.
Uses: Small group reading fluency assessment
Age Group: Grades 2-3
Rating: 3

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Judith Viorst
Illustrator: Erik Blegvad
Copyright 1971
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: A young boy is finding ways to cope with the death of his cat. He prepares for its burial and brainstorms 10 good things about Barney, but he can only think of 9. Finally, he knows that the 10th good thing is that Barney is in the ground helping flowers grow.
Uses: Read during a unit on visual literacy - analyze the illustrations and how they complete the story
Age Group: Grades 1-2
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Patricia Polacco
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 2000
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: Monique is a French girl who is living through a Nazi invasion. She thinks she is visited by a ghost at night, but it is a Jewish girl hiding from Nazis in her house. They become friends. Though they were forbidden, the girls were playing together and were caught. The two families had to hide all evidence of this and flee for their lives depended on it.
Uses: Popcorn read to supplement a history unit on WWII
Age Group: Grades 4-5
Rating: 3

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Candace Fleming
Illustrator: n/a
Copyright 2003
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: After WWII, Katje receives a box full of soap, socks and chocolate. In her town, Dutch families were very short on clothes and food, so she was very grateful she sent a letter thanking her sender, Rosie. Rosie continues to send boxes for Katje, and the boxes increasingly grew bigger. Rosie shared that people in America joined in sending boxes to Katja to share with neighbors.
Uses: Popcorn read during a history unit on WWII - discuss the effects on other counties.
Age Group: Grades 2-4
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Sarah Stewart
Illustrator: David Small
Copyright 2007
Award(s): Caldecott Medal Award
Synopsis: The main character, Lydia Grace, writes a series of letters to different family members as she transitions to stay with her uncle Jim, a baker. She has a passion for gardening. Uncle Jim never smiles, but Lydia hopes her gardening project will help him warm up to her.
Uses: Whole group reading to introduce a new Spring season - possibly tie in with a science lesson about plants
Age Group: Grades Kindergarten-2
Rating: 4

# data[].attributes.headline
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree (PB)

# data[].attributes.subject
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree (PB)

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Gloria Houston
Illustrator: Barbara Cooney
Copyright 1988
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: Ruthie and her family are assigned to give the Christmas tree to the community church and they take great pride in this. Unfortunately, when her Papa was called out to war, the church offered someone else to provide the tree instead. Ruthie's Mama insisted they will provide the tree, so she and Ruthie left late that night and cut down the perfect tree. They put the Christmas tree in the church to surprise the community.
Uses: Popcorn read before a Christmas tree activity or craft leading up to Christmas
Age Group: Grades 1-3
Rating: 3

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Margery Williams
Illustrator: Michael Hague
Copyright 1922
Award(s): n/a
Synopsis: The Velveteen Rabbit learned from the wise Skin Horse that he would remain a toy until someone loved him - only then would he become real. One night when the boy had no other choice but to sleep with the Velveteen Rabbit. After that, he favored it and fell in love. The boy fell extremely ill with scarlet fever and was forced to burn everything to disinfect including the Velveteen Rabbit. The Rabbit was heartbroken and was visited by the Nursery Magic Fairy, who turned him into a real rabbit.
Uses: Analyze real vs. fantasy elements
Age Group: Grades 2-3
Rating: 5

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Francisco Jimenez
Synopsis: Panchito is part of a migrant family who moves at different picking seasons to find work. Along the way, Panchito and his family are faced with many obstacles.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Sandra Cisneros