https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks On this page, I examine 15+ picture books which can be integrated in a variety of subject areas across various grade levels. Out of these, 4 are award-winners and 3 are HOT books! en-us 2017-01-23 22:11:54 UTC 2025-09-25 00:00:52 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Moderncam.png vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155008651 This is a modern retelling (perhaps the feminist version) of the classic tale of Cinderella. In this story, Cinderella is a mechanic that dreams on working with rocket ships, free from the malice of her evil stepmother and sisters. I love the illustrations by Meg Hunt, and Cinderella's sidekick, Murgatroyd, as well as the fairy godmother and unique creations that keep this story fresh despite the centuries it's been told. This book would appeal to female readers and it is approximately a third grade level text. There are also male characters, and I feel the "space" theme will keep readers of all interests hooked from beginning to end. It is written in rhyme, so I would use this to teach elements of poetry, as well as a character study between the good characters and the bad.]]> 2017-02-20 20:24:46 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155008651 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155046978 "Train to Somewhere" is a realistic fictional story about the "Orphan Train", a true event of the mid-1850's to late 1920's in which 100,000 homeless children traveled from New York to the Midwest. I loved the watercolor illustrations and enjoyed that there was so much dialogue between characters. This book would suit Social Studies standard from grades 3 and up, during study of the steam engine era and westward expansion. I would use this book while teaching point of view, as it is told from the first person POV of one of the traveling orphans. I imagine the story of this orphan girl and the knowledge of this event in our country's history would generate interesting discussion as well. ]]> 2017-02-21 02:22:23 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155046978 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155047898 "Gathering the Sun" is an alphabet book that goes A to Z sharing nonfictional information regarding the gathering of Californian crops by Mexican migrant workers. It is bilingual and presents the text in the form of poems. I think this book would interest and be of use to English Language Learners, as well as Spanish-speakers. This would be a great text to refer to during a poetry unit, as students could use their name's first letter as the starting point of a poem about themselves. "Gathering the Sun" can also be used as mentor text in order to incorporate and teach the Spanish words in the books into the class' vocabulary. ]]> 2017-02-21 02:32:52 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155047898 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155048326 I love this book because it is one of the first books I remember reading independently, and I never tire of it. The illustrations alone vividly tell the story of the mouse and his strawberry. However, the sparse narration provides the necessary suspense needed to share this book as a Read Aloud. This book would appeal to students K through second, but students of all ages could benefit from reflecting on the illustrations in order to study how they contribute to fictional texts. Additionally, I would use this text to supplement lesson on adjectives and other descriptive language which students would use to describe the mouse and his strawberry.]]> 2017-02-21 02:37:14 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155048326 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155348819 There are many imaginary friend stories, but "Emma Kate" is one of the most creative I've read. I love that the story reads like a typical girl and imaginary girl tale... until the very last page! I think girls especially would adore this book, but the story is so quirky that I think children of all ages will delight in it! My first thought with this book was that it would make the perfect text to practice inferencing skills, as students have to use text clues and images to infer the true and unexpected perspective being shown all along throughout the book. Students could also practice writing from a different perspective in order to write about themselves from the point of view of an imaginary friend. Students can draw their imaginary friend and, ultimately, describe themselves through the eyes of the animal or ghoulish imaginary pal.]]> 2017-02-22 02:51:18 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155348819 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155349192 Pretty much any story by Jan Brett will be charming and engaging for young students (or even for those older kids during holidays). "The Easter Egg" does not disappoint with its cute tale of a bunny struggling with believing in THE Easter Bunny. Any student who likes to read about cute animals or who celebrates Easter will enjoy this book! This bunny's story is one that may be relatable to many students, but I personally would not read this around Easter time to avoid any accusation of "holiday bias"... I would actually like to use this book to explore concepts of math using plastic Easter eggs, specifically with the younger students. Counting, dividing, grouping or subtracting- any operation can come to life using manipulatives, and "The Easter Egg" could provide a hook for such math lessons.]]> 2017-02-22 02:54:33 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155349192 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155349305 "Jukebox" is an interesting book which characterizes different types of music through different font types and characters. There is very little text in this story, but the illustrations really tell it all. Some people like LOUD ROCK MUSIC. Some people like (soft, quiet instrumental music). SoMe P3OPle liKE Mu5!c th@t d03sn'T m@KE s3NSe!!! Whatever your tastes, music makes everyone's life fuller, greater and brighter- and I think student who love music would enjoy this book. This book can be used to explore descriptive writing or poetry. Students can describe their favorite type of music through the use of language that perfectly encapsulates how that music makes them feel, move or think. Moreover, this book can be related to Math lessons as the geometric backgrounds in the illustrations would provide an interesting point from which to study lines, angles, circles- and how all those shapes contribute to our surroundings. ]]> 2017-02-22 02:55:48 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155349305 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155349457 This story describes the life of a red fox in the form of poems and hauntingly beautiful illustrations by Wendell Minor. This story tells of the needs and activities of a red fox, and of course animals are a high-interest topic for students of all ages and grade levels. "Red Fox Running" can be used a mentor text when studying poetry, particularly using poetry to tell a story. Students can study elements of poetry such as descriptive language and figures of speech. As a class, I would guide students through a writing workshop activity in which all the students can create their own poem based one illustration from the story. Eventually, students can publish their final draft by typing it in order to engage in the writing process. ]]> 2017-02-22 02:57:14 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/155349457 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162564822 "Freedom Summer" is one of my favorite picture books, ever since Dr. Greene shared it with us in class one day. I can't explain the frustration I feel when the boys discover their pool is being filled by steaming, black asphalt by the city in order to avoid it from being an integrated by whites and blacks alike. I feel my eyes well up as John Henry's do. This book is not a soft look at segregation- it's very real and cutting and it all comes down to two friends not being able to be children TOGETHER because of prejudice. But somehow, with change in their pocket and obliging shop owner, they find a way to share a small piece of sweet, cold happiness during Freedom Summer. This book can be read at any grade level, in my opinion, as it is relatable story for children of all ages about how our lives, schools and communities would be entirely different had no one like Dr. King, Rosa Parks and Malcolm X taken a stand for their own. This book can certainly accompany a unit study on civil rights, and older students (such as fifth graders) could be expected to reflect on the important friendships in their lives, as well as the differences and similarities they share with their best friend. ]]> 2017-03-25 14:33:01 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162564822 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162564863 "Visiting Day" is a very honest view into the experiences of a child with an incarcerated father. She and her grandmother spend the day preparing and traveling to visit her dad in jail. This book touches on a sensitive subject, but it could be a very important story to share with a student who may be able to relate with the characters. This book could serve as an example of small moment writing, as the child spends all day anticipating her visitation. Students could also compare the struggles experienced by this girl and her family to those of another character in a similar book.]]> 2017-03-25 14:33:43 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162564863 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162565528 This multicultural piece of literature details the story of two male penguins who raise a chick. It is actually based on a true story of two zoo penguins who in 1999 hatched and raised a chick named Tango. Interestingly enough, the female Tango later went on to partner with another female penguin when she reached maturity! Students who like to read cute animal stories or are even interested in animals would enjoy this book. I personally would have this in my book collection, but I realize it is banned book in some libraries because it features a "same-sex" couple... of penguins. Though I don't agree with "challenging" this text due to that content, I respect other families' wishes to shield their children from facts of nature. IF I could use this book in class, it could certainly be used during a life cycle unit about birds. In addition, after learning about various life cycles, students could write their own narrative about a family of frogs, birds, mammals or butterflies (per the life cycle standard). ]]> 2017-03-25 14:46:58 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162565528 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162565614 This book was a finalist for the 2015 Younger Readers Choice Book Awards with good reason! The story is as enchanting as the illustrations, and honestly deserves it's only children's television series: it's THAT good! I love the quirky story of Gaston and Antoinette, two puppies displaced and misplaced in a mix-up who end up being raised by moms of different breeds. They don't fit in with their siblings (literally!) but they learn to find their place and love the moms that raised them. When they have a chance to switch back, they realize their unconventional families are actually exactly where they belong. I think this story would appeal to children (or anyone) who with a sense of humor! In seriousness, Gaston would be perfect to introduce the idea of different family structures and respecting each other's differences. I would use this book in order to introduce the topic of life cycles, as this book illustrates comparisons between adult mammals and offspring, as well as adult birds and their offspring. This story could also accompany the second grade which addresses the physical similarities between parent animals and their offspring. Students can compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the life cycles of mammals and birds.]]> 2017-03-25 14:48:43 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162565614 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162565778 The illustrations in "The Night Gardener" are as quirky and enchanting as the story written by brothers Terry and Eric Fan. I appreciated the darker, somber mood created by the art and words in this book. I see students who are interested in scary or unusual stories particularly being interested in this book (the illustrations and mood reminded me of the Series of Unfortunate Events books). This book can be used to study theme in order for students to reflect on how readers can infer the mood or theme of a text by using text clues and illustrations. I would be interesting for students to illustrate their own oddly-shaped tree and for them to explain the significance of that symbol.]]> 2017-03-25 14:52:26 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/162565778 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/163994409 "Madeline" is one of my favorite children's literature characters. Some of the pages in the book have simple illustrations, some have very detailed illustrations. The story tells of brave little Madeline who eventually has to get her appendix removed. The story is told in rhyme and features several characters for study. I believe students from K to 3 would be interested in this book, particularly female students. This book could be read during a poetry unit, as students could study the structure of the text and even write a personal narrative in poem form. I would also use this book to teach characters as well as inference strategies, particularly studying Madeline and Miss Clavel.]]> 2017-03-31 15:07:09 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/163994409 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/163996948 "You Are Stardust" by Elin Kelsey is a beautiful illustrated book, as all the pages are photographs of 3D media. Textures and colors abound in each photograph, which adds to the almost mystical and ethereal subject matter. The book explains how we are made of stardust, and everything around is as well; however, aside from the content I think students interested in art would be drawn to the unique images in this book. "You Are Stardust" can start the conversation regarding our connection to nature, but it also include science content language such as "microorganism" and "electricity". This book can accompany standards, such as fourth grade's, which studies the solar system and how the Earth is just one small speck in a dauntingly vast whole. Reflecting on mortality and the objective insignificance of each human in comparison to their expanse of the universe... is a VERY overwhelming mental exercise. But "You are Stardust" highlights the uniqueness of each life and all the improbabilities that had to occur in the universe for US to come to be. ]]> 2017-03-31 15:16:48 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/163996948 vereniceromo https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/163998984 "Cry, Heart, But Never Break" is such an interesting piece of international literature. The story follows the health troubles of a girl's grandmother... and the visitor that came and went. The theme is death and grief, and Death is personified as a character in the story. In the end, the grandmother passes away and the visitor disappears. I would have this book in my collection IN CASE any student was ever going through grief and wanted to read it independently to gain some perspective on their experience. However, I would NOT push this on a student, especially if they were currently going through grief, as I believe that would be tremendously insensitive. To accompany curriculum, I would love to use this book while learning about literary devices such as personification. Students could also engage in visual arts in order to create their own personified version of a character trait or emotion, much like in the movie "Inside Out" by Pixar. Students could describe their character and explain why they used the colors, textures and shapes they did in order to create the character. I think it would take a great amount of creativity as well as comprehension to personify something so intangible as death, love or bravery. ]]> 2017-03-31 15:23:46 UTC https://padlet.com/vereniceromo/picturebooks/wish/163998984