• Author: Laurel Goodluck

• Publication Date: September 20, 2022

• Publisher: Charlesbridge 

• Grade Level: K-2

• Genre: Fiction/Nonfiction

• Themes: Culture, Family, Cousins, Connections

• Pages: 37

  
  

  Plot Summary: This story follows two young cousins who move cities apart for a year. They live their separate lives starting at new schools and beginning new experiences. They keep in contact through postcards and calling on the phone to share news. With all their time spent apart from each other they both wonder if they will have been missed by the other. When they see eachother again at a family reunion the cousins, Amanda and Kara, take time to warm up to each other once again. Initially they are shy but their connection quickly returns and they are inseparable from then on. When it comes to the end of the trip they are not ready to leave eachother again, so they trade dolls and remind themselves that they are forever cousins.

  
  

  Personal Response: I personally really enjoyed this story. I felt the connection that the characters had and the love that their families shared when they were together. It was easy to see the elements of culture that were embedded in the book. There was food, events, celebrations, and terms that are used in American Indian culture. I thought the message behind this story was great as well. It is a very kid friendly book that shows how a family's connection can stay strong even when they are far apart.

• Title: Hello Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers

• Author/Illustrator: Matthew Cordell

• Publisher: Holiday House, May 5, 2020

• Genre: Nonfiction, TV, Childrens, Biography Memoir

• Themes: Kindness, Caring, Neighbors, Leaving a Legacy

• Grade Level: 1st-4th

• Page #: 40

Plot: This book takes readers on a journey of learning about Mister Rogers and the world that he created in the TV industry called Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The book dives into the many topics that the show covered and how influential it was for children across the country. In order to show the audience who Mister Rogers really was in his childhood and career the book brings attention to his past. Through the use of pictures and a detailed history the book gives an accurate representation of Mister Rogers, his life, and the legacy that he left behind.

Personal Response: I loved watching Mister Rogers growing up and this book helped me understand his life so much more. I watched his documentary when it came out in 2018 and that brought back so many memories. This book continued to do the same and to remind me of why I enjoyed the show so much. Mister Rogers was a very charismatic man who made every viewer feel seen. He talked directly to his camera which helped him create relationships through a screen, but he was also good at this in real life. I loved seeing how his character was just the same in real life, especially through this book.

• Title: Mae's First Day of School

• Author/Illustrator: Kate Berube

• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

• Date: July 10th, 2018

• Page #: 35

• Grade: K (Ages 3-7)

• Genre: Fictional Picture Book

• Theme: School, Feelings (Fear, Excitement), Friendship

Plot Summary: This book is about a young girl who is very apprehensive about attending school on her very first day. Her mom drags her to school but she hides in a tree when they arrive. She meets another young girl who is also afraid to go into her class. Together they decide not to go because they don't want to be made fun of for not knowing how to write, not making friends, or missing their parents. Finally their teacher climbs into the tree and protests with them until they realize that they all are nervous for school but that's okay.

Personal Response: This book would be great for the first day of school to be read by the teacher or even parents before attending. This book could also be great for any event that a student is nervous to start or attend. The feelings shared by the girls and teacher in this book go to show that everyone gets nervous when they start something they know nothing about. Even as a college student I get nervous for my first day of class and it is perfectly normal. This book does a great job of normalizing fears and recognizing that you are never alone with those feelings. Even your teacher can feel that way too!

• Award: Award for Excellence in Poetry (NCTE)

• Published: March 7, 2023, Lantana Publishing

• Poet: Krina Patel-Sage

• Genre: Social-Emotional Children's Poetry

• Themes: Love, Flowers, Friendship, Family, Growth

• Grade/Age: 4-6yrs

• Poetry Type: Haiku

  
  

  Summary: This book is a "bouquet" of meaning through beautiful flowers. This collection of haikus reminds readers of the significance of life through flowers. It talks about growth, changing of seasons, being prideful and confident, and to love others like flowers (a beautiful gift in life).

• Title: El Deafo

• Author/Illustrator: Cece Bell

• Publisher: Amulet Books

• Date: September 2nd, 2014

• Page #: 248

• Grade: 2-8

• Genre: Graphic Novel

• Theme: Disability, Deafness, Friendship

Plot Summary: Young girl Cece gets sick and ends up needing a hearing aid. The graphic novel follows her journey through mean friends, bullying, adjusting in school, and navigating a disability. Cece's experiences help her learn what true friends are. She learns to see her disability as a superpower and not a flaw.

Personal Response: This book was very inspiring to read. Communities of students who are deaf or have physical or learning disabilities are not talked about as much as they should be. It's very eye opening to learn about the struggles that these students have in a classroom setting, especially from the perspective of a young student. The illustrations and color of this book bring a lot of light to the situation that the main character Cece goes through. I like how the book took readers on a journey through the first few years of elementary school for Cece, especially through significant changes with friendships that a lot of kids go through. This book would be great to have in a classroom in order to show students that their differences are actually superpowers when they change their perspective. 

• Title: The Day The Rain Moved In

• Author/Illustrator: Eleonore Douspis

• Publisher: ‎Groundwood Books

• Date: April 1, 2021

• Page #: 32

• Grade: Pre-3

• Genre: Children's Fiction

• Theme: Weather, Uniqueness, Acceptance of Differences

Plot Summary: This book is about a family with two sons are living in a house that "rains". There is no rain outside but inside of their house it rains, creates mildew on their walls, and eventually grows plants. The house becomes a forest of trees, bushes, lily pads, animals, and looks like a treehouse. The sons are embarrassed when they go to school because they wear raincoats and don't play with other kids because of their situation. Once other kids find out about their house of rain they begin to play inside and enjoy the odd occurrence. Eventually the entire neighborhood of kids is playing in the house and the rain stops. This represents how once you recognize your differences as uniqueness, your worries will go away.

• Title: Ben Says Goodbye

• Author/Illustrator: Sarah Ellis/Kim LaFave

• Publisher: Pajama Press

• Date: February 26, 2016

• Page #: 32

• Grade: Pre-3

• Genre: Childrens Fiction

• Theme: Friends moving away, Moving past sadness

Plot Summary: A young boy named Ben watches as his best friend moves homes away from their town. He becomes sad and climbs into a cave. He lives in his own world under his kitchen table playing by himself. When he finally decides to come back into life with his family, a moving truck appears and a new friend moves in.

• Title: Child's Play

• Author/Illustrator: R.J. Peralta/Blanca Millan

• Publisher: Cuento De Luz

• Date: 2020

• Page #: 28

• Grade: K-4

• Genre: Children's Fiction

• Theme: Children moving homes

Plot Summary: This book is about 3 siblings who each have different passions. One brother loves to play the guitar and make music. The other brother loves to write. The sister loves to make art, paint, and color. While all three siblings were terrified to move homes and live in a different place, their passions continued and they realized that who they are doesn't have to change. Living in a new place does not affect their individualities and what makes them unique.

• Title: Amelia Bedelia

• Author/Illustrator: Peggy Parish

• Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

• Date: 1963-Present

• Page #: 160

• Grade: 1-5

• Genre: Children's Fiction

• Theme: Comedy, Patience, Accepting differences

Plot Summary: Amelia Bedelia is a housekeep who works for a wealthy family. When she begins working she does a great job except for one thing. She takes every instruction she is given too literally. This first book and all of them after are filled with playful idioms that Amelia Bedelia fails to understand. While those around her make fun of her they also learn to have patience and understand that everyone thinks differently.

• Title: The Giver

• Author/Illustrator: Lois Lowry

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

• Date: 1993

• Page #: 240

• Grade: 7-12

• Genre: Young adult fiction, Dystopian novel, Science fiction

• Theme: Pain, Pleasure, Individuality vs. Conformity, Value of life

Plot Summary: In a world where children are given their lifelong assignments at age 12, many of them know what to look forward to. All but one named Jonas who does not have a clear idea of what role he will be assigned. As his dystopian society begins to reveal more to him he is assigned as the Receiver of Memory. He begins to realize, through the Giver, that everyone in his society is protected from the truths of the past. Because of the Givers age, Jonas must accumulate all of the memories from the Giver. This is a painful and difficult task as he feels emotions that he never knew of before. As Jonas continues to learn more about history he decides to do what he thinks is best for his society and break free of the task he is given. He disrupts the structure of life and does what he thinks is best for the future of the Community by saving others. Life, death, and other hardships help Jonas change the path of his society and return to what history was before.

Author: Sanjay Patel, Emily Haynes

Illustrator: Sanjay Patel

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Date: August 4th, 2015

Type of Traditional Literature: Hindu Mythology

Grade level: K-4

Page #: 34 

Summary: Ganesha, a young god loves to eat traditional Indian desserts, especially laddoo. One day he finds a new kind of laddoo that is much harder than the original. Sadly it breaks off his tusk, of his elephant head, when he tries to bite into it. He is worried he will lose his friends and respect because of how he looks now. When he has lost all hope he encounters a poet. The poet asks Ganesha, to transcribe an ancient epic Sanskrit poem for him. This task proves to Ganesha that breaking his tusk wasn't as bad as he thought, because he was able to write the entire one hundred thousand verse poem with it.

Traditional Aspects: This tale reflects a narrative storytelling style through its bright and colorful illustrations and character design. While the book reflects real Indian and Hindu culture there is also a friendly, kid-centered dialogue within it. The book includes the Hindu culture through characters looks, the food they eat, and the overall message of the story from one of the most popular stories from Hindu mythology. The way the book includes detail on the characters outfits and jewelry that they wear are very traditional to Hindu culture as well. The colors of the pages really reflect how the Ganesha feels throughout the book, using blue hues for sadness and bright colors when she see's a turning point in his situation. I really enjoyed this book because it was rich with Hindu culture and telling old tales, while making it understandable for readers new to the content. Overall this book is a great representation of traditional literature and it explores different cultures in a very entertaining way.

Personal Response: The book I read was Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson. I learned a lot from this book based on the author's personal experiences with racism, segregation, family relationships, and learning to write. Understanding race can be difficult at a young age but Jaqueline did a great job of telling her story and experience with hard topics. Her family members all provided her with the knowledge of how to live safely as a young black girl. And ultimately they provided her with a passion to write, which makes this book very inspiring. 

Title:  ¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge

Publisher: Harper Collins

Date: October 12th, 2021

# of pages: 48

Grade Level: Ages 4-8

Genre: Picture Book, Adventure

Theme: Celebrating Community

Topic: Little Lobo and Bernabé are back in this story about a stopped bridge and two different countries coming together and celebrating community.

Summary: Little Lobo is taking his truck across a bridge to join a celebration in a different city, that is in another country. The bridge is always busy with people traveling to work and visit friends and family. Today it is especially busy and people are getting impatient. There are food vendors and entertainers along the road across the bridge for people to watch. Little Lobo and Bernébe start getting impatient after hours of waiting in line. Dancers and singers begin to entertain even bigger crowds or people waiting and everyone joins in. They decide to make do with the situation and hang u piñatas in order to still celebrate. Little Lobo sets off his fireworks off of the bridge and the celebration was able to happen among everyone.

• Author Background: The author talked about how some of his character were named after family members or nicknames that him and his family members had. His culture is Mexican American and many of his books are based on Spanish influence. The Spanish language is integrated into the book and many scenes in the book show what life is like when you cross the border between the US and Mexico. 

• Artistic Media: Through the webinar I learned that the author, Raul the third, draws all of the pictures that you see in his books. They are so detailed and lively and the coloring is done by a different artist. The colors in the book bring a lot of excitement to the story and the culture that they are representing. I think that often Mexican celebrations involving music, dancing, food, and lots of people involve a lot of color. The author uses a picture of cartoon art and cultural styles to bring his animalistic characters to life.

Grade: 1-3

Pages: 24

Personal Response: I was very interested in reading this book and learning more about the community of indigenous children that were taken from their homes in Canada and forced to endure injustices in a school setting. It was devastating to hear about the experiences of one man and how he was stripped of his religion and language. I like how the book took such an incredible and brave story and shed some light onto how historical experiences should not determine the change that can be made in the future.

Grade: 4-6

Pages: 141

"How I Became a Ghost" by Tim Tingle was a book packed with magic and hardship. While this book had many elements of fantasy there were also some heavy subjects such as death and fleeing your home. I would definitely recommend this book for older students because I still think it should be read for its historical background. I found it very interesting to learn about the Choctaw Indian's and their sad experience with fleeing their homes to survive. Their journey followed the Trail of Tears and involved hunting, death, remembering their culture, and a lot of courage. That was definitely my favorite part of the book, being able to see how courageous every single member of this tribe was, no matter their age.

Plot Summary:

• I have always loved Dr.Seuss books for their creativity and wild imagination. The colors and funny rhymes always brought me joy as a kid, and reading them again now still brings me that same feeling. I remember this book being one of my favorites out of the lifetime of books that he created. I really enjoy this book because it teaches the audience how to embrace differences and recognize that everyone is a little bit weird. Going through a day of rhymes, introducing characters that all look different, and making you laugh along the way are just some of the ways this book can bring joy to readers. I may not have realized it when I was young, but Dr.Seuss had a significant impact on how I see people around me and how I learned to not judge what others do differently. If you stay optimistic and take lifes challenges head on, there is so much you can accomplish and use your uniquenesses for.

Publisher: Viking Press

Date: 1968

Page #: 32

Grade: K-1

Genre: Children's literature, fiction, picture book

Theme: Love, Friendship, Embracing Flaws

Plot Summary: Corduroy is the story of a teddy bear who sits on a shelf in a department store. He is missing a button on his overalls and he is on the hunt for a new one. A little girl, Lisa, falls in love with Corduroy despite his missing button. The story follows how Lisa continues to love corduroy no matter if he has a button or not. Their friendship teachers readers to embrace flaws.

Personal Response: I loved the book Corduroy growing up because of the touching story of friendship that it shares. I had a lot of stuffed animals growing up and I think that the love that is shared between a little girl and a stuffed animal is so special. This story shares the theme of embracing flaws which is a very important lesson for children. This would be a great book to have in a classroom for young kids to learn from.

• Title: Smile

• Author/Illustrator: Raina Telgemeier

• Publisher: Scholastic/Graphix

• Date: February 1st, 2010

• Page #: 224

• Grade: 3-6

• Genre: Graphic Novel

• Theme: Growing up, Embarrassment, Acceptance, Friendship, Maturing

Plot Summary: A sixth grade girl named Raina falls and injures her 2 front teeth. This is the year before she enters middle school and the injuries affect her through high school as well. Raina just wants to be normal but her accident makes her really embarrassed. Through surgeries, braces, fake teeth, headgear and more, Raina learns who true friends are and how to accept herself no matter her looks.

Personal Response: This book series that includes Smile, Sisters and Guts was a series that I read over an over in middle school. I was not super big into reading so graphic novels was what I found to enjoy and eventually fall in love with. During this time I had braces just like the main character, Raina, and her experiences in these books made me less embarassed during the time. The books also follow the awkward teenage years in general so I felt very similar to her through the stories shared in the books. I think that this series is a great one for students in high elementary grades through high school because it teaches a lot about self love and acceptance. You learn that every one gets embarrassed about things they do and in the end it is not a big deal.

• Title: Judy Moody was in a mood

• Author/Illustrator: Megan McDonald, Peter H. Reynolds

• Publisher: Candlewick Press

• Date: April 10, 2018

• Page #: 176

• Grade: 1-4

• Genre: Children's Literature, Fiction

• Theme: Managing emotions, Adjusting to school

Plot Summary: Judy is starting third grade and is not happy about it. She shows her feelings in every way possible to her parents and teacher to express that she is mad about starting school. While she tries to keep this mindset, her teacher shows her how fun it can be with an "All About Me" project that changes Judy's mind.

Personal Response: There are an endless amount of Judy Moody books that range on a variety of topics. Her mood is a big theme throughout all of them but she discovers change in each of her books too. I was reminded by reading this book again that I love the theme of these books and how I could relate to them at that age.

• Title: The Rainbow Fish

• Author/Illustrator: Marcus Pfister

• Publisher: NorthSouth

• Date: September 1, 1992

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-2

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Happiness, Generosity

Plot Summary: This book is about a fish who is the most beautiful fish in the see because of it's bright, shiny, and colorful scales. He is very proud of his looks and he becomes pretty lonely because he brags about his looks to everyone else in the sea. Eventually he learns that people don't want to be friends with him because of this and he starts giving his scales to others to gain their forgiveness.

Personal Response: This book has always been one of my favorites in children's literature. It is widely popular but it also teachers readers about good values in making friends. If you are selfish and boastful people don't really see that as a likable trait. This book taught me that if you are generous and you share your happiness equally with those around you, you can create beautiful relationships.

• Title: Ban This Book

• Author/Illustrator: Alan Gratz

• Publisher: Starscape

• Date: August 29, 2017

• Page #: 256

• Grade: 4-7

• Genre: Fiction Children's Novel

• Theme: Censorship, Accountability, Courage

Plot Summary:

• Ban this book is about a young girl, Amy Anne, who loves to read. Her favorite book gets taken out of the school library and she starts noticing that more disapear when a parent requests that they be removed. Amy Anne has to stand up for herself to show the school board that these books shouldn't be removed. She starts a Banned Book Locker Library (BBLL) that allows students to check out banned books from her. This becomes a hit before she is caught by the principal and suspended. With the help of her parents, friends, and the librarian she stands up for herself and shows the school why these books shouldn't be banned.

Personal Response:

• I thought that this book was very empowering because it shows that no matter your age, you can use your voice and stand up for yourself. This book teaches a great lesson on censorship and the controversy of banning books. Amy Anne is a great representation of someone who doesn't let other people from stopping her from doing what she thinks is right. I have never had a serious conversation about banning books in any of my education so I learned a lot from reading this book. It is good to know that this is an issue that students can get involved in and have discussions about.

• Title: Wonder

• Author/Illustrator: R.J. Palacio

• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

• Date: February 14, 2012

• Page #: 310

• Grade: 4th - 8th

• Genre: Fiction Novel

• Theme: Kindness, Identity, Acceptance, Bravery

Plot Summary:

• Wonder is an inspiring story about a young boy in fifth grade named August, Auggie for short. Auggie has facial deformities which hinder him from wanting to attend school as he is going to a new one this year. He manages a wide range of emotions caused by family, friends, and bullies that all feel differently towards him. Auggie eventually finds his true friends and graduates elementary school earning an award for his bravery throughout the year. This book is a great testament to standing up for yourself and accepting what makes you unique even if other don't feel the same way.

• Title: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

• Author/Illustrator: John Boyne

• Publisher: David Fickling Books

• Date: January 6, 2006

• Page #: 216

• Grade: 5th-High School

• Genre: Historical Fiction Novel

• Theme: Friendship, Innocence, Warfare

Plot Summary:

• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a historical novel based on the horrors of the Holocaust and concentration camps. A young German boy and his family moved homes for a job that his father has in the military. The young boy Bruno discovers that their house is close to a concentration camp. Bruno meets Shmuel, who is also his age, and they blossom a friendship through the fence that divides them. At such a young age, the boys are both innocent to the true nature of their differences and how dangerous their friendship really is. At the young age of 8 the boys learn many life lessons while also recognizing thee harsh nature of Hitler's control during the time.

• Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

• Author/Illustrator: Roald Dahl

• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

• Date: 1964

• Page #: 176

• Grade: 3rd-7th

• Genre: Children's Fiction Novel

• Theme: Family, Hope, Greed, Luck

Plot Summary:

• Charlie, a young and poor boy, lives with his parents and grandparents in a one bedroom house. The local chocolate factory owner, Willy Wonka, decides that he is going to send out 5 golden tickets in his chocolate bars, and whoever gets them get's a tour of his factory. Five children get the tickets and get a chance to explore the factory, which little do they know is another competition. This story of greed and spoiled children ends with Charlie winning the entire chocolate factory for his family because of his humble personality. This book is a great example of how to not act greedy and to be grateful for what you have, because you never know when the world will repay you.

• Title: A Bad Case of Stripes

• Author/Illustrator: David Shannon

• Publisher: Scholastic: Blue Sky Press

• Date: 1998

• Page #: 33

• Grade: K-6

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Humor, Identity, Bullying, Acceptance

Plot Summary:

• A young girl named Camilla refuses to eat lima beans that her mom gives her and in return she gets a bad case of stripes. She normally loves to eat lima beans but she stops when some kids at school make fun of her for it. Her stripes get worse and weird things begin to happen to everything around her. This story shows that just because someone else doesn't have the same preferences as you doesn't mean that you have to completely stop that liking.

• Title: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

• Author/Illustrator: Bill Martin Jr/John Archambault/Lois Ehlert

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster

• Date: September 14, 1989

• Page #: 40

• Grade: K-2

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Learning the Alphabet

Plot Summary:

• This book for young children helps them learn the letters of the alphabet in a very fun way. As the letters make their way up a coconut tree they all fall out because of the weight. The other letters step into support and it shows kids that you should never give up.

• Title: Goldilocks and The Three Bears

• Author/Illustrator: James Marshall

• Publisher: Originally Published by Longman and Rees

• Date: 1837

• Page #: 40

• Grade: K-3

• Genre: Fictional Children's Literature

• Theme: Fairytale

Plot Summary:

• Goldilocks and the three bears is a fairytale that has been retold many times since 1837. The story follows a young girl named Goldilocks who is trying to find a place to fit in. When she finds a home that belongs to bears, she tries their food and beds to see if that is where she fits while they are not home. She is startled by the bears return and leaves before she is ever seen again.

• Title: Little Red Riding Hood

• Author/Illustrator: The Brothers Grimm

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster

• Date: 1697

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-3

• Genre: Children's Literature, Fiction, Fantasy

• Theme: Fairytale, Doom

Plot Summary:

• While this fairytale does not have a happy ending, it is a long lived fairytale of a young girl. This girl wears a red cloak and is walking through the forest to her grandmothers house. On her way there she runs into a wolf. She thinks that she escapes him and continues to her grandmothers home. Once she gets to the house she goes to her grandmothers room to give her food, only to discover that the wolf has disguised himself as the grandma and is waiting to eat her next.

• Title: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

• Author/Illustrator: Laura Numeroff / Felicia Bond

• Publisher: Harper and Row

• Date: 1985

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-4th

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Consequences of Actions

Plot Summary:

• This fun story talks about the possibilities of what giving a mouse a cookie might cause. It is a journey of actions and consequences that keep you wanting to read more. The young boy who gives the mouse a cookie spends his entire day granting many wishes to the mouse before they can just sit down and enjoy the dessert.

• Title: The Story of Ruby Bridges

• Author/Illustrator: Robert Coles / George Ford

• Publisher: New York, Scholastic

• Date: 1995

• Page #: 32

• Grade: 1st-5th

• Genre: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction

• Theme: Courage, Determination, Facing Diversity

Plot Summary:

• This true story follows young Ruby Bridges and her experience being the first African American girl to attend an all-white school. This book takes place in the South during the Civil Rights movement and gives readers a lot of knowledge about what was happening in the are during that time. Ruby faces protesters and judgement from her peers, but her story is so significant to the history of education.

• Title: Fancy Nancy

• Author/Illustrator: Jane O'Connor / Robin Press Glasses

• Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

• Date: 2005

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-4

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Family Love, Accepting Differences

Plot Summary:

• Fancy Nancy is very different from her family because of her fanciness. Her family is much too plain for her liking as she prefers to be extraordinary in everything that she does. This book follows Nancy's journey to helping her family become fancy and see how it makes them feel.

• Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

• Author/Illustrator: Eric Carle

• Publisher: World of Eric Carle

• Date: June 3, 1969

• Page #: 22

• Grade: K-2

• Genre: Children's Fiction Literature

• Theme: Growth and Counting

Plot Summary:

• A very hungry caterpillar eats his way through many foods before he can go into his cocoon. The food he eats help him grow big and eventually turn into a beautiful butterfly. The counting rhythm of the book helps children gain number skills and see the lifecycle of a butterfly.

• Title: There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly

• Author/Illustrator: Lucille Colandro / Jared Lee

• Publisher: Scholastic

• Date: 1972

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-2

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Humor, Don't swallow big animals

Plot Summary:

• This funny children's story is about an old lady who swallows a fly. She begins to swallow increasingly bigger animals and eventually dies from that cause. It is hilarious but also a good lesson on how to avoid choking.

• Title: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

• Author/Illustrator: Judi Barrett / Ron Barrett

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster

• Date: August 1, 1978

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-6

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Humans and the Environment/Weather, Unexpected Events

Plot Summary:

• This book, now turned movie as well, takes place in a town where food falls from the sky three times a day. This occurrence begins to worsen as the food get's bigger and their living situation becomes dangerous. Citizens have to decide whether to move or stay in the town. Ultimately they move and realize that food falling from the sky is not normal. Citizens recognize that normal weather is rain and snow, and then they live a much safer life.

• Title: The Princess and the Pea

• Author/Illustrator: Hans Christian Andersen

• Publisher: C. A. Reitzel

• Date: May 8, 1835

• Page #: 28

• Grade: K-3

• Genre: Children's Literature, Fairytale

• Theme: Don't judge a book by its cover

Plot Summary:

• This fairytale tells the story of a young prince looking for a wife. In order to test whether a princess is worthy to be his wife, the prince's mother has the princess sleep on 20 mattresses and she puts a pea at the bottom of all of them. If the princess is sensitive enough, she will feel the pea under all of the mattresses, making her equip to be the prince's wife. The mother quickly judges the princess off of her looks but she ends up being the perfect fit for a wife, proving that you should never judge someone by their appearance.

• Title: The Little Engine That Could

• Author/Illustrator: Watty Piper

• Publisher: Grosset and Dunlap

• Date: March 28, 1991

• Page #: 12

• Grade: K-2

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Never Give Up

Plot Summary:

• A little engine train faces a unexpected roadblock in his journey and is forced to face the unbeaten path. This book encourages children to have the mindset of "I think I can, I think I can" to face troubles and to never give up.

• Title: Where The Wild Things Are

• Author/Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

• Publisher: Harper and Row

• Date: November 13, 1963

• Page #: 40

• Grade: K-4

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Children and their imagination

Plot Summary:

• This book is a classic story of letting a child's imagination run free. A young boy Max is feeling left out by his family and he needs to escape them in some way. Max's imagination takes him on a journey to an island where the "wild things" are. The wild things are creature that share similar emotions to him. Max interacts with the animals as they validate his feelings. Overall he recognizes that his family does love him and that sometimes his troubling behaviors can cause tension in their home.

• Title: Love You Forever

• Author/Illustrator: Robert Munsch / Sheila McGraw

• Publisher: Firefly Books

• Date: October 1, 1986

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-3

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Taking care of your family, a mother's love

Plot Summary:

• This story follows the life a of a boy and his mother, who sings the same song to him every night. No matter what age or stage of life he is at she continues to sing to him. Even when he begins to rebel and get much older the mother still sings. Once the boy is much older he realizes how important his mother is to him and how she has begun to age more. He takes over her role and sings to her as a way to show his love back to her.

• Title: The Cat in the Hat

• Author/Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

• Publisher: Random House, Houghton Mifflin

• Date: March 12, 1957

• Page #: 61

• Grade: K-4

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Trust, Responsibility, Honesty

Plot Summary:

• This famous Dr. Seuss story follows a cat who brings some fun to two kids who are stuck at home on a rainy day. He causes madness and mayhem and all the kids can think about is what their mother will think when she returns home. The Cat has to learn how to hold himself back as well and that his great ideas aren't so great for inside of the house.

• Title: Curious George

• Author/Illustrator: H. A. Rey

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

• Date: 1941

• Page #: 80

• Grade: K-3

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: giving knowledge through discipline

Plot Summary:

• Curious George is a monkey found by a man in the yellow hat, who brings him to the "big city". This is where George is taken to the zoo. George learns a lot through this new adventure and him and the man in the yellow hat continue to grow and learn together through their adventures.

• Title: The Giving Tree

• Author/Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

• Publisher: Harper & Row

• Date: October 7, 1964

• Page #: 64

• Grade: K-4

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Growing old, helping those in need

Plot Summary:

• A little boy develops a beautiful relationship with an apple tree. The boy grows old with the tree from a toddler to an old man and he acts like the "receiver" throughout his life. The tree continues to give but the boy never gives back to the tree, he just receives. Eventually the man takes more of the tree by using its branches and trunk to build things that benefit him. This story shows the dangers of receiving and never giving back when you see all that's left of the tree in the end is a stump.

• Title: Pippi Longstocking

• Author/Illustrator: Astrid Lindgren

• Publisher: Raben & Sjogren

• Date: 1945

• Page #: 160

• Grade: 4-6

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Family, society, imagination, childhood

Plot Summary:

• Pippi is a young girl with pigtails figuring out life. Her mother died when she was young and her father is now lost at sea after spending much of her life on a boat with him. Now Pippi has moved homes and is trying to make friends. When she meets siblings living near her they go on adventures together. Pippi keeps them laughing as she learns about common curtousey after spending her life on a boat with just her father. Pippi begins to live a normal childhood and learns a lot along the way.

• Title: Where the Sidewalk Ends

• Author/Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

• Publisher: Harper & Row

• Date: 1974

• Page #: 309

• Grade: 3-4

• Genre: Children's Poems

• Theme: Youth, Nature, Exploration

Plot Summary:

• This book contains a variety of poems that are humorous and contain ideas surrounding imagination, the link between humans and nature, and the growth from childhood to adulthood.

• Title: The Bernstain Bears Go to School

• Author/Illustrator: Stan & Jan Bernstain

• Publisher: Random House, Harper

• Date: July 12, 1978

• Page #: 32

• Grade: 1-3

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Being honest, growing up

Plot Summary:

• Sister Bear is scared to go to school, starting her first year of Kindergarten. Brother Bear helps get her to school and into her classroom and by the end of the day she realizes she likes it.

• Title: I Am Enough

• Author/Illustrator: Grace Byers / Keturah A. Bobo

• Publisher: Scholastic

• Date: January 1, 2019

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-3

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Self-acceptance, empowerment, diversity, kindness, resiliency

Plot Summary:

• This book is an overall lesson and celebration of diversity. It teaches readers to be confident and stick up for what they believe in. It is a great book to help young children learn self-worth and accepting their differences. This book also promote different ethnicities as unique and tells every reader that they are valuable.

• Title: Madeline

• Author/Illustrator: Ludwig Bemelmans

• Publisher: Viking Press

• Date: 1939

• Page #: 64

• Grade: 2-5

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Girl Power, Courage, Discipline, Friendship, Paris

Plot Summary:

• Madeline is a young girl attending boarding school and she is the smallest of all the girls there. She is sick but it does not stop her from living life to the fullest and experiencing many adventures. Her friends and fellow classmates check on her often and always support her. This is a series of books that follows Madelines journeys.

• Title: The Snowy Day

• Author/Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats

• Publisher: Viking Press

• Date: 1962

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-2

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Youth, Exploration, Nature

Plot Summary:

• The Snowy Day is a story of a young child experiencing snowfall for the first time. The book also odes to diversity and inclusion during a time where there were not books with that diversity. The book captures how such a simple pleasure, such as snow, delights children so much.

• Title: The Day the Crayons Quit

• Author/Illustrator: Drew Daywalt / Oliver Jeffers

• Publisher: Philomela Books

• Date: June 27, 2013

• Page #: 40

• Grade: K-3

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Activism, Persuasion, Self Expression

Plot Summary:

• This book is a humorous story about the day that the crayons in the box of a young boy, Duncan, decide that they are going to quit. They become voices for colors that are used less often and just sit in the box. This book is a great way to teach kids that colors are not assigned to specific labels, they can use any color to color anything.

• Title: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Types

• Author/Illustrator: Doreen Cronin / Betsy Lewin

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster

• Date: 2000

• Page #: 32

• Grade: K-3

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Peaceful protest, communication

Plot Summary:

• This book is a funny story about farm animals that find a type writer on their farm. This typewriter gives them a voice to be able to communicate with their farmer. They start demanding things that most animals don't need or get, but they take advantage of the new voice that they have.

• Title: Olivia

• Author/Illustrator: Ian Falconer

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster

• Date: January 1, 2004

• Page #: 40

• Grade: K-2

• Genre: Children's Literature

• Theme: Creativity, Art

Plot Summary:

• Olivia is a high energy little pig who loves to push the boundaries set for her. She has an amazing talent for art and creativity so her family tries to help her channel her energy into her art. The book follows a day to day journey of Olivia and her interactions with her mother and family as she goes through stubborn and excited emotions.