The Three Little Pigs

Author/Illustrator: Paul Galdone
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: None
Grade: PreK-2nd

This book is about three little pigs and a big bad wolf. The three little pigs were sent off on their own when their mom could no longer care for them. They each built a house, one of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks. The big bad wolf came to each house and threatened to blow it down. He successfully blew down the houses and ate the first two little pigs. When it came to the third little pig who built his house out of brick it was a little tougher. The wolf played tricks on the pig, but the pig outsmarted the wolf in the end.

I would use this book in my classroom for grades PreK through second grade. It is a classic story that every kid knows and loves. It is an easy read for them because most children know what is coming next. This book would be greatly used in a sequencing or cause and effect unit.

Strega Nona

Author/Illustrator: Tomie De Paola
Genre: Traditional Literature
Award: Caldecott Honor
Grade: K-2

This book is about a woman named Strega Nona. She is known for curing headaches, removing warts, and getting young girls husbands.  As she gets older she starts to need help around the house so she hired a man named Big Anthony to help out. She gave him a bed, food, and three coins a day for all his help. The only thing he was advised not to do was touch her pasta pot. He overheard her one day singing to the pot as it made her pasta. He ran to tell the townspeople and they laughed. His day came soon enough that he was able to prove to the townspeople just how magical the pot was. But when it didn't stop making pasta Big Anthony was in trouble.  As Strega Nona arrived home she knew exactly what had happened and what to do.

This story would be great for students in K through second grade. It would keep them guessing what would happen next. This book could be during a lesson plan on sequencing stories.

Wonder

Author/Illustrator: R.J. Palacio
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: Bluebonnet Award, #1 New York Times Bestseller, One of Time Magazine's 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time, A Parents Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year, An NPR Outstanding Backseat Book Club Pick,, An Entertainment Weekly 10 Great Kid's Books Selection, An E.B. White Read Aloud Award Winner, A USA Today Top 100 Best Seller, An ALA-ALSC Notable Book, A Washington Post Best Kid's Book, An IRA-CBC Teachers' Choice
Grade: 3-6

Summary: August Pullam, also known as Auggie is a 10-year-old boy with a unique face. He was born with a rare facial deformity that set him apart from others. He has been homeschooled for most of his life. His parents decide it is time for him to go to school. He was accepted to one of the top prestigious schools in the area, Beecher Prep. The administrative team set Auggie up to be successful and even gathered students to help his transition go smoothly. Auggie dreaded going to school at first because the students would stare as always. After his first few days, he started to make a few friends, Jack Will and Summer. This helped him to become comfortable with the school. Though he made a few friends students would still make fun of him, calling him names, playing games behind his back, and making jokes about him in front of the class. Auggie was able to block all of this out until he overheard Jack Will say something that crushed Auggie. He never wanted to return to school, but with the help of his sister, he was able to return. After a few days and confrontation, Auggie forgave Jack and they were inseparable. Julian, Auggies main bully, started a war between the students because he didn't like that Jack was friends with Auggie again. During the school retreat, things took a turn. Auggie was bullied by a kid from another school and everyone stood up for Auggie. After this Auggie was one in the same with the students.

I would use this book in my classroom for grades 3-6 book club depending on student's reading levels. This book teaches students to accept each other's differences. I might even just read a few chapters a day to the students since they are so short.

The Night Before First Grade

Author/Illustrator: Natasha Wing/Deborah Zemke
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Award: None
Grade: 1st

This book is about a Penny and her first day of first grade! The night before she has high hopes for the next day that first grade would be perfect with her best friend by her side. When they arrived at school the principal made an announcement that there were so many people that they had to split the grade in two. Penny and Jenny were no longer together. Penny made the best of her time away from her friend, when they reunited that each had a new friend that happened to be twins.

This is a cute book meant to be read to first graders. If I used this book in my classroom I would read it to students on the first day of first grade. The remainder of the year it would be in my library.

The Legend Of The Bluebonnet

Author/Illustrator: Tomie DePaola
Genre: Traditional Literature
Award: None
Grade: 1st-3rd

She-Who-Is-Alone was the last of her family to survive during a drought and famine. Her warrior doll was the last thing she owned that reminded her of her family. The people had displayed selfishness for years. The great spirits said the only way to bring rain to their land was to sacrifice the most valued possession among them and spread the ashes. She-Who-Is-Alone knew what she had to do. During the night she went to the hill and made a sacrifice asking the spirits to please accept it. When she awoke the spirits had left a sign of forgiveness.

This is one of my favorite children's books. The vocabulary is focused on middle level elementary students and the legend gets students thinking. I could use this book during a unit on tales, or even during a social studies event though I know it is not a true story.

Bats

Author/Illustrator: Gail Gibbons
Genre: Nonfiction
Awards: None
Grade: 2nd-5th

Have you every wanted to know everything there is to know about bats? This is the perfect book! This book goes in detail about where bats live, what they eat, what types of bats there are, how they catch food, and much more. Learn what you can do to help endangered bats.

This book would be great for 2nd to 5th grade. It could be used in the classroom for research projects, learning about mammals, or even endangered animals. I would definitely use this book in my classroom. Though it is a nonfiction book, the illustrations make it fun and inviting.

Families Are Different

Author/Illustrator: Nina Pellegrini
Genre: Multicultural
Awards: None
Grade: Prek-1

This book is about a young girl named Nicola. She starts off introducing us to her family. She loves them so very much, but sometimes just feels different. She and her sister were adopted from Korea when they were babies. At times she wished she looked like her family. Her mom told her that all families look different.

This is a simple book about the variety of families. I would keep it in my class library but probably would not use it for instructional purposes. It would make a great read-aloud for preschoolers. Kindergarten and first grade could read it during reading time.

The True Story Of The 3 Little Pigs!

Author/Illustrator: Jon Scieszka/Lane Smith
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: None
Grade: K-4th

This book is about the big bad wolf, I mean Alexander T. Wolf. Alexander believes that he was framed. All he was trying to do was borrow a cup of sugar for his granny's birthday cake. He visited each of the three little pigs and they didn't answer the door. After waiting a few minutes at each door he had to sneeze, and every time the house blew down. After each house blew down, there would be a dead pig laying there, and who can resist a free ham dinner? The third house didn't blow down unfortunately and the pig threatened the wolf's granny. The cops showed up and arrested the wolf. Apparently, a story about a wolf isn't good enough, so the police added a twist.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach students about different perspectives and points of views. Students could rewrite stories from different perspectives. This book is great for upper elementary students. For lower elementary students maybe just for read-aloud purposes.

The Rainbow Fish

Author/Illustrator: Marcus Pfister
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: Abby Winner
Grade: K-1

This book is about a beautiful rainbow fish that has shiny scales that glisten as he swims. Everyone wanted to play with the Rainbow fish, but he would ignore them because he was just too good. One day a little fish asked if he could have a small, shiny scale. Nobody wanted to be friends with the rainbow fish anymore. He got so lonely and went out in search for answers. He swam in the deep ocean to several other fish in search for advice. He was told to give away his scales and he would make friends. Once he listened, everyone wanted to play with him again.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach students about the generosity of sharing. This book would be great for the lower grades teaching them that if they share and have a kind heart more people will want to be around them. Be a friend. This book would be great for a unit on character traits.

What Do You Do With A Tail Like This?

Author/Illustrator: Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
Genre: Non-Fiction
Awards: Caldecott Award
Grade: K-3rd

Throughout this book are a variety of animals and their characteristics. Every page is a new characteristic of animals. The following page describes what each animal does with that characteristic. At the very end of the book, it gives a description of every animal in the book.

This book could serve so many purposes in my classroom. At one point in your schooling, you've had that one research project over an animal. This book could be read at the start of that project to get students thinking. This book would be great for students in kindergarten through third grade.

Hansel and Gretel

Author/Illustrator: Lucy Kincaid/Eric Kincaid

Genre: Traditional Literature

Awards: None

Grade Level: 2nd-4th

Hansel and Gretel's dad and stepmom were too poor to take care of them. The step mother decided they should take them out into the woods and let them take care of themselves. Hansel and Gretel kept finding their way back to the house by using pebbles. They were taken back out to the woods and Hansel used bread comes to make a trail the second time. When it was time for them to head back they realized that the bread crumbs had been eaten. After three days of wondering around they found a house that was made out of sweets. Of course they started to eat it. The witch that lived there invited them in, but little did they know she had her own dark plans. She was going to fatten them up to eat them. Everyday the witch made Gretel make Hansel food in order to fatten him up. Hansel tricked the witch into thinking he wasn't getting fatter. The witch got tired of waiting and told Gretel to get into the oven. Gretel outsmarted the witch and said she didn't know how. When the witch demonstrated how Gretel pushed her in, freed her brother, and they ran home. The woodcutter, Hansel and Gretel's dad, was relieved to see his children. He told them that they sold all of their treasure and that the stepmother had died. 

This book could be read by second graders, but I would use it for third and fourth more often. The words are large and simple for second graders, maybe even first graders. However the content is more for upper elementary students. There are some parts of the book that don't seem appropriate for younger students. I would use this book in my classroom during a unit over fairy tales.

Pass the Peas, Please: A Book of Manners

Author/Illustrator: Dina Anastasio/Katy Keck Arnsteen

Genre: Poetry

Awards: None

Grade Level: Pre-k-1st

This book is about different scenarios and how you should and should not react. Different animals are shown in the illustrations doing things such as accidentally kicking someone in the knee, playing with grandma's dishes, interrupting family members, and much more. Every page depicts a different incident and what you should do instead.

I would use this book in my classroom for students anywhere from Pre-k to 1st grade. This is a great book for teaching students how we should treat our friends or other adults and family. I could use this book during a unit on manners.

No, David!

Author: David Shannon
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: Caldecott Award
Grade: K-2nd

This book is about a boy named David who is always getting in trouble. He tracks mud through the house, splashes water in the bathroom, writes on the walls, and even runs down the street with no clothes on! His parents are always telling him no, but he just doesn't listen. They tried to send him to his room and put him in time out, but nothing worked. Finally, at the end of the book, David gives his mom a hug and she can finally say, Yes, David."

This book is focused on students from K-2nd. I would not use this book in my classroom for instructional purposes. I would let students read this book during independent reading or I could use it to fill up any free time we have while waiting to go on to our next class/home.

The Ugly Duckling

Author/Illustrator: Hans Christian Andersen/Jerry Pinkney

Genre: Fantasy and Sci-Fi

Awards: 2000 Caldecott Medal

Grade Level: PK-2

A mother duck had just had 5 eggs hatch and was waiting patiently for the last oddly shaped egg to hatch. When it finally did, she noticed he looked different from the rest. Because of his appearance, he was made fun of by his siblings and by the families that would pass by. He traveled in great depression thinking he was an ugly duck. One day, he decided to swim with a beautiful flock of swans out in the water. When he bowed his head down, he noticed in his reflection that he was a beautiful swan just like the rest of them and finally felt at peace with himself.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach my students to never give up on their hopes and dreams. I would probably use this for either first or second grade since they starting to understand other peoples' feelings and will be able to feel empathy towards the ugly duckling. This book would be great to use to teach students the importance of individuality as well as teaching them to find their place in society.

You Are (Not) Small

Author/Illustrator: Anna Kang/Christopher Weyant
Genre: Fantasy and Sci-Fi
Awards: None
Grade: Pre-K- 2nd

This book is about two bears arguing over who is big and who is small. They take turns going back and forth until a huge "Boom!" happens. A big pair of legs were dividing them, and tiny bears with parachutes fell from the sky. The bears realized that there were bigger bears and smaller bears. The quickly agreed that they were not classified as big or small and decided to go get some lunch.

I would use this book in my classroom to show my students that everyone is different. This book would be best for Pre-k-1st grade. You could even stretch it out to second grade. I would teach my students that though we have differences such as height, hair color, skin color, and eye color we are all human. At the end of the day, we are all the same and should be friends.