If You Take A Mouse To The Movies

Author/Illustrator: Laura Numeroff/Felicia Bond

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: None

Grade Level: Pk-1st

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you took a mouse to the movies? In this book when a young boy takes his mouse he quickly found out his day was filled with more than just a movie. It all started with asking for popcorn.

This is a good book for early elementary students Pk-1st grade. I would use this book in my classroom to have students practice sequencing the events that took place in the story. I would give them sequencing cards and have them put them in the correct order.

Leo: A Ghost Story

Author/Illustrator: Mac Barnett/Christian Robinson

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: None

Grade Level: K-2nd

This book is about a ghost that unfortunately was disliked by the new family that moved into his house. They hired many different people to rid him of his home. Leo set out to find a new home. He tried asking for directions, but no one could see him until he stumbled upon a young girl. This girl invited him to play with her and her friends. Leo couldn't see her friend and soon realized they were imaginary just like she thought he was. Could Leo tell the girl that he was a ghost and keep the friendship? One night a robber tried to break in and Leo came to the rescue. At this point, he had to say the obvious. A friendship was formed between a young girl and a ghost.

This book is a great read for young elementary students in K-2nd. This book can be stretched a bit to teach students a lesson on differences. I would use this book to teach students that we all are different whether we are 6ft tall, have brown hair, or even are a ghost; we all are the same.

How to Defeat Dragons

Author/Illustrator: Catherine Leblanc/Roland Garrigue
Genre: Fantasy
Awards: None
Grade Level: 1st-4th

If you have ever wondered what to do when you come across a dragon, this is a great book. This book takes you through different scenarios you might encounter and what techniques you should use to defeat the dragons. If you are lucky you might even be able to train one and use it as a bodyguard. This book will explain the ins and outs of defeating dragons.

This book is great for students in 1st grade through 4th. I would not use this book for instructional purposes, but it is great for spare time and independent reading.

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Author/Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Genre: Poetry
Awards: None
Grade Level: K-6th

This book is about a young boy going out into the world and deciding what he wants to do and what direction he will choose. Dr. Seuss describes his options as limitless. Nothing can hold him back, he can only go up from where he is. This entire book shows a boy traveling this path, but Dr. Seuss really means you, me, and all of us.

This book is really great for all ages. It can be read to students before they set out on a big adventure such as the next grade or even moving to a new school. I would read this book to my students at the beginning or end of the year. I would use it to show them that they can go anywhere or accomplish any goal as long as they set their mind to it.

May I Bring A Friend?

Author/Illustrator: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers/Beni Montresor

Genre: Poetry

Awards: Caldecott Award

Grade Level: PreK-3rd

This book is about a boy who has been invited to the King and Queens house for tea. Before accepting the invite he asks if he can bring a friend to which the response is always, "Any friend of our friend is welcome here." The young boy shows up with a very large friend that surprises the king and queen. Every day the young boy is invited back and every day he brings a new friend. At the end of the book the boy says that his friends want the king and queen to come over, so they did just that.

This book would be great for young readers as well as mid-elementary readers too. I would use this book in my classroom to help them learn the days of the week. I could have the students match up the corresponding animals for the say that they came.

Wild About Books

Author/Illustrator: Judy Sierra/Marc Brown
Genre: Poetry
Awards: None
Grade Level: Prek-1st

This is a silly book about a librarian names Molly McGrew who accidentally took her mobile library to the zoo and began reading. All of the animals rushed over to listen and instantly fell in love with books. Molly provided all kinds of books for the animals as well as instructions on how to care for the books. The books inspired the animals so much that they built a library in their own zoo.

This book is a great book for beginning readers from PreK to first grade. I could use this book as in introduction for how we should treat books in our library as well as showing the students that there are so many types of books. This is a great book to get students motivated about reading.

One Big Pair Of Underwear

Author/Illustrator: Laura Gehl and Tom Lichtenheld

Genre: Poetry

Awards: None

Grade level: PreK-K

This book is about animals learning to share their things. It starts off with two brown bears and only one pair of underwear. As the book progresses the more animals there are with always one less item. When the book reaches the number ten it shows twenty pigs with only ten slides. These pigs paired up and showed the other animals what it means to share.

This book would be useful for students in Prek to Kindergarten. This book teaches students how to share as well as count to ten. I could use this book to teach the importance of sharing with their friends or in a unit over counting to ten.