The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Author/Illustrator: Jon Scieszka/Lane Smith
Genre: Fantasy
Awards: Caldecott Honor Award
Grade Level: 2nd-4th

This book is filled with all of your everyday fairytales... but with a twist. Scieszka takes regular fairytales stories and adds comedy, twists, and completely turns them upside down. Be ready to laugh at little red running shorts, the really ugly duckling, and more.

This book would be perfect for students from 2nd to fourth grade. I could use this book to have students compare and contrast fairytales with Scieszka's version of the story. These stories are also pretty short and can be used to pass time in the classroom.

The Polar Express

Author/Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg
Genre: Fiction
Awards: Caldecott Awards
Grade Level: Prek-6th

A young boy lays quietly on Christmas Eve night listening for s special sound that was replaced with the sound of a train whistle. He stepped out to see the train and was asked if he was boarding the Polar Express. With hesitation he did. Children in pajamas filled the train awaiting their destination... The North Pole. Here Santa Claus would give the first gift of Christmas to someone special. When the young boy was chosen he chose something special, a bell from Santa's sleigh. On the way home, he realized it fell through a hole in his pocket. Santa came through on Christmas morning with it in a small box. It made the most beautiful noise when shook, but only if you believe.

This is a great book for all ages of elementary students. I would not use this book for instructional purposes. I recall reading this book in elementary and the teachers making a huge deal of it. All students came to school in their pajamas, got hot chocolate, went to the front office to get a polar express ticket, and watched the movie. I would love to do that with my students in the future.

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.