Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? 

by Bill Martin Jr. , Eric Carle (Illustrator)

Henry Holt and Co., 2006

Summary:Using repetitive patterns, endangered animals are asked which animal they saw, a different animal for each page.  

Lesson:  My primary purpose for reading this book was as a springboard into a lesson teaching students where to find the non-fiction books in the library.  First we talked about the different  between the wild and domestic animals, then about their placement in the library.  Since this book features endangered animals, it was an opportunity to teach the animal names, in both English and Spanish.  We also talked listed which animals would:  run, swim, or fly?

Level: PreK - 2nd

OFF THE SHELF -- An Egg is Quiet

An Egg is Quiet

by Dianna Hutts Aston , Sylvia Long (Illustrator) 

Chronicle Books Llc, 2006

 The teacher had procured an egg and space heater so the kindergartners could watch the egg hatch a baby chick.  I suggested this book to her to help the children understand what was happening inside the egg.  Beautifully illustrated by Sylvia Long, a variety of eggs are described from birds to salmon. Children learn that eggs come in all colors and sizes. An X-ray perspective shows what is happening in the stages inside the eggs of several animals.  It's sister book, A Seed is Sleepy, likewise shows the many type of seeds and how they grow into plants and trees. 

level:  K - 5th

OFF THE SHELF: Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon

by  Catherine Thimmesh

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006 Sibert Medal

This weekend, I accompanied a cub scout camp out at NASA.  The boys had so many questions about space, space flight, and the various missions.  I found myself recommending this book to them and their parents over and over again.  The book chronicles the Apollo 11 mission to the moon by showing all the work that went into building the rocket, capsule and limb; into the planning and training for the mission.  The book has authentic photographs and quotes from players at all stages.  The power of teamwork in achieving a goal is just important a theme of this book as learning about space flight.  A great book for kids and adults alike to learn more about what is involved in traveling to the moon. 

Level:  3rd and up

Pink and Say

Pink and Say 

by Patricia Polacco

Penguin, 1994

Summary:  A true story handed down from the Civil War, a young injured white Union soldier is saved  befriended by a black Union soldier whose home is close to the battlefield.  As they hide out from the Confederate Army, they become fast friends. 

Lesson:  A 4th grade teacher was looking for books to use in her Black History month unit.  I suggested this one.  She held on to it, and referred back to it with her class when they reached the Civil War in Social Studies.  It could also be used to discuss tolerance.

Level:  3rd -5th

You wouldn't want to be a ..... (Series)

 

You wouldn't want to be a ......(series)

various authors, Created by David Salariya

Children's Press

Summary: A fun look at a variety of jobs, lifes, and situations that humans have found themselves in throughout history:  16th Century whaling ships and germs, Egpytian mummies and American pioneers.  There's a book for just about everything, even Apollo 13 astronauts.  The books provide fascinating facts in an entertaining format.  There is a glossary of terms in the back.

Lesson:  One of my reading challenges asked the students to explore their world. To create a book display for this, I used several books that explored places, cultures and science.  I placed these books throughout the sections.  They were popular and often checked out.  The "Viking" book quickly became a classic, even after the challenge.

Level:  3rd - 6th

If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks

If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks 

by Faith Ringgold , Faith Ringgold (Illustrator)
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2002

Summary:  This delightful book tells the story of Rosa Parks from the bus's point of view.  Unlike other Civil Rights books that speak from erudite perspective, this is a friendly voice that children used to Thomas the Tank Engine, et al, will feel quickly warm up to.  A great way to couch an important event in the visuals and language of a younger audience.  

Lesson:  The Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers were looking for a book on Civil Rights.  Most books are written in textual format, with a few photographs interspersed.  This book was appropriate to engage their interests and to bring abstract concepts down to their level.  

Level:  Kinder-3rd 

Latino Legends: Hispanics in Major League Baseball

Latino Legends: Hispanics in Major League Baseball 

by Michael Silverstone , Timothy Rasinski , Doran Duke Goldman

Coughlin Publishing, 2003

Summary:  Short, Sports focused biographies of famous Hispanics in Major League Baseball.

Lesson:  I used this book twice.  First, when a grade level was doing biographical research, I showed them this as an example of how to find biographies based upon the topic's profile:  Female scientists, Presidents, Civil Rights Leaders, baseball players, etc.  Then later, when talking about searching for information, I was showing the students how to use the table of contents and the index pages. 

Level: 3rd - 6th

The Popcorn Book

The Popcorn Book 

by Tomie dePaola

Holiday House, 1989

Summary:  This book includes recipes, facts and legends about popcorn.  An informative and entertaining read.

Lesson:  A teacher was going to talk about Native Americans foods, so I gave her this book to use in her unit.

Level: 2nd-6th

OFF THE SHELF--When a Pet Dies

When a Pet Dies 

by Fred Rogers , Jim Judkis (Photographer) 

Penguin, 1998

Mr. Rogers talks sensitively about the emotions people feel as a beloved pet dies.  He discusses the grief and healing processes, reassuring the children that this part of life.  When a community death touched much of our population, teachers of lower grades sought resources to help the children understand death.  With this book, the teachers were able to first talk about death and grief and healing; and, then, they talked about the tragic event and loss of a father, uncle, friend of the family. 

Level:  PreK-3rd

If I Ran the Rain Forest

If I Ran the Rain Forest: All About Tropical Rain Forests 

by Bonnie Worth , Aristides Ruiz (Illustrator) 

 Random House, 2003

Summary:  Two kids join the Cat-in-the-Hat in a journey through the rain forest, where they learn about the features, plants and animals of a tropical rain forest. 

Lesson:  I sent this book to a teacher who was doing a unit on the rain forest.  The students enjoyed having the "lesson" narrated by a familiar and fun character. 

Level:  1st-4th

A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper

A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper

Nate LeBoutillier

Coughlan, 2004

Summary:  Using real pictures to match the text, the book chronicles all the duties and responsibilities of a zookeeper.

Lesson:  I used this book in my lesson comparing Fiction and NonFiction.  The students loved it so much, it was checked out for the rest of the year. It was paired with A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead for the Fiction title.

Level:  PreK-3

D is for Dancing Dragon

D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet 

by Carol Crane , Zong Wang (Illustrator) 

Sleeping Bear Press, 2006

Summary:  By assigning a different aspect of Chinese Culture to each letter of the English Alphabet, the author is able to both entertain and inform the reader.  From legends of evil spirits to foods to Great Walls, there is much to learn about Chinese culture. 

Lesson: I read this book the week of Chinese New Year.  For the younger students, I focused mostly on the alphabet and the words that began with it.  I lingered on some of the more well-known cultural aspects, such as fireworks and kites.  For the older students, I ignored the alphabet and focused on the different aspects of culture, asking how it compared to some of our traditions.  Please note that Gale has a free teacher's guide for this book:  http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/TeachersGuides/DancingDragon.pdf

Level:  Kinder-5th 

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac (El Zodiaco Chino)

by Monica Chang (Retold by) , Arthur Lee (Illustrator) , Beatriz Zeller (Translator)

Yuan-Liou Publishing Company, 1994

Summary:  The retelling of the Chinese legend of how their zodiac was created.  All of the animals are called to race, with the first 12 to cross the line earning a place in the zodiac.  Cat and Rat have a plan....

Lesson:  I read this the week of Chinese New Year.  I also made bookmarks with the birth years of all the grade levels corresponding to their Chinese Zodiac sign.  The children had fun figuring out their year, and that of siblings and friends. 

Level:  K-3rd

If I Were President

If I Were President 

by Catherine Stier , DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan (Illustrator)

Whitman, Albert & Company, 1999

Summary:  This book explains all the duties, responsibilities, and privileges of being the President of the United States of America by having children imagine themselves in the role.  From meeting foreign dignitaries and creating laws to commanding the army and using the White House movie theater room, the job of president is painted as one of responsibility, leadership, and fun. 

Lesson: I read this the week of President's Day, which happened to be two weeks after Career Week.  Since we had already discussed careers and their unique responsibilities, this was an extension of that conversation.  Also, since we live an hour from a President's birthplace, we talked about how someone "local" could grow up to be President. 

Level:  1st-3rd

14 Cows for America

14 Cows for America

by Carmen Agra Deedy , Thomas González (Illustrator) , Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah (Afterword)

Peachtree Publishers, 2009

Summary:  In this true story, Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah returns to his home tribe the Maasai in Kenya from New York City after the attacks of 9/11.  Listening to him describe the tragedy, his tribe decides to donate a cow (their most important of possessions) to the United States of America, which later grows to 14 cows.  The pictures are vibrant, providing much cultural information.  The afterword by Naiyomah himself provides information about the fate of the cows. 

Lesson:  I read this story on anniversary of 9/11.  Many of my students had not yet been born, and had lots of questions--turning this into a history lesson.  We also talked about the importance of tolerance between peoples.  Finally, we talked about doing something for someone that is sad, like the tribe did for the sad American people.  We discussed scenarios of how even little people like kids could help a sad parent, sibling, or friend. 

Level:  1st-5th