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

Arthur's April Fool

Arthur's April Fool

by Marc Brown

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1985

Summary:  It's April Fools Day and the whole school is preparing for a talent show.   But the school bully is ruining it for everyone.  Arthur puts the bully in his place with a little joke of his own. 

Lesson:  A good book for standing up to bullies.  Also a good book for showing lower grades harmless April Fools fun. 

Level: 1st-3rd

Ah, to be young again........

Last night I was driving two 10 year old boys to see the final Harry Potter movie.  I was listening to them discuss the house elves, who had been (for the most part) a sub-plot left out of the movies.  As I thought of 2 ten year old boys reading and discussing what they had read, I thought--"It just doesn't get any better than this."  But then they went on to explain to the father of one (who hadn't read the books) how the elves deserved to be free, to explain the importance of Hermione's cause.  And then I knew--"It doesn't get any better than this."

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

One is a Feast for Mouse

One Is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale 

by Judy Cox , Jeffrey Ebbeler (Illustrator)

Holiday House, 2008

Summary:  After the humans finish their Thanksgiving feast, Mouse climbs down to take just one pea for his feast.  But his eyes are bigger than his stomach as he adds more and more to his menu.  A repetitive book that kids loved repeating with me as each new item was stacked on top. 

Lesson:  I read this book for Thanksgiving.  The repetition allowed for students to become verbal participants in the storytelling, and to predict what would happen next. 

Level: Kinder-3rd

Shark vs. Train

Shark vs. Train 

by Chris Barton , Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator) 

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010

Summary:  Shark and train match up against one another to see who would win in a variety of scenarios, from swimming to hot balloon riding, video games to hide-n-seek.  Hilarious side comments are made in the voice balloons in the pictures. 

Lesson:  I read this book to expose my lower grades (and teachers) to the 2x2 list (recommended reads for PreK-2nd).  If I had found the book sooner, I would have used it for the "live vs not live" units in kindergarten and 1st.  After I read this book, the three copies never touched a bookshelf for the rest of the school year.  And the students loved the signed poster by author Chris Barton I put on the wall.

Level: Kinder-3rd  (although even my 5th graders loved this book)

McDuff's Christmas

McDuff's Christmas 

by Rosemary Wells , Susan Jeffers (Illustrator) 

Hyperion, 2005

Summary:  McDuff and his family are waiting for Christmas to come, despite the tremendous snowfall outside.  When McDuff hears something outside, he wakes up his owners to go out into the cold.

Lesson:  This was a great book to talk about snow.  The types of clothing, the necessity of shoveling, the problems with holes in your shoes.  Being in the South, our children rarely see more than an inch once every few years.  They were very amazed at all the trouble it caused for McDuff and his family.  After I read this book, I couldn't keep McDuff books on the shelf. 

Level:  1st-3rd