OFF THE SHELF--Caddie Woodlawn

Caddie Woodlawn 

by Carol Ryrie Brink

1935, Newbery Medal Winner

I would be remiss if I did not give recognition to one of my favorite books of all time, Caddie Woodlawn. It is a work of historical fiction written based upon stories told by the author's grandmother of her childhood.  Raised in the Midwest plains, with Indians for neighbors, young Caddie is brave, smart, and loyal, each of her adventures as harrowing as the next.  To this day, 30 years later, I can still hear the rattlesnakes rattling in this book.  When the 4th grade teacher said she wanted her kids to pick a work of historical fiction, it was the first book I grabbed off the shelf.  

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 

Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse

Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse 

by Rebecca Janni , Lynne Avril (Illustrator) 

Penguin, 2010

Summary:  Nellie Sue is a cowgirl who needs a horse. And when she gets a bike for her birthday, she uses her imagination to ride her horse around the neighborhood.  Full of whoopin' and hollerin', and a good ole time. 

Lesson:  This was completely impromptu--the children realizing it was my birthday insisted we read a birthday book.  I had just gotten this one in a delivery, so I read it to them.  The girls loved it; the boys were at first put off by all the pink, but then became involved with her crashing down the hill and lassoing the other kids.  Afterwards, we had fun sharing what we imagine when we ride a bike, or go down a slide, etc. 

Level:  PreK-2nd

OFF THE SHELF -- Fox Makes Friends

Fox Makes Friends

by Adam Relf

Sterling Publishing, 2005

This book comes with my son's seal of approval.  I cannot even begin to count how many times he brought this book home from his school's library between kindergarten and 2nd grade.  So when I first started working in an elementary library, it was my "go to" choice when a student asked for a "good book".  When Fox's mother suggests that he go outside and make some friends, he takes her literally and starts to build a friend with sticks.  As other animals come along to help him with his task, he unknowingly fulfills his task by making real friends.

Level:  PreK - 2nd

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

Cinco de Mouse-O!

Cinco de Mouse-O! 

by Judy Cox

Holiday House, 2010

Summary:  Following the smells, mouse visits a Cinco de Mayo celebration.  Danger ensues as he climbs onto a pinata above the stalking cat.  A great adventure, full of Mexican culture. 

Lesson:  I read this story on Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) as a way to celebrate Mexican culture and part of our state's history (Texas).  We also talked about ways our community celebrated Cinco de Mayo.

Level:  Kinder-3rd

OFF THE SHELF -- The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games 

by Suzanne Collins

Scholastic, 2008

The Hunger Games is the first book of the dystopian trilogy, The Hunger Games, followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay. The series combines the political statement of 1984 with the dangerous societal games of The Running Man, using teenagers as main characters.  While the YA target audience is middle and high school, I did suggest this first book to a few 5th graders already reading middle school books.  Before long, most of the 5th and 4th grade faculty had read the trilogy.  

Level:  6th - adult