Written by Nancy Werlin
Published by Dial books/ Penguin Group 2006
Genre: Chapter book, Realistic Fiction
Theme:Family Relationships, Child Abuse,, Survival
Summary: This book deals with a very difficult topic, child abuse. Matt, a thirteen year old boy and his step-sister Callie spend parts of their childhood trying to protect their youngest sister Emmy from their abusive mother. While the children attempts to stay strong and find strength in one another, Nikki their mother constantly make their lives unbearable. Can they receive the help they need? Who should they turn to for help when the adults around them choose to ignore their plight?
Book usage: This book should be read by older children or adults. Read it during individual reading times.
Written and Illustrated by Peter Sis
Published by Farrar, Stroux Giroux 2007
Awards:Caldecott Honor Book, Robert F. Sibert Informational book Medal Winner
Genres: Picture Story Book, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction
Summary: Explore Czechoslovakia during the period when they were under Soviet rule. It is written through the eyes of the author as he grows from childhood to adulthood.
Book usage:Use this book as part of an intercurriculum study dealing with multicultures, history or Soviet reign. It is very informative and the author present the fact from the point of view of an adolescent boy.
Written by Uri Orlev
Translated by Hillel Halkim
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company
Awards: Mildred L. Batchelder Award Winner 2004
Genre: Chapter book, Translated Book
Theme: Survival, Seperation, Jewish Persecution
Summary: This book explores the trial of a young boy who is a Polish Jew. He gets seperated from his family during the time of the Jewish round up in occupied Poland. Young Srulik takes off from his hometown in search of his family, but must overcome several obstacles along the way.
Book usage: Use this book as part of an intercurriculum lesson plan discussing the Jewish Holocaust and how it affected families throughout the world. It can be use to aid in studies on diversity.
Written and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Published by Jump At The Sun/ Hyperion Book for Children 2008
Genre: Chapter book, Informational Book
Award: Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner 2009
Theme: Negro League Baseball
Summary:This is a book about Negro League Baseball. It discussed the problems encountered by African-Americans who simply wanted to play and work in a game or profession that would become known as "America's pasttime". Learn about players you may never have heard of, who endured alot and paved the way for baseball as we see it played today.
Book usage: Share this book with anyone who likes the history of baseball. Can be used as part of a lesson on multicultural studies or just enjoy it during individual reading time.
Written and Illustrated by Suzanne Bloom
Published by Boyd Mills Press, Inc. 2005
Genre: Picture book, Fiction
Theme: Friendship
Summary: This a story of how even bothersome friends, can be special too. Its short, but nice, so enjoy.
Book usage: Use this book for family bonding time or with beginning readers.
Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books 2004
Awards: Caldecott Honor Winner
Genre: Picture Story book, Fiction
Theme: Family, Precious things
Summary: This is a book about a young girl's toy which was misplaced. Due to her not being able to talk, she tries everything she can think of to get through to her dad. Teaches a lesson, that new dads should be more careful.
Book usage: Read this story during family bonding time or as a bedtime story. Give it to a new parent as a reminder of things they should never forget.
Written and artwork by Oliver Jeffers
Published by Philomel Books 2006
Genre: Picture Story Book, Fiction
Theme: Humor and knowledge
Summary: This book is about a boy who discovers a taste for eating books. During the process he gains knowledge from whatever he eats. That is until eating books makes him sick and he discovers how much fun reading them actually are.
Book usage: Enjoy this book during individual reading time or just for family bonding.
Written by Antoine O'Flatharta
Illustrated by Meilo So
Published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House 2005
Genre: Picture story book Realistic fiction
Theme: Monarch Butterflies
Summary: This book explores the migration path of a butterfly from Mexico to Canada. He meets Hurry, a tortoise and they become friends and more.
Book Usage: Use this book for individual reading. Its is a nice book to stimulate interest in butterflies or collecting.
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books for Children 2007
Awards: Caldecott Honor book
Genre: Picture Book Fiction
Theme: Show and tell
Summary: A neat little book about a girl who brought her favorite toy to school for show and tell. It gets switch with an identical toy, but she quickly realizes the difference.
Book Usage: Add this book to the classroom library for individual reading time or just enjoy it at home for a bedtime story. Its sure to bring a smile to a young child's heart.
Written by Diane Stanley
Art by Leonardo Da Vinci (notebooks) selected by D. Stanley
Published by William Morrow and Company 1996
Awards: Orbis Pictus Winner 1997
Genre: Picture Story Book, Informational book, Biography
Theme: Leonardo Da Vinci
Summary: This is a biography about Leonardo Da Vinci. An exceptionally gifted artist and inventor. The book displays drawing from Da Vinci's personal notebooks and will surprise you with some fact you may not know.
Book usage: Use this book as part of a reading, history or art lesson. Great book for individual reading, especially for an aspiring artist.
Written and illustrated by Michelle Edwards
Published by Harcourt Book 2005
Award: Gryphon Award for Transitional books
Genre: Chapter Book Fiction
Themes: Dealing with Death and Shock
Summary: This is a book about how a elementary class deals with the loss of a classmate. The narrator, a young girl witnesses the accident and struggles with how to deal with it after returning to school the next day and receiving the bad news.
Book Usage: Use this book for individual reading, but not for very young children due its main theme.
Written by Carolyn Mackler
Publish by Candlewick Press 2003
Genre: Chapter Book Realistic Fiction
Theme:Family, Self Esteem, Overweight
Summary: How does a young girl come to grip with the many problems that a teenager may face today.Virginia Shreves deals with trying to fit in with those around her, as she deals with being overweight. She struggles to find herself amongst family and friends as she discovers the person she wants to be.
Book usage: Add this book to your personal library for individual reading.
Written By Kate Lum
Illustrated by Adrian Johnson
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers 1999(United States)
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC as "What!" (Great Britain)1998
Genre: Picture book Fiction
Theme: Bedtime Story (almost)
Summary: This is a funny tale about an unprepared grandmother who hustles to get things ready for her grandson to go to bed. The question is, does she have enough time to do it all?
Book usage: This is a wonderful book to get in one last laugh before bedtime. Enjoy!!!
Written and Illustrated By Alison Lester
Published by Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2005
Penguin Books Australia, 2004
Genre: Picture Story Book, Informational book
Theme: Family, Travel and Adventure
Summary: Enjoy this story about an Australian family who takes a semester out of conventional schools to explore Australia and learn more about the wonders in their country. Its an education that extends beyond the classroom.
Book usage: I would this book to my classroom library for individual reading time. It could also be incorporated into a lesson on Australia while discussing geography.
Written By Dayle Ann Dodds
Illustrated by Krysten Brooker
Published by Melanie Kroupa Books 2007
Genre: Picture Story book Fiction
Theme: Bedtime trials
Sumary: A wonderful tale of the efforts some people would go through in order to get a young child to go to sleep. Enjoy the extreme steps taken for young Prince and remember its the simplest thing that counts most.
Book usage: Use this book as a bedtime story and as reminder to keep things simple :o).
Written by Libby Gleeson
Illustrated by Freya Blackwood
Published by Authur A. Levine Books 2006
Genre: Picture Book, Realistic Fiction
Theme: Friendship and Adjusting to changes
Summary: How do a parent help a child adjust to a loved one moving away? Help them to remember the special things they shared with each other. Encourage them to remember that just because they are apart, that they are not forgotten.Enjoy this story about Amy and Louie and a special shared moment.
Book Usage:Enjoy this book as a special bedtime story or read it aloud. Its important to children know that the people they care about who are not there, are still thinking about them.
