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.
