The Little House

Author(s): Virginia Lee Burton

Illustrator: N/A

Publication Date: 1942

Title: The Little House

ISBN # 0395181569

The level: Read Aloud

Topic (what it is about): A city expands until it surrounds a little house. The house is moved to another rural area and finds happiness.

The storyline: Alittle house is built in the country and is very happy with its family. The house is passed down generation to generation until the city surrounds the little house. The owner moves the little house into the country and the little house is happy again.

Why you liked it: This story has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl. It is one of the first books to have won the Caldecot award, the pictures represent the era that the book was printed in and the pictures have a cheery disposition which makes me smile every time that I read it.

What you might be able to do with it in a class: Show students how small towns often become large cities. Have historical photographs of their town/city and show them pictures of how it has grown/changed over the years.

King Puck: Inspired by an Irish Festival

Author(s): Michael Garland

Illustrator: N/A

Publication Date: 2007

Title: King Puck: Inspired by an Irish Festival

ISBN # 006084809X

The level: Read Aloud

Topic (what it is about): A goat and a farmer get a gift from faries who think that they both deserve a reward.

The storyline: A farmer is lonely and lives on a farm with a goat. The farmer reads the same stories time and again, he wishes that he had something else to read. The faries give the goat the ability to talk, and the goat wins the town festival, recieving the title of “King Puck”. The story ends with the goat wishing for books.

Why you liked it: The tale is a bit silly, but it brings the importance of books and knowledge to the attention of the reader.

What you might be able to do with it in a class: Have students write thier own story/tale about a place that they think is interesting.

Regards to the Man in the Moon

Author(s): Ezra Jack Keats

Illustrator: N/A

Publication Date: 1981

Title: Regards to the Man in the Moon

ISBN # 0606025669

The level: Read Aloud

Topic (what it is about): A young boy uses his imagination to travel into outerspace.

The storyline: Kids in the neighborhood make fun of a young boy because he lives in a junk-yard. The boy shows the kids that is is not just junk, but a way to use your imagination.

Why you liked it: The story shows that with imagination, anything is possible.

What you might be able to do with it in a class: Allow students to bring in a variety of objects from hame, or bring some, and allow the students to create their own inventive object.

The Bunnies Trip

Author(s): Lezlie Evans

Illustrator: Kay Chorao

Publication Date: 2008

Title: The Bunnies Trip

ISBN # 0786818980

The level: Read Aloud

Topic (what it is about): The bunnies go on a trip and have to pack.

The storyline: The bunnies go through the process of getting ready to travel. They overpack the suitcases and try to figure out a way to bring what they need.

Why you liked it: The story has a storyline which involves math and problem solving, so younger kids have to think about how the bunnies will solve their problems.

What you might be able to do with it in a class: Have students take what they have in their desks out and arrange the items that they really need and the items that they might not need. This would be a good way to teach organization.

Jump Frog, Jump

Author(s): Robert Kalan

Illustrator: Byron Barton

Publication Date: 1981

Title: Jump Frog, Jump!

ISBN # 0688092411

The level: Read Aloud

Topic (what it is about): A cummulative tale that describes how a toad gets away from a variety of dangerous situations.

The storyline: The frog eats an insect thenescapes from a fish, snake, turtle, and some kids by being able to jump.

Why you liked it: The story is cummulative, so students have to rely upon prior knowledge and build new words as they go along.

What you might be able to do with it in a class: Students could make up their own cummulative stories by beginning with one student and then moving around the room, each student repeating what the prior studt(s) said, and then adding to the story.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z

1. Author(s): Louis Ehlert

Illustrator: N/A

Publication Date: 1989

Title: Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z

ISBN # 0152244360

The level: Read Aloud

Topic (what it is about): An alphabet journey through fruits and vegetables.

The storyline: The reader gets to see the Alphabet letters presented alongside a variety of vegetables and fruits that begin with the perspective letter.

Why you liked it: I learned what currant, endive, gooseberry, jicama, kohlrabi, kumquat, persimmon, and xigua were.  

What you might be able to do with it in a class: Many students are used to eating only certain foods, this book might be a way to open up the knowledge of the students to the variety of flavors that there are in the world of fruits and vegetables.

I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!

Author(s): Karen Beaumont

Illustrator: David Catrow

Publication Date: 2005

Title: I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!

ISBN # 0152024883

The level: Read Aloud, Ages 4 to 8

Topic (what it is about): A little boy who goes crazy with paint

The storyline: A little boy tells the read that he is not going to paint anymore because his mother is mad at him for painting all over himself, and she puts up his paints. The little boy decides that he just can’t wait any longer to paint and gets his paints down. He paints all over himself, the house, and his dog.

Why you liked it: The story is written to the tune of the song “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More”. The story is unforgettable because it rhymes and keeps the attention of the reader. The pictures are lively and full of interesting fun images that will keep the reader interested.

What you might be able to do with it in a class: This would be an excellent way to begin art time or music time. Children can use the book as a form of motivation, and then learn to express themselves through their artwork. Older kids could write a poem of their own, and create pictures to go with the poem.

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest

Author(s): Gerald McDermott

Illustrator: N/A

Publication Date: 1993

Title: Raven: A trickster tale from the Pacific Northwest

ISBN # 0152656618

The level: Read Aloud

Topic (what it is about): A creation tale from Native Americans in the Pacific NW.

The storyline: The Raven sees that the entire world is dark. He wants to find a way to light the skies. Raven goes to the edge of the earth where big sky chief has a bit of light coming out of his house. Raven turns himself into an object which the sky chief’s daughter drinks, and then gives birth to Raven as a child. Raven finds where the light is coming from – a box in the corner, and finds that it contains a bright ball of light. Raven flies the ball into the sky, and the sun is created.

Why you liked it: This story gave me the opportunity to learn more about the stories and culture of Native American’s

What you might be able to do with it in a class: This story could be a read aloud when doing a unit on Native Americans. It could also be the basis for talking about how different cultures have different beliefs.

Horton Hears a Who!

Author(s): Dr. Seuss

Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Publication Date: 1987

Title: Horton Hears a Who!

ISBN # 0394900782

The level: Read Aloud

Topic (what it is about): An elephant is confirmed in his belief that all life is important.

The storyline: Horton, an elephant encounters a speck of dust, he hears someone yell for help when it passes his ear. Horton decides it is his mission to ensure that the speck of dust is safe. The other animals in the forest think that he is crazy, and try to get Horton to flee his crazy thoughts. Horton does not waver in his decision to help the people on the speck, especially when he finds ou that it is an entire village living in this speck.

Why you liked it: Dr. Seuss makes all learning fun, you read through the book and are unsure of the overall meaning, but it is driven home through the pictures and the moral concept.

What you might be able to do with it in a class: This would be a great book to begin teaching social justice. Students can grasp the concept that even though people are not always equal, they still need help from time to time. Horton Hears a Who! even skirts around the never talked about abortion issue – all life has meaning.

What do you do with a tail like this?

Author(s): Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Illustrator: N/A

Publication Date: 2003

Title: What do you do with a Tail Like This?

ISBN # 0618256288

The level: Read Aloud: Ages 5 to 7

Topic (what it is about): A variety of animals and what the parts of their bodies do.

The storyline: The reader is asked a question about a particular part of a book. Then they are shown what they are for.

Why you liked it: Kids learn about many different animals and insects.

What you might be able to do with it in a class: Assign children a new animal – preferably one that they have not heard of before, give them a list of characteristics about the animal, have them write a short story about it, using the format of “What do you do with a tail like this?”. Have them list particular parts of the animal and why it is useful.