Read Me Stories App

Read Me Stories App

(free download in apple app store)

            Read Me Stories is a free app download that parents can easily access on their phones or tablets. It would be great for pre-k and younger elementary aged students. When you first open the app, you are greeted by a friendly character that invites you to his library. You can choose a series of books (can preview before selecting). They range from adventures to animals to songs. Each has a different number of books in its category. You may choose to read the book by yourself or have it read to you. The pictures to do move (it is a solitary picture), but there is music and interactive sounds that go with the reading. You must move from page to page as you go along. The words are highlighted as they are read so students can follow along. You can click on the characters to get a message from them (they talk directly to the reader, introduce themselves and ask a question, furthering the engagement and interaction. The stories are read at a slow pace, but model fluency and expression. 

            Although engaging, the stories are long and require patience. Students may need to have a lot of stamina if they are following the read along, rather than just reading by themselves. For those who have less stamina, I would recommend an adult reading to them.

Storyline Online

Storyline Online

http://www.storylineonline.net/

            Storyline Online is another excellent recourse for the classroom. Students can select from multiple popular stories and have their own personal read aloud! Well known celebrities and famous people take the time to record themselves reading a story, then, students have the ability to hear a new voice and see a new face reading them a book. 

            You can search books by title, author or reader (if you are looking for a certain person to read to you). This is a great way to engage students in listening to reading. There are also activity guides to go along with the books, which you can download and use with the class if they are all listening to a certain story.

Tumblebooks

Tumblebooks

http://asp.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp

            Tumblebooks is an excellent digital story book website that I would highly recommend for classroom or at home use. Students can choose from story books, chapter books, games, etc.

            When you select “story books” from the home page, you can sort and choose based on title, author, reading level or what’s new. This can allow teachers to help students choose appropriate books. When the book is displayed, it provides information such as author and illustrator, publisher, “TumbleTime” (how long it takes to read through it), as well as reading level (including common core aligned standards). There is a description about the book as well as the keywords featured in the story. 

            When the students begin reading, there is music to accompany the story. Students listen to the story, as it is read aloud. Words are highlighted (in phrasing) for students to follow along with the reader. There are a few question/answers at the end of the story (not comprehension questions, just facts that the reader might be curious about).

            After reading, you can add the book to your favorites or to a certain playlist. This can allow teachers to see what their students like to read, or create a playlist that they want their students to be reading from.

            I think tumblebooks is a fabulous site that all teachers should have and use in their classroom!

Slugs In Love

Slugs In Love

By Susan Pearson

Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2006

This adorable love story is told about two slugs that are poets. They do not know each other, but Marylou has a “crush” on Herbie. Through the poems she writes, Herbie becomes aware of who she is, and begins to write poems back to her. In the end, they finally meet and live happily ever after. 

I think that this book is the perfect introduction to poetry for young students (pre-k, k, 1). The story has a narrator as well as poems on every page. This would be a good introduction because students can compare the different voices of the narrator and the poems written by each of the characters. Poetry is often a genre that students steer clear of, so it is very important for us as teachers to find books that enlighten them to what poetry can do.

The Story Goes On

The Story Goes On

By Mique Fisher

Roaring Book Press, 2002

The Story Goes On is an interesting take on the life cycle. Told in rhyming poems, the story starts with a seed that turns into a plant, which is eaten by a bug. The bug then gets eaten by a frog, and so on and so forth. At the end, we are taken back to a seed that is growing into a plant. I like the idea of telling a story through a poem, as well as being able to make cross-curricular connections, in this case to science. Being able to overlap so many areas into one book can often be so beneficial (and a time saver, which teachers need!) The illustrations were very colorful. You could have students make a similar project to this book. They could each be given a different animal or plant and asked to create its life cycle through illustrations and poems. By reading this book as an introduction, the students would have an example as well as something to enjoy.

Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror

By Marilyn Singer

Penguin Group, Inc. (2010)

Mirror, Mirror is a book of reversible poems. Singer calls it “reverso”. “When you read a reverso down, it is one poem. When you read it up, with changes allowed only in punctuation and capitalization it is a different poem.” Singer uses fairy tales and common stories that children are familiar with to write reverso poems about. Some in this book are Mirror, Mirror (snow white), The Doubtful Duckling (the ugly duckling), Full of Beans (Jack and The Beanstalk), and Have Another Chocolate (Hansel and Gretel). Each of her poems contains a beautiful illustration on one side of the page (by Josée Masee.) The colors are bright and the pictures match the familiar fairy tale. The other side of the page is split by the “two” poems. They are in different colors and easy for students to distinguish and compare.

I think this would be a great book to read to children and allow them to read before starting a writing unit. This would be such a creative and fun way to turn students on to writing, as many usually don’t like to write. Reverso poems could be fun and challenging for many students.

Love That Dog

Love That Dog
By Sharon Creech
HarperTrophy, 2001

I absolutely LOVED this book. I finished it in less than a half an hour and it made me cry. An easy read, it would be great for kids as an introduction to poetry. Although not "typical" poetry, this free verse novel is told from the point of view of a young boy named Jack who is anything but willing to read and write poetry. We follow is writing process and with him, see his growth and confidence build. He even writes to his favorite poet who ends up coming to visit him! But of course, titled "Love That Dog", Jack writes about his beloved Sky, his yellow lab that is no longer alive. This part pulled heart strings for me, because I am such a dog lover and I have lost a pet before. It's one of the worst feelings, as pets just love unconditionally.
This book also has a sequel called "Hate That Cat", also told from the point of view of Jack. It is told the following year, but he still has the same teacher. I think reading each one to a class would be an excellent idea. "Love That Dog" at the beginning of a poetry unit, as students are often reluctant when it comes to poetry. Then reading "Hate That Cat" when the unit is coming to a close, so the students can see Jack's growth as well as their own. This is the type of book that I think should he displayed on the document camera while being read, so the students can see the style and format of writing. It plays a very important role in this book.

John Phillip Duck

John Phillip Duck

By Patricia Polacco

Scholastic Inc., 2004

John Phillip Duck is an adorable story of a boy named Edward to gets a pet duck. He trains him to “dance” to the John Phillip Sousa March. He comes to live with Edward and his family at the hotel where Edward’s father works. Many hotel members become fond of him, and help to hide him from Mr. Schutt, the hotel manager. When Mr. Schutt finds out about the duck, he gives Edward one month to train other ducks to march like John Phillip Duck. If they succeed, they can stay in the fountain at the hotel. And of course, they do!

I thought this was such a cute story, and a great one to read aloud to children. It would be a fun fiction read aloud to incorporate during a study on birds or animals when the text is mostly informational. It is a rather long picture book, so it might be good to break up over a few days if you want to read it aloud.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, and almost make the ducks look like they are smiling!

Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross

by Becky White

Scholastic Inc., 2011

Betsy Ross is a great picture book for primary students. It can obviously be used to teach social studies and the history of our flag, but White uses a lot of language elements that can be discussed. She uses repetition and also the separation of words. (Ex. Betsy ripped. Rip, rip; Betsy clipped. Clip, clip.) I know in my classroom we discuss syllables and suffixes, so a book like this would be great for students to be able to identify those parts of words. 

The artwork (illustrated by Megan Lloyd) is colorful and realistic. It shows close up drawings of the part of the flag that Betsy is working on. Students can examine the parts up close, and learn about sewing and its process. They can also learn that our flag started with 13 stars, rather than 50. Many students in primary grades will not know that our country started as the 13 colonies, so this is a great teaching point.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. If you school year doesn’t cover Betsy Ross or the making of the flag, it could be a great read aloud on Flag Day. It could also go with a lot of great flag-making activities!

Hello, Ocean

Hello, Ocean 

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Charlesbridge, 2001

Hello, Ocean is a beautifully written book by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Ryan describes the ocean in intricate detail, while still using common words that children will recognize. This book goes through all of your senses and how you perceive the ocean through each of them. It is detailed and beautifully illustrated. I think it is a great book to use for a read aloud, especially during the seasons. It is the perfect book to read about summer, as many children have visited the beach. You can discuss the difference between the beach that you visit on the ocean, or if you go to a place where there is a lake or river and thus the difference.

I enjoyed this book because Ryan not only describes a place that I love, but she really makes you believe that you are there. If this were read aloud to me,  I would want to close my eyes and picture actually being at the beach. This is one of the reasons why I think it would be great for a read aloud. By incorporating the five senses, you can almost taste, feel, hear, see and smell the salt water.

The Graves Family Goes Camping

By Patricia Polacco

Philomel Books, 2005

I really like Polacco’s books, so I am always interested to read one of hers that I haven’t before. The Graves Family Goes Camping is a very long, but very entertaining picture book. It tells the story of spiders, specimens and a fire-breathing dragon. All that one family encounters on their summer camping trip. But when the dragon traps them in, they must find a way to escape. When they do, the dragon follows them home! Polacco’s creative mind and illustrations allow for a really funny book as well, using language that children will love.

A read-aloud of this book would be perfect for any age in elementary school; just some scaffolding would be needed for younger students. Older students could read it on their own. Due to its length, it would be a good book to break up into multiple read alouds. It would also be a great book to read around Halloween because of all the creatures and critters that the family works with.

Trouble With Wishes

Trouble With Wishes

By Diane Stanley

HarperCollins, 2007

Trouble With Wishes is a story based on Greek mythology. The setting is clearly somewhere in Greece, and the clothing is representative of ancient Greece. Students may not know this though, depending on what age group you are working with. Some children might need scaffolding or a discussion or activity in order to activate any prior knowledge they may have.

This story is about Jane and Pyg. Jane wants to be a sculptor like her best friend, Pyg. So he takes her on as an apprentice. When he creates a statute so beautiful that he wishes for it to come alive, it does. The woman does not treat Pyg nicely, and ends up leaving him. In the end, he realizes that Jane is a true person, rather than the woman (statue) he thought he wanted; so one must be careful what they wish for.

I think that this would be a good book to incorporate in middle school, when students begin learning about Ancient Greek and Rome. It can be a great read aloud to engage the students and discuss prior knowledge. Then the students can move into learning about the original myth “Pygmalion”, where he carves a statue of a woman so beautiful, that he falls in love with it.

What Littl Boys Are Made Of

What Little Boys Are Made of

by Robert Neubecker

HarperCollins, 2012

What Little Boys Are Made Of is a really cute picture book that allows the imagination to really come alive. Neubecker’s words and illustrations match perfectly to what you would lies in a young boys imagination. The story features repetition of the title through the book. By answering the question, we first see illustrations of the boy playing with the toys in his room. On the following page, we see him actually in that type of setting. (Example: “What are little boys made of? Snakes and rats and big jungle cats, vines and rocks and razor-tooth crocs!” (You see the young boy in his room with animals there too) [flip page] “That’s what little boys are made of.” (you see the boy in a jungle with giant animals surrounding him.)) This repetition is continued throughout the book.

I think that a story like this is perfect for young children in pre-school, kindergarten or even first grade. Girls would even enjoy it too, and would then want to find a book called “What Little Girls Are Made Of”.

Fairy Tale Comics

Fairy Tale Comics

Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists,

First Second, 2013

-Bobby, London, Emily Carroll, Gilbert Hernandez, Vanessa Davis,

Gigi D.G., Ramona Frandon and Chris Duffy, Jaime Hernandez, Luke Pearson, Brett Helquist, Joseph Lambert, Raina Telgemeier, Charise Mericle Harper, Graham Annable, Jillian Tamaki, Karl Kerschl, David Mazzucchelli, and Craig Thompson

Normally I have never picked up a comic book without having to. But, Fairy Tale Comics seemed interesting. I’ve always loved fairy tales, so why not look at them through another lens. This comic book was easy to read and maneuver, unlike others that I have seen. Having multiple stories in it, especially ones that I am familiar with, made it very interesting and a quick read. It included favorites like, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and Goldilocks and The Three Bears. It also included some that I had never heard of, such as The Boy Who Dreamt of Cats, The Small-Tooth Dog and Bremen Town. Whether it was an old favorite or a completely new tale, this books has a lot to offer for kids, especially those who might not like to read. This comic book allows them to see fewer words on the page, accomplish reading multiple “stories” quickly and be familiar with quite a few of them. The pictures are also great because they offer a lot of interpretation and show different styles. Each story has its own characters and setting, and so many are contained in this one book. I would definitely recommend this book, and I would certainly like to have a copy of it in my classroom to share with students.

Seedfolks

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman

HarperTrophy, 2004

Seedfolks is a touching book that opens your heart and eyes to how so many people are connected in so many ways. Hearing a small passage from the life of thirteen different people, Fleischman intertwines their lives without much dialogue or direct interaction. But the way he has written this book does not call for either. You remember each character that you have read about prior, knowing who they are when another refers to them by a description of what they look like or what they are doing. 

The way the this garden brings together a community and sense of empowerment for each person, in their own way, is extremely uplifting and powerful. Each person has their own story, their own reason for wanting to start planting. Each person is planting something different to reach his or her own goal. It shows how individual people are, yet how connected at the same time.

I think this would be a great book to teach writer’s craft. Fleischman does not use much dialogue, as I said before, nor does he return to a character’s point of view after we have heard from him once before. Some people may not like this, but in a way it allows the audience to come up with their own idea of how that person has grown because of the garden.

Looking For The Easy Life by Walter Dean Myers

Looking For The Easy Life by Walter Dean Myers

Harper Collins Publishers, 2011

            Looking For The Easy Life is a great story to teach children the value of hard work. Five monkeys set off in search of the “easy life” that they think other animals live. They soon learn that other animals have to hunt for their food or do other forms of hard work in order to survive. The monkey whose idea it was to search for the easy life insists that they can find it, but with each try, he proves that it is better to just do your own work. In the end, you will be thankful for it and appreciate what you have earned.

            Reading a story like this to children allows them to realize that hard work is essential. Humans and animals alike must work for what they need. Food and other things (such as wants and needs), do not come to us without working for them. Children can journal write about a time when they had to work hard for something they wanted. They can also talk about allowances and chores they have to do, as a lot of children may have to earn these things at home.

Tony Baloney by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Edwin Fotheringham

Tony Baloney by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Edwin Fotheringham

Scholastic Inc., 2011

            Toney Baloney is the story of a macaroni penguin who seems to get in a little it of trouble with his friend, Dandelion, a stuffed animal. Toney Baloney is the middle child, who sometimes feels a little bit alone. He hides out after making a bit of a mess, yet must eventually come out of hiding. He learns that saying sorry and playing together usually makes for a good time between those who care about each other.

            This story allows for children with siblings to relate on a lot of levels, especially middle children. Students can discuss how they feel when they argue with their siblings or if they have younger siblings, which their parents must give some more attention to. Discussing these types of emotional topics in the classroom allows for children to express their feelings in a safe place, while getting support from their peers.

The Favorite Daughtwr by Allen Say

The Favorite Daughter by Allen Say

Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013

            The Favorite Daughter is the story of Say’s daughter, Yuriko. In school, her name is made fun of, and she wants to change it to a common name. As her father helps her with a school project, he incorporates things she loves from her Japanese heritage. The illustrations are so beautifully drawn and realistic, and Say incorporates two photographs of his daughter.

            I really enjoyed reading this book because I am 25% Japanese, and have traveled to Japan. It is a part of my heritage that I am very appreciative of, so I really related and thus appreciated this story. When Yuriko complained about not having any tags in souvenir shops that have her name on it, I also related. When I was growing up, Madison was not a popular name, as it is now. There was never anything that had my name on it, and I usually had other kids pronouncing my name wrong. I seem to have had many similar experiences as Say’s daughter, Yuriko, and that made reading this story all the more enjoyable.

Peach Heaven by Yangsook Choi

Peach Heaven by Yangsook Choi

Frances Foster Books, 2005

            Peach Heaven is an adorable story about a young girl who lives in Korea. She stares at a picture she has cut out from a calendar of children picking peaches, rather than doing her homework assignment. When she steps away from her work, she realizes that it is raining so hard, that it is “raining peaches”. With the help of her friends and neighbors, she returns the many fallen peaches to the farmers.

            I really enjoyed reading this story. It uses a circular plot, because at the end of the story, our little girl, Yangsook, knows exactly what to write about for her homework assignment (the one she was reluctant to start in the beginning).

            This story allows for great discussion among students…why did Yangsook collect the peaches and bring them back to the farmers? Would you have done the same thing? After discussion about this, students could write about what they would have done if they were in her shoes.

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Puffin Books, 2010

            Feathers is a story about a girl named Frannie who forms an unlikely friendship with the newest student at her school, a white male who has come to a predominantly African American community.  Feathers discusses heavy topics, such as religion and race, that are not always discussed in school. I think that reading this book allowed with students could create a safe place for them to discuss their feelings and reactions towards the story.

            Frannie’s brother, Sean, is a boy who is deaf.  This is another topic that I would want to discuss with my students. Reading some of the conversations that Sean had with others throughout the story made me feel drawn to him as a character, wishing I knew sign language. I think that teaching the students some signs as they read the story would be an excellent idea for a lesson.

            Throughout the novel, Woodson discusses elements of fighting, which is clearly prohibited in schools. This bring up the perfect time to discuss with students ways in which you could go about difficult situations without violence.

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester

By Barbara O’Connor

D&M Publishers, 2010

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester tells the story of a young boy who has just moved into his grandfathers’ home. With the help of his friends and the “know-it-all” next door, the four children find, move and successfully operate a submarine in the lake in Owen’s backyard.

I really enjoyed this story, and I think children will too. I am thinking about using it as a chapter book read-aloud in my classroom. It allows for great stopping points to predict and infer, as well as to make a lot of connections with the characters. Owen has a conscious that speaks to him throughout the novel, mainly because Viola, the “know-it-all”, keeps nagging him about things he knows are right. This will make children think about the right and wrongs. The story also covers topics of friendship and sticking up for others. The three boys often have little arguments, but resolve them rather quickly. I think that a lot of young children can relate to this. It will make for great discussion in a classroom and lead to lots of different interpretations about what the characters believe, and should or should not do.

Fun With Roman Numerals

Fun With Roman Numerals

By David A. Adler

Holiday House Books, 2008

Fun With Roman Numerals is a great book to combine literacy and math into one. Students may not realize what roman numerals actually are, and how often they see them in every day life. This book explains what roman numerals are as well as the way they work when combined to make larger numbers.

The illustrations are bright and inviting. They have traditional roman attire that students may not recognize. This would also be a great book to read during a unit on ancient Roman times.  Combining literacy, math and social studies into one text allows students to see cross-curricular connects and how they can use these subjects in the real world. At the end, students can see photographs of roman numerals (in books, on buildings, etc.). This can also be a start to a great activity, where students must record the roman numerals they see for a week. The class can compare at the end of the week and see how many they have found, what numbers they have found, and if any of them have seen the same ones.

Anna and Solomon

Anna And Solomon

By Elaine Snyder

Margaret Ferguson Books, 2014

Anna and Solomon takes a different approach to an information text. Told in a story format, children may really enjoy it being told this way.  Written by Anna and Solomon’s granddaughter, Elaine Snyder tells the story of her grandparents’ long journey to America, and how they saved enough money and brought over their family before finally reuniting.

The illustrations are very realistic and inviting. This story would be a great one to read to children both during an information text unit, to show that not all information texts are like resource books, as well as during a unit about immigrants. This is a very positive story about hard work paying off.

Brushing Your Teeth Can Be Fun

Brushing Your Teeth Can Be Fun (and lots of other good ideas for how to grow up healthy, strong, and smart)

By Munro Leaf

Universe Publishing, 2008

“Brushing Your Teeth Can Be Fun” is a very interesting informational text. At first glance, I assumed it would be a great book to read to kids about healthy habits. Upon reading it, I’m not so sure if I agree with that original statement. Although it covers a lot of topics about being healthy, it is written in a very strict tone. I felt as though the author was almost yelling at the audience at times. 

Kids can relate to the simple drawings and the fact that they may not want to follow all of these habits (as the author often points out).  But, depending on who is reading the book to the child, it could come across in different ways.

The illustrations are simple, black and white drawings with splashes of color that would appeal to a young reader. The font is large enough that it is easy for children to read.

Journey

Journey

By Aaron Becker

Candlewick Press 2013

Journey tells the story of a little girl who imagines everything that happens to her. It is a wordless picture book of a girl who draws her own story. She uses a red crayon to tell her tale, much like Harold And The Purple Crayon, which students might be able to make the connection to (having read both).

I really enjoyed the illustrations of this book, but also really enjoyed the story. I think by making it a wordless picture book, rather than having dialogue and words throughout, the reader is about to make up their own “journey” for the young girl.  This fantasy allows children to come up with their own ideas as to why she has drawn herself into this place and what they think she will do to get herself out of trouble. 

This book uses the typical fantasy structure by creating imaginary place, giving the young girl the power to control her path, and good versus evil. At the end, the little girl begins to see someone else drawing his way into her imaginary world, only to meet a friend who is doing the same thing. Then, they ride off to their next adventure. I thought it was a really nice ending to a great book.

Man On The Moon (A Day in the Life of Bob)

Man on the Moon (A Day In The Life of Bob)

by Simon Bartram

Candlewick Press, 2002

“Man on the Moon” is a science fiction picture book that depicts Bob’s daily job to be taking care of the moon. He wakes up every morning to fly to the moon for work, clean it up, and present moon facts to the tourists that come by. He knows there are no aliens on the moon; promises there are no aliens on the moon, yet the bright and colorful pictures say otherwise. He always has lunch with his friends from other planets who have the same job that he does, just on Mars or Saturn instead of the moon.

This is a great book to read to students when doing a unit on the moon or the planets. They talk about how Bob explains to tourists Moon facts, like how many craters there are. This would be something that students might want to research, or would be so excited if they already knew. Students can also talk about how long it takes to get to the moon..is it realistic that Bob can fly there every morning and come home every evening? Students can look up and see how long it actually would take to fly to the moon.

The illustrations are very colorful and realistic. Often times, the text and pictures contradict themselves. Bob continuously talks about how there are no aliens on the moon, yet little aliens are on almost every page. Some of the pages are also just pictures with no text, which can allow students to expand on what they think is going on in the story.

Moo Cow Kaboom!

Moo Cow Kaboom!

By Thacher Hurd

Harper Collins Publishing, 2003

“Moo Cow Kaboom!” is a science fiction picture book about a “moo cow” who is abducted by aliens for their “Inter Galactic Rodeo”. The animals on Planet 246 all resemble animals on Moo Cow’s home farm and are referred to as zigs and zickens (pigs and chickens).  Eventually, Moo Cow flies home over the moon, to make his way back to his own farm. (Parallel to the cow jumped over the moon?)

This is a really cute story to read to children and discuss a science fiction book. Students know that aliens and talking animals are not real, so discussing the contents of the book is a great way to get them talking about a genre they might not be familiar with. The illustrations are very bright and grab your attention. There are also speech bubbles to add thoughts for the animals and aliens.

Wonder

Wonder

By R.J. Palacio

Random House Children’s Books, 2012

I’ve wanted to read Wonder for a long time now, and am so glad I finally got the chance. Palacio tells the story of a young boy named Auggie who is about to enter the middle school. But unlike other students his age, this is his first time going to school. He has been homeschooled most of his life due to his current condition – he was born with a genetic difference that caused his face to look different than your average person, and he has undergone multiple surgeries throughout his young life in order to stay alive. He is considered much of a medical wonder.

Auggie’s time in his first year of middle school melts the readers’ heart. You root for him and certainly against those who are against him.  Palacio allows you, as the reader, into others perspectives, as each part of the book is told by a different narrator. I really liked the way the story was written because you were able to see all the characters thoughts and feelings, rather than just how they were perceived from a different character.  This allowed the reader to go from being mad at one character to feeling sympathy for them.

Palacio captures your heart in this extremely well written realistic fiction novel. Children will certainly enjoy it, as the lingo and topics are all current. They can relate to the characters and picture themselves walking the middle school halls just as Auggie, Jack, Summer and the other characters do.

Ball

Ball

By Mary Sullivan

HMH Books for Young Readers, 2013

“Ball” is an extremely cute “wordless” picture book for young kids. The story told through pictures essential is about a dogs daily life. He looks up to and admires a young girl, but she must go to school for the day. The pictures take us through the dogs day as he tries to do everything he can with his ball, yet it is hard when he is alone. Each page has the word “Ball” on it, usually in a speech bubble, as the dog is thinking about it or essentially “barking” it.

I thought the story was really cute, as it reminded me of my own dogs. Students can create speech bubbles for the dog that say more than just “ball” and write and discuss their own pets. This can create discussion and a lesson on how to care for pets. Students can brainstorm what else the dog is thinking in the various pictures and how he is feeling while he is alone during the day. This is also a great book to help teach personification.

The Lion and The Mouse

The Lion and The Mouse

By Jerry Pinkey

Little Brown Books, 2009

I love the wordless picture book “The Lion and The Mouse”. It tells the everlasting tale of helping a friend in need. The story begins when a small mouse is caught by a lion. Readers may fear that the mouse is about to be eaten, but for some reason, the lion lets him go. Because there are no words, this allows readers to imagine why the lion let the mouse go. Was there a specific reason? This allows for exploration among students. The pictures continue to tell the story, and we find our line trapped in a net. The mouse hears his roars (each page contains some sound words) and the mouse runs to his friends rescue. With his little teeth, the mouse is able to cut the lion free.

This is a wonderful tale of friendship and helping others. I think in the classroom it is a wonderful resource to use for discussing these topics as well as exploring dialogue and what the page would say if you were the author. Students can create their own stories by adding words, coming up with a prologue or ending chapter to “complete” their versions of “The Lion and The Mouse”. This can also be a great story to read when discussing animals in a science unit.

The Snowman

The Snowman

By Raymond Briggs

Random House Books, 2000

The Snowman is a wordless picture book that allows students to tell their own story. Each page contains multiple pictures of scenarios where a little boy gets ready to go out into the snow, creates a snowman, and goes on adventures with his new friend. In the end, the little boy wakes up to find his snowman has melted. This leaves the reader to question whether or not the little boy actually went on the adventures with the snowman, or if it was all a dream.

I love wordless picture books because students become the “author” and can imagine their own words. I think using this book for young children is great, but with older children you can have them come up with their own dialogue and words to create their own story. This allows students to be creative as well as become authors. Because this book is a winter story, it would be great to use with a seasons unit and do lots of snowman crafts!

The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky

By Susan Patron

Newbery Medal 2007

Simon and Schuster, 2006 

The Higher Power of Lucky tells the story of a young girl from Hard Pan, California. She lives with her guardian and father’s first wife, Brigitte, because her mother passed away and her father never wanted children.  Lucky thinks that Brigitte wants to move back to France, so she decides to run away. Throughout the story Lucky wonders what her Higher Power is, until she realizes at the end that it was right there all along.

I really enjoyed this story because it had a lot of complex ideas going on. For me they may have been easier to pick up on than a student, but that allows so much room to guide and teach multiple things within a novel. Lucky had many complex thoughts and overheard a lot of very difficult stories, as she often listening in on AA and other “anonymous” meetings. Having conversations like these in a classroom always makes for a difficult topic, but also can be very real. A book like this allows students to really think deeply if they dive right in. Lucky is 10 years old and students may relate to her on different levels.  I think the best use for this book in a class would be to read it as a small group or assign it as an independent reading, for students who are mature and capable of reading and discussing some of the difficult topics.

My Best Friend, Abe Lincoln

My Best Friend, Abe Lincoln: A Tale of Two Boys From Indiana

by Robert L. Bloch

Castlebridge, 2011

My Best Friend, Abe Lincoln: A Tale of Two Boys From Indiana tells the story of our 16^th President’s friendship with Sam Harding. The story is told from the point of view of Sam, giving his insight into Abraham Lincoln’s early life, ultimately leading up to his presidency.

I feel that this book specifically benefits students to be told in a story format. Social studies and history are often hard topics for students to grasp. By not only telling a story, but also coming from the point of view of a young boy, students can get a much better feel of the topic. The young friendship that develops between the two can help young male students relate to someone who they may have seen as just a great historical figure.

The illustrations are cartoonish but accurate and allow students to feel as though they are apart of the story.

Happy Birthday, America!

Happy Birthday, America!

by Marsha Wilson Chall

Harper Collins, 2000

Happy Birthday, America! is a great story to read to students about the Fourth of July.  The story is told about a large extended family that gathers every year to celebrate Independence Day.  Our narrator is a young child, who looks forward to this day with his family all year. This allows students to relate, as their families probably have celebrations for the Fourth of July or other holidays. The illustrations are bright and colorful, which will catch any child’s eye.

The story talks about how the family prepares for this big event, as well as all the activities that they look forward to. This is a great opportunity to learn about your students’ lives by asking them what they do to celebrate with their families. A journal writing assignment could be used to talk about what each family does or why we celebrate the 4^th. This could then move into a social studies lesson about what the birthday of America really means.

Homeplace

Homeplace

by Anne Shelby

Scholastic Inc., 1995

Homeplace is a beautifully illustrated story told from a grandmother to her granddaughter. The story starts with her telling the story of her “great-great-great-great grandfather” who built the house that they are now living in. Throughout the story she tells her granddaughter of the hard work that her grandparents have put into the land and house that she lives in.

What I liked most about this story was the way each page told a different story of a different generation. The first set of grandparents built the house, while later grandparents were ordering furniture from a catalog. The elements of different time period can speak volumes and show children how different things were in the past.

The illustrations in this story are also one of my favorite parts. They are so detailed and contain multiple pictures per page. They are elaborate and truly show an accurate representation of hard work over time. The characters are also often positioned on the right side of the page to show the forward journey that not only they take, but that you take with them, as the reader.

Papa and The Pioneer Quilt

Papa and The Pioneer Quilt

by Jean Van Leeuwen 

The Penguin Group, 2007

Papa and The Pioneer Quilt tells the story of a family who decides to move west on the Oregon Trail. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl named Rebecca. At first, she is very reluctant to move, but throughout their journey she finds a friend in a lady named Rachel who is making a quilt. Rebecca begins to collect fabric from her journey to begin not only her own quilt, but also her own story.

Although the characters are fictional, the hardships they face while traveling the Oregon Trail were very real.  I would read a story like this to students as an introduction or during a unit on the Oregon Trail. This book can help students see what families really faced, yet through the eyes of a child. Having a young narrator allows the students to think about what it would have been like if their family were put in that situation. Rebecca discusses how she feels alone, tired, and often troubled when she sees other facing hardships worse than her families.

The illustrations in the story help to create a picture in your mind of what the Trail looked like. The clothing and setting are very real to the time period and can also help students grasp what life was like at that time.

Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy

Christopher Paul Curtis

Scholastic Inc. 1999

Bud, Not Buddy tells the story of a young boy who lives in an orphanage because he has lost his mother. He uses his observations of her from when he was younger to venture out into the world and find who he believes to be his father. Through some troubled waters and new friends, Bud finds his family - just not who he originally set out to find.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. I think it would be a great historical fiction novel to use in the upper elementary classroom. Bud is a brave young boy who many children will like. The story brings in elements of the time period and thus will give students something to work off of and research. They can look at the afterward from the author to learn about how the characters came to be to help them distinguish between fact and fiction. This book provides a great way to explain to children how many authors create historical fiction pieces. They may base characters off of people they know or research the time period in which they want to write about. A novel like this can create great discussions for students about this genre.

Is There Really A Human Race?

Is There Really a Human Race?

Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell

Harper Collins 2006

Is There Really A Human Race? is told from the point of view of a young boy in the form of questions. I really love that the book is told is questions, because that's what kids do, they ask! A race, to children, is running to get to the finish line. So if a child hears the term “human race”, they are going to have some questions. This picture book uses rhymes and colorful pictures to portray this young, curious mind of what his imagination thinks the human race is.

My favorite part of the book is towards the end, and what I would want to highlight in a classroom:

“Sometimes it’s better not to go fast. There are beautiful sights to see when you’re last. Shouldn't it be that you just try your best? And that’s more important than beating the rest? Shouldn’t it be looking back at the end that you judge your own race by the help that you lend?”

This book points out the importance of slowing down and enjoying what is around you, no matter what that may be. It points out the importance of being a friend, caring for others, and how that is ultimately so much more important than winning and losing.

Books with morals and messages like this are so important for children to be exposed to, as they can teach them what it means to be a good friend and put less of an emphasis on unhealthy competition. It also gets their curious minds thinking – it’s only natural for kids to have questions and it is our job as teachers to lead them in the direction to find their own answers!

The Mystery of the Missing Red Mitten

The Mystery of the Missing Red Mitten

Steven Kellog

Dial Books for Young Readers 1977

The reason I picked this book off the shelf was because it reminded me of Jan Brett’s The Mitten, which is an all time favorite. This book is a beautifully illustrated story of a young girl who has spent her day in the snow, but cannot find her red mitten. She must retrace her steps to find it. I really enjoyed the illustration because every page is black and white, except the red mitten. It is written as if the little girl is talking to you. The reader can both see and hear her thoughts.

When children are moving beyond wordless picture books, I think this story is a nice way to transition into the story picture book. This can be read aloud to young children and read by those a bit older. They can search with Annie and her dog Oscar, in hope that the red mitten will be found.

Alphabet City

Alphabet City

Stephen T. Johnson

Penguin Books 1995

*Caldecott Honor Book

Last week in class we discussed alphabet books. I found Alphabet City in the library and was drawn to it because of our class discussion. I think that Johnson does an excellent job illustrating the letters in everyday life. It is important for children to be exposed to these types of wordless picture books at an early age. They can then look for the letters (or even numbers and words) in every day life. It allows them to relate to the picture, because they can see it in their very own backyard, on their street, or in their town.

Wordless picture books are great because they can start by just beginning to show children the basics of reading (i.e. how to hold a book, turn a page, left to right). Alphabet books like this can expose children to their letters very early on.

The Bag of Bones (novel in a series)

The Bag of Bones by Vivan French

The Second Tale from the Five Kingdoms

Candlewick Press 2008

The Bag of Bones is a story of witches, good versus evil and a happily ever after. Truda Hangnail is a “deep magic” witch who is trying to take over The Five Kingdoms. It is up to the truehearts, Gracie Gillypot and Loobly Higgins to stop her – yet they don’t even know each other yet!

At first I was a bit confused by this novel. I expected to have some form of summary, as this is the second book in a series, but I quickly learned that I didn’t need any background knowledge. If I would have went into reading this novel with the attitude that it was not in a series, I would not have had the initial confusion. This was an independent story that you could read without any prior knowledge. But it left me curious as to how or if it connected to the previous novel.

I think that in a classroom, a story like this would be great for a read aloud. Sharing a chapter or two a day with the whole class will allow students to fully engage in the story. It allows them to predict what will happen, get to know the characters and discuss them, as well as be excited about what’s to come. The suspense and action throughout the plot create for a great young adult novel.

You could also have students illustrate the characters and write descriptions about them, what the motives were behind their actions, and what they think the next book will hold. Reading a series with a class can help them see connections between the stories.