Greenfield, E. (1998). Honey, I Love. China: Harper Collins Publishers
Brief Annotation: This is a fun free verse story about a little girl in the summertime and all the things she loves. It has great illustrations and a fun, predictable pattern. While the story does not rhyme, kids can easily pick up on the pattern of the narrative and join in reading. It would also be great to read if you were trying to teach a lesson about oral expression.
Genre: Poetry/Free Verse
Grade level: K-3
Readers who would like this: Kids who like predictable, rhythmic stories. Kids who want to share their favorite thing.
Response/Rating (1-4): **** I really enjoyed this story, it made me want to chime in with what I love. I think it would be really fun story to read aloud to students.
One question you would ask before reading aloud: What is one thing you love to do? Tell the person sitting next to you.
Reading strategies connection: This story would work well with a collaborative book strategy (Tompkins, 25). Students could each contribute their own “Honey, I love” page with something they love or love to do, following the author’s style/pattern. Each child could also then draw the illustration of themselves doing/experiencing the thing they love. All of the pages then would be compiled into a class, “Honey, we love” book.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Brashares, A. (2001). Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. United States: Delacorte Press.

Brief Annotation: A fictional story about four young women who have been best friends since the day they were born. Lena, Tibby, Bridget and Carmen are spending their first summer apart. A magical pair of jeans allows the young women to remain connected though they are spread around the world. The girls are all different shapes and sizes and yet these jeans fit them all. They each get time with the jeans and then send them to the next year. The jeans bring magical experiences to each other girls, whether they know it or not. The high school students are dealing with new relationships, testing friendships, and learning about life and love in a very eventful summer.

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction novel

Grade Level: Young adult

Readers who will like this: Readers, more likely young women, that are beginning to read novels. Readers who are starting to learn more about themselves and dealing with friendships, relationships, school, and family.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** This is a great novel that is easy to read for young adult readers. It shows different types of relationships, as four best friends are apart for the first time. It is a great example of friendships and blooming relationships for reader who are experiencing the same things.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What is something that can keep people connected when they are far apart?

Say Hello!

Isadora, R. (2010). Say Hello! New York, New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Brief Annotation: A little girl named Carmelita and her mother set out to see her grandma. Along with way they greet their neighbors in many different languages.

Genre: Picture book, Culturally diverse, Fiction

Grade Level: K-Grade 1

Readers who will like this: Readers that are learning about race relations and different cultures. Teachers that are trying to introduce different languages in a very easy way.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** This is a great, short story for young children. It is a very easy ready for children and it introduces them to different cultures and languages. It shows how cultures can be related to one another.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Can anyone say hello in a different language?

Smoky Night

Bunting, E. (1994). Smoky Night. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Books.

Brief Annotation: Daniel and his mother are watching riots happen in their neighborhood. They talk about their neighbor, Mrs. Kim, who owns a store that they don’t go to because they “are not like them”. A first erupts in their building and they must evacuate. Daniel cannot find his cat Jasmine and he is very upset and scared for her. At the shelter a fire fighter brings back Jasmine and Mrs. Kim’s cat. Daniel says, “They probably didn’t know each other before, Now they do.” He is talking about the cats but it can be related to the different cultures of people in their building.

Genre: Picture book, Culturally diverse, Fiction

Grade Level: Grade 3+

Readers who will like this: Readers that are learning about race relations. Children who love animals will also like this.

Response/Rating (1-4): *** This story is a mature way to look at a very serious issue for children. It brings the innocence from children from Daniel to take a different look at the topic about race and racism. It is an easy read for children with very real world context.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know what a riot is?

Smoky Night

Bunting, Eve. (1994). Smoky Night. Orlando, Florida: Voyager Books.

Brief Annotation: Daniel, his mother and his cat watch the L.A. riots from inside his apartment until someone starts a fire in their building. They leave the apartment, and their cat, to go to a shelter with all of their neighbors, many of whom they don't associate with because of their different ethnic backgrounds. At the shelter, a firefighter brings Daniel's cat and the "fat and mean" cat of their Asian neighbor. The cats share a bowl of milk, and, seeing the cats getting along, the neighbors decide that they can get to know each other despite their different backgrounds.
Genre: Realistic fiction picture book
Grade Level: K-4
Readers who will like this: Students with pets, students learning about race relations or contemporary American history, students who live in violent neighborhoods.
Response/Rating (1-4): 4.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you know about the L.A. riots?

Don't Laugh At Me

Seskin, S & A. Shamblin. (2002). Don’t Laugh At Me. New York, New York: Random House, Inc.

Brief Annotation: A story about different children that get picked on or ignored in their lives. One little boy with glasses, a girl with braces, a child that gets picked last for the team, a boy who doesn’t quite understand the school work, a little boy in a wheelchair, and a beggar on the street. It is their cries for people to stop bullying them and accept them for who they are.

Genre: Picture book,

Grade Level: Grade 3+

Readers who will like this: Readers that are different that the other kids in their classes. Readers that are understanding and know what it feels like to be bullied.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** This story is truly inspiring. It tells how people who are bullied feel and what it is like to be them. It is a great book for children to read to really grasp the concept of bullying and how is hurts other people.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Has anyone ever been picked on by someone else? How did that make you feel?

The Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss. (1957). The Cat in the Hat. New York, New York: Random House.

Brief Annotation: Sally and her brother are stuck in the house all day because of the rain. They are sad and bored and desperately wish they could go out and play. All of a sudden and crazy Cat in a hat comes into their house and tries to make the boring day more exciting. Their fish is not happy and is worried about what their mother would say. The Cat brings in fun friends like Thing 1 and Thing 2. They make a huge mess but manage to clean it all up before their mother gets home.

Genre: Picture book, Poetry

Grade Level: Grade 4+

Readers who will like this: Readers that enjoy rhyming and comical books. It is slightly more advanced with the language and some crazy words are used. Children who like adventure and excitement.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** This story is a classic book from Dr. Seuss. It is about an exciting day that started about very boring.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you do when the weather is not so nice?

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Martin, Bill Jr. & Archambault, John. (1989). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. New York, New York: First Aladdin Paperbacks.

Brief Annotation: The whole (lower case) alphabet climbs up the coconut tree in this fun, rhyming and rhythmic text with clear, colorful illustrations. Once they make it to the top, the tree falls over from the weight, and the injured letters extract themselves from the huge pile up, only to try racing up the tree one more time.
Genre: alphabet book
Grade Level: Pre-K to 1st grade
Readers who will like this: Readers learning their letters, readers who like rhyme and wordplay, new readers who will like identifying the letters before and after their accidents
Response/Rating (1-4): 4
One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you think a letter could get hurt?

Reading Strategies Connection:

Horton Hatches the Egg

Dr. Seuss. (1940). Horton Hatches the Egg. New York, New York: Random House.

Brief Annotation: Horton, a dedicated elephant, reluctantly agrees to watch over Mayzie’s, an irresponsible bird, egg while she takes a break. The break last for months and Horton is stuck sitting on top of a tree. This has caused a scene in the jungle and eventually Horton and the egg are placed in a traveling circus. Although he is being made fun of by all of his friends and captured by hunters, Horton keeps his promise and never leaves the egg. The egg hatches and Horton and the bird are returned to the jungle.

Genre: Picture book, Poetry

Grade Level: Grade 4+

Readers who will like this: Readers that enjoy rhyming and comical books. It is slightly more advanced with the language and some crazy words are used.

Response/Rating (1-4): *** This story shows the meaning of keeping a promise and being dedicated to something when Horton does not give up on sitting on the egg. It uses great language and amazing illustrations.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know what a tongue twister is? If so, can you say one?

Mama, Do You Love Me?

Joosse, B. (1991). Mama, Do You Love Me?. San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books LLC.

Brief Annotation: A child in the Artic questions her mother about the love that her mother has for her. She asks of different scenarios like breaking the ptarmigan eggs or turning into a scary polar bear and whether or not her mother will still love her. She learns the unconditional love that her mother has for her.

Genre: Picture book, Culturally Diverse

Grade Level: Grade 3+

Readers who will like this: Readers that are very intuitive and are curious. Readers that enjoy asking “what if..” type questions.

Response/Rating (1-4): *** This is a great story of the unconditional love a parent has for their child. It is heartfelt and a very loving story.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What is one thing that you are curious about?

Kitten's First Full Moon

Henkes, K. (2005). Kitten's First Full Moon. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Brief Annotation: All Kitten wants is that delicious bowl of milk seen in the night sky. Of course the reader knows that what Kitten thinks is a bowl of milk is really the moon, but the ensuing story is funny and touching. Through repetitive phrases and funny attempts to reach the moon, Kitten tries her hardest to reach her ultimate desire.

Genre: Children's Fiction

Grade Level: Pre-K-2

Readers who will like this: Younger readers who enjoy pictures, students interested in illustrations.

Response/Rating (1-4): ****. The illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning. What Henkes can do with just simple black and white is really beautiful and engaging. The story is quirky and funny, and will engage readers of all ages.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What is something you've worked really hard to get? How did you feel when you got it?

The Ugly Duckling

Isadora, R. (2009). The Ugly Duckling. New York, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Brief Annotation: This book retells the story of a duckling that does not look like any of its brothers of sisters when it was born. The ugly duckling grew sad and decided it did not fit in with his family and traveled to other ponds and areas to try to find its place in the world. The ugly duckling was treated poorly and continually felt left out. Until one day when a farmer rescued it and took care of it until one day when the ugly duckling grew into the most beautiful swan in the entire pond.

Genre: Picture book, Culturally Diverse, Fable

Grade Level: Grade 3+

Readers who will like this: Readers that are compassionate and empathetic. Children who want to learn morals and lessons about life.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** This retold story, originally written by Hans Christian Andersen, is a great example of how everyone is different and learning to accept people, and animals, for what they are and not to judge anyone.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Why do you think everyone looks different?

My Brother Martin

Farris, C. K. (2003). My Brother Martin. New York, New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Brief Annotation: This book tells the story about the childhood of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. from his older sister’s point of view. She tells stories of their family and friends living in Atlanta. She remembers the earliest time that her and her brothers experienced segregation with their friends. She tells the important words that their parents taught them at an early age.

Genre: Picture book, Culturally Diverse

Grade Level: Grade 4+

Readers who will like this: Readers that are interested in learning about historical information.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** This conversational memoir gives insight to the childhood of a very influential historical figure. It is more of a serious book but the illustrations are great and it is a heartfelt good. It would be great to read with students around Martin Luther King Jr. day.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you know about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

Where The Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1963). Where The Wild Things Are. United States: Harper Collins Publishers.

Brief Annotation: A story about a little boy named Max that goes on a wild adventure after being sent to his room one night. He travels far away to a land where the wild things roam the land. As the king of the wild things he grows sad, missing his loved ones.

Genre: Picture book, Myth

Grade Level: Grade 3+

Readers who will like this: Readers that enjoy adventure and have a wild imagination. Readers who like reading stories about fantasy.

Response/Rating (1-4): *** This story of adventure is an exciting way to escape from reality while reading. It allows children to use their imaginations.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever been sent to your room after getting into trouble? What did you do?

Strega Nona

DePaoloa, Tomie. (1975). Strega Nona. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.

Brief Annotation: Strega Nona is the local witch in a small village. She is getting old, so she hires a helper to do some of her daily tasks for her. "Big Anthony" takes the job, but he is awfully forgetful. Strega Nona has one very important rule to follow: never touch her pasta pot! After watching her make pasta one day, "Big Anthony" decides to try it out for himself...only he can't figure out how to STOP making the magical pasta. What will Strega Nona do when she returns, and how will "Big Anthony" get his comeuppance?

Genre: Tomie DePaola, Folktale

Grade Level: 2-5

Readers who will like this: Teachers doing lessons about morals, readers who like folklore or imaginative stories.

Response/Rating (1-4): ****. The illustrations in this book are really fun and entertaining. The story is one that can reach many grade levels. The humor and whimsy of the writing is very charming and it's no surprise to me that this book has withstood the test of time.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Why are rules important to follow?

What A Family!

Isadora, R. (2006). What A Family!. New York, New York: Penguin Group.

Brief Annotation: An informative picture book about a little boy Ollie and his extended family. It explains the connection of Ollie and his family tree through six generations.

Genre: Picture book

Grade Level: K-Grade 3

Readers who will like this: Children who are curious about their appearance and characteristics. Children that want to know about their connections to the different people in their families.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** This book is a comical way to look at a topic that can confuse many people. It has amazing illustrations that are realistic and very detailed. Rachel Isadora shows the diversity of one family.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you have any brothers, sisters, or cousins that you look like?

Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, Katherine. (2006). Bridge to Terabithia. New York, New York: Harper Entertainment.

Brief Annotation: Jess and Leslie become friends when Leslie moves to the farmhouse next door. They create their own magical kingdom in the woods, Terabithia, where they are king and queen, and their friendship, and Jess's confidence, grow as they inhabit this secret realm. Their experiences in Terabithia help Jess and Leslie take on school bullies, difficult teachers, and families that don't completely understand them. Then, when Jess goes on a trip with a favorite teacher, Leslie goes to Terabithia alone and a tragedy occurs. Jess is left to deal with the tragedy, and Terabithia, on his own.
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Novel
Grade Level: 3-7
Readers who will like this: Readers who like well-written novels, readers who like reading about kids their age and their experiences at home and at school, readers who can handle a sad ending
Response/Rating (1-4): 4. I've always loved this book, and even on this rereading the ending makes me cry yet feel hopeful all at the same time.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you have a special place you go to get away from your "real life"?

Reading Strategies Connection: I would use the "Dramatic Response" from Yopp and Yopp, p. 113-114. Different groups of students could choose different key scenes in the book (part of the challenge here would be choosing what constitutes an important scene in the novel) for the rest of the class. They would write their own short scripts, and have to discuss the emotions of the characters in the scenes as they write and act out the scenes. One important scene a group could act out is the scene where Leslie comforts Janice Avery. A group of students could write the dialogue for Jess, Leslie and Janice, discuss the emotions and motivations of the characters, and then act it out for the rest of the class.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Martin, B. Jr. and Carle, E. (1996). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Company.

Brief Annotation: This book uses rhyming words and great paper collage illustrations to introduce the reader to animals. Each page gives us clues to what animal is going to come next.

Genre: Concept Picture Book

Grade Level: Pre K-2

Readers who will like this: Children who love bright colored illustrations. Children who love to become a part of the story. Beginner readers.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4. Repetitive wording helps early readers.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Which of the 5 senses do we use to "see" something?

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Martin,B. Jr. and John Archambault.(1989). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.Illustrator: Lois Ehlert. New York, New York: Aladdin Publishing.

Brief Annotation: This fun alphabet book gets the kids wondering if the coconut tree can hold the entire alphabet. The book is written in a rhythmic fashion with the letters of the alphabet climbing to the top of the coconut tree…but what happens when “Z” goes up? Uh Oh…

Genre: Alphabet Picture Book

Grade Level: Pre K-2

Readers who will like this: Children who learn from repetition. Children who are beginning to read on their own. Teachers wanting a fun alphabet book to use in class.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4. Creative book for children to learn the alphabet.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What would happen if we all tried to climb up the same tree? Do you think a coconut tree could handle the entire alphabet?

Where The Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1963). Where The Wild Things Are. New York, New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

Brief Annotation: Little Max, dressed in his wolf suit had to go to bed without any dinner. As he stayed in his room his imagination grew and grew. His room became a forest and then an ocean where he sailed away landing on an island where the wild things lived. The wild things are scary-looking monsters, but Max tamed these monsters and becomes their king. Max enjoys his time with the wild things, but soon becomes homesick, so he sailed back home where his mom had dinner waiting for him.

Genre: Picture Book

Grade Level: Pre K-3

Readers who will like this: Children who love to read about monsters. Children who enjoy being imaginative.

Response/Rating (1-4): 3. Can be a slightly scary book to some, but to others who enjoy imaginative worlds will enjoy Max and the wild things. The monsters that were scary at first become some of Max’s best friends.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know what imagination means?

Here Comes Mother Goose

Opie, Iona. (1999). Here Comes Mother Goose. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Brief Annotation: This is a collection of fifty-six Mother Goose rhymes. It is illustrated by Rosemary Wells, with her trademark dressed-up animal characters (with a few people thrown in). The rhymes are short, memorable, and fun to read and hear, and the illustrations provide a wonderful addition to the rhymes. Some of the rhymes are familiar, others are a bit more obscure, but young children who read this book will soon learn them all.
Genre: Mother Goose
Grade Level: Pre-K to 2nd grade
Readers who will like this: Young readers who like clever rhymes, readers who like animals, beginning readers who like to anticipate rhymes at the end of lines
Response/Rating (1-4): 4
One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know any poems by heart? I think you'll find you do when you listen to this book!

Persephone

Hutton, W. (1994). Persephone. Illus. Warwick Hutton. New York, New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.

Brief Annotation: This book tells the Greek myth about how seasons happened. Hades, the God of the underworld, kidnapped Persephone to be his wife. When Persephone was in the underworld her mother was desperately looking for her and after days of no results, she went to Zeus, the chief of all gods for help. Zeus sent a messenger to Hades to tell him to bring Persephone back as long as she didn’t eat anything. While is such despair, Persephone absentmindedly ate six seeds from a pomegranate when she was with Hades. Zeus came up with the compromise that Persephone would spend six months with Hades then six months with her mother because of the six seeds she ate.

Genre: Myth

Grade Level: 3-5

Readers who will like this: Children who want to learn about mythology and about how the Greeks came up with the change of seasons.

Response/Rating (1-4): *** I liked how this book depicted the Greek mythology of how the seasons are formed. The illustrations I didn’t like as much, but they coincided with Greek mythology pictures.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: How do you think seasons are formed? Do you think people think seasons are formed in a different way?

Keeping the Night Watch

Smith, H. (2008). Keeping the Night Watch. Illus. E.B. Lewis. New York, New York: Henry Holt.

Brief Annotation: This is poem book which reveals emotions about C.J.’s feelings towards his family. His father left, which left him in charge of the home, but when his father comes back, he is not easy to forgive or forget and struggles to release his anger. The poems are narrative as they show his struggles and emotions through a year.

Genre: Poem

Grade Level: 4-7

Readers who will like this: Students who like poetry, and enjoy looking deep to find meaning in words and feelings.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** I enjoyed this book as the feelings and thoughts of the character are feelings that any child would have in that situation. This book of poems is very real and has a deeper meaning than a fun book of poems.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you feel are the purpose of poems?