Ivette Flores

ECE 154

Book File

Picture Books

1.) Title: The Littlest Owl ISBN 9781561486144

Author and Illustrator: Caroline Pitches & Tina Macnaughton

Age Range: 4-6

Publisher: England Little Tiger Press. Copyright 2008. Good books, goodbooks.com

Summary: Four, the youngest and smallest owl of his brood has a positive attitude that

gets him through most challenges of life in a nest, but it may not be enough when a storm

threatens his treetop home before he has learned to fly.

Evaluation: children can relate to the story because many children have experienced

being put down like the little owl in the story and they havent given up on what they believe.

The illustrations in this book are very detail and children would be able to understand some of

the story by looking at the illustrations while the teacher reads.

Extension: Ask children if they have ever had an experience like the one in the story and

have a group discussion with the children to support their ideas and share the information that

you know as a teacher.

2.) Title: Where the Wild Things Are

 Author and Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

Publisher: Harper and Row publishers 1963 ISBN 9780590600910

Age Range: 4-10

Summary: The story starts out with a boy named max and is seen causing trouble and is

not behaving. His mom sends him to his bedroom to discipline him. As he sits in his room he

creates this fantasy world where anything can happen. In this fantasy land he meets these

monsters who try to appear scary. Max does not end up fearing the monsters instead he learns

how to tame them. The monsters claim Max as their king. Max spends time with the monsters

playing games and having fun but he grows tired of his adventure. He starts to feel alone, so in

the end he decides to leave and go back home to his mother.

Evaluation: One of the reasons I picked this book was the moral of the story. It tries to

teach children that your home is the place with the person you love most. I also picked this book

for the beautiful illustrations that are easy to understand and fun for children. This is also a great

example of teaching children to use their imaginations. I think that this is a great fantasy book

that all children will love and the vocab is easy to understand.

Extension: I think that a good idea for an extension would be having the children create their

own fantasy world with supplies in the classroom. Another good idea is to have the children

create their own monster puppets.

3.) Title: King Midas And The Magic Touch ISBN 0394800540
 Author and Illustrator: Al Perkins and Harold Berson

Publisher: By Random House, INC. 1969

Age Range: 4-7

Summary: The story begins with a rich greedy king who has a cave full of gold items, he

wants everything to be gold. One day a little man appears to make a wish come true, he tells the

king that he can make any wish come true. The king wishes that everything that he touches

becomes gold, the next day everything he touched became gold, and he wasnt able to eat, dress

himself, or touch his daughter. One day he was really sad his daughter came to hug him he tried

to stop her but she touched her and she became a gold statue, he was very sad and the little man

came back and asked if he had learned something from his wish, the king cried and asked him to

please return everything back to normal and the little man did. The king was then happy and

forgot about being greedy.

Evaluation: I picked this story I think it has a good message about the things that we wish

for sometimes are not the best choices. Therefore, we must be careful about the things that we

wish for. Children can understand about making wishes and learn from the story

Extension: The teacher could have a discussion about the things that we have wished for

in the past and have the children make a wish and draw about what they wished for.

4.) Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar ISBN 9783763214112

Author and Illustrator: Eric Carle

Publisher: Philemel Books, 1969

Age Range: 3-5

 Summary: The story begins with a baby caterpillar hatching from an egg. The caterpillar

starts to get hungry so it starts to eat a variety of food. It starts eating different kinds of fruit for

five days. Then starts to eat a bunch of random foods until it gets full. The caterpillar eats too

much and gets sick. The caterpillar creates a cocoon around itself and it stays in this state for 2

weeks. In the end the caterpillar comes out from the cocoon and has transformed into a beautiful

butterfly.

Evaluation: I picked this book because it is a great book for young children who are

learning how to count and learning about numbers. This book also is a great example on showing

the different stages of what a caterpillar goes through in its life. I also think this is a great book

because of the illustrations are bright, colorful, and beautiful. I think that the way the author

created the book was creative. I liked that it shows the progress of the caterpillar throughout the

book by the different shaped pages and the holes in the book. Another reason is because the book

is easy to follow and the vocab is easy to understand for children.

Extension: I think a good idea as an extension is to have a caterpillar in the classroom so

that the children can watch the progress that it makes as it changes into a butterfly.

5.) Title: The Lorax ISBN 9788809773509

Author and Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Publisher: By Random House. !971

Age Range: 3-6

Summary: This story starts out on a little boy visiting the Once-ler. The boy wonders why

their land isn't as flourished as it used to be. The Once-ler starts to tell a story and flashbacks to
the time he found a land filled with Truffula trees. The Once-ler says that he cut down the trees

to make Thneeds and he says that was his big invention. Because the Once-ler cut down the trees

he made the lorax appear. The Onceler continues to make more thneeds ignoring the loraxs

warnings, not realizing what he was causing until he sees the last tree being cut down. He

realizes that he has completely destroyed the land and because there is no more trees his factory

gets shut down, and the lorax leaves. The Once-ler sees a tablet that the lorax left saying

unless. When he reads this the Once-ler has a vision where he knows that nothing will change

unless someone cares. He gives the boy the last truffula seed and tells him to plant it, so that a

new forest can be grown.

Evaluation: One of the reasons I picked this book is because of the moral of the story. It

teaches children the consequences of greed, and shows how important it is to take care of our

environment. This book has very detailed illustrations, and Dr.seuss does a good job of creating a

magical world that children would be interested in. This book would be a good choice for a read

aloud because the book offers the opportunities for the children to engage with the story, ask

questions. I also think that this would be a good book to read on earth day to teach the children

on how important our environment is. I think that the vocab in the book is easy to understand.

Extension: The children could have the chance to take care of their own individual plants

in class and watch them grow. The children could go around the school and help clean up

garbage on earth day to help take care of their environment.

6.) Title: Mama Do You Love Me ISBN 9780738920160

Publisher: Chronicle Book LLC. 1991

Author and Illustrator: Barbara Joosse and Barbara Lavallee

Age Range: 3-6

Summary: The story begins with a child asking her mother if she loves, her the mother

tells her child that she does love her. Throughout the story the child comes up with excuses that

she thinks would make her mother not love her. She continues to test the mom to see how much

she really loves her. Each time the mom always reassures her child that no matter what she does

or becomes she will always love her.

Evaluation: One of the reasons I picked this story is because of the moral of the story. It

teaches children that a mothers love is unconditional, and that never changes. I would suggest to

read this book to your own children at home instead of in the classroom because it can be a

sensitive subject for some children that don't have a mother, or might have a bad childhood. I

think it has colorful illustrations and captures peoples attention. This book has some words that

can be difficult to pronounce, it would be a good idea to look up the words before reading it.

Extension: The children could make a book about their mothers or family and share it

with the class. This is also a good book to read on mothers day.

7.) Title: Youre Just What I need ISBN 0060275146

Publisher: HarperCollins. 1951

Author & Illustrator: Ruth Krauss & Julia Noonan

Age Range: 2-6

 Summary: The story begins with a mother who sees something under a blanket, she wonders

whats under the blanket. Then she asks are you a bundle of laundry? And the bundle responds,

No and she says I dont need a bundle of laundry. She continues asking the bundle if it is

carrots, or a humpty-dumpty and the bundle continues to say no. Then she can see the bundles

hair and a child pops up saying Its me! The mother says You! Its you! And youre just what

I need. She hugs him and gives him a kiss on the nose.

Evaluation: One of the reasons I picked this book is because I feel that a lot of children can

relate to the story of the mother playing with her soon as he hides under the blanket. Is a caring

and lovable situation. However, I wouldnt read this book in a classroom because not all children

have the same experiences, some children may not have a mother it could be a sensitive topic for

some children. I would read this book to family members and to my own children.

Extension: For an extension I would ask if they have play hide and seek with their parents, have

them share their memories and ask if they would like to play hide and seek outside.

8.) Title: Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes ISBN 9780007584956

Publisher: HarperCollins. 2008

Author & Illustrator: Eric Litwin & James Dean

Age Range: 2-5

 Summary: This book begins with a cat singing about how he loves his white shoes. The cat

continues to sing about his shoes until he steps into a variety of different things of different

colors. Every time he steps into something, he doesn't let it get him down and starts to sing about

his different colored shoes. At the end of the book he steps into a puddle which turns his shoes

back to white.

Evaluation: I picked this book because of the moral of the story. It tries to teach children that

even though something unfortunate happens if you think optimistic thoughts it can't get you

down. I also like that this book shows children examples of each color that the cat stepped in, to

help children learn about different colors. I also like in this book how it shows the cat saying

different positive thoughts instead of being mad or sad about his shoes changing. The vocabulary

is easy to understand and is easy to follow throughout the entire story. I also like that this story

comes with a sing along version that the children can sing along while they read.

Extension: The children could create a book of the different colors, or have the children paint

something with the colors shown in the book.

9.) Title: The Keeping Quilt ISBN 9780689844478

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Wiseman Books.1988

Author & Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Age Range 4-6

 Summary: This book starts out talking about Patricias great grandmother and what she

brought back with her from Russia. Her great grandmother only brought back her dress and

babushka, and decides since she doesnt fit in the dress she wants to make a quilt out of her dress

and babushka. She gets together some of her family's clothing which included a shirt, a night

dress, and an apron she made a quilt. As the book continues it shows the quilt being passed down

from generation to generation, and used for different things. The quilt ends up being the main

focus of the rest of the book being used as a tablecloth, wedding canopy, and as a blanket for

each new child being born in the next generation.

Evaluation: I chose this book because this is a good example on showing a child that things can

have sentimental value and to not let it go. In this book it showed that this quilt was important to

the family and had value to them, that they kept it with them for generations. I also liked that this

story is based on the author's story, and shows the story that her children still have the quilt with

them. I liked that the illustrations went with the story to where it wasnt bright and colorful that it

just focused on the detail of the characters and quilt as the main focus. There are some

vocabulary words that it would be a good idea to look up before reading it like babushka, so that

the child understands what that is when they are being read to.

Extension: I think that the teacher could have kids bring something to class that has value to

them and have a show and tell. The teacher could bring in a quilt to show the class, or a

babushka.
10.) Title: Owl Babies ISBN 9780606291125

Publisher: Candlewick Press. 1992

Author & Illustrator: Martin Waddell & Patrick Benson

Age Range: 2-4

Summary: The story begins with three baby owls waking up in their nest realizing that their

mother is missing. The little baby owl is scared and wants his mom back, the other two try to

reassure him that she will be back and not to worry. As the story continues it shows that all three

of the owls are trying to comfort each other and be brave as it gets darker. In the end the mother

owl returns and the three baby owls are happy that she is back.

Evaluation: I picked this book because I think that it is a good book to read to children who

are just starting school and are afraid to leave their parents. That the emotions they might be

feeling is normal and shows that everyone gets scared but in the end there was really nothing to

be scared of. I also like this book because of the beautiful pictures in the book that will catch

childrens interest with the colorful, and detailed illustrations. I also think that the vocabulary is

easy for anyone to understand and it shows the true emotion of the baby owl when he says I

want my mommy that I think any child can relate to.

Extension: Have the children discuss a time that they were afraid and felt alone. Teach them a

little about owls and their habitat.

11.) Title: Old Hat New Hat ISBN 9780375983269

Publisher: Random House Books. 1970

Author & Illustrator: Stan Berenstain & Stan Berenstain

Age Range: 2-4

Summary: This book begins with Brother bear wanting to get a new hat to replace his old

worn down hat. He goes into a hat shop hoping to find a new hat. Throughout the book he goes

through all different kinds of hats. He keeps trying on hats, each one a different shape or size. In

the end he sees his old hat and he decides that his old hat is the one he wants.

Evaluation: I picked this book because I think that this is a good book for children who are

just learning how to read. It has a few words and the pictures are fun and interesting. I like that

this book teaches about different shapes and sizes by the illustration of the different hats. Also,

the book included words that rhyme so that children can learn words that sound alike.

Extension: The children could talk about something that is old but they still really like it and find

it useful and share with the class.

12.) Title: The Poky Puppy ISBN 9780307604187

Publisher: Western Publishing. 1970

Author & Illustrator: Janette Sebring Lowrey & Gustaf Tenggren

Age Range: 2-5

 Summary: The book begins with five puppies who decide to dig a hole under the fence to

get out. The Poky Puppy s missing, so the other four puppies go and try to find him. While they

are searching they come across other creatures in the garden, but they are able to go up and down

hills. They see that dinner is ready so they rush home and get in trouble with their mother. The

poky puppy arrives late and eats all the dessert. Throughout the book the poky puppy continues

to eat all the desserts. Towards the end the four puppies decide to get even and fill in the hole

leaving the poky puppy to dig on his own. The poky puppy arrives late for supper and gets in

trouble with his mother while his sibling get dessert.

Evaluation: I chose this book because it teaches children a good lesson that if they decide to

not behave there is always consequences. I also picked this book because this is a good book to

read aloud, and I think children can relate to. This book is easy for children to follow along, and

has a lot of repeated lines that makes it enjoyable for children. I think that this book has simple

illustrations but they are detailed enough to catch the interest of young children. If I did read this

aloud I would change the ending of the story. Instead of the four puppies making poky puppy get

in trouble I would just have the poky puppy get in trouble on his own.

Extension: I think that having the children share a time when they got in trouble when they

misbehaved. Take a walk outside and see if they can find some of the creatures that the puppies

saw in the book.

13.) Title: Pet Show ISBN 9780140500974

Publisher: Puffin Books. 1972

Author & Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats

Age range: 4-6

Summary: This story begins with Archie who is getting ready for the pet show. He wants

to enter in his cat but the cat goes missing. He goes around looking for his cat but he doesn't end

up finding it in time for the pet show. During the pet show he sees an elderly lady who wins a

ribbon for his cat. He still goes to enter in the pet show and he brings a jar, and when the judges

ask what it is Archie said its a germ named Al. In the end Archie does win a ribbon for quietest

pet and is proud of his ribbon. Archie also tells the elderly lady to keep the ribbon that she got,

saying that it looks good on her.

Evaluation: I picked this book because I think that it has a good message to children to use their

imagination, and that winning isn't always the most important thing. I think that its a good book

to share to children because of the beautiful painted colorful illustrations that grabs childrens

attention and makes them want to follow along. The vocabulary is easy for children to

understand. I think that this book could be used for a good read aloud because its a book that

would allow the opportunity for the teacher to engage with the class.

Extension: The class could bring in their own pets and have them show them to the class. The

class could come up with their own imaginative pet, and create it with materials in the classroom.
14.) Title: Roxaboxen ISBN 9781590544921

Publisher: HarperCollins. 1991

Author & Illustrator: Alice Mclerran & Barbara Cooney

Age Range: 3-6

Summary: The book begins with talking about this imaginative place in Yuma, Arizona that

the children created called Roxaboxen. It describes the different things that they created in this

place from houses, to their own businesses. It tells how the place came to be and what all the

stuff they did there. It says that Roxaboxen is a place that children created from their

imaginations, and where they built their own community. In this place they pretend that they are

riding horses, driving cars, and in a war between girl scouts versus bandits, and they even have

their own cemeteries for the creatures that die. In the end of the book the children grow up and

leave Roxaboxen. They tell the adventures that they had to their children so that the memories

carry on.

Evaluation: I picked this book because this encourages children to use their imagination to

have fun, and creative activities that they could do instead of sitting in the house all the time. I

think that this story is a good example of what a good community is all about. It shows the

importance of building a community that is willing to work together and shows how they are

able to create something that was special to them. I think that the illustrations are detailed and I

think that the children will find the different activities in the book to be interesting to look at.
 Extension: The children can share a time when they built, or created something when they

played pretend.

15.) Title: Peters Chair ISBN 9780370302393

Publisher: Harper and Row. 1967

Author & Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats

Age Range: 2-4

Summary: This book begins with Peter building something with blocks and Willie the dog

comes and knocks it over. He goes into the nursery and sees his parents painting his old cradle,

and then his crib for his baby sister. Later he spots his chair and decides to grab it before his

parents can paint that too. He decides to move out to the yard bringing the chair and a picture of

him when he was a baby and hides there. His mother calls for him and tells him to come in for

lunch. Peter tries to sit in his chair but realizes that he is too big for it. He goes back inside to

find his father and tells him that he wants to paint his chair pink for his sister. In the end it shows

Peter and his father paint the chair pink.

Evaluation: I chose this book because it is a good book to share with children that have a

younger sibling or are expecting a new sibling. I think that this book is interesting for children

and many children can relate to. I think that this book is a good way to practice the childrens

memory of what happens, and having them retell the story once the teacher covers up the text. I

think that this book can be read individually as well because it is an easy book to read, with few
words on the page. I think that the illustrations show detail and children will find it interesting.

This book also teaches the importance of sharing with others.

Extension: I think that children could share an experience that they have had with a sibling or a

time that they had to give something away because it doesnt fit them anymore.

16.) Title: The Salamander Room ISBN 9780394829456

Publisher: Random House. 1994

Author & Illustrator: Anne Mazer & Steve Johnson

Age Range: 2-5

Summary: This book begins with Bryan finding a salamander in the forest. He asks his mom

if the salamander can live in his room. Throughout the book Bryan comes up with ideas to meet

all the necessary things that a salamander needs to live. His mom asks him questions while he

comes up with his ideas for the salamander and tries to tell him that the salamander needs to be

in the forest without actually tell him, letting him find out on his own. The book ends with

Brian's room transforming into the forest where Bryan found him in the beginning.

Evaluation: I chose this book because it teaches children to use their imaginations and that

animals belong in their own habitat. I liked that the mom never told Brian he couldn't keep the

salamander. Throughout the book she only gave him hints that would let him reach the

conclusion that the salamander belonged in the forest on his own.The book has beautiful

illustrations of Brian's room transforming into a forest, that I think will catch any childs interest.
I think that when a teacher reads this aloud that they should explain about what is a habitat to an

animal so that they have a better understanding of what is happening in the book.

Extension: Have children create their own salamander habitat by what they saw in the book.

Toy/ Board Books

17.) Title: Goodnight Gorilla ISBN 9788756277082

Publisher: Putnams sons books. 1996

Author & Illustrator: Peggy Rathmann

Age Range : Infants- 2

Summary: This book begins with the zookeeper going to the zoo to tell all the animals

goodnight. When the zookeeper tells the gorilla goodnight, and walks away he does not noticed

that the gorilla has stolen his keys. Throughout the book the gorilla follows the zookeeper and

lets the animals out of their cages one by one, they all follow the zookeeper home. Once they get

to the bedroom all the animals are ready for bed all saying goodnight. In the end the zookeepers

wife takes all the animals back to the zoo, and tells the zoo goodnight, but she doesn't realize is

that the gorilla has gotten out again.

Evaluation: I choose this book because I think that the pictures and the antics of the gorilla in

the book will interest the child. I also picked this book because I think that children will have fun
following the gorilla as the teacher reads the story, and laugh how the zookeeper is not aware of

the animals following him. The text is easy to understand, and is easy to follow along.

Extension: Talk about their own experiences if the children have gone to the zoo

18.) Title: Peek-a Who ISBN 9781452133591

Publisher: Chronicle Books. 2000

Author & Illustrator: Nina Laden

Age Range: Infant- 2

Summary: This book begins with a picture of a owl who says peek a who. Then the book

continues to say peek a on one page and then leaves a clue of what the next object is on the

next page. Then when you turn the page it shows the picture of the object that was a clue on the

previous page.In the book it shows a cow, ghost, and a zoo all rhyming. The book ends with

peek a you with a mirror so that the children can see themselves.

Evaluation: I picked this book because I think that children will enjoy trying to guess what

the next picture is by the clues it gives them by the little hole in each page. I also like this book

because of the illustrations, they are detailed, and will interest children to follow along. The text

is easy to understand, and each word rhymes with who, this helps children learn words that

sound alike. I also like that at the end the book makes the child feel a part of the story because of

the mirror at the end.

Extension: The teachers and parents can act out the characters of the book to see the infant

reaction.

19.) Title: Baby Animals: Black and White ISBN 978-0881063134

Publisher: Charlesbridge. 1998

Author & Illustrator: Phyllis Limbacher Tildes

Age Range: Infants

Summary: This book begins with black and white pictures of the faces of baby animals.

Each page has a picture of a baby animal in black and white and the text tells the child what it is.

The book shows a variety of different animals like, cats and pandas.

The book ends with a baby looking at images of all the animals in the book.

Evaluation: I think this book is a good book to read to an infant. The book includes all kinds

of animals that will interest the child as they follow along as their parent/teacher reads to them. I

like that the illustrations are in black and white so that it captures the child's attention. This book

is sturdy enough that the child won't be able to ruin the book when they are turning the pages.

The text is easy to understand and the child can try to sound the words out.

Extension: The parent/teacher can make the sounds of each animal as they read to capture the

infants attention, and engage with him/her.

 Concept Books

20.) Title: 10 hungry rabbits, Counting and Color Concepts ISBN 9780375868641

Publisher: Knopf Books. 2012

Author & Illustrator: Anita Lobel

Age Range: 2-4

Summary: This book begins with the bunnies saying that they are hungry. The bunnies

mother does not have any ingredients to put in the cooking pot. The bunnies dad sends his

children out to the garden to collect the ingredients they need for the soup. Throughout the book

the bunnies collect a different colored ingredients for the soup, counting up to ten. In the end

when they are done collecting all the ingredients they go give the items to their mother to make

the soup, and all the bunnies are able to eat.

Evaluation: I picked this book because I think that is a good book for teaching children

about the different colors and learning how to count. I think this would be a good book to use in

a read aloud. It can help children learn about numbers and colors and is easy for children to

follow along with the book. I think that having the numbers with each picture of the ingredient

helps children see how many of each item there are. I think that the illustrations capture

children's interest to learn about cooking too. I think that the text is easy for children to

understand and having the words right above each ingredient helps children make connection

with what they see in each page.

 Extension: Children could make their own soup with the ingredients that are in the book.

21.) Title: I Know A Wee Piggy ISBN 9781101642344

Publisher: Dial Books 2012

Author & Illustrator: Kim Norman & Henry Cole

Age Range: 3-5

Summary: This book begins with a pig that gets away from his owner. It gets into a lot of

different things at the fair. Throughout the book the pig gets covered in things that are all kinds

of colors. He gets into mud, cotton candy, tomatoes, grass, etc. But he manages to not get into

something that is blue. In the end of the book the pig wins first place winning the blue ribbon, by

completing all the basic colors.

Evaluation: I picked this book because it teaches children about all kinds of colors. I think
that this story is a good book for a read aloud in the classroom. I think that children will be
encouraged to engage in the book by singing along the rhymes. Also, the illustrations are bright
and colorful and interesting for children. Children will like the humor and relate to the pig that
causes trouble.

Extension: Have the children sing along to the book, or have them talk about a time that they

went to the fair.

22.) Title: Maisy Big,Maisy Small ISBN 9781406304893

Publisher: Candlewick Press. 2007

 Author and illustrator: Lucy Cousins

Age Range: 2-4

Summary: This book begins with Maisy the mouse changing her appearance to show what is

small and what is big. In the book Maisy continues to show opposites of all kinds from

differences of temperature, shapes, speeds, colors, etc. In the end of the book it shows Maisy in

the light then in the dark, and in the last page it shows Maisy in the corner saying goodbye.

Evaluation: I picked this book because I think this book is a great example of showing children

opposites. I think that the illustrations are very creative and very colorful, and children will like

the crazy things that each page shows Maisy doing. I like that this book shows children a variety

of opposites like weather and patterns. The text is easy to understand , and the children are able

to connect the word with the picture to understand what Maisy is shwoing in each page

Extension: Ask the children about opposites. For example, ice and fire and may be do some

experiments in the class with them.

Poetry Books

23.) Title: Where the Sidewalk Ends ISBN 9780060256678

Publisher: Harper and Row. 1974

Author & Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

Age Range: 4-6

 Summary: The book begins by telling about the world where the sidewalk ends. It describes

that it is a crazy, out of the box place. It uses poems to illustrate the different things that occur in

this place. The book then talks about the journey that it takes to get from one place to the other

by using poems. In the end they finally make it to where the sidewalk ends, and shows that

children are the ones that have a connection with it.

Evaluation: I choose this book because it shows children a lot of examples of poems that are

different, and creative and encourages children to use their imaginations. I like that the book has

different examples of the different kind of poetry there are from long, to short, to ones that rhyme

and some that don't. The text can be hard for some young children to read and understand. I

would recommend the teacher to read aloud some of the poems that are longer and that have the

words that are hard for children to read yet and explain what the words mean afterwards. This

book has good illustrations that gives children a brief description of the message of the poems.

Extension: Have each child pick a poem that they like and have them read aloud to the class, or
they can write or dictate their own poem.

24.) Title: Forest Has a Song ISBN 9780618843497

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2013

Author & Illustrator: Amy Ludwig VanDerwater & Robin Gourley

Age Range : 3-6

Summary: This book begins with several poems of things that they see in the forest.
The story continues through all the seasons, and the poems describe details of what you may see

happening for each season. The book also describes a lot of things that are out in nature and

describes some of the animals and plants you may see in the forest.

The book tries to describe the changes the forest goes through as the seasons change.

Evaluation: I picked this book because the poems are creative and it encourages children to

see and enjoy all the changes that nature goes through. The poems are creative, and so detail that

it lets children imagine what they see, feel, or hear as they read. The illustrations are beautiful,

and I think that using water paint for the pictures was very creative. This book describes the

different seasons, and the changes that nature goes through, each one. I think that this book

would be a good book to read to the class on earth day so that children have the chance to learn

and appreciate nature.

Extension: Take a nature walk, or have the children create a book of all the different seasons.

25.) Title: Falling Up ISBN 9780001857179

Publisher: HarperCollins 1996

Author & Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

Age Range: 4-6

Summary: This book is not a story, but a collection of poems that covers all topics. On each

page there is a poem and then it has a black and white illustration that goes along with the poem.
Each poem rhymes and are different lengths. This book has poems that have titles for each letter

of the alphabet except for the letter z .The book ends with the last poem called Yuck.

Evaluation: I choose this book because of the many different poems that this book offers for

children to read. This book can encourage children to use their imagination, and learn to like

poetry, he poems are creative and are about all kinds of different topics. The poems rhyme, so

that children can learn about words that sound alike. The illustrations in the book are all black

and white but they are different, and creative that will interest children. This book would be a

good choice to read to your child over and over again, and may be eventually the child will be

able to memorize some of the poems.

Extension: Have the children pick one poem and then share it with the class, or they can create
their own poems.

Special Topics

26.) Title: Badger's Parting Gifts ISBN 9781854305282

Publisher: Little Tiger Press. 1997

Author & Illustrator: Susan Varley

Age Range: 3-5

Summary: This book begins by talking about Badger and how he knows that he is going to

be dying soon. It talks about the friends that he has and that he will miss when he passes. When
badger dies his death is described as going down a tunnel and it shows that he is able to walk

without his cane anymore. At first when his friends find out about his death they are sad and they

grieve him. But as the spring comes they are able to look back at all the happy memories they

had with him and share stories with each other, and then they are able to accept his death.

Evaluation: This book would be a good example to read to children that are dealing with a

death in the family. The book shows Badgers death in a positive light, and that the friends were

able to accept his death by sharing memories and stories with each other. The author shows that

it is ok to grieve, and also it shows in the book by the seasons changing that it takes time to

accept the death of a loved one. The illustrations were beautiful and each picture was able to

show what the author wanted to show. I think this book helps teach children about death in a

sensitive and caring way.

Extension: Ask children they have known or experience something like this that they would

like to share. Talk about it as they share their stories to support their ideas in a positive way.

27.) Title: The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist ISBN 9780394848365

Publisher: Random House. 1981

Author & Illustrator: Stan Berenstain

Age Range: 2-6

Summary: The book begins with sister bear having her first loose tooth. She goes and tells

her mom, who tells her that she will have to go to the dentist. Her brother tries to scare her by
saying that the dentist will have to yank it out. Her mother tells her that Dr. Bearson is a good

dentist, and will take care of it for her. The mom brings both to the dentist where they find out

that brother has a cavity. The dentist recommends a filling and brother is scared, but the dentist

reassures brother that it is a routine procedure. Sister then tells him about her tooth and how she

is scared, but the dentist removes her tooth with no problem and gives it to sister to keep. The

book ends with sister putting her tooth under her pillow at night and in the morning she sees that

its been replaced with money.

Evaluation: I think this is a good book to read to children that have problems going to the

dentist. I think that the author did a good job on showing children that the dentist isn't a place to

be scared of. In the book it described two different procedures that dentists do that children may

be afraid of and tried to show it in a positive light. I think that this book has detailed illustrations,

and I think the illustrator does a good job showing some of the emotions that children can relate

to. The text is easy to understand and most basic readers could read and enjoy.

Extension: Have the class talk about a time they went to the dentist and talk about what the job of

a dentist is.

28.) Title: Mama and Daddy Bear's Divorce ISBN 9780807545591

Publisher: Albert Withman & Company. 1998

Author: Cornelia Maude Spelman Illustrator: Kathy Parkinson

Age Range: 3-5

 Summary: This book begins with Dinah learning that her parents are getting divorce. She

finds out that her dad is not going to be living with her and her mom anymore and feels sad.

Dinah throughout the book begins to realize that things are still going to be the same. She

realizes that she will still be able to do things with her dad that she used to do before the divorce.

She realizes that she is still able to go on walks with her dad and bake with her mom, and have

birthday parties even though her dad doesn't live with them anymore. In the end of the book

Dinah realizes that her dad and mom still love her and that the divorce was not her fault.

Evaluation: I think this book helps children have a better understanding of divorce and on

trying to show children that both parents still love their children even if the parents are not living

together anymore, and that the divorce isn't their fault. I also like that the book shows that things

might change but both parents will still be involved in the childs life. I think that the book

shows children a positive outlook on divorce, and helps children understand what they are going

through. I think that the illustrations are detailed and captured the emotions of what Dinah was

feeling, and that children will connect with.

Extension: The children could create lists of what activities they do with each parents.

Traditional Stories

29.) Title: Goldilocks and the Three Bears ISBN 9780803720206

Publisher: Dial Books. 1997

 Author: Jan Brett Illustrator: Jan Brett

Age Range : 2-5

Summary: The story begins with the three bears going out for a walk in the woods while

their porridge cools down. A girl named Goldilocks finds the bears cabin and goes in, she sees

all three bowls of porridge and only finds baby bears to her satisfaction so she eats all his

porridge. She then goes to sit in the bears chairs but once again only finds the baby bears chair to

be satisfactory and she ends up breaking it in the process. Then, she starts to feel tired so she

goes and tries to find a bed to sleep on, she finds that baby bears feels perfect so she falls asleep.

In the end the bears come back from their walk and see all the stuff that goldilocks has done and

sees her still in baby bears bed. Goldilocks wakes up and sees the bears and runs away.

Evaluation: The story teaches children that if they get into something that there are

consequences for their actions. I think that children will want to follow along and see if

goldilocks gets caught by the bears. This is a good book to have children memorize what

happened and then have them read the story back to you once the text is covered up. I think that

the illustrations are detailed and the illustrator did a good job on showing the details of item in

the bears house. This is a classic story that I think all children will remember and be interested

to read by themselves. The text is easy to understand but I think that the teacher should let

children know what porridge is so that the children understand what they are eating in the story.

Extension: Children could make porridge as a cooking project, or they can act out the story.
30.) Title: Cinderella ISBN 9780439471534

Publisher: Scholastic. 2004

Author: Hara Lewis Illustrator: Barbara Lanza

Age Range : 4-6

Summary: This book begins by talking about a girl named Cinderella and how she lives with

her father. It talks about how her mother died, and that her father married a lady who became her

step mom. Unfortunately her father dies and so she is stuck living with her step mom and her two

step sisters who treat her badly. One day the prince is hosting a ball to find a bride, so she asks if

she can go. The step mom refuses to let her go, Cinderella is sad and has to stay home. A fairy

godmother comes and helps her get ready for the ball, and there she meets the prince. At

midnight she leaves the ball but drops her slipper in the process. In the end the guard comes to

have people try on the slipper, and sees that it fits Cinderella, when the prince sees him and

Cinderella get married.

Evaluation: This book teaches kids that through hard work, and determination, anything is

possible. This book is a classic story that I think any girl can relate to, and enjoy. I think that this

book is a good choice for a child that knows the basics of reading and are starting to read on their

own. The text is big enough for children to see, and the words are easy to understand. I think that

the illustrations are colorful and will interest children. Also, I like how the illustrator did a good

job showing detail in each illustration.

Extension: The children can talk about what they know about fairy tales godmothers and they

can watch the movie in the class and see what is like in a movie.

31.) Title: The little Red Hen Big Book ISBN 9780618836840

Publisher: Clarion Books. 2006

Author & Illustrator: Paul Galdone

Age Range: 3-6

Summary: This book begins by showing four different animals a cat, dog, mouse, and hen.

The only animal that is willing to work is the hen, the other animals refuse to help out with the

chores. When the hen is out in the garden she asks who will help her plant the wheat and all three

animals refuse to help. Throughout the story she keeps asking for help with tasks but the other

animals still refuse to help. The hen continues to do this and she uses the wheat to make a cake.

In the end when the cake is done all the other animals want some, but she tells them that she will

eat it alone because she was the one who did all the work.

Evaluation: This book teaches children that if they want something they have to be willing to

work for it. I think this book encourages children to want to work hard and help others. I also

liked that it shows how to make the cake. I think this book would be a good choice to read aloud

to the entire class so that the children can get involved with the story. This is a good book to get

children to think if they agree or disagree with the hen at the end of the story, if it was fair for her

to not share the cake.This book has beautiful illustrations that describes the two perspectives in

the story of showing the hen working hard, and the others are sleeping and being lazy. This is a
big book so it is easy for the children to see the text and pictures in the book. I like that the

author used repetition with the line Not I.

Extension: Children could make their own cakes as a cooking project and discuss if they agree

with the hens decision to not share in the end.

Books in language other than English

32.) Title: Bright Baby Colors ISBN 0312502974

Published: Priddy Books. 2004

Author & Illustrator: Roger Priddy

Age Range : Infants

Summary: This book shows babies how to say the different colors in Spanish with the

English translation. It has two pictures of items that are that color so that children are able to

connect the picture with the color. This is a book to help infants learn the different colors, or help

parents/teachers to teach this to their children. It goes through all the colors of the rainbow so

that children learn the basic color in Spanish translation.

Evaluation: This book is great for a child who is learning Spanish and wants to learn how to

say the different colors. I like that the book has two pictures for each color so that the child is

able to look at the picture and see how it connects with the color. The book is easy for children to

understand, and the book only has a few words on each page. I think that the illustrations in the
book are big, and colorful so that the child knows what color is represented. This book is a board

book so it is easy for the child to read along, without damaging the book.

Extension: make flashcards to help children learn the colors shown with the Spanish translation

on the back.

33.) Title: Farmer Duck ISBN 9781844280865

Publisher: Pan Macmillan, 2005

Author & Illustrator: Martin Waddell & Helen Oxenbury

Age Range: 3-5

Summary: This book begins by showing a duck out in the field doing all the farmers chores.

The duck is the one who takes care of the farm, and all the animals, while the farmer is lazy and

refuses to do anything. One day it just becomes too much for the duck so his friends and all the

other farm animals come up with a plan to get back at the farmer. They all decide to get rid of the

farmer, so the animals decide to go to the farmers house and they push him outside. In the end

the duck is surprised to see that he doesn't have to do the chores anymore because the farmer is

gone, and his friends are there to help with the chores.

Evaluation: This book teaches children the importance of friendship, and working together. It

also teaches children that if you work hard at something then you will get something out of it. I

like that the story used repetition of what the farmer and duck would say so that children would
be able to participate in the reading. The illustrations are very detailed and paint a picture of the

emotions that the duck is going through while he works, and it is very descriptive to show the

farmer being lazy at his house. This is a great book to help children learn about farm life, and

shows the different kinds of farm animals and what sounds they make.

Extension: Have a class discussion to see if the children agree that the farmer deserved to be

kicked out or the animals should not have gotten revenge.

34.) Title: The Favorite Daughter ISBN 9780545176620

Published: scholastic. 2003

Author: Allen Say Illustrator: Allen Say

Age Range: 6-7

Summary: This book begins with Yuriko telling her dad that she doesn't like her name. She

tells her dad that the other children make fun of it and call her eureka. After hearing this her dad

takes her to places that can help her appreciate her name. He takes her to the Japanese garden to

tell her a little bit about her culture and show her things that are associated with her name. In the

end after seeing where her name comes from and learns more about Japan she comes to

appreciate her name, and where she comes from.

Evaluation: This book teaches children to appreciate their names and where they come from. I

think that this book would be a good choice to teach children more about Japan and its culture.

This book would be a good choice to read aloud to children so that the children can engage and
ask questions they have about Japan. The text has some words that the teacher should know the

definition of before they read like kimono so that the children will understand the book better.

The illustrations paint a beautiful picture of things found in Japan like the Japanese gardens.

Extension: Look at Japanese art, or talk about different cultures besides Japanese.

Beginning to Read or Chapter Books

35.) Title: Hi! Fly Guy ISBN 9780439639033

Publisher: Scholastic. 2006

Author & Illustrator: Tedd Arnold

Age Range: 4-6

Summary: This book begins with a boy looking for a pet to enter in the pet show. The boy

and the fly crash into each other and the fly says Buzz. After hearing this the boy captures the

fly for the pet show because the fly said his name. Chapter two starts with the boy showing the

fly to his parents and telling them that the fly knows his name. Hearing this the dad tries to swat

the fly because he thinks the fly is a pest. The fly says Buzz so he stops. The boy decides to

call the fly fly guy, and takes him to the pet show. Chapter three begins with the boy showing

the judges his pet but the judges don't believe that a fly is a pet. The boy tries to set fly guy free

but he decides to impress the judges instead.

 Evaluation: This book teaches children that anything is possible as long as you work for it. It

teaches children also not to judge something by the way it looks, that there is always something

more to a person. I think that this book is a great book for children that are starting to read

chapter books, because of the few lines on each page and the words are easy to understand. This

book has humor, and is an interesting book for children, the illustrations in the book are cartoon

characters, and makes it a more enjoyable book choice for young children.

Extension: Have the children bring in their pets and have their own pet show.

36.) Title: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish ISBN 9780007175956

Published: Collins. 2004

Author: Dr. Seuss Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Age Range 4-6

Summary: This book begins with two children talking about all the different kind of fish that

they have. Then they start to talk about all the other pets they have. They talk about each pet and

some of the things that they see. The children talk about what each creature likes to do, and what

unique features each have. In some pages they ask questions to the reader if they know why

some of the creatures are the way they are. In the end of the book after they describe all the

different pets that they have they say goodnight, and sleep with their last pet the zeep.

Evaluation: I think this book is a good choice for children that are beginning to read on their

own. I like all the rhymes that this book has, and I think children will like all the unique words
that Dr.Seuss comes up with. This book can help children with their phonological awareness

because they will learn what words sound like, and the book has repetition. The book is a good

choice because it has few lines on each page and the words are simple for young children to

learn. I like the illustrations because Dr.Seuss creates pictures that are out of the box, and are

different and unique, and I think children will be interested in the world he creates in his stories.

Extension: have children discuss what pet they found they liked the most and why.

37.) Title: The Land of Stories The Wishing Spell ISBN 9780316204910

Publisher: Little Brown and Company 2012

Author and Illustrator: Chris Colfer & Brandon Dorman

Age Range: 8-14

Summary: This book begins by telling about the two main characters Alex and Conner. After

the death of their father their life becomes really rough. The two kids are given a book from there

grandma called the land of stories. They then realize that the book is magic, and they are sent to a

world of fairytale characters. In order for them to return home they find out that they have to

collect items to create a wishing spell to use that wish to get back home. They have to overcome

dangerous tasks to obtain the items they seek. Meanwhile there is someone who is also trying to

collect the items first so that they get to use the well. In the end they are able to obtain all the

items and are able to get back home, and they also learn about the truth of their real identities,

and their past.

Evaluation: This book teaches children that there is always two sides to a story, and to never give

up and always move forward. I think this book would be a great choice to read aloud to the class,

and the children will find the different twists on the classic fairy tales interesting. The children

will relate with the two main characters in the story, and will like the humor that is found in the

story. The illustrations that are found above each chapter are detailed, and a great twist on the

classic fairytale characters. I think the cover of the story will encourage children to pick up this

book and read individually or as a read aloud.

Extension: Have the class discuss the similarities and differences that they found in the book

with the classic stories. Discuss if they think the queen is a villain after reading about her

story.

Historical and or/Biographical Fiction

38.) Title: The Cabin Faced West ISBN 9780698119369

Published: Coward.Maccan.1958

Author & Illustrator: Jean Fritz & Feodor Rojankovsky

Age Range: 8-12

Summary: This story begins in 1784 and people are trying to settle in the wilderness of

Western Pennsylvania. The main character in the book in Ann Hamilton, and we see that she is

not happy with the place her family decided to settle. Later in the book Ann comes to appreciate

her new home and learns to adapt to the country. In the book Ann meets her neighbor and is kind
enough to help him learn to read and write. In the end George Washington comes down to visit

and he talks about how he loves the west, that Ann has come to the conclusion that she likes her

new home.

Evaluation: This book teaches children to appreciate what they have, and to think of the positives

in a situation. I like that at the beginning Ann was not comfortable with their new home, but she

learned to love it after she gave it a chance. This message is important for children that are just

starting school or moved to a new place. The book tells the story when George Washington came

to visit, and that he was the person to convince Ann that she liked the west after all. I liked that

just because there wasn't many pictures that the author was still able to be descriptive with the

setting and really described what it was like during that time period.

39.) Title: A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin ISBN 0449810143

Publisher: Alfred A. knopf. 2013

Author: Jen Bryant Illustrator: Melissa Sweet

Age Range : 4-6

Summary: This book begins by talking about how Pippin loved to draw, he drew and

painted for all his friends. Unfortunately Pippins shoulder was wounded when he was fighting in

the World War. He found out that he could not paint anymore without the use of his right hand.

But Horace didn't give up and found a solution to his problem. He would hold his injured hand,

and he realized that he could paint like this. In the end he made more art, and eventually his

artwork became famous around the world.

Evaluation: This book teaches children to never give up on your dreams even if they may seem

impossible. I think this book shows how Pippins life was like with details, and told his story in a

way that children can relate to. I think this would be a good choice to read aloud so the children

can understand the book better and engage in discussions about the different artwork shown. The

illustrations are beautiful and I like that they are painted in watercolor to really capture the artist

work was like.

Extension: Have the children discuss what they want to become when they grow up.

40.) Title: Christopher Columbus: My First Biography ISBN 9780545142328

Publisher: Scholastic.2010

Author: Marion Dane Bauer Illustrator: Liz Goulet Dubois

Age Range: 3-6

Summary: It begins with Christopher Columbus looking out a window dreaming about

exploring. He asks the king and queen of Spain to supply him with a ship and a crew. For years

he asks but the answer is always no. One day though they decide to agree and he sets off on his

journey. Eventually he lands on the island of San Salvador and thinks that he has arrived in the

east indies, and he starts to refer the people he finds their as Indians. In the end Christopher

Columbus realized that he just discovered a new land, the Americas.

 Evaluation: This book teaches children to never give up and with hard work anything can be

accomplished. I think the author did a good job on telling important facts on Christopher

Columbus, and how he discovered America. This would be a good choice to read in class on

Columbus day so that children have a better understanding of what the importance of the day is. I

think the text is easy to understand and this would be a good book to read to preschoolers. The

illustrations portray Christopher Columbus story well, and is big, and colorful to appeal to young

children.

Extension: The teacher can talk a little more about history and how she got here to this country.