Who's the Queen?

The Recess Queen

Written by: Alexis O’Neill

Illustrated by: Laura Huliska-Beith

Scholastic Press, 2002

32 pages

Contemporary Realistic Fiction Book

A little girl, Jean, wants to kick, swing, and bounce before everyone else at recess and becomes the bully. She ends up with the name Mean Jean because if she doesn’t get to doing anything thing first at recess she pushes and hammers the other kids. However, one day a new little girl, Katie Sue, starts school and when ends up kicking, swinging, and bouncing first. 

This makes Mean Jean very upset and throws her into a meltdown. 

Katie Sue goes up to Jean and offers her an invitation to play. 

Will Mean Jean accept the offer? What will happen to Katie Sue?

The illustrations are in a collage format that are bright and bold which are 

just as energetic as the text throughout the book. 

I would use this for Social Studies in First Grade. 

I would use this book on our topic of bullying and friendships. I would have the children draw pictures of what they think a bully looks like. Then when we would discuss how to handle a bully. 

I would have the children turn their papers over and draw a picture of how to 

handle the bully they drew on the opposite side. 

Afterwards we would have a discussion about each other’s drawings.

Who's in the Cellar?

The Butterfly

Written & Illustrated by: Patricia Polacco

Puffin Books, 2009

48 pages

Historical Fiction Book

Monique is a young girl living in the time of the Holocaust. One night she discovers that her mother has been helping a Jewish family hide from the Nazis by letting them 

 one night Sevrine is seen by a neighbor through the window so they have to move on. 

Will the Sevrine's family find a new safe hiding place? Will Monique ever hear from Sevrine again?

The illustrations are beautiful watercolor and ink drawings that capture the emotions of the story throughout the book. They show the harsh reality of what life was like during that time period while the Nazis were in power. 

I would teach this as Social Studies in fifth grade as a history lesson on the Holocaust. 

I would lead a discussion on how they would feel if it was them having to hide to stay alive or out of the camps. It’s a very emotional subject for some so I would evaluate to see how much time to stay on this topic before moving on to a happier discussion. 

No Fire

Not Your Typical Dragon

Written by: Dan Bar-el

Illustrated by: Tim Bowers

Viking Books for Young Readers, 2013

40 pages

Modern Fantasy Book

Crispin is seven and has come of age for a dragon to start breathing fire.
But no matter how hard Crispin tries he breathes everything but fire.
When he runs away he meets an unlikely friend who shows him that it is okay to be different.
Will his family still accept him for the non-fire breathing dragon that he is when he returns home?

The illustrations are bright and colorful drawings that catch the readers eyes each page turned.

My content area would be Science and grade would be 4th.
We would discuss how fire is made and do a science experiment on making fire.

Bad Case of Hiccups

The Hicccupotamus

Written & Illustrated by: Aaron Zenz

Two Lions, 2009

32 pages

Modern Fantasy Book

A hippo named Calamity ends up with a bad case of hiccups. Some of the other animals try to help her get rid of the hiccups but don’t succeed.
Poor Calamity and her bad case of the hiccups, will she ever get rid of the hiccups?

The illustrations are very bright colored-pencil art work that
keeps the children’s interest throughout the book. 

My content area would be Science and 2nd grade.
We would discuss what causes hiccups and come up with
different ways that we could possibly get rid of hiccups.

Science Fair

Oh No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World

Written by: Mac Barnett

Illustrated by: Dan Santat

Disney-Hyperion, 2010

40 pages

Science Fiction Book

A science fair is a great opportunity to show off amazing inventions unless it’s a giant robot that gets loose and ensues chaos on the city.
The young ambitious girl who invented the giant robot didn’t expect that to happen; therefore, she didn’t program the robot to respond to any of her commands.
How will she stop the robot from destroying the city?

The dark digital illustrations throughout the book puts the reader in the right state of mind of how grave the situation is for the city and the young girl. 

I would choose science for my content area and 4th grade.
We would do our own science fair and it would be interesting to see
what inventions the children would come up with at this age. 

Not So Scary

Orion and the Dark

Written & Illustrated by: Emma Yarlett

Templar, 2015

40 pages

Science Fiction Book

Orion is scared of so many things in life but most of all the dark. He really doesn’t like bed time because of the dark. One night dark comes to take Orion on an adventure to show him how wonderful dark can actually be.
Will Orion come to like the dark or will he always be scared of the dark?

The die-cut artwork seems to bring the “Dark” to life for the reader.
The other illustrations are a beautiful mixture of light and dark keeping
along with the story line of the book.

I choose Science and Kindergarten.
We would discuss what causes it to become dark and where shadows come from.
This will help children who are afraid of the dark.
Then I would have the kids draw a picture of something in the dark even if it is something they might be afraid of so we can have a deeper discussion about it.

A Day in a Life

A Day in a Life of a Police Officer

Written & Illustrated by: Linda Hayward

DK Children, 2001

32 pages

NonFiction Book

What does a police officer do throughout their day?
They do things like direct traffic and help children who have become separated from their family. They travel in and on different kinds of transportation. Some police officers even have a dog as a partner. Police officers with a badge are someone you should trust.
Would you like to be a police officer when you grow up?

The photographs and illustrations engage the reader into the story of how a police officer goes about their day.

I choose Social Studies and Kindergarten.
I would incorporate this book into our unit on community helpers
when we are talking about police officers. 

Determination

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream

Written by: Deloris Jordan & Roslyn M. Jordan

Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003

32 pages

NonFiction Book

This story was written by Michael Jordan’s mother where she tells the story of Michael’s childhood. He loved to go with his brothers on Saturdays to play basketball but wasn’t the best player because he wasn’t very tall.  This really upset him although it didn’t upset his brothers or their friends. One day he goes to his mom and asks her how he can grow taller with which she answers “a prayer and a sprinkle of salt in his shoes”. After a few months of not growing taller, Michael starts to feel sad again. Then his dad reminds him that he just needs to believe in himself. 

Will Michael start to believe in himself? 

Can he have enough determination to be a good basketball player one day?

The illustrations are vibrant paintings that are very interesting to look at as you turn each page.

My content area would be Social Studies and I would use it for second grade. 

I would use it as a read aloud tool to teach the children life lessons of believing in yourself and having determination to do something that you set your mind to do.

We would have a discussion on what each child would like to be when they grow older and what they think they will need to do to get there.

I'm Like You, You're Like Me

Book Talk #1

A Different Way

My Father's Shop

Written & Illustrated by: Satomi Ichikawa

Kane/Miller Book Pub, 2006

32 pages

International Book

Mustafa loves this carpet that is in his father's shop that no one else seems to want to buy.  His father says he may have it on one condition, he had to learn different languages.  He wasn't having fun and runs off into the market with the rug over his head.  A rooster sees Mustafa and follows him through the market which results in a very fun adventure.  Mustafa returns back to his father's shop with a surprise for his father.
Will Mustafa learn different languages?
What surprise does Mustafa have for his father?

The pages are completely covered with vibrant and colorful illustrations that capture the readers eyes page after page.

I chose English as my content area and First grade as my grade.  I would use this in my class to teach the children that there are several different ways to learn languages or even just your own language.  
I would have children struggling one way of learning to read help me to help them figure out another way for them to learn to read.

Gloomy Day

The Snow Day

Written & Illustrated by: Kamako Sakai

Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009

32 pages

International Book

A young rabbit wakes up one day to find that school is closed because it snowed all through the night.  The young rabbit is thrilled and excited to play in the snow but mother says to wait for the snow to stop.  A phone call comes in saying father won't be home because the snow has delayed his plane. This makes the young rabbit very sad, so they pass the time playing cards and other games.  
Will the snow ever stop so the young rabbit can play outside 
and father can come home?

The illustrations are a little darker and gloomier to go along with the mood of 
young rabbit and the snow day.

I chose Science for my content area and Second Grade as my grade.  I would teach this in my lesson about weather.  We would do a science project on how snow is made.  I would have the children discuss what they would do on a snow day.

Accepting Each Other

I'm Like You, You're Like Me/Yo soy como tu, tu eres como yo

Written by: Cindy Gainer 

Illustrated by: Miki Sakamoto

Free Spirit Publishing, 2016

36 pages

Diverse Book

This book describes how we are all the same and different in several ways.  Even though we are different we should be kind to each other and accept each other.  
How are we the same or even different?
Can we still find things we both like and be friends?

The pages are covered with bright and colorful watercolor illustrations 
throughout the book.

I chose Social Studies as my content area and Kindergarten as my grade. 
I would use it in my lesson on teaching the children that we are all the same but different at the same time. Even though we are different, we need to be kind to each other and accept each other as that person is.  
I would pair up children who do not normally play together then have them draw a picture together of something that they would both like to play. This will show that everyone can find something in common and be friends with everyone.

Our Missing Piece

Part of the Rainbow

Written & Illustrated by: Asaf Rozanes

Yazamia, 2018

52 pages

Diverse Book

Mia is so excited to start school and prepares for her first day excitedly.  As she walks to her classroom for the first time she starts to notice others who look different from her.  When she walks into her room everyone is different and she is the only one that is the color green.  She starts to feel very lonely and wants to go back home as the teacher begins to call attendance.  
What will she do when the teacher calls her name?  
Will she ever feel comfortable at school?

The pages throughout the book contain very colorful painted illustrations 
and uses every color of the rainbow.

I chose Social Studies as my content area and First Grade as my grade. 
I would incorporate this book into a lesson that taught the children about how everyone may be different but we are all important.  
I would put the children in groups then assign each child a color of the rainbow. 
They would need to work together to make a rainbow on a poster board using materials such as construction paper, tissue paper, etc. but only the child assigned that specific color could work with that color of paper.