Magic Windows

Garza, C. L., Rohmer, H., & Schecter, D. (1999). Magic windows. San Francisco, Calif.: Children's Book Press.

Magic Windows celebrate Hispanic heritage though paper cut art.  Written in both Spanish and English, each page is beautifully ornate and gives a taste of the Hispanic culture and beauty seen in a different way.

If you liked Magic Windows, you may also like:

In My Family (En mi familia)
Garza, C. L., Rohmer, H., & Schecter, D. (1996). In my family. San Francisco, Calif.: Children's Book Press/Libros Para Niños.

Skulduggery Pleasant

Landy, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant. New York: HarperCollins.

When Stephanie is left her uncle's estate, she has no idea of the world she will soon be thrown into.  She meets Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton detective, who takes her in as an apprentice and they race to save the world from the evil Serpine.  If Serpine gets the Scepter of the Ancients, he will be invincible and destroy all of human kind.  Will Stephanie and Skulduggery stop Serpine in time?

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/PvFtUp03mTg

The Underneath

Appelt, K., & Small, D. (2008). The underneath. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. (Newbery Honor 2009)

Abandoned by her human family, a Calico cat seeks refuge and finds a home for her and her kittens underneath a dilapidated house with a hound dog named Ranger.   A unique and loving family is born.  In the house above, a man filled with anger and a thirst for blood waits for the right time to catch a 100 foot alligator and needs the perfect bait.  A snake as old as time itself, turned bitter from abandonment, seeks release and revenge.  All three stories come together in this beautiful story of love, friendship, and redemption.

T.E.K.S: Organisms and environments.  In studies of living systems, students explore the interdependence between these systems: predator/prey in aquatic and terrestrial systems.  In addition, students explore how organisms and their populations respond to short and long term environmental changes, including those caused by human activities

Lesson: Using direct statements from the book, compare and contrast the setting and descriptions used in The Underneath with actual documented scientific studies of the area mentioned.  (The southern area of the Sabine River)

Rapunzel's Revenge

Hale, S., Hale, D., & Hale, N. (2008). Rapunzel's revenge. New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury.

Rapunzel's Revenge is a western take off the classic Rapunzel fairy tale.  Rapunzel is stolen from her mother and raised by Gothel, a woman who rules with an iron fist.  When Rapunzel finds her true mother, Gothel locks her away in a tree tower. Rapunzel spends years planning her escape as her hair continually grows.  She is finally able escape and with the help of a new friend, seeks to save her biological mother and revenge of Gothel while facing one obstacle after another.

T.E.K.S.: Recognize recurring phrases and characters in traditional fairy tales, lullabies, and folktales from various cultures.

Lesson  Idea:  Have students take other traditional fairy tales and adapt the characters and story to another genre.

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

Krosoczka, J. (2009). Lunch lady and the cyborg substitute. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

In this first book in this graphic novel series,  the Lunch Lady is suspicious of the new substitute teacher.  Along with her colleague Betty, they discover that the science teacher has created an army of cyborg robots to replace the school faculty with so he can win the coveted Teacher of the Year title.  A parallel story follows along as the children of the school want to know what the Lunch Lady does outside of school and their path ultimately cross with devastating consequences for one character.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/e-_fAyoWQTc

Extreme Babymouse

Holm, J. L., & Holm, M. (2013). Babymouse. New York: Random House.

Everyone at Babymouse's school is going snowboarding for the weekend.  When Babymouse's family if offered a cabin on Snowy Mountain for the weekend, the "extreme" snowboarding is on.  Follow along with Babymouse through her first experience learning how to balance and snowboarding down her first hill.  Does she listen to her inner voice and take it slow?








If you liked Extreme Babymouse, check out these other titles:

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute: Lunch Lady :1 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Holm, J. L., & Holm, M. (2013). Babymouse. New York: Random House.

 Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero by Charise Mercle Harper
Harper, C. M. (2008). Fashion Kitty and the unlikely hero. New York: Disney-Hyperion.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick, B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures. New York: Scholastic Press.

 Hugo Cabret is an orphan and is taken in by his drunk uncle who is a timekeeper at the Paris train station.  When Hugo's uncle dies, Hugo strives to balance survival with his love of making and fixing gadgets without being noticed.  When he is caught stealing from the toy booth in the train station,  Hugo life and dreams will change forever as mysterious findings connect all the unknowns in Hugo's life. Told through narrative and illustrations, Hugo is a unique novel that will make you seek another like it.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/vUnzS9Tguf8

A Big Guy Took My Ball

Willems, M. (2013). A big guy took my ball!. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Piggie is upset that a big guy has taken her ball.  Gerald, being the faithful friend he is, decides to go get the ball for Piggie.  Then Gerald meets the big guy and he decides that Piggie will not get her ball back because the big guy is really big! Will the dynamic duo get to play with the ball and possibly make a new friend?  

If you like A Big Guy Took My Ball, you might like:

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Pizzoli, G. (2013). The watermelon seed. New York: Disney Hyperion.

Ball by Mary Sullivan
Sullivan, M. (2013). Ball. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Children.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!

Schlitz, L. A., & Byrd, R. (2007). Good masters! Sweet Ladies!: voices from a medieval village. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press. (Newbery 2008)

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! is a compilation of poems written from the perspective of different village inhabitants in a fictional medieval village.  Throughout the text, each characters speaks to their trade, hardships, and dreams.   The characters in each section of the book compliment each others and connect the stories to give a broad perspective of village life.

Lesson Idea:

World History
T.E.K.S --Identify major causes and describe the major effects of the following important turning points in world history from 600 to 1450: the spread of Christianity, the decline of Rome and the formation of medieval Europe

Since the book is written in play format, the students will each chose a character, memorize the lines, and perform the monologue for the class.

We are the Ship

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: the story of Negro League baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.

From barnstorming to sleeping in funeral homes, We are the Ship documents the beginnings of the Negro National Baseball League and gives insight into the beginnings of well known players and talented players who were overlooked.  Full page portraits of the players, owners, and teams enhance the historical information and give the reader insight into plight of African-American players.





If you liked We are the Ship, you might like:

Heroes of the Negro Leagues by Jack Morelli
Morelli, J., & Chiarello, M. (2007). Heroes of the Negro leagues. New York: Abrams.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

Curtis, C. P. (19971995). The Watsons go to Birmingham--1963: a novel. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.

Written at the height of the civil rights movement in America, Kenny Watson and his family live in Flint, Michigan.  When Kenny's older brother continues to get in trouble at school and at home, his parents think it is time for drastic measures.  The family pile in their car and drive to visit family in Birmingham, Alabama.  While there, the family is impacted by two near death experiences of family members, and must come together to cope with the devastating outcomes.

Lesson Plans: Draw a parallel timeline between the events in the book with actual events in the civil rights movement

T.E.K.S. analyze various issues and events of the 20th century such as industrialization, urbanization, increased used of oil and gas, the Great Depression, the world wars, the civil rights movement and military actions.

Out of My Mind

Draper, S. M. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Melody Brooks was born with cerebral palsy.  She has never spoken and is confined to a wheelchair.  However, no one knows that she is brilliant and has a photographic memory.  One day she discovers a device that will help her communicate with family and friends and her life changes forever as it opens her up to a brand new world.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/nCG6e2DifxY

Balloons Over Broadway

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Parade. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

Follow Tony Sarg on his way to creating the puppets for the most famous parade in the world.  Balloons over Broadway documents Tony from the time he was a child to making marionette for Broadway.  Before long, R.H. Macy was calling Tony asking him to create puppets for his Thanksgiving Day parade that, has over the years, has turned into a holiday tradition.


If you like Balloons Over Broadway, you might like:

Barnum's Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World by Tracey Fern
Fern, T. E., & Kulikov, B. (2012). Barnum's bones: how Barnum Brown discovered the most famous dinosaur in the world. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Milly and the Macy's Parade by Shana Corey
Corey, S., & Helquist, B. (2002). Milly and the Macy's Parade. New York: Scholastic Press.

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, N., & McKean, D. (2008). The graveyard book. New York: HarperCollins Pub.. (Newberry 2009)

A toddler escapes the clutches of his family's killer and wonders into an old graveyard up the road.  The little boy, named Nobody Owens, is adopted by the ghosts of the graveyard and is raised with characteristics associated with the dead.  However, Nobody is still hunted by his family killer, and he must face his painful past in order to embrace his future.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/J_08iP4x-94

Rules

Lord, C. (2006). Rules. New York: Scholastic Press.

Catherine's life is not normal.   Her family's life revolve around her little brother David and his autism.   Catherine is constantly creating rules that help curb her brother's "embarrassing" behaviors so that he may live in a normal world.  One day, Catherine discovers a girl her age is moving next door which gives her hope for a normal life.  In addition, she befriends a boy named Jason, who is a paraplegic and changes her outlook on what true friendship is.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/PxNGaC-bbRA

Rosa

Giovanni, N., & Collier, B. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt.

Told from the perspective of Rosa Parks, Rosa chronicles the day she held her ground and did not move to the back of the bus.  As a result of her actions, a civil rights movement began with Martin Luther King leading the way to end segregation. Words and portrait like illustrations lead you on this civil rights journey.

If you liked Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, you may like:

Rosa Parks: don't give in by Cynthia East Dubowski
Dubowski, C. E. (2006). Rosa Parks: don't give in!. New York, N.Y.: Bearport Pub..

Rosa Parks by Susan Hoe
Hoe, S. (2009). Rosa Parks. Philadelphia: Mason Crest Publishers.

It's so Amazing!

Harris, R. H., & Emberley, M. (1999). It's so amazing!: a book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, and families. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

For ages 7 and up, It's So Amazing provides an engaging and non-threatening way for parents to answer the question "Where do babies come from?".  With help from a bird and bee, each topic is discussed with cartoon like illustrations with careful attention paid to the young audience of the book.  Some adults may also learn a thing or two.

Lesson:  After reading the section on genetic characteristics, have students make a chart and write down their characteristics, (hair, eye color, ext) and make a determination which parent/grandparents passed down the specific trait.

TEKS: The student knows that reproduction is a characteristic of living organisms and that the instruction for traits are governed in the genetic material.  The student is expected to define heredity as the passage of genetic instruction from one generation to the next generation.

Spiders

Bishop, N. (2007). Spiders. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

Spiders will send chills down your spine while providing facts that will make you look at the eight legged creepy crawlers in a different light.  Accompanying each fact is an up close and personal look at different species of spiders in their natural habit. Caution: Do not read if you suffer from arachnophobia.

Lesson Idea: Compare and contrast different kinds of spiders in the book.  Have the students use graphic organizers to display their knowledge.

TEKS: Organisms and environments.  The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments.  The student is expected to based on physical characteristics such as color, size, and  body covering.

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Cleary, B., & Zelinsky, P. O. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: Morrow. (Newberry 1984)

Written entirely through letters and diary entries, sixth grader Leigh Botts writes to his favorite author Boyd Henshaw. Leigh asks Mr. Henshaw questions about being an author while also opening up about living with his mother and feelings of abandonment by his truck driving father and problems at school.  Mr. Henshaw's replies and advice help change Leigh's life.

If you liked Dear Mr. Henshaw, you may like:

It's Not The End of the World by Judy Blume
Cleary, B., & Zelinsky, P. O. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: Morrow.

The Landry News by Andrew Clements
Clements, A., & Murdocca, S. (1999). The Landry News. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

It's a Book

Smith, L. (2011). It's a book. London: Macmillan Children's Books.

In this hilarious and clever book,  a donkey doesn't understand what a book is and what it does.  Each page is a different question the tech-savy donkey asks about the book seemingly not listening to the answer building upon the monkey's frustration.

Book Trailer:  http://youtu.be/x4BK_2VULCU

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Deedy, C. A., & Austin, M. (2007).Martina, the beautiful cockroach: a Cuban folktale. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

It is time for Martina to marry, but how will she select the right suitor?  On the advice of her grandmother, Martina spills coffee on the shoes of the gentlemen asking for her leg in marriage and sees an ample amount of reactions to help her make a choice.  Who will she choose? You will be surprised when the tables are turned on Martina.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Z28ChgqayU4

The Three Pigs

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Clarion Books. (Caldecott 2002)

The three little pigs escape the clutches of the wolf and find the pages of their story coming out of the book. The pigs end up in two other nursery rhymes and bring a piece of those stories back to their own story and turn the tables of the big bad wolf.  Masterful illustrations "fall" off the page and fun chaos prevails as the pictures turn into a playground of fun for the pigs.

TEKS: Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Drama. Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of drama and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to identify the elements of dialogue and use them in informal plays.

Lesson: Because the story doesn’t follow the traditional “Three Little Pigs” nursery rhyme, ask students to make inferences on what will happen next.  Which nursery rhyme will the pigs jump into? Which nursery rhyme would you choose and draw an illustration depicting the pigs in that story.

Where the Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York: Harper & Row. (Caldecott 1964)

Max is up to trouble and is sent to his room without supper.  Max's room turns into a forest and he is whisked away in a boat to where the wild things are where he is made the king.  Fun ensues until Max become homesick and decides to leave to the dismay of the wild things. The illustrations compliment the story and give the reader a visual of Max's imaginary world.

TEKS: Writing/Literacy: Students write a literary texts to express their ideas and feelings about real or imagined people, events, and ideas.

Lesson: Students will look at the pictures of the book and write their own narrative before reading.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid: Greg Heffley's journal. New York: Amulet Books.

As Gerg Heffley starts middle school, he starts a "journal" because he knows someday he'll be famous.  As the school year progresses, Greg chronicles his experience with Cheese, evading bullies on Halloween night, and keeping his hot chocolate privileges during his stint as a member of safety patrol.  Throughout Greg's "journal", hilarious cartoon pictures depict every situation Greg finds himself in.

If you liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you might also like:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Kinney, J. (2008). Diary of a wimpy kid: Rodrick rules. New York: Amulet Books.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Kinney, J. (2009). Diary of a wimpy kid: the last straw. New York: Amulet Books.

Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K., & Diamond, D. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York, NY: Crowell. (Newberry 1978)

Expecting to be the fastest kid in 5th grade, Jess is astonished when Leslie, the new girl in town, beats him at a race.  Over time, Jess and Leslie become best friends and create the land of Terabithia where they rule as king and queen until an unforeseen accident changes the course of their lives.

If you liked Bridge to Terabithia, you may also like:

Holes by Louis Sachar
Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

DePaola, T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet: an old tale of Texas. New York: Putnam.

Orphaned by a famine, She-Who-Stands-Alone gives up her greatest possession in order to save her people.  As a result of her sacrifice, her people are saved and rewarded with the beautiful bluebonnet, the Texas state flower.

T.E.K.S: The student expresses idea through artworks, using a variety of media with appropriate skill.  The students is expected to express ideas and feeling in artworks, using a variety of colors, forms and lines and create effective compositions, using design elements and principles.

Lesson Plan: Make a watercolor ground and sunset and then draw bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes over it with watercolor colored pencils. 

Mirror Mirror

Singer, M., & Masse, J. (2010). Mirror mirror: a book of reversible verse. New York, N.Y.: Dutton Children's Books.

How can a fairy tale tell two different stories?  Read it forward, then read it in reverse.  Mirror Mirror takes each story, flips it, and then makes a few minor grammar changes that will make you see double.

Lesson plan Idea: Identify words that change meaning in their presentation of each fairy tale.

TEKS: Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Poetry

This is Not My Hat

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press. (Caldecott 2013)

A little fish has stolen the big fish's hat while he was sleeping.  The big fish wakes up and notices his hat gone and sets out to find it.  Laugh along with illustrations that depict expressive characters in the search for a little hat.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/IhbYyEdYWY8

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

Bartlett, S. C. (2005). Hitler Youth: growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

Told from the perspective of the youth living in Nazi Germany, Hitler Youth chronicles the plight of several young people during the years leading up to, during, and after World War II.  Stories are told from those who believed in Adolf Hitler and his socialist policies and others who secretly fought against the Nazi propaganda.  The photographs will give you the chills and make you see World War II through the eyes of children.

If you liked Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitlers Shadow, check out these related titles:

A Child of Hitler: Germany in the days when God wore a Swastika by Alfons Heck 

Heck, A. (1985). A child of Hitler: Germany in the days when God wore a swastika. Phoenix, Arizona: Renaissance House.

Beyond the Courage: the Untold story of the Jewish resistance during the Holocaust by Doreen Rapport

Rappaport, D. (2012). Beyond courage: the untold story of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

How They Croaked

Bragg, G., & Malley, K. (2011). How they croaked: the awful ends of the awfully famous. New York: Walker & Co..

We all know the stories of Cleopatra and Charles Dickens life, but what about their deaths? Follow along with the sometimes rich and famous, or infamous, with a humorous look at their ultimate demise that will leave you squeamish and screaming for more.  Each section in this page-turner ends with information that gives tantalizing tidbits and facts about the deceased and the time period they lived in and will give you insight into true medical malpractice. 

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/v_g1DKSH6T8