. Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest. HarperCollins, 2010. Delightful poems about three puppies, their discoveries and antics. Beautifully written and illustrated. Shows a real understanding of life from a puppy’s point of view. Picture Book.
. C. Brian Karas. Putnam’s Sons, 2002. The ocean itself describes its many characteristics. An unusual and beautiful picture book.
. Leigh Ann Tyson. National Geographic, 2003. Katy Did interviews Harry Spyder on her “Up Close and Personal” program on KBUG radio. Harry describes his scary encounter with a girl who put him in a jar. Through the question and answer format we learn much about tarantulas while being very entertained. Picture Book.
. Rob Buyea. Delacorte Press, 2010. Short chapters, each narrated by one of seven 5th graders in Mr. Terupt’s class, chronicle the school year by month. We get to know the new girl, the prankster, the bully, the brain, the shy one, the one who never stands up for herself and the one who hates school. We gradually learn how their lives have defined them. Mr. Terupt is a teacher who always understands them, knows how to guide them, and makes learning fun. A prank results in a tragic accident. Valuable lessons are learned by all. I couldn’t put it down! Read-aloud 5th-6th grade
. Marla Frazee. Beach Lane Books, 2010. A new baby is just as demanding as any CEO. LOL! Picture Book.
. Alice Schertle. Harcourt, 2009. 15 articles of clothing tell their stories in this wonderful collection of rhymes. Picture Book.
. Eve Bunting. Scholastic. 1999. A girl and her grandfather rescue a caterpillar from a hungry bird. They care for it and eventually it becomes a Painted Lady butterfly. Narrated by the child who has grown old. Beautiful! Picture Book.
. Alice Provensen. Simon & Schuster, 2003. Murphy is a terrier who humorously describes a busy day in his life day on the farm. Picture Book.
. Jackie French. Clarion, 2010. Baby mimic’s his mother by keeping his own diary about eating, sleeping, digging, scratching and playing. Picture Book.
Lydia Monks. Egmont, 2009. Minnie, her parents and the cat all have different ideas about how to take care of the mouse problem in their house. Picture Book.
. Ed Young. Philomel, 2004. In this Nepalese fable, a basket tells it’s life story with three generations of a family. Picture Book.
. Marilyn Singer. Dutton , 2010. A brilliant collection of fairy tale style poems that can be read two ways-both up and down which gives a different perspective or meaning. Vibrant artwork is a perfect compliment. The last page encourages readers to write their own reverso poem. Picture Book.
. Kevin O’Malley. Walker & Company, 2010. Follow-up to Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude, the girl and boy have another writing assignment, this time about a king and queen. This is just as fun an entertaining as the first. A good way to talk about the writing process, collaboration. Picture Book.
. Fran Manushkin. Dutton, 2006. Parents, grandparents and a small boy are freezing cold. They remember another time when they were warm and tall. One by one, they each decide they must find a warmer place to live. How long will it take listeners to discover the family is a set of magnets living in the fridge? Picture Book.
. Margie Palatini. Simon & Schuster, 2004. Stewart has a sweet tooth–a very LOUD, demanding and obnoxious sweet tooth that gets him in a lot of trouble. The tooth is undone when Stewart tells him he is switching to a healthy diet. LOL! Picture Book.
. Chris Van Allsburg. Houghton Mifflin, 1998. The world is very different from ants’ point of view. Two greedy ants have a series of misadventures before returning safely home. Picture Book.
. Eve Bunting. Blue Sky Press, 2003. A boy and his father watch five orcas from the shore, wondering what they talk about under water. End page has much factual information about orcas. Picture Book.
Nick Bruel. Roaring Book Press, 2006. Jimmy Wallpaper has asked the author to write a book about his best friend, Melvin Bubble. Mr. Bruel interviews Melvin’s parents, the tooth fairy, Santa and many others. Ask students what others would say about them. Picture Book.