Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

Zita the Spacegirl (#1)

Author/Illustrator: Ben Hatke

Awards: 2012 Children's Choice, Texas Bluebonnet

Genre: Graphic Novel

Grade Level: K-4

When Zita and her friend Joseph find a mysterious red button, the curiosity gets the best of them. They push the button and are transported to an alternate universe. Zita finds that Joseph has been captured and is under attack by an unworldly creature. On her journey to save her friend, Zita meets many strange animals and robots and discovers that they are all worried about an asteroid that will soon hit their planet. She happens upon a giant rat, Strong Strong, who she rides to get around, and another human, Piper, who seems to have ulterior motives. Eventually Zita saves her friend Joseph and they return home.

I appreciate the simplicity in these illustrations. The story really comes alive when the alien creatures are seen. The illustrator uses darker colors and creates movement with all of the aliens.

This book is an excellent choice for students who are more interested in the illustrations, or children who do not yet have the reading level to read such a lengthy story. The sci-fi setting and heroic female lead will keep all readers interested and engaged.

Balloons over Bradway by Melissa Sweet

Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

Author/Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Awards: Caldecott Award
Genre: Nonfiction (biography)
Grade Level: PK- 2

Even as a child, Tony Sarg was always trying to make things move. He even built contraptions to do his chores for him! When he grew up, he moved to London and noticed that children didn't have any puppets, so he began to make them for all the children. Eventually his puppets were used in Broadway productions. Macy's asked him to design puppets for their windows, and he used cartoon characters for his inspiration. As the holidays approached, Macy's decided to provide a parade for their employees and Tony was hired to replace the scary animals with more friendly characters. This became an annual event to entertain guests on Thanksgiving. Tony continued to improve his balloons each year.

I love the nontraditional illustrations in this story. On every page their is something unique, including diagrams, sketches, parade routes, and even puppets that look like they are laying on the page.

This book would be especially useful around Thanksgiving when sone students may be watching the parade at home. Students can learn a lot about the time period of this story. The illustration include older phones, streets, buildings, and of course, puppets. Students can appreciate the hard work Tony Starg put into his designs, especially without the use of the modern technology that we have now.

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan

Authors: Deloris Jordan, Roslyn M. Jordan
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Awards: N/A
Genre: Nonfiction (biography)
Grade Level: PK-2

When he was a child, Michael loved to play basketball with his brothers. He was feeling discouraged because he did not think he was tall enough to be a good basketball player. When he asked his mother how he could get taller, she told him to put salt in his shoes. Although puzzled, Michael listened to his mother and remained patient and said his prayers every night. When Michael was asleep, his mother would put salt in his shoes and say a prayer for him. Michael practiced playing basketball every day. His hard work and determination, along with the help of the salt and prayers, resulted in Michael becoming one of the best basketball players ever.

The illustrations are colorful and intricate. They really bring readers to the neighborhood basketball court where Michael Jordan learned to play.

Although students interested in sports will find this story interesting, the best use for this book is to introduce moral values to readers. Classes can discuss how hard work, patience, and perseverance can pay off in the end.

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel

Author: Kathryn Gibbs Davis
Illustrator: Gilbert Ford
Awards: N/A
Genre: Nonfiction (biography)
Grade Level: K-2 grade

George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. was an engineer who had big dreams. He design for the Ferris wheel won a contest as his attempt to out-shine the Eiffel Tower after the previous years wold fair. Despite many hardships in the design process as well as unsupportive peers, the Ferris wheel appeared at the 1893 World Fair and has since become an iconic attraction for many amusement parks.

The illustrations are full of vibrant blues and purples. The details in the Ferris wheel, such as the geometric shape and bright lights, transport readers to a different time.

Young readers will learn a lot about where their favorite attraction came from and how it was invented. This underdog story may inspire students to think of new ideas themselves.

Who was Dr. Suess? by Janet B. Pascal

Who was Dr. Suess?

Author: Janet B. Pascal

Illustrator: Nancy Harrison

Awards: N/A

Genre: Nonfiction (Biography)

Grade Level: 2-5 grade

Ted Geisel, who is better known for his pen name "Dr. Suess," loved to create doodles as a child. His mom made up rhymes and his dad ran a zoo. He liked to look at the funny ears on the animals. He also loved funny hats. He would even throw parties at his house where everyone who attended wore crazy hats. His favorite time to wear funny hats was when he was writing his stories. He created many children's books that are iconic and popular around the world.

Although the illustrations are all black and white, they are still interesting even to young readers. As seen in the cover, the illustrations are similar to a caricature and bring Dr. Suess to life.

This biography would pair excellently with any of Dr. Suess's impressive stories. I think students would find it both interesting and informative to learn about the author of the books they love. Students can also talk about the things that inspired Dr. Suess as a writer, such as the zoo animals, and think about things in their life that inspire them.

Pajama Girl by Sarah Perry

Pajama Girl

Author: Sarah Perry
Illustrator: Ingvard The Terrible
Genre: Realistic Fiction (audiobook)
Grade Level: PK-1

This story begins with Patricia talking about all the things she does at home. She sits on the couch with her parents, eats dinner, and drinks water. But at the end of the day when she puts on her pajamas, her identity changes. She becomes Pajama Girl! Her pajamas give Patricia super powers to finish her bedtime routine, like defeating her nemesis, the toothbrush kid. When her parents, who are referred to as "Sweet Dreams Momma" and "Sleep Tight Pappa," try to put her to bed, Patricia runs away. She climbs into bed, hoping her pajamas will give her the power to stay away through her bedtime stories, but she falls asleep.

Students can relate the girl in story on a more personal level. This book is also a good choice for a young girl who is interested in super heroes, but is limited to the choices available. I love the use of audiobooks as I think it is helpful to a lot of children who struggle with reading visually. For example, a student with dyslexia may feel discouraged about reading text despite being interested in the story. Audiobooks are a good choice for students who are auditory learners.

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

The Three Pigs

Author/Illustrator: David Wiesner
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: Caldecott Medal
Grade Level: K-4

This is the classic tale of the three little pigs, but with an unexpected twist. Everything seems normal at first. Each pig builds a home out of completely unsuitable materials only to have the wolf destroy it. But when the wolf appears and blows the house down, things begin to look different. For example, the wolf even eats one pig! After this, the pigs find themselves in the real world, looking at the story from the outside. The pigs even fold up the pages of the book to make a paper airplane! They explore the pages of many other classic tales such as a fairytale story with a mystical dragon. The wolf continues to reach the pigs safe space, but cowers in fear when he seas the dragon.

The illustrations in the story seem like normal cartoony pictures until the story shifts. When the pigs come out of the book, the begin to look more realistic. The illustrations are extremely detailed down to each hair and Wiesner uses some very creative ways to bring the pictures to life. The characters interact with the book itself through the text and pages.

This story would be a great addition to any classroom library as it is appropriate and funny for children of all ages. If students have been exposed to the classic tale of the three little pigs, this book can be used to compare and contrast the two stories.

The Alphabet War by Diane Burton Robb

The Alphabet war

Author: Diane Burton Robb

Illustrator: Gail Piazza

Genre: Special Needs Topic (realistic fiction)

Awards: N/A

Grade Level: 1-5

When Adam starts school, he notices that he is having trouble reading. After struggling for a few years, he begins to give up. Instead, he imagines that he is being held captive by an evil king who torments him with vowels. He discovers that he has dyslexia. He finally feels confident and understands his abilities when a school specialist assists Adam with his reading and schoolwork.

The Illustrator uses a lot of pastel colors to set the tone. She also displays Adam's frustration with his schoolwork in a realistic and relatable way for children who are also struggling.

This text is useful in classrooms to promote encouraging and accepting attitudes toward everyone. The book portrays dyslexia in a very real way. Students with dyslexia will relate to Adam and realize that there is hope. Students without dyslexia will recognize that some people have trouble reading, but that does not mean that they are unintelligent.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Author/Illustrator: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Poetry
Grade level: K-4


This collection of poems combines cleverness and humor in each poem. The poems are diverse and include a diverse set of topics. The poems are each similar in style. They are short, funny, and witty.

The illustrations are black and white sketch-type drawings. They match the poems and are quite hilarious. They are similar to comic book art.

As in many poems, these are great examples of rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration. I would find it useful as way to spark in interest in poetry for children who think they don't like poetry or have no experience with poetry.

Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinksy

Rumpelstiltskin

Author/Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: Caldecott Honor Award
Grade level: Pk-2

 Rumpelstiltskin takes place during the medieval era. It begins when the miller tells the king that his daughter can spin gold. The king was excited and wanted to see her immediately! She did not actually spin gold, but was left in the cold dungeon until she did. She worked very hard, but could not spin the gold. Then, a short man appears and makes a deal with her. She trades the man her necklace for the gold. The next morning, the king sees all the gold she spun and tells her to keep spinning. The man continues to spin gold for her. Eventually, the girl runs out of things to trade for gold, so Rumpelstiltskin agrees to spin the gold in exchange for her first born child. Later, the girl marries the king and has a child. the man returns and demands the child. She begs for him to let her keep the child! He states that if she knows his name when he returns 3 days later, she can keep him. When he returns, the Queen guesses his name and he runs away.

Illustrations were realistic, detailed, and intricate. All the objects and characters looked life-like with the exception of the little man, who you can see from the cover, looks slightly more cartoonistic.

Students can discuss the moralistic value of the story, such as lying, trading, and bargaining.

Working Cotton by Sherley Anne Williams

Working Cotton

Author: Sherley Anne Williams
Illustrator: Carole Byard
Genre: Historical Fiction
Awards: Caldecott Honor Award
Grade level: K-2

This is a story about working on a cotton field from a child's perspective. It is very cold outside and the girl and her family patiently wait for the sun to come out. The girl works on the field by helping her mother pile the cotton. After they have worked hard, the mother brings lunch for everyone. The family returns to work and continues to work very hard. When it is time to go home, a bus picks them up and takes them home where they sleep. In the morning the routine starts again.


The illustrations in this story are very realistic, but can still appear to young readers. The illustrator uses soft colors to set the tone of the story.

Students can use this story to make history more real. By experiencing the lifestyle of a child worker through the book, they can better understand the hardships of families during this time. Children can also discuss the multicultural aspects of the story and of the time period, such as slavery.

In the Small, Small, Pond by Denise Fleming

In the Small, Small Pond

Title: In the Small, Small Pond

Author/Illustrator: Denise Fleming

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: Caldecott Medal

Grade Level: K-3rd Grade

A young boy experiences nature from a frog's point of view in a small pond. He sees many different animals. He also listens to the sounds that they make. The boy learns a lot about the life of the pond animals.

The illustrations in this story are vibrant and colorful. They portray the lively lifestyle of the animals that live in the pond.

Young readers will show interest in this book due to the many different animals used and the repetition in the text. Students will be able to imagine experiencing these animals for themselves through the text and illustrations. Classes can discuss their experiences with animals as well as how each animal is different.

Families by Ann Morris

Families

Author: Ann Morris
Genre: Multicultural (Nonfiction)
Awards: NA
Grade level: 1-2nd grade

Everyone is part of a family, but each family looks different. Some children live with parents, grandparents, or foster parents. Some children have siblings. Some families have pets. Families are all different, but they all love and care for each other.

Although no photographer is listed, the photographs provide realistic images of different cultures around the world. The families includes in the pictures are diverse and interesting.

This story would be useful in social studies units about families, communities, or culture. Each student will have something to relate to as the book even includes special situations like step-parents and adoptions. 

Favorite Poems Old and New by Helen Ferris

Favorite Poems Old and New

Author: Helen Ferris
Illustrator: Leonard Weisgard
Genre: Poetry
Grade level: 2-5

This collection of classic and modern poems include a variety of topics and styles. The poems are grouped by areas of interests like as animals and nature. The set is very diverse, as the author includes playful, funny poems, and also somber and serious poems.  

Although the book is primarily text, the illustrator does include a few black and white ink drawings. These illustrations are not the main focus of the book by any means, but they do serve to break up the layout of the page to make the text seem more readable, as well as provide a small source of visual artwork to accompany the poems.

I would choose to include this collection in my classroom library because of the way the poems are sectioned. Students can search for poems by topic, depending on what they are interested in. This is also a good example to show students for different rhyming patterns. The author uses many different patterns and even includes some poems that do not rhyme at all.

Silly Tilly by David Slonim

Silly Tilly

Author: Eileen Spinelli

Illustrator: David Slonim
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Awards: N/A
Grade level: PK-2nd grade

Silly Tilly is very silly. The other barn animals think she is crazy and have had enough.. When Tilly controls her silliness, the barn animals get bored and decide that they miss the old Silly Tilly. They apologize to her and she goes back to her silly self.

Children will find the illustration in this story inviting and hilarious. The illustrator uses the main characters offbeat personality to display all the silly shenanigans she causes on the farm. The pictures are colorful and will keep readers laughing.

Despite this story's fictional premise, there are still educational attributes to be used in a classroom. The author uses rhyme that would provide a great introduction to the concept to young learners. Students can also relate to the judgement that the animals expressed for Tilly, and learn to value each person as an individual.

Circle Unbroken by Margot Theis

Circle Unbroken

Author: Margot Theis Raven

Illustrator: E. B. Lewis

Genre: Multicultural
Awards: Children's Africana Book Awards (2005)
Grade Level: PK-2nd grade

This story is about a family who appreciates basketweaving. A young girl listens to her grandmother tell the story about how her grandfather learned to weave the baskets. He used the baskets to catch the rainwater. Then he gets captured and sold into slavery! He remembers his days basket weaving and passes down the tradition.

The illustrations in this story portray the emotions that this family has about their basketweaving traditions. The illustrations are detailed and soft, providing readers with an emotional and heartfelt experience.

This story contains important multicultural aspects to introduce to students. Teachers can use this story to teach pupils that each family has different traditions that are equally important. Classrooms can discuss the traditions that their family has passed down as well as the historical aspects of the story, such as slavery.

When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry... by Molly Bang

When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry...

Author/Illustrator: Molly Bang
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: Caldecott Honor
Grade level: PK-1

When Sophie's toy gets taken away from her, she gets really upset. She tries to calm down by going outside. She is comforted by her beautiful surroundings. When she returns home, everyone is excited to see her, and Sophie does not feel angry anymore. 

The illustrations in this Caldecott Honor book include Sophie's angry and destructive outbursts. The illustrator uses shape and color to display Sophie's emotion through pictures. Although simple, the illustrations are beautiful, especially in the outdoor settings.

Students can relate to Sophie's emotions, because at early ages, children often do not understand how their feeling or know how to deal with it. I like that the story shows kids a healthy way to handle their anger. Classes can discuss different ways to deal with different emotions and learn which one is best for them.

Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats

Peter's Chair

Author/illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: N/A
Grade level: PK-1st grade

When a young boy gets a new little sister, he discovers that his parents paint all of his old furniture pink. He gets upset, but notices that his parents left one item untouched, his old chair. Because he does not want his parents to find it, he hides it! He soon discovers that he is too big for his little chair. He has a change of heart and gives the chair to his sister. He even helps his parents paint the chair pink.

The illustrations in this story are lively, colorful, and help represent the text visually.

Children can discuss their experiences with new siblings in the house. Teachers can also bring up how everyone outgrows things from their childhood.

Goodnight Little Monster by Helen Ketteman

Goodnight Little Monster

Author: Helen Ketteman
Illustrator: Bonnie Leick
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Awards: N/A
Grade level: PreK-1

This story takes readers through a little monster's bedtime routine, however bedtime for a monster is a little different than bedtime for a human child. This monster has to wash his tail, drink some cold worm juice, and even floss the bugs out of his teeth! When its time for bed, his mother comforts him because he is afraid of children under his bed. His mom turns on his night light and tucks him in so he can fall asleep.

The illustrations are consistent with the text and include gross, monster-themed items around the house. The bread is full of worms and little monster's nightstand is infested with worms.

This story provides young readers with an excellent example of rhythm and rhyme. Classes can also compare and contrast their night time routine with the monster's nighttime routine.

Happy Halloween Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt

Happy Halloween Stinky Face

Author: Lisa McCourt
Illustrator: Cyd Moore
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: N/A
Grade level: PreK- 2 grade

Stinky Face is very concerned about what might happen on Halloween! He asks his mother many ridiculous"what if" questions. He is scared the neighbor will accidentally drop the candy bowl and that his friends butterfly costume will actually turn into a real butterfly! Despite Stinky Face's silly worries, his mom always finds a positive solution to each problem. He begins to question his costume choice in case until his friends show up at the door. The story ends with his mother suggesting that he just go as a ghost.

The illustrator uses interesting color choices to create a fall atmosphere. A neighbors hair is blue and purple trees line the streets. He also makes an interesting choice when on one page, the orientation of the book flips so the reader has to turn the book sideways. The text is also visually appealing because it often wraps around the illustrations or emphasizes one word, for example the words "goopy oozy" looks like goop.

I found this book to be a fun story for children to read around halloween. Classes could talk about the repetition found throughout the story when the little boy begins each sentence with "But Mama, Mama!" Students can also share their opinions about whether or not they think Stinky Face's concerns are valid or not.