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Caldecott Medal Award

Grandfathers Journey

Allen Say

K-4^th grades/ Elementary through early middle school ages.

After reading this story, a teacher could have children draw a picture of a place they have traveled that they really like or a place they would like to travel to. If a teacher wanted she could have a few children share their pictures and why they picked a certain place.

ELAKR6

This is a story about a boy who is telling the story of his grand father’s life in America and Japan and how his grandfather loved each places equally and felt like each were his home. The boy finds out what grandfather means by all of this when he makes the same journey as grandfather.

Caldecott Medal Award

Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak

K-2^nd grades/ Elementary school ages.

A teacher could have the children act out the story. Have one child be Max, one child is the mother, and the rest of the children could be the monsters.

This is a book about a boy who gets in trouble and escapes his trouble by entering into a world of monsters and he becomes king of the wild things. 

Caldecott Medal Award

A Tree is Nice

Janice May Urby/ Marc Simont

Pre K- 2^nd/ Elementary school ages.

A teacher could tell each student to pick another part of nature and write 3-4 reason nature is important and have students illustrate. The teacher could then put all the papers together and make a “Nature is Nice” book.   ELAKW1

This is a book about trees and every thing the narrator thinks they are good for.

Caldecott Medal Award

The Polar Express

Chris Van Allsburg

Pre K- 2^nd grades/Elementary School Ages

Teacher could have the class paint pictures like the pictures in the book of their favorite part in the book.

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa.

Caldecott Medal Award

Kitten’s First Moon

Kevin Henkes

Pre k- 1^st grades/ Elementary school ages

Teacher could have students make a game board piece of the story and turn the story into a game and whoever gets to the milk bowl first wins.

This is a story about a kitten that sees a moon for the first time and thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. The kitten chases it and tries to get the milk until finally she just gives up and when she gives up is when she finds the bowl of milk.

Caldecott Medal Award

The Storm Book

Charlotte Zolotow/ Margaret Bloy Graham

K-2nd grades/ Elementary school ages

Teachers could read this book and then the class could have a fund raiser to help storm victims from hurricanes, or any natural disaster. This is a good book to read for an introduction to weather.

S1E1.

This book is about a boy in the country who describes the way everything changes right before a storm. The boy then asks his mother questions about the storm. The book goes on to show the storm in the country, the city, and the sea.

Caldecott Medal Award

Tuesday

David Wiesner

K- 2^nd grades/ ages 7 and younger

A great idea for this book is to have students count the number of lily pads on each page. After the numbers of lily pads are discovered the teacher could do a math lesson with the numbers of lily pads on each page.

MKN1.

This book has mostly pictures that tell the story of frogs on lily pads flying around all over the place on Tuesday night. The story ends with the next Tuesday and a picture of a pig.

Caldecott Medal Award

The Relatives Came

Cynthia Rylant/ Stephen Gammell

K-4^th grades/ Elementary school ages

Teacher can have students write a song for the relatives to sing while they were in the car. Students can pretend they are the relatives in the car and sing the song.

This book about a child who tells the story of his relative coming to visit him from Virginia.

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Newbery Award

Sarah, Plain, and Tall

Patricia Maclachlan

3^rd -4^th grades / Late Elementary through Early Middle School ages.

Talk about different types of families and have student draw a picture of their family and label each person by telling their name and their role.

This is a chapter book about a family who consist of a dad and two children whose mother died. The dad who wrote an ad in the personals and requested a wife. The woman comes and the children have to get to know their new possible “mother”.

Newbery Award

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Beverly Cleary/ Paul O. Zelinsky

3^rd -6^th grades/ Late Elementary through Early Middle School ages

A good idea for this book is actually in the book. The teacher could have each student write a letter to their favorite famous author.

This is a chapter book about a boy named, Leigh Botts, who really looks up to an author named, Boyd Henshaw, and Leigh writes to Mr. Henshaw often. Mr. Henshaw writes Leigh back one day and in his response he gives Leigh an idea that really helps him though a rough time.

Newbery Award

Shiloh

Phyllis Renoylds Naylor

3rd-6^th grads/ Elementary and Middle school ages.

Talk about animal abuse and then have the students draw posters to prevent animal abuse.

This is a chapter book about a boy named Marty Preston who finds a beagle one day while he is walking through the woods. Shiloh follows Marty home and Marty ends up keeping the dog and names him Shiloh. Then Marty finds out the dog belongs to Judd Travers, who drinks too much and has a gun and abuses his dogs. Marty tries to save Shiloh but it is hard to hide a dog.

Newbery Award

Number the Stars.

Lois Lowry

5^th- 6^th grades/ Late Elementary and Middle school ages

For this book a good way to discuss the Jewish culture is to have students learn Jewish folk songs and then the teacher could bring in a few Jewish foods.

This is a chapter book about the story of a Denmark family who try to save a Jewish Family friend from the Nazis. The Johansen family takes in Ellen and tries to make it look like she is their daughter until the she can go to Sweden with the rest of her family.

Newbery Award

Charlotte's Web

E. B. White

3^rd-4^th grades/ All ages.

Draw your own spider web with a word that describes yourself written in the web

This is a chapter book about a pig named Wilbur, who is supposed to kill so he can be eaten. Charlotte the spider tries to save Wilbur’s' life by spinning a word that describes Wilbur every morning.

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Best Illustrated book by the New York Times Book Review

Albert

Jim LaMarche/

Donna Jo Napoli

K-4^th grades/ Elementary and Middle School ages.

This book is an excellent way to bring nature into the classroom. A teacher could find a nest that has just had eggs laid in it and every few days take the students to see the nest and have them keep a log about what they see each day with the nest. Continue to visit the nest until the baby birds are gone.

 S2L1.

This book is about a man named, Albert who would not go outside until one when he stuck his hand out his window and a bird made a nest in his hand. After that day Albert decided outside was not bad and made it part of his regular day.

New Voices, New World Winner

Dumpling Soup

Jama Kim Rattigan/ Lillian HSU-Flanders

K-3^rd grades/ Elementary School ages.

This would be a great book to read around the holiday and the teacher could have students each draw a picture of what their family’s New Years Eve tradition and present it to the class.

SSKG1

This is a story about a Hawaiian family and their tradition of celebrating New Years Eve. 

Parent Choice Award

National Council of Teachers of English Award for Poetry for Children

Flamboyant

Arnold Adoff/ Karen Barbour

K-3^rd grades/ Elementary School ages.

Have students one by one act out what they would do if they could be any nice animal in the world.

This book is about Flamboyant, a girl from the Caribbean, who has a wild imagination and swims with the fishes and flies over the Caribbean islands.  

Caldecott Honor

YO! YES?

Chris Raschka

K-5^th grades/ Elementary School ages.

This is a good book for the beginning of school. The teacher could read this book and then pair students up and have them introduce themselves in the least amount of words they can.

This is a story about a two boys who meet on the street and become friends.

Ed Press Winner

The Kissing Hand

Audrey Penn/ Ruth Harper and Nancy M. Leak

Pre k- 1^st grades/ Early Elementary school ages

Students can tell stories about what makes them feel better when they get scared.

This story is about a Raccoon boy who is about to go to school but is scared so his mother kisses his hand so her love can always be with him.

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ABC Book

Naughty Little Monkey’s

Jim Aylesworth/ Henry Cole

Pre k- 1^st grades/ Early Elementary school ages

Have each child draw something they got in trouble for when they were little and say what letter that bad act started with.

This is a book about 26 monkeys who all do something bad, but each bad has its won letter. So the book goes through the ABC’s by explaining bad acts.

Counting Book

Silly 123

Joan Gallup

Students will draw a certain amount of animals in a setting of their choice.

This is a counting book with large pictures of hidden objects. The reader is supposed to find the certain number of hidden objects.

Concept Book

Look and Say Beach

Usbourne/ Francesca Allen

Ages Pre k- K/ Early Elementary School Ages

Bring in items from the beach and then bring in items that would not be found at the beach and have students pick out the items that belong at the beach.

This is a board book that teaches about the beach by going through different pictures of items found on the beach.

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Predictable Book

If  You Give A Pig A Pancake

Laura Joffe Numeroff/ Felicia Bond

Pre k – 2^nd grades/ Elementary School Ages

Teacher should print out the pictures of everything the pig wants to do and pass them out to the students and when she gets to the part in the book the students hold up the appropriate picture.

This book is about a little girl who gives her pig pancakes and after the pancakes the pig wants all sorts of different things. The little girl runs around all day long giving the pig the things he wants.

The Pigeon finds a hot dog

Mo Willems

Pre k- 1^st grades/ Early Elementary school ages

Teacher should pair students up and have the pretend to be the pigeon and the duckling and act out the book.

This book is a bout a pigeon who is trying to eat a hot dog but a duckling keeps asking him questions about what hot dog tastes like until finally the pigeon gives the duck half of his hot dog.

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Traditional Fantasy

Why Mosquito’s Buzz in People’s ears: Am West Africa Tale

Leo Dillion/ Diane Dillon

K-2^nd grades/ Elementary school ages

Have children write their own reasons why mosquitoes buzz and add all reason together into a book of Why Mrs. _’s Class thinks mosquitoes buzz in peoples ears.

This is a folklore that gives funny reasons for why mosquito’s buzz in people’s ears.

Myths, fables,  and Fairy Tales

The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus

Joel Chandler Harris/ Richard Chase/ Arthur B. Frost

5^th -6^th grades/ All Ages

Make a collage representing your favorite character from the story.

This collection contains all eight of the Uncle Remus stories. These stories bring animals to life and they have wild adventures

Myth

The Girl who loved Wild Horses

Paul Goble

Pre k – 3^rd grades/ Elementary school ages

Have students pretend to do an interview with the girl and have them write questions and answers that go along with the story. Then have them present the interviews to the class.

This story is about a native American girl who loved wild horses. She went and lived with them and then she turned into one after a long time.

Legend/ Myths/ Tales

Stone Soup

Ann McGovern

PreK-3^rd grades/ Early Elementary school ages

Make a felt story board and tell the story without reading the book by using the story board.

This is a story about a town that was in a famine and all the people were hiding food and then a soldier came into town and had magic stones and soon all the people in the town brought out what food they had and they made enough soup for the whole town to eat and enjoy.

Legend/Myths/Tales

Lon Po P:  A Red Riding Hood Story from China

Ed Young

Prek-3^rd grades/ Elementary school ages

Make a collage of the book and then share the collage with the class and explain why student picked what they did.

This is a story about three young Chinese sisters who let in a wolf thinking it was a grandmother. Then they devise a pan to get rid of the wolf.

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Fantasy

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

C. S. Lewis/ Pauline Baynes

3^rd- 6^th grades/ All ages

Write about an imaginary place in a wardrobe. Draw a picture of the setting

This is a chapter book about Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy who all walk through an old wardrobe into the world of Narnia. There, they find Aslan, a golden lion, to fight the White Witch and save Narnia from enternal winter.

Science Fiction

Aliens

Ate my Homework

Bruce Coville

4th – 7^th grades/ Late elementary and Early middle school ages

Have students draw a picture of Billy Becker.

This is a chapter book about the story of a boy named Rob is who visited by aliens who send him on mission to capture a boy in his school.

Science Fiction

A Wrinkle in Time

Madeleine L'Engle

4^th- 6^th grades/ Late elementary and early middle school ages

Have students write a story about where they would go if they had a time machine. Students should illustrate their story.

This is a chapter book about Meg’s father has created a time machine and then he disappears so Meg and her friends have to go and find her father.

Science Fiction

The Witches Eye

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

2nd- 6^th grades/

elementary and Middle school ages

Have students write poems about witches also look songs up about witches and pick a few songs for the class to learn and sing while reading the book.

This is a chapter book about the story about a girl named Lynn, who thinks her evil old neighbor who died in Lynn’s house fire is haunting her, but no one will believe her.  

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Realistic Fiction

Because of Winn-Dixie

Kate DiCamillo

6th-7th + grades/ Higher Elementary and Middle School.

Act out parts of the book and take turns playing the different characters.

This is a chapter book about a girl who finds a dog that changes her life because he causes her to meet all type of new people.

Realistic Fiction

Saving Shiloh

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

1st-6^th grades/ Elementary and early middle school ages

Have students make a wanted poster for a nice friend. Have students list all of the qualities of a nice person.

This is a chapter book about Marty and his effort to make sure Shiloh is safe and to see the good in the Judd Travers.

Realistic Fiction

Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake

Barbara Park/ Denise Brunkus

K-4^th grades/ Elementary school ages

Have a school carnival and have students bring in different cakes so the class can have their own cake walk. 

This is a chapter book about Junie B. Jones and her experience with her schools carnival. She practices all of the games so she can win the cake walk. Then she wins the fruitcake that weighs a ton and does not taste well either.

Realistic Fiction

Junie B. Jones is (almost) a Flower Girl

Barbara Park/ Denise Brunkus

K-4^th grades/ Elementary school ages

Have students draw them selves in the bathtub with lots of bubbles. Teacher can pass out blue cotton balls for students to make bubbles.

This is a chapter book about Junie B. Jones and she thinks she is going to be the flower girl. Then she finds out she has a little competition.

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Historical Fiction

Caddie Woodlawn

Carol Ryrie Brink

5^th -6^th grades/All ages

In this story there is a part where Caddie spends her whole dollar on the three little “half/breed” children. Talk to the students about why Caddie did that and have them write a story about what they would have done with the money.

SS4H6.

This is a chapter book about a young girl who is growing up on the frontier. She faces many challenges from her brothers to the Indians. Her biggest challenge of all is learning to be a young lady.

Historical Fiction

Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express

Eleanor Coerr/ Don Bolognese

K-4^th grades/ Elementary and Middle school ages.

Have children pick their favorite adventure from the book and draw a picture and explain why that was their favorite part. 

When Bill was sixteen he began riding for the Pony Express and had many wild adventures, although he never let his family know he was doing anything dangerous.

Historical Fiction

Skylark

Patricia Maclachlan

3^rd -4^th grades/ Higher Elementary School and Middle school.

Have each student pretend they were either Anna, or Caleb. (Depending on whether they were boy or girl) and have them write a letter to father back home.

This is a chapter book about a family who is trying to stay strong through a drought.

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Poetry Anthology

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Shel Silverstein

K- 7^th grades/ Elementary and Middle school ages

Have each student pick out their favorite poem and change the name to their name and then the student can read the poem to the class.

This is a collection of silly poem including Band Aids, The Toucan, and Melinda Mae.

Poetry Anthology

If I Ran the School

Bruce Lansky

K-5^th/ All ages

Have each student write and then present their own poem about school.

This is a collection of silly poems about school including I Ripped My Pants at School Today, How to Torture your Teacher, and My Teacher Pays me to be Good.

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Multicultural Book

Super-Fine Valentine

Bill Cosby/ Varnette P. Honeywood

3^rd -4^th  grade Elementary through Early Middle School ages

Have children make a special Valentine for a pre-picked person, this way every child receives a valentine. 

This is a beginning reader’s chapter book about a boy named Bill who has a crush on a girl named Mia and is afraid to admit it and give her his Valentine he made for her.

Multicultural Book

Dancing with the Indians

Angela Shelf Medearis/ Samuel Byrd

K-2^nd grade/ Elementary school ages.

Paint your favorite scene from the book and write a sentence about what scene it is and why you picked it.

SS4H1

This book is about an African American family who enjoys visiting and taking part in the Seminole Indians traditions.

Multicultural Book

Uncle Jed’s Barbershop

Margaree King Mitchell

3^rd -6^th grade/ Late Elementary through Early Middle School ages

Have each child write about a dream they have and list obstacle they may encounter that would keep them from complete their dream.

This book is about a girl’s uncle who had always dreamed of opening a barbershop and every time he got close to opening something always seemed to happen.

Multicultural Book

Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later)

Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard/ James Ransome

K-2^nd grade/ Elementary School ages

Have each child make a paper hat out of construction paper and decorate it.

This story is about two sisters who love going to their Aunt Flossie’s house and hearing stories about all of her hats and what happened while she was wearing them. At the end of each visit they eat crab cakes.

Multicultural Book

Please, Puppy, Please

Spike Lee and Tanya Lewis Lee/ Kadir Nelson

PreK-1^st grades/ Early elementary school ages

Student should make a puppy mask before the story and hold up their mask every time the teacher says the word puppy.

This is a story about two children who have a puppy and ask the puppy to do different things.

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Autobiography

Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

William Anderson/ Dan Anderson

K-4^th grades/ Elementary and Middle school ages.

Put children in pairs and have each child write an autobiography about their partner complete with illustration.

This is a story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life and how her books became so famous.

Biography

The Story of Harriet Tubman: Freedom Train

Dorothy Sterling

4^th- 6^th grade/ Late Elementary and Early Middle school ages.

Find songs that used to sing on the underground railroad and have students sing the song after the book is read.

The story of Harriet Tubman’s life as a slave and her escape by the Underground Railroad. The story also tells how Harriet Tubman led many slaves free by way of the Underground Railroad.

Biography

Helen Keller: Crusader for the Blind and Deaf

Stewart and Polly Anne Graff.

3^rd- 6^th grades/ Late Elementary and early middle school ages.

Have children try to find another way to communicate besides talking. After students do this, have discussion about how hard it was.

ELA2LSV1

This is a story about Helen Keller’s life and her journey through life with her teacher Anne Sullivan.

Biography

If a Bus Could Talk: The story of Rosa Parks

Faith Ringgold

PreK- 4^th grades/ Elementary school ages.

Have class construct a bus out of cardboard that is rather large and have them write on the walls one point of information about Rosa Parks.

SS1H1.

This is a story about a girl who is picked up by a strange bus. Once on the bus she finds out it was Rosa Parks bus and she learns the story of Rosa Parks Montgomery boycott and the Civil Rights Movement.