Caldecott Medal Winners

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Caldecott Medal	Click, Clack Moo Cows That Type	Doreen Cronin/Betsy Lewin	K-2	This book can be used to introduce new vocabulary such as furious, impatient, and ultimatum. It is also a good introduction to writing friendly (or not so friendly) letters.	The cows and hens are cold, so they type a letter demanding blankets and threating to strike.
	Caldecott Medal	Song and Dance Man	Karen Ackerman/Stephen Gammell	PreK-2nd	Can be used to introduce students to different types of music and dance. It is also a good book to use for Grandparent's Day. The students can write a story about their grandparents.	A grandfather puts on a show for his grandchildren in hopes to spark a love of 'song and dance' in them.
	Caldecott Medal	Lon Po Po	Ed Young	PreK-3rd	Children can compare and contrast Lon Po Po to the more familiar Little Red Riding Hood.	After their mother leaves to visit Grandma, three little girls are visited by a wolf, and they come up with a plan to get rid of him.
	Caldecott Medal	Where The Wild Things Are	Maurice Sendak	K-2	Students can do an art extension by making a mask of their own made up "wild thing."	A little boy dreams about being a king of 'the wild things' after being sent to his room to be punished.
	Caldecott Medal	Hey, Al	Arthur Yorinks/Richard Egielski	PreK-2nd	This is a great story that teaches about being thankful for what we have and not being greedy. Students could write a story (or draw a picture) of what they are thankful for.	A greedy dog convinces his janitor owner to look for a better home and life. They soon find out what problems greed brings.
	Caldecott Medal	Free Fall	David Wiesner (Picture book only)	PreK-K	Students could create their own picture book showing something that they dream about doing.	After reading a book, the boy falls asleep and dreams that he is the characters from his book.
	Caldecott Medal	Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin	Lloyd Moss/Marjorie Priceman	PreK-3rd	This is a great book for learning trio, quintet, etc. Students can create their own musical instruments from craft supplies and count to see how many their orchestra has with each addition.	While counting and using terms like 'trio', 'quintet', and 'quartet', this book introduces different instruments used in the orchestra.
	Caldecott Medal	Inch by Inch	Leo Lionni	PreK-1st	This book is a good resource for introducing measuring. After reading, students can go around the room measuring various items and recording them on paper.	The inchworm can measure anything. How does he measure the bird that threatens to eat him?

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Newbery Award	Pictures of Hollis Woods	Patricia Reilly Giff	3rd-8th	This story is a great tribute to different types of families ie: foster families, step families, etc. for Family History Month. Hollis Woods also documents experiences by drawing. Students can draw a "W" picture like Hollis's to show what they "want".	A foster child, running from place to place, longing for a family tells her story through the pictures that she draws.
	Newbery Award	Because of Winn-Dixie	Kate DiCamillo	8th-up	This would be a fun introduction to pet day. Followed by the movie. Students could write a story or draw a picture about a funny story about their own pet.	A young girl with no mother makes friends in the most unusual places and people, including a dog.
	Newbery Award	Hatchet	Gary Paulsen	8th-12th	Students could make their own model airplane. For a science extension, students could do a paper or straw airplane and see how to make it best fly.	A boy has to learn to survive after a plane crash. He must learn to listen to, appreciate, and respect the nature around him.
	Newbery Award	Ella  Enchanted	Gail Carson Levine	9th-12th	Students could make clay sculptures to resemble what they think the statues in the book may have looked like. This book also makes reference to different types of money. Students could do a study on money in different cultures.	A Cinderella story with a twist leaves Ella forced to obey every command given to her, even if it brings her danger.
	Newbery Award	Bridge to Terabithia	Katherine Paterson/Donna Diamond	3rd-8th	Students could create their own 'secret place'. Writing a story about it, students could name it, describe it, and describe the people or creatures that live there.	A young boy desires to win the playground races, but instead he made a best friend out of the new girl. They create a secret world, Terabithia.

Other Award Winners

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies	The Little Painter of Sabana Grande	Patricia Moloney Markum	PreK-3rd	Using large pieces of paper with houses drawn on them, students can decorate with their own designs.	A young boy has a strong desire to paint after his teachers shows him how to mix paint and create a painting of his own. After convincing his parents to let him paint on their house, the whole village is his canvas.
	Coretta Scott King	The Patchwork Quilt	Valerie Flourney/Jerry Pinkney	PreK-3rd	Children can create family portraits on construction paper squares and attach as a class quilt. (Can be used for family history month) Also, Students can write and decorate only their name (Kindergarten) and create a class quilt at the beginning of the school year to become more familiar with each other.	A young girl learns from her grandmother how to quilt, but most importantly she learns the importance of family.
	ALA Notable Book	How My Parents Learned to Eat	Ina R. Friedman/Allen Say	PreK-3rd	After introducing students to different cultural foods and eating utensils, students could eat a variety of snacks while trying to use chopsticks.	A little girl tells of her American father and Japanese mother meeting and learning to eat the foods from the other culture and use the other's eating utensils .
	An ALA Notable Children's Book	Guests	Michael Dorris	3rd-8th	Guests is much like a thanksgiving story and can be used during that season. Recalling the stories told in the book, students could verbally retell a story familiar to them.	Moss's father invites visitors for a special feast. Moss doesn't like the idea and the visitors make him uncomfortable. He runs away and is forced to grow up in the meantime.
No Picture Available	Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies	On Granddaddy's Farm	Thomas B. Allen	K-3rd	Students could write a story about a memory with their grandparents. Also, could be used while introducing plant parts, and students could plant seeds.	A young boy remembers working on his grandfather's farm. He and his three cousins took care of it and their grandmother while their grandfather was on the railroad.

Concept Books

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Concept Book	The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Fractions Book	Jerry Pallotta/Rob Bolster	PreK-3rd	This book could be used to teach fractions and their values. It could also be used for science while learning to mix ingredients. You could use this book with a Hershey's bar or adapt it for younger learners by using a Kit Kat bar.	This book uses the pieces of a chocolate bar to show how fractions are made, added, subtracted, etc.
	Concept Book	Rain	Robert Kalan/Donald Crews	PreK-2nd	This book can be used to introduce students to the color wheel. When finished reading, students can practice mixing primary colors to make their favorite color, and then they could paint a picture with that color.	A concept book about colors.
	Concept Book	Dinosaur Roar	Paul and Henrietta Stickland	Baby-Preschool	Students can practice opposites with printmaking.	This fun book uses dinosaurs to show differences like meek and fierce or fast and slow. It's a fun easy reader which children can really enjoy learning with.

Predictable Books

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Predictable Book	Chicka Chicka Boom Boom	Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault/Lois Ehlert	PreK-1st	Students can make a coconut tree early in the year, and with every new letter learned, they can add that letter (either from drawing, a magazine, or from a practice sheet) to their tree and take the tree home when they have completed learning all of the letters.	The whole lower case alphabet climbs a coconut tree and crashes to the ground. After the capital letters dust them off, a is at it again.
	Predictable Book	The Doorbell Rang	Pat Hutchins	PreK-K	This book although written for a younger audience, could be used to introduce dividing. Students could make a recipe and practice finding out how much is needed for the class.	The kids are having cookies but 'the doorbell rang'. More kids join so they have to divide the cookies. Finally Grandma come with a plateful more.

Traditional Literature Books

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Traditional Literature	The Terrible Eek	Retold by: Patricia A. Compton/Sheila Hamanaka	PreK-3rd	Students can play the game "Telephone" to see what happens when you tell something that you did not hear for yourself. (GOSSIP)	A misunderstanding can cause terrible problems. A terrible leak can be misunderstood by the thief and wolf as a terrible monster, the "EEK."
	Traditional Literature	Goldilocks and the Three Bears	Retold and illustrated by: James Marshall	PreK-3rd	Students can take turns acting out the story themselves either with puppets or with a flannel story board.	A not-so-well behaved Goldilocks gets into more trouble than anyone bargained for.
	Traditional Literature	Rumpelstiltskin	Retold and illustrated by: Paul O. Zelinsky	PreK-3rd	Students can retell the story through dramatic play.	A greedy king and a greedy small man force the miller's daughter to do things they want her to.
	Traditional Literature	Strega Nona	Tomie dePaola	PreK-3rd	Students could write a story about their magic pot. What would they wish for and what would the magic rhyme be?	Strega Nona, or Grandma Witch, needs a helper. Big Anthony gets the job, but he can't resist the pasta pot, even though Strega Nona warned him not to touch it.
	Traditional Literature	Henny Penny	Illustrated by Carol Byer	PreK-K	Students can write their own "Henny Penny" type story with an ending of their choice. What happens when we over react?	Henny Penny jumps to the conclusion that the sky is falling when an acorn hits her on the head. She convinces her friends to go with her to tell the king, but the fox tricks them instead.

Fantasy/Science Fiction Books

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Fantasy	Don't Take Your Snake for a Stroll	Karin Ireland/David Catrow	PreK-3rd	Students could draw pictures of their own pet using the paint program on the computer.	This fun story book explains just why you shouldn't take your exotic animals into public places.
	Fantasy	Two Bad Ants	Chris Can Allsburg	PreK-3rd	Older students could write about something familiar, describing it carefully without actually naming the object. When read aloud, other students could try to guess the object.	Two greedy ants learn a lesson about being selfish and trying to keep all the sugar for themselves.
	Fantasy	How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?	Jane Yolen/Mark Teague	PreK-2nd	Students could take turns telling what rituals they go through to go to bed at night, then compare with others.	Dinosaurs do not throw tantrums at bedtime. This story tells how perfectly dinosaurs turn in at night.
	Fantasy	You Are Special	Max Lucado/Sergio Martinez	PreK-3rd	Students can write a paper telling what traits or characteristics they have that make them special.	A sad Wemmick wants to get rid of the stickers that classify him, so he goes to visit his maker. He tells Punchinello to not worry what others think.

Realistic Fiction Books

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Realistic Fiction	Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia	Barbara O'Connor	4th-6th	Students can find six people in the classroom to share something good about each of them and that person shares something in return. Once the student has received a "compliment" from their six different students, they create a personality cube with those traits.	A young lonely girl wants desperately to have friends. She uses a class spelling bee to try and make friends with the new kid.
	Realistic Fiction	Who Is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas	Martha Freeman	4th-6th	Students can solve their own mystery in the classroom, following leads and clues left around the room by the teacher and the teacher's accomplise (maybe teacher next door)	Two kids on Christmas break work hard to solve the mystery of who is stealing the Christmas decorations from their neighborhood.
	Realistic Fiction	The Pain and the Great One	Judy Blume	PreK-3rd	Students can write a story twice, showing two different points of view.	A brother and sister both think their parents love the other sibling the best. These two have the worst case of sibling rivalry.
	Realistic Fiction	Hoop Girlz	Lucy Jane Bledsoe	5th-7th	Students can work in a group to do a project. Whether it be making something, writing a story or whatever. The key is, every student has a job: one student can write, one student can speak, one student can talk to the teacher, one student can build. Together, as long as there is teamwork, they can complete the task.	Although they didn't make the "A" team for the basketball tournament, these girls change their name from the "B" team and show what team work can do.

Historical Fiction Books

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Historical Fiction	The Wild Year: Joshua's Oregon Trail Diary	Patricia Hermes	2nd-4th	Students can keep a diary for a week of everything they do. After an allotted time, they can then change to daily entries.	After his grandfather's death, Joshua makes sure to keep a journal like his grandpa told him. He tells his story through his diary.
	Historical Fiction	My Great-Aunt Arizona	Gloria Houston/Susan Condie Lamb	PreK-3rd	Students could write a story or draw a picture about a place they would like to visit someday.	A girl desires to go many places, but instead she becomes a school teacher and encourages her students to follow their dreams.
	Historical Fiction	Sarah, Plain and Tall	Patricia MacLachlan	K-3rd	Students could make a chalk drawing (like Sarah) to draw something they miss, want to remember, or want to tell someone a story about.	Sarah comes to answer an ad for a wife. Will she stay and become part of the family?

Poetry Anthologies

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Poetry Anthology	A Light in the Attic	Shel Silverstein	3rd-6th	Students can read "A Light in the Attic" while learning about the different styles of poetry and try to pick out the different types. (ie: haiku, freeverse, limerick, etc.)	A book of different poem styles from the intriguing mind of Shel Silverstein.
	Poetry Anthology	Mary Had a Little Jam and Other Silly Rhymes	Bruce Lansky/Stephen Carpenter	PreK-3rd	Students can take a familiar poem and try to write a new poem together as a class.	A fun rhyme book that puts a little twist on the conventional Mother Goose rhymes.

Multicultural Books

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Multicultural	The Story of Ruby Bridges	Robert Coles/George Ford	PreK-3rd	Students can do a study of Ruby Bridges and write a report.	The story of Ruby Bridges, a strong, young black girl going to school in an all white school.
	Multicultural	Dreams	Ezra Jack Keats	K-2nd	Students can paint a picture of a dream they have had. Remembering that dreams are not always realistic, students can make up a dream.	All of Robert's friends are fast asleep, but Robert can't sleep ... or can he?
	Multicultural	Tar Beach	Faith Ringgold	PreK-3rd	Students can draw a picture of what they would like to fly over to make their own.	An African-Indian girl daydreams she can fly over anything and by doing that, she makes whatever it is hers.
No Picture Available	Multicultural	Let's Read About ... Rosa Parks.	Courtney Baker/Robert Hunt	PreK-2nd	This book is a great read during Black History Month. Also, a great book when students need a boost or need to realize their significance.	A beautiful easy reader about the story of Rosa Parks with beautiful illustrations.
No Picture Available	Multicultural	Alanike and the Storyteller	Donia Creola/Jerry Pickney	PreK-3rd	Students can write their own story to tell with a drum that they make from a can.	A little girl learns that spending time with other kids is just as important as learning and working hard. All this, she learns from a storyteller.

Informational Books

Picture of Book	Genre	Title	Author/ Illustrator/ Copyright	Recommended Age/Grade  Level	Ideas for Classroom Use	Brief Description of the Book
	Informational	The Statue of Liberty	Lucille Recht Penner/Jade Rowland	PreK-2nd	When learning about American freedom or Memorial day, students can build a statue of clay or playdough.	Tells of how France gave the Statue of Liberty to America.
	Informational	Johnny Appleseed	Patricia Demuth/Michael Montgomery	PreK-1st	Students can use printmaking to make apples at various stages (ie: seed, apple, apple half, tree, core, etc)	Johny travels the west trying to make the country a better place by planting apple seeds. He makes a lot of friends along the way.
	Informational	Rumble in the Jungle	Giles Andreae/David Wojtowycz	PreK-3rd	Students could make a paint project or mask from paper plates portraying their favorite jungle animal from the book.	A fun look into the jungle life, this book gives some interesting details about some of the jungle animals with a funny twist.
No Picture Available	Informational	Thank You, Squanto	Peter and Connie Roop	PreK-2nd	Since the Thanksgiving story is usually one-sided, this book can be used to show another point of view. Students could write a story from the view point of a small indian child.	The life story of Squanto, from infant to adult.

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