1. A Bad Case of Stripes By: David Shannon Summary: Camilla collects a variety of stripes and colors on her body depending on what's happening around her. She then turns into a pill, and magic beans from an old woman make her better. She loved lima beans from that day on! Characters: Camilla Cream, Dr. Gourd, Mr. Mellon, Dr. Bumble Setting: Camilla's House/School Theme: Self-Esteem 2. David Goes to School By: David Shannon Summary: David's teacher constantly yells at David in class. At the end of the book she stopped yelling at him, and he was so happy, he skipped on home! Characters: David, David's Teacher Setting: David's school Theme: Manners and Respect
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1. Piggy Book By: Anthony Browne Summary: Simon, Patrick and Mr. Piggott take everything Mrs. Piggott does for granted like cleaning the house, washing the dishes and making dinner. Finally one day she left and left a note that said "You are pigs." They ended up turning into pigs (symbolically) and letting the house get out of control. Finally after the men were frantically going around without dinner, Mrs. Piggott returned home and they all started pitching in to help her. Characters: Simon, Patrick, Mr. Piggott, Mrs. Piggott Setting: Piggott House Theme: Gratefulness 2. A Day's Work By: Eve Bunting Summary: Francisco is trying to get his grandfather (Abuelo) a job, so he finds a man named Ben that will let him garden for him. They ended up ripping out all of the plants instead of the weeds so Ben gets really frustrated. Ben ends up understanding and allows them to come back the following day to fix his garden up, and hires Abuelo. Characters: Francisco, Abuelo, Ben Setting: California Theme: Hard work and determination pay off. 3. Fly Away Home By: Eve Bunting Summary: A family is homeless and lives in the airport. A boy is optimistic when he sees a trapped bird escape outside. Overall, all families live differently. Characters: A little boy, his father, Denny and the Medina's Setting: The airport Theme: Being grateful and setting goals 4. The Wall By: Eve Bunting Summary: A boy and his father visit the Vietnam Memorial looking for his grandfather's name. Characters: A father and his son Setting: Vietnam Memorial/ "The Wall" Theme: War & Memorials 5. Luba and the Wren By: Patricia Polacco Summary: Luba found a wren and saved it's life. This bird granted Luba a wish, but her parents kept wanting more and more and Luba kept asking for them. Finally, at the end they were happy with the life they had before the wishes. Characters: Luba, Farmer, Farmer's Wife, Wren Setting: Forest Theme: Gratefulness 6. What Will You Do for Peace? By: Faith Ringgold Summary: Youth all around New York City were affected differently by September 11, 2001. Characters: Children Setting: New York City Theme: Peace 1. Epossumondas By: Colleen Salley Summary: This is a story about Epossumondas' auntie giving him things to take home to his Mama. But his Mama tells him to how to carry each item and he does it wrong every single time. Characters: Auntie, Epossumondas, Alligator, Mama, Raccoon, Nutria, Armadillo Setting: Auntie's House and Epossumondas' House Theme: Clear communication 2. Franklin's Valentines By: Paulette Bourgeois Summary: Franklin made Valentines for all of his friends at school for the Valentine's Day party, but he dropped them in a puddle outside. He was so upset at school but his friends gave him valentines anyways. The next day Franklin ended up bringing in cards for his friends and said they were for "Friendship Day." Characters: Franklin, Franklin's Mom, Mr. Owl, Bear Setting: Franklin's School Theme: Friendship 3. The Hat By: Jan Brett Summary: A hat travels around to different people and animals and they all have different uses for it. Characters: Hedgie, Lisa, Hedgehog Setting: Multiple settings Theme: Different items have different meanings to all people 4. Somebody & the Three Blairs By: Marilyn Tolhurst Summary: "Somebody" walked into the Blairs' house; it is a take off of the classic story of Goldilocks. Characters: Mr. & Mrs. Blair, Baby Blair, Somebody Setting: The Blairs' House Theme: Families 5. The Gingerbread Boy By: Richard Egielski Summary: A man and a woman bake a gingerbread man and he ran away from everyone until the fox tricked him and ate him. Characters: Man, woman, gingerbread boy, cat, construction workers, musicians, policeman, fox Setting: City Theme: Values 6. The Gingerbread man By: Madge Tovey Summary: An old woman baked up a gingerbread man, and the fox ended up eating him again. Characters: Cow, horse, fox, man, woman Setting: Meadow Theme: Values 7. Officer Buckle & Gloria By: Peggy Rathmann Summary: Officer Buckle and Gloria give safety tips to schools. Characters: Officer Buckle, Mrs. Toppel Setting: Napville Theme: Jobs 8. I Love You Because You're You By: Liza Baker Summary: A mom wolf says she loves everything about her child and picks out different scenarios. Characters: A mom wolf, and a baby wolf Setting: Wolf's House Theme: Love and Family 9. Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing By: Stan & Jan Berenstain Summary: Brother and sister bear are arguing a lot until he gets a special job at school and is teased by other cubs. A new bear named Milton arrives and then they tease him until Brother Bear decides to help him out and get him on the wrestling team. Characters: Mama, Papa, Sister, Brother, Milton, Too-Tall & his gang Setting: School Theme: Teasing and bullying 10. A Pocket for Corduroy By: Don Freeman Summary: Corduroy wanted to make a pocket and ended up getting mixed up in the laundry and put into the washer. Lisa lost him and ended up sewing him a pocket on his overalls. Characters: Lisa, Corduroy Setting: Laundry Mat Theme: Friendship 1. Milly and the Macy’s Parade By: Shana Corey Summary: This book is about the Macy’s Day Parade around Thanksgiving time. It is about a little girl named Milly and it is her first year in America because her family is from Poland. Her dad worked for Mr. Macy and she went there everyday after school. All the men that worked with her father for Mr. Macy were homesick so Milly decided to throw them a parade and it has become a yearly tradition. Characters: Milly, Milly's Dad Setting: New York City Theme: Thanksgiving 2. The Memory Coat By: Elvira Woodruff Summary: This is a story about freedom and strength. Two children named Rachel and Grisia lived with their family in Russia along with many other Jewish people. Grisia is Rachel’s cousin would not give up his coat because he has memories of his parents within it, and he was separated from his parents and never saw them again. The family was planning on going to America but Grisia could not get through because of his swollen face and his jacket but eventually after Rachel flips it inside out so the wool shows they get through! Characters: Rachel and Grisia Setting: Russia and America Theme: Freedom and Strength 3. When Jessie Came Across the Sea By: Amy Hest Summary: This is a book about a girl named Jessie who lives with her grandmother in a poor village in Europe. She is chosen by her villages rabi to travel to America and leave her grandmother behind. After she arrives in America she learns to speak English, and finds success with her sewing talent. With the money that Jessie saves she purchases her grandmother a plane ticket to America. Characters: Jessie and her Grandmother Setting:America Theme: Determination 4. Coming Home Soon By: Jaqueline Woodson Summary: Ada Ruth’s mama must go to Chicago to work, which leaves her and her Grandma behind. It is during the war and they wait each and everyday for the letter that says mama will be home soon. Characters: Ada Ruth and her Grandmother Setting: Unknown Theme: World War 11 5. My America: Our Strange New Land, Elizabeth’s Jamestown Colony Diary By: Patricia Hermes Summary: In May 1607, 3 ships sailed up the James River in Virginia. In the riverbank marshes, they made land and hung the flag--England's flag--establishing the first permanent English colony in Jamestown, Virginia. In 1609, the first ship carrying women and children arrived. After 71 days at sea, nine-year-old Elizabeth Barker is thrilled to be on dry land. Lizzie keeps a journal for Caleb, her twin brother who stayed in England because of his weak lungs. In her entries, Lizzie tells of the abundant forests, trading with and learning from the Indians, and adventures with her new friends. Characters: Lizzie Barker, Caleb Setting: Virginia Theme: Social Studies 6. Molly's Pilgrim By: Barbara Cohen Summary: Molly was a Jewish girl and came to America, but when she came to America she got made fun of. Miss Stickley(her teacher) assigned the class to make Pilgrim dolls and Molly's mom made her doll to resemble herself. Elizabeth says she did it all wrong and Miss Stickley disagrees and ended up loving the doll and explaining to the class that Molly's mom is a Pilgrim. Characters: Elizabeth, Miss Stickley, Molly, Molly's Mom Setting: Winter Hill Theme: All people are different 1. Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad By: Ellen Levine Summary: This is a true story about a slave named Henry “Box” Brown. Henry worked on a lot where his master treated him and his family very well, but he was given to the master’s son and was forced to say a sorrowful goodbye to his family. He ends up meeting a woman named Nancy who he later marries and has children with her. They were all sold at the slave market, but they secretly mailed Henry to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The moment Henry arrived in Philadelphia is the moment Henry became a free slave. This would be a good book to read to children for social studies, when they are learning about slavery. Characters: Henry "Box" Brown, Nancy Setting: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Theme: Slavery 2. My Great Aunt Arizona By: Gloria Houston Summary: This is a story about a little girls Great Aunt Arizona. Arizona was a hard worker and a great teacher. It goes through explaining all about Arizona and finally Aunt Susie invites her to live with her and do chores and study hard. She later returns to her home at Henson Creek and marries the carpenter who helped build the new riverside school and became Mrs. Hughes; but the kid called her “Miz Shoes.” Great Aunt Arizona would always talk about going to faraway places and eventually she died on her 93rd birthday. They said she never did go to those faraway places but she was always in their heart. Characters: Great Aunt Arizona, Aunt Susie, a little girl- Mrs. Hughes Setting: Henson Creek Theme: Hard work 3. We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States By: David Catrow Summary: This book recites the entire constitution but makes it sort of funny and from a kids standpoint. When it says, “establish justice” the little girl has a sign that reads “Rules: 1. Fair 2. Share 3. No Pulling Hair.” It introduces children to the constitution but the book shows the kids how other children may have viewed it. Characters: No real characters Setting: No real setting Theme: Social Studies 4. What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? By: Steve Jenkins and Robin Page Summary: This book would be perfect to talk to children about different parts of the body and explain how different animals use different parts of the body in different ways. It goes through and explains what animals use their body parts for. Characters: Animals Setting: No real setting Theme: Body Parts 5. Around the World By: Matt Phelan Summary: Around the World is about three people who travel the world in 80 days or less. In 1884, former miner Thomas Stevens made the journey on a bicycleIn 1889, pioneer reporter Nellie Bly embarked on a global race against time that assumed the heights of spectacle. And in 1895, retired sea captain Joshua Slocum set sail on a thirty-six-foot sloop, braving pirates and treacherous seas to become the first person to sail around the world alone. Characters: Thomas Stevens, Nellie Bly, Joshua Slocum Setting: Earth Theme: Social Studies 6. Killer Whales By: Seymour Simon Summary: This book is very informative because it describes the physical characteristics, habits, natural environment, and behavior in captivity of killer whales. There are a lot of specific interesting facts in this book as well. Characters: No real characters Setting: Oceans Theme: Whales 7. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave By: Laban Carrick Hill Summary: This story is about a slave named Dave who made a name for himself while he was a slave. Dave worked on pottery and lost a leg in a railroad accident. But his most distinctive feature was the mark he left below a pot’s lip. Sometimes he signed his name and put the date. Other times he wrote verse, usually a short rhyme. Most slaves were illiterate but Dave was not, which shocked most people. Characters: Dave Setting: South Carolina Theme: Slavery 8. The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth By: Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen Summary: Ms. Frizzle asks her class to bring in rocks but everyone seems to have an excuse. Therefore she takes them to find rocks in a random field and dig down to the center of the Earth. It talks about different rocks and lava. Characters: Ms. Frizzle, Arnold, Wanda and Phil Setting: Class and a field Theme: Science 9. Here Are My Hands By: Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault Summary: It shows how you can use different body parts for different things. Characters: No real characters Setting: No real setting Theme: Life 10. The Man Who Walked Between The Towers By: Mordicai Gerstein Summary: Phillipe walked between the Twin Towers on a wire, just because he wanted to. The Police tried to get him down but he said he was a performer. The judge ended up sentencing him to perform for the kids in Central Park. After the towers fell they say they will actually remain there forever. Characters: Phillipe Petit Setting: New York City Theme: Social Studies 11. The Tiny Seed By: Eric Carle Summary: A wind blows seeds up near the sun, and one lands on a mountain, one in an ocean, and one in the desert. A bird doesn't see the one tiny seed and it eats a different seed. Finally, the seed grows into a beautiful flower. Characters: A bird Setting: Multiple settings Theme: Nature 12. The Tooth Book By: Edward Miller Summary: This book talks about how all animals have teeth. It also talks about different parts of a tooth, tooth decay and ways to keep your teeth healthy. Characters: No real characters Setting: No real setting Theme: Hygiene 13. Johnny Appleseed By: Jodie Shephard Summary: This is a story about Johnny Appleseed's life. Characters: Johnny Appleseed- Johnny Chapman, Elizabeth Setting: Massachusetts Theme: American History 14. Living Sunlight How Plants Bring the Earth By: Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm Summary: This book explains how important plants are to us and our environment. It goes into detail about exactly what they do for us. Characters: A boy Setting: Earth Theme: Science 15. Mrs. McNash Hangs Up Her Wash By: Sarah Weeks Summary: Mrs. McNosh hangs up all her wash on the clothes line. Characters: Mrs. McNosh Setting: Wash line outside Theme: Humor 1. Joey Pigza Loses Control By: Jack Gantos Summary: Joey Pigza, who is taking medication to keep himself from getting too wired from his ADHD, goes to spend the summer with the father he has never known. He quickly learns that his father, Carter Pigza, is an older version of his old out-of-control self. Joey really wants his six-week visit with his dad to count, to show him he's not as wired as he used to be, to show his dad how much he loves him. But Carter Pigza's not an easy guy to love. He's eager to make it up to Joey for past wrongs and to show him how to be a winner, to take control of his life and Joey can't get a word in, and his dad doesn't listen to anything Joey tries to say. But Carter Pigza believes Joey can be as normal a kid as he wants without medication because he has started drinking again and he thinks taking control means giving up the things that keep Joey safe. Joey wants to believe him more than anything in the world. At the end of the story Joey Pigza returns back home to his mom’s house by leaving the championship baseball game without saying goodbye to his dad. Characters: Joey Pigza, Carter Pigza, Mrs. Pigza Setting: Carter Pigza's House Theme: Divorce 2. Owl Moon By: Jane Yolen Summary: A little boy and his Pa went owling in to the woods; he said he has been waiting to go owling with Pa for a long, long time. The little boy says his nose and the top of his cheeks felt cold and hot at the same time but he never said a word because “when you go owling you have to be quiet.” The little boy and his Pa are very patient waiting for this owl and making owl calls and at the end of the book the owl calls back and they find him! After they stare at the owl for awhile they head back home and Pa always says “When you go owling you don’t need words or warm or anything but hope.” Characters: Pa, little boy Setting: Woods Theme: Family 3. I Can Be Anything By: Jerry Spinelli Summary: I Can Be Anything is a book about a little boy who is troubled by the fact that he does not know what he wants to be when he grows up. All of the jobs listed are jobs that every child can be, because they are very simple and original things such as a good-bye waver and a dandelion blower. At the end of the story it says that the little boy will be all of the jobs listed in the book and he is so happy. Characters: A little boy Setting: No real setting Theme: You can be anything you want! 4. Ramona Quimby Age 8 By: Beverly Cleary Summary: Ramona Quimby, Age 8, is a story of a young third-grader's experiences as she starts a new school year at a new school and deals with family stresses as well as riding the bus for the first time. Characters: Ramona Quimby Setting: School, Home Theme: New experiences 5. Superfudge By: Judy Blume Summary: This story is about a boy named Peter and his parents explain to him that they are going to have a baby and he is not happy about it; so he says he is running away. Without really anywhere to go he decides to “stay until the baby comes” because he thinks it’ll turn out like his little brother, Fudge. After a few months pass Peter’s mom and dad break new news that they’re moving to Princeton, New Jersey from New York City. As well as the fact that Warren (Peter’s dad) is taking a year off from his job to stay home and write a book. Peter meets a new friend named Alex Santo and Fudge continues to cause trouble in his new kindergarten class because his teacher would not call him “Fudge.” Finally, life goes back to how it used to be and they move back to New York. Peter says he was finally getting used to Princeton but that he missed New York. ' Characters:Peter, Fudge, Warren, Alex Santo, Mom Setting:New York City, Princeton New Jersey Theme: Family Experiences, Moving 6. When I Was Young in the Mountains By: Cynthia Rylant Summary: When I Was Young in the Mountains is about a little child who tells stories about what it was like to be them and what their grandparents did for her. "When I was young in the mountains, I never wanted to go to the ocean, I never wanted to go to the desert. I never wanted to go anywhere else in the world, for I was in the mountains. And that was always enough." Characters: A child Setting: West Virginia, Appalachian Mountains Theme: Family 7. Junie B., First Grader (at last!) By: Barbara Park Summary: Junie B. started her first day of school in Mr. Scary’s first grade class. She was so excited to see her old best friend Lucille in her class, but Lucille has made two new friends (Camille and Chenille) , and Grace has made a new friend on the bus as well and will no longer sit with Junie B. She ends up going to see Mrs. Weller, the school nurse, and she tells Junie B. that she needs glasses. Her new friend Herb saves her at show and tell and makes all the kids think Junie’s glasses are cool; she ends up liking first grade! Characters: Junie B. Jones, Mr. Scary, Camille, Chenille, Grace, Mrs. Weller, Lucille Setting: First grade classroom Theme: School 8. A Sick Day for Amos McGee By: Philip Stead Summary: Amos McGee goes to the zoo to play and take care of all of the animals until one day Amos gets sick. He plays chess with the elephant, runs races with the tortoise, sits with the penguin, lends a handkerchief to the rhinoceros and reads with the owl. When Amos McGee gets sick all of the animals show up at his house to take care of him and do what he did with them. Characters: Amos McGee, Zoo animals Setting: Zoo, Amos' bed room Theme: Friendship 9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid By: Jeff Kinney Summary: A middle–school- aged boy named Greg Heffley writes in his journal everyday throughout the entire year. He draws pictures and he finally gets to be the cartoonist for the school newspaper. A few days later Rowley had told on Greg for the worm-chasing incident and he got his safety patrol job taken away from him. It continues on throughout the entire year explaining different events that happened to him. Characters: Greg Heffley, Rowley Setting: School Theme: Middle School Experiences 10. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale By: Mo Williams Summary: This story is about a little girl named Trixie. One day Trixie and her father were leaving the Laundromat and she realized something, she turned to her dad and spoke jibberish, and after a second time of speaking her father started getting frustrated. The first thing her mom asked when they got home was, “Where’s Knuffle Bunny?” The whole family ran down the block, through the park, zoomed past the school, and into the Laundromat. Trixie’s dad looked, and looked, and looked for Knuffle Bunny but he was nowhere to be found. Her dad then looked harder and found Knuffle Bunny in the washing machine. Trixie screamed, “KNUFFLE BUNNY!” And those were the first words she ever said. Characters: Trixie, Trixie's father, Knuffle Bunny Setting: Laundromat, Trixie's House Theme: Childhood Attachments 11. The Snowy Day By: Ezra Jack Keats Summary: A little boy named Peter woke up one morning to snow covering the ground and decided to play in the snow all day long. At the end of the day he makes a snowball and puts it in his pocket but to his surprise it was no longer there before he went to bed. But the next morning he woke up and new snow was falling so he played in the snow all day again with his friend. Characters: Peter and his friends Setting: Peter's house and outside playing in the snow Theme: Winter 12. The Dot By: Peter H. Reynolds Summary: Vashti was stuck in art class thinking what to draw but she couldn’t think of anything because she thinks she doesn’t know how to draw! Her art teacher tries to give her advice and introduce a little fun into her situation by looking at Vashti’s blank white paper. At the end of the story Vashti was at the school art show and noticed her artwork was all over the wall. A little boy looked up at her and said “You’re a really good artist! I wish I could draw.” So Vashti handed him a blank piece of paper and instructed him to do exactly what her art teacher had told her. Characters: Vashti Setting: School Theme: Determination and goals 13. The Runaway Bunny By: Margaret Wise Brown Summary: A little bunny wanted to run away so he told his mom and she said she would run after him. Then he says but if you run after me then I will become a fish in a trout stream and swim away from you. But his mom said then she would become a fisherman. The entire book continues this way and finally at the end of the book they are snuggled up in their home under the big tree. Characters: Two bunnies Setting: No real setting Theme: Family love 14. White Snow Bright Snow By: Alvin Tresselt Summary: This is a story about snow and how everything changes when it snows. Characters: Children, Rabbits, Postman, Policeman, Farmer Setting: Village Theme: Seasons 1. The Magic Hat By: Mem Fox Summary: In the beginning of the book a magical hat appears in the sky and turns all of the townspeople into animals! Characters: Townspeople Setting: A town Theme: Magic 2. Chrysanthemum By: Kevin Henkes Summary: This is about a little girl named Chrysanthemum. She grew up and loved her name because it was different and it described her perfectly. On the first day of school, her classmates giggled when they heard her name announced during roll call. They said it was too long to fit on a name tag and that she was named after a flower. Chrysanthemum no longer loved her name and she was very upset. Later on in the story the class was introduced to the music teacher, Mrs. Twinkle. Mrs. Twinkle happened to love Chrysanthemum’s name and Mrs. Twinkle said she would name her daughter that. She also told the class her name was long: Delphinium Twinkle. Chrysanthemum then knew that her name was perfect. I like the lesson this book teaches, its very important for young children to understand that. Characters: Chrysanthemum, Mrs. Twinkle, Classmates Setting: School Theme: Acceptance 3. Interrupting Chicken By: David Ezra Stein Summary: It was bedtime for the little red chicken and he begged Papa to read him a bedtime story., and he agreed as long as he doesn’t interrupt. Papa read the beginning of the story Hansel and Gretel until…out jumped a little red chicken and she said, “Don’t go in the house! She’s a witch! So Hansel and Gretel didn’t. The End.” Papa got mad and told the little red chicken that he interrupted the story, and this continued on. Little Red Chicken decided to create her own story and it went like this: “Once there was a little red chicken who put her Papa to bed. She read him a hundred stories. She even gave him warm milk, but nothing worked: he stayed wide away all-ZZZZZZ.” Little red chicken looked up and Papa was sound asleep in his bed. Characters: Little red chicken, Papa Setting: Bedroom Theme: Patience 4. Charlotte’s Web By: E.B. White Summary: Charlotte’s Web is a classic story about a little girl named Fern, her little piglet Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. Fern begins the story by begging Mr. Arable not to kill the runt (of pigs) and he allows her to keep him, who she names Wilbur. Eventually Mr. Arable sells Wilbur to the Zuckerman’s farm down the road, where he meets Charlotte. Fern continues to visit him everyday, but one day the sheep tells Wilbur that Mr. Zuckerman is fattening him up for Christmas dinner. Charlotte beings writing words in her web with the help from Templeton the rat. It makes newspapers all over. Charlotte ends up saving Wilbur’s life and she later dies from old age, but he gets to save her babies and bring them back to the barn with him. Characters: Charlotte, Mr. Arable, Fern, Wilbur, Mr. Zuckerman Setting: Farm Theme: Friendship, Loyalty, Determination 5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone By: J.K. Rowling Summary: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is about a wizard named Harry Potter who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Characters: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dudley, Professor Quirell, Voldemort, Snape, Aunt and Uncle Setting: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Theme: Magic 6. Frog and Toad are Friends By: Arnold Lobel Summary: Frog and Toad are Friends includes five mini stories where it explains the relationship between Frog and Toad and the adventures they go on. No matter what happens to them they are always there for each other. The five mini stories include Spring, The Story, A Lost Button, A Swim and The Letter. Characters: Frog and Toad Setting: Frog and Toad's House Theme: Friendship 8. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH By: Robert C. O’Brien Summary: Mrs. Frisby's son, Timothy, is ill just as the farmer Mr. Fitzgibbon begins preparation for spring plowing in the field where the Frisby family lives. Mrs. Frisby seeks medicine from Mr. Agnes and saves the life of a crow named Jeremy on the way home, who advises her to seek help from an owl. He flies her to the owl’s tree but says he can’t help her until he find out that she as married to Jonathan Frisby and suggests she seeks help from the rats that live in a close rosebush. She then discovers these rats have human-level intelligence. The rat’s leader, Nicodemus, tells Mrs. Frisby of the rats capture by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) which increased their intelligence. This increased intelligence and strength allowed them to escape from the NIMH laboratories and migrate to their present location. Jonathan Frisby and Mr. Ages were the only two survivors of a group of eight mice who had been part of the experiments at NIMH, and made the rats' escape possible. Out of respect for Jonathan, Nicodemus agrees to help Mrs. Frisby's family. The rats move her house to a location safe from the plough. Characters: Mrs. Frisby, Timothy, Mr. Fitzgibbon, Mr. Agnes, Jonathan Frisby, Nicodemuus Setting: Farm Theme: Family Love 9. Swimmy By: Leo Leonni Summary: The story begins with a school of fish that live in the corner of the sea. All of the fish were red besides the only black fish, Swimmy. There was a big tuna fish that ate all of the red fish but swimmy escaped. He was lonely without any other fish but found beautiful creatures in his new spot in the ocean. He regained his happiness and came across another school of fish that reminded him of his own. He wanted to swim and play but they were afraid of the larger fish eating them. So Swimmy had an idea to swim together like a large fish and chased the big fish away. Characters: Swimmy, other fish, and a larger fish Setting: The ocean Theme: Friendship, and working together 10. The Hunger Games By: Suzanne Collins Summary: The Hunger Games is about 12 different districts and a male and female are selected from each district to compete in the “Hunger Games,” with only one winner allowed. Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself after her little sister Prem was chosen to compete. All of the tributes receive intense training and her and her fellow tribute; Peeta, become extremely close throughout the course of the games. They are taken to the Capitol to compete in the arena and receive sponsors based on votes. Katniss and Peeta compete for district 12. During the course of the games President Snow changes the rules and allows there to be two winners but only if they are from the same district. At the end of the Hunger Games when everyone else has died besides Katniss and Peeta he decides to go back on his word, Katniss disobeys the government and decides they will go without any winner and they will die together. But before they can eat the poisonous berries President Snow interrupts and crowns them both the winners. Characters: Peeta, Gail, Katniss, President Snow, Prem, Kato, Rue Setting: The Capitol, District 12 Theme: Government 11. The Adventures of Captain Underpants By: Dav Pilkey Summary: This story is about two boys named George and Harold who are both troublemakers and live their lives through comics. Characters: Captain Underpants, Mr. Krupp, George, Harold, Melvin Sneedly Setting: School Theme: Middle School, Trouble 12. Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully By: Audrey Penn Summary: Chester didn't want to go to school because he was afraid of a bully. Mrs. Raccoon told them a story about walking together and so finally they did just that. They showed up at school and walked right towards Badger and he got nervous, and then they asked him to play and he was shocked. But in the end Badger never bullied again. Characters: Chester Raccoon, Ronny, Cassy, Mrs. Raccoon and Badger (bully) Setting: School Theme: Bullying 13. Dog KU By: Andrew Clements Summary: A dog named Mooch needed a new home. So a family bought him all new stuff and made him theirs. Characters: Dog, Kids and Parents Setting: Home Theme: Love, and Family 14. Snowflake Bentley By: Jaqueline Briggs Martin Summary: Willie loves snowflakes and his parents eventually buy him a camera to use to take pictures with. He ends up publishing all of his snowflake pictures in magazines and became very well known. He ended up dying from pneumonia during a snow storm but has lived in history ever since. Characters: Willie Bentley, Charlie, Mother and Father Setting: Outside in the snow, Willie's house Theme: Perseverance, and determination 15. Curious You On Your Way! By: Kathleen W. Zoehfeld Summary: This is a book about the places you'll go in life! Characters: Curious George Setting: No real setting Theme: Life experiences 16. Bubba the Cowboy Prince By: Helen Ketteman Summary: This is a story very similar to Cinderella- but it's a fractured texas tale. They live on a farm and use a cowboy boot instead of a glass slipper. Characters: Bubba, Wicked Stepdad, Dwayne, Milton, Lurleen, Miz Fairy, Godcow Setting: Farm Theme: Overcoming diversity, 17. Piggie Pie! By: Margie Palatini Summary: A witch wanted to make a piggie pie but didn't have any pigs to make it with. She went out to the zoo to look for pigs and waved her broom in the air. When she waved her broom she said "surrender piggies," which caused all of the pigs to dress up as different animals. Finally she meets up with a wolf after searching all over for pigs and he says he has three pigs back home. So they set off together and at the end of the story they are both picturing eating each other. Characters: Gritch the Witch, Wolf, Pigs, Cow and "Old McDonald" Setting: The Witches' house and the farm Theme: Witches 18. James Marshall's Cinderella By: Barbara Karlin Summary: This is a traditional story about Cinderella. Characters: Dad, step-mother, 2 step-sisters, Cinderella, king, fairy godmother, prince Setting: Her house Theme: Humor 1. The Frog Prince, Continued By: Jon Scieszka Summary: This book is a sequel to the tale of The Frog Prince. Instead of living “happily ever after” problems arise on both sides because the princess wants the prince to go do something heroic instead of catching flies around the castle all day long. But, the prince wishes she wouldn’t nag him all day. Ultimately, the prince ends up running away and he encounters three witches (They were all from previous fairy tales). In the end of the book the prince realizes how good he had it with his princess and at midnight he returns home. Characters: Princess, Prince, Frog Setting: No real setting Theme: Magic 2. Anansi and the Moss- Covered Rock By: Eric A. Kimmel Summary: Anansi discovered a magical rock that makes people fall asleep by “Klomp.” Anansi wanted all of the animal’s food so she tried to trick them, but in the end all of the animals try to teach her a lesson. Characters: Anansi, spider Setting: Forest Theme: Animals, Values 3. The Three Snow Bears By: Jan Brett Summary: The Three Snow Bears is like a re-make of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The book begins with a girl named Aloo-ki who is looking for her sled dogs who drifted away on an iceberg. While she is on her journey looking for the dogs she finds an interesting igloo and three bowls of soup inside. (big, middle-sized and small and one is too hot, too cold and just right) She tastes them all and the bear family returns to their igloo with Aloo-ki’s sled dogs. She is scared when she wakes up to find bears in the igloo so she runs off and hops on the sled dogs! Characters: Aloo-ki, sled dogs, bear family Setting: An igloo Theme: Eskimos 4. The Three Pigs By: David Weisner Summary: The Three Pigs story starts out normal, as the Three Little Pigs fairy tale usually goes, but then the pigs seem to start using their imaginations to alter the usual, rather boring and predictable story. The Three Pigs begins by saying “Three pigs… Straw, sticks, bricks… Huffs and puffs… You probably know the rest. It’s an old story, and every time someone tells it the same thing happens. But who says it’s supposed to? Who’s in charge of this story? Who gets to decide? Has anyone asked the pigs? No? Well, it’s about time someone did.” All of a sudden the three pigs begin traveling throughout different settings and various storylines together. Characters: Three pigs, wolf Setting: Multiple settings Theme: Creativity, and imagination 5. The Tale of Peter Rabbit By: Beatrix Potter Summary: This is a story about a rabbit family and a little rabbit named Peter who is a troublemaker. He is caught in Mr. McGregor’s garden and is chased out multiple times. Mr. McGregor killed the father rabbit because he was caught in his garden as well, so mother rabbit forbids her rabbits to enter that garden. Peter goes in the garden when all of the other rabbits are out shopping and he get’s very sick from eating too much. In the end he escaped the garden again and returns home safe! Characters: Peter Rabbit, Mr. McGregor, Mother rabbit Setting: A garden and a rabbit house Theme: Following directions 6. The Lion and the Mouse By: Jerry Pinkney Summary: This story shows the relationship between a lion and a mouse. Ultimately, the lion gets caught in a trap set my poachers and the mouse gnaws his way through the yarn and sets the lion free. Characters: A lion, mouse and poachers Setting: Unknown Theme: Loyalty, and friendship 7. Tom Thumb: Grimms’ Tales Retold By: Eric Carle Summary: This book has four individual mini stories in this book. These stories were a little odd to me but they do teach a good lesson, about admiring things you have of your own. Characters: Tom Thumb Setting: Multiple settings Theme: Admiring your own posessions 8. Prince Cinders By: Babette Cole Summary: Prince Cinders is a story very similar to Cinderella. Prince Cinders uses a fairy to be "big and hairy," but instead he was changed into a big hairy monkey (Trousers instead of glass slipper as well). The trousers fit Prince Cinders and Princess Lovelypenny proposed immediately, and turned his brothers into house fairies. Characters: Prince Cinders, 3 Hairy brothers, Fairy, Princess Lovelypenny Setting: Cinders' house and the ball Theme: Overcoming diversity 9. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble By: William Steig Summary: Sylvester find a red, shiny pebble one day during a rainy vacation. He wished it would stop raining and all of the sudden it did. He started believing his pebble could grant all of his dreams. He turned himself into a rock and then could not change himself back. His parents are frantically worrying at home and one day they traveled to Strawberry Hill and picked up the red rock. His father wished Sylvester would come home and he did. Characters: Sylvester Duncan, Lion, Mr. & Mrs. Duncan, dogs Setting: Strawberry Hill Theme: Magic 10. The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything By: Linda Williams Summary: A little old lady went to get food and had to travel home through the woods. She ran into a bunch of items to scare her until she got home. The next day she woke up and all of the items built a scarecrow to scare the crows away. Characters: Old lady Setting: Forest Theme: Halloween 11. Tony's Bread By: Tomie de Paola Summary: Tony wanted to own a bakery in Italy and Angelo wanted to marry Serafina, so they switched places. Characters: Tony, Serafina, Angelo, Servants Setting: Village Theme: Values 1. K is for Keystone By: Kristen Kane Summary: The book starts with “A is for Amish” and “B is for Bill Cosby because he was born in Pennsylvania.” Each letter stands for something different that belongs or symbolizes Pennsylvania in one way or another. Not only does it explain what the letter symbolizes it gives a little blurb on the side of the page explaining why. Characters: No real characters Setting: No real setting Theme: History 2. On Market Street By: Anita and Arnold Lobel Summary: This is an alphabet book and it starts out with a lady telling us that she was going to Market Street and she was going to buy… (It then continued to go through the alphabet and give one item for each one). At the end of the story the lady spent all her money and ended up buying a present for her friend. Characters: No real characters Setting: Market Street Theme: Friendship and the alphabet 3. Alphabet Mystery By: Audrey Wood Summary: This book teachers young reader their lower case letters. But the letter x is missing from Charley’s alphabet and the lowercase letter try to solve the alphabet mystery. The letters then learn that little x was upset because Charley didn’t use him as much as the other letters. . The little letter x was all over Charley’s birthday cake because he’s the only one who stands for kisses. This is a great way to introduce the alphabet to young children! Characters: The letter x, Charley Setting: No real setting Theme: Alphabet 4. The Dangerous Alphabet By: Neil Gaiman Summary: A is for always that’s where we embark; B is for boat, pushing off in the dark; C is the way that we find and we look; D is for diamonds, the bait on the hook E’s for the evil that lures and entices; F is for fear and its many devices; G is for good, as in hero and morning; H is for “Help Me!” – A cry and a warning; I am the author who scratches these rhymes; J is the joke monsters make of their crimes; K’s but a kiss – lovers glow with elation; L is like ‘eaven, their last destination; M is for mirrors you’ll stare in forever; N is for night and for nothing and never; O is for ovens, far under the street; P is for piracy, blunt or discreet; Q is for quiet (bar one muffled scream); R is a river that flows like a dream; S is for -somewhere- a skull and its smile; T is for treasure heaped into a pile; U are the reader who shivers with dread;V is for vile deeds done in the night; W’s warning went over your head; X marked the spot, if we read the map right; Y’s your last question, the end of the ring; (Z waits alone, and it’s not for a thing). Setting/Plot: Two children, treasure map, and their pet gazelle sneak past their father and into a world beneath the city. 5. Counting Kisses By: Karen Katz Summary: The mother is giving her crying baby kisses to get her to sleep. She gives “10 little kisses on teeny tiny toes” and continues the entire book that way. She will show the number and write the number as well as giving the kisses on different parts of the body with different adjectives to describe those kisses. Characters: A mother and her baby Setting: House Theme: Family Love 6. Goodnight Moon By: Margaret Wise Brown Summary: The book starts out pointing out all of the objects in a “great green room.” It continues on throughout the story by saying goodnight to all of the objects in the room. Characters: No real characters Setting: House Theme: Saying goodnight 1. Mr. Lincoln’s Way By: Patricia Polacco Summary: This takes place in a predominately white school, but they have an African American principle. It symbolizes different races and cultures and to respect everyone. Characters: Mr. Lincoln, Eugene Setting: A school Theme: Race and Culture 2. I Hate English! By: Ellen Levine Summary: This story is about a girl named Mei-Mei who moved from Hong Kong to New York. She started out having difficulties with the transition and the language barrier. She hated English; reading, writing and speaking it. A little girl named Nancy ends up coming to help Mei-Mei by showing her the city, which, in return, makes Mei-Mei want to speak English. Characters: Mei-Mei, Nancy Setting: New York City Theme: Friendship 3. First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story By: Joseph Bruchac Summary: This story introduces us to the Cherokee culture, it begins by a couple getting along and then they get into an argument. The woman ran off and the sun saw how upset and apologetic the man was so the sun helped reunite the couple. The symbolisms in this book are the strawberries because the Cherokee cultures eat strawberries to remind them to always be kind to each other. Characters: A man, a woman, and the sun Setting: Out in a field Theme: Kindness and forgiveness 4. The Matzah that Papa Brought Home By: Fran Manushkin Summary: This story tells us what it's like to be Jewish and the celebrations that they have over the holidays with their families. The last three pages in the book explain exactly what Passover is. Characters: Papa Setting: A house Theme: Judaism 5. Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story By: China-Ed Young Summary: This red riding hood story was so unlike ours, but it was about a wolf coming to the house when the children were left alone. The wolf was old and running out of strength but ultimately wanted to live forever. The oldest child knew that the Po Po wolf was not their grandma so they fought off the wolf. Characters: Children, Wolf, Po Pop wolf Setting: No real setting Theme: Childhood tales 6. The Name Jar By: Yangsook Choi Summary: This story is about a little girl named Unheri moving from Korea to America. She came to a new country with her family but had to leave her grandmother behind in Korea. At the beginning of the story none of the Unheri’s classmates could pronounce her name, which made her want to change her name to an American name they could understand. She started making friends in her new school and finally she decided that she wanted to keep her name because it’s who she is. Characters: Unheri Setting: America Theme: Being yourself 7. In Our Mother’s House By: Patricia Polacco Summary: This story is about a family that is very diverse; the moms are lesbians and the couple adopted three children, one black, one Asian and one white child. All of the children called the moms “Meema” and “Marmee.” At the end of the story they show the lives of the children when they grow up. Characters: Meema, Marmee Setting:In a house Theme: Diverse Families 8. Junkyard Wonders By: Patricia Polacco Summary: This is about a little girl who has dyslexia and is placed in a special class. Mrs. Peterson says “Welcome to the Junkyard” meaning all of the children are different and unique in their own ways. Mrs. Peterson was a great teacher who takes the children on trips and befriends all of the children. Characters: Mrs. Peterson and her students Setting: Classroom Theme: Differences 9. One Green Apple By: Eve Bunting Summary: This story is about a little Muslim girl named Farah who was different from all of the other children. She and her classmates made applesauce together and in the end she got along with all of the children and she felt happy. The apple was almost what brought the children together. Characters: Farah Setting: Classroom Theme: Diversity 10. And Tango Makes Three By: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Summary: In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango's family is not like any of the others, because he has two dads. Characters: Tango, and her two Dad's Setting: Ice Theme: Diverse Families 11. Ruby's Wish By: Shirin Yim Summary: Ruby is unlike most little girls in old China. Instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to attend university when she grows up, just like the boys in her family. Based upon the inspirational story of the author's grandmother, Ruby's Wish is an engaging portrait of a young girl who strives for more and a family who rewards her hard work and courage. Characters: Ruby Setting: China Theme: Hard work & Courage 12. Heather has Two Mommies By: Leslea Newman Summary: The first lesbian-themed children's book ever published. Lesléa Newman’s groundbreaking children’s book has an enduring message about acceptance and tolerance that will appeal to readers of all ages and backgrounds: The most important thing about any family is that all the people in it love each other. Characters: Heather and her two mom's Setting: Heather's house Theme: Diverse Families 13. The Family Book By: Todd Parr Summary: Represents a variety of families, some big and some small, some with only one parent and some with two moms or dads, some quiet and some noisy, but all alike in some ways and special no matter what. Characters: No real characters Setting: No real setting Theme: Diverse Families 14. Was it the Chocolate Pudding? By: Sandra Levins Summary: A little boy living with his single father and brother explains divorce and it's grown-up words, but the little boy really does know what the father is talking about. Ultimately, he questions his parents divorce and thinks it’s his fault for spilling the chocolate pudding. Characters: Two little boys and their father Setting: House Theme: Diverse families 15. The Keeping Quilt By: Particia Polacco Summary: The Keeping Quilt, passed along from mother to daughter for almost a century. For four generations the quilt is a Sabbath tablecloth, a wedding canopy, and a blanket that welcomes babies warmly into the world. Characters: Great-Gramma Anna, Uncle Vladimir, Aunt Havalah, Setting: New York City Theme: Diverse Families 16. I Am America By: Charles R. Smith Jr. Summary: This book describes people in America with all different races, ethnicities and backgrounds. Characters: No real characters Setting: America Theme: Diversity References: http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi
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