Book List

PICTURE BOOKS:

Fiesta Babies

Grandma’s Gift

The Lion and the Mouse

The Polar Express

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type

Before John Jazz Was a Giant

Snowflake Bentley

Owl Moon

A Light in the Attic

Chalk

It’s a Book

Pinkalicious

Interrupting Chicken

CHAPTER BOOKS:

One Crazy Summer

The Hunger Games

Twilight

Holes

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Charlotte’s Web

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Bridge to Terabithia

The Chocolate War

The Giver

To Kill a Mockingbird

What Happened to Goodbye

Skinnybones

Mockingbird

Dying to Meet you: 43 Old Cemetery Road

Shiloh

Shiloh

Shiloh is a Bluebonnet Award winner.

I read this book when I was in middle school and really enjoyed reading it again. I remember feeling the same anger toward Judd Travers back then as I did this time. I love that Marty gets to keep Shiloh in the end. I know that I, along with any other pet owner can relate to Marty and what he feels for Shiloh. I have this book in my classroom library, and my students enjoy reading it as well!

Naylor, P.R. (1991). Shiloh. New York: Atheneum.

Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road

Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road is a Bluebonnet Award winner.

I really enjoyed this book and the simple message it delivers of the importance of friendship and being true to those who are true to you.  I liked that it is written in a non-traditional format and think that this would appeal to reluctant young readers. I remember ghost hunting (in some of the spooky old houses I grew up near) when I was little, and although I never found one, I’d like to think they would have been as friendly as Olive! J

Klise, K. (2009). Dying to meet you: 43 old cemetery road. New York, NY: Sandpiper.

Interrupting Chicken

Interrupting Chicken is on the Notable Books for Children List.

This is an adorable tale! I loved that the little chicken couldn’t help but to save the day for the characters in Papa’s stories. I think kids will like the alternate endings for the stories they know as much as I did. I like the variation in the illustrations throughout the story and think it adds ease to following the storyline.

Stein, D. (2010). Interrupting chicken. Sommerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Mockingbird

Mockingbird is on the Notable Books for Children List.

This book was unbelievable and is one I will never forget. As a teacher I have encountered students that have different struggles, but no amount of professional reading or training could prepare me for the depth of emotion that ran through me while reading this book. I know that it cannot be put in to words exactly, but this text took my breath away.  I remember growing up in a school environment where those that were “different” were secluded in their own room and kept away from the other students.  It has taken a long time for mainstreaming to get where it is today… I cannot wait to share this book with others and help more of the world grasp what those living with Asperger’s deal with daily.  

Erskine, K. (2010). Mockingbird. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Pinkalicious

Pinkalicious is a New York Times bestseller.

Personal Reaction:

I love this book. It is so light-hearted and fun to read, I couldn’t help but to giggle at the thought of turning pink from head to toe. When I was little I would get on kicks where I would only eat one thing for weeks at a time and it drove my mom crazy! I remember more than once hearing “You’re going to turn in to a noodle!” (or pizza, chips, fruit… whatever my food of the week was). I love sharing this story with my niece, who begs me to read it every time we are together.

Kann, V. (2006). Pinkalicious. New York,NY: HarperCollins.

Skinnybones

Skinnybones is a  Bluebonnet winner.

Personal Reaction:

What kid can’t relate to feeling out of place or unliked at some point in their life? This is a great read for children to relate to or for adults to understand how their child or student may be feeling.  Life was generally pretty easy for me growing up, but even I went through an awkward stage where I didn’t know where I belonged and felt alone. I’m glad the story ends in a more upbeat tone than the rest of the story, so that the reader is left with a good feeling inside.

Park, B. (1982). Skinnybones. New York, NY: Yearling.