The Trolls

Title: The Trolls

Author: Polly Horvath

Illustrator: None

Genre: Fiction Chapter Book

Subgenre: Realistic

Theme: Importance of family & Resentment

Characters: Melissa, Amanda, Pee Wee, Aunt Sally, Great Uncle Louis, Robbie, John, Edward, Lyla, Grandma Evelyn, Grandpa Willy

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 2001

Publication Company: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Summary: The kids (Melissa, Amanda, and Pee Wee) parents go on a trip to Paris  for a week and their babysitter is sick, so they have to call Aunt Sally to come and stay with the kids.  The kids come to find out all kinds of things about their family by the eccentric stories told by Aunt Sally.  And in the stories told by Aunt Sally the kids learn the true meaning of family.

Use in Classroom: This book can be used in a literature circle or a book talk for 4^th or 5^th grade. This is a wonderful book when talking about the importance of family. All students can relate to having some eccentric family members.

26 Fairmount Avenue

Title: 26 Fairmount Avenue

Author: Tomie dePaola

Illustrator: Tomie depaola

Genre: Non-fiction Chapter Book

Subgenre: Biography

Theme: Sometimes you have to go through struggles in life to get what you want.

Characters: Tomie, Tom, Mom, Dad, Buddy, Carol

Awards: Newbery

Date of Publication: 1999

Publication Company: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers

Summary: This book is a biography of Tomie dePeole’s childhood. He tells about the struggles his family went through before getting into their new house. This story has sad, funny, and heart wrenching memories that Tomie does a great job describing and illustrating.

Use in Classroom: This is a great book for studnets in upper elementary school. It could be used as an independent read for a literature circle.  The book provides stories that can relate to students lives. This book can be used as an introductory to chapter books.

Coraline

Title: Coraline

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: P. Craig Russell

Genre: Fiction Chapter Book

Subgenre: Fantasy

Theme: Happiness is not about how much stuff you have it is about family and friendships

Characters: Coraline, Wybie, Mother, Father, Cat, Other Mother, Other Father, Other Wybie, Miss Forcible, Miss Spink, Mr. Bobinsky, Ghost Girl, Other Ghost Girl, Ghost Boy

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 2008

Publication Company: Harper Collins

Summary: A young girl, Coraline, finds a secret door in her new house. This door leads her to a world like her own but only better and everyone has button eyes. She realizes that the world is corrupt and has to save everyone from evil Other Mother before she is trapped there forever.

Use in Classroom: This book can be used for students in middle school. It would be great for independent reading then get students together for a literature circle and a book talk.

Criss Cross

Title: Criss Cross

Author: Lynne Rae Perkins

Illustrator: Lynne Rae Perkins

Genre: Fiction Chapter Book

Subgenre: Realistic

Theme: Teens relating to other teens & Friendship

Characters: Debbie, Hector, Phil, Lenny, Patty

Awards: Newbery

Date of Publication: 2005

Publication Company: Greenwillow Books

Summary: This story is about two 14 year olds and the paths in life they take.  It is about friendships, crushes, and adolescent lives. Debbie wants something to happen to make her different and hector feels there is something more to come for him.

Use in Classroom: This book can be used for a literature circle for middle school and high school students.

The School Story

Title: The School Story

Author: Andrew Clements

Illustrator: Brian Selznick

Genre: Fiction Chapter Book

Subgenre: Realistic

Theme: Social Issues and Friendship

Characters: Natalie, Zoe, Mom, & Hannah

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 2001

Publication Company: Simon and Schuster

Summary: Natalie is a 12 year old girl who has written a wonderful school story and her best friend wants her to get it published. But how can a 12 year old girl get a book published? Well, her mother is an editor but she does not want any favors from her.  So Zoe becomes a self-styled literary agent and Natalie invents a pen name for herself.

Use in Classroom: This book can be used for upper elementary and middle school students. They could read this book independently and have a class discussion about some of the struggle that Natalie and Zoe face.

The Tiger Rising

Title: The Tiger Rising

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator: None

Genre: Fiction Chapter Book

Subgenre: Realistic

Theme: It is not good to keep your feeling locked up & Friendship

Characters: Rob, Sistine, Mr. Beauchamp, Rob’s Dad, and Willie May

Awards: National Book Award Finalist

Date of Publication: 2001

Publication Company: Candlewick Press

Summary: Rob meets the new girl Sistine and they find a tiger in the woods and plan to set it free.  Both Rob and Sistine have hidden feelings locked up inside them and become good friends.

Use in Classroom: This book can be used for middle school student for literature circles.

The Secret Footprints

Title: The Secret Footprints

Author: Julia Alvarez

Illustrator: Febian Negrin

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Folktale

Theme: Family

Characters: Ciguapas, Guapa,

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 2002

Publication Company: Dragonfly Books

Summary: A story based on Dominican folktale, about ciguapas, a tribe of beautiful underwater people whose feet are attached backwards, with toes pointing in the direction from which they have come.

Use in Classroom: This book can be read aloud to an elementary school class. This book can be used in the classroom about different cultures.

A Bad Case of Strips

Title: A Bad Case of Strips

Author: David Shannon

Illustrator: David Shannon

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Fantasy

Theme: Accept yourself the way you are

Characters: Camilla, Mr. Cream & Mrs. Cream, Dr. Bumble, Mr. Harms, Mr. Grop, Mr. Sponge, MR. Mellon, Dr. Gourd, and the Old Woman

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 1998

Publication Company: Scholastic Inc

Summary: Throughout this book the young girl, Camilla, goes through many transformations. First it starts with different color patterns on her skin. Then it worsens with things growing off of her. It seems no one can help her until a little old lady comes along and saves her.

Use in Classroom: This book is great for independent reading for older elementary school students. Students could read it and then discuss in literature circles or as a class discussion.

Beautiful Blackbird

Title: Beautiful Blackbird

Author: Ashley Bryan

Illustrator: Ashley Bryan

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Folktale

Theme: It is not what is on the outside that makes you beautiful, it is what is on the inside that matters.

Characters: Blackbird, Ringdove, and other African Birds

Awards: Coretta Scott King

Date of Publication: 2003

Publication Company: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

Summary: Based on an old Zambian folktale Beautiful Blackbird tells the story of how the birds of Africa used to be many bright colors. The only bird that had any black on his feathers was the blackbird. He was thought to be the most beautiful of all the birds.

Use in Classroom: This is a picture book that would be good to use to read aloud with elementary school students.

Saturday and Teacakes

Title: Saturday and Teacakes

Author: Lester Laminack

Illustrator: Chris Soentpiet

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Realistic

Theme: Childhood memories

Characters: Lester and Mammaw

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 2004

Publication Company: Peachtree Publishers LTD

Summary: The author tells about memories he had as a young boy going to his grandmother’s house.  In the story he describes how he would spend his Saturday s at her house mowing her lawn and making lunch and cookies. In the back of the book there is a website listed for the teacake recipe.

Use in Classroom: This book is great read for students in elementary school. Students could create a story of their own memories. They could also share it with the class and share their favorite family recipes.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Title: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Author: Jon Scieszka

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Fantasy

Theme: Book Features

Characters: Jack, Chicken Licken, The Princess, The Really Ugly Duckling, The Other Frog Prince, Little Red Running Shorts, Cinderumpelstiltskin, Tortoise, Hair, Stinky Cheese Man

Awards: Caldecott

Date of Publication: 1992

Publication Company: The Penguin Group

Summary: This book is a collection of twisted, humorous parodies of popular children’s stories and fairy tales. The parodies within the book offer light humor for both children and adults.

Use in Classroom: This book can be used as an independent read or read aloud for elementary school students. Students can read the book and then take another fairy tale not listed in the book and make a twist of their own.

Everyone Brings Noodles

Title: Everybody Brings Noodles

Author: Norah Dooley

Illustrator: Peter J. Thornton

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Realistic

Theme: You can find friends even from different backgrounds

Characters: Anthony, Carrie, Mei-Li, Mrs. Hua,

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 2002

Publication Company: Carolrhoda Books

Summary: Carrie had an idea to do a block party with here neighbors.  But when the day arrives she can only think of the talent show and the noodle dishes from all different countries that her neighbors are bringing.

Use in Classroom: This book can be sure when talking about foods from different cultures.  There are recipes for the noodle dishes in the back of the book that could be made for the class.

Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals

Title: Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals

Author: Ashley Bryan

Illustrator: Ashley Bryan

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Historical

Theme: Celebrate Spiritual Songs

Characters: African American Slave,

Awards: Coretta Scott King

Date of Publication: 2008

Publication Company: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

Summary: The illustrations in this book are rendered with construction paper. The illustrator took three “Negro Spirituals” and captured their underlying meanings.

Use in Classroom: This book can be used as a read aloud book. The students can sing the hymns along with the teacher. The illustrations are amazing and all of the colors will grasp the students’ attention. Then the students can make illustrations of historical songs of their choice.

No David

Title: No David

Author: David Shannon

Illustrator: David Shannon

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Biography

Theme: Importance of respect for others

Characters: David and his Mom

Awards: Caldecott

Date of Publication: 1998

Publication Company: Blue Sky Press

Summary: In this book, David is constantly told no. He is very naughty and yet at the end of the story his mother assures him, that she still loves him

Use in Classroom: This book can be used as a read aloud book to students around 4 to 6 years old. Then the class can discuss authority figures and the importance of respect for others.

The Summer Solstice

Title: The Summer Solstice

Author: Ellen Jackson

Illustrator: Jan Davey Ellis

Genre: Non-Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Informational

Theme: Who summer effects everyone

Characters: Ancient World people, Chumash Indians, Egyptians, Europeans, Irish, Scandinavia,

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 2001

Publication Company: The Millbrook Press, Inc.

Summary: This book talks about the summer solstice in the ancient world and in modern times.  How the sun effects everyone and the celebrations and traditions that different cultures do.

Use in Classroom: This book could be used in a elementary school class during the summer time to talk about different cultures and what they do in the summer time.

We Gather Together... Now Please Get Lost!

Title: We Gather Together… Now Please Get Lost!

Author: Diane deGroat

Illustrator: Diane deGroat

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Subgenre: Fantasy

Theme: The true meaning of friendship

Characters: Gilbert, Lola, Mrs. Byrd, Philip, Frank, Kenny, Lewis, Sam, Patty, and Margaret

Awards: None

Date of Publication: 2001

Publication Company: Sea Star Books

Summary: Gilbert’s class goes on a field trip  to Pilgrim Town for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Gilbert gets to class late and does not get to buddy up with his friend Franks, so he has to buddy with Philip.  Philip gets picked on and no one likes him very much. In the end Gilbert and Philip become good friends.

Use in Classroom: This book can be used to read aloud to elementary class. This book can be read during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Shiloh

Title: Shiloh

Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naytor

Illustrator: None

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Realistic Chapter Book

Theme: It is hard to hid a lie, one lie turns into another, and another, and another

Characters: Marty, Ma, Dad, Judd, Dara Lynn, Becky

Awards: Newberry

Date of Publication: 1991

Publication Company: Aladdin Paperbacks

Summary: Marty finds a dog in the hills of West Virginia. Marty and Shiloh become best friends. Marty spend more time with Shiloh then his own family and friends. When he finds out whose dog it is he hides him out in the woods. The dogs own Judd abuses him because he wants him to be a hunting dog. Marty convinces Judd to give Shiloh to him by tricking him but in the end Marty gets Shiloh and Judd get a friend and a helper.

Use in Classroom: This book could be used in a middle school classroom for a literature circle or a book talk session. This is a great book for boys and students who love pets. This book can be inspiring for students to report people who abuse animals.

Because of Winn-Dixie

Title: Because of Winn-Dixie

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator: None

Genre: Fiction Chapter Book

Subgenre: Realistic Chapter Book

Theme: You can make friends in new places

Characters: India Opal Buloni, Winn-Dixie, Daddy the Preacher, Gloria Dump, Otis, Sweetie Pie 

Thomas, Miss Franny Block, Amanda Wilkinson, Steve & Dunlap Dewberry

Awards: Newberry Honor Book

Date of Publication: 2000

Publication Company: Candlewick Press

Summary: India Opal Buloni tells a story about moving to Naomi Florida and how she meets her dog Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie Opal world turns completely around. No she meets friends and has a better relationship with her daddy.  Also, about the good things and good friends she meets along the way.

Use in Classroom: This book could be used in a middle school classroom for a literature circle. This book is a great way to show students different themes in a book, whether happy themes or sad themes.

Love That Dog

Title: Love That Dog

Author: Sharon Creech

Illustrator: None

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Poetry Chapter Book

Theme: Try something because you never know when you will like it

Characters: Jack, Sky, Miss Stretchberry, Walter Dean Myers, Jack’s Dad

Awards: Christopher, Mitten, and Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

Date of Publication: 2001

Publication Company: Harper Collins Publishers

Summary: Jack a young student who comes to love poetry through his personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him such as Walter Dean Myers poem Love That boy.  Jack surprised himself by writing his own poem that was inspired by Myers poem.

Use in Classroom: This novel could be used in a middle school classroom to help students write and/or inspired their own poems.