Holes

Author: - Louis Sachar

Title: - Holes
Illustrator: - N/A
Publisher: - Frances Foster Books
Year: - 1998

Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Juvenile Fiction
Reading Level: - Independent
Interest Level: - Late Elementary, Middle School

Topics: - Newbery Medal, Outlaws, family curses, bad luck, punishment

Summary: - When Stanley Yelnats is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit (thanks to the family curse of bad luck from his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather,) he has two choices: go to jail, or go to Camp Green Lake, a correctional camp for boys. Not knowing what he is getting himself into, Stanley chooses Camp Green Lake. While at this lake-less camp, Stanley and the other boys are forced to dig one hole each, 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet deep, every single day. It soon becomes apparent to Stanley that the Warden is not making them dig just for character, but rather she is searching for something, likely the treasure of the old outlaw, Kissin’ Kate Barlow.

When things quickly take a turn for the worse a few months into his stay, Stanley takes off across the dry lake wasteland in search of a campmate who had also fled. Stanley finds his friend, Zero, and they continue on their way, trying to find hope in a far off dream of refuge on “God’s Thumb.” Their struggle to survive results in Stanley reversing the curse his great-great-grandfather had caused, producing remarkably good luck for Stanley and his entire family. This book is a definite must-read that keeps you guessing until the very end!

Extension Activity: - After reading the book, students will watch the movie and write a short analysis, comparing and contrasting the book and the movie. Students will explain which they liked better and why (based on the story line and the character developed, not on the method of watching/reading the story.)

-Students will be divided into groups and each assigned a different scene from the book. The students will be responsible for either creating a play or a movie to present to the class, reenacting the scene. This scene should be original and not based at all on the way it is depicted in the movie.

The Polar Express

Author: - Chris Van Allsburg

Title: - The Polar Express
Illustrator: - Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher: - Houghton Mifflin Company
Year: - 1985

Format: - audio book (read along)
Genre: - Picture Storybook
Reading Level: - Assisted
Interest Level: - Elementary

Topics: - Caldecott Medal, Christmas, train, the North Pole, bells, Santa

Summary: - A boy goes on a magical adventure on the Polar Express to the North Pole with many other children. Santa selects the boy to receive the first gift of Christmas. Knowing he could have anything he wanted, the boy chooses to have a bell from a reindeer’s harness. However, later that night on the way home, the boy realizes that he lost the bell through a hole in his pocket. The next morning, the boy receives a package from “Mr. C.” which contains the silver bell that the boy thought he had lost for good!

Extension Activity: - After reading the book, students will watch the movie. While watching (and finishing after the movie is done,) students will make a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the book and the movie.

-Students will write a description of the best gift they have ever received. The gift could be from Christmas, a birthday, or any other holiday or occasion. The students will draw a picture of the gift to accompany their written explanations.

Danny and the Dinosaur

Author: - Syd Hoff

Title: - Danny and the Dinosaur
Illustrator: - Syd Hoff
Publisher: - HarperTrophy
Year: - 1986

Format: - audiobook (read along)
Genre: - Easy to Read
Reading Level: - Emergent
Interest Level: - Early Elementary

Topics: - Dinosaurs, things to do around town

Summary: - When Danny goes to the museum, he wishes he could have a pet dinosaur like the dinosaurs like he sees in the exhibit. All of the sudden, a dinosaur is there and alive for Danny to play with! Danny and the Dinosaur make their way around town, helping people cross the street, carry packages, and move around the city. They play hide-and-seek, merry-go-round, and learn tricks. Finally, it is time for the dinosaur to go home.

Extension Activity: - Students will write a story about what the dinosaur does after he goes back to the museum. The length of the story should be determined based on the age of the students, but in general, the story should include where the dinosaur goes, why he goes there, who he goes with, and what he does when he is there.

Puppy Power

Author- Judy Cox

Title- Puppy Power

Illustrator- Steve Bjorkman

Year- 2008

Genre- Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Format- Hardcover

Publisher- Holiday House Inc.

Reading Level- Intermediate

Interest Level- elementary

Topics- Bullying, Obedience, being kind

Summary- This book is about a girl named Fran. Fran is known to be a bit of a bully around school. She is not a very nice girl and pushes her way around. When she gets the lead role in the play she realizes she needs to behave better to keep it. Along with this lead role she has a new misbehaving puppy. She takes her hercules to obedience school where the dog doesn't only learn its lessons but so does Fran. An extremely relatable book to all kids whether they themselves bully or are bullied.

Extension Activity- Have an open conversation with the class about bullying. Talk to the students about how much it can affect a kid and how bad it is to bully. Let them know if they ever need someone to talk to they can come to their teacher.

The Red Book

Author- Barbara Lehman

Title- The Red Book

Illustrator- Barbara Lehman

Year- 2004

Genre- Picture book (wordless)

Format- Hardcover

Publisher- Houghton Mifflin Company

Reading Level- (no reading)

Interest Level- Pre- K, early elementary

Topics- Discovery

Summary- A wordless story of a little girl who finds a red book in the snow. She takes the book with her and brings it to school. Through the pictures you discover what is in the book and where it takes her. Follow the little girl through the pages as she discovers new and wondrous things.

Extension Activity- Have the kids create their own wordless story. Only allowing them to draw pictures see if you can figure out what each kids story is about.

No, David!

Author- David Shannon

Title- No, David!

Illustrator- David Shannon

Year- 1998

Genre- Caldecott

Format- Hardcover

Publisher- The Blue Sky Press

Reading Level- Assisted

Interest Level- Preschool

Topics- What not to do.

Summary- A funny book consisting all the things a kid should NOT do. Each page david is doing another hilariously naughty thing. The illustrations really make the story and get any kid laughing. Whether he's running down the street naked or writing on the walls any kid is sure to crack up.

Extension Activity- After this story have the kids draw a picture of something else they shouldn't do. Make it a funny picture and share them all with the class. It is a nice break from the school work and will get all the kids eagerly involved.

Flotsam

Author- David Wiesner

Title- Flotsam

Illustrator- David Wiesner

Year- 2006

Genre- Picture book (no text)

Format- Hardcover

Publisher- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Reading Level- (no reading)

Interest Level- Preschool-elementary

Topics- Adventure, mystery, curiosity

Summary- This book it completely told through pictures. A little boy finds a camera washed up on the shore and find incredible pictures on it. The amazing pictures are what tell the story of this little boys incredible findings.

Extension Activity- Have the kids create their own water-color photo of something else the boy found on the camera.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Author- Doreen Cronin

Title- Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Illustrator- Betsy Lewin

Year- 2000

Genre- Caldecott

Format- Hardcover

Publisher- Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Reading Level- Assisted

Interest Level- Preschool

Topics- Animals, Humor, Farm

Summary- A funny story about a farmer who finds his cows are leaving him notes. Making silly requests for things such as heated blankets, the farmer refuses. The cows end up going on strike and getting more and more of the farm animals involved. A very humorous and twisted tale about a group of crazy typing farm animals that is sure to make any kid laugh.

Extension Activity- Have the kids make little cow costumes with hooves, ears and tails. Supplies needed- paper, paint and yarn.

To Be A Kid

Author- Sandra Magsamen

Title- When I grow up I want to be Me

Illustrator- Sandra Magasemen

Year-1999

Genre-Muticultural

Format- Softcover

Publisher- Charlesbridge Publishing

Reading Level-Elementary-assisted

Interest Level- Elementary

Topics- Multicultural, story picture book

Summary- This book is great for showing kids how people are the same and different. They can look at the pictures and find the differences and similarities in each of the photos. With pictures from 6 different countries they can see the different clothing and also notice they like doing the same things with their friends!

Extension Activity- You could have a class discussion on different cultures and make a list of some of the similarities and differences when it comes to different races. You could also have a guest speaker come in and talk about their culture.

First the Egg

Author- Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Title- First the Egg

Illustrator- Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Year- 2007

Genre- Caldecott

Format- Hardcover

Publisher- Roaring Book Press

Reading Level- Assisted

Interest Level- early elementary

Topics- Animals, Nature, Art, Before and After

Summary- This book goes through the many processes of nature such as, what comes first the chicken or the egg? The book discusses others such as the caterpillar to the butterfly. It then moves into more abstract concepts about writing and art. A very educational book on the concept of before and after. With amazing pictures, this makes a great book for young age children.

Extension Activity- Have the kids draw a picture of a process. It can not be one from the book but something they do everyday like their hair when they wake up to after they shower or their plate before they eat dinner and after they eat dinner.

The Lion and the Mouse

Author- Jerry Pinkney

Title- The Lion and the Mouse

Illustrator- Jerry Pinkney

Year- 2009

Genre- Caldecott

Format- Hardcover

Publisher- Little Brown and Company

Reading Level- Primary

Interest Level- elementary

Topics- Friendship, trust, don't underestimate people

Summary- This is the famous tale of how a lion spares the life of a little mouse. Later in the story the little mouse ends up saving the lions life. This story shows karma, and that if you do good things for others, others will do good things for you. A very educational and fun story that kids enjoy.

Extension Activity- Have the kids all sit in a circle and tell a story of when they helped someone else or when they were helped by someone else. Show kids that good deeds will be rewarded.

I Can Do It Myself

Author- Emily Perl Kingsley

Title- I Can Do It Myself

Illustrator- Richard Brown

Year- 1980

Genre- Picture Storybook

Format- Hardcover

Publisher- GOLDEN PRESS Western Publishing Company Inc.

Reading Level- Primary

Interest Level- Preschool

Topics- Daily tasks like brushing your teeth or setting the table.

Summary- This book uses very few words and large pictures. It is all about things you can do on your own. The story uses the muppets from Sesame Street to show all the things they can do on their own like combing their hair and putting on their boots. It's a fast and simple picture book but still educational for children.

Extension Activity- Have the kids make a list of all the things they can do on their own, and one thing they want to be able to do on their own by the end of the school year, unit, or certain time.

The Farm Animals

Author- Rolando Merino

Title- The Farm Animals

Illustrator- Rolando Merino

Year-?

Genre- E-book

Publisher- Carol Moore

Reading Level- Early Elementary-assisted

Interest Level- Elementary

Topics- Animals

Summary- This E-book is great for kids to understand the sounds that animals make. Each page has a different animal on it and there is a button for you to click and it plays the sound the animal makes. Kids love it and like the interaction between reading and sounds.

Extension Activity- You could ask the children what different animals noises the make. For example you could ask..class what sound does a pig make? They would then obviously make the "oink oink" sound.

Joseph had a Little Overcoat

Author- Simms Taback

Title- Joseph had a Little Overcoat

Illustrator- Simms Taback

Year- 1977

Genre- Caldecott

Format- Ebooks

Publisher- Penguin Group

Reading Level- Primary

Interest Level- elementary

Topics- "You can always make something out of nothing"

Summary- This story is about a man named Joseph who has an overcoat that becomes old and worn so he turns it into a jacket. His jacket then becomes very old and worn so he made a vest out of it. His vest then got old and worn so he made it into a scarf. This continued until he made it into a little button. Sadly, Joseph lost this button and then had nothing. Joseph decided to make a book about his story. This story proves that you can always make something out of nothing!

Extension Activity- Have the kids come up with their own story starting with whatever piece of clothing they choose and turning it into something smaller and smaller.

Sacagawea

Author: - Lise Erdrich

Title: - Sacagawea
Illustrator: - Julie Buffalohead
Publisher: - Carolrhoda Books
Year: - 2003

Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Bibliography
Reading Level: - Independent
Interest Level: - Middle to Late Elementary, Middle School

Topics: - Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark, Native Americans, The Corps of Discovery

Summary: - This bibliography tells what is know of the young girl Sacagawea who helped Lewis and Clark on their expedition—The Corps of Discovery—to the Pacific Ocean. The story begins with where Sacagawea was captured from her Shoshone community and taken to live among the Hidatsa people. It follows her journey with Lewis and Clark, and concludes with a summary of the theories of how and when she died. The story is turned alive by the beautifully painted illustrations that accentuate every page.

Extension Activity: - Students will imagine what it would have been like to have experienced what Sacagawea experienced by writing a series of journal entries from her perspective. These entries should focus on specific events in her life as well as the students’ ideas about what Sacagawea would have thought and felt during those times.

Mama, Do You Love Me?

Author- Barbara M. Joosse

Title- Mama, Do You Love Me?

Illustrator- Barbara Lavallee

Year-1991

Genre- Multicultural

Format- Ebook

Publisher- Chronicle Books

Reading Level- Primary

Interest Level- Early Elementary

Topics- Parents, Love

Summary- This is a charming little story of a Native American woman and her daughter. The little girl repeatedly asks her mother if she loves her. The mother will always respond yes in an endearing tone. The book expresses the love a parent has for their child for eternity. Through the gorgeous pictures and adorable story line you can see a story of love and passion for family.

Extension activity- Have each student write a thank you card to their parents of guardian for all they have done for them. Send it home with the kids progress reports.