My Teacher for President by Kay Winters

My Teacher for President by Kay Winters, illustrated by Denise Brunkus, Puffin Books, 2004, ISBN 0-525-47186-3
PS: A second-grader writes a television station with reasons why his teacher would make a good president, but only if she can continue teaching till the end of the year.
This is a wonderful book: while describing his teacher's qualifications for president, the student also describes a president's job. Illustrations cleverly show what is meant by each duty and how each person carries it out. (It's amazing how similar the two jobs are!!). Reminds me of the old quote: "A teacher's job is to take a bunch of live wires and make sure they are grounded."

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don't)

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don't) by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Michael Emberley, Alfred A. Knopf, 2010, ISBN 978-0-375-84682-3
PS: A first-grade girl who does not like to read stubbornly resists her school librarian's efforts to convince her to love books until she finds one that might change her mind.
I love this book. I wish I had written it. It is the story of every school librarian in the world. She loves to read. She reads to her students. She dresses up. She gets excited. And she persists until she finds just the right book for each and every child. (BTW, the book that finally wins the girl's heart: Shrek by William Steig. Be prepared to read it to your students after you read this book.) The book mentions that the librarian is celebrating "Book Week", which would be a great time to read this bok. But I may use it at the beginning of the year instead. Just because I can't wait to use it!!

Baseball: a look at history

Mudball by Matt Tavares, Candlewick Press, 2005, ISBN 0-7636-2387-3
PS: During a rainy Minneapolis Millers baseball game in 1903, Little Andy Oyler has the chance to become a hero by hitting the shortest and muddiest home run in history.
I really love this book, but it's a natural: I love baseball and I love historical fiction. The brown, gray, and black and white illustrations are perfect to convey the rainy, gloomy day on which this record-breaking home run takes place. Kids will enjoy the suspense created by the author (won't tell you why) and cheer with "Little" Andy Oyler in the end. Another great lesson about NOT judging something by just looking at it (you never know what's inside).

Use Mudball to introduce the history of baseball. You'll find all the information you need in:
Ballpark: the Story of America's Baseball Fields by Lynn Curlee, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005, ISBN 0-689-86742-5
For the true baseball fan, this book presents historical baseball fields and facts in a picture book format making it good for older elementary students. Diagrams of some fields are included, as well as historical events which occurred on certain fields. Great players are mentioned, including Cy Young, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Jackie Robinson. This will be a book that students will want to read over several days, exploring a portion each time.
Author Lynn Curlee, who won the Sibert Honor Award for Brooklyn Bridge, has penned other historical books: Liberty, Ships of the Air, Into the Ice: The Story of Arctic Explorations, Rushmore, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Capital, and Parthenon. Find the books at the publisher's website. See his work at Curlee Art.com.
Check out this list of Baseball Books at Embracing the Child.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Schwartz and Wade Books, 2007, ISBN 978-0-375-84014-2
PS: Charlie, the smallest child in his first grade class, is amazed to discover that of the three pumpkins his teacher brings to school, the smallest one has the most seeds.
Wait for Fall, grab 3 different-sized pumpkins, and let the math begin! Great for first graders, who are just beginning to count in different ways (by 2's, by 5's, by 10's). The story is entertaining enough, and the suspense (who can wait to see which pumpkin has the most seeds!) will keep students interested while they count away.
You may or may not want to actually clean out the pumpkins and count the seeds, as the teacher does in the book...
But don't let the other lesson slip by: Don't judge by appearances.
Pumpkin facts in the back will add to the learning experience. (Did you know that pumpkin is a fruit, not a vegetable?!)

Once Upon an Ordinary School Day by Colin McNaughton

Once Upon an Ordinary School Day by Colin McNaughton, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura, Farrar Straus Giroux, 2004, ISBN 0-374-35634-3
Anyone who has ever had a teacher who brought color and excitement and life to the classroom will relate to this book. Illustrations in the beginning of the book are all black, white and gray, correlating to Colin's drab, ordinary life. One school day, Mr. Gee walks in, and that's where the boredom and ordinary-ness ends. He encourages the students to write what they hear in a classical music piece. "Close your eyes, open your ears, and listen", he tells the students. Here's to the Mr. Gee in all teachers!

The Adventures of Sparrowboy by Brian Pinkney

The Adventures of Sparrowboy by Brian Pinkney, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1997, ISBN 0-689-81071-7
PS: After an encounter with a sparrow, Henry finds he is able to fly just like his favorite comic book hero.
Several pages of this book are laid out like a comic strip, which might appeal to those readers who like graphic novels. Pinkney's illustrations on the remaining pages appear comic-strip-like, so the pages tie together nicely, moving from comic strip character to our main character, Henry. Henry's adventures will appeal to early elementary students, who probably also dream of flying, saving small children and animals, and taking on the local bully, and winning.

The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli

The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli, illustrations by Anne Wilsdorf, Dial Books for YOung Readers, 2008, ISBN 978-0-8037-3055-7
PS: When a contest at the local library offers a prize for the best story, a firl tries to write one using her family's suggestions, but her story does not seem right until she listens to her heart.
Great book to teach the "voice" and "idea" aspects of writing. Cute, simple story that will appeal to children.

Master Man: A Tall Tale of Nigeria

Master Man: A Tall Tale of Nigeria told by Aaron Shepard, illustrated by David Wisniewski, Harper Collins, 2001, ISBN 0-688-13783-0
PS: A boastful strong man learns a lesson harder than his muscles when he encounters one of Nigeria's superheroes in this Hausa tale which explains the origin of thunder.
Done in almost graphic novel style, this book would lend itself to a discussion of dialogue (it is complete with speech bubbles) and/or a Reader's Theater.
Love this quote (by Master Man's wife to him): "Quit your foolish boasting. No matter how strong you are, there will always be someone stronger, and someday you may meet him!"

Boys from Africa

For You Are a Kenyan Child by Kelly Cunnane, art by Ana Juan, 2006, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, ISBN 978-0-689-86194-9
PS: From rooster crow to bedtime, a Kenyan boy plays and visits neighbors all through his village, even though he is supposed to be watching his grandfather's cows.
"Hodi? Karibu!" Information in the front of the book tells us that this is the traditional Swahili greeting upon entering another's home, similar to "Anybody home?", answered by "Welcome!". Several more Swahili terms or phrases are given, and are used throughout the book. For a read-aloud, practice these ahead of time! It's an entertaining way of following the boy through a day in his life. We are frequently reminded of his duty to the cows, and I was a little disappointed that he didn't suffer any consequences for neglecting his grandfather and the cows, but this could be discussed with the children as you read the book. Students could compare their daily life with that of the young boy in this story, for instance, when he sees and animal's tail outside the window. We would probably see a squirrel or chipmunk, but he sees a monkey! Good for grades 1-3. Other vocabulary possibilities (English!): maize, eucalyptus (trees), pasture, graze, etc.

On a more serious note, the following book might be good for older elementary students:
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, winner: Coretta Scott King Honor Award, 2005, Lee and Low Books, ISBN 978-1-58430-232-2
PS: 8-year-old Garang, orphaned by a civil war in Sudan, finds inner strength to help lead other boys as they trek thousands of miles seeking safety in Ethiopia, then Kenya, and finally in the United States.
Written by Mary Williams, founder of The Lost Boys Foundation, this book is based on a true story, as told to her "by the boys who lived it."
The boys find themselves fleeing the war, and realize they must "work together if [they] are to survive." They travel, on foot, the many miles to Ethiopia, then on to Kenya. More than 3800 were eventually relocated into the United States. A story of determination and bravery, and the dream of bringing peace to a long-warring homeland. A movie was even made about the boys. Info here.

Paths to Peace by Jane Breskin Zalben

Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World by Jane Breskin Zalben, Dutton Children's Books, 2006, ISBN 0-525-47734-9
Mother Teresa, Anne Frank, MLK Jr., Wangari Maathai, Elie Wiesel, Gandhi, And JFK. Princess Diana, The Dalai Lama and Cesar Chavez. Eleanor Roosevelt, Ralph Bunche and Anwar El-Sadat. What do all these people have in common? Their desire for peace in their time. Some died for it, all spoke about it and worked for it. Some are still working for it. And their lessons are as pertinent today as they were then.
This book is set up beautifully: a two-page spread dedicated to each person, one age textual information, the facing page a wonderful collage of artwork highlighted by a well-known quote of the person. It lends itself well to a biography study, where each student can study one of the 16 people included in the volume. Art notes, glossary, and bibliography in the back of the book add information.

The Conquerors by David McKee

The Conquerors by David McKee, Handprint Books, 2004, ISBN 1-59354-078-7
The story of a large and powerful army who goes out and conquers all the surrounding neighbors, basically because they can, but also so that they can "be like us". (Because, doesn't everyone want to be like us?) From the book jacket: "A simply told parable [which] sends a special message that is all the more effective for framing a quiet plea for peace." It will be interesting to use this with students, probably 3rd to 5th grade, and see what they come up with. I always learn from the kids...
You may remember David McKee from Elmer (the colorful elephant) books.

Birds on a Wire by J. Patrick Lewis and Paul B. Janeczko

Birds on a Wire by J. Patrick Lewis and Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Gary Lippincott, Wordsong (Boyds Mills Press Inc.), 2008, ISBN 978-1-59078-383-2
From the book jacket: "This portrait of a day in an American village is told in the ancient poetic form known as renga (meaning 'linked verse'), in which one poet writes a verse and another poet responds to that, then the first poet adds another verse, and so on. Like a line of railroad cars, each verse links somehow with the one preceding it, but not with the others. THIS means that each new stanza takes the story in a completely different direction as each poet comes up with a clever way to connect a new verse."
The writing possibilities are endless! Reminds me of the writing exercise where you give the students a prompt, then have them write for a period of time (just a few minutes) or a few sentences, then pass it to the next student for them to carry on!
By the way, the illustrations in this book are beautiful.
If using this book with older elementary, teachers will probably need to guide students through the process, as this particular poem is rich and complex. The last stanza is rich: "burglar-night steals a jewel tray of stars".
J. Patrick Lewis is quite prolific: see his books at his website.

Into the Forest by Anthony Browne

Into the Forest by Anthony Browne, Candlewick Press, 2004, ISBN 0-7636-2511-6
PS: After his father seems to disappear, a boy takes a cake to his ill grandmother, traveling through the forest in a journey reminiscent of the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
The reader might be reminded of a few other fairy tale characters as well...Good for conjuring up prior knowledge of fairy tales. Can also compare/contrast with Little Red Riding Hood. Really beautiful illustrations in typical Anthony Browne style make this book an interesting read.

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld (illustrator), 2010, Little, Brown and Co., ISBN 978-0-316-00762-7
PS: A shark and a train compete in a series of contests on a seasaw, in hot air balloons, bowling, shooting baskets, playing hide-and-seek, and more.
This is a cute but simple book that highlights strengths and weaknesses, and shows that no matter how big or strong something/someone is, there are times when it is vulnerable. Perfect book to put on my "we all have our gifts" bookshelf. I'm thinking it's a good book for boys too, starting around first grade and going on up to 4th or 5th (when they can start predicting and explaining and creating their own examples).
By the way, Barton is also the author of The Day-Glo Brothers, and Lichtenheld wrote the New York Times bestseller Duck! Rabbit!

Word after Word after Word by Patricia MacLachlan

Word after Word after Word by Patricia MacLachlan, Katherine Tegan Books (Harper Collins), 2010, ISBN 978-0-06-027971-4
PS: A visiting author teaches five friends about the power of words and writing.
I usually like to quote a few lines from a book to give the flavor of it, or tell just enough to leave the reader hanging (and wanting to read the book), or if something just hits me as particularly memorable. I would have to just about quote this entire book. The author's choice of words is so rich, each word so meaningful, that the book has to be savored slowly so as to take it all in. A simple enough story: a visiting author comes to talk with a class of fourth graders, encouraging each to tell his own story in his own words. For example: "out of our writer mouths...Will come clouds...Rising to the sky...Dropping rain words below...And when the clouds leave...The sun will shine down word...After word...After word...Planting our stories in the earth." And at the end of the book: one child says,"If this were a book, it wouldn't have an ending". "Maybe", said another,"the ending is that it doesn't end." "It goes on."
If words had actual weight (instead of just symbolic weight), this little 125-page book would weigh 1000 pounds.

Rose's Garden by Peter H. Reynolds

Rose's Garden by Peter H. Reynolds, Candlewick Press, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7636-4641-7
PS: Rose finds a neglected patch of earth in the middle of a bustling city where she can plant the flower seeds collected form her previous travels in her magical teapot.
Reynolds, author of The Dot and Ish, has really done it this time! In a book patterned after the "spirit" of Rose Kennedy, he tells the story of an immigrant whose "resilience and faith" ultimately resulted in a beautiful garden. Ted Kennedy relates the story to his mother when he writes: "My mother's resilence and faith inspired and nourished our family all her life. She taught each of us to persevere no matter how great the challenges and to so all we could to care for others. Reynolds poignantly captures my mother's enduring spirit in Rose's Garden. May this powerful story and my mother's beautiful greenway plant fresh seeds of hope and service for generations to come."

Here's information about Rose Kennedy's Greenway in Boston.
Read the book online at: Rose's Garden