Who Said That?

Who Said That? Famous Americans Speak by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by David Catrow, Henry Holt and Co., 1997, ISBN 0-8050-4394-2
PS: A collection of quotations along with the story behind the words and the people who voiced them.
Grades 5-8.
A wide assortment of people are included in this entertaining volume, from Christopher Columbus and Martin Luther King, Jr. to Abagail Adams and Susan B. Anthony. Not all is serious, as he includes a quote from Daniel Boone: "I've never been lost; but I was bewildered once for three days." Also included are possibly lesser known quotes from famous folks which might reveal more of their character, such as this one from Harriet Tubman: "Anyone who tries to turn back gets a bullet between the eyes." This she uttered because her mission was so dangerous that she did not want any runaways trying to return to disrupt her work for the rest of the slaves.

The Secret of Saying Thanks

The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Greg Shed, 2005, ISBN 978-0-689-85410-1
The author tells us that the "world is full of secrets,...and the best secrets are the ones that make us happy..." he goes on to tell us how we might discover the secret of happiness as he ponders each small, seemingly insignificant part of our day. Things like the sun, or a flower, or an old tree that provides shade. Hopefully, we realize that these things are not insignificant, and that we should offer thanks for these small things each day. In doing so, we will discover the key to happiness.
The author relates the act of giving thanks to the state of being happy. This book is the source of the famous quote:
"We don't give thanks because we are happy.
We are happy because we give thanks."

Fly, Cher Ami, Fly!

Fly, Cher Ami, Fly! The Pigeon Who Saved the Lost Battalion by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Robert MacKenzie, Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2008, ISBN 978-0-8109-7097-7
From the book jacket: "Cher Ami was one of 600 carrier pigeons used by the American Army during WWI. This book tells the particular story of one of the most famous flights, when a heroic pigeon, against all odds, helped rescue a lost battalion of soldiers."
The true story takes us back to the days before cell phones and radar, to a time when man and nature were perhaps a little more in tune with each other.

Night Flight

Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic by Robert Burleigh, paintings by Wendell Minor, A Paula Wiseman Book for Simon and Schuster Books for Young People, 2011, ISBN 978-1-4169-6733-0
PS: An account of Amelia Earhart's dangerous 1932 flight across the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to Ireland, in which she survived bad weather and a malfunctioning airplane. Includes a brief biography of the aviator.
This is a great adventure book and gives a personal glimpse into one of Earhart's most dangerous and stressful flights. Her reaction upon finally landing in Ireland says a lot about her character: "AE looks down (at a man in the field). She pauses. There is so much that one could say. But not now. Instead, she simply smiles the widest smile of her entire life. 'Hi", she says simply. 'Hi, I've come from America.'"

Where the Sunrise Begins

Where the Sunrise Begins by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Wendy Popp, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2010, ISBN 978-0-689-86172-7
PS: Reveals the part that each of us plays in the beginning of every day.
Peaceful illustrations and soothing, descriptive language make this a beautiful book to savor. The author takes us around the world, suggesting that maybe the sunrise begins in each of these places. But we come to realize that the sunrise is ongoing, and that we can each be a part.

Clang! Clang! Beep! Beep!

Clang! Clang! Beep! Beep! Listen to the City by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Beppe Giacobbe, A Paula Wiseman Book (Simon and Schuster Books), 2009, ISBN 978-1-4169-4052-4
PS: From morning until night, a city is filled with such sounds as the roars and snores of a subway ride.
FULL of onomatopoeia words: beep beep, shhhh!, ting-a-ling-a-ling, roar, scritch scratch hop.
Good action verbs too: sidewalk chalking, bridge arms lifting, pigeons strutting, subway roaring, riders snoring.

Are You a Horse?

Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash, Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic), 2009, ISBN 978-0-439-72417-3
Book Jacket: For his birthday, Roy's friends give him a saddle and some very specific instructions: 1. Fnd a horse, 2. Enjoy the ride! Great! But there's a problem: Roy doesn't know what a horse is! What's a horseless, clueless boy to do?
Cute surprise ending. Also a great book for writing descriptions and grouping characteristics.

Miss Little's Gift

Miss Little's Gift by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Jim Burke, Candlewick Press, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7636-1686-1
Tells the author's own study of battling ADHA as a child, and of the patient teacher who helped him learn to read. It's all about "the importance of the right book at the right time, and ...the impact of a good teacher." (book jacket)
By the way, the "right book at the right time" for Douglas was The Little Island by Golden MacDonald (a pseudonym for Margaret Wise Brown), which was first published in 1946. It won the Caldecott Medal for Leonard Weisgard's illustrations.

Aunt Mary's Rose

Aunt Mary's Rose by Douglas Wood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, Candlewick Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7636-1090-6
Bookjacket: Aunt Mary has a very special rosebush in her garden. She says a little bit of Douglas can be found inside it. And she tells him that a little bit of Douglas' father can be found in it as well.
In describing the story, the illustrator says it best "I realized that I was illustrating a piece of American history, told through one family's view." Family and the importance of traditions are the focal point of this book, and it makes for a very sweet story.

Wood has written many books for children, including Old Turtle and A Quiet Place. See his website for all the titles.

Stop Drop and Roll

Stop Drop and Roll by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Arthur Howard, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2001, ISBN 0-689-84355-0
PS: Jessica, who worries about everything from her spelling homework to remembering to fill her dog's water dish, learns that fire safety begins with extinguishing her fears.
Excellent book to use during Fire Safety Week. Jessica's teacher reviews MANY if not all of the rules and safety tips concerning fire safety in the home.

Mr. Ouchy's First Day

Mr. Ouchy's First Day by B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Paul Meisel, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2006, ISBN 0-399-24248-1
PS: Mr. Ouchy, a new teacher, is nervous about his first day of school, but when he teaches the class about time and counting, they all enjoy the experience.
This would make a great book to read on the first day of school. Good section about goals for the year.

Woolbur

Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Lee Harper, Harper Collins Publishers, 2008, ISBN 978-0-06-084727-2
Book Jacket: "If you are a free spirit, this book is for you!"
Delightful story all the way around. Woolbur is so cute and personable you can't help but like him! And no matter what Maa and Paa say he's doing "wrong", he always responds with: "I know,...Isn't it great?" And Grandpaa says, "Don't Worry." Maa and Paa finally tell him that he must do things just like everyone else does. So Woolbur thinks. And for then on...HE taught everyone to do things like he does, to "run with the dogs and spin crazy yarn and experiment with color."
Maa muses, "Woolbur does not think like we do", to which I say, "I know...Isn't it great?"

Abraham Lincoln Comes Home

Abraham Lincoln Comes Home by Robert Burleigh, paintings by Wendell Minor, Henry Holt and Co., 2008, ISBN 978-0-8050-7529-8
How does Robert Burleigh do it? How does he put so much history into a single picture book, and make it interesting as well? He is a master at choosing his words and creating characters that bring the whole story alive. In this book, a young boy and his father are traveling to a spot where they can view the train carrying the assassinated president "home" to Springfield, Illinois. The young boy knows that, "if he could have talked to Abe Lincoln, her would have liked him." The boy sees the train carrying the President, and is moved and saddened. The entire book is reverent in tone. The journey Lincoln's train took took 13 days in going from Washington DC to New York City, across the state of New York, through Ohio and Indiana to Chicago and finally Springfield. Millions of people came to the railroad tracks to pay their last respects. In the afterword, Burleigh quotes one historian who said "it was the mightiest outpouring of national grief the world had yet seen."
But Burleigh doesn't stop at a good story. He includes more information in the afterword, in the "Interesting Facts" section, on the verso page (bibliography) and even the endpapers of the book, which bear a flag similar to the small paper flags that served as popular symbols of mourning during the funeral observances.

Blockhead (***** 5 Stars!)

Blockhead: the life of Fibonacci by Joseph D'Agnese, illustrated by John O'Brien, Henry Holt and Co., 2010, ISBN 978-0-8050-6305-9
From the book jacket: "As a young boy in medieval Itlay, Leonardo Fibonacci thought about numbers day and night. He was such a daydreamer that people called him blockhead. When he grew up and traveled the world, he was inspired by the numbers used in different countries, especially the Hindu-Arabic numerals he learned about in Africa. Then he realized that many things in nature seem to follow a certain pattern. the boy who was once teased for being a blockhead had discovered what came to be known as the Fibonacci Sequence! Today he is famous for his simple word problem about multiplying rabbits and is now considered one of the greatest Western mathematicians of all time."
This is an absolutely fascinating book, if only in the fact that something that seems so complicated can be so SIMPLE! And to think that Nature follows a pattern!!! I cannot wait to share this with my 4th graders. I have looked into the subject further and found some books that will compliment the study. These will be posted as soon as I get my hands on them!!
It doesn't surprise me that this book has its own website and its own Facebook page! The possibilities introduced by this man and his idea are endless! So exciting!

Neo Leo

Neo Leo: the Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci by Gene Barretta, Christy Ottaviano Books (Henry Holt and Co.), 2009, ISBN 978-0-8050-8703-1
Bookjacket: Gene Baretta cleverly shows how Leonardo's ideas-many inspired by his study of nature-foreshadowed modern inventions, offering a window into the future.
"Nature was his teacher." Until reading this book, I had never thought about or realized how much daVinci was influenced by nature, but then, what else was around for him to study? We take for granted all the modern inventions of today, and are perhaps blinded by them. We don't see the natural world around us because there is so much man-made "stuff" in the way. Is it possible to clear the screen, just for a few minutes? To get some more good ideas from nature? What could our kids of today dream up if they were unencumbered by gadgets? But in all fairness, what do they create by using those gadgets? Perhaps if we could allow ourselves to explore both options: pure nature and technological gadgets. Separately? Together? Main ingredient in both MUST be CURIOSITY (defined as a strong desire to learn or know something. Reminds me of the word passion)!!!
Leonardo was truly a visionary, as evidenced by some of his experiments and inventions. And yet, we are still missing about 2/3 of his notes!
This is a fascinating book that will get you thinking (hopefully!)
Barretta also wrote Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin. Both are a wonderful contribution to the picture book catagory.
He's written quite a few books, including Dear Deer: a book of homophones. Check out Baretta's website.

Bridget's Beret

Bridget's Beret by Tom Lichtenheld, Christy Ottaviano Books (Henry Holt and Co.), 2010, ISBN 978-0-8050-8775-8
PS: When Bridget loses the beret that provides her with artistic inspiration like other great artists, she thinks she will never be able to draw again.
Cute, colorful book about drawing and painting and good old childhood enthusiasm! The author slips in a few references to famous artwork by Warhol, Van Gogh, Whistler, and whoever drew the Uncle Sam "I Wnat You" posters. At the back of the book you'll find "How to Start Your Art: Bridget-approved ideas for inspiring yourself, based on techniques used by many famous beret-wearing artists." For more ideas and inspiration, check out the author's website.

You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer!

You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer! by Shana Corey, illustrated by Chelsey McLauren, Scholastic Press, 2000, ISBN 0-439-07819-9
Bookjacket: Would you dare to bare your underwear? If you like clothes and people with the courage to SKIRT conventions and adDRESS injustice, then Amelia Bloomer and her unFITTING ideas will charm the PANTS off you!
Amelia Bloomer was NOT a proper lady, and she thought all the silliness associated with being a proper lady were completely unnecessary, and she did her part to change certain laws and rules. She was one of the original "women's libbers", and we can all probably thank her that we don't have to still wear corsets and long, full skirts!
A good biography told in story-type fashion.

Ella the Elegant Elephant

Ella the Elegant Elephant by Carmela and Steven D'Amico, Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic), 2004, ISBN 0-439-62792-3
PS: Ella is nervous about the first day of school in her new town, but wearing her grandmother's good luck hat makes her feel better-- until the other students tease her and call her names.
Cute story about being different and being teased about it, then coming to the bully's rescue and finally being accepted. Would work well with kindergartners or first graders.
Other books about Ella: Ella Takes the Cake, Ella Sets the Stage, and Ella Sets Sail.

Henry David's House

Henry David's House by Henry David Thoreau, Edited by Steven Schnur, illustrated by Peter Fiore, Charlesbridge Publishing, 2002, ISNB 0-88106-116-6
PS: Excerpts from Thoreau's Walden highlight his belief in the inherent value of living life in harmony with nature.
Beautiful, dreamy, Impressionist-style illustrations accompany this story of Thoreau's year-long experiment with simplicity and nature. The text is original, so it requires a mature reader if read at the elementary level, but would make a great picture book to use with middle and high school students who are studying Thoreau.

And the Good Brown Earth

And the Good Brown Earth by Kathy Henderson, Candlewick Press, 2003, ISBN 1-4155-3531-0
PS: Joe and Gram grow a garden, with the help of the good brown earth.
Well constructed book about the life cycle of a garden. Sequencing cues appear throughout the book as Gram declares it is "digging time" or "weeding time". The whole storyline is tied together with the phrase "And the good brown earth got on with doing what the good brown earth does best....day after golden day until..."

Chalk

Chalk by Bill Thompson, Marshall Cavendish Children, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7614-5526-4
PS: A wordless picture book about 3 children who go to a park on a rainy day, find some chalk, and draw pictures that come to life.
Beautiful illustrations, some from close, interesting angles, make this book come to life, as does the plot itself! The childrens' drawings come to life, which sounds like a lot of fun until something goes awry. How do they solve the problem?

Fireboat!

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2002, ISBN 0-399-23953-7 Dewey: 974.7
PS: A fireboat, launched in 1931, is retired after many years of fighting fires along the Hudson River, but is saved from being scrapped and then called into service again on September 11, 2001.
Wonder history of New York City beginning in 1931, when "the Empire State Building went up, up, up, Babe Ruth hit his 611th home run in Yankee Stadium, and Snickers hit the stores." Offers a great explanation of what a fireboat does, and would lend itself to a geography lesson on New York City.

The Junkyard Wonders

The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco, Philomel Books, 2010, ISBN 978-0-399-25078-1
PS: Inspired by a teacher who believes each of them is a genius, a class of special-needs students invents something that could convince the whole school they are justifiably proud to be "Junkyard Wonders".
Oh my, Patricia Polacco has done it again. In the spirit of Thank You Mr. Falker, Polacco tells the autobiographical story of yet another inspiring teacher. As a young girl, Polacco finds herself in the "special class", known around school as the Junkyard. She makes genuine friends, is truly happy, and is encouraged and inspired by her teacher, Mrs. Peterson.

Bird, Butterfly, Eel

Bird, Butterfly, Eel by James Prosek, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009, ISBN 978-0-689-86829-4
PS: Follows a bird, a monarch butterfly, and an eel from summer on a farm until they make their respective fall voyages south, then later begin to return north again when the weather warms. (BTW, this is one of the worst publisher summaries I have ever read...).
Beautifully illustrated and simply written story of 3 animals/insects that migrate south for the winter. Includes a good map to show the astonishing distances traveled by each. Good for first or second grade.

Lola!

Lola Loves Stories and Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw, Charlesbridge Publishing, 2010 and 2006, ISBN 978-1-58089-259-9 and 978-1-58089-142-4.
PS: Lola loves to hear Daddy read a new library book each night, an activity that spurs her imagination and results in inventive play the next day. I love this book! It suggests so many possibilities and makes reading and imaginative play sound SO appealing!
PS: Every Tuesday Lola and her mother visit their local library to return and check out books, attend story readings, and share a special treat. this one would be especially good to read at the beginning of the school year in order to introduce and/or reinforce library procedures.
Good for Kindergartners.

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris, illustrated by Brad Sneed, Peachtree Publishers, 2007, ISBN 978-1-56145-391-7
PS: Melvin discovers that the public library is the place where he can find just about anything--including three librarians who help in his quest for knowledge.
"And the library is a wonderful place to be if a person is curious."
The librarians "were always happy to see him", and "whatever he was interested in, they were interested in it too", and they helped Melvin find whatever information he needed at the time, because, "that's how librarians are."