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