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.