Suggested Book List

  STRATEGY: Author's Message
AuthorTitleLesson
Plan		Notes
Steig, WilliamBrave IreneWhole Group Read Aloud, Grades K - 5 Author's Message: Perseverance and Courage. Mrs. Bobbin, Irene's mother, isn't feeling well and can't possibly deliver the beautiful ball gown she's made for the duchess to wear that very evening. In spite of the fierce snowstorm that's brewing, Irene volunteers to get the gown to the palace on time, -- quite an errand for a little girl. Irene proves where there's a will, there's a way, in the danger-fraught adventure that follows. She must defy her most formidable opponent, the wicked wind, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission. Surely, this winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on.
Bennett, William J.The Children's Book of Virtues Whole Group Read Aloud Grades K-5 Short stories great for Character Education The stories have been chosen especially for a young audience to help introduce to children the essentials of good character: Courage, Perseverance, Responsibility, Work, Self-discipline, Compassion, Faith, Honesty, Loyalty, and Friendship.
Gerstein, MordicaiThe Man Who Walked Between the TowersIntermediate, Middle and High School. Read Aloud or small group. Great for predictions, self questioning and author's message. Annotation: In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit threw a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent an hour walking, dancing, and performing high-wire tricks a quarter mile in the sky. This picture book captures the poetry and magic of the event with a poetry of its own: lyrical words and lovely paintings that present the detail, daring, and--in two dramatic foldout spreads-- the vertiginous drama of Petit's feat.
Van Allsburg, ChrisThe Widow's Broom 

  STRATEGY: Create Mental Images
AuthorTitleLesson
Plan		Notes
Steig, WilliamAmos & Boris Whole Group Read Aloud Grades K - 5 Author's Message: Friendship Great descriptive language for mental images. Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. The tender yet comical story of this friendship is recorded in text and pictures that are a model of rich simplicity.
Van Allsburg, ChrisJumanji 
Rylant, CynthiaNight in the Country Whole Group Read Aloud with Accountable Talk. Grades K - 5. Hear the sights and sounds of night in the country. Great story for mental images. Each page invites children to look, listen and explore.

  STRATEGY: Determining Importance
AuthorTitleLesson
Plan		Notes
Giblin, James CrossGeorge Washington: A Picture Book BiographyElementary, Read Aloud, Small Group, Biography, Timeline, Sequencing, Main Idea/Detail. Annotation: Examines the family life and career of the first American president, also discussing myths and legends, monuments to Washington, and Mount Vernon.
DiCamillo, KateMercy Watson to the RescueElementary Grades/Whole Group or Guided Reading. Mercy Watson is the first book in a series of 4. It is a beginning chapter book with a 2.7 reading level. Your students will love the characters and funny story. This lesson is intended for the teacher to model main idea. The following Mercy Watson lessons will scaffold the students in identifying main idea. There are many activities for compare/contrast after reading all 4 books.
Davies, NicolaOne Tiny Turtle PRIMARY GRADES, Use with K W L Graphic Organizer Annotation: Lyrical text offers fascinating information about the journey of the tiny, endangered loggerhead turtle, while charming paintings vividly illustrate one turtle's odyssey. Full color.
Davies, NicolaSurprising Sharks: Read and Wonder PRIMARY GRADES, Determine Importance, Use with K W L Graphic Organizer. Reading Warehouse Annotation: " Everything works in this book — the informative yet humorous writing, the not-too-scary illustrations, and a superb layout that employs multisized text and bright color backgrounds to great effect." — THE HORN BOOK " SHAAAARRRKK!" That's probably the last word anyone wants to hear while swimming in the warm blue sea. But most sharks aren't at all what people expect. In fact, those who think all sharks are giant, man-eating killers are in for a surprise. The compelling narrative, colorful illustrations, and captivating facts in SURPRISING SHARKS reveal that sharks come in all shapes and sizes — and probably should be more afraid of humans than we are of them.

  STRATEGY: Make and Confirm Prediction
AuthorTitleLesson
Plan		Notes
Steig, WilliamAmazing BoneInteractive Read Aloud, Elementary level. The story is about Pearl, a pig and a talking bone. She is excited to bring home her new friend but meets up with unexpected villains. Entralling pictures, witty story.
Steig, WilliamSylvester and the Magic PebbleWhole Group Elementary, Fiction, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. He makes a wish that brings unexpected results. A joyful story with a tender ending.
Van Allsburg, ChrisTwo Bad AntsWhole Group or Small Group Grades K - 5 Author's Message: Follow the Rules This is a great book for building class culture and making classroom rules. Two ants, eager to please their queen, set out to bring back all the crystals they can carry. Instead of following their group home, they are overwhelmed by their treasure, and decide to stay behind. This begins their dangerous ordeal. Exciting book with many inferences that lead to excellent prediction stopping points.
Jenkins, SteveWhat Do You Do with a Tail Like This?NON-FICTION, Primary Level, Interactive book for Predictions and Self-Questioning Strategies. Explore the many amazing things animals can do with their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails. Beautiful illustrations. Back of book has additional information about the animals. Great introduction for beginner research projects.

  STRATEGY: Make Connections
AuthorTitleLesson
Plan		Notes
Van Allsburg, ChrisThe Sweetest FigWhole Group Read Aloud, Grades K - 8 Monsieur Bibot, the cold-hearted dentist (especially to his dog, Marcel), was given two ordinary looking figs as payment for extracting a tooth from an old woman's mouth. She told him they were special and would make all your dreams come true. He refused to believe such nonsense, however he ate one of the figs for a bedtime snack. This uncanny tale will intrigue readers of all ages.

  STRATEGY: Self Questioning
AuthorTitleLesson
Plan		Notes
Steig, WilliamShrek!VOCABULARY LESSON, Intermediate vocabulary, whole group or guided reading group. The story of Shrek is well know to most children. This allows the students to focus on new vocabulary. Every page is filled with rich vocabulary. A fun story and challenging new words to add to the students vocabulary.
Van Allsburg, ChrisThe Stranger 

  STRATEGY: Uses All Strategies
AuthorTitleLesson
Plan		Notes
Gibbons, GailApplesNON-FICTION, Primary Level, Use the graphic organizer F - Q - R along with Reader's Toolkit reading strategies. This colorful book is packed with information, including cutaway views of apples showing their parts, a diagram of an apple press, charts of varieties of apples, and step-by-step instructions for planting and growing apple trees.
Driscoll, LauraGeorge Washington Carver: The Peanut WizardNON FICTION, K W L graphic organizer, SCIENCE (includes a science experiment with soil and lima beans, SOCIAL STUDIES (slavery, segregation), Math, whole group or small group. Smart About Scientists! These books feature fascinating biographical information about the world's greatest scientists, ideas on scientific thinking, and real science experiments kids can try at home.
Kenath, KatherineWild WeatherGuided Reading, Primary low level, K W L , picture of anchor chart attached. Build long term memory using K W L and the Reader's Toolkit strategies.


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