Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Hunt, Lynda Mullaly. Fish in a Tree. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2015. 266p.

Ally, a sixth-grade girl who has moved to seven schools in seven years, has been able to fool many teachers and classmates in the past. Her jokes and refusal to do assignments have masked her true struggle, which Mr. Daniels, her new teacher, is determined to discover. This remarkable book about finding bravery, friendship, confidence and determination against all odds, will resonate with students and teachers alike. For anyone who has had a teacher who has changed his/her life or anyone who strives to be that teacher every day, this book is for you!

Fans of this heartfelt novel will also want to read Lynda Mullaly Hunt's poignant chapter book debut, One for the Murphys, and Patricia Polacco's picture books Thank You, Mr. Falker and The Junkyard Wonders.  

Uni the Unicorn: A Story About Believing by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Rosenthal, Amy. Uni the Unicorn: A Story About Believing. New York: Random House Children's Books, 2014. 48p.

Uni the Unicorn is like all unicorns except for one thing...  She believes in little girls. She knows there's a little girl somewhere out there. Not far away, there is a little girl who believes in unicorns. Will they ever meet? Or will their dreams be crushed?

We think this would be a good book for teaching students to avoid bullying by not judging people by their beliefs and by liking people for who they are! It is also great for giving students writing ideas and inspiration. Finally, it's a book with amazing illustrations!!!

By: Guest bloggers Alora and Ruthie, 4 Chaddock

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

Graff, Lisa. Absolutely Almost. New York: Philomel Books, 2014. 288p.  

Albie is going into fifth grade and has always been told that he is almost successful. School is a struggle for him, as is making new friends. When he is forced to attend a public school, he is faced with the challenges of math club, spelling and reading difficulties, and tough decisions about which classmates to trust. Ultimately, he must decide whether or not being "cool" is worthwhile. With the help of a new nanny and an inspirational math teacher, Albie begins to discover that there are many things he does know after all.

This is a powerfully reflective book and one without easy, happy solutions. It will lead to many class discussions about the way that we treat one another and about how and why people are persistent despite major disappointments. One of the book's most memorable quotes, "You can't get where you're going without being where you've been," will make an especially poignant springboard for writing and conversation. Students could even create their own "Things I Know" lists after reading the book's final chapter!      

Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown

Brown, Jeffrey. Jedi Academy. New York: Scholastic, 2013. 160p.

Roan Novachez has dreamed of becoming a Star Pilot like his brother and father ever since he was a toddler. When he isn't accepted into Pilot Academy Middle School and is instead invited to attend Jedi Academy, Roan thinks his life is over. Once he arrives at Jedi Academy, though, he meets an interesting mix of classmates and starts taking lessons with Master Yoda. Soon, his life begins to change... 

This series, told through journal entries, cartoons, letters, report cards and newspaper articles, will inspire a whole new generation of Star Wars fans and writers! Social drama, combined with a great introduction to Jedi principles, make this fun reading for all!

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Lord, Cynthia. Rules. New York: Scholastic, 2006. 214p.  

Twelve-year-old Catherine has spent much of her time writing rules to help her younger brother David through life. David, who has autism, requires a lot of attention from Catherine and their parents. 

Catherine is a talented artist who is starting to crave some attention of her own. A new girl has moved in next door, and Catherine hopes that they will become best friends. Meanwhile, Catherine meets a boy her age at her brother's appointments and explores a whole new world of communication and adventure with him. Will she be able to maintain both friendships while protecting her brother? When she is forced to make hard choices, what rules will Catherine decide to follow in her own life?

This beautifully-written, heart-wrenching book is sure to engage students in discussions about needs, responsibilities, social rules and choices we make regarding friendship. Based on the author's experiences within her own family, this story will also help students come to a better understanding of the people around them. Activities at the end of the book, such as "A New Set of Rules," can lead to meaningful writing opportunities in the classroom.    

Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett

Barnett, Marc. Chloe and the Lion. NY: Hyperion Books, 2012. 48p. 

Chloe's weekly habit of  collecting loose change so that she can ride on the merry-go-round comes to a halt when she unexpectedly finds herself lost in the forest.  Her story hangs in the balance when the author of the book and the illustrator of the book are suddenly fighting over how the story should progress. The author wants a lion to confront Chloe, but the illustrator thinks a dragon would be so much cooler!  Chloe must find a way to bring the disagreement to an end in order to become the hero of her own story. 

Use this story to show students the importance of author, illustrator and character collaboration in order to have a successful picture book.  This would also be a terrific book to demonstrate point of view and could supplement character study units.

The Tortoise and the Hare by Jerry Pinkney

Pinkney, Jerry. The Tortoise & the Hare. New York: Little Brown and Company. 2013. 40p.  

After winning the Caldecott Medal for The Lion & the Mouse, Jerry Pinkney revisits the world of fables through his beautifully illustrated rendition of the classic race between the tortoise and the hare. Children will be enamored with the incredible detail in each illustration and though there are few words in the entire story, they will be recreating the action verbally or in their minds. During each major event in the fable, the author begins to introduce one word at a time, gradually building up the final phrase. The moral "slow and steady wins the race" is ultimately revealed at the end of the story. Pair this masterpiece with fable units at any grade level and units on recalling the main parts of a story.

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

Ludwig, Trudy. The Invisible Boy.  New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013. 40p.  

In this heartwarming story, Brian is the invisible boy who no one ever seems to notice or include in their activities.  He is  usually playing on his own until Justin, the new kid, comes into his classroom.  Surprisingly, Brian is the first to make Justin feel welcome at his new school.  When the boys begin working together on a class project, Brian finally shows the class his secret talent and his imagination shines through. This is a perfect read-aloud for classrooms welcoming a new student, for discussing feeling invisible with students, or for addressing isolation as an unintended form of bullying.

Ben Rides On by Matt Davies

Davies, Matt. Ben Rides On.  New York: Walker Books for Young Readers, 2013. 40p.  

Ben loves going to school now that he can ride his bike everyday!  His adventures bike route to school includes leaping over rivers of sharks and flying over parked school buses. All of this comes to an end when the third grade bully, Adrian Underbite, steals his prized possession.  Students will love the facial expressions and action packed illustrations, as well as the lessons that both boys learn.  Use this for character education read-alouds on bullying or to model identifying character, setting, problem and resolution.

Chick-O-Saurus Rex by Lenore and Daniel Jennewein

Jennewein, Lenore and Daniel. Chick-O-Saurus Rex. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2013. 32p.  

Little Chick dreams of playing in a tree house, but three bullies, Little Donkey, Little Pig and Little Sheep, have declared that no chickens are allowed! Little Chick goes to his father for help in finding a relative that was brave and mighty to impress the bullies. When they stumble upon a picture of Grandpa Rooster holding a fossil, Little Chick learns about the legend of an ancient ancestor who was brave and mighty. Father and Little Chick begin digging and discover a T-Rex skeleton. When Little Chick goes back to share his news with the bullies, he must bravely rescue the bullies from a hungry wolf and discovers that his courage is not about his size. 

Use this book for character education lessons on bullying or as an interest-catcher for science units. In a fascinating endnote, the author explains that paleontologists have acknowledged that chickens are the closest living relative to the T-Rex!

The Peanut Butter Jam by Elizabeth Nassau

Nassau, Elizabeth. The Peanut Butter Jam. Albuquerque: Health Press. 2001. 32p.  

Sam is allergic to peanuts and is frustrated with being different from his peers. During a class project in which students are making bird feeders with peanut butter, one student's bullying pushes Sam to try touching the peanut butter.  The book details the steps the school must immediately follow and shows children how series this allergy is.  The story promotes understanding, tolerance and sensitivity to the seriousness of allergies.

Dealing with Feeling ... Angry by Isabel Thomas

Thomas, Isabel. Dealing with Feeling... Angry. Chicago: Heinemann Library. 2013. 24p.  

Using everyday experiences that children can relate to, the author has  created a book that will open up discussions about feelings of anger. Topics covered in the book include what anger feels like, safe ways to let anger out, and how to calm down when you are angry.  Children are encouraged to create an anger toolbox to help them begin to take accountability for calming themselves down when they are feeling angry. A glossary, index and table of contents are also included. Other books in the Dealing with Feeling Series are: Jealous, Sad and Shy.

Zach Apologizes by William Mulcany

Mulcany, William. Zach Apologizes. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, 2012.24p.  

The author introduces strategies to help young children learn to take responsibility for their actions. After Zach gets angry at his younger brother for playing with his toys, his mother sends him to his room for a cooling off period.  She talks to him about how he could handle situations that make him angry in the future.  They work together through the problem using the four-square apology method. Colorful pictures will keep students engaged, and there are notes for adults to practice the four-square apology with students. A template is also available to download online.  A great resource for helping students develop skills for interacting with their peers.