An “A” from Miss Keller by Patricia Polacco

Polacco, Patricia. An “A” from Miss Keller. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group, 2015.

This is a great book about a girl named Trisha who is nervous about having one of the most strict teachers. Her teacher, Miss Keller, has never given any of her students A’s. Trisha is desperately trying her best on all of her assignments and is still not getting the best grades! Trisha faces a tragedy in her neighborhood during her troubles of getting an A. Will she ever get an A?  

This book will get an A from your students! It is perfect for teaching kids to be persistent. It is also a great book for teaching kids how to include more detail in their writing.  

By guest bloggers Kirsten and Naiya, 4 Chaddock

That’s (Not) Mine by Anna Kang

Kang, Anna. That’s (Not) Mine. New York: Two Lions, 2015. 32p.

In this book, two animals are fighting over a couple of things like a big chair and a swivel chair. These animals are funny and have a way of doing something that they agree on, then disagreeing all over again. Finally... Read to find out!

We recommend this book for kindergartners and first graders. They will love the story because it will make them laugh. Teachers can use this book to help their students learn how to share and cooperate.

By: Guest bloggers Sarah and Noah, 4 Chaddock

Zero by Kathryn Otoshi

Otoshi, Kathryn. Zero. Novato: Ko Kids Books, 2010. 32p.

This fun, playful book is about the number zero. He has a big hole right in the center of him! He is sad, and he feels left out because he thinks he has no value. He tries twisting and turning into other numbers, but it does not work. He has to watch the numbers count every day and it makes him feel even more depressed. Will he find his own value, or will he stay the same?!

This book would be good for kindergarten through first grade. It teaches kids math and place value in a fun way! It also teaches kids character education and shows that everybody matters, even if you feel you are different. The creative rhyming in this book will teach kids how to write poetry. 

                                                   

By guest bloggers Olivia and Katrina, 4 Chaddock

If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! by Elise Parsley

Parsley, Elise. If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2015.

This funny book is about a girl, Magnolia, who brings an alligator to school for show and tell and lots of things do not go as planned. The alligator draws pictures of himself eating a kid and shows it to someone. He makes lots of origami too. Magnolia learns a valuable lesson that day!

This is a perfect book for teaching your students how to read with expression! You could use it to teach them how to write with proper punctuation too. It would be great for persuasive writing! This book would never get old to use during your animal units! 

By guest bloggers Jake and Parker, 4 Chaddock

Love Monster and the Last Chocolate by Rachel Bright

Bright, Rachel. Love Monster and the Last Chocolate. Guangdong: RR Donnelley, 2015. 32p.

Love Monster receives a delicious-looking box of chocolate from a mystery sender. Monsters love chocolate, especially Love Monster. He is debating whether or not to share the chocolate with all his friends. What if there wasn’t a chocolate left for him?! Will he keep the box of chocolates, or will he share it after all?

This highly-enjoyable book is great for learning to read with expression! You can also use this book for teaching students how to be kind to others and how to include everyone. This is perfect for a read-aloud or for students to read on their own!

By guest bloggers Devon and Maura, 4 Chaddock

For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story by Rebecca Langston-George

Langston-George, Rebecca. For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story. North Mankato: Capstone Young Readers, 2016. 40p.

This is an amazing, true story about a girl named Malala who fought for the right to learn. Malala was the daughter of Ziauddin Yousafzai, who owned a school in Mingora, Pakistan. Malala loved school and books very much. She would do anything to learn, even if it meant she had to fight a group that was outlawing education for girls. 

Soon, it was against the law for girls to go to school where Malala lived. Malala started writing a blog to put how she felt about girls not going to school into words. When her blog was seen, Malala was in great danger. She was on a bus when something horrible happened. What happened to her? Could she survive? Read For The Right To Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story to find out!

This story is perfect for teaching older students about biographies and character education. It's also great for teaching students about nonfiction writing, and it includes wonderful artwork. This book features some social studies information too, as it takes readers from Pakistan to England.

By guest bloggers Natalie and Angela, 4 Chaddock

Pig Is Big on Books by Douglas Florian

Florian, Douglas. Pig Is Big on Books. New York: Holiday House, 2015. 24p.

Pig is big on books. He reads every day, everywhere. When he cannot find any books one day, he devises a clever plan to solve the problem!

This brief book, featuring one sentence on most double-page spreads, will give beginning readers confidence. It could also serve as a mentor text for writing personal narratives and as an example of author's craft (using the same sentence as a story lead and conclusion).  

Monster Needs Your Vote by Paul Czajak

Czajak, Paul. Monster Needs Your Vote. Minneapolis: Mighty Media Kids, 2015. 32 p.

In this wonderful, brief introduction to presidential elections, persistent Monster changes his campaign platform a few times until he learns how to make a meaningful difference. 

Hug Machine by Scott Campbell

Campbell, Scott. Hug Machine. New York: Atheneum Books, 2014. 40p.

A young boy serves as a human hug machine, improving the lives of those around him and refueling with pizza when necessary. When the hug machine grows exhausted at the end of a long day though, what will he need?

Repetition of many words and phrases makes this sweet book a rewarding choice for students learning to read!

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.  

True Stories of Animal Tricks and Talents by Arnold Ringstad

Ringstad, Arnold. True Stories of Animal Tricks and Talents. Mankato: The Child's World, 2015. 24p.

This book is about creative and talented animals! Did you know that pigs are very smart? Look in this book to find out what they can do!

Move over, Mozart- You have competition now! Some dogs, like Jacob and Jessica, are very talented at playing the piano, but they have other talents too!

Did you know that dolphins are good at trick-or-treating? You may ask, "What?! They eat candy?!" No, they eat an amazing treat! You may not like it though! Read this book to find out what other tricks these animals are up to!

We recommend this book for second and third grade. Teachers can use the book for character education lessons to help kids see and brainstorm their talents. It's also perfect for nonfiction lessons because it has a table of contents, headings, captions, fact boxes, a glossary and an index. Your students will love reading it! 

By: Guest bloggers Eric and Zach L., 4 Chaddock

Lives of the Explorers: Discoveries, Disasters (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull

Krull, Kathleen. Lives of the Explorers: Discoveries, Disasters (and What the Neighbors Thought). New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. 96p.

This is a fascinating book about explorers' lives! The awesome illustrations make the famous people look real. In this book, you will learn about Christopher Columbus, Henry Hudson, and many more explorers. This book will also tell you a little about these famous explorers' lives before they went on their journeys.

This book is perfect for social studies and biography units. If you`re learning about explorers and voyages, it would definitely make learning fun! It's all about famous people who overcame many challenges to follow their dreams!

By: Guest bloggers Jamie and Lincoln, 4 Chaddock

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

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

Nelson, Kadir. If You Plant a Seed.  New York: HarperCollins, 2015. 32p.

Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Award winner,  Kadir Nelson has done it again in this beautifully illustrated picture book.  Follow the experience of planting a seed with Rabbit and Mouse.  With love and care a plant will grow. What happens when you plant a seed of selfishness?  What happens when you  plant a seed of kindness?  Readers will find that the fruits of kindness are the best of all!  Full page colorful illustrations and minimal text make this a wonderful book to share with young readers. 

Love Monster and the Perfect Present by Rachel Bright

Bright, Rachel. Love Monster and the Perfect Present. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2014. 32p.

Love Monster is looking for the perfect present for his friend, but he does not have enough money to buy one. He discovers that creativity and thoughtfulness will go a long way! This book is a wonderful read-aloud to introduce a hand-made gift project in class. 

Maple & Willow Together by Lori Nichols

Nichols, Lori. Maple & Willow Together. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014. 32p.

In this endearing sequel to Maple, Maple and her younger sister Willow experience the ups and downs of sisterhood, ultimately warming readers' hearts. A book for all siblings! 

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant

Bryant, Jen. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Books, 2014. 42 p.

In this exquisite picture book biography, readers experience Peter Mark Roget's journey from a shy boy who found comfort in lists of words to a medical student, tutor, lecturer, author and inventor of the Thesaurus. Through Jen Bryant's text and Melissa Sweet's watercolor, collage and mixed media illustrations, we learn how Peter Roget has given us an incredible gift- the ability to find precisely the right word for any occasion. This Caldecott Honor book is a treat for all ages!     

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Bell, Cece. El Deafo. New York: Amulet Books, 2014. 248 p.

This Newbery Honor book, presented in graphic novel format, features the story of Cece, a girl who tries to navigate school, family and friendships after losing her hearing at an early age. Based on the author's childhood, the story portrays the hilarity and heartbreak of growing up and is sure to open readers' hearts while helping them become more empathetic, understanding people.  

Pig and Small by Alex Latimer

Latimer, Alex. Pig and Small. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2013. 30 p.

Pig and Bug want to be friends, but their size difference makes it difficult to find activities that they will both enjoy. Can they overcome their differences and make their friendship work?

This is a great book for discussing acceptance of others and the importance of persistence in solving problems!
  

Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman

Soman, David. Three Bears in a Boat. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2014.
 
Three young bears break their mother's beautiful blue shell while trying to sneak some honey. When they venture out into the ocean to find a replacement shell, the bears are stuck in the middle of a treacherous storm. What will they decide to do?

This beautifully-illustrated story is perfect for character education discussions on honesty and on accepting the consequences of our actions!