Where’s the Baboon? by Michael Escoffier

Escoffier, Michael. Where’s the Baboon? Brooklyn: Enchanted Lion Books, 2015.

This is a fun book that’s filled with questions that students can answer by finding hidden words! It will help your students learn to read and spell certain words while they laugh at the many funny pictures of fictional animals doing human activities!

Teachers can use this book to help kids find consonants and vowels, and to help them sound out words. Your students will really like it! 

By guest bloggers Natalia and Sydney, 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

Earmuffs for Everyone!: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs by Meghan McCarthy

McCarthy, Meghan. Earmuffs for Everyone!: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015. 48p.

This interesting book is all about how earmuffs were made. It includes a lot of diagrams of different earmuffs throughout history. Readers will learn that Chester Greenwood did not invent earmuffs, but that he made them way better! 

This is a great book for nonfiction units and for learning about inventions in science. Students will also learn about patents and how important they are!  

By guest bloggers Harrison and Mohamed, 4 Chaddock

As an Oak Tree Grows by Brian Karas

Karas, G. Brian. As an Oak Tree Grows. New York: Penguin Group, 2014. 32p. 

On a sunny day, a young boy plants an acorn in the ground. Readers can watch the young tree grow into a magnificent oak in the depths of these colorful pages! Go back in time to 1775 and explore the world throughout 200 years as the tree sprouts and grows roots deep in the soil!  

        

This book is good for plant units or life cycle examples. Both students and teachers will love this story of a beautiful oak tree as they learn about a plant’s life cycle. This story is great for teaching young students about the weather and history too!

By guest bloggers Elena and Fielding, 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

Frog on a Log? by Kes Gray

Gray, Kes. Frog on a Log? New York: Scholastic Press, 2014. 32p.

In this humorous rhyming book, a frog does not want to sit on a log. A cat disagrees with him. The frog learns what each animal sits on, but he is most surprised to find out where the dog sits!

This book would help kids learn how to rhyme in a fun way. It would also help them learn that it is always okay to be curious about other things!

 

By guest bloggers Riyyan and Cooper

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

Henkes, Kevin. Waiting. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2015. 32p.

In beautifully soft watercolor and colored pencil illustrations, Kevin Henkes portrays the daily lives of five toys that sit on a windowsill, watching the outside world. Each toy is waiting for something as the year progresses, and a new toy brings her own surprises when she joins the irresistible crew. 

Children who love the Toy Story franchise or who have grand imaginations will enjoy this quiet but memorable picture book offering! 

The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt

Daywalt, Drew. The Day the Crayons Came Home. New York: Philomel Books, 2015. 48 p.

In this highly anticipated sequel to The Day the Crayons Quit, Duncan receives postcards from the crayons that he has abandoned in various locations. This hilarious book, great for read-alouds and independent reading, is perfect for teaching the skill of inferring (as much of the humor comes from readers' inferences). It will also make an outstanding mentor text for teaching writing from someone or something else's perspective.   

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. 

Austin, Lost in America: A Geography Adventure by Jef Czekaj

Czekaj, Jef. Austin, Lost in America: A Geography Adventure. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2015. 40 p.

Austin the dog, having recently escaped from a pet store, searches for a new home while exploring the United States. Fun, quirky facts about each state, a list of states and capitals, and U.S. maps on the endpapers make this an engaging, informative choice for geography units!

Guinea Pigs Are Not Pigs! by Evelyn Ryan

Ryan, Evelyn. Guinea Pigs Are Not Pigs! New York: Garth Stevens Publishing, 2015. 24p.

Have you ever wondered if guinea pigs are actually pigs? Well, now you know that they are not pigs! Guinea pigs are not pigs because guinea pigs don't roll around in mud. Guinea pigs don't eat slop either. These are a few facts from this interesting nonfiction book. Read the book to find out more!

This book is great for kindergarten, first grade and second grade. For first grade and kindergarten, teachers can read it out loud. For second grade, students can read it independently. It will make nonfiction units fun! It's also good for science units on animals.  

By: Guest bloggers Luke and Nick, 4 Chaddock

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

20 Fun Facts About Galaxies by Michael Sabatino

Sabatino, Michael. 20 Fun Facts About Galaxies. New York: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2015. 32p.

This amazing book is all about galaxies from outer space. It also has super fun and cool facts about outer space like, "Galaxies will eventually fade into nothing!" Also, did you know that, "The first galaxies were formed over 13 billion years ago?" Another awesome fact is that, "The largest known galaxy is about 60 times bigger than our galaxy, the Milky Way." There are many, many more interesting facts about galaxies that you can learn about if you read this fascinating book!

This nonfiction book is useful to teachers because it teaches many things about the universe. It will make science and nonfiction reading units really exciting!

By: Guest bloggers Noah and Zachary W., 4 Chaddock

Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson

Sisson,Stephanie. Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2014. 40p.

As a young boy, Carl Sagan was curious about everything around him. His imagination took him everywhere. But then, he saw some stars. Not knowing what they were, he looked at them every day. How did he find out what they really were? How did he become one of the world's most famous astronomers? Read this interesting book to find out!!! 

This book teaches kids about creativity and some basic facts about space. It's perfect for science and for reading and writing biographies. Its illustrations show some important facts as well.

By: Guest bloggers Jaden, Jake and Zack F., 4 Chaddock

Winter Is Coming by Tony Johnston

Johnston, Tony. Winter is Coming. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014. 40p.

A little girl is exploring outside in autumn. She draws pictures of every animal she sees while watching them from a tree house. All of the things she sees and draws are signs that winter is coming. The little girl feels that winter is coming- but will it?

This beautifully illustrated book is great for kindergarten through fourth grade. It's the perfect book for teaching about the environment, seasons and writing that paints a picture in your mind. Last but definitely not least, this book is wonderful for art. We hope you enjoy this majestic book!    
     
By: Guest bloggers Amanda and Brooke, 4 Chaddock           

Crocodile or Alligator? by Susan Kralovansky

Kralovansky, Susan. Crocodile or Alligator? North Mankato: Abdo, 2015. 24p.

Discover the differences between crocodiles and alligators in this concise nonfiction book! Well-supported by photographs, the text includes traditional features of nonfiction such as a table of contents, descriptive headings and a glossary. A step-by-step craft section at the end will also entice young readers. 

Fans of this book should check out others in the This or That? series as well!

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 Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock

Rosenstock, Barb. The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. 40p.
 
This picture book biography shares the life of Vasya Kandinsky, a child who was expected to be a proper Russian boy but whose ability to hear sounds in colors made him stand out. After receiving a paint box from his aunt, Vasya began to develop creative, abstract, "noisy" paintings that changed art forever! 

Mary Grandpre's expressive acrylic paint and paper collage illustrations enhance the text, earning the book a 2015 Caldecott Honor medal! 

Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett

 

Barnett, Mac. Sam & Dave Dig a Hole. Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2014. 32 p.

Two friends are digging for something truly spectacular in this Caldecott Honor book illustrated by Jon Klassen. Readers will love being "in the know" as they see the material treasures that the boys nearly, but never, discover. While the boys miss the diamonds again and again, they do have a spectacular adventure together! 

A unique, perplexing conclusion will lead to class discussions filled with students' imaginative inferences.