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

Stretch by Denise Cronin

Cronin, Denise. Stretch. New York: Anthenum Books for Young Readers, 2013.40p.  

The author of Click Clack Moo brings three interactive, energetic titles that will get kids moving during story time.  This read-aloud will engage students and stretch their imaginations.  Other titles  in this series include: Bounce and Wiggle.  An excellent resource for bringing movement into the reading corner and infusing stretching into the classroom.

Callie Cat, Ice Skater by Eileen Spinelli

Spinelli, Eileen. Callie Cat, Ice Skater. Park Ridge: Albert Whitman & Company, 2007. 32p.  

Callie Cat ice skates whenever she has free time. Her friends soon convince her to enter a competition and really want her to win the grand prize. It's up to Callie to realize what she really wants and why she skates after all.   

This is a great book for discussing hobbies and sports and for reflecting upon their true purpose in our lives!

Ballpark Mysteries: The Fenway Foul-Up by David Kelly

Kelly, David. Ballpark Mysteries: The Fenway Foul-Up. New York: Random House, 2011. 101p.  

In this series, Kate Hopkins and her cousin Mike Walsh travel to baseball games and solve mysteries while Kate's mom, a reporter, covers the games for a popular sports website.

While visiting Fenway Park in this first book of the series, Kate and Mike become detectives when a star Red Sox player's bat goes missing. Clues sprinkled throughout the text will help readers solve the mystery along with the main characters. A "Dugout Notes" section at the end of each book is an exciting bonus for baseball fans, who will learn interesting trivia about the featured ballpark!

Place this entertaining Ballpark Mysteries series in the hands of students who love mysteries and/ or baseball- They will be grateful!

For book trailers, teachers' guides and more, click here and visit the series website!  

WeirdZone Sports by Maria Birmingham

Birmingham, Maria. WeirdZone Sports. Toronto: Owlkids Books, Inc.,  2013. 128p.  

Kids will love this book with the subtitle:  "The strangest, funniest, and most daringest events from the world of athletics and beyond!"  Unlike traditional sports books, WeirdZone highlights "unsung" sports that are amazing too.  Cool photographs, short text boxes, and quick facts will capture the reader's attention and excitement.  This book will be great for sports enthusiasts and readers that like to learn about unique activities.

Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Gym Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball by John Coy

Coy, John. Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Gym Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2013. 32p.  

James Naismith, a new teacher, invents basketball to engage a difficult-to-manage gym class in this brief but fascinating story of perseverance. This book, perfect for read-alouds or independent reading, will entice basketball fans, young inventors and students who love biographies.       

Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and the Secret Mud That Changed Baseball by David Kelly

Kelly, David. Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and the Secret Mud That Changed Baseball. Minneapolis: Millbrook Press, 2013. 32p.  

Lena Blackburne wanted to be an outstanding baseball player, but he did not become the star player he had hoped to be. As a coach, he found a way to change baseball- by discovering Baseball Rubbing Mud that's used by all Major League teams to remove shine and slickness. This engaging picture book, dedicated to "everyone who believes we can achieve our dreams in unexpected ways," will help inspire readers to make the best of initially disappointing situations.

This Book's Got Game by Hans Hetrick

Hetrick, Hans. This Book's Got Game. North Mankato: Edge Books, 2012. 32p.  

This book contains many fun facts and is an exciting choice for nonfiction reading. Place this in the hands of sports fans, and intrigue even your most reluctant readers!

You Never Heard of Wille Mays? by Jonah Winter

Winter, Jonah. You Never Heard of Willie Mays? New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2013. 40p.  

This exciting, conversational tribute to baseball hero Willie Mays captures the excitement of a few of baseball's greatest moments while showing how Mays' hard work, determination and passion led to many records and began to shatter racial barriers. An excellent choice for baseball fans, dreamers, and future heroes! 

Jumping Jenny by Ellen Bari

Bari, Ellen. Jumping Jenny. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2011. 32p.

After being scolded many times for jumping in school and in the house, Jenny uses her jumping talent to raise money for the kids of Uganda. Use this read-aloud to help students brainstorm ways in which they can make a difference.