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

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

Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by George Hagen

Hagen, George. Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2014. 371p.

Gabriel Finley loves solving riddles. He learned many riddles from his father, who has mysteriously disappeared. As Gabriel's twelfth birthday approaches, he meets a young raven and discovers that they can communicate with one another. He and the raven set forth on a quest to find Gabriel's father and to save their own lives, one riddle at a time.

Readers looking for a spooky, intriguing adventure filled with brainteasers and mystery will love this first book in a promising new series!   

R is for Rocket: An ABC Book by Tad Hills

Hills, Tad. R is for Rocket: An ABC Book. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2015. 32p.

Rocket is back, along with Goose and a few of Tad Hills' other beloved characters! In this book, Rocket and his friends explore the world, embarking on various adventures for each letter of the alphabet. This new arrival is sure to please young fans of the series while serving as a fun addition to alphabet units!

  

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. 

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

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

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

Circle, Square, Moose by Kelly Bingham

Bingham, Kelly. Circle, Square, Moose. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2014. 48p.

In this hilarious book of shapes, a moose keeps trying to ruin the shape lessons. When the moose causes trouble and starts a big mess, a zebra tries to catch him. When the moose ruins the book even more, something very funny happens!  

Throughout this book, there are colors, animals, shapes and food. This is a fun rhyming book, and it is great for art and math because it teaches shapes!

By: Guest bloggers Cody and Jack K., 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!

Microwave Man: Percy Spencer and His Sizzling Invention by Sara Latta

Latta, Sara L. Microwave Man: Percy Spencer and His Sizzling Invention. Berkeley Heights: Enslow Publishers, 2014. 48 p.

Become inspired by Percy Spencer, a self-taught man who invented a system for producing radar tubes and later used his knowledge to change homes forever with the invention of the microwave! Learn how a melting candy bar led to one of the most popular inventions of the century as you read this high-interest biography, filled with supporting photographs, illustrations and fun facts.

For additional information on inventors, check out other books in the Inventors at Work series! 

The Woman Who Invented Windshield Wipers: Mary Anderson and Her Wonderful Invention by Sara Latta

Latta, Sara L.The Woman Who Invented Windshield Wipers: Mary Anderson and Her Wonderful Invention. Berkeley Heights: Enslow Publishers, 2014. 48 p.

Find out how Southern belle Mary Anderson solved a challenging issue common to cars of her time in this fascinating biography! Drawings, photographs, and "Real Fact!" pages add to the book's appeal. A perfect read for future inventors!

For additional information on inventors, check out other books in the Inventors at Work series! 

A Pet for Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold

Arnold, Tedd. A Pet for Fly Guy. New York: Orchard Books, 2014. 32p.  

Fly Guy begins searching for a pet of his own with some surprising results! Fans of the Fly Guy early chapter book series will love this new, full-sized picture book! 

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Queen: Ruth Wakefield and Her Yummy Invention by Carmen Bredeson

Bredeson, Carmen. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Queen: Ruth Wakefield and Her Yummy Invention. Berkeley Heights: Enslow Publishers, 2014. 48p.  

In this fascinating biography, readers will discover interesting facts about Ruth Wakefield, the accidental inventor of chocolate chip cookies! Recipes, photographs, fact boxes, timelines and a "You Be the Inventor" section at the end add to the book's appeal. 

Young inventors will find inspiration in this book and in others within the Inventors at Work series! 

The Vanishing Coin by Kate Egan with Magician Mike Lane

Egan, Kate and Magician Mike Lane. The Vanishing Coin. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2014. 142p.  

Fourth grader Mike Weiss has a difficult time paying attention in school and usually finds himself sitting in the principal's office despite his best intentions. When he and his "gifted" neighbor Nora find a magic shop called The White Rabbit, Mike's life begins to change. For the first time, Mike discovers his strengths. As he begins to realize that he is very intelligent after all, what will it take for others to recognize that too?

Students who have trouble paying attention in class will find plenty of reassurance in this first book in The Magic Shop series! Magic enthusiasts will also love these books, as step-by-step directions for magic tricks are revealed within each one. Hours of fun await curious readers! 

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

Van Dusen, Chris. Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2000. 36p.

Mr. Magee and his dog Dee head down to the sea in this funny, poetic picture book adventure that will help students develop their rhyming and reading skills!

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3: Planet of the Pies by Judi Barrett

Barrett, Judi. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3: Planet of the Pies. New York: Scholastic, 2006. 32p.

In this third book of Barrett's imaginative series, Kate, Henry and Grandpa hear about astronauts landing on Mars and a sticky substance, thought to be pie filling, invading the planet. Grandpa falls asleep, crafting a plan to save Mars from pie in his dreams.

Fans of the first two books will enjoy reading this sweet, silly sequel!  

Picture Yourself Writing Poetry: Using Photos to Inspire Writing by Laura Salas

Salas, Laura Purdie. Picture Yourself Writing Poetry: Using Photos to Inspire Writing. North Mankato: Capstone Press, 2012. 32p.

This writing guide, filled with tips, examples and prompts, will help students develop as poets. They will learn how to include sensory details, write metaphors, choose "emotional nouns" and "moody verbs," develop voice and character within their poems, experiment with different styles of poetry and much more. 

Use portions of this book in your mini-lessons, or share it with individual students for inspiration!  

If You Were a Capital Letter by Trisha Shaskan

Shaskan, Trisha. If You Were a Capital Letter. Minneapolis: Picture Window Books, 2010. 32p.

Colorful two-page spreads, each beginning with the phrase, "If you were a capital letter," highlight important uses of capital letters in our world. 

This book could assist classes in developing a chart of instances in which capital letters should be used. Students could then refer to the chart throughout the year as they write. 

If you find this book helpful, check out other books in the Word Fun series! 

Captain Awesome to the Rescue! by Stan Kirby

Kirby, Stan. Captain Awesome to the Rescue! New York: Little Simon, 2012. 128p.

Eight-year-old Eugene McGillicudy is starting a new school. An avid reader of Super Dude comics, Eugene becomes a superhero of his own- Captain Awesome! Captain Awesome saves his bedroom from Queen Stinkypants (his baby sister) and helps his new teacher by rescuing a stolen class pet hamster, Turbo. Along the way, Eugene and his alter-ego also learn how to make friends and survive the big transition to a new town. 

Funny text supported by comedic illustrations will make this series a great choice for reluctant readers, comic book fans and anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming a superhero!