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

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

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!

Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain by Russell Freedman

Freedman, Russell. Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain. New York: Clarion Books, 2013. 96p.

This book is about immigrants who traveled from Asia to America for wealth, peace and a better life. These immigrants coming to America landed at Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. They had to pass through the Angel Island Immigration Station. Also, they had to pass many difficult examinations and were treated like prisoners. This historical, heartbreaking book tells the immigrants' stories.

This book is great for fourth grade. It is nonfiction. It has chapters, and teachers can use it for their immigration social studies unit. It also has historical photographs. It teaches kids about what it was like to immigrate and how immigrants were treated back then.

By: Guest bloggers Ella and Emily, 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

Wall by Tom Clohosy Cole

Cole, Tom. Wall. Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2014. 32p.

In this picture book, a little boy's dad gets stuck on the other side of the Berlin Wall that was built to divide Germany. The little boy was so worried about his dad. He had a dream of his dad breaking through the wall and coming to see him. You will have to read Wall to find out what happens next! 

This fantastic read-aloud book is great for art because it shows on the front cover red, black, and orange mixed together. It can help with color mixing and watercolor painting. This book is also great for fourth grade while you are learning about social studies, because it talks about the Berlin Wall and how people couldn't escape. 

By: Guest bloggers Avery and Lucia, 4 Chaddock

Those Rebels, John & Tom by Barbara Kerley

Kerley, Barbara. Those Rebels, John & Tom. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012. 48p.

In this nonfiction picture book, readers learn how John Adams and Thomas Jefferson set aside their major differences to recognize each other's strengths and to work together for American independence. The "Author's Note" at the conclusion of the story includes facts about the complicated relationship between these two American heroes in the years following the Declaration of Independence.   

For further reading, check out Worst of Friends by Suzanne Jurmain! 

Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan Roth and Cindy Trumbore

Roth, Susan and Cindy Trumbore. Parrots Over Puerto Rico. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc., 2013. 48p.

This award-winning nonfiction book teaches readers the history of Puerto Rico through the story of the growth and destruction of parrots' habitats there over time. The second half of the story focuses on efforts to save these incredible birds. 

Young environmentalists, birdwatchers and animal lovers will enjoy this inspiring story and its gorgeous, colorful collage illustrations.  

King George: What Was His Problem?: The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution by Steve Sheinkin

Sheinkin, Steve. King George: What Was His Problem?: The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. 208p.

Readers will be captivated right from the start of this funny and informative book! In the introduction, Steve Sheinkin shares his "Confessions of a Textbook Writer," apologizing to all of us for his former job writing "those big books that break your back when you carry them and put you to sleep when you read them." The text that follows is filled with interesting, odd and oftentimes hilarious information that makes the major people and events in the American Revolution come alive. This is history the way it should be written... and read!

Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh

Limbaugh, Rush. Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims. New York: Threshold Editions, 2013. 224p.  

History teacher Rush Revere travels back in time with his horse Liberty to give his students an up-close look at life on the Mayflower and to help them understand what the first year on Plymouth Plantation was really like. As readers meet William Bradford, Myles Standish, Squanto and other brave figures, they will enjoy experiencing history and will discover many important decisions that shaped our country!

History comes alive again in Rush Revere and the First Patriots, an exciting second book in the Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans series! 

My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Martin Luther King III

King, Martin Luther III. My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Amistad, 2013. 32p. 

Martin Luther King III provides readers with a moving account of childhood memories with his dad, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sharing common father-son memories (like playing airplane and tossing a football) as well as unique memories such as comforting his sister when their father went to jail to stand up for people's rights, he gives readers insight into the caring, courageous man who helped raise him while changing the world.

This is an outstanding read-aloud selection with a touching introduction and conclusion. Gorgeous, life-like illustrations by A.G. Ford support the text of this powerful memoir.

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel

Markel, Michelle. Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2013. 32p.  

Clara Lemlich, a young Ukrainian immigrant, goes to work in a New York City garment factory and realizes what horrific conditions workers there must face. She stages the "largest walkout of women workers in U.S. history," inspiring workers in other cities to fight for better working conditions as well. 

This book's beautiful lead and conclusion make it a strong historical writing mentor text, and its information about working conditions for immigrants make it an excellent selection for social studies units. 

   

January's Sparrow by Patricia Polacco

Polacco, Patricia. January's Sparrow. New York: Philomel Books, 2009. 96p.  

Sadie Crosswhite, a young Kentucky slave, watches in horror as her close friend January is beaten by plantation owners after trying to escape. Sadie keeps a sparrow that January carved for her to remember him always, but she is forced to leave without the sparrow when her family tries to escape the plantation in the middle of the night. After long and dangerous travels, Sadie and her family settle in the town of Marshall, Michigan. They begin to adapt to a life of freedom until the sparrow mysteriously arrives at their doorstep with the words "I found you" attached.

Who brought January's sparrow to the doorstep, and what will be in store for Sadie's family next? To find out, read this adventurous tale of slavery, bravery and kindness. Based on a true story, this tale will touch readers' minds and hearts, leading them on an emotional journey of heartbreak then renewed faith in humanity. It will spark important discussions on slavery and social justice.   

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole

Cole, Henry. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad. New York: Scholastic, 2012. 40p.  

In this gorgeous, wordless book, a young girl finds a runaway slave and bravely decides to help the stranger. In return, the slave leaves her a gift to thank her before continuing on the journey to freedom. The two characters communicate through their actions, forming an unspoken bond that will touch their lives forever.

This is an excellent book for discussions on the Underground Railroad, slavery and the Civil War. Its stunning, exquisite illustrations will engage students as they build storytelling skills by narrating the tale.



 



 

The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio

Al Abdullah, Rania and Kelly DiPucchio.The Sandwich Swap. New York: Scholastic, 2012. 32p.  

Two girls, Salma and Lily, are best friends until they begin criticizing each other's sandwiches. Lily thinks that Salma's hummus and pita looks disgusting, and Salma thinks that Lily's peanut butter and jelly is equally gross. The girls are deeply offended by each other's views until the situation escalates and helps them realize that they might actually enjoy being open-minded and trying something new.

While kids will relate to the sandwich conflict, this story is about so much more! It teaches us all an important lesson about appreciating each other's cultures and recognizing that diversity makes our lives much richer.

The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman

Fleischman, Paul. The Matchbox Diary. Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2013. 40p.  

A young girl visits her great-grandfather and inquires about an old cigar box she finds in his den. As the great-grandfather opens the box, he shows her that it's filled with matchboxes, each of which contains an object from his past. He explains that as a child in Italy, before he could read or write, he wanted a way of remembering important moments in his life, so he started a matchbox diary. Opening one matchbox at a time, the young girl is taken on a journey through her great-grandfather's Italian childhood, his travels as an immigrant to America, and his life in this strange new land. As she leaves, the young girl is inspired to begin a collector's diary of her own.

This poignant, beautifully written and illustrated book will spark lively discussions during immigration units. It is also an outstanding choice for historical narrative writing lessons (or for any writing based on memories).  

The US Constitution and Bill of Rights (Foundations of Our Nation Series) by Maegan Schmidt

Schmidt, Maegan. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights: Foundations of Our Nation Series. Minneapolis: ABDO Publishing Company, 2013. 48p.  

Students learn about the building blocks of the United States in this series about our nation.  Each book is broken down into five chapters, includes viewpoints from opposing sides and presents information in an age-appropriate way. Illustrations include maps, period reproductions, colorful photographs and text boxes. "Explore Online" boxes present readers with challenging questions and web links to promote critical thinking. Nonfiction elements to support the common core are included as well as timelines and discussion starters called "Stop and Think" to reinforce the concepts covered in the book.  Other titles include:The Boston Massacre, The Boston Tea Party, The Declaration of Independence, The French & Indian War, The Jamestown Colony, The Mayflower Compact and The Thirteen Colonies. 

The Scoop on School and Work in Colonial America by Bonnie Hinman

Hinman, Bonnie. The Scoop on School and Work in Colonial America: Life in the American Colonies Series. North Mankato: Capstone Press, 2012. 32p.  

Students are transported back in time in this nonfiction series about life in the American colonies.  Use these books for read-alouds or research projects about what life was like back in Colonial America.  The Common Core nonfiction elements are all present, including table of contents, headings, text boxes, glossary and index. Other titles include: The Cold Hard Facts about Science and Math in Colonial America, The Dish on Food and Clothing in Colonial America, The Real Story about Government and Politics in Colonial America, The Real Story on the Weapons and Battles of Colonial America, and The Scoop on Colonies and Homes and Daily Life in Colonial America.