Africa Dream by Eloise Greenfield

Author: Eloise Greenfield

Illustrator: Carole Byard

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publish Date: January 30, 1992

 

Summary: A young African-American child dreams about meeting her grandfather and discovers his history. 

Award: Coretta Scott King Award

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: K-3 and up

Life Connections

• Learning about the African Culture
• Understanding history and family history

Beat the Story Drum, Pum Pum by Ashley Bryan

Author and Illustrator: Ashley Bryan

Publisher: Aladdin Books

Publish Date: May 31, 1987

 

Summary: This book features five Nigerian folktales rewritten and illustrated for a younger audience by Ashley Bryan.  On the Amazon.com website, it states that the book is meant for school and library use only.
 

Award: Coretta Scott King Award

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: K-3 and up

Quality: This book contains historical folktales from a country other than the United States. The artwork is very eye-catching and will keep the attention of children of all ages.

Life Connections

• Introduction to a new country and culture
• Art techniques
• Poetry, rhyme and verse can be introduced

7x9 equals trouble by Claudia Mills

Author: Claudia Mills

Illustrator: G. Brian Kara

Publisher: Square Fish

Publish Date: August 26, 2004

 

Summary: Times tables tests are the worst! And no one knows that better than Wilson Williams.   He doesn't like to practice them, he doesn't want to do them.  It seems like everyone around him, even his kindergartner brother, Skipper, knows how to do them. How is he going to pass this test?

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Awards: BCCB Blue Ribbon Book, ALA Notable/Best Books,
 

Age Range: K-3 and up

Quality: A lot of children do not like multiplication and this book addresses that.  It is realistic in the sense that everyone has to learn new things that they may not like or are not good at.  I think this would apply to many children, especially in the second and third grades who are learning multiplication tables for the first time.

Life Connections

• Friends come in all shapes and sizes
• Sometimes we have to do things we don't like
• We can find answers to questions in the most unlikely places.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Author: E.B. White

Illustrator: Garth Williams

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publish Date (reprint): April 10, 2012 

Summary: “Terrific”, “Radiant”, “Some pig”. Words inscribed in a spider’s web to describe a pig. Wilbur was the runt of his litter and was deemed too small to be of any good use on the farm.  Saved by an eight year old girl from being killed at a young age, Wilbur learns from his best friend Charlotte (a spider) and other animals on the farm that he is “some pig” and worth more than just bacon.

Source: Spring 2014 116B Syllabus

Recommended grade: 3rd and up

My suggested age range: any age is appropriate, from infant to adult

Awards: Newbery Honor, George C. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award, Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, Laura Ingalls Wilder Award

Quality: For many children who are introduced to this book it is a foreign idea of living on a 

farm.  The appeal would be the obscurity of non-domestic animals, animals that are usually only seen in picture books or found on the internet. 

Life Connections:

· Understanding farm life

· Understanding the life cycle

· Sticking up for friends is an important part of life.

· Sometimes sacrificing for a friend is okay