Urgency Emergency! Big Bad Wolf by Dosh Archer

Written & Illustrated by: Dosh Archer

Publisher: Albert Whiteman & Company

Publish Date: September 1, 2013

Summary: Oh no! Wolf is choking and is brought to the hospital. While the doctors are trying to help him, a little girl in a red coat comes in looking for her grandma.  Is this a coincidence?

AR Book Points: .05

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: K-3 and up

Quality: A twist on the beloved fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Kids will love the humor in the updated version and will love the pictures as well. 

Life Connections

• Fairy Tales

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

Author: Doreen Cronin

Publisher: Little Simon

Publish Date: September 17, 2007

Summary: Farmer Brown's cows have found a typewriter! And they know how to use it! They start leaving him notes in hopes of having a better living situation but Farmer Brown ignores them at first, until the cows refuse to produce any milk.  How does Farmer Brown and the cows reach an agreement? You'll just have to read it to find out!  

AR Book Points: .05

Awards: ALA Notable/Best Books, Book Sense Book of the Year, Publishers Weekly Best Book

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: K-2

Life Connections

• Life is not easy
• Sometimes you have to compromise 
• Barnyard Animals

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Author: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Illustrated by: Henry Cole

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: June 1, 2005

Summary: Roy and Silo, two penguins in the New York City Zoo have developed a bond unlike any of the other penguins.  They are given the opportunity to hatch an egg. They raise Tango as their own little bundle of joy.

Source: Spring 2014 116B Syllabus

Recommended grade: K-2

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

Awards: Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award

Quality: While a very controversial topic for some, I believe that this book should be in every classroom.  It teaches that not all families have a mommy and daddy. If taught properly I believe this could prepare children for when they do meet friends who have a family situation different from their own.

Life Connections:

· Families come in all shapes and sizes

· Family is an important part of life

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Author and Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

Publisher: HarperCollins (50th Anniversary edition)

Publish Date: December 26, 2012

Summary: After being sent to be early without his supper one night, Max begins an adventure of monstrous proportions. The adventure begins in his room when a forest begins to emerge and monsters appear. Max is named the kind of the monsters and a wild rumpus begins.

Source: Spring 2014 116B Syllabus

Recommended grade: K-2

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

Awards: George C. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award, Indies Choice Book Award for Picture Book Hall of Fame

Quality: Everyone has hard days and it takes awhile to figure out a way to get over and/or change them.  I wish there was more of a resolution in Alexander overcoming his bad day, but I know the children would identify with some of the situations that Alexander experiences. The repetition would also appeal to children and adults alike.

Life Connections:

· Introducing new places: Australia

· Bad days happen to everyone

· It’s easy to get wrapped up in a bad day which can make it into a terrible day.

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