If I Stay by Gayle Foreman

Author: Gayle Foreman

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publish Date (Reprint): September 17, 2007

Summary: The book is narrated by a 17 year old girl who is involved in a tragic accident involving her mother, father and her younger brother. She sees herself, after the accident, lying in a pool of blood, and then follows her body and her family members around a hospital she was life-flighted to. Throughout a 24 hour period, Mia remembers her first kiss, when her younger brother was born, when her dad returned to grad school and a myriad of other memories leading up to the accident. During this time period, Mia has to make one of the hardest decisions she ever has had to make, whether to return to her body on Earth, or die. Family members come and go throughout the whole book to visit the ICU where her body is struggling to survive, and she hears their deep pleadings with her to stay.

AR Book Points: 19

Awards: Alex Award/Honor

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: 9th grade and up

Quality: Excellent source for understanding death.  This book is non-religious with no mention of any higher being, but addresses death as a part of life. 

Life Connections

• Death
• Making educated choices
• Family
• Memories vital to remembering loved ones.

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

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game

Author: Michael Lewis

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company

Publish Date (Reprint): September 17, 2007

Summary: A depiction of the life of Michael Oher, #74 of the Baltimore Ravens.  Oher's childhood was unlike many children's lives.  At the age of 13, Michael does not know his real name, his father or how to read or write.  Through miracles performed by members of his community and adopted family Michael learns how to read and write and is eventually granted a scholarship to Ol Miss.  Through determination, hard work and a little bit of luck, Michael Oher is drafted into the NFL.  

AR Book Points: 19

Awards: Alex Award/Honor

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: 9th grade and up

Quality: This book provides a look into an American child whose life is unlike most, but identical to those in his neighborhood and surrounding areas.  Michael Oher is essentially homeless and is given many opportunities to help him succeed.  His community and family love him and help him succeed.  Children will identify with this because Michael is a real character in a real situation and overcomes the things that could potentially hold him back.  

Life Connections

• Life is not easy
• Helping others succeed can bring happiness to both you and the recipient. 
• Understanding determination
• Understanding different life situations

Cinnamon Girl: Letters Found Inside of a Cereal Box

 

Author: Juan Felipe Herrera

Publisher: Joanna Cooler Books

Publish Date: August 9, 2005

 

Summary: Written in free verse, this story describes how young Yolanda deals with the tragedy of September 11. She keeps poems and letters she finds in and around Ground Zero in a cereal box.  She collects dust around New York City with the intent of returning it to Ground Zero, hoping to silence the ghosts and bring her uncle back to life. 

Award: Americas Award Book

Source: www.arbookfind.com

AR Book Points: 2

Age Range:  13 and up

Life Connections

• Understanding Hispanic (Puerto Rican) culture
• Understanding events in history
• How to deal with tragedy and death

Speak English For Us, Marisol! by Karen English

 

Author: Karen English

Illustrator: Enrique O. Sanchez

Publisher: Albert Whitman Company

Publish Date: December 3, 2005

 

Summary:  Marisol is very excited to get home after a long day at school. She is anxious to see if her chickens have hatched! But all along the way she is asked by her Spanish-speaking family and friends to translate for them.  It is very hard and she sometimes has to deal with adult topics, but she does it anyways because she loves her family and friends. 

Award: American Bookseller Pick of the List Award

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: K-3 and up

Life Connections

• Learning about the Spanish Culture
• Identifying with other students who might be in the same situation
• English as a Second Language learners

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.

Aani and the Tree Huggers by Jeannine Atkins

Author: Jeannine Atkins

Illustrator: Venantius J. Pinto

Publisher: Lee & Low Books

Publish Date: April 1, 2000

Summary: Aani bravely participates in the Chipko Andolan, or "Hug the Tree Movement" in her home town in India.  She and the other women in town wrap their arms around the trees in order to keep developers from cutting them down.  This is based on a true story from the 1970s in India.

Source:  www.arbookfind.com

AR Reading points: .05

Grade Level: K-3

Awards: Children's Book Award, Smithsonian's Notable Book

Life Connections:

• Standing up for something without a voice
• The importance in nature
• History

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

Author: Linda Sue Park

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publish Date: April 23, 2001

Summary: Tree-Ear wants to learn to perform miracles.  He sees Min, the master potter, shape clay into beautiful things and he wants to learn the craft.  Because Tree-Ear is an orphan, he worries that Min will not take the time to teach him the art of pottery.  He offers to work for Min, free of charge, to prove his desire to learn.  Taking things one step at a time, Tree-Ear hopes that he can achieve his dream.

Source: My 11 year old sister's bedroom

Recommended grade: 6th-7th grade

AR Reading points: 6


Awards: Newbery Medal, Asian/Pacific American Award Winner, Booklist Editors' Choice, ALA Notable/Best Books, Young Reader's Choice Award
 Life Connections:

• Perseverance
• Sacrifice in order to achieve your dreams
• Having a dream is important
• Believing in yourself.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

Author: Eleanor Estes

Illustrated by: Louis Slobodkin

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: September 1, 2004

Summary: Wanda tells the girls in her class that she has one hundred beautiful dresses at home and yet she wears the same faded blue dress every day.  The girls don't believe her and tease her daily.  Her best friend begins to tease her too, but soon realizes it's not the nicest thing to do.  Unfortunately she realizes it too soon when Wanda doesn't show up for school one day. 

Source: My 11 year old sister's bedroom

Recommended grade: 5th grade

Awards: Newbery Honor

Quality: This book is well written for a younger crowd. While the main characters are female it could definitely apply to all children.  

Life Connections:

• Teasing does not make friends
• Life is short
• Creativity is important

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publish Date: February 28, 2012

Summary: One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.

Award/Source: Georgia Peach Award, Buxtehuder Bulle, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, An ALA Notable Children’s Book for Older Readers, West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award and many, many more.

Age Range: Teenagers

Quality: This book is possibly one of the best books for a teenager to read.  Teaching young readers the importance of family, the importance of society and to stand up for something they believe in. 

Life Connections:

• Friends are important to succeed in life
• Anyone can be a hero
• Women are just as capable as men

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publish Date: September 1, 2009

Summary: In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

Award/Source: Georgia Peach Award, Buxtehuder Bulle, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, An ALA Notable Children’s Book for Older Readers, West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award and many, many more.

Age Range: Teenagers

Quality: This book is possibly one of the best books for a teenager to read.  Teaching young readers the importance of family, the importance of society and to stand up for something they believe in. 

Life Connections

· Anyone can be a hero

· It is important to stand up to those who are hurting you and your community

· Family is an integral part of life

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

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Author: Susan Patron

Illustrated by: Matt Phelan

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: December 30, 2008

Summary: Feeling like she has no where to turn, Lucky, decides to run away. Her guardian, Brigitte, wishes to return to her home country of France leaving Lucky with the    feeling of abandonment. Lucky’s mother died in a freak weather accident and her father is who put Lucky into Brigitte’s charge.  Lucky’s desire is to find her higher power so that she can face the obstacles that have been thrust on her.

Source: Spring 2014 116B Syllabus

Recommended grade: 9-11 years old

My suggested age range: 14 or older

Awards: Newbery Medal Award

Quality: Because I do not feel comfortable introducing this book to my own children I would not feel comfortable introducing it to a classroom.  I do not feel that the themes it presented was appropriate for the age range and would be more suited to an older crowd.

Life Connections:

· Introducing new vocabulary

· Introducing new areas—France, Southern California

· Anatomy and Physiology

· Understanding weather

· Introduction to resources for overcoming alcoholism

· Understanding a higher purpose for individuals

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Author: Judith Viorst

Illustrator: Ray Cruz

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: July 15, 1987

Summary: Alexander has a “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” and no one seems to care! From gum in his hair, to stubbing his toe, to seeing gross kissing on his tv: poor Alexander just can’t seem to catch a break. 

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.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

Author: Salman Rushdie

Publisher: Puffin

Publish Date: November 29, 2012

Summary: After making a wish to silence the stories of his father, Haroun must travel to the Ocean of the Stream of Stories to restore the gift of story.  Haroun travels through fantasy lands to meet with the Grand Comptroller.  Along his journey he meets with characters that he thought were purely fictitious imaginings of his father. 

Source: Spring 2014 116B Syllabus

Age: 14 and up

Awards: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature

Quality: The book would appeal to some children but not all. Children would see humor in the play on words and letters but many would be lost on the themes and symbolism throughout the book.

Life Connections:

· Introducing new places, both make believe and real.

· Family is important and sometimes knows better than society

· Stories can be an important part of life

· Freedom of speech is an important part of life and shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Small Steps by Louis Sachar

Author: Louis Sachar

Publisher: Ember

Reprint Date: January 8, 2008

Summary: Following his stay at Camp Green Lake, Armpit is acclimating himself back into society.  He befriends a 10 year girl who is physically disabled.  He is conned into scalping tickets for a popular artist and through a series of events learns the value of friendship, honesty and that if you do the right thing good things will follow. 

Award/Source: Schneider Family Book Award for Teen Book (2007)

Age Range: 12 and up

Quality: The book is exceptionally well-written and includes a multicultural group of friends.  This appealed most to me because far too many books are only about one cultural group and the interaction within the group.  I believe this would appeal to children as well.

Life Connections

· Friends come in all shapes and sizes

· If you feel like it’s a bad idea, it probably is and you should remove yourself from the situation

· Bad choices can be rectified through hard work and determination.