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

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