My Teacher is an Alien

Author: Bruce Coville

Illustrator: n/a

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub-genre: Morals

Theme: The new teacher is an alien

Primary and Secondary Characters: Susan, Peter, Susan’s parents, Mr. Smith, classmates

Publisher: Alladin Inc.

Date of Publication: 1991

Brief Summary: The book is based on a classroom of students who return for vacation to be informed that their favorite teacher is no longer there and has been replaced by Mr. Smith. None of the students like him and through a shocking discovery Susan thinks he is an alien here to capture her and her classmates and take them to his alien planet.

Dear Dumb Diary

Author: Jamie  Kelly

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub- genre: Coming of Age

Theme: Middle School Challenges

Primary and Secondary Characters: Jamie and her classmates and teachers

Date of Publication: 2004

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Brief Summary: This book is the dairy of a young girl in middle school and the problems she must overcome day to day. This touches on many different subjects as children become teenagers and face hard problems.

Junie B. Jones is a Graduation Girl

Author: Barbara Park

Illustrator: Denise Brunkus

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub- genre: Coming of Age

Theme: Following Directions

Primary and Secondary Characters: Junie, Classmates on room nine, Mrs.

Date of Publication: 2001

Publisher: Random House Inc.

Brief Summary:                 Clumsy Junie B. Jones tells the story of her adventures before graduating and what happens to her pretty white graduation gown because she disobeyed the teacher. She took the gown out of the box and got it dirty.

Babysitters's Club: Karen's Hurricane

Author: Ann M. Martin

Illustrator: Susan Crocca Tang

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub-genre: Adventure and Survival

Theme: Weather and bravery

Primary and Secondary Characters: Karen, peers

Date of Publication: 1999

Publisher: Scholastic Book Co.

Brief Summary: As a hurricane is headed for this young girl, she is thrilled at the fact that she and the hurricane have the same name, Karen. She has no fear, until tracking the hurricane the students find that Karen the hurricane is headed their way. Great for bravery in storms as well as weather.

Little Mouse's Big Valentine

Author: Thacher Hurd

Illustrator: Thacher Hurd

Genre: Picture Books

Sub-genre: Concept Books

Theme: Friendship, sharing

Primary and Secondary Characters:

Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher

Date of Publication: 1990

Brief Summary:  After several failed attempts of trying to give his huge valentine to someone, he meets another Little Mouse and as they begin to become friends, he decides to give it to her. Not knowing what to do with the big valentine, the two friends make a lot of little valentines out of it and give them to everyone.  This book would demonstrate a great lesson of friendship and sharing!

The Fat Cat Sat on the Mat

Author: Nurit Karlin

Illustrator: Nurit Karlin

Genre: Informational

Sub-genre: Realistic Fiction; Children’s Picture Book; K-6

Theme: Rhyming words

Primary and Secondary Characters: cat, rat, bat, hat, witch, mat, broom

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Date of Publication: 1996

Brief Summary: This book is full of rhyming words. It would be a great supplement when asking students to point out sets of rhyming words, as well as to depict certain elements of a story. The story could also represent sharing because the rat is upset with the cat because the cat sat on the rat’s mat. 

Pooh's Best Friend

Author: Isabel Gaines

Illustrator: Tim Jones

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub-genre: Children’s Picture Book PreK-2

Theme: Friendship

Primary and Secondary Characters: Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Rabbit, Eyeore, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo

Publisher: Disney Enterprises Inc.

Date of Publication: 1998

Brief Summary: This book helps children learn the real meaning of friendship. While trying to determine who his best friend was, Pooh goes to each of his friends asking qualities of a best friend. Each gave a different answer and in the end Pooh realized all the nice, loyal, and kind things that a best friend was, Piglet had done. He takes Piglet a flower and has pie with him, letting piglet have the comfy chair and big piece of pie, because he wanted to be Piglet’s best friend as well.  This would be a great supplement to introduce younger children to sharing!

The Lost Tooth

Author: Jean Davis Callaghan

Illustrator: Becky Radtke

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Sub-genre: Realistic Fiction

Theme: losing a tooth and sharing

Primary and Secondary Characters: Clearance and Terri

Publisher: Modern Publishing

Brief Summary: This book tells the story of a sweet little boy who loses his tooth. He was prouldy showing his sister the tooth and discussing the tooth fairy, when Clearance loses the tooth. After hours of searching his sister finds the tooth. He decides he will buy ice cream with his toothfariy money and share it with his sister.

Rosie's Two Left Feet

Author: Jean Davis Callaghan

Illustrator: Florie Freshmen

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Sub-genre:Realistic Fiction

Theme: Teaching children about sharing

Primary and Secondary Characters: Rosie, Mom, Anne, Grandpa

Publisher: Modern Publishing

Brief Summary: This book presents sharing in a very unique way. As a little girl is waiting to attend a birthday party for her grandpa she realizes her new shoes are both left feet shoes. There was no luck with any of her other shoes looking good for the party, therefore her sister shines up a pair of shoes she has outgrown and gives them to Rosie. This book would be a great supplement to a sharing lesson for younger children.

Bunny Fun

Author: Sarah Weeks

Illustrator: Sam Williams

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Sub-genre: Poetry

Theme: Things to do on a rainy day for children

Primary and Secondary Characters: Bunny

Publisher: Harcourt Books

Brief Summary: This book is adorable! The story is based upon a bunny and her friend on a rainy day. The two begin to use their imagination finding alternative things to do. This book would be great for early childhood children because the story is very catchy and well worded and the pictures are well-drawn with bold vibrant colors.

Brave Lion, Scared Lion

Author: Joan Stimson

Illustrator: Meg Rutherford

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub-genre: grades 2-3

Theme: Bravery

Primary and Secondary Characters: Jake, Jasper, Uncle Jaws, Mom

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Brief Summary: Brave Lion, Scared Lion is a great book to read a classroom of younger children to demonstrate that being brave is not simply showing off. At the end of the book the “scared” lion is there to save his brother, the “brave” lion, in a moment of danger. This book has wonderful illustrations and teaches great lessons.

Farm Day

Author: Sarah Toast

Title: Farm Day

Illustrator: Cover- Eddie Young Interior- Joe Veno

Genre: Children’s Picture book

Sub-genre: K-2 readers; informational

Theme: Life on a farm

Primary and Secondary characters: Primary: Katie, Uncle Peter, Aunt Sally

                                                                                Secondary: the animals, Katie’s Dad

Publishing Company:Publications International, LTD.

Brief Summary: This book would be perfect for a class of younger learners. The book is based on a farm and all throughout the book; it tells the adventures of a young girl as she meets new animals at a family farm and helps to name each new animal. The book explains what each animal does as well as which noise the animal makes. For instance, the book explains that the milk we drink comes from cows.

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