Picture+Storybook+Annotations

Please Place Student Annotations Below!!

//A Kiss Goodbye//, Written by Audrey Penn. Illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson. 2007. Grade Level: Pre-K-2. Chester Raccoon doesn't want to move! He wants to stay with his tree, and with his friends. But the trees have been marked and the tree cutters will be coming soon to cut them down for wood. Chester's mother tells Chester to think of the move as an adventure. As sad and unwilling as Chester is he finds his new home just as comforting as his old home. This book shows though change can be scary, good things can come from it. I love Audrey Penn's book //The Kissing Hand//, therefore I like the character of Chester. I like how Chester shares his feelings with his mother, and I like how she talks it out patiently with him and deals very lovingly with his uneasiness. **
 * Mary's Picks:

//**Gingerbread Friends**//**, Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett. 2008. Grade Level: PreK-2.**
 * T **h[[image:gingerbread_friends.jpg align="left"]]e Gingerbread Baby is feeling lonely. He notices Matti has been busy playing with his friends, so the Gingerbread Baby decides he wants a friend of his own. After trying to make friends at the local bakery with no success, the Gingerbread Baby goes home and finds a pleasant surprise! Jan Brett's Gingerbread Baby is a cute and memorable character. The way she designed the little wisp on the top of his head, his little feet and body, and the curled up mouth makes him look like a Gingerbread Baby rather than a Gingerbread Boy o** r Man.

T//he Three Snow Bears//, Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett. 2007. Grade Level: PreK-2. Jan Brett provides a new twist to a favorite folktale. Three Snow Bears decide to go for a walk to let their breakfast cool. While they are out a young girl named Aloo-ki enters their home. She pokes around, finds herself getting sleepy, and finds comfort in a small cozy bed. Soon the Three Snow Bears arrive home to find a big surprise! Jan Brett's colorful illustrations and window frames are a visual delight. What is interesting about this story is how Jan Brett's experience with meeting the Inuit people of Canada, inspired this story.

Megan's (Smith) Picks:** **// Alphabet Adventure. //**** Written by Audrey Wood. Illustrated by Bruce Wood. (Blue Sky Press: 2001) **

= = The letters of Charley’s alphabet are finally ready to leave Alphabet Island and head off to school. As they cross the bridge, Little i falls into the water. Charley’s alphabet forms a chain and saves her. But Little i’s dot is lost. The reader is taken on an adventure to find it. They end up arriving at school just in time to help a boy write his name-Charley. The illustrations are bold and colorful, and the letters have a three-dimensional appearance. Some of the letters on the pages are upside-down or on their side, making it more fun for readers to identify them. The plot is simple, but the combination of text and illustrations keep readers engaged throughout the story. This is a great book for practicing the ABC’s with students in PK-1.

**// A Snowgirl Named Just Sue. //**** Written by Mark Kimball Moulton. Illustrated by Karen Hillard Good. (Ideals Press: 2005). **

This is really a Valentines’ story. It is a follow-up to //A Snowman Just Named Bob//, another one of my favorites. In this story, Snowman Bob, who became loved by the family that built him, starts to melt. Everyone is sad. One night, a rainstorm was expected and they all feared that Bob would wash away. They wished as hard as they could that it would be snow instead of rain. Like magic, their wish came true! The story takes a turn when Valentine hearts start falling with the snow. That gives them the idea to make a snowgirl for Bob. When the family goes back outside later, Bob and Sue are holding hands! The illustrations in this book are beautiful, and the rhyming text is displayed creatively. For example, on one page, the text is written in a snowball. This story focuses on friendship and love, and believing that something magical can happen! I think of this book whenever I hear the phrase, “turn that frown upside down”. At the end of the story, Bob is smiling as he holds Sue’s hand. This is a great read for PK-3.

**// Lucille’s Snowsuit. //**** Written by Kathryn Lasky. Illustrated by Marylin Hafner. (Crown: 2000). ** Lucille just wants to go out and play in the snow. But what an ordeal it is! She doesn’t understand why she can’t wear snow pants and a parka like her older siblings. She doesn’t like wearing a snowsuit. Her boot gets stuck in her pants, her zipper gets stuck, AND she loses a sock! She keeps calling her mother to help her, but her mother keeps telling her to wait “one more minute”! The illustrator uses mounting tension to emphasize Lucille’s frustration, making the story very humorous. By the time Lucille gets completely dressed to go outside, she’s exhausted and sweating. She lies in the snow and makes snow angels to cool off as she daydreams about lemonade and swimming. Before long, a snowball fight begins. Lucille stays toasty warm in her snowsuit, although her siblings get cold and have to go inside to warm up. Every time I read this book, I laugh out loud. Even though the main character is a pig, the story is so realistic. Young readers can identify with Lucille’s feelings of frustration, impatience, and her longing to grow up. This book is appropriate for PK-Grade 2.

A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces zoo animals to the joy of reading. This occurs when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake. She matches books with animals just as librarians match books with students. This is a Dr. Seuss inspired book that will keep students in grades one through three entertained. The colorful illustrations done by Marc Brown enhance the story on each page. The language within the story can be somewhat difficult for young readers and reading aloud may require some explanation of some of the words. This story takes place in the era of WWII during the time that girls became baseball players. The author uses a real person’s name as the main character. Katie Casey is a baseball loving girl who is frowned upon by others because she doesn’t like the things that other girls enjoy. She ignores the doubt of others and pursues her dream of becoming a baseball player in the first All-American girls’ baseball league. The author was inspired to write this book after viewing a movie about the first women in baseball. Read this book and you will learn that the famous song played at baseball games was written about a girl.
 * Kathi’s Picks: **
 * Wild About Books By Judy Sierra **
 * Players In Pigtails By Shana Corey **

Rog er was not very good at being a pirate. He was way too happy and none of the other pirates took him seriously. When real pirate business needed to be done, he was never included in it. Instead the others sent him off and did the work themselves. He wanted to find a way to make the others like him and accept him as a fellow pirate. Finally the day came for Roger to prove himself to the others. In the middle of a great battle, he found a way to prove himself and from down below the decks. The other pirates would never look at him the same way again. This story is great for children ages 4 – 8 years old. The beautiful illustrations were done in watercolor, pencil, and pastel and they lend themselves to the text within the story. Children will also enjoy the song at the end of the story. = Pat's pick: __Bats At the Library__ by Brian Lies, grades K-4 =
 * Roger The Jolly Pirate By Brett Helquist **

2008 by Hou ghton Mifflin Hardcover, 3 2 pages Isbn: 061899923X (isbn13: 9780618999231) The bats are bored one evening, and are delighted to find an open window at the public library. They fly into the window, a rare treat, and are instantly entertained. Some older bats have been there before and go off to find their own kinds of books. The younger bats have not been there, and get into a bit of mischief before they discover the soothing magic of storytime. Listening at storytime, they picture themselves as part of the story, until the sun begins to rise and their night of books and fun is over.

Magnificent illustrations by the author, each page with enough detail to tell the story without words. Beautiful rhyming verse uses rich language, and may need some explanation for very young children, but my ELL class of 6-7 year olds loved it with only a few clarifications. The pictures were vivid enough to get them to talk enthusiastically at the end. This book can be used for grades K-4, and has a theme of love of reading. My students laughed at the pictures of the naughty little bats splashing in the library water fountain. Older students will recognize illustrations from favorites like Make Way For Ducklings and Little Red Riding Hood as the little bats get lost in the story. This was a good book for the beginning of the school year because it sparked a discussion of how to behave in the library, but it would be a wonderful read-aloud at any time.

__**Rivka’s First Thanksgiving**__ **by Elsa Okon Rael, grades 3-5** October 1st 2001 by Margaret K. McElderry Hardcover, 32 pages Isbn: 0689839014 (isbn13: 9780689839016) Rivka is a little girl who came to America from Poland, and she wants her family to celebrate the American Thanksgiving she learned about in school. The elders of Rivka's Jewish community decide not to celebrate it because they think it is not a holiday for them, but Rivka does not agree with their decision. She bravely faces the Rabbi and elders and respectfully teaches them about Thanksgiving and how everyone can be thankful, no matter their religion. Lovely tale that is perfect as a read-aloud. Pictures illustrate simply, but do not add much to the story. The story of the bold Rivka is easily understood by 3rd to 5th graders. The theme of learning and tolerance through learning is what makes this sweet story a great discussion starter about cultural differences and the meaning of Thanksgiving. My students like the pluckiness of Rivka and how she taught an important lesson to the elders, showing that adults can learn from children.
 * Pat's pick:**

__**Baloney (Henry P.)**__ **by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, grades 1-4** 2001 by Puffin softcover, 40 pages Isbn: 0142404306 (isbn13: 9780142404300)
 * Pat's pick:**

Henry P. Baloney is in trouble with his teacher for being late to class again, and comes up with a whopper of a tale. His wild story brings us to outer space and leads us on a wacky chase, which he hopes will convince his teacher. Adorable, imaginative tale that kids will get right away, but adults may have to read several times. It uses weird words like //zimulus//, but I found that students translate automatically using picture and context clues, and don’t get hung up on the many odd terms in the book. Adults will probably benefit from reading the decoder page at the very end. Kids don’t mind that Henry is an alien, they just find the story hilarious because they can relate to it, and it is just so far-fetched. Carries a theme of lying and stretching the truth, and is very light-hearted. Perfect for 1st to 4th graders as a read-aloud.

Emily loves to dance; the only problem is Nicole the soccer player, Bitsy the artist, and Anna the shy reader do not. However, with some teamwork and a snazzy nickname, “the jellybeans,” this misfit group turns their dance recital about “icky bugs” into a masterpiece. This story mines traditional themes about setting aside differences and fostering a sense of camaraderie, as well as overcoming your fears. These themes truly create an atmosphere that children can relate to. If that isn't enough, I would also recommend this story for Lynn Munsinger’s beautiful illustrations, starting with the attention grabbing glittery cover page all the way through with the vivid portrayals of the characters’ emotions.
 * Tessa’s Pick!**
 * “The Jellybeans and the Big Dance” by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans, Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. (Scholastic Inc: 2008) PreK-2 **

 "CLICK, CLACK, MOO Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin, Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. (Scholastic Inc: 2000)
 * Tessa’s Pick! **

“Click, clack, moo. Click clack moo, Clickety, clack, moo.” What is Farmer Brown to do? His rebellious farm animals have found an old typewriter and are demanding a better work environment in the form of electric blankets. No milk and no eggs until the blankets are delivered. Farmer Brown is dumfounded by the demands of the cows and hens, but even more so by their newfound typewriting skills. After refusing the cows first request, Farmer Brown agrees to have electric blankets delivered by the duck in exchange for the typewriter. Unfortunately for Farmer Brown, the ducks can type too! This book showcases so many characteristics of a great children’s book. Clever watercolors by Betsy Lewin, an award-winning illustrator, add the perfect amount of spunk and life to the barnyard animals. Furthermore, the story includes repetition and a foundation for letter writing skills.

 “The Three Snow Bears” written and illustrated by Jan Brett. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons: 2007).
 * Tessa’s Pick! **

While fishing, Aloo-ki peers up just in time to see her huskies floating out to sea on a glacier. Desperate to find her missing huskies, Aloo-ki searches the land. She does not find her dogs, but she does stumble on a huge igloo. Aloo-ki goes inside to find nobody home and decides to sample three soups, try on three boats, and take a nap in the smallest sleeping bench while she is there. Meanwhile, the Polar Bear family finds Aloo-ki’s dog team and leads them safely to shore. This classic twist on “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” ends similar to the original with Aloo-ki bolting (with her dog team of course) after waking up from a nap with three polar bears staring at her! As with any Jan Brett story, I would recommend this book for the tremendous pictures and attention to detail. I love the use of a center illustration with varying side illustrations.


 * Tarah's Picks**



Finchler, Judy. //Miss Malarkey’s Field Trip.// New York, Walker and Company, 2004.

With few words, but many colorful illustrations, we laugh at another of Miss Malarkey’s misadventures, this time a field trip to the Science Center with her class. Observed and narrated by one of her students and with the help of dialogue boxes, we see the humorous ins and outs of school field trips. There is the antsy line at the rest rooms, the chaperone chatting on her cell phone, and the students sneaking off to the gift shop. The hilarious illustrations by Kevin O’Malley show us most of what is going on, and elementary children will laugh at and be able to relate to everything that is happening. All in all, the students have a grand time and even Miss Malarkey survives.



Cannon, Janell. //Pinduli.// New York: Scholastic, 2004.

//Pinduli// is another of author and illustrator Janell Cannon’s entertaining and informative looks at the world we share with other creatures. Pinduli is a young hyena who lives with her mother in East Africa. One day, while out exploring alone, she meets up with numerous other African animals, which each have an insult about the way she looks. The wild dogs make fun of her ears so she plops them down against her head, and the lion says her coat is straggly so she soaks in the water hole to make it lay flat. When the zebra tell her that the patterns of her coat are messy, she rolls in the dust and ends up looking like a hyena ghost. Pinduli gets her revenge when the other animals think that she is an evil spirit who has come back to haunt them for the mean things that they have said to others. She tells them that to appease the bad spirits, they must each leave offerings of food after every meal. Pinduli and her mother never go hungry again, and the other animals learn to not tease each other again. With the beautiful illustrations and author’s notes about the hyena family and other African animals, I highly recommend this book for elementary age children.

Schachner, Judith Byron. //The Grannyman.// New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 1999. This tender and humorous story about an old cat and his family is one of my all-time favorites. Simon, a very old Siamese cat, looks back on a full life spent with his adoring family. We learn how he made “sculptures” out of furniture and how he helped “prune” plants with his teeth. We also learn how he was responsible for helping raise two new pets (babies born to the family) and how he teaches them to be good cats. But when Simon becomes so old that he can no longer see or hear, he decides that he is useless, “so useless that at ten o’clock on a Tuesday night, Simon stuck his bony old legs into the air and breathed his last. Or so he thought.” At this point, his family plops a new kitten onto his stomach, and so begins the change that rejuvenates Simon. He cares so tenderly and fatherly for the new kitten that his family comes to love him even more. That’s when they respectfully give him his new name, “The Grannyman.” Children and parents will love how this story teaches respect and caring for others, even when we are flawed. The illustrations are colorful, humorous and complement the story by expanding on what the words tell us. I’m not a big fan of Schachner’s later series about Skippyjohn Jones, but with this book, she really hits the mark. In this delightful story, Bird wakes up in a grumpy mood, but as his friends stick by his side they help him shake off his bad mood and have some fun. Tankard’s illustrations are bold and simple, but they do more to convey Bird’s feelings than words possibly could. The arch of an eyebrow or some extra color on Bird’s cheeks help the reader see Bird’s mood transforming. The theme of the story is one that every child, and adult can relate to. Tankard’s newest book, //Boo Boo Bird// also delivers the same simple, yet meaningful message friends are important.
 * Laurie’s Favorites **
 * // Grumpy Bird. // Written and illustrated by Jeremy Tankard. (Scholastic Press: 2007) Ages 3 - 6 **


 * Laurie’s Favorites **
 * // A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. // Written and illustrated by Marla Frazee. (Harcourt, Inc.: 2008) Ages 4 - 8 **

This tale of two boys, Eamon and James, spending a week with Eamon’s grandparents’ cottage while they attend summer camp has a lot going for it. The author cleverly depicts the imagination and antics of children on summer vacation and weaves a warm-hearted tale. There is an added layer to this story as the illustrations tell a different story than the text, making it interesting for students of all ages. For example, the text explains that James arrived “with just a couple of his belongings.” The illustration shows a mountain of boxes, packages and parcels. This Caldecott Honor book is a must have for any library collection.

Children will love this story of cows that find a typewriter and use it to demand better living conditions. The frustrated farmer’s reaction creates a hilarious situation involving negotiations and mediators. Cronin’s unexpected ending makes this a tale that will be remembered. Cronin has several other picture story books that are just as entertaining including //Giggle, Giggle, Quack// and //Duck for President// along with her fun //Diary of a Worm// series which is written by Cronin and illustrated by Harry Bliss. Add some humor to your students’ day with these great books!
 * Laurie’s Favorites **
 * // Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type // . Written by Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. (Scholastic Inc.: 2000) Ages 3 – 7 **

**My Dadima Wears a Sari.** // **Written by Kashmria Sheth, illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi. (Peachtree Publishers: 2007)** Rupa wonders why her grandmother (Dadima) always wears a sari and not a dress or pants like her or her mother. When Dadima explains all of the things she can do with her sari such as hold shells at the beach, use it as a fan, as an umbrella, or to hide from animals in the jungle, young Rupa’s imagination comes to life. Dadima teaches Rupa and her sister how to wear a sari and in exploring the beautiful cloths the girls learn about their family history. The watercolor illustrations add an additional element to the story, mimicking the designs of the gorgeous saris and depicting the bond this piece of Indian culture creates between a grandmother and her granddaughter. Step-by-step instructions for wrapping a sari are included. A beautiful, imaginative book for elementary students to learn about Indian customs and to celebrate the love of family. //
 * Marcia's Picks!**

//**The Curious Garden**// **by Peter Brown. (Little, Brown and Company: 2009) ** In the drab, dark city most people stay inside, but Liam loves to be outdoors, exploring. When he discovers an abandoned train track running high above the city he notices a tiny patch of flowers growing in the debris. He tends to this small garden, which soon spreads to other forgotten places. Liam is soon joined by others who nurture this new green, vibrant garden and it continues to spread around the city. The illustrations give this celebration of curiosity, patience and nature a whimsical, magical quality. Topiaries emerge; stairs become lush grass covered carpets. The author’s note explains that inspiration for the story came from an abandoned elevated train track in Manhattan which was slowly reclaimed by nature. A gentle, enchanting story for grades K-4.

//**Egg Drop**// **by Mini Grey. (Alfred A. Knopf: 2002)** The egg wants to fly. It dreams of being in the clouds flying amongst the planes, birds and balloons. It decides to climb the 583 steps of Very Tall Tower and then steps off the side---where we watch it fall, not fly, to meet a tragic end. Like Humpty Dumpty, they couldn’t put the egg back together again (although many humorous methods are tried including nails and screws) and it meets its ultimate fate---sunnyside up. //“The egg was young. It didn’t listen. If only it had waited.”// Readers are introduced to Bernoulli’s Principle for a touch of science but the humorous illustrations are the star here. From the end papers to the newspaper article about the "event" this story has a smile waiting on every page. This funny cautionary tale would be perfect to share with children in grades prek-4.

**(Okay, not just //my// pick, also the Caldecott Medal winner 2009)** //The House in the Night // is a cumulative tale in the style of other, traditional tales like “This is the house that Jack built” and, in particular, the one that inspired the author from //The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book//(1955) that begins: “This is the key to the Kingdom: / In the kingdom is a city…” From the book’s first line, “Here is the key to the house”, the poem moves inward through the door of the house, all the way to reach a book on the child’s bed, and “in that book flies a bird.” Now, here in the center of the book, our book becomes that book, and we (with the child) fly with the bird out into “the starry dark”. In this big world, there is darkness, but darkness is connected to light. There is “dark in the song” and “the house in the night”, but that house is “a home full of light”. This lovely series of interconnected things is adventurous, yet comforting. The stunning black and white etchings have highlights of gold that emphasize meaning in the relationship between darkness and light and serve to illuminate the interconnectedness of things. Like its predecessor //Goodnight Moon//, //The House in the Night// helps clarify and comfort and connect.
 * Audrey's Picks**!
 * The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, pictures by Beth Krommes (Houghton Mifflin: 2008) **

Like David Weisner’s //The Three Little Pigs//, //Wolves// is the story of a story, a meta-story that takes up the subject of books and their boundaries and makes short work of them. It begins in a library with a large, hand-written sign hanging down “Shh!” // Rabbit went to the library. / He chose a book about… // And we see Rabbit’s selection in his little paws, but we don’t yet hear the warning of Beethoven’s 5th in the bold type WOLVES on the front cover until maybe when we notice -- it’s the very book, minus the dust jacket, that we ourselves just picked up to read! Rabbit’s curiosity is piqued as he gazes down at the title. A careful reader will notice he has only recently rejected a perfectly good, and presumably far safer, book about rabbits on the library shelf across on the opposite page. The book he carries home with him expands to the dimension of our book, and as he reads the non-fiction text, the book’s physical size recedes while the content, the wolves, grow. When a wolf breaks out entirely to exist in the same dimension as Rabbit, he has the qualities of a storybook wolf whose features and power are fueled by Rabbit’s imagination. Our book’s text is Rabbit’s text, a detached, non-fiction account of wolves. The illustrations, however, project the imaginative, emotional power of the book that’s being read and personally understood by Rabbit. This tension grows and grows until… Poof, we land back in our own reality. Gravett takes pity and hands the power over to us to choose how this cautionary tale will end. I love this multi-dimensional story of what it means to read and the gazillion witty details that are so thoroughly crafted and scrupulously authentic to boot.
 * Wolves by Emily Gravett (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: 2005) **

This bright picture book excites imaginative wonder as we follow the possible path of Leaf Man, who was last seen heading east when the wind blew. Now... // Is he drifting west, above the orchards? / Or over the prairie meadows, / and past the spotted cows? // Each imagining is a scene constructed with the color-copies of treasured leaves Ehlert collected over a period of months while she was traveling. Among others, we see orchards, the prairie meadows and the spotted cows -- shapes and animate forms that emerge out of a jumble of colorful leaves, just as Leaf Man did. Compelled like Leaf Man to follow the wind, we turn the die-cut pages and discover we’re moving along the contours of an exquisite landscape until we’re eventually buffeted aloft to find more complex questions from this perspective. // When Leaf Man looks down on earth, / is he lonesome for a home? // The book’s coda speaks of on-going mysteries and the possibility of harmonious contentment. I love the tension between energy and order, shape and color, fiction and non-fiction, etc. Ehlert’s books often (always?) provide a portion of non-fiction detail outside of the story’s frame, and these two elements serve to vitalize each other.
 * [[image:Leaf_man_smaller.jpg width="106" height="111" align="left"]]Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt: 2005) **

It is a hot summer day and after suffering and sweating, Nelligan’s pig decides to have a splash and cool off. All the animals are astonished by this and some of them (especially the geese) a tad indignant. The dynamic illustrations by Jill Barton give motion and fun to the tale, while Martin Waddell uses simple text and repetition to emphasize the action. It is all solved when Nelligan comes home and evidently thinks the pig is on to something! Splooooooosh! Fun to read aloud to young elementary age children.
 * Helen's Picks!**
 * [[image:pigpond.jpg align="left"]]Waddell, Martin. //The Pig in the Pond//. London: Walker Books, 1994.**

**Barber, Antonia. //Catkin//. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 1996.** After wandering away, the little cat loses the baby girl he is supposed to protect. She is stolen by the “little people” who are immortal and cannot have children. Knowing it is through his negligence she was lost, the cat enters the hill to negotiate the child’s release. To secure her release he allows himself to be trapped. Everyone is sad so they seek the counsel of the Wise Woman who suggests an arrangement everyone can live with – happily ever after. More complicated language than most picture storybooks, it is an excellent read for 2nd - 4th grade.

Funny, stylized cartoon illustrations show off this tale perfectly. In this case of mistaken identity Nicholas discovers he and his cat have switched bodies. He finds out what he can, can’t and shouldn’t do as a cat while his cat (as Nicholas) gets seen by the doctor for his peculiar behavior. The first person narrative gives it an even funnier twist as the reader finds things out at the same time as the narrator. In the end the witch corrects her mistake. Back to normal Nicholas is in for a surprise when he gets to school and his teacher licks his shirt and goes to sleep!
 * [[image:meandcat.jpg align="left"]]Kitamura, Satoshi. //Me and My Cat?// London: Andersen Press, 1999.**


 * Tracy's Picks**

Poor little Leo, he was a lightning bug without a light. Try as he might, his light won’t light. One day when he was practicing, other lightening bugs saw him and made fun of him. With a little confidence (provided by a thunder and lightning storm where he believed he was making the lightning) and plenty of practice he lights his light and wins over the other lightning bugs. The theme of this book is the importance of believing in yourself, and the importance of self-esteem. This book can help kids to understand the world around them. It shows children that they can believe in themselves, and stand up to others who make fun of them.
 * //Leo the Lightning Bug// by Eric Drachman, Illustrated by James Muscarello ** **( Kidwick Books: 2001)** for ages 4– 8.

**//Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse// written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books: 1996)** for ages 4 – 9. Lilly loves her teacher, in fact because of him she wants to be a teacher. Mr. Slinger is fun and funky, kind and understanding. Lilly gets so excited about her new purple plastic purse that she can’t control herself; Mr. Slinger has to take her purse and put it in his desk for safe keeping. Lilly gets so angry that she draws a picture of Mr. Slinger and writes that he is mean. She immediately regrets her actions when she discovers that Mr. Slinger wrote a kind note and put it in her purse. Can she correct her mistakes? The theme of this book is personal responsibility, the importance of interpersonal relationships and forgiveness. One of the reasons I love this book is that Lilly shows such human emotions that all children/people have. Her actions and reactions are very real and typical. I identify with Lilly and with Mr. Slinger, and I think children do as well.

**//Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf// written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt: 1991)** for ages 3 – 8. This beautifully illustrated book describes, through the eyes of a child, the ‘life journey’ of a Sugar Maple Tree. The child remembers when he/she helped his/her father plant the tree. He/she goes on to describe what the tree looks like each season. Within each page, there are illustrations and facts about the tree and the process. The theme is nature in general, and the life of a tree in particular. It shows an appreciation for nature, and other living things. This factual, engaging book is one of my favorites because it shares an interest in the natural world in a simple manner that children can understand. The language is simple, with added information embedded in the illustrations.

“Whose Chick are you?” Written and Illustrated by Nancy Tafuri Greewillow Books, 2005. Large bright colored pictures catch the reader’s attention and depict different types of birds found on a pond. As each animal questions who an egg found in nest belongs to as readers discover the sound each animal makes. They mystery is solved when the egg cracks and the chick is reunited with their mother. Children will enjoy making the different animal sounds. The cheerful pictures and straight forward text make this an excellent choice for 2-4 year olds. “Angelina’s Baby Sister.” Written by Katharine Holabird Illustarated by Helen Craig Viking, 2000. Teaches a lesson that children will relate; when a new baby sister arrives. The experience can be frustrating as Angelina illustrates when she loses her temper when her mother fails to pay enough attention to her. She discover just how hard it can be to share her mothers attention and how much fun it can be as well. The illustrations are a realistc style which relect the action tking place. Especially real are the illustrations of Angelina tossing her toys around her room in anger. You can feel the anger and frustration she feels. “If You Bring a Mouse to School.” Written by Laura Numeroff Illustrated by Felicia Bond Laura Geringer Books, 2002. The familiar rhythm of the story catches the readers attention and adds to the silliness of the story. As with Numeroffs other “If you bring a…” stories this story is balanced; beginning and ending with a backpack which reminds a mouse it wants to go to school. When the mouse gets to school he makes a mess of a science experiment, constructs a larger then life mouse house, and gets all dirty playing sports. Children will appreciate the humor of the story and the absurdity of bringing a mouse to school. A great contribution to a growing collection of “If you” titles whose humor and bright realistic illustrations children will love..
 * Meghan's Pcks**

If I were teaching this course in a traditional classroom, I would bring each of these books to class during our discussion of picture storybooks, and read as many of them to you as possible. I would give you time to examine the books yourselves, asking you to pay particular attention to the artwork, the richness of the stories, and the themes in these picture storybooks. Since this is an online course, the best I can do is to give you a list of my favorite picture storybooks, complete with a picture of the cover from the Amazon.com site, and my description of the book.
 * Mia’s Picks! Below is a list of some of my favorite picture storybooks. **

 **

Mia’s Pick! ** This incredible story is based on a true story (so I learned from reading the author’s note). A three-year-old girl becomes lost in the woods as she attempts to follow her parents who are headed out for a walk without her. The little girl is missing for three days. The searchers fear the worst, as three days is a long time for a young girl to be alone in the woods. What they do not know is that a bear finds the little girl, and spends each night snuggling with the girl to keep her warm and safe. When the searchers finally do find her, they see the area covered in bear foot-prints. The little girl who does not realize that her companion is a bear, tells the story of a big brown dog that kept her warm while she slept each night.
 * The Bear that Heard Crying by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock**


 * Mia’s Pick! **

**Bottle Houses: The Creative World of Grandma Prisbrey by Melissa Eskridge Slaymaker**
Grandma Prisbrey is a collector. For most of her life she travels around in a trailer, collecting small treasures, such as pencils, from the places she has been. Grandma Prisbrey is also the quintessential recycler. When she finally does settle down, she is determined to find a use for all of the lovely bottles she has collected. So she gets some concrete and her bottles and begins to build. She builds sculpture and she builds houses. When she runs out of bottles, she goes to the dump to find more bottles. A contemporary artist, what she builds is beautiful. This book so engages the reader that it makes you want to build your own bottle sculpture. This is another book where the author’s note is worth reading!


 * Mia’s Pick! **

Lynn Plourde
Mrs. Shepherd, the quintessential elementary teacher, with her gentle and warm approach, embraces all of the children in the class, even the quirky ones. These books focus on the quirkiness of children, and the children’s names describe their personality. Names such as Maybella Jean Wishywashy for a very indecisive little girl, Drew A. Blank for a forgetful little boy, and Josephina Caroleena Whatasheena for a little girl who likes to tinker with machines.
 * **School Picture Day**
 * **Teacher Appreciation Day**
 * **Pajama Day**
 * **Book Fair Day**

Little poems relay the child’s thoughts, such as when Maybella is trying to decide which food to buy to honor her most special teacher: “Eeny, meeny, miney, moos, So many foods, How can I choose.”

The pictures depict the silliness of the characters, and are the perfect accompaniment to the stories.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Mo Willems Pigeon Books
This pigeon behaves an awful lot like an impish child, as he begs to drive the bus and then laments, “I never get to do anything.” Children love these ‘Pigeon’ books, as is evident in the worn bindings and pages for all Pigeon books in the Glover Elementary School library. Simple words, simple story, and simple pictures paint a vivid picture that children relate to. ‘You’ the reader have been asked by the bus driver to make sure that the Pigeon does not drive the bus, and you are the one the Pigeon is speaking to throughout the story. Pigeon begs to drive the bus, offering to sit on your lap and man the steering wheel, as you control the pedals. This draws you the reader, the child, into the book, makes you part of the action.

In Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late you have been asked to make sure the Pigeon does not stay up late. Pigeon tries everything he can think of to change your mind. With drooping eyes he says, “But I am not even tired.” The tactics Pigeon employs are quite advanced, drawing on what he believes are your weaknesses, “But we never get to talk anymore…” or “Tell me about your day.“ Who wouldn’t want a chance just to chat with their Pigeon? “But it is educational…” he argues, when asking to watch just one more program on television. Last final act of desperation, "I need a glass of water."

Other Pigeon Books by Mo Willems:

 * Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late
 * The Pigeon Wants a Puppy
 * The Pigeon Finds a Dog
 * The Pigeon Has Feelings Too
 * The Pigeon Loves Things to Do
 * Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive a Bus


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Journey Around Boston A-Z by Martha Day Zschock
A duck leads the tour. The lovely drawings depict actual places in Boston that a child might see on a city tour. This book is several different types of books wrapped into one: ABC book, historical reference book, an entertaining tidbit book.

Such tidbits as “Proper Boston children were once expected to be able to translate the Latin names posted on trees in Boston Common.”

Children love this book. There are several other Journey Around books (California, New York) and the children clamor for them during library time. These books allow children to learn about a familiar place, such as Boston, or one they might not know, on a level that is comfortable to them. A child can first use this book as a simple ABC book, but as she grows, she can use this book to learn about the city.

Mia’s Pick! **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Charlotte Zolotow The Quarreling Book Pictures by Arnold Lobel
The day starts out rainy and dad's going to work with a grumpy look on his face. Dad forgets to kiss mum goodbye on his way out the door which makes mum “quite cross.” She takes it out on son Jonathan and yells at him about his choice of a shirt for the day. Jonathan feels he is being treated unfairly and takes it out on sister Sally. Sally takes takes it out on her friend Marjorie, making fun of her raincoat, and Marjorie is then mean to her brother Eddie, who is mean to his dog.

The dog provides a turning point as he doesn’t notice the rain, and wrestles with Eddie and licks his face until he makes him laugh. Eddie then makes Marjorie smile, who phones Sally and makes Sally smile, who then cheers up Jonathan, who then makes Mum laugh. And when dad comes home, the sun is shining and dad gives Mum an extra big kiss.

This simple little book, simple story line, simple pictures, tells a big story about how our mood influences our actions, and how our actions impact those around us. This is a story that children (and adults) relate to. The happy ending shows that forgiveness is possible with friends and family, and that sometimes all it takes is a simple event (forgetting a kiss, or the actions of a pup) to turn things around.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Rosemary Wells Max, McDuff, Max and Ruby
Ruby, a mature, organized, tidy and talkative young bunny is a stark contrast to Max, who is Ruby’s mostly silent (except for his sound effects), playful, messy, sweet and slightly mischievous little brother. Many of the Max and Ruby tales revolve around Ruby trying to carry out one of her carefully constructed plans, such as to bake a cake, or to host a tea party for her girl friends, or to throw a birthday party for her grandmother, or to clean Max’s room, and Max’s innocent attempts at foiling her plans (such as when his ants escape from the ant farm during Ruby’s proper tea party). The pictures capture Ruby’s gentle consternation as she struggles to make everything perfect and Max’s impish grin as he attempts to carry out his own plans (which more often than not conflict with Ruby’s). Children find these books hysterically funny; adults find them sweet and fun to read.

Another of Well’s popular characters is the dog McDuff, who draws attention to everyday issues, such as dogs being dogs and families being families, only in these tales, McDuff ends up the hero, as he saves the day, or event, or party.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watts
These books chronicle the fears and activities of a little squirrel. Children love these books, and I think it is because the book deals with fears and concerns that many children have too, such as fear of being bitten by an animal, or worry over finding friends. This little squirrel also engages in activities that children love, such as making plans, and maps, and handling unexpected situations.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg
Chris Van Allsburg is an author to know. He has written some wonderful stories, such as the Polar Express (a haunting Christmas story), The Wreck of the Zephyr (a story about a little boy lost at sea in his little sailboat), and The Stranger. Many of Van Allsburg’s books are illustrated with haunting pictures and tell haunting tales, that teeter on that line between truth and fantasy, leaving the reader asking whether the story could possibly be true.

In the story The Stranger a stranger enters the story when a farmer accidentally hits him with his car. The stranger is hurt but not killed, and the farmer takes the man home to have him checked out by a doctor. This establishes the time frame of this story to be somewhere in the past, during a time when doctors made house calls. The stranger does not speak, and appears perplexed at everyday objects. The doctor determines that the impact from the car must have affected his memory, and that after some rest, he should return to normal. So the man stays on with the farmer and his family to recover. The stranger never does speak, and we never find out who the stranger is, it appears that his memory never returns, but he has a profound effect on the farmer and his family, and on the leaves in the family yard. This mysterious tale leaves one wondering about this stranger, where he came from, and, where he eventually goes in the end.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Janet Morgan Stoeke Minerva Louise
Minerva Louise is a chicken who stumbles into human places on her walks and interprets the places as objects from her chicken world. For example on one walk, she finds herself in a schoolhouse, and Minerva Louise thinks she has found a new red barn. To Minerva Louise Christmas lights are fireflies, children are farmers, an Easter basket is a hat, a decorated Easter egg is a baby chick egg who is looking for its mother. In the story Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs, Minerva Louise unwittingly goes on an Easter egg hunt, and gathers all of the decorated eggs in an effort to return the lost chick eggs to their mother. These stories draw their humor from ML’s misunderstandings of the human world.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
The lead character is a Siamese cat who likes to sleep with the baby birds in their nest, much to his mothers chagrin. Skippyjon Jones does not behave as his mother feels a proper cat ought to behave (cats should catch birds, not sleep with them). Skippyjon is regularly sent to his room to think about what it means to be a cat, and this is where the adventures begin. These books are filled with songs and silliness. The stories end with Skippyjon Jones singing, “Oh I’m Skippyjon Jones with a mind of my own, and I’ll bounce on my bed for hours. I know I’m a cat, but forget about that.” This cat is not afraid to be himself. He does not cave to pressure to behave as everyone else does.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

No David, Alice the Fairy, Too Many Toys, Bad Case of Stripes (and more!) by David Shannon
David Shannon is an example of a children’s author who has captured the essence of children being children. David (the lead character for all of the David books) is naughty, but loveable. Alice (the main character in Alice the Fairy) truly believes that she is a fairy, and in Too Many Toys, a mother makes an attempt to purge the playroom of unused toys, but as Spencer looks up with huge sad brown eyes with a look of desperation on his face, every toy suddenly becomes his most treasured possession. As Spencer and his mother debate which toys stay and which go, Spencer proves to be quite adept at arguing his case.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Michael Rosen We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
The illustrations artfully depict the excitement that family feels as they set off on their adventure, how they overcome the challenges they face, the terror when they achieve their goal (they find a bear), and the joy as they realize they are home, safe and sound, from their adventure. Repetition is the modus operandi in this story, as we travel with the family over the marsh, through the woods, and across the stream to find a bear, and they are surprised and frightened when they actually do find a bear. It takes most of the book to get the family to the bear, and less than a page to get them home as they race back as quickly as they can.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

The Dot by Peter Reynolds
This could very well be my favorite story. This is the story of a little girl, Vashti, who struggles to find her artistic voice, and when she does, she discovers a side of herself that she did not know was there. Vashti’s teacher asks the class to draw, and Vashti stubbornly refuses to even try to draw. She cannot draw, so she says, so she will not even try. Finally, in a huff, she puts a tiny dot on a piece of paper, and shoves it at her teacher. “There” she says. Her teacher looks thoughtfully at the drawing, and then hands it back to Vashti, and says, “Now sign it.” Surprised, Vashti adds her name to her drawing, and as she does, a new perspective begins to unfold for Vashti. She wants to make more dots, bigger ones, smaller ones, and colorful ones. She becomes quite the talk of the school, as a young boy looks admiringly up to her, wishing that he too, could draw so well. He makes a small mark on a piece of paper, and shows it to Vashti as evidence that he cannot draw. Vashti takes the drawing, looks thoughtfully at it, and says, “Now sign it.” I love this turn of events-where Vashti finds herself in the role of teacher, and finds in herself, an artistic voice that she uses to express herself.

Another book by this author is called The North Star In this book a baby begins a journey and discovers many things and guidance along the way. This is clearly a metaphor for life that may be lost on some children, but not all. This is a story about finding your way in the world.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch and Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
The story begins with a princess who has everything and then quickly loses everything when a fiery dragon burns down the castle and all of her possessions, and makes off with the handsome prince. Furious, she set out dressed in the only thing that was not destroyed by the fire, a paper bag, to track the dragon, which turns out to be quite easy to do as she only has to follow the charred path and remnants from her castle. The princess outwits the fierce and fiery dragon and rescues the prince, who as it turns out, is not at all happy to see her looking so messy and dressed in a paper bag. He suggests she returns when she looks presentable. She realizes that he is a superficial bum, end of story. Despite the simple drawings, this is more than a simple princess story-the princess does live happily ever after, but that might very well be because she loses the superficial prince before she gets trapped in a loveless marriage.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
A story about a little mouse name Sam who lives in the library and comes out of his hole after the children have gone home and then he spends his nights reading. He begins to write his own books, which the librarian finds and reads to the children. She then catalogs and shelves these little treasures. The children love his books and want to meet the author-which introduces the conflict in the story. What will the children and librarian think if they realize the author is a mouse?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

Playing War by Kathy Beckwith
Terrifying account of a little boy, Sameer, who refuses to play war with the other children, as it turns out, it is because before he came to live in the United States he was in a real war. His house was destroyed and his whole family was killed. The children are deeply affected by Sameer’s tale, and the following day they return to their usual game of basketball.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
A little girl adjusts to school and language in a new country. As the teacher encourages her to write her name, Yoon, she instead retreats behind other words, cat, cupcake, she can not yet put herself, her real self, in this new place. It takes finally being able to connect with the other children that she is willing to write her name, thus placing herself in the context of her new life.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

One by Kathryn Otoshi
A story about bullying and how it only takes one to stand up for something to make a change….


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

Beethoven Lives Upstairs by Barbara Nichols
This story is told in the form of letters from a young boy named Christian to his father, about the strange man that is renting the upstairs room in the house. The story mixes fact and fiction into a slice of the composers life. Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O’Malley Fairy tale gone awry when two children who are forced to work together on a project cannot agree on what story to tell the class, so they improvise, and each tell their own story. The result is a mixed up fairy tale with and without the happily ever afters.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

The Spooky Book by Steve Patschke Illustrated by Matthew Mc Elligott
This story takes place on a stormy night as a little boy reads a spooky book, and notices that what he is reading is actually happening.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Zin! Zin! ZIn! A Violin by Lloyd Mass
Book begins with a “mournful moan and silken tone” as a man plays on “one trombone.” One by one the instruments join in, swirly fabulous pictures of musicians playing their instruments sets the mood for this book.

A child is exposed to each piece in an orchestra and then to the whole sound, as the instruments enter the story, each adding its own sound.

“The strings all soar, the reeds implore, the brasses roar, with notes galore. It’s music that we all adore it’s what we go to concerts for.”


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

Lost by David McPhail
David McPhail has written many wonderful books for children. His book **Lost** is about a bear that falls asleep on a snack truck and wakes up lost in the big city. A sweet little boy tries to help the bear find his home, which the bear describes as a place with water and trees. First they try the park where they have fun, but it is not his home. Then they go to the library and the bear quickly identifies his home on the map. They take the bus and the beer finds home, only, now the little boy is lost. So the bear helps him get home.

David McPhail's newest book is No! ** A small boy goes to mail a letter-surrounded by a city that appears to be in the midst of war. When he gets to the post box, a bully will not let him mail the letter. The boy says, “No!” and refuses to be intimidated. With this word the story changes, as do the events around him. The war vehicles turn into gift caravans for the children.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

McPhail has written many books that children love about pirates and bears and children.

Mia’s Pick **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What strikes me about the Little Bear books is how Waddell has masterfully translated the warmth and caring of a parent and child to the relationship between Little Bear and Big Bear. Little Bear tries to get Big Bear involved in his antics, and sometimes he is successful, as when he is trying to get to sleep, but he just can’t because the bear cave is just too dark. Big Bear patiently makes the cave lighter and lighter, trying to make Little Bear feel safe and snuggly in his bed, despite his own attempts at getting to the good part in his book. In other stories, Big Bear is busy and Little Bear has to amuse himself. At these times, Little Bear might make his own snuggly cave to hang out in, or he might shadow Big Bear, helping Big Bear to finish his work. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of my favorite children’s stories, the Paper Princess draws on the ability of children to create their own magical friends with a piece of paper and some crayons. In this story a little girl colors a princess, and as she is deciding what kind of hair to give the princess, the princess is swept away in a gust of wind. “Come back” the little girl calls, “I’m not finished with you yet!” The princess tries to get back but cannot fight the wind, and she floats off on an adventure of her own, wondering, “What kind of hair should I give myself?” The princess begins her journey excited by the adventure, but then is eager to return to the little girl who made her. The pictures in this book bring the little paper doll to life-they depict the grand adventures, as the paper princess takes a ride on ferris wheel, peeks into the windows of homes as she floats by, and is crumpled by a fresh little girl. To extend the children’s interaction with this story, you might consider having them color their own paper princesses or princes, and to send them off on their own paper doll adventure on the playground. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Library Lion Michelle Knudson and Kevin Hawkes
Now this is my favorite….one day a lion strolls into the public library. At first everyone is frightened, but soon, they come to love the lion, and appreciate what a good helper he is. The library director, in particular, comes to love and rely on the lion, and he is welcome to stay as long as he does not break the rules of the library (no loud voices, no running). One day, he must use his loud voice when the library director falls from a ladder and gets hurt. She needs help, and the lion must get the attention of the one person in the library who has not yet come to appreciate his presence. After roaring his loudest roar, the lion knows he must now leave the library, as he has broken the rules. I used this book as part of a lesson, that incorporated art and music. After reading the story to the children, I handed out precut lion shapes, which the children decorated with markers, and cut pieces of yarn (for the mane). Once the art projects were completed, we paraded with our lions through the halls of the school singing one of the songs from the movie **The Lion King** (//In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight....).//


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mia’s Pick! **

Fartiste An Explosively Funny, Mostly True Story by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer
About a flatulent musician/performer who wowed audiences with his ability to break wind….


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

Diary of a Spider (Diary of a Worm, Diary of a Fly) by Doreen Cronin and Illustrated by Harry Bliss
A glimpse in diary form, of the life of a bug (or a worm, or a fly)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

Lauren Child Charlie and Lola, Pesky Pat, Princess and the Pea, Clarice Bean books (What Planet are you From Clarice Bean is a CB picture book), Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad, Book
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerrran and Illustrated by Barbara Cooney
An imaginary town, Roxaboxen, made up of rocks and boxes, is the home for this story, which is made up as it goes along by a group of children who use their imaginations to create an adventure.I love this book because it captures the imaginative nature of children-this is the kind of world my own children will spend hours out in the yard creating.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

The Red Book by Barbara Lehman
This is a wordless story about a little girl who finds this book on her way to school, right away the little girl recognizes that she has found something quite extraordinary. When she opens the book she sees herself in the story,and soon she really is floating through the sky holding onto some helium balloons as was shown in the picture. She accidentally drops the book, and another child picks it up, and you can see that child finds her way into the story.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Mia’s Pick! **

Flotsam by David Weisner
A little boy with his magnifying glass and microscope is studying the life at the beach-he discovers an old fashioned camera, with film inside and he runs to the shop to have it developed. He discovers amazing pictures of other children who have also found the camera. He eventually snaps his own photo with the camera and returns it to the sea.

Also by David Wiesner

 * Sector 7
 * Tuesday
 * June 29, 1999

Here are some more of Mia's Picks....
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Nancy Carlson Henry’s 100 Days of Kindergarten
Celebrating the events that get celebrated in school, such as the first 100 days of school

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Ruby the Copycat by Margaret Rathman
Ruby just wants to fit in and goes to great lengths to do so, and ends up annoying the little girl she is copying. She finally shows a shred of her own self, with her hidden hopping skill, and bravely tells the laughing class about it, which earns their admiration.

Patricia Polacco
Tackles the problems that many of us may not want to talk about, such as childhood cancer in her book The Lemonade Club.

And she tackles everyday events such as the joy of having a grandma to sit out under the night stars with and listen to stories that she tells at a family picnic.

The Graves Family is about getting to know an eccentric family.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor and Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glassner
Appeals to a little girls need to feel special…and how a little girl may be different than the rest of her family but still accepted and loved by them-try as she might, Nancy can never quite teach her family to be as fancy as she.

Pirate Bob by Kathryn Lasky Illustrated by David Clark
A pirate story complete with plundering and stealing gold and loot. In the midst is pirate Bob, who plunders and steals with the best of them, but then realizes that there may be more to life than plundering and stealing and hanging out with guys who are really not his friends. Someday, Bob hopes, he will have enough loot buried so that he can leave this life, and make some real friends, and then perhaps, Bob will be happy.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

The Undone Fairy Tale by Ian Lendler and Whitney Martin
Begins as a typical fairy tale, with kings and towers, but then as the illustrator struggles to keep up with the author, he has to make some substitutions in his drawings, thus changing the story somewhat.

Tomie dePaola Strega Nona
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Kevin Henkes Wemberley Worried, Julius Baby of the World, Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse
A master at zeroing in on children’s fears, worries, concerns

The Hello Goodbye Window by Norton Juster Illustrated by Chris Raschke
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">