The Funny Little Woman 

by Arlene Mosel

Summary: While chasing a dumpling, a little lady is captured by wicked creatures from whom she escapes with the means of becoming the richest woman in Japan.

This book won the prestigious American Library Association’s Caldecott award for illustrations. The illustrations mostly use simple dull colors, but this allows for the funny little woman in bright red and orange to stick out. The story is a Japanese folktale that is wonderful for a multicultural unit lesson. 

Interest Level: grade k-3

Reading Level: grade 4

Always Room for One More

by Sorche Nic Leodhas

Summary: In this Scottish folk song, a generous family always has room for another person and invites in everyone who passes by

This book won the Caldecott Award (a prestigious American Library Association award) in 1966. The illustrations are wonderful, though simple, black and white figures with splashes of color. Considering this book is an old song from Scotland, it is appropriate to use this book for this summer’s national reading theme, “One World, Many Stories.” I would use it during storytimes only if I could sing the song with the melody provided at the end of the book. The author notes after the story that he changed lyrics in the song to make it more understandable to American children. However, a few Scottish words were left in because he felt they sounded better. He provides a short glossary of these words. I would sing the song, go over the words, and then have the children sing with me.

Interest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 4

Librarianjk recommends Number the Stars

Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry

Summary: This is the story of the Christian community in Denmark helping Jews escape to Sweden in order to prevent the Germans from “relocating” them.

This is an excellent historical fiction book. At the end of the book, the author describes what aspects of the story were based on facts. Like many historical fiction books, students in a class may further research the time period. This book is often used to introduce the Holocaust or as an extension to a Holocaust lesson.

Interest Level: grades 4-8
Reading Level: grade 5

Arrow to the Sun

Arrow to the Sun

by Gerald McDermott

Summary: An adaptation of the Pueblo Indian myth which explains how the spirit of the Lord of the Sun was brought to the world of men.

This is an enjoyable Pueblo Indian tale. The illustrations are fantastic and unique.

Interest Level: grades K-3, grades 4-6
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Saint George and the Dragon

Saint George and the Dragon

by Margaret Hodges

Summary: Retells the segment from Spenser's The Faerie Queene, in which George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for years and brings peace and joy to the land.

The detailed, vivid illustrations in this book are stunning. I recommend this book to anyone who likes knight and dragon stories. I do not recommend this book as a read-aloud or for reading to the very young. The book’s size is deceptive; it is a long story.

Interest Level: grades 4-6
Reading Level: grade 6

Librarianjk recommends The Three Pigs

The Three Pigs

by David Wiesner

Summary: The three pigs escape the wolf by going into another world where they meet the cat and the fiddle, the cow that jumped over then moon, and a dragon.

This is a superb fractured fairytale. I recommend it to anyone who likes fairytales told in a new way. This book can also be used to encourage students to create work inspired by other works.

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades k-3
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Shadow

Shadow

by Blaise Cendrars

Summary: Free verse evocation of the eerie, shifting images of Shadow which represents the beliefs and ghosts of the past and is brought to life wherever there is light, fire, and a storyteller.

This book has eerie but beautiful illustrations. I recommend this tale to older readers interested in folk tales or fairytales that do not involve princesses or fairies. I can not help but wonder if the “Shadow Man” from Disney’s The Frog and the Prince was inspired by this tale.

Interest Level: grades K-3, grades 4-6
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Black and White

Black and White

by David Macaulay

Summary: Four brief "stories" about parents, trains, and cows, or is it really all one story? The author recommends careful inspection of words and pictures to both minimize and enhance confusion.

This is an intriguing book. I could see this book enticing reluctant readers or confusing them to frustration. It can be used to discuss paying close attention to details.

Interest Level: grades k-3, grades 3-6
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends The Lion and the Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse

by Jerry Pinkney

Summary: In this wordless retelling of an Aesop fable, an adventuresome mouse proves that even small creatures are capable of great deeds when he rescues the King of the Jungle.

The pictures in this book are fabulous, especially in depicting a ferocious lion. I have never seen this fable as a wordless book; in fact, even the front cover is wordless! This book is excellent for working with a child one on one to develop pre-reading skills. Adults, who may not be comfortable asking a child what is happening in a story they do not know themselves, may want to read this tale with words ahead of time.

Librarianjk recommends Kitten's First Full Moon

Kitten's First Full Moon

by Kevin Henkes

Summary: When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it.

This is a great book for young children. It may be used before discussing moon cycles on a simplistic level.

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Mirette on the High Wired

Mirette on the High Wire

by Emily Arnold McCully

Summary: Mirette learns tightrope walking from Monsieur Bellini, a guest in her mother's boarding house, not knowing that he is a celebrated tightrope artist who has withdrawn from performing because of fear.

This book has gorgeous illustrations and is wonderful for a discussion on overcoming fears.

Interest Level: grades k-3
Reading Level: grade 4

Librarianjk recommends Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China

Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China

by Ed Young

Summary: Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who is disguised as their grandmother
This is a wonderful Red-Riding Hood story. The illustrations are beautiful but at times blurry. I believe that was meant to symbolize illusion.

Interest Level: grades k-3
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends So You Want to Be President?

So You Want to Be President?

By Judith St. George

Summary: Presents an assortment of facts about the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. presidents, from George Washington toBill Clinton.

This is an excellent book for reluctant nonfiction readers! The moral is any type of person can be president. This book could be used as a read aloud for intermediate level students and an introduction to a social studies lesson.

Interest Level: grades k-3, grades 4-6
Reading Level: grade 5

Librarianjk recommends Flotsam

Flotsam

by David Wiesner

Summary: The story of what happens when a camera becomes a piece of flotsam.

This is a very creative story. As with all wordless book, it is wonderful for teaching pre-reading skills, and asking children what is happening in the pictures. For older children, they may write a story about what is happening in the pictures.

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades k-3

Librarianjk recommends Hello, Goodbye Window

The Hello, Goodbye Window

by Norton Juster

Summary: A little girl loves going to her Nanna and Poppy's house because their kitchen window is a magical portal to a world of discovery and imagination, in a delightful story that celebrates childhood and the love of family.

This is an adorable book about grandparents and creativity.

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 4

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

by Mordicai Gerstein

Summary: A lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit's 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers.

This is a beautiful, true story. It may be used to celebrate the World Trade Center. A person should know his or his/her audience before reading it aloud, as it is a very sensitive subject for many.

Interest Level: grades K-3, grades 4-6
Reading Level: grade 4

Librarianjk recommends Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak

Summary: A boy creates trouble and is set to bed without dinner. His room grows ito a forest where he meets wild things.

This book is one of my favorite picture books. Everyone knows or is a wild thing like Max. I was very unhappy with the direction the movie took. The book is much more light-hearted and I never had the impression that Max was an emotionally troubled boy. I feel the book would be great to discuss that there is a time and a place for wild play and that you can always be wild in your imagination. I think the most important part is after traveling for what we are told is a long time, Max comes home and his dinner is still waiting for him and it is hot. His mother still cares about him.

Interest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

by Simms Taback

Summary: This is the story of a man who has a tattered overcoat. Instead of putting it in the garbage, he makes it into a jacket, then a vest, then a scarf, etc.

The last line of the story is “you can always make something out of nothing.” This would also be an excellent story to discuss recycling and reuse. In a class, a great follow-up activity is to bring in something that would normally go into the trash can or recycling can and then ask children to create something they can use the material for. For example, a coffee can be decorated and used as an alternative to a piggy bank.

Interest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 2

Librarianjk Recommends Ox-Cart Man

Ox-Cart Man

by Donald Hall

Summary: This book is about a man who sells all of his possessions.

I am fond of this book. As a class, a teacher can discuss different types of hometowns in the past and today.

Inerest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 4

Librariankjk recommends Duffy and the Devil

Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach

Summary: This is a Conrnish tale with elements of Rumplestilskins. A girl is asked to knit for a squire and cannot. A devil comes and says he can help her; if in 3 years she cannot gues his name, he will take her away. Someone tells her his name and disappears taking back everything he ever knitted.

The illustrations of the devil are fantastic. This may not be appropriate for a young child.

Interest Level: grade K-3
Reading Level: Grade 5