The Pirate of Kindergarten

The Pirate of Kindergarten

by George Ella Lyon

Summary: Ginny's eyes play tricks on her, making her see everything double, but when she goes to vision screening at school and discovers that not everyone sees this way, she learns that her double vision can be cured.

This story won the prestigious American Library Association (ALA) Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience in the ages 0 to 10 category. This book is presented in an entertaining manner, although its subject is serious. This is a stupendous book to read aloud for celebrating differences, discussing disabilities or discussing teasing.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 2

Little Mouse Gets Ready

Little Mouse Gets Ready

by Jeff Smith

Summary: Little Mouse gets dressed to go to the barn with his mother, brothers, and sisters.

This easy reader graphic novel is winner of the prestigious American Library Association’s (ALA) Theodor Seuss Giesel award. It can be used to teach getting dressed with younger children. The book is worth reading for the humor at the very end!

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 1

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

by Langston Hughes

Summary: Artist E.B. Lewis acts as interpreter and visionary, using watercolor to pay tribute to Hughes's timeless poem.

Lewis won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor award, a prestigious American Library Association Award, for this book. The vivid watercolor illustrations accompany the previously written text beautifully. One could have a long discussion about the text. This is an excellent for celebrating Black History Month.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 3

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life

of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Summary: Retells the life of Bass Reeves, a former slave who became a deputy U.S. Marshal in the Indian Territory and was exceptional at tracking down fugitives and bringing them to justice.

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson was given the American Library Association’s prestigious Coretta Scott King award for this book. This biography is a great read during Black History Month or during an unsung hero discussion. I like the notes in the back; especially the comment that this book appears to be a tall tale but is true. For this reason, young advanced readers or young listeners with a long attention span may enjoy this Wild West tale.

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

Mouse and Mole, a Perfect Halloween

by Wong Herbert Yee

Summary: As Halloween approaches, Mouse helps her friend Mole get over his fear and enjoy the holiday.

This beginning reader is a recipient of the American Library Assoication’s Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor award. This is a nice story of friendship that is most appropriate for first and second graders to read to themselves.

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

 

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

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

by Peter Sis

Summary; Annotated illustrations, maps, and dreamscapes explore how the artist-author's life was shaped while growing up in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War, in a powerful graphic memoir.

This biography is the winner of the American Library Association’s prestigious Sibert Informational Award. The story is very moving. The main text is simple, but the side notes are what make an impact on the reader. This is an excellent read for any talk on the Cold War and the importance of free speech.

Interest Level: grades 4-12
Reading Level: grade 5

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

Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix

by Gary Golio

Summary: Before he became one of the greatest guitar players of all time, Jimi Hendrix was a boy who loved to paint and listen to records, and who asked himself an unusual question: could someone paint pictures with sound? Run-on

This book won the prestigious American Library Association (ALA) Coretta Scott King illustrator honor award. The beautiful and unique illustrations are used in a creative way. I was surprised ALA picked a book on Jimi Hendrix to celebrate the African-American experience. The story itself is child friendly and has a positive message. At the end of the book there is a note about Jimi Hendrix’s death and substance abuse resources for young people.

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

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace

by Jen Cullerton Johnson

Summary: A biography of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner and environmentalist Wangari Maathai, a female scientist who made a stand in the face of opposition to women's rights and her own Greenbelt Movement, an effort to restore Kenya's ecosystem by planting millions of trees.”

This book’s beautiful illustrations are inspired by handmade quilts. It is the winner of the prestigious American Library Association (ALA) Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent (Illustrator) Award. It is an interesting biography of a strong African woman. It is appropriate for this summer’s national public library theme, “One World Many Stories.”

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

One Boy

One Boy

 by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Summary: A boy creates ten paintings in this counting book that also explores the relationship of words within words.

This neat book was awarded the prestigious American Library AssoALA Theodor Seuss Geisel Award and is great for reluctant readers. Each page has a cutout in which you can see the picture on the next page. On the next page, there is a cutout that reveals text on the previous page to create a different word or part of a different word.

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades k-3
Reading Level: grade 1

Bink and Gollie

Bink and Gollie

 by Kate DiCamillo

Summary: Two roller-skating best friends – one tiny, one tall – share three comical adventures involving outrageously bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion.

This splendid book won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, a prestigious award for easy readers (sometimes called beginning readers). I can confidently say that I would have enjoyed this book when I began reading right along with Dr. Seuss books. Do not be overwhelmed by the size of the book! It is mostly illustrations with little text on each page. The book is repetitive and uses mostly words that beginning readers are learning or who have learned. For an extra challenge and to keep things interesting, the authors occasionally throw in larger words, such as “marvelous.”

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