Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Summary: The adventures of the three Darling children in Neverland with Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up.

It is interesting going back to read the original classic after seeing many of its offspring. Growing up I watched the Disney cartoon and Hook over and over again. In high school, I performed in the musical. The movie Peter Pan from 2003 claimed to stay true to the story, but it really did not. Personally, I think it is great to have children read books if they have seen the movie version, especially with recent movies, because today’s movies often do not follow the book closely. A good follow up is to compare and contrast the two. This is an important academic skill, such as in research papers.

Interest Level: grades k-6
Reading Level: grade 5

Teach us Amelia Bedelia!
 by Peggy Parish

Summary: The very literal minded Amelia Bedelia becomes a substitute teacher for a day.

I loved this book at the beginning of second grade! I recommend any of the Amelia Bedelia books for reluctant readers and lovers of reading. They are very funny. Though they are beginning readers, and not in a large picture book format, these books are great for teaching homonyms, or words that sound alike but have different meanings. In these books, Amelia Bedelia is always confusing words. For example, when the teacher leaves instructions to “call the roll” or take attendance, Amelia takes out a roll for a sandwich and calls “Roll! Roll!”

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

Owen & Mzee : The Language of Friendship

by Isabella Hatkoff

Summary: Provides the true story of the strong relationship between Mzee, the 130-year-old tortoise, and Owen, the orphaned baby hippo rescued from the tsunami floods, that has developed between this unlikely pair through their special form of communication of soft sounds and gestures.

This story is AMAZING. It is the sequel to Owen & Mzee : The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship. If you have not read the first book, you may choose to skip it because the first story is mostly retold in the second book.

Inerest Level: ages 2-grade 6
Reading Level: grade 6

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

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

Summary: Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for fifty cents.

This was one of the first chapter books I ever read and I loved it! Sometimes freckles make a child stand out and feel self-conscience, but this book celebrates them! I have always liked my few freckles in the summertime, but my shy brother did not like the attention his freckle face gave him when he was young! This is a great book for children who have freckles, for a child desiring to be something they are not, and class discussions about celebrating any differences.

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

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by E.L. Konigsburg

Summary: A young girl has a plan, not to run away, but to run to someplace. She takes her brother along and they stay in a museum.

This book is an excellent realistic fiction book that largely about sibling relations. As a follow-up activity, a class can experiment with velvet and other materials. A trip to a museum afterwards would also be appropriate.

Interest Level: grades 4-6
Reading  Level: grade 5

Carl's Afternoon in the Park

Carl’s Afternoon in the Park
by Alexandra Day

This is mostly a wordless book. The first and last pages contain dialogue between two women putting Carl the Dog in charge of a puppy and a baby. The three have adventures together in-between.

This is a great book to pick out details and ask what a child thinks when reading one-on-one. A child can tell a story themselves! I would however, want to let a child know that I would never leave them in charge with a dog, no matter how smart the dog is!

Interest Level: ages 2-4

Diary of a Fly

Diary of a Fly
by Doreen Cronin

Summary: young fly discovers, day by day, that there is a lot to learn about being an insect, including the dangers of flyswatters and that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

This is a great class read-aloud. It would be an excellent introduction to a lesson on flies, amongst other scientific concepts. It also would be appropriate as an opening for a discussion about self-image, perception, opinions, and the way people view life. I love the illustrations and the little details the reader or listener can point out. 

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

Librarianjk recommends Boy2Girl

Boy2girl by Terence Blacker

Summary: After the death of his mother, thirteen-year-old Sam comes to live with his cousin and as a prank, he dresses up as a girl for school, but it soon gets out of hand.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book would be great for someone who wants to read about young teens with real emotions. I believe both males and females would enjoy the way the author depicts gender roles. This includes the differences in how boys and girls act and how they think they should act as a boy or girl.

Interest Level: young adult
Reading Level: young adult

 Horn to Toes and In-Between
by Sandra Boynton

Summary: The book discusses body parts that children as well as the creatures illustrated have. It describes the functions of some of these body parts as well.

After a long day, or testing young children’s attention span’s to a maximum, this can be used as a lively interactive book. Children can point out the body parts discussed on their own bodies. Children can also do activities the creatures do in the book such as count their fingers, count their toes, and tickle. I often use books such as this with the kindergarten-second grade age group at library story times in-between two less interactive books.

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

Ellla Fitzgerald-The Tale of a Vocal Virtuoso
by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Summary: A brief recounting of the career of this jazz musician in the voice of "Scat Cat Monroe."

The cat speaks in lingo of the jazz era. Though children may not be familiar with these words, I think they would enjoy the rhythm of the words, especially when read to in a lively manner.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 4

The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein

Summary: A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.

I remember the first time I heard this book. My second grade teacher read it to us in a woodsy area outside of the classroom on a stump of a tree that had been torn down in a recent storm. I was teary eyed. We counted the rings and felt bad for the tree.

The tree gives and gives. This book can teach many lessons. The tree gives the boy everything it can. The tree is unhappy when it has little left for itself but spending time with the boy makes it happy again. All the tree wants is company, but company does not always appreciate gifts, and does not always stay.

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

Librarianjk recommmends Waiting Out the Storm

Waiting Out the Storm

by JoAnn Early Macken

Summary: A mother reassures her child about the wind, lightning, and thunder when a storm passes through.

This is a beautifully narrated and illustrated story. It is fantastic for comforting children afraid of storms.

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

Librarianjk recommends Elephants Can Paint, Too!

Elephants Can Paint, Too!

by Katya Arnold

Summary: In this true story, you will learn about an amazing class of elephants that are taught to become artists by an amazing teacher.

When I first came across this book, my first thought was “I am sure they can, but is it entirely necessary to teach them this skill?” After reading this outstanding book, I learned that this began for a reason and some elephants love it! Part of the profits of this book is donated to helping elephants.

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

Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Henri, Egg Artiste

Henri, Egg Artiste

by Marcus Pfister

Summary: Tired of painting the same old Easter eggs, Henri the rabbit decides that as an artist he needs to create something different and takes his inspiration from various periods of art history.

This is a neat book. It can be used to introduce an art class for intermediate level students. A teacher could discuss either the idea of painting from inspiration of other artists or following your own heart.

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

Librarianjk recommends A Pirate's Guide to First Grade

A Pirate's Guide to First Grade

by James Preller

Summary: A young pirate and his crew embark on a grand adventure when they board the bus for the first day of first grade.

This is an awesome pirate book! I recommend it to anyone who like likes the way pirates spoke. This may be a little confusing for the very young, but there is a vocabulary section in the back for all pirate terms mentioned.

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

Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Balancing Act

Balancing Act

by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Summary: Two mice have fun playing on a teeter-totter, but as more and larger friends join them, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay balanced.

This is a precious book that would be wonderful to read to a child before using a balancing beam or for an introduction to a basic measuring activity.

Interest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 1

Librarainjk recommends Phileas's Fortune: A Story About Self-expression

Phileas's Fortune : A Story About Self-expression

by Agnés de Lestrade

Summary: A young boy lives in a strange land where people must buy and swallow the words they need in order to speak.

This book is unique and somewhat abstract. It is clearly meant to have a deep meaning. It reminds me of adult dystopias where love conquers all. This book includes a note suggesting its use in teaching values.

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

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 Down by the Bay

Down by the Bay

by Raffi

Summary: Down by the bay two young friends make up fantastic rhymes trying to top the other.

This book is marvelous! This was the first book my sister and brother read in first grade. The teacher sent home a note informing parents that students may not really be reading it but memorizing it from the song. She said at that point of the year it was okay, but to encourage the children to identify the words that they sang on the page. At the end of the first quarter, they acted out this song for their families. I remember my brother was a llama eating his pajamas. This book is available in paperback and board book. The melody notes are provided at the back of the book.

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