Follow That Map! A First Book of Mapping Skills by Scot Ritchie

Another gem I found that is a few years old (2009) but fits perfectly with skills taught in many grades. Finding a book about maps is a challenge. This one is great for kids in grades 1-4. Each page has a "theme" - compass rose, scale, legends, etc. The characters travel through the book looking for Max, a dog, and Ollie, a cat, that are missing. Using the different maps, the other characters search for the two missing pets. One we will be adding to our shelves!


Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustration: 4 Buckeye leaves

ABC Kids by Simon Basher

ABC Kids is an ABC book with an alliteration sentences with each letter. For example: N - Nancy needs new noodles now! and J - Jasper juggle juicy jellyfish! The funny and creative sentences will amuse kids!

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves.

author website: http://www.basherbooks.com/

The Secret Box by Barbara Lehman

Barbara Lehman's wordless picture book The Secret Box begins with a young boy, dressed in knickers, placing a box under a floor board. As the pages continue, it appears this floor board is in a large yellow house or school. It appears to be in a rural area. As the reader continues on to the next spread, the building remains the same but the area around the yellow building is now full of buildings with smokestacks, and horse drawn carriages. The next page again shows the yellow house but this time there are more modern cars. From here the focus shifts from the building and time passing, to focus on children that have discovered the same box the boy many pages back. Using the items in the box and some very careful detective skills, the children take off on adventure that will lead them to a special destination, with special people to meet. A great book for kids to work on drawing conclusions and making inferences.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves, though younger kids are going to need lots of discussion to understand
illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

African Acrostic: A Word In Edgeways by Avis Harley

Open the book African Acrostics and you instantly travel to Africa to meet the animals that reside there...from crocs to kudu to impalas and more. The poetry written in acrostic form provide information about different animals characterstics and habits, in a fun and playful manner. Great fun and transfers nicely to students writing their own acrostics.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (Great photographs!)

Brian Cleary!

Funny! Educational! Funny! That sums up all of Brian Cleary books in three sentences. With our new standards rolling out the next few years, and trying to find more books to teach these standards. Similes to antonyms to verbs these books cover multiple areas of the curriculum. He also has a great website, interactive and fun to check out! So grateful to have a FUN author creating books to teach some of those not so fun topics!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves (Funny but can be difficult to follow at times)
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye Leaves (Colorful & Funny!)

Story County: Here We Come by Derek Anderson

Story County: Here We Come! is the FIRST book in a new series by Derek Anderson. According to a letter from Anderson on his website, Story County is a real place. It is located right in the middle of Iowa farm country. His grandfather had a farm and Anderson has always wanted to create a book about a farm. In Story County, each character has a personality that makes them unique and more enjoyable to read. In this first book, Farmer, Dog, Pig, Chicken, and Miss Cow are ready to make a farm. The group works very hard on the farm - building, painting, planting, and yes, accessorizing as in the case of the Miss Cow and the scarecrow (see picture above).

**Side note: Just read on his site that Cynthia Lord and Anderson are working on a sequel to Hot Rod Hamster...Happy Birthday Hamster! Very excited! And I know a certain 3 year old at our house that will be VERY VERY EXCITED!!

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves - anxious to see how this story develops!
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves (love the bright colors)

Author/Illustrator Website: http://www.derekanderson.net/

10 Things I Can Do To Help My World by Melanie Walsh

Not new, copyright 2008, but I stumbled across this book on a site and thought the cover was cool! Yes, I just said that. And it IS a cool cover, with the lightbulb being cut out. In addition each page after has a figure cut out in some way. Throughout the pages, the reader is introduced (or hopefully, reminded) of a simple way he/she can make a small difference in changing and conserving the world. Kids will LOVE this book because of the shapes of all the items. It is also simple enough that even preschoolers (like the 3 year old at our house) can understand, and follow. Awesome book that I am glad I stumbled across!

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves - simple yet full of valuable and practical info for kids
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves - so cool!!!

Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester L. Laminack

Tuckers' farm was a quiet farm...until the peacock arrived. The peacock was soon standing on the road, attracting the cars passing by, and business was booming. Everyone seemed happy but...the hens were NOT. They were squawking and clucking about the peacock doing nothing while they worked so hard. They decide to switch places with the peacock and it quickly becomes apparent that THIS is not the best idea. Kids will love the hilarious illustrations. Teachers and parents will be thankful for a simple story about individual talents and working as a team.

Story: 3 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves - awesome end pages!!

Teddy Bear Counting by Barbara Barbieri McGrath

Red, yellow, green, and blue, the gummy-like bears introduce themselves on the first page and take off on a jumping, twirling, spinning adventure of counting, addition, subtraction, division, patterns, sorting, shapes, and addition. Simple text and illustrations along with printed concepts, allow for numerous lessons. Great introduction to elementary concepts.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - simple but portray the concepts clearly

Help Me, Mr. Mutt: Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

Are you a dog put on a diet by "your "people"? Your "people" not wanting to play? You tired of being dressed up in ridiculous outfits? Sounds like you need Mr. Mutt, Canine Counselor. Write a letter to Mr Mutt and he will try to respond with valuable information to help solve your "people" problems. BUT beware, The Queen, the cat that lives with Mr. Mutt, is always trying to interfere and take over Mr. Mutt's clients. Hilarious book that would be enjoyed by many grades, most especially the older elementary kids. Great book for reviewing letter writing or having fun!

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves - hilarious!
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - be sure to really look at the animal faces, the expressions on their faces.

Around the World On Eighty Legs by Amy Gibson

From penguins to loris to goanna Around the World On Eighty Legs showcases sixty-one poems about animals from around the globe. Each poem includes a illustration of the animal and additional information about the animals can be found at the back of the book. Poems are short and easy to understand, with some of them including a good chuckle. Great book to include as part of a poetry unit, animal unit, or study of the world.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Energy Island by Allan Drummond

The island of Samso in Denmark is no different than any other place....except over the course of the last ten years, the citizens of Samso have become almost completely energy-independent. The transformation began when teacher Soren Hermansen was selected to lead the energy independent project. Hermansen quickly learned that the kids of Samso was much easier to convince then the older residents of the island. When a storm of sleet and snow knocks out electricity to the whole island except to the one resident who has turbine, the residents do not need any further convincing. Based on the true account of the people of this island and their journey of energy conservation. A nonfiction story, told as a narrative, including side bars with factual information, this book could be used in conjunction with energy, Earth Day, and renewable and nonrenewable lessons.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Roly -Poly Egg by Kali Stileman (FINALLY!!)

I fell in love with this book on another book blog...and kept seeing it POP up on many of the book blogs I frequent. I simply HAD to get my hands on it! I tried our wonderful public library. Nope. I tried to win it. Nope. I tried Barnes and Noble store. Nope. Tried to get them to order it for me....well, he was not real nice about it telling me it would not be here in time for Easter because I was not a member of their "special" club....I only had the teacher card. FINALLY it came from Amazon - was ordered on Wednesday and arrived Saturday...Free shipping. So the 3 year old and I snuggled down to read it together at nap time....One day Splotch lays an egg. A small egg. A spotted egg. A perfect egg. But this small, spotted, perfect egg begins to roll and takes off on an adventure meeting many friends along the way - Jemima Giraffe, zebras, Christopher Crocodile, Emma Elephant, and Madison Monkey. Finally the egg returns to Splotch and begins to....crack!! And out comes.....

Adorable!! If I had been able to read this book prior to Easter, every kid on my Easter list would have gotten a copy. So cute. End pages, adorable! Splotch, adorable. And the grand finale, adorable. And throughout the journey of Splotch's egg, readers can trace the dotted line that the egg traveled. I am so excited to share this book with our kindergarten team that just finished (of course, too late for this year) their unit on EGGS!

The Lion's Share by Matthew McElligott

Again, not new one, copyright 2009, but in an effort to prepare for a presentation in May, I am searching for math books and this is one we have on our shelves but does not get checked out. A very small ant is invited to the Lion's dinner party with numerous other animals. The ant is shocked how the other animals act. After dinner, a cake is brought out. The animals are each asked to take some of the cake. As each animal is cutting the cake the fraction of cake is getting smaller and smaller despite each animal taking "half". Ant is last and must decide how to divide the small. Portion for herself and lion. A lesson in fractions, kid's will delight in "seeing" what happens to the cake size. Great book for fractions!!

Story: 5 buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 buckeye leaves

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms is not a new book, copyright 2009, but it was new to me. Fletcher the fox is enjoying spring when he comes upon SNOW!! It is much too late in spring for snow, isn't it? Fletcher runs off to warn his friends the birds which begins a change of events to warn other animals. As each animal is warned, a backwards lesson about hibernation unfolds. A great spring time story to share with children of varying ages.

And no worries, it was NOT snow Fletcher saw!

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Animal Soup by Todd H. Doodler

FUN!!
Enough said! I have an ongoing conversation with myself about books that I select to read to classes for the mere fact they are FUN! I know it is ok but in an over tested country.....
So what do you get when you combine a squirrel and a whale? Give up? A Squale. Each 2 page spread shows two animals, lifting the flap reveals a new animal. The three year old at our house was laughing out loud at this, as I am sure many younger students will. Older students will find a challenge of create their own "animal soup" animals. For fun, laugh out loud books, Doodler is always a safe bet!!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Moose by Robert Munsch

Luke wakes up one Saturday morning to find a moose in his backyard. Luke has to work hard to convince his parents to come outside to see the moose. Despite their attempts, Mom and Dad can not get the moose to leave and Luke decides he wants to keep the moose in his treehouse. Kids love Robert Munsch and the outlandish adventures that take place in his books. I am sure this will become another favorite!

Story: 3 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Octopus Opposites by Stella Blackstone

Get ready to practice opposites in this fun and colorful concept book about opposites. By incorporating fun, interesting sea animals, readers will learn new animals in addition to the opposites.

Sea urchin out, sea urchin in.
Beluga whale big, beluga whale small.
Kookaburra high, kookaburra low.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves + great end pages!!

Worms for Lunch by Leonid Gore

Who eats worms for lunch? The mouse? No, he likes cheese. The cow? No, he prefers grass. The girl? No, she would much rather enjoy spaghetti. Kids will enjoy guessing what food each animal would prefer for lunch, as they read this simple picture book, which board lines on nonfiction. And the reader will find "someone" that wants to munch worms.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (kids will love the die cuts, something different!)

The Great Migration: Journey to the North by Eloise Greenfield

When Eloise Greenfield was just 3 months old, her family left their home in Parmele, North Carolina, headed north to a new home in Washington, D.C. The Greenfield family was not alone. Between 1915 and 1930, more than a million African American left the south and headed north to make a new life. In this book Greenfield tells the story, through poems, of this journey. Written in first person,readers experience the steps of this journey with the reader, from packing to saying good bye to arriving in a new home, looking and hoping for a job. Interesting look at a part of American history not covered in most history books.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - very interesting technique

Happy Endings: A Story About Suffixes by Robin Pulver

When Mr. Wright announces his class will "tackle" suffixes after lunch, the suffixes, previously happy to finally have their chance to shine, are distraught. "We're not the enemy!" -ing declares! "Are we being punished!" responds -ed. The suffixes decide they need to work out at the gym to prepare for the afternoon. Will the students follow the clues?

Story: 3 buckeye leaves - A fun take on a concept taught at numerous grade levels. May be hard for some students to follow.
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

My Mom Has X-Ray Vision by Angela McAllister

You can't judge a book by its cover.....but you can by the endpages!! And these endpages are FUN and set the stage for a silly book about mom's and their abilities to see things when they are not looking, not even on the same level of the house!! Matthew is convinced his mother has special x-ray vision. How else could you explain mom knowing what is happening in the bathtub upstairs when she is downstairs? How else could she know about him jumping on the bed? Matthew decides to sets up a test to check out his theory, which fails. Maybe she does not have x-ray vision....maybe it is something else...

And for the record, there are sometimes you can judge a book by its cover!!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves - FUN!!!!
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - Have I mentioned....FUN!! Kids will love the illustrations....

Press Here by Herve Tullet

I thought this book was great....wonderful for following directions, which apparently we need to work on with the 3 year old at our house!! It starts off with a yellow dot and says, "Press here and turn the page." As you follow the directions, and turn the page, more and more dots appear, change colors, fall to one side of the page, or the other. It is really great fun and very interactive. I am trying to decide how to share this with the kiddos and which grade level to try because, let's face it, they ALL could work some on following directions!! Anxious to see more from this author! (If my description leaves you wondering what the heck I am talking about....go to Barnes and Noble site. They have a great video!)

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger

It is a hot day when Teddy Jones spots a NEW ice cream store. Looking over the possibilities, Teddy is unsure of which to choose. Moon crater crunch? Cookie dough castle? The server places the paper crown on his head and Teddy is transported to a land of Ice Cream Mountain and Whipped Cream Land. This magical land is missing one thing: someone to share it with. Children will love the fantasy land of sweets (reminds me of an old Dairy Queen commercial from the 80s with chocolate rivers!) and the possibility that there really IS a place like this! Hidden beyond the sprinkles and ice cream sea, there is a lesson to be learned from this book which parents and teachers will appreciate.

Illustration: 5 Buckeye leaves - Prior to the "magical trip" illustrations are basically black and white with light shades of pink but bright colors emerge once Teddy enters the magical land - I love this!
Story: 5 Buckeye leaves

Stella, Unleashed: Notes from the Doghouse by Linda Ashman

Beginning with "Stella" waiting, among all the other dogs, for a family, continuing through the naming process, and on to the ups and downs, happiness and the "dog house". Seen through the eyes of Stella, the poems are a mixture of happiness and sadness, funny and serious. Children often enjoy animals and this poetry book, told as a story, will delight children.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word by Bob Raczka

I admit it....it took me a few pages to figure it all out...and then I realized the "answers" were on the back of the page! Part acrostic, part concrete, part puzzle, these clever poems are written using the letters from the title/theme of each poem and each poem is written down the page as the letters fall into place. Playground becomes "run/around/and/play/loud/land". The poem Television becomes "set/is/on/I/sit". Illustrations are limited to just small on the page with the poem in red, gray, black and white. Kids will love the challenge of reading the poems and then creating their own.

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems by Kristine O'Connell George

Older siblings will quickly relate to the tales Jessica tells, through poems, about life with her four year old sister Emma. Jessica and Emma have your typical sister relationship, some days are good and some day are definitely not. Together sisters share the ups and downs, and ultimately learn a valuable lesson. Children will enjoy the "stories" these sisters have to share.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 buckeye leaves

The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel

Teaching personification? This book is your dream come true!! Every top desk drawer item has come to life but only Little Red Pen really feels like doing any work. Being the ever diligent one, Little Red Pen takes on the task of grading all the papers, while the others sleep. Unfortunately sometime during the night, Little Red Pen met with an unfortunate circumstance, The Pit of No Return! It is up to the rest to save him....before it is too late!

In addition to personification, this book would be a great reader's theater. The words appear in different colors, depending on which item is speaking.

Funny video on Barnes and noble website!!

Story: 5 stars - though may be somewhat difficult for one person to read aloud
Illustrations: 4 stars - hilarious. The facial expressions are priceless

Talk, Oscar, Please! by Karen Kaufman Orloff

Two of my favorites: author Karen Kaufman Orloff and illustrator (and Ohio resident! yeehaw!) Tim Bowers, team up on this cute story of a boy who really just wants his dog to talk. The boy explains all the things he and his dog could do together if ONLY they could communicate. What the boy realizes is that in fact, they do communicate, in their own way. Children will enjoy the idea that an animal can do such things as being a contestant on a quiz show or coaching the soccer team

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves (and of course, LOVE the endpages! ADORABLE!!)

Roly Poly Pangolin by Anna Dewdney

Ever hear of a PANGOLIN? Yeah, me neither....until we came across this book last summer. Adam loves the Llama Llama Red Pajama book,also by Dewdney. Roly Poly does not like new things. Roly Poly runs the other way. Roly Poly tucks up in a ball and waits. But when Roly Poly meets another pangolin he learns maybe a friend is good to have as well. Told in simple rhymes even the smallest child will enjoy learning about this unusual animal.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg

A new book from Chris Van Allsburg...and it is not fantasy! On October 24, 1901 a retired charm school instructor named Annie Edson Taylor, in the quest of fame, did what few would only think about - and briefly at that. Any guesses? Based on the title you might be able to guess - falls?! How about if I add the word BARREL! Yes, she traveled over Niagra Falls in a barrel. Annie had spent years traveling around America offering dance and fine manner classes. When she was forced the close due to low enrollment, Annie decided to look for her fortune. After finding a manager, Annie plans her great feat...but she has to make it over the falls, alive...

Story: 5 Stars - Kid's will love the suspense and the excitement of this real life story!
Illustrations: 5 Stars - Love all the details in the characters, especially the faces, but the illustrations of Annie in the barrel are especially detailed and really give you a sense of being in the barrel.

Article about this book:
http://montgomerynews.com/articles/2011/04/12/entertainment/doc4da4b8539e939622149273.txt?viewmode=default

All the Way to America by Dan Yaccarino

Dan Yaccarino's All the Way To America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel, is the story of the author's own family over four generations. The "story" begins on a farm in Sorrento, Italy as the author's great great grandfather Michele makes plans to leave for America. As generations pass, so does the shovel and the reminder to work hard, enjoy life, and to call family. A book about family as well as immigration.

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Goldie and the Three Hares by Margie Palatini

Mama, Papa and Baby Hare are enjoying a quiet day in their rabbit hole when suddenly they hear a big THUMP outside their door. What they find outside their door is Goldilocks, with an injured foot, after trying to escape from the three bears. Knowing they could not leave her outside their door, the three hares attempt to help nurse a very unagreeable Goldie back to health. A funny take on the "after" the three bears book, Palatini's humor, like most of her books, will be most enjoyed by older students. Funny illustrations by Jack E. Davis will further the humor for the reader.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Thank You, Miss Doover by Robin Pulver

My guess is there are ALOT of parents that could use this book!!! Miss Doover is having her class write thank you letters. Jack is trying to write his letter to Great Aunt Gertie for the personalized stationary. He soon learns that there are many things to include and consider when writing thank you letters. Through the guidance of Miss Doover, Jack is finally able to write a thank you letter he, and Miss Doover, can be proud of.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

My School In the Rainforest by Margriet Ruurs

Travel to thirteen other countries/locations to learn about "school". Included with each explanation is photographs, a map, flag, and short general information paragraph for each country. This book is an excellent look at countries around the world and how the lives of these children are different, and how they are alike, compared to the children in our classrooms.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves (very informative)
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (Great pictures to match text)



My School In the Rainforest is a follow up to Margriet Ruurs previous book My Librarian Is A Camel (2005) which examines "libraries" in different places around the world. As in the previously mentioned book, each country/location visited includes a map, flag, and short informational paragraph. Another great resource about other locations around the world.

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka

Yes, from the title you can infer that the Haiku poems in this book are directed at boys BUT I believe all kids will find this book to be fun and refreshing. The Haiku poems are simple to understand and funny. As a mother to a young boy, just starting his obsession with sticks, rocks, and dirt, I could totally relate to some of the poems and laugh knowing what I have to look forward to - at least I am laughing NOW!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Website: www.guykuhaiku.com

How To Train With A T.Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals

This book is not new, copyright 2009, but it was new to me AND it is MATH related. Olympic Medal winner Michael Phelps shares how he trained to prepare for his swimming events in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. What I think is great about this book is how Michael Phelps along with co-author Alan Abrahamson related the many things about his training to real life. For example, in the book Michael writes, "Every day I took a three-hour nap. That's 6,552 hours of naptime over six years. Put it all together, I napped for 273 days..." Finding good, FUN, picture books for math is a challenge. Furthermore finding books that promotes a sport that is not awalys in the mainstream is always a good things. And yes, I swam competively through high school.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - VERY funny! The illustrations go perfectly with some of the outlandish facts and comparison being used throughout the book.