Just a Second by Steve Jenkins

Love this book! This will be perfect for my older (4th and 5th gr) students because it is PACKED with interesting tibits of information like:

In one minute a charging grizzly bear gallops one half-mile.

In one second a cheetah sprinting flat out can travel 100 feet.

In one hour 15,913 people are born and 6,933 people die.

The book lends itself to interesting lessons about not just time but other number and measurement concepts.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Love Twelve Miles Long by Glenda Armand

Frederick waits anxiously for his mother to visit from another plantation where she lives. Each time she visits she recounts the 12 miles journey she has endured to visit him.

"The seventh mile is for singing!" Frederick said. "What do you sing, Mama? Sad songs or happy ones?"

Frederick's mother dreams of the day when they will own their own land, work their own land, and not be owned by anyone. She dreams of the day Frederick will do big and important things. Frederick's mother did not live to see the important things Douglas did after he changed his name from Bailey to Douglas. A different look at the lives of slaves prior to the Emancipation Proclamation and a tender look at the relationship between family members that were forced to endure separation during this time.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Jack's Path of Courage: The Life of John F. Kennedy by Doreen Rappaport

As a child John F. Kennedy was often overshadowed by his older, stronger brother Joe. It was believed that Joe would be the one to run for office. When Joe was killed in a plane explosion, Jack decided he would step up and fill that role in the family. His life was often filled with back pain yet he went on to serve in Congress, write a Pulitzer Prize winning book, Profiles in Courage, and eventually running for president. Written using quotes from Kennedy's life, another great biography from Rappaport. Easily used to teach students about biographies as well as the life of one of our US Presidents.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came To Be by John Harris

Can't wait to read this to my students.....in 10 months. It is the Summer of John Lord Pierpont was living in Savannah, Georgia, working as a choir director for a Unitarian church under attack for their willingness to welcome former slaves into their congregation. John has been trying to come up with a song for the Thanksgiving program but the heat, homesickness for New England, and the violence from those in favor of slavery is hindering his ability to do so.

Great story the kids will love about a song that every child seems to know.

LOVE the endpages! Took me a minute to realize what it was....

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Here Come the Girl Scouts! by Shana Corey

Juliette Gordon Low, or “Daisy” as her friends and family called her, was born during a time when girls were supposed to be dainty and delicate. Daisy wanted more. She wanted adventure and excitement. Daisy discovered a group in England for boys called the Boy Scouts. This group spent a lot of time outside doing the very things Daisy enjoyed. Daisy was especially excited to learn there was a sister group called the Girl Guides. Daisy soon began making plans for her own version of the Girl Guides, known as the Girl Scouts, in Savannah. Daisy spent much of her time traveling around the country giving speeches and raising money for Girl Scouts, and before long Girl Scout troops could be found throughout the country, as they still are today. Great informational biography about a woman that has impacted the lives of many girls throughout the country. A great length for introducing biographies to younger students.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Freedom Song: The Story of Henry "Box" Brown by Sally M. Walker

Henry "Box" Brown was born a slave. Henry sings his way through his daily life as a slave, dreaming on the day he is free. When his wife and children are sold he knows it is finally time to find a way to freedom. Using a box, Henry "mails" himself to freedom. A great companion to a study of the Underground Railroad.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

We March by Shane W. Evans

Just as in his 2011 book Underground, author Shane W. Evans provides a glimpse into history using simple text and powerful illustrations in his new book, We March. August 28, 1963 was a momentous occasion as more than 250,000 people participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Great introduction to the Civil Rights Movement.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Article from the Washington Post click HERE!

Animal Fights by Catherine Ham

Animals "fight" for a variety of reasons. Through short, easy to read text, the reader learns the variety of ways that animals use their different adaptations to fight other animals. Easy to read text makes this a great nonfiction book for read aloud or introduction to nonfiction.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - Great photographs.

George Washington's Birthday: A Mostly True Tale by Margaret McNamara

George is so excited to celebrate his 7th birthday but is quickly disappointed when it seems everyone else has forgotten, something he is sure people won't do in the future. Based loosely on facts and stories from Washington's life, readers spend the day with Washington.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

Let's Play in the Forest...While the wolf is not around! By Claudia Rueda

Not a new book (copyright 2006) but new to me and I can't wait to share this one with the little ones. The story is told through speech bubbles which lends itself nicely to a readers theater experience. The animals are asking the wolf, "Wolf, are you there?" The wolf responds each time as he gets dressed. The animals become more concerned as they realize the wolf is almost dressed. The surprise ending will leave the reader laughing and the animals relieved.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Fruit Cake: A fruit-filled play on words

You must pull, turn, and lift your way through this book of fun word play. Pull and the banana becomes banana split. Lift and the blue becomes blueberry pancakes. Great colorful pages with constant interaction will allow readers to become part of the book. This was has quickly become a favorite of our house.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is one of my favorite authors. I was ecstatic to go to one of her sessions last year at the Dublin Literacy Conference and found her to be so totally down to earth that I think I love her books even more now. In one of her latest books, Chopsticks her usual humor shines beginning with the cover. A "sequel" to her book Spoon, though according to the cover, "More like a change in place settings," Chopsticks must learn to stand on their own when an injury separates them. With jokes and puns, that quite possibly younger children will miss, adults will enjoy this book as much as her other books.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Listen To My Trumpet by Mo Willems

Piggie and Elephant is back! We are big fans of Piggie and Elephant books at our house and throw in a musical instrument and we are all over it! Piggies is super excited to perform with his new trumpet for Gerald. Gerald listens but is not impressed. He is trying to be a good friend but does not want to hurt Piggie's feelings. But what exactly IS Piggie trying to perform? Kids will love Piggie's attempts to perform with his new trumpet....I had an almost 4 year old on the ground laughing at the sounds Piggie was creating. Thanks Mo for another laugh....and another book for our Mo Willems collection!

My Heart Will Not Sit Down by Mara Rockcliff

When Kedi learns about the Great Depression in her teacher's "village" in the United States, she knows she wants to help feed the starving children. She asks everyone in her village to help feed the starving children but no one can help given their own needs. Kedi is pleasantly surprised later when her village is able to send $3.77 to New York City to help buy food for the starving people. Inspired by actual events of a village in Cameroon helping by sending money to people whose faces we have never seen. Beautifully written, great language, and a reminder of what we all should be doing - helping each other.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played With Puppets by Kathleen Krull

Jim Henson, creator of Muppets, began entertaining before he ever had a television set. As a child he enjoyed creating shows for his friends and family and wanted nothing more than to have the audience laugh. Despite his father's desire for Jim to study science, he graduated from college with a degree in home economics and left to paint in Europe where puppets more widely accepted as a form of entertainment. He continued his dream of entertaining until his death at the age of 53. A great book to use to introduce students to "biographies" as most children will know the Muppets or characters from Sesame Street.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

An Awesome Book of Thanks by Dallas Clayton

From friends to trains to boxes to pretend with, so much to be thankful at all ages. Simple text accompanied by simple illustrations reminds readers of the many, many things to be thankful for. Great springboard for discussion about being thankful and grateful. Good for all ages.

To visit Dallas Clayton's website click HERE!

The Game of Mixed-Up Art by Herve Tullet

Being a fan of Tullet's book, Press Here, I was excited to see this book. In a nut shell, FUN! A "board book" in material, but definitely appropriate for "kids" age 1 - 101! Each "page" is divided in 3 parts which can be turned to create new "art" using the different squiggles, lines, and shapes of bright colors.

Help Me Learn Numbers 0-20 by Jean Marzollo

I would argue that every preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade classroom (as well as special needs classrooms and ESL classrooms) should have this book. Clear, photographs on each page with a corresponding rhyme for each number. Great fun for kids to practice their counting AND rhyming! Two for the price of one!

Gingerbread faces

all in a line

How many are there?

I count _________ (nine)

I read it with Adam and he really "got it" though I think he was understanding the rhyming part more so than some of the higher numbers....still working on those.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves