SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW
DOOR
AUTHOR - JIHYEON LEE
GRADES -PRE-1
HONORS/AWARDS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
NEW YORK TIMES - EDITORS' CHOICE
NEW YORK TIMES - NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR
THEMES - FRIENDSHIP, ACCEPTANCE
A boy wants to get away from what appears to be boring surroundings. He follows a fly which takes him to a door. Curiosity prevails and he finds himself in a magic land where he is more than welcomed by a diverse group of people. Each page offers many questions for discussion. This wordless picture book should be used with individuals or small groups due to the size of the illustrations.
GENRES - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK, FANTASY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Would you like to live in the world behind the door? Explain.
2. How is the world behind the door different from your neighborhood?
3. What is the best thing about the world behind the door?
PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD - SILVER HONOR
EXCLAMATION MARK!
AUTHORS - AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL, TOM LICHTENHELD
GRADES - GRADES 1-3
HONORS/AWARDS
PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD - SILVER HONOR
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
THEMES - SELF UNDERSTANDING, SELF ACCEPTANCE
An exclamation mark found happiness as he discovered his own identity. At first he tried to be like everyone else. When that failed, he became depressed. Then he met a question mark who asked questions nonstop causing a loud STOP! from exclamation mark. He suddenly realized his own talent and began shouting to everyone. He learned to live with the idea that being different had its own rewards.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Turn to the page where the question mark is asking all the questions and
ask, “Why is the question mark smiling and the exclamation mark sad?”
The question mark is doing what he likes to do, while the exclamation
mark is annoyed.
2. What did the authors mean when they said that question mark broke free
from a life sentence?
3. At the end of the story, exclamation mark went off “to make his mark.” What
does that mean?
E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD HONOR BOOK
HOW TO BE A LION
AUTHOR -ED VERE
GRADES - PRE - 1
HONORS/AWARDS👍🏿
READ FOR EMPATHY COLLECTION - EMPATHY LAB👍🏿
Recognizing literature recommended by children, teachers, and librarians to help build children’s empathy
E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD HONOR BOOK
KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL and THE CARNEGIE MEDAL - NOMINATED
A BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR
A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS OF 2018
AMAZON - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR
THEME - ACCEPTING YOURSELF
A lion decides that he does not have to be fierce as he befriends a duck. This upsets his peers. However, the lion does not believe in herd mentality and decides that he must do what he feels is right.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. How are people different?
2. How are people the same?
3. What does it mean when someone says, “You have to be yourself?”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK
IN THE SMALL, SMALL POND
AUTHOR - DENISE FLEMING
GRADES - PRE-1
HONORS/AWARDS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK
CALDECOTT AWARD - HONOR - BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S ONE HUNDRED TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING
THEME - APPRECIATING LIFE IN A POND
Mix alliteration, rhymes, vocabulary, award winning illustrations, along with the movements of pond animals, and you have a wonderful introduction to nature.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
There are no follow-up questions as discussing the new vocabulary and identifying the animals allow listeners to develop their critical thinking skills.
BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD - HONOR
IN THE TALL, TALL GRASS
AUTHOR - DENISE FLEMING
GRADES - PRE-2
HONORS/AWARDS
THE HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD - HONOR BOOK
THEME - APPRECIATING LIFE IN THE GRASS
The author takes listeners on a nature adventure as they follow a caterpillar through the tall, tall grass.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What other living things could you see in the grass?
2. Finish this rhyme with something you might find in the grass. Twist, squirm
goes the …. (worm)
3. In the story, we followed a caterpillar as it went through the tall, tall grass.
What animal would you like to follow? Why? What do you think it would see?
KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW
WHY?
AUTHOR - LAURA VACCARO SEEGER
GRADES - PRE-1
HONORS/AWARDS
KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW
BOOKLIST -STARRED REVIEW
SHELF AWARENESS - STARRED REVIEW
THEMES - LOVE, FRIENDSHIP
Rabbit has so many questions to ask his friend the bear. The best part of this book is the author’s decision not to print the question. The reader/listener must figure it out by looking at the picture and hearing the bear’s response. In addition to the critical thinking aspect, the illustrations are wonderful.
GENRE - REALISTIC FICTION
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
Just about every page poses a critical thinking question.
CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD - HONOR
HOW DO YOU SPELL UNFAIR? MacNolia and the National Spelling Bee
AUTHOR - CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD
GRADES - 3 - 6
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - HONOR👍🏿
The Award is given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.
JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD - FINALIST👍🏿
A national committee of members with passion for and expertise in children’s literature and social justice is responsible for making the choices each year.
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE BEST BOOKS👍🏿
a committee of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) identifies the best in multicultural books.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
The School Library Journal is an American monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people.
BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW
THEMES - RACISM, DISCRIMINATION
In 1936, eight grader MacNolia Cox became the first black contestant to win the state spelling bee in Ohio. When she left to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, thousands of people gathered at the train station to wish her luck. However, her happiness began to fade when the train entered Maryland and she and her mother were forced to sit in the back of the train because of their race. During the spelling bee, MacNolia sat at a separate table from all of the white contestants. When she advanced to the final round of five, officials began to get nervous at the prospect of a black girl becoming the winner, so they broke the rule which caused her to misspell a word. The title is most appropriate.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK - BLACK HISTORY
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Why did the judges want MacNolia to lose?
They didn’t want her to win because that would mean that blacks are
just as smart as white people.
2. Do you think MacNolia would have gone to Washington if she knew what was
going to happen to her?
Probably. She enjoyed the sightseeing and the welcome home parade.
She also won $75.00.
CYBILS AWARD
ONE FOX
AUTHOR - KATE READ
GRADES - PRE-1
HONORS/AWARDS 👍
CYBILS AWARD👍 -
seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW
PARENTS' CHOICE - GOLD AWARD
CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW AWARD (HIGHLY COMMENDED)
The Charlotte Zolotow Award is an American literary award presented annually for outstanding writing in a picture book published in the United States during the preceding year.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS
THEME - STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
While there are numerous counting books, this one is unique. The numbers one - ten are woven into a tale about a fox and his prey. Vocabulary enhancement and critical thinking opportunities can be found on just about every page.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. What are silent steps?
2. What are beady eyes?
3. Do you think the fox will return? Explain.
HENRY BERGH CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - ASPCA
EARTH MOTHER
AUTHOR -ELLEN JACKSON
GRADES - K-3
HONORS/AWARDS 👍🏿
HENRY BERGH CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - ASSOC. FOR THE
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS👍🏿
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW
BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW
INSTRUCTION MAGAZINE - TOP PICKS
KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW
PARENTS' CHOICE AWARD
BLACK EYED SUSAN AWARD - MASTER LIST
THEMES - PROTECT, RESPECT THE PLANET, BALANCE OF NATURE
Who is Earth Mother? She is a young lady, presumably Mother Nature, who roams the earth creating breezes and storms, listening to animals, and making the world pretty. She listens to man complain about the mosquitoes, and mosquitoes complain about frogs, and frogs complain about man. The food chain is clearly illustrated in this beautifully illustrated read-aloud.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. Who do you think Earth Mother is?
Answers will vary. Probably Mother Nature
2. Why didn’t Earth Mother get rid of the mosquitoes and make man happy?
If she did that, the frogs would not eat and man would not be able to ea
the frogs.
3. What do you think is the best part of Earth Mother’s job? Answers will vary. 4. If you met Earth Mother, what would you ask her? Answers will vary.
JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD - HONOR ☮️
HENRY AND THE KITE DRAGON
AUTHOR -BRUCE EDWARD HALL
GRADES - K-3
HONORS/AWARDS 👍👍
JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 👍
The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.
NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY AWARD👍
This is an annual list of 25 books created by the International Literacy Association which enhance student understanding of people and cultures.
THEME - A TALE OF COMPROMISE
When two groups of people have their differences, a compromise may be the solution. This story, based on true events, takes place in Chinatown. Henry Chu and his friends fly kites from his roof. Tony Guglione, from neighboring Little Italy, and his friends, throw rocks at the kites. A confrontation develops and Henry learns that his kites are scaring Tony’s pigeons. They decide to fly the kites in the morning, while the pigeons are in their coops.
GENRE - CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
1. When Tony saw that the kites were scaring his pigeons, he began to throw
rocks at the kite. Could he have done something else that would have been
better for him?
2. How can you tell that Mr. Chin was a kind and patient man?
The children loved to be with him. He took the time to show the
children how to make kites. He kept making the kites after the boys
destroyed them. Making each kite required a lot of work and patience.
3. Henry says that they call Mr. Chin Grandfather because it is a sign of
respect. What does that mean?
4. What do you think Tony and his friends will do the next time they see a kite?
5. Is there anyone in your neighborhood that reminds your of Mr. Chin? If yes,
explain.
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