Award/classic books

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka published by Schwartz and Wade Books in 2011 is the 2012 wordless Caldecott Award winning book that follows Daisy the dog. Daisy is very content  on playing with her red ball. She chases it, sleeps with it, and is distraught when it is ruined. She is comforted when she is given a new blue ball.  This very sentimental and creative story can be open to interpretation   It can be used when addressing issues of self-expression for children in kindergarten to second grade. Wonderful detailed illustrations truly help the reader understand the plot and setting.



Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say. This 1994 Caldecott winner published by Houghton Miffin Company in 1993 chronicles the narrator’s grandfather as he travels from his small village in Japan to the United States. In the U.S, he meets new and exciting individuals from all backgrounds. After a period of time, he returns home to Japan to raise his family. Years later, his grandson decides to do the same thing. Great multi-generational story about the feelings a person experiences when immigrating to a new country. A great read-aloud tool as well as one that can be used for Social Studies units.  Most appropriate for second and third graders.

Me Jane by Patrick McDonnell.  Little Brown and Company, 2011. This 2012 Caldecott Honor Book tells the story of a little girl named Jane. Jane loves animals especially her chimp Jubilee. Together the go on many adventures where they observe the wonders of nature. Jane dreams of living in Africa when she is a grown up so that she can work and care for animals. Eventually she accomplishes this dream and becomes the renowned anthropologist Jane Goodall. This wonderful work can be used for introductory science lessons. K-3 grade.

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Raback.  Penguin Group, 1999.  In this very creative 2000 Caldecott winning book, Joseph starts out with a large overcoat and overtime it gets altered and becomes a jacket, scarf, and handkerchief and so on, until it eventually is dwindled to nothing. The moral of the story…you can make something out of nothing. The interactive cut-outs are wonderful visuals that can be used to enhance the story. Great for read aloud activities for first and second graders.

The Lorax by Dr Seuss. Random House, 1971. The “Once-ler" describes to a young boy the reasoning as to why his community is so polluted and depressed. The Once-ler states the  community was once a prosperous place containing beautiful vegetation, most specifically, truffula trees. The truffula trees were  protected by the “Lorax” who warns the Once-ler to respect his beloved trees but to no success. This moving Dr. Seuss classic examines the ramifications of one’s behavior and actions. Important issues addressed can be use in a variety of thought provoking activities for younger as well as older elementary school students.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Harper Collins,1964 tells the story of the special relationship between a boy and his favorite tree.  The tree is very happy to give the boy anything that she is physically capable of giving him. Throughout  the book, the reader can see the boy develop at  various intervals  of his life and witnesses the  common desires  that affect a person at those common stages. Over those years the (boy, man, older man, senior citizen man) forces the tree to completely deplete her resources until they are both left with absolutely nothing at all. The wonderful writing and simplistic illustrations are used to help the reader gain a sense of compassion for the tree and her deep love for the boy. A classic work of literature for kindergarten to third graders.

Gershon’s Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year. Retold by Eric A. Kimmel. Scholastic,2000.  An ALSC’s Notable Children’s Book for 2001. Gershon is a selfish man who shows little remorse for his bad behavior and actions. Every year at Rosh Hossanah, he throws his past bad deeds into the ocean in the hopes that they will go away and never bother him again. Unfortunately, these actions fester and develop into one big monster near his  children who are playing by the ocean. In order to protect them, he  acknowledges his past behaviors and pleads with the monster for forgiveness. All is forgiven.  This work is perfect for holiday lessons that can teach students about morals and appropriate behavior. Great for students in  4th- 6th grade.

Hope Was Here by Jane Bauer. G.P Putnam’s Sons, 2000. This heartfelt story is a wonderful example of finding yourself and your belonging. Abandoned by her mother as a baby, sixteen year old Hope is raised by her Aunt Addie who is a talented chef and works in diner style restaurants.  The two are constantly moving from city to city where Hope has been brought-up busting tables to eventually working as a waitress herself. When Addie gets a job as a cook  at the Welcome Stairways diner in Malhoney, Wisconsin, Hope is a bit apprehensive and unhappy about the move from Brooklyn.  Upon arriving to Malhoney, the two develop a deep bond between the owner of the Welcome Stairways diner G.T Stoop who is diagnosed with leukemia.  G.T is a kind and caring individual who decides to run for mayor against a corrupt incumbent.  Hope becomes involved in G.T's campaign for justice in the community and along the way develops meaningful and life changing relationships with members of her new world.  Through this process, not only does Hope find the meaning of her own self worth, she uncovers the true meaning of love and loyalty in the most unexpected places. This wonderful young adult novel was recognized by the ALSC Notable Book Award in 2001. The issues addressed are appropriate for upper elementary students, as well as for middle and high school students. Serious issues including abandonment, corruption, developmental delays, illness and death are addressed.