Books!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Favorite New Picture Books to Read Aloud
This is a select list of some of my favorites published in recent years.
The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. Harcourt Brace, 2005. E Ste
Grades PreK-3
A big, red dog drops a green tennis ball down a prairie dog burrow, and a "fuzz reaction" erupts there. Everyone--except Big Bark--wants to twirl and swirl the stuff all over themselves, from head to toe. When the ball is plucked fuzzless, a fighting frenzy breaks out.
The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster. Hyperion, 2005. E Jus
Grades PreS-2
The kitchen window at Nanna's and Poppy’s house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway.
Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it. The story is told from a young child’s perceptions and emotions. "When I get tired I come in and take my nap and nothing happens until I get up" typify the girl's happy, imaginative world. The bold sunny illustrations portray a mixed-race family. This is the Caldecott Medal Winner for 2005.
High as a Hawk A Brave Girl’s Historic Climb by T.A. Barron. Philomel, 2004. E Bar
Grades K-4
High as a hawk on the Colorado mountain summit is where 8-year-old Harriet wants to stand. This is the story of her dream, the same dream that was so dear to her mother. This historical fiction picture book is based on the 1905 ascent by the youngest person ever to climb Longs Peak. Barron's endnotes identify his primary sources and include a photo of Peters taken the day of the climb, revealing Lewin's faithful reproduction of her costume.
Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems. Hyperion, 2005. E Wil
Grades PreS-2
Leonardo is supposed to be a terrible monster, but he's just terrible at his monsterly craft. He gets an idea: find the most "scaredy-cat kid" in the world and "scares the tuna salad" out of him. It works. Sam cries. But what Leonardo ends up doing next surprises even him!
Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest. Candlewick, 2004. E Hes
Ageless
One-hundred-year-old George has decided to learn to read, so he waits for the school bus every morning along with his young neighbor, Harry. He studies with a group of grown-ups, while Harry does the same with his first grade classmates down the hall. It’s Harry who tells of their mornings sitting together enjoying each other’s company in happy anticipation of school. The small moment each morning that the two friends share is written with everyday details. A read aloud for all generations!
My Name Is Bilal by Asma Mobin-Uddin. Boyds Mills Press, 2005. F Mob
Grades 3-5
Bilal and his sister, Ayesha, who are Muslim, start school in a new city. At first Bilal tries to blend into the largely non-Muslim environment, calling himself Bill and ducking out of sight when two boys try to pull off Ayesha's head scarf. Encouraged by a sympathetic teacher and his own faith, Bilal finds the courage to stand up with his sister the next time the boys tease her. By standing up for his sister, Bilal earns the boys' respect and takes the first step toward a possible friendship. Reading this important book aloud can be used as a good starting place for discussions of cultural differences, prejudice, and respect for the beliefs of others.
Precious and The Boo Hag by Patricia C. McKissack. Atheneum, 2005. E McK
Grades K-3
When Precious's bellyache keeps her from helping in the fields, she is left at home alone, with Mama's strict instructions to let no one inside the house for any reason, no matter what. Brother warns her to especially watch out for Pruella the Hag. "She's tricky and she's scary, and she tries to make you disobey yo' mama,” he warns. Sure enough she shows up, but her tricks are no match for Pruella who in the end confronts her fears and sticks to what she knows as right. This is a just-scary-enough story for even the very young. If you can get the kids in your audience to join in on the "I WON'T LET HER IN!" with enthusiasm, the book's going to be one of their favorites right there and then. It helps that it's funny too!
Sebastian’s Roller Skates by Joan de Deu Prats. Kane/Miller, 2003. E Pra
Grades K-3
Sebastian always has a lot to say, but he is too shy to speak up. He won't answer in class, tell the barber that he doesn't like his haircut, or talk to his neighbors. He is especially shy around the curly haired girl he likes at school. Then one day, Sebastian finds an abandoned pair of roller skates and tries them on. At first, he falls down and decides that skating is not for him. However, these mysterious skates won't go away and eventually he is gliding through the park. Soon, with his newfound courage, he is talking in spite of himself–after all, he has always had a lot to say.
Science Verse by Jon Scieszka. Viking, 2004. E Sci
Grades 2-5
As a boy sits in science class listening to his teacher drone on about "the poetry of science," he is stricken with a "curse of science verse." Every thought comes to him in rhyme, and not just any rhyme, but parodies of famous poems and songs. The CD that comes with the book includes a reading (sometimes singing) of the verse, along with several poems that didn't make it into the book. Children need not be familiar with the works upon which the spoofs are based to enjoy the humor, but this is a perfect opportunity to introduce the originals and to discuss parody as a poetic form.
Wild About Books by Judy Sierra. Knopf, 2004. E Sie
PreS-2
A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake. ¶ 11:14 AM 0 Comments
The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. Harcourt Brace, 2005. E Ste
Grades PreK-3
A big, red dog drops a green tennis ball down a prairie dog burrow, and a "fuzz reaction" erupts there. Everyone--except Big Bark--wants to twirl and swirl the stuff all over themselves, from head to toe. When the ball is plucked fuzzless, a fighting frenzy breaks out.
The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster. Hyperion, 2005. E Jus
Grades PreS-2
The kitchen window at Nanna's and Poppy’s house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway.
Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it. The story is told from a young child’s perceptions and emotions. "When I get tired I come in and take my nap and nothing happens until I get up" typify the girl's happy, imaginative world. The bold sunny illustrations portray a mixed-race family. This is the Caldecott Medal Winner for 2005.
High as a Hawk A Brave Girl’s Historic Climb by T.A. Barron. Philomel, 2004. E Bar
Grades K-4
High as a hawk on the Colorado mountain summit is where 8-year-old Harriet wants to stand. This is the story of her dream, the same dream that was so dear to her mother. This historical fiction picture book is based on the 1905 ascent by the youngest person ever to climb Longs Peak. Barron's endnotes identify his primary sources and include a photo of Peters taken the day of the climb, revealing Lewin's faithful reproduction of her costume.
Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems. Hyperion, 2005. E Wil
Grades PreS-2
Leonardo is supposed to be a terrible monster, but he's just terrible at his monsterly craft. He gets an idea: find the most "scaredy-cat kid" in the world and "scares the tuna salad" out of him. It works. Sam cries. But what Leonardo ends up doing next surprises even him!
Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest. Candlewick, 2004. E Hes
Ageless
One-hundred-year-old George has decided to learn to read, so he waits for the school bus every morning along with his young neighbor, Harry. He studies with a group of grown-ups, while Harry does the same with his first grade classmates down the hall. It’s Harry who tells of their mornings sitting together enjoying each other’s company in happy anticipation of school. The small moment each morning that the two friends share is written with everyday details. A read aloud for all generations!
My Name Is Bilal by Asma Mobin-Uddin. Boyds Mills Press, 2005. F Mob
Grades 3-5
Bilal and his sister, Ayesha, who are Muslim, start school in a new city. At first Bilal tries to blend into the largely non-Muslim environment, calling himself Bill and ducking out of sight when two boys try to pull off Ayesha's head scarf. Encouraged by a sympathetic teacher and his own faith, Bilal finds the courage to stand up with his sister the next time the boys tease her. By standing up for his sister, Bilal earns the boys' respect and takes the first step toward a possible friendship. Reading this important book aloud can be used as a good starting place for discussions of cultural differences, prejudice, and respect for the beliefs of others.
Precious and The Boo Hag by Patricia C. McKissack. Atheneum, 2005. E McK
Grades K-3
When Precious's bellyache keeps her from helping in the fields, she is left at home alone, with Mama's strict instructions to let no one inside the house for any reason, no matter what. Brother warns her to especially watch out for Pruella the Hag. "She's tricky and she's scary, and she tries to make you disobey yo' mama,” he warns. Sure enough she shows up, but her tricks are no match for Pruella who in the end confronts her fears and sticks to what she knows as right. This is a just-scary-enough story for even the very young. If you can get the kids in your audience to join in on the "I WON'T LET HER IN!" with enthusiasm, the book's going to be one of their favorites right there and then. It helps that it's funny too!
Sebastian’s Roller Skates by Joan de Deu Prats. Kane/Miller, 2003. E Pra
Grades K-3
Sebastian always has a lot to say, but he is too shy to speak up. He won't answer in class, tell the barber that he doesn't like his haircut, or talk to his neighbors. He is especially shy around the curly haired girl he likes at school. Then one day, Sebastian finds an abandoned pair of roller skates and tries them on. At first, he falls down and decides that skating is not for him. However, these mysterious skates won't go away and eventually he is gliding through the park. Soon, with his newfound courage, he is talking in spite of himself–after all, he has always had a lot to say.
Science Verse by Jon Scieszka. Viking, 2004. E Sci
Grades 2-5
As a boy sits in science class listening to his teacher drone on about "the poetry of science," he is stricken with a "curse of science verse." Every thought comes to him in rhyme, and not just any rhyme, but parodies of famous poems and songs. The CD that comes with the book includes a reading (sometimes singing) of the verse, along with several poems that didn't make it into the book. Children need not be familiar with the works upon which the spoofs are based to enjoy the humor, but this is a perfect opportunity to introduce the originals and to discuss parody as a poetic form.
Wild About Books by Judy Sierra. Knopf, 2004. E Sie
PreS-2
A librarian named Mavis McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake. ¶ 11:14 AM 0 Comments
