Title: Ruth and the Green Book

Author: Calvin A. Ramsey

Genre: Historical fiction

Summary: Ruth and the Green Book talks about the journey of a black family’s trip from Chicago to Alabama by car in the late 1940s. They discover “The Green Book”, which is a real guide to accommodations that was published for decades to aid African-American travelers as they faced prejudice on the roads across the country.

Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. Calvin A. Ramsey really did a great job captivating what life was like in the late 1940s and made reading the book very interesting.

Content Area Connection:

• Family- This book captures the journey  of a black family as they take a trip from Chicago to Alabama by car in the late 1940s.
• Social Studies- This book brings us back to the late 1940s, and discusses the issue of prejudice.

Title: Kindergarten, Here I Come!

Author: D.J. Steinberg

Genre: Poetry

Summary: Kindergarten, Here I Come! Is a poetry book that talks about a little boys journey as he approaches kindergarten. He sets out checklists for all the materials he will need and checks them off with his mother as he prepares for his first day.

Review: I really enjoyed reading Kindergarten, Here I Come! This book is great for early readers and it was a cute way to introduce poetry and a little boys experience with the first day of kindergarten.

Content Area Connection:

• Art- This book has such great illustrations that capture a young boys struggle to get everything right for his first day of kindergarten.
• Family- This book captures the little boy relaying on his mother to help him as he prepares for his first day, and looks at her for support.

Title: Let’s Read About… Abraham Lincoln

Author: Sonia W. Black

Genre: Literary non-fiction

Summary: This book is about our president Abraham Lincoln. It informs the readers that he was born into a poor family in Kentucky, and that Abraham Lincoln studied and became a lawyer, a congressman. It talks about his journey throughout life and how he ended up being the sixteenth president of the United States.

Review: This book was kind of boring but had great facts about our president Abraham Lincoln. It was a simple read and would be great to read when talking about him in your classroom.

Content Area Connection:

• Social Studies- This book does a great job talking about our 16th president and educates young children about our past presidents.

Title: Pinocchio

Author: Al Dempster

Genre: Traditional

Summary: Pinocchio is a story about a wood-carver, Geppetto, who carves a wooden puppet, which he named Pinocchio. Geppetto wishes he had a real boy and then Pinocchio is brought to life by a fairy. Pinocchio goes through many adventures throughout the book that teaches him life lessons.

Review: I loved reading this book and it is definitely one of my favorites. It’s a great book for children to learn a lesson about and does it in a fun, entertaining way!

Content Area Connection:

• Art- Pinocchio is brilliantly illustrated as it captures the characters and there physical characteristics perfectly and really grasps your attention through the pictures.

Title: How Plants Grow

Author: Dona Herweck Rice

Genre: Informational

Summary: How Plants Grow is a book that introduces the steps of how to make plants grow. Throughout the book the author talks about the various parts of the plant including seeds, roots, and leaves. Throughout the book there are many photos and informational text to help young children fully understand what they are reading.

Review: How Plants Grow is a great informational book for children and would certainly recommend it. It makes learning about plants interesting and doesn’t throw a lot of information at you all at once.

Content Area Connection:

• Science- This book captivates the steps how plants begin to grow and how they produce their own food. They discuses the growing procedure and talks about roots and seeds.
• Art- This book does a great job with the illustrations and really shows you specific plants and roots with its amazing pictures.

Title: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Author: Dr. Seuss

Genre: Informational

Summary: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is a rhyming book about a boy and a girl named Jay and Kay. They have many different pets, creatures, and friends that are introduced throughout the book.

Review: I love all Dr. Seuss books so reading this book I really enjoyed. Dr. Seuss knows how to keep kids interested throughout his books and really draws in your attention.

Content Area Connection:

• Art- Dr. Seuss shows great illustrations in his books and makes each page very colorful and bright to attract young children’s attention.

Title: What Lives in a Shell?

Author: Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Genre: Informational

Summary: What Lives in a Shell, is a informational book about animals that live near the ocean. While reading children can learn about what animals have shells, and which do not. The book talks about animals such as hermit crabs, scallops, and turtles.

Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld does a great job, sharing what animals live on the beach and which do not have shells and which do. It was a very interesting book and would defiantly recommend it!

Content Area Connection:

• Art- What Lives In A Shell shows great illustrations of the beach and all various of different animals and shells.
• Science- This book discuses many animals and what they look like which can be connected back to the subject of science and how these animals survive in this type of environment.

Title: The Knight and the Dragon

Author: Tomie dePaola

Genre: Fantasy

Summary: In The Knight and the Dragon the knight realizes he is not living up to expectations that people have for him. He starts to practice with a wooden dragon while the dragon practices with dummies. At first they’re both not good at it. At first, the knight misses the wooden dragon and runs into a tree, and the dragon misses all the dummies that were lined up. The book continues on for the knight and the dragon to actually fight each other and when they do, they end up missing each other completely.

Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. Tomie dePaola does a great job, sharing the story of the knight and the dragon and how they both used each other to get better at fighting!

Content Area Connection:

• Art- This book had great illustrations of the dragon fighting the knight and showed their deep emotions.
• Social Studies- The Knight and the Dragon can be connected to Social Studies topic as knights are part of the past and can be used to discuss how they used to dress up and fight.

Title: Germs Are Not For Sharing

Author: Elizabeth Verdick

Genre: Informational

Summary: Elizabeth Verdick’s book Germs Are Not For Sharing, teaches children that germs are not for sharing. This book will teach children how not to spread germs to other children, and what to do when you sneeze, or blow your nose. Throughout the book, she discusses how to wash your hands, and how to stay healthy and clean.

Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. Elizabeth Verdick does a great job, writing a book that teaches children about germs and how to not spread them and how to stay healthy!

Content Area Connection:

• Art- This book had many illustrations that will teach children how to stay healthy and to prevent germs!
• Science- This book discussed many germs, and how they are caused but also how they can be prevented.