Title: The Very First Americans

Author:  Cara Ashrose

Genre: Informational

Summary: From the Makah who set out in canoes to hunt whales to the Comanche who chased buffalo on horseback . . . here is a fascinating look at how the first Americans lived. Beautiful watercolor paintings accurately depict clothing, dwellings, art, tools, and other Native American artifacts.

Review: While this is a picture book it has accurate watercolor drawings and diagrams that accurately show what Native American life and culture was like before America was “America.” Shows the many different tribes and types of cultures of the Native American people.

Content Area Connection:

• History: Information on the Native Americans.

Title: Moonlight Animals 

Author:  Elizabeth Golding

Genre: Informational

Summary: Do you know what happens in the forest after dark? Moonlight Animals will tell you all you need to know with pages full of facts on the cool night time animals of the forest.

Review: This book has the interesting feature of a “flashlight” on each page that allows children to find the night time animals in the “dark” of the page. It’s a really cool feature, and in addition to that each page has tons of facts on every animal mentioned. It’s not ideal for read alouds but would be very helpful for one on one activities or independent reading.

Content Area Connection:

• Science: Children learn all about nocturnal animals.

Title: Caterpillar to Butterfly 

Author:  Laura Marsh

Genre: Informational

Summary: This book will teach children all about butterflies. It’s hard to believe these majestic insects with impressive wingspans and beautifully colored and patterned wings were once creepy crawly caterpillars. It even includes bonus information including different types of butterflies and poisonous caterpillars, this reader is one of a kind.

Review: This book fully explains the life cycle of a caterpillar as it takes the reader on a journey through the caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly. It has diagrams and fully labeled pictures of the process. It also includes cool facts about butterflies and caterpillars.

Content Area Connection:

• Science: Children learn all about the life cycle of a butterfly.

Title: Seed To Plant 

Author:  Kristin Baird Rattini

Genre: Informational

Summary: Children see plants, flowers, and trees around them everyday. This book teaches them how the plants they see all around them grow. Seed to Plant show the process from seed pollination to plant growth.

Review: This is a very well done book about how plants grow from seeds. It includes really detailed colorful photos of the process of plant life as well as helpful diagrams and labels. It also goes into detail on what plants need in order to grow. It’s a perfect introduction to plants in a science context or as an intro to informational texts.

Content Area Connection:

• Science: Children learn all about seeds and what they need to grow.

Title: The Llama Who Had No Pajama

Author: Mary Ann Hoberman

Genre: Poetry

Summary: Covering everything from centipedes to whales, from swinging on swings to ice-skating in winter, from eating applesauce to celebrating birthdays, the delightful poems in this extensive collection convey the experiences of any child.

Review: A collection of over 100 very cleaver poems with themes children can realte to. All of them with rhyming schemes children can pick up on. Plays with words in a fun way and is not very predictable.

Content Area Connection:

• Science: Animals

Title: Players in Pigtails 

Author: Shana Corey

Genre: Historial Fiction

Summary: A picture book about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, Players in Pigtails tells a story about how one determined girl made her way to the big leagues & found a sisterhood of players in pigtails.

Review: An amazing picture book about the Girl’s Professional Baseball Leauge in the 1940s when many of the male ballplayers were away fighting in Europe. There are also many cool facts about this time period and the real Leauge in the back of the book!

Content Area Connection:

• Social Studies: American History

Title: Strega Nona

Author: Tomie de Paola

Genre: Traditional (Fable)

Summary: Strega Nona can cure a headache, make warts disappear, and can even mix a potion that will find a girl a husband. Big Anthony, who doesn’t pay attention, comes to work for her. Although Strega Nona tells him never to touch her magic pasta pot, he can’t resist.When Strega Nona leaves Anthony to Watch her house while she’s away Anthony cooks up enough pasta for the whole town. Unfortunately he doesn’t know how to stop the pasta and Strega Nona needs to come home and save the town from being buried under a pile of spaghetti.

Review: Strega Nona is a very straight foward tale that teaches a  valuable lesson, while having fun, magic, and mischief. I always was read this story as a child and I only have the fondest memories of it. It’s a classic fable that shows the importance of listening and following directions.

Content Area Connection:

• Social Studies: Fables from other cultures (Italy).

Title: Peter’s Chair

Author: Ezra Jack Keats

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: Peter’s got a new baby sister, and because of it he has to be super quiet, but not only that everything that used to be Peter’s has been painted pink! He discovers his old chair that has not yet been painted so he runs away with the chair. He then realizes he is too big for his old chair, and that he should give it to his sister, he even helps paint it pink!

Review: This is a wonderful story about a young boy who is has mixed feelings because he has a baby sister on the way and all of his things are being given to her. It really touches on the feelings of unsureness and jealousy childen in this situation go through but it also encourages kindness and sharing with younger sibling. It also has amazingly beautiful collage illustrations.

Content Area Connection:

• Art: Unique art style of collage can be taught through this book.
• Social Studies: Connection through community/family.