Honey, I Love and other love poems

Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield is composed of sixteen poems representing everyday life through a child's eyes such as: riding on a train, listening to music, jumping rope, and playing with a friend.
These short poems capture the emotions, especially love, felt by children. Diane and Leo Dillon add to the beautifully written script with their fabulous illustrations. Get lost in the imagery of this book.

~Erica, elementary school teacher

D is for the Drinking Gourd by Nancy Sanders

At first glance, this looks like a traditional ABC book; however, if you look a little closer you will find the history of African American culture. This sophisticated ABC book provides various terms to accompany each letter and also offers a brief detailed history of each word. "A is for abolitionists who were willing to take a stand." Although most may believe ABC books are for younger children, this one is great for older students learning about African American culture and struggles.

~Erica, elementary school teacher

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

I knew I had to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid (written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney) when students were trying to steal it from our school's book fair! I ended up laughing out loud, despite myself. Main character, Greg Heffley, relates his middle school adventures and misadventures in a journal his mother gave him... "Let me just say for the record that I think middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. You have kids like me who haven't hit their growth spurt yet mixed with these gorillas who need to shave twice a day," Greg complains. The cartoons in this book help make the book appealing to children who normally are reluctant readers, but the funny dialogue is enjoyable for everyone. I've heard rumors that a "Wimpy Kid" movie is coming out in movie theaters in August. So if you are someone who likes to read the book first, you have only a few months to check it out.

-Barbara, Elementary School Reading Teacher

Pockets

This 1998 fanciful, oceanic tale by Jennifer Armstrong weaves magical realism into the lives of simple town’s folk through the gift of embroidery secretly stitched in the pockets of their clothes. This stoic work-oriented folk invite this disoriented, broken-hearted, beautiful young woman to join them until she rights herself. They of course ask if she has a trade or skill, upon which she shares her gift of sewing. The town’s people tell her she can stay because the tailor has recently died, but only if she keeps things simple, plain, and unadorned. They don’t want distraction from their duties. She complies for a while, then sews in her own pockets; sewing of the sea, sailing, and oceanic adventures, then realizes she could give this as a gift to people without the even consciously realizing it. Slowly the town’s people, with hands in pockets, begin to ponder and notice things, stop and smell the roses, look at the sky, and dream. This magic brings husbands and wives closer, children more joyful, the town simply comes alive. Once all is well, she herself is healed and ready to turn her sails for her old home. Personally, this book is the best worded picture book I have found because of its subject matter of the sea, its magical realism, and the artistry by Mary GrandPre is just stunning, carrying me away to those far distant places she stitches in pockets. C. Murray

Blue Willow

As told by author Pam Conrad, this is a fabled tale of what the pattern on Blue Willow China represents and its lesson. If parents do not listen to the true wishes of their children, the price of holding on too long may be irreversible. The young Kung Shi Fair and Chang are star-crossed lovers that wait to be united, but the girl’s over-loving/over-bearing father continues to push off the date for her to leave home and become a bride. This choking love does exactly that—it pushes her to extremes to reach her lover, thus extinguishes her life and love. This is a heart-tugging tale that probably all parents should read as their children move into adolescence. The book is beautifully illustrated by S.Saelig Gallagher and creates a sweetly tender world to escape into. Although published in 1999, this is a classic tale for all times and ages. C. Murray

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf

Simply put this is a great book by Jon Scieszka! A must on any child’s (or adult’s) bookshelf. Wonderfully witty and charming, it far outdoes his later book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Failry Stupid Tales. This 1989 retelling or rather other side of the story by A. Wolf of how things actually occurred is hillarious and completely creative. A. Wolf portrays himself as a nerdy, academic good boy who has a cold, wants to bake a cake for his granny’s birthday, and runs out of sugar. Thus begins the journey to each house for a cup of sugar, but it is his cold that makes him huff and puff, not the fact that he is a wolf who eats meat. A hoot to say the least. He claims he was framed by the press and the typical portrayal of wolves—all sensationalism. I could read this over and over—in fact I have. The illustrations by Lane Smith are fun and filled with interesting in detail. Just read it for yourself—it will put a smile on your face and make you laugh out loud. It does not matter how old or young, it is just great fun to read. C. Murray

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

This 1992 Jon Scieszka book really is a collection of fairly stupid versions of fairy tales. This book would simply be great to use in a lesson comparing the historical shifts and changes in the tales over the centuries from Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, down to Disney and finally sarcastically crafted versions such as these. While the artwork is great, it is dark in nature and the book has an overall black humor to it. I would not suggest this as a read by itself, but again instead for comparative purposes. If you like the artistry and want to give the author another try, his True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf is just great. I would suggest this to older rather than younger readers. C. Murray

Rapunzel's Revenge
by Shannon and Dean Hale

We all love a good fairy tale, but sometimes we have to question the messages they deliver. I often want to replace the sweet, compliant, sleeping beauty with a smart girl who can rescue herself.
Newberry award-winning author Shannon Hale and her husband Dean present a humorous re-telling of the tale of the princess with outrageously long hair. I especially love that the burdensome tresses of the traditional tale become both Rapunzel's tools and weapons in this story. Rapunzel sets out to save not only herself, but a whole society enslaved by the same woman who trapped her and tried to control her. This tellling is set in a mythical western landscape, and Rapunzel speaks in the vernacular and idioms of a cowboy movie.
I gave it to middle school girls who gravitate to books about cliques of boy-crazed girls, and they each read it through in a night and passed it to a friend. Sixth grade boys also read it through voraciously, with no objections to the female heroine.
Graphic novels provide a visual hook for kids to enter the story, and the illustrations offer clues to the meaning for struggling readers. Rapunzel's Revenge also offers good evidence that a graphic novel can demand the same reading skills of a traditional novel. Students can practice with narrative structure, symbolism, use of puns and inference while reading Rapunzel's Revenge . This story is a hero's quest, filled with fun and adventure.

by Lauren , secondary English teacher

G is for Golden-A California Alphabet

G is for Golden-A California Alphabet written by David Domeniconi and illustrated by Pam Carroll is a wonderful combination of picture book and expository text. Domeniconi and Carroll take the reader alphabetically on a fanciful trip through the Golden State-from Alcatraz to Zorro. Older readers will enjoy the fun California facts written in the margins of the pages and readers of all ages will appreciate the imaginative pictures and rhymes. What a fun way to learn about history!

-Barbara, Elementary School Reading Teacher

The Magician's Elephant

The Magician’s Elephant, written by Kate DiCamillo is beautifully illustrated by Yoko Tanaka in pen and ink. It is a period piece that takes place in Europe before the turn of the 20th century and is filled with magical realism. This tale, or fable if you will, is about a boy named Peter who is in search of his little sister that he is sure is alive, although his guardian, a crazy old soldier, has told him otherwise. When sent to the open air market to purchase very old bread and two tiny fish, by fate he is drawn to a fortune teller’s tent and is compelled to find out about Adele, his sister. Before he can utter a word, the fortune teller says, “she is alive” and that he must, “follow the magician’s elephant to find her. Peter says, “There is no elephant”. But the fortune teller says something key, “Just as you say. That is surely the truth, at least for now. But perhaps you have not noticed: the truth is forever changing. Wait awhile, you will see.” The rest you must read. This is a story about hope, redemption, love, and more than anything, it is about believing in the impossible and being open to miracles. I would recommend this to anyone from age 10 and up. So sweet, so magical, it harkens to the spirit how inexplicably intertwined we all really are with each other. C. Murray

Zen Shorts

Zen Shorts,

by Jon J. Muth, is a philosophical picture book that leaves the reader both thoughtful and peaceful. Muth presents three classic Zen stories: one about the power of giving, another about the true essence of fortune and misfortune, and a third about forgiveness. These stories are presented in a gentle frame of a relationship between a wise, giant panda and the three siblings who are his neighbors. The calm panda, named Stillwater, responds to each child’s need with a story to suit them. The gentle relationship between the Panda and the children is painted in soft watercolors, and the embedded Zen lessons are black ink strokes against solid pale colors. It is a beautiful book to simply look at. All the Zen stories are familiar classics, but the telling here is clear and engaging and accessible to even young children. My high school students have debated the lessons of the Zen stories and then chuckled at the image of a small boy resting atop the belly of the enormous panda. I leave it on my desk, and students pick it up to show their friends. My own young children ask to see it and to hear it again and again.
It is beautiful introduction to the concept of Zen, but is a lesson in the broader concepts of what it means to live without assumptions, and with freedom.

By Lauren, Secondary School Teacher and Library Manager

Sector 7

Sector 7 is another winning wordless picture book wonder by author/illustrator David Wiesner. In this delightfully imaginative story, a young boy goes on a field trip to the Empire State Building. Due to extremely cloudy weather, the student is separated from his classmates. However, he soon makes an unusual new friend...a cloud! The two chums have many adventures together, including taking their own personal field trip to Sector 7 where clouds get their flying assigmments. This book is appropriate for anybody who has an imagination and likes to make up their own stories.

-Barbara, Elementary School Reading Teacher

Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland

Zach's second grade teacher, Miss Smith, has a secret... she has a magic storybook! As her class discovered, when she reads from it the characters jump out of the book right before their eyes! This book is sure to capture the imaginations of many as they experience pirates bound a ship, fire-breathing dragons and more. As Zach and his classmates find out, Miss Smith's incredible storybook must be read with caution. While stuck in traffic, the Principal reads from her book but didn't finish the stories. Characters filled the room but this time there was a problem.... they didn't want to go back into the book. Join Zach and his classmates as they figure out a way to return their classroom to it's normal state.

Michael Garland has brought to life children's imagination through this book. With the lively, bright colored pictures he is bound to leave every child wanting their own incredible storybook!

~Written by Erica, K Teacher

TEAR SOUP by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen

Every so often, we all--young and old--must make a batch of "tear soup." So says the character Grandy in Schwiebert and DeKlyen's poignant book TEAR SOUP. This evocatively-illustrated picture book is a vital edition for every teacher's classroom. The text revolves around a "wise and old" woman who has recently experienced a loss in her life. In actuality, the text guides its readers through the various stages of grief--shock, sadness, anger, denial, and acceptance. Complete with counseling resources at the end, TEAR SOUP is tender and compelling read. The book can be utilized as either a Language Arts reading selection or as an aid for students undergoing similar losses. Meant for "all ages," but obviously younger students need more guidance from the teacher in lesson objectives. By Natosi, high school/college English instructor.