Norman Rockwell: You're a Grand Old Flag

1. George M. Cohan
2. Norman Rockwell: You're a Grand Old Flag
3. oil on canvas
4. general history
5. no characters
6. Patriotic/ social studies
7. no characters
8. no awards, 2008
9. Simon and Schuster Children's

10. This book is set up like a poem. Readers are exposed to the lyrics of the wonderful song, "You're a Grand Old Flag." This book is for the audience to appreciate and love America. Families can sing along with it as it is read. It speaks about our military system by supporting soldiers who protect our beautiful country. This book could be great in a classroom in November during the Veteran's day celebration. It shows the pride and honor to be a citizen of the United States of America.

The Brand New Kid

1. Katie Couric
2. The Brand New Kid
3. Marjorie Priceman
4. general fiction
5. no subgenre
6. characters/values/diversity
7. Ellie McSnelly, Carrie O'Toole, Lazlo
8. no awards, 2000
9. Random House Inc.

10. This story was about a student named, Lazlo. He was the new student at Brookhaven school. Ellie and Carrie were excited about the first day of school even though most students are super nervous. This school year was a little different since the teacher was brand new. Lazlo was from a different from all the other students. He did not look nor speak like any of them. Lazlo is teased by many students about his diversity. Ellie reaches out to Lazlo and helps him adjusts to this new atmsophere with this new school and group of people. This book teaches students about bullying and applying yourself in a new environment. This book could make a great writing assignment for students to express their views of the book.

Tooth on the Loose

1. Susan Middleton Elya
2. Tooth on the Loose
3. Jenny Mattheson
4. realistic fiction
5. no subgenre
6. family/determination/ independence
7. little girl, her brother, father, mother
8. no awards, 2008
9. G.P. Putnam's Sons

10. This book is about a Spanish little girl who is determined to get her tooth out. The author uses both the English and Spanish languages. She wants to get her tooth pulled fast to be able to put it under her pillow. In hope that the tooth fairy will leave her money so, she can buy her dad a birthday gift. She will do anything to get her tooth out except letting her brother pull it. She feels this will be too painful. All she has for her dad for his birthday is a card. The day has came for her father's birthday party and she is upset, because she does not have a gift for him. Her mom is able to think of a gift that did not require spending money and she loved the idea. The gift was special for her dad, because it came from the heart. This book can teach students about being independent and never give up on goals. It can be a motivational speak book!

One Hundred Shoes: A Math Reader

1. Charles Gniga
2. One Hundred Shoes: A Math Reader
3. Bob Staake
4. informational
5. no subgenre
6. math concepts
7. centipedes
8. no awards, 2002
9. Random House

10. This book is about a centipede that tries how many different shoes. The words in the book rhyme with one another. It informs readers that centipedes have 100 feet. The point of the book is to teach students how to count to 100 in several different ways. It contains colorful pictures to catch the minds of young readers. Students can learn how to count by twos. Since, students know that a "pair of shoes" means 2 shoes, they can be taught that the centipede needs 50 pairs of shoes to equal 100 shoes. This book could be used to do a math activity in the classroom, by using number sense to solve basic math problems.

Slippers at School

1. Andrew Clements
2. Slippers at School
3. Janie Bynum
4. fiction
5. animal stories
6. social issues/feelings
7. Laura, "Slippers" her dog, other students, mom, dad, Edward-little brother
8. no awards, 2005
9. Dutton Children's Book

10. This is a cute little book targeted for young elementary age students. This book is told in the puppy's point of view. Slippers is happy, because he knows he has a wonderful family that takes good care of him. Mom gives Slipper food all the time and dad takes him on long walks. Laura is like Slippers best friend. Slipper decides he wants to go to school with Laura and without her knowing he sneaks into her backpack. He goes on several adventures. He gets to ride the bus, visit the gym, cafeteria, and the Principal's office. Laura never noticed that Slipper is with her. This is a colorful book that will engage young children and get them to want to read it. It could be used in a kindergarten class as the "book of the week." Students can pick out sight words while reading it in class.

Totally Crushed

1. Eliza Willard
2. Totally Crushed
3. n/a
4. realistic fiction
5. no subgenre
6. compassion/honesty/friendship
7. Annabel, Sam, Phoebe, Jude
8. no awards, 2008
9. Scholastic Inc.

10. This is a cute little chapter book for grades third through fifth. The author does a marvelous job with the descriptions in the book. It is about a girl named Annabel. She gets super excited about finding a carnation rose in her locker close to Valentine's Day. She just knew it was from her biggest crush, Jude. It turns out that the rose is actually from her best guy friend, Sam. She could not believe that the girl Sam likes was actually her. Even though, her friend Phoebe has a crush on Same. This was a huge disaster in Annabel's eyes. Annabel feels she must resolve this problem, but without hurting anyone's feelings. Now, the skate party is coming up and Annabel needs a date and she already knows Jude is out of the question. This book is filled with mixed messages that needs resolution. This book can be taught in February during Valentine's day and teach students to always be honest and how to maintain friendships.

Oliver Finds His Way

1. Phyllis Root
2. Oliver Finds His Way
3. Christopher Denise
4. animal stories
5. no subgenre
6. survival/ courage
7. Oliver, Mama, Papa
8. no awards, 2002
9. Candlewick Press

10. This book is intended for children in kindergarten through second grade. It is a story about the bravery of a young bear. While Oliver's mother is hanging clean clothes to dry and Papa is raking leaves, Oliver is fascinated by this beautiful yellow leaf. He loved the season, Autumn. He begins to follow this yellow leaf, but does not realize that he is now far from his house. He ends up chasing this leaf all the way to the edge of the woods. Oliver is now extremely terrified and begins to cry, because he is now lost. He rubs his nose in puzzlement to think of ways to find his way back home. With Oliver's humor and faith, he is able to find his way back. This book is a great story about survival skills and can teach children not be so scared, but to be brave like Oliver was and think of ways to fix the problem.

Harriet Tubman: A Lesson in Bravery

1. Elizabeth Kernan
2. Harriet Tubman: A Lesson in Bravery
3. photographs
4. historical nonfiction
5. no subgenre
6. bravery, honor
7. Harriet Tubman, other slaves, slave owners
8. no awards, 2003
9. Rosen Publishing Group

10. This book was a short story about the bravery of a slave named Harriet Tubman. She spent eleven years freeing more than 300 slaves. It was a total of nineteen times that she took trips to save these slaves. It was so wide known, that slave owners was offering a $40,000 reward for her capture. Harriet was a conductor, because she created the underground railroad this is how she transported slaves to freedom. This is another great book to teach students in February during black history month, because Harriet Tubman is someone in history that all students need to learn about.

I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing

1. Maya Angelou
2. I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing
3. n/a
4. autobiography
5. no subgenre
6. racism/strong black women
7. Maya Angelou, her mother, her brother-Bailey, her grandmother, her father, Uncle Willie
8. no awards, 1969
9. Random House Publishing Group

10. This was a very touching story. It was about the earlier years of the author, Maya Angelou, and told by her. In this book, she releases her feelings and let readers into her life. In the story, after their parents divorced, Maya and her brother, Bailey was sent by their mother to live with their grandmother. This story takes place in Arkansas during the 1930s-40s. At this time racism and segregation was taking place. Maya was 17 years old. Her grandmother owns the only black owned store in the black community in Arkansas. Maya faces many issues with herself and others. She has to deal with the fact that her parents divorced and did not want her or her brother and being bullied. Other children called her ugly. Then, the unthinkable happens and Maya is raped by Mr. Freeman, her mother's boyfriend. Maya goes through post trauma with the rape and becomes a mute. This is a touching story told by Maya and would work well in the classroom when discussing life struggles, racism, or even during black history month.

The Zack Files:My Teacher Ate My Homework

1. Dan Greenburg
2. The Zack Files:My Teacher Ate My Homework
3. Jack E. Davis
4. general fiction
5. no subgenre
6. culture/diversity/friendships
7. Zack, Mrs. Wolfowitz, other students
8. no awards, 2002
9. Penguin Putnam Inc.

10. This chapter book's title caught my attention right away and I wanted to read it. It is about a young boy named Zack, who suspects his substitute teacher, Mrs. Wolfowitz is a werewolf. One day, Zack went to turn in his homework assignment to Mrs. Wolfowitz. He witness his teacher eat his homework right in front of him. He decides to go to the principal's office and inform him. The principal said that Zack was lying and not to make up things about teachers. He also believed that Mrs. Wolfowitz was a wonderful teacher. However, Zack friend believed him and they wanted to get some evidence to support that Mrs. Wolfowitz was a werewolf. Zack tells his father of his belief that his teacher is a werewolf and Zack's father said he believes his son. The principal meets with Zack and his father over Zack making these horrible "lies." At the end, Zack finds out what Mrs. Wolfowitz bizarre secret his. This book could be used in class to teach friendship and do not always make assumptions. Children would love to read an interesting book like this!