Author, Illustrator, Etc

Title / Chrysanthemum
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1991 / Kevin Henkes / Picture Storybook, Fantasy / Mouse starts school / 4-6Years
Primary / Animals, middle class / United States
Media Bite / Other mice bully Chrysanthemum because she’s named after a flower. A teacher helps fix the situation.
Used to… / Teach sensitivity and civility to others
Teach flower names
Title / Elijah of Buxton
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Scholastic Press
2007 / Christopher Paul Curtis / Novel, History Fiction / Free-born child / 9-12Years
Intermediate/ Young Adult / African Heritage, Canadian, U.S. / Ontario, Canada
Rural U.S.
Media Bite / Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, story of an 11 year free-born child of former slaves.
Used to… / Teach about slavery, character evaluation
Title / Blueberries for Sal Caldecott: 1949
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
The Viking Press, 1948 / Robert McCloskey / Picture Storybook / Preparing for winter / 6-9Years
Early Childhood/ Primary / Mid 1900s Middle Class / U.S.
Media Bite / Sal and her mother gather blueberries on a hill. Meanwhile, a young bear and his mom eat the berries on the same hill.
Used to… / Teach similarities between humans and animals, habitats
Title / Madeline’s Rescue Caldecott: 1954
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
The Viking Press, 1953 / Ludwig Bemelmans / Rhyming/ Children’s Picture Book / Friendship of a found dog / 5-9Years
Early Childhood/ Primary / Upper Class / Paris, France
Media Bite / Madeline falls into Seine River and is saved by a dog Madeline and her classmates name Genevieve. The girls run into some trouble when the headmaster does not approve of pets.
Used to… / Teach sharing, kindness, love, etc.
Could also show the difference between a boarding school and a public or private school
Title / Beloved
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Alfred A. Knopf, New York
1987 / Toni Morrison / Fantasy Novel / Slavery
Moving forward / 10th grade and up
High School and up / Lower Class
Ex-Slaves / Cincinnati, Ohio
Media Bite / Protagonist Sethe tries her hardest to forget the misfortunes of her past as a slave and of the loss of three of her children. With the help of another former slave, she works through these events in her life.
Used to… / Call attention to the severity of the slavery that once was part of our country, teach the need to acknowledge the past in order to move forward, the effects slavery had on its victims.
COLOR CODE FOR HIGHLIGHTS: Author, Illustrator, Cover Art, Translator (If it is a picture book, and only an author is listed, then the illustrator is the same as the author.)
Title / Fun in the Hills
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
High Noon Books, 2002 / Matt Sims, Rick Hackney,
James Watling / Picture Chapter Book / Adventures on a hill / 6-10
Primary/ Elementary / Outdoors / U.S.
Media Bite / Sam and Tom run into many obstacles on their way up a hill and make a new friend when they reach the top.
Used to… / Teach children not to judge based on appearances
Title / Green Eggs and Ham
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Random House 1960 / Dr. Seuss / Rhyming Picture Book / Disliking something before you’ve tried it. / 5-10
Elementary / Make believe animals / Made up world
Media Bite / Sam I Am bothers his unnamed friend to try green eggs and ham. The friend repeatedly refuses, but finally tries them and likes them.
Used to… / Teach children not to judge something before they have tried it.
Title / The Little Island
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Double Day & Company, 1946 / Golden MacDonald
Leonard Weisgard / Informational Picture Book / The life of an island / 8-12
Elementary / Tropical / An island
Media Bite / An island teaches a cat how he is just as much attached to the world as the cat is.
Used to… / Teach land formations and the ocean. Don’t judge someone before you know them.
Title / Oh, the Places You’ll Go
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Random House 1990 / Dr. Seuss / Rhyming Picture Book / Growing up / 6-12 / Middle Class
Made up creatures / Made up land
Media Bite / Narrates the protagonist’s (unnamed) journey after decided to leave his hometown.
Used to… / Teach students how vast their options are once they have completed a certain stage of their life. Ex: Graduation.
Title / One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Random House 1960 / Dr. Seuss / Rhyming Picture Book / Recognizing numbers, colors, and items / 4-6
Early Childhood / Made up creatures and various animals / Made up land
Media Bite / Starts out with counting and naming the colors of fish, then goes on to identify other objects and their characteristics.
Used to… / Teach colors, counting, size comparisons, identification, etc.
COLOR CODE FOR HIGHLIGHTS: Author, Illustrator, Cover Art, Translator (If it is a picture book, and only an author is listed, then the illustrator is the same as the author.)
Title / Tuesdays with Morrie
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Random House 1997 / Mitch Albom / Memoir / Living and Loving
Relationships / 14-18
High School / Middle class / Morrie’s Study
Media Bite / Mitch reconnects with his dying college professor whom he was once close to. These weekly visits makes Mitch realize he needs to get back to living for what and whom he loves rather than for money.
Used to… / It’s never too late to rekindle an important relationship. Don’t change your goals in life based solely on what will earn you more money. Let yourself fully feel your emotions.
Title / Devil in the White City
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Crown Publishers 2003 / Erik Larson / Historical Non-Fiction/ Murder Mystery / Chicago World Fair and a Serial Killer / 15 and up
High School/ College / Historical Time Markers / 1893
Chicago
Media Bite / While Daniel Burnham is constructing and rejoicing his creation of the largest world fair of his time, Dr. H. H. Holmes commits multiple murders by luring his victims into his “Murder Castle” – an attraction at the world fair.
Used to… / Used to teach students about both the magical and malicious aspects of the Chicago World Fair.
Title / Othello
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Dover Publications 2004 / Shakespeare / Play/ Tragedy / Evil overpowering good / 16- up
High School/ College / Upper Class verses Lower/Middle Class / Venice
Media Bite / Normally mild-tempered Othello becomes outrageously jealous when a cunning Iago plants the idea that Desdemona has been unfaithful.
Used to… / Teach how easily it is for someone with ill intentions to poison an “outsider’s” mind.
Title / Manga Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Amulet Books 2008 / William Shakespeare, Kate Browan / Manga/ Graphic Novel / Star-crossed lovers / 12-up
Middle and High School/ College / Nobles/ Magic / Athens, Greece
Civilization and the woods
Media Bite / Two men are in love with the same woman, but she only loves the one who she is not to marry, while the woman’s best friend is in love with the man she is to marry. In the end, each woman marries the man of her choice.
Used to… / Teach how stories can be told in different forms, and what you can get out of each.
Title / Out of the Dust
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Scholastic Press 1997 / Karen Hesse / Novel, Historical Realism / Dust Bowl / 11-14
Middle School / Struggling Farmers
Great Depression / Oklahoma 1934-1935
Media Bite / Billy Jo and her family struggle to survive during the dust bowl. Meanwhile, she is also fighting to keep participating in playing the piano against her mother’s wishes. When her mother and bother die due to a fire accident, Billy Jo must learn how to cope with her loss and forgive herself for accidently setting her mom on fire and her dad for ignoring her after the accident.
Used to… / Teach students about this rough time in U.S. history and the need to rotate crops.
Demonstrate that we are capable of overcoming major life changes and obstacles even though we feel as though we cannot survive them in the moment.
COLOR CODE FOR HIGHLIGHTS: Author, Illustrator, Cover Art, Translator (If it is a picture book, and only an author is listed, then the illustrator is the same as the author.)
Title / Can I Tell You About Selective Mutism?
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Jessica Kingsley Publishers. London &Philadelphia, 2012 / Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens
Robyn Gallow / Informational
Picture Book / Selective Mutism / 12 & up / Middle Class / Classroom and Home
Media Bite / Hannah talks to the reader about her struggles with speaking.
Used to… / Bring awareness to this relatively unknown anxiety disorder.
Title / When My Worries Get too Big: A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Autism Asperger Publication Company / Kari Dunn Buron / Informational Picture Book / Childhood Anxiety / 6-12 (good for those working with them as well) / Middle class / Classroom
Media Bite / Shows different levels of anxiety, how to detect them, and how to bring the anxiety down.
Used to… / Teach students to recognize their anxiety, show teachers how to work with these students, and allow classmates to know what is going on with their anxious peers
Title / “Little Bad Wolf and Red Riding Hood” from Newfangled Fairy Tales
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Meadowbrook 2012 / Bruce Lansky and Timothy Tocher / Fractured Fairy Tale
E-Book / Wolves interacting with people / 8-12 / Animals and People / Woods and Grandma’s House
Media Bite / Little Bad Wolf helps Red Riding Hood out after his father goes missing. When he reaches Red’s grandmother’s house, he find his father, Big Bad Wolf, pretending to be Red’s grandmother in order to collect food for the winter.
Used to… / Show there are different sides to every story.
Title / Tikki Tikki Tembo
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Reed Business Information 1989 / Arlene Mosel
Blair Lent / Picture Story Book / Boy Falls in Well / 4-7
Early Childhood / Chinese / Ancient China
Media Bite / Oldest son out of 2 falls into a well after flying his kite with his little brother. Because the oldest son by (invented) Ancient Chinese tradition is given a long name, his little brother has trouble trying to get him help.
Used to… / Teach traditions and not to play around dangerous places
Correct misconceptions of different cultures (there are many inaccuracies in the book)
Title / If I Ran the Circus
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Random House 1956 / Dr. Seuss / Children’s Picture Rhyming Book / Setting up a circus / 9-13
Intermediate-Jr. High / Make Believe / Behind Sneelock’s Store/ Morris’s Imagination
Media Bite / Morris GcCurk plans to build a circus behind Snheelock’s Store. As he imagines what his circus will be like, he makes Sneelock the main attraction – the daredevil.
Used to… / Encourage creativity
Set up a writing assignment where the students describe what they would do with the empty lot behind Sneelock’s Store
COLOR CODE FOR HIGHLIGHTS: Author, Illustrator, Cover Art, Translator (If it is a picture book, and only an author is listed, then the illustrator is the same as the author.)
Title / Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book!
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Random House 1996 / Dr. Seuss / Concept Book / The Alphabet / 3-6
Early Childhood / Make believe creatures / Made up land
Media Bite / Goes through the Alphabet
Used to… / Teach the Alphabet
Title / What is an Insect?
Publication
/ Author, Illustrator, Etc. / Type / Topic / Age/Grade Appropriate / Culture / Setting
Scholastic 1998 / Susan Canizares and Mary Reid / Informational / Insects / 4-7
Early Childhood-Primary / Bugs / Outdoors
Media Bite / Goes through the different aspects of insects and gives examples of what is and is not an insect.
Used to… / Teach students the different characteristics of insects.
Introduce them to new bugs.
Title / My Senator and Me