Alyssa Mills

Dr. Burke
Childrens Literature
April 10, 2016
Annotated Bibliography
Criteria for picture books;
-illustrations play a major key in the books
-there is a good lesson after the story
-a lesson plan could be adapted from the book
-acceptable for more than one grade level
-engaging words
Picture Books
1. Author:MarcusPfister
Title:TheRainbowFish
PublisherandYear:NorthSouthBooks,1992
TypeofBook:PictureBook
ReadingLevel:PreK2
Thisbookisinstantlyappealingtoanybeginningreaderwithits
sparklingpages.Ittellsthestoryofsharing,andmakingfriends.Whenallthe
fishintheseaseehowbeautifultherainbowfishis,theyaskiftheycanhave
sparklescalestoo.Atfirst,rainbowfishisveryhesitant,butreluctantly,helearns
thevalueofsharing,andwithsharing,hehasallofhisfriendsbackagain.
Noteworthytraits:Thevibrantcolors,andtheshinyscalesareeasilyattractiveto
youngreaders,plusavaluablelessoninsharing.
2. Author:JudithViorist
Title:Alexanderandtheterrible,horrible,nogood,verybadday
PublisherandYear:DramaticPublishingCompany,1999
TypeofBook:PictureBook
ReadingLevel:K2

Thishumorousbook,cangetanystudentlaughing.Asthemaincharacter,
Alexander,goesfromonebadeventtothenext,thisbookexploresallthe
possibilitiesoftragiceventsinayoungchildsday.Asmostbooksendona
happynote,thisonedoesnt,rather,itendswithhismomtellinghimthatsome
daysarejustbetterthanothers,andthatisok.

NoteworthyTraits:Lessonthatitsoknottoalwayshaveagoodday.Plusalotof
humor.
3. Author:JonScieszka
Title:TheTrueStoryofthe3LittlePigs!
PublisherandYear:PuffinBooks,1996
TypeofBook:PictureBook
ReadingLevel:K3
Hereisanewtwistonaclassictale.Thisisagreatbooktousefora
varietyoflessons.Particularlyacompareandcontrastlesson.Studentscan
comparetheoriginalstorytothisversion.Thebookitselfistoldfromthebigbad
wolfsperspectiveashepleadshiscaseofinnocence.
NoteworthyTraits:Thisbookcanbeusedforvariouslessons.Thereishumoron
thebookandanewtakeonaclassic.StorytoldfromWolfsside.
4. Author:MauriceSendak
Title:WheretheWildThingsAre
PublisherandYear:HarperandRow,1963
TypeofBook:PictureBook
ReadingLevel:13
*thisbookisaCaldecottMedalwinner*
Thisbookisfullofimaginationandadventure.ThemaincharacterMax,
claimshimselfkingofthewildthingsandfindshimselfhavingablast.However,
whenitistimeforthewildthingstogotobed,Maxrealizestheonlyplacehe
reallywantstobeisathome,whereheisloved.
NoteworthyTraits:Illustrationsareahugeplus.
5. Author:ShelSilverstein
Title:TheGivingTree
PublisherandYear:HarperCollinsPublishers,1964
TypeofBook:PictureBook
ReadingLevel:K2
Astorythatgoesoveralifetime,growingup,andoldtogether.Thisbook
couldbeusedforalessononsequencingorchronologicalorder.Thecharacters
arethegivingtreeandthelittleboy.Theboyisalwaystakingfromthegiving
treeoverhisyearsandtheyarethebestoffriends.Justwhenyouthinkthegiving
treehasnothinglefttogive,shealwaysdoes.

NoteworthyTraits:Thelessoninthisbookisfabulous.Alsotakenoteonthelack
ofillustration,yethowbigofanimpactthosedrawingsplayinthisstory.

NonFictionBooks
Criteriafornonfictionbooks;
kidappropriate
interestingforayoungreader
goodfactsthatcanbequizzedonattheendofthebook
studentcouldwrite,paperorparagraphaboutthetopicorpersonofthebook
1. Author:VariousAuthors
Title:Whowas?Whatwas?Series
PublisherandYear:PenguinGroup
TypeofBook:NonFiction
ReadingLevel:26
Personally,Ithinkthisisoneofthebestseriesoutthere.Thereisan
incredibleamountofhistoricalpeople.Rangingfromhistorianstocelebrities.
Thesebooksofferawonderful,kidfriendly,biographyofimportantpeopleand
places.ThisisafairlynewseriesandIhaveseenitusedinmanyclassrooms.
Thiswasextremelypopularasitwasinformationalyeteasytoreadforstudents.
NoteworthyTraits:Lovelovelovethesebooks.Awonderfullyeasywaytoget
studentstoreadonpeopletheyfindtobeboring.
2. Author:JerryStanley
Title:HurryFreedom
PublisherandYear:CrownBooksforYoungReaders,2000
TypeofBook:NonFiction
ReadingLevel:57
SetduringtheCaliforniaGoldRush,themaincharacterMifflin,attempts
togainequalityinlegalandcivilrightsinCalifornia.Thisbookshowshowthose
whoarehereforbetteropportunityandthosewhoareslavesgothroughterrible
prejudice.
NoteworthyTraits:

3. Author:CarolAnnLee
Title:AnneFrankandtheChildrenoftheHolocaust
PublisherandYear:ThePenguinGroup,2006
TypeofBook:NonFiction
ReadingLevel:68
ThisbookisamatchtoAnneFranksdiary,itisagreateasyreadfor
olderreaderstounderstand.Therearereallifepersonalstoriesorjournals,along
withpictures.Thisbookisagreatconnectorforyoungreaders,astheaccounts
arefromyoungpeoplegoingthroughtheholocaust.Ihighlysuggesthaving
studentsreadthisbookduringlessonontheholocaustorbeforeafieldtrip.This
bookisdefinitelyforolder,morematurereaders.
4. Author:JohnWarrenStewig
Title:KingMidas
PublisherandYear:HolidayHouse,1999
TypeofBook:NonFiction
ReadingLevel:K2
Thisbookfullofcolorfulpaintingsiseasytocaptureanyyoungreader.
Foryoungergrades,Isuggestreadaloud,andforsecondgradeanduptheycan
readindependently.ThestorytellsthetraditionalstoryofkingMidas,amanwho
wantsmoreandmoregold,butsoonrealizesthatthereisasuchthingastoo
much.
5. Author:MairaKalman
Title:ThomasJefferson:Life,Liberty,andthepursuitofEverything
PublisherandYear:NancyPaulsenBooks,animprintofPenguinYoung
ReadersGroup
TypeofBook:NonFiction
ReadingLevel:
Theartworkinthisstoryisbrightandvibrantattractingyoungreaders.
ThiseasytoreadbooktalksallaboutThomasJefferson,hisaccomplishmentsand
hisinterests.Thisisagreat,easyandfunwaytolearnaboutthishistoric
president.

PoetryBooks
Criteriaforpoetrybooks;
differentstylesofpoetryareexplored
fun,differentwaysofreadingpoetry
widevarietyofpoetryoptions
ageappropriate
1. Author:SharonCreech
Title:LoveThatDog
PublisherandYear:HarperCollins,2001
TypeofBook:Poetry
ReadingLevel:68
Thestoryisaboutaboywhohatespoetry,buthisteachercontinuesto
makehimandhisclasswriteit.Ironically,thewholebookisacollectionof
poems.ThemorepoemsJackwrites,themorehefindsheactuallydoeslikeit.
Noteworthytraits:goodbooktoreadduringalessonorunitonpoetry.
2. Author:JackPrelutsky
Title:APizzatheSizeoftheSun
PublisherandYear:GreenwillowBooks,1996
TypeofBook:Poetry
ReadingLevel:24
Thebookisdescribedasacollectionofzanyandfunpoems.Ithasalso
beendescribedasoneoftheauthorsbestworks.Thereisapoemforevery

occasion,andagreatwaystobringfuntopoetry.
NoteworthyTraits:
3. Author:MaryAnnHoberman
Title:TheLlamaWhoHadNoPajama
PublisherandYear:HMHBooksforYoungReaders,1998)
TypeofBook:Poetry
ReadingLevel:24
Thiscollectionofpoemsisgreatforanyyoungpoet.Itisgreatfor
generatingideasinafunway.Mostofthesepoemsarebetterforreadingaloud
ratherthanreadingindependently.Howeverstudentscanstilllookatthepoems
fortheirstyle.
NoteworthyTraits:Mostofthepoemsinthisbookhaveappearedinotherbooks.
4. Author:LouiseBorden
Title:AmericaIs
PublisherandYear:MargetK.McElderryBooks,animprintofofSimonand
SchusterChildrensPublishingDivision,2002
TypeofBook:Poetry
ReadingLevel:24
ThisbookisgreatforstudyingAmerica.Itcanbeusedtocompareplaces
orthingsinAmericathestudentshaveorhavenotseenbefore.Thereissome
historyinthisbook.Veryeasytoreadforhigherlevelsofreaders.Iwould
suggestreadingitaloudtotheclassfirst.
NoteworthyTraits:Notarhymingpoem,butstillagoodexampleofadifferent
kindofpoetry.
5. Author:WalterDeanMyers
Title:Harlem
PublisherandYear:ScholasticPress,1997
TypeofBook:Poetry
ReadingLevel:45
Amorematurebook,withillustriousillustrations.Thisbookcanbringto
lifeallofwhatHarlemhastooffer.Goodtogowithblackhistorymonthorcivil
war.

NoteworthyTraits:CaldecotthonorBook

ChildrensNovels
Criteriaforchildrensnovels;
teachermusthavepreviouslyread
canhaveanattachedlessonplan
thebookcanbereadaloudforyoungergradesorindependentlyforolderreaders
funbooksforbeginningchapterbookreaders
easyforkidstobeinterestedin

1. Author:E.B.White
Title:CharlottesWebb
PublisherandYear:HarperCollinsPublishers,2001
TypeofBook:ChildrensNovel
ReadingLevel:36
*thisbookisaNewberryHonoree*
This story is bound to hit all the emotions, friendship, love,
and death. We are tagged along with main characters Fern, Wilbur,
and Charlotte. With her winding web, Charlotte saves Wilbur from

being slaughtered. And just as Wilbur is in all his glory, we see

Charlottes life coming to an end. In the end, all of Charlottes eggs
are kept in good care thanks to Wilbur.
Noteworthy traits: this book was a Newberry medal winner. Pulls on all
the heartstrings, and has a various lessons of friendship shown
throughout.
2. Author: Roald Dahl
Title: James and the Giant Peach
Publisher and Year: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961
Type of Book: Childrens Novel
Reading Level: 3-7
Who knew a peach could cause this much commotion? Well
when its the size of your house its bound to! The main
character, James, is forced to live with his two mean aunts.
With a huge peach in the backyard, James meets some
interesting new friends, and they set out on a quest to get
away from the mean aunts.
Noteworthy traits: There is death in this book, and a lot of
personification. Fun and easy read. Also note that there is a
movie.
3. Author: Gary Paulsen
Title: Harris and Me
Publisher and Year: HMH Books for Young Readers, 1993
Type of Book: Childrens Novel
Reading Level: 6-8
City boy gone country, but his cousin Harris is a whole
other level of crazy. The story takes us through a summer
with the two cousins, waiting to see if they both make it
through the summer alive.
Noteworthy traits: Excitement and entertaining. Could be a
great read aloud for fourth or fifth grade.
4. Author: Kate DiCamillo
Title: Because of Winn-Dixie
Publisher and Year: Candlewick, 2000
Type of book: Childrens Novel
Reading Level: 3-5

Going into the supermarket, Opal had no idea she would

walk out with a dog. Winn-Dixie, the dogs dubbed name, is
Opals very best friend. Her preacher father, starts to open up
about Opals absent mother and within the friendships made
over the summer, and mostly due to Winn-Dixie, she finds
forgiveness.
Noteworthy Traits: Newberry Honor Winner
5. Author: Louis Sachar
Title: Holes
Publisher and Year: Scholastic, 1998
Type of Book: Childrens Novel
Reading Level: 5-9
All day everyday, Stanley digs holes in the very hot sun. In
fact, this is what all the boys do at the detention center. How
could digging all these holes lead to better character? Stanley
finds the real reason behind all of the digging.
Noteworthy Traits: Newberry Honor winner
6. Author: Judy Blume
Title: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Publisher and year:
Type of Book: Childrens Novel
Reading Level: 3-5
The narrator is nine-year old Peter who has absolutely had
it with his younger brother fudge. Peter tells the reader of all
the episodes and crazy things his brother has done and put
him through. Peter is ready to take a stand and get this
attention from his parents that he rightfully deserves.
Noteworthy traits: Easy, hilarious read for young chapter book
readers. This is a great way for other kids who have younger
siblings to connect to a book.
7. Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Title: Bud, Not Buddy
Publisher and Year: Delacorte Books for Young Readers,
1999
Type of Book: Childrens Novel

Reading Level: 5-8

Bud, Not Buddy, is out on the search for his father.
However, he doesnt actually know who his father is. But his
mom did leave posters as a hint of Herman E. Calloways
band, so thats is where Bud is headed for his next fear. As a
ten year old on his own, all Bud has is his suitcase, full of
secrets, his own book of how to have fun and make a better
liar out of yourself, and his posters. Nothing can stop this kid
on the loose.
Noteworthy traits: full of humor, also is a Newberry award
winner.
8. Author: Andrew Clements
Title: Frindle
Publisher and Year: Simon and Schuster Books for Young
Readers, 1996
Type of Book: Childrens Novel
Reading Level: 4-7
Creative Nick Allen is a prankster at best. Always looking
for ways to change things up. His latest task is changing the
word pen to frindle. A seemingly harmless joke that ends up
getting spread all around town, and now Nick is transforming
into a local celebrity because of his ingenious word. How will
he handle his new found status?
Noteworthy Traits: fun, easy to read novel. Great for
beginning chapter book readers.
9. Author: Sharon Creech
Title: Walk Two Moons
Publisher and Book: Harper Trophy, 1994
Type of Book: Childrens Novel
Reading Level: 5-8
This book tells the story of Sal, on a road trip with her
grandparents. As their travels go on, Sal tells the story of a
girl named Phoebe who also lost her mother. A story within a
story.
Noteworthy Traits: Newberry Medal Winner
10.

Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Title: Shiloh
Publisher and Year: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1991
Type of Book: Childrens Novel
Reading Level: 3-5
Big hearted Marty is faced with many questions and
dilemmas when he finds a dog behind his home, who he is
sure ran away from his owner. A story about lying and the
truth, and about a boy who just wants to care for a mal
treated dog. All of his secrets can lead to his families danger.
Noteworthy traits: Newberry Medal Winner.