I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato By: Lauren Child

Lola is a little girl who is VERY picky when it comes to food. She refuses to eat all vegetables, fruit, and even spaghetti! Charlie is Lola's older brother who helps with her dinner when their parents are busy. After Lola repeatedly refuses her dinner, Charlie begins to make up different names for foods. For example, he tells Lola that her carrots are "orange twiglets which are from Jupiter". After Charlie uses his imagination, Lola tries out the different foods on her plate and realizes that she actually likes all of them! In the end, Lola even begins making up creative names for food. This story is great for elementary students because it teaches them to try new things, especially healthy foods. Also, this book has great illustrations that children and grown ups will truly enjoy. I would suggest reading this book to a class one day before or after lunch, or if you are doing a health lesson to teach children to eat more fruits and veggies.

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Ramona Quimby is a spunky little girl who is just starting the third grade. This books tells about every day life in the shoes of an "ordinary" eight year old. Ramona's family must use their resources sparingly because Mrs. Quimby is the only one working; Mr. Quimby is going back to college to become an art teacher. One night the family has to eat tongue for dinner! Ramona and her sister Beatrice protest and their punishment is to fix dinner the following night. Ramona only knows how to make french toast and jello! Situations like this arise daily for Ramona, and all readers will enjoy seeing how Ramona seems to get into mischief without even trying. This book is a great chapter book for new readers because it's easy to read and still has a few pictures to enjoy. I would suggest this book for everyday reading to a class and to demonstrate and average American family. You will find yourself giggling in every situation Ramona seems to get herself in!

Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

Have you ever wondered how big the eye of a giant squid is or what the length is of a great white shark's teeth are? Both these questions and more are answered in the non-fiction picture book, "Actual Size," written by Steve Jenkins.

The goal of this book is to sate a child's curiosity (or an adult) in the realm of things that are not normally accessible.

This book can be used in grades as low as 1st and all the way up through 5th.

For mathematics in 1st grade, you can use this book to teach comparitive subtraction. For instance the giant squid's eye is 1ft long and a bear is 13 ft tall...what is the difference between these two lengths?

For the sciences in 5th grade, you could have students do a research project on one of the animals from the book and then present it to the class using a technological format.

To incorporate language arts, the students could measure different objects around the room and compile them into their own story.

I would also just use this story to introduce a science lesson to my students.

Dr. Seuss's ABC by Dr. Seuss

What better way to teach your kids the alphabet than with the master of creative storytelling? I definitely plan on using this book. Each two page spread relates a particular letter, and offers plenty of opportunities for children to practice the sounds and recognize its shape and forms. For example, with the letter "A" it shows in elaborate text and accompanying pictures, "BIG A - little a - What begins with A? Aunt Annie's alligator.. A.. a.. A." This is not a story book. Each page offers its own mini story and its only purpose is to be a lighthearted approach to teaching the ABC's and their forms and functions. This would be good to read in a large group and also to have the kids look through and practice with on an individual basis. All of the text is sewn together in typical Seuss style, with a rhyming pattern that flows nicely and accentuates a particular consonant or vowel. I like that some of the characters from Seuss's other books are included here, so I'm sure the children will be able to recognize some familiar faces. Finally, on the inside front and inside back cover is a colorful alphabet chart showing all of the alphabet in both lowercase and uppercase form. I'd definitely use this chart as an assessment tool. This book is just one in the Seuss library that I plan on incorporating into my lesson plan. His books are a versatile, valuable teaching arsenal that offers numerous possibilities for multiple age groups.

Green Eggs and Ham

Most children have had the honor of reading some form of a Dr. Seuss story by the time they reach elementary school. Of all of the Dr. Seuss creations the book Green Eggs and Ham is one of my personal favorites. This particular book deals with a boy named Sam-I-Am and the key note character in many Dr. Seuss books, The-Cat-In-The-Hat. In a rhythmical fashion, Sam-I-Am asks The-Cat-In-The-Hat if he likes green eggs and ham. He doesn't simply ask the question once, instead he asks over and over again if he would like them in different contexts. "Would you like them in a house? Would you like them with a mouse." After each question, The-Cat-In-The-Hat responds with a rhyme. "I do not like them in a house. I do not like them with a mouse. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am." At the end of the story The-Cat-In-The-Hat finally agrees to try green eggs and ham if Sam-I-Am promises to leave him alone. To his surprise, The-Cat-In-The-Hat actually likes green eggs and ham and he proceeds to tell a rhyme about his new findings and thanks Sam-I-Am. "I do like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you! Sam-I-Am!"

This story by Dr. Seuss is a great resource to use in the classroom. It would be ideal for a kindergarten class especially since it is part of the "I Can Read It All By Myself, Beginner Books" series. Green Eggs and Ham is not only interesting and silly to those who read it but, it also is a excellent source when teaching students to read. The repetition and rhythm used in the story helps students to use a pattern when trying to grasp new words. This book also can teach students to try new things, and to thank those for introducing them to new things. Despite its silly nature, this book actually can be a great learning aid for students if interpreted correctly. Not only is Green Eggs and Ham educational for reading and life lessons but, it can also be used in different creative and exploratory activities in the classroom. Green Eggs and Ham is a book that I hope to use in my classroom at some point.

Curious George goes to a movie by Margret and H.A. Rey's

You can never go wrong with a curious george book. It's great for the younger classrooms. Curious George is a silly monkey who always gets into trouble, his friend is the man with the yellow hat who is always telling him not to get in trouble, and be a good monkey. I think children like to read these books because it takes them into a story where the main character is being curious, just like small children are, and he does things that I'm sure little kids want to do but know they aren't supposed to. In the end though, everything goes back to being ok, and george and the man in the yellow hat always end up back together. This book is good to read with students because although george gets into trouble, it is kind of a way to teach students what is wrong and what is right. It's a casual book, and probably not a good one to read if you want to relate it to a certain lesson, but more or less a good book for down time. It's a good picture book with pretty easy wording so students in 2-4 grade could easily enjoy reading the book.

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Amelia Bedelia is such an oldy, but a goody. It's a great book for entertaining your students, and having some laughter in the classroom. Amelia is such a silly person who mixes up words for different meanings and creates chaios in the home she is the maid for. This is a good read aloud book for younger kids, and a great beginners reading book for the upper grades. Vocabulary in the book is great for beginners. I think that it is also a good book for students to learn that it's ok to mess up, and mix certain meanings. People are forgiving just like the Rogers'. As a younger child I loved reading this book because it was so silly. I think it's a great book for younger readers. As a teacher I would read this book to my students maybe as a filler between lessons, or read it on a day when we are busy with everything else, and need a good, happy, break.