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.

The Green Book by Jill Patton Walsh

Imagine taking a trip that is four years long, one way, and has the potential to change your life forever. If all the essentials were already decided and you were given the choice of one book and one book only. What book would it be and why?

In the story, "The Green Book," this is how the main family is introduced. Earth is now a dying planet and a select few of the population are to be transported in an aircraft that allows very few personal items that is traveling to an unexplored region of space. Once they arrive on their new planet, the story begins with the exploration of thier uncharted planet and learning how to adapt.

This would be a great chapter book for fourth and fifth graders for many reasons. One reason being that you can link this book to studies on the immigrants and their journey to the Americas. The trips from their homeland were full of extreme hardships for they the vessels they were transported in had very little extra storage so everyone was allowed very few personal things. Many immigrants also had one set of expectations for the new country, but experienced something completely different.

The book also broaches the topic of data collection for in the beginning several members of the new colony go in search of signs of life by using their observation skills. You could take your students on a field trip to somewhere that they have never visited and have them do the same by using their sense.

This book is also a circular book, which means that the book wraps back around on itself. To tie this into language arts you could have the students write a very short story where their first sentence is the very same as the last sentence.

This is the Teacher by Rhonda Gowler Greene

"This is the Teacher" is a hilarious book for children probably up to second or third grade. In the classroom, I would use this book as something I would read on the first day of school, to help lighten up the tense situation. This book is about all the crazy and unexpecting things that happen in an elementary school. The way the book is written and organized is so different and fun for everyone to read. It's written in sort of a rhythm, and it flows from one page to the next. It's hard to explain without an example, so for example the first page simply says, "This is the teacher all ready for school." Then on the second page it says, "These are the students who rush through the door, who drop sacks of lunches that smash! on the floor and topple the teacher all ready for school." So the book continues by building the story from page to page, but keeping the sentence from the page before. By the very last page, there is a long poem to describe the day at school. I just thought it was a fun book to read that was unlike anything I had really seen before. I also can't forget about the illustrations, by Mike Lester, which were all very detailed and showed the hilarity that the book was trying to portray.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff

"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" was one of my favorite books as a child, and is probably written toward the younger age range up to about age 7. It probably had to do with the repetition of phrases and the way you could always guess what the next page was going to say, and I loved to be able to figure out the next lines. The book is about the series and consequences that take place if you happen to give a mouse a cookie, and the repetition that occurs. Laura Joffe Numeroff did a great job of making the book flow as if it were a rhyming book, when there was none at all. The other thing that I loved about this book were the illustrations. The illustrator was Felicia Bond and she was able to give the characters so much life and humor throughout her drawings. As a child, the pictures of a big were probably the most important thing for me, and these pictures were able to keep me entertained throughout the whole book. In the classroom, you might be able to use this book when introducing various rules and consequences, because it demonstrates what happens from one event to another. Although it doesn't show strict consequences, it would still be a fun and useful book to choose for younger students to understand the concept of consequences of their actions.

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble

I remember having this book read to me both in school and out. Stephen Kellogg illustrated the book and his pictures are always fun and full of vivid imagery that helps kids picture what is going on, as often the books he illustrates for are full of wild and crazy events! I have an autographed book of his somewhere at home. One day in elementary school he came to a book fair and met all of his fans. Anyways, on to the book! It is a crazy recount of a field trip to a farm told by a girl to her mom. The mom starts off by saying, "How was your class trip to the farm?" and the girl replies, "Oh...boring...kind of dull... until the cow started crying." I can just picture the giggles and bewilderment in my class as they see the picture of a cow crying in the speech bubble above the girl's head. They'll be wondering, "Why would the cow be crying?" This is how every two pages of the book play out. A strange occurrence is mentioned and you're left wondering how it could have happened then a following explanation is given of what actually went down. This is basically the worst field trip ever from the teacher's standpoint. The students throw corn and eggs at each other, a farmer runs into haystacks with his tractor, a boa constrictor (that Jimmy sneaked in his bag) ate the farmer's wife's dirty laundry, and all the students just make a general mess of things. The teacher is often shown in the background laying on the ground covered in eggs with her mouth open in absolute terror. As the kids are finally shuffled on the bus by the teacher the kids realize Jimmy's boa was left on the farm, but that was OK with Jimmy since he had himself a new pet pig! At the conclusion of the book you see the girl and Jimmy taking the pig on a soap box derby race and the farmer and his wife sitting in the living room with their new pet, the boa, it curled up at their feet and the wife knitting a large "sock" outfit for it.

Needless to say, this book is a lot of fun to read to a group of kids. Perhaps the author was venting some of her frustration through writing, as this class truly is the most rambunctious group of kids you've ever seen. I would probably read this all the way up to 2nd or 3rd grade. It stimulates the mind with vivid imagery and exciting events. If any kids grew up in a farming community or have relatives that own a large plot of land this book would be particularly funny. It shows that even the dullest of situations can be livened up with a little humor and excitement! This would probably be a good book for the first day of class, maybe after an introduction since I'm a big animal fan. There are many subject applications that this could incorporated in. I could have the kids count the number of eggs being thrown, or have them practice their consonant sounds by mimicking the snake's hissssssssssssssssssss. Students could talk about any pets they might have or had, read the book as a group, then draw a picture about their favorite animal. Since this is a good example of what not to do on a field trip, I would be sure to stress the importance of listening to me just in case the book gives them any smart ideas!

Cinderhazel, The Cinderella of Halloween by Deborah Nourse Lattimore

Hazel is a delightful young witch who earns the name Cinderhazel because she loves to be filthy. She is constantly teased by her very clean stepmother and stepsisters who think she is disgusting. One night, her stepmother and stepsisters go to the Witches Halloween Ball but tell Cinderhazel she cannot go because she is so messy she would make them look bad. Cinderhazel attends the ball with the help of her witchy godmother and wins the heart of yucky Prince Alarming who loves to be dirty almost as much as Hazel does. This is a wonderful book to read to your fourth grade class for Halloween. It is also a great read-aloud for comparing with the traditional folklore versions of Cinderella. The lively paintings truly enhance the humor and give the story a magical touch. This book also teaches a lesson in appreciating those who may be different from ourselves or who "go against the flow". It is so important that we teach our students to respect people from all different backgrounds and cultures.

Old Hat New Hat by Stan and Jan Berenstain

The authors send us a clear message, be satisfied with what you have for the latest and greatest may not be any better than what you have in front of you already. When a young bear goes into a hat shop to find a new hat he is met by a sophisticated, but snobby, sales clerk. The clerk immediately goes to work to find a suitable hat to replace the bear's old, tattered, and unattractive hat. He presents the bear with a large selection of many new hats, bringing them in one after another. The hats are quite varied while some are fancy, some are practical, and most are very imaginative. Kids can marvel at the selection of new hats, comment on them, pick a favorite, and laugh at their absurdity. The bear rejects each of the hats one by one, unable to find anything that suits him. Finally he discovers the perfect hat, but it is not a new hat. Instead he leaves with his old hat, nestling it perfectly on his head while a look of satisfaction comes over his face.

I think kids love this book because in its simplicity it delivers creativity with a surprise ending. Who would have guessed that the bear would pass up all the new hats just to walk back out of the store with his old hat? He possessed all along a hat that could not be so easily replaced, even with its floppy brim and raggedy patches. Teachers can lead their students in a query as they think of old favorites that are irreplaceable. Students can write and illustrate their own books showing how they would reject the new and keep their old, comfortable favorite. Perhaps kids can learn to appreciate the things they have without looking for the new stuff.

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

"Where the Wild Things Are" is a book about complete imagination. Max is a little boy with a big imagination. He isn't very behaved and got into some trouble before dinner. Due to his bad behavior he is sent to bed without dinner, mom's orders. While in his room the walls begin to turn into the forest and trees begin to grow all around him. Before you know it your right in the middle of Where the Wild Things Are. Of course Max becomes king hear because the monsters that live there do not scare him, even with their terrible claws, and gnashing teeth. He frightens them with his magical tricks and they call him the most wild thing of all. Several pages in the book are of Max and the monsters doing a "wild rumpus" because Max, the king, orders them to dance. The illustrations are is fun and imaginative. They are silly and entertaining and perfect for younger students. I think that between the grades of kindergarten and second grade this book would be most appropriate. It is not very long, and there are many pictures to hold students attention. The wording is very simply and for second graders, they could read it on their own. There are so many fun activities that can follow this book for the whole class.

Wringer by Marsha Hale

Jerry Spinelli wrote the easy-read, chapter book Wringer. The main character is a young boy named Palmer LaRue. The plot centers on him becoming a wringer at the age of 10, which in his community is a right-of-passage for every boy 10 years of age. All boys welcome with excitement becoming a wringer, not Palmer, he is filled with complete dread. This dread got its roots at a young age when Palmer witnessed something quite awful on final day of the annual "Family Fest." He had watched with his mother and other spectators as a pigeon was shot from the air, wobbled toward him wounded, and then captured by a young boy and put out of its "misery" (as his mother had explained) with a snap of its neck. From this day forward Palmer learned more about the pigeon shoot, but could make no sense of it. Why does everyone in his town hate pigeons? Palmer does not hate pigeons.At the horror of Palmer, the pigeon shoot is supported by EVERYONE in his town because it is a fundraiser for the local park, a key attraction. The adult men pay an entrance fee be a shooter and then compete for the sharp shooter trophy, which Palmer's father proudly displayed his one golden trophy on the fireplace mantel. To make things worse, Palmer's coveted group of buddies, Arthur a.k.a.Beans, Billy a.k.a. Mutto, and George a.k.a. Henry eagerly anticipate their turn at wringer and egg Palmer a.k.a. Snots on to do the same. Palmer does not want to be a wringer, but agonizes over thoughts of disappointing his father and his town and of losing his group of buddies. Utterly complicating his dilemma, Palmer adopts a stray pigeon one snowy day. This pigeon refuses to leave and becomes his pet, his companion, and an enormous secret. If anyone found out that he was harbouring a pigeon--the thing the whole town hated most--what would happen?In the end, Palmer reluctantly uncomplicates his life by ridding himself of his pet pigeon. He refuses his post as wringer and looses his group of buddies. However, on the final day of Family Fest he decides to watch the shoot fearing his pigeon could have been captured. In a twist HIS pigeon is released and the shooters take their best shots. Palmer is forced to take a stand, without regard for anyone and everyone else's beliefs. As the entire town watches, Palmer creates his own right-of-passage. This book creates a wonderful opportunity for teachers and students to discuss what it means to take a stand for what you believe is right while going against the majority. Palmer struggles between acceptance and defiance. On one hand, he tries to accept what his town does and tries to fit in with everyone. But on the other hand, he longs to defy the wrongful beliefs and change his town. He struggles to reconcile these opposing positions. In the end he cannot dodge taking a stand for he is forced to declare what he believes is right, pigeons should not be hated.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon is one of my favorite books that I remember reading with my mother as a child. This book is one of the books that when my mother would say "pick out just a few books to read tonight before bed", I would bring this one every time. Goodnight Moon is basically a short poem that is turned into a children's book. It is about a young rabbit who is preparing to go to bed, but basically he is trying to prolong the process of getting to sleep by saying goodnight to anything and everything he can imagine. This reminds me of when I was little and kept asking my mom to tell me just one more story before I went to sleep. The little boy begins and ends with saying "Goodnight Moon". I think that every time I read this book it also makes me feel a sense of serenity and calmness. The illustrations are colorful and eye catching but also provokes a calming feeling. The illustrator goes from large colorful pictures to small ink drawings but all of them are simple pictures. I think that this book is a good book to use to create sleepy children, maybe to read before nap time in a kindergarten classroom. You can also use it for the children to look for the things that the young rabbit says goodnight to in the pictures. I think that Goodnight Moon is a very good book to establish a feeling of a safe surrounding.

"Nate the Great and the Missing Keys" by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

This book is about a little boy named Nate, but only goes by Nate the great. He is a great detective and solves many mysteries around town. He is very reliable and many of his friends come to him when they find themselves caught in a real mystery. One of Nate's friends, Annie, is throwing a party for her dog Fang. While setting up for the party Annie loses the keys and locks herself out of her house, which means NO PARTY! In order to save the party and his friends reputation, Nate the great must come to the rescue and solve the mystery. The book was written very clearly, and uses repetition in order to clarify characters and places. Throughout the book Nate finds not from his friends and writes notes to his mother. This is great for students because it show perspectives. Also, the book uses short sentences, and is great for students who are beginning to have better reading comprehension. Not every page has pictures, but there is still some illustrations within the pages to aid in students imagination, and to break up the reading. I really think this book would be perfect for students who are a bit nervous of a chapter book, but beyond mostly illustrated limited wording books. I think third grades would really enjoy this book. It's a fun read and is great for getting students to remember how important comprehension can be. My favorite part of this book was that at the end there are several pages that give students activities that coincide with the reading. There is one page that gives fun and interesting facts about keys, and what different keys can look like. There is also an activity on how to make a present cake. I believe that these books would be great for students because they are fun and interesting and hold students attention.

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish is by far one of my favorite books of all time. This book can be a little tricky for starting readers, but works well with 2nd-4th grades in elementary school. When I go babysit every week before bedtime I always have to get out Amelia Bedelia and read it to Cammy, who is in the 1st grade. Amelia Bedelia is a little kooky, and very literal. She also is an amazing baker of sweet treats. In the Amelia Bedelia book, Amelia Bedelia starts working her very first day for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. The Rogers' leave her with a list of things to do while they are gone like dust the furniture, draw the drapes, and change the towels. Instead of actually doing the things on the list like it was intended, Amelia Bedelia actually pours dust on the furniture, uses paper and a pencil to draw the drapes, and cuts the towels into different shapes to "change" them. Of course when the Rogers get home they are livid, but one taste of Amelia Bedelia's lemon meringue pie, and they forget why they were angry all along. I love the illustrations in the book, they are so funny that even now as I read the book a loud to Cammy, I still giggle just a little bit. I think that this book gives children a sense of what the meaning of phrases are. There are literal translations of phrases, and then there are actual meanings. In the English language there are words and phrases that are said and spelled the exact same way, but mean totally different things. Also, there are cultural differences that some children experience that they would not know the meaning of things in different cultures such as "hold your horses!". This book makes me still feel sorry for poor Amelia Bedelia. Maybe someday she will learn!

Miss Nelson is Missing by: James Marshall

Miss Nelson is Missing was about a teacher by the name of Miss Nelson who supposedly did not come to school one day. This class was having classroom management problems as it is but when they found out that Miss Nelson wasn't here their was even more room for the kids to cut up. When they saw there original sweet and soft spoken teacher was not going to be there that day the kids threw spit balls and paper everywhere. This continued until Ms. Viola Swamp walks in with black outfit on which was not dressed or acted as nice as Miss Nelson was. The kids immediately straighten up and did what was told. All along the students wonder about Ms. Swamp but out of fear did not want to ask her one question because they knew she was not the playful teacher that they had. The moral of the story was all along under this black outfit was Miss Nelson and she got an real idea of how her class acts if she was out that day. Topics that can be taught within this children's book is never misbehave because you never know who is watching and you really would not like to have a harsh punishment afterwards. This is a story that is normally read to children the day before a teacher knows she is gonna be out just to increase the suspension of having that mysterious substitute that the next day.

Nim and the War Effort by Milly Lee was about an young Chinese girl by the name of Nim who wants to win her school's newspaper drive to help the WWII war effort. She had an very traditional Chinese family who was closely connected to the Chinese rituals and traditions of their culture. The family lived in San Francisco where this little girl had an hard time distinguishing to family and peers that she was both Chinese and American. Major topics that are being taught in this book is culture differences between Chinese and American customs. For example, during dinner time some of the customs that were being taught were the grandfather would be served first then others in the family will be served after him depending on age and status within the family. Other topics that were taught to Nim during the school's newspaper drive was always lean upon her ancestors and never forget where she came from. This is something that many youth today fail to realize. This school drive was more than a school drive to Nim it was something that she could directly relate to because her grandfather was apart of the historical events of the World War II. A great lesson can be taught to children when reading this book is about how diverse our world is and many people have been greatly effected by our past world events. Nim was used as an model for how present day youth are we are quick to forget about our past historical events and we can also be unaware of other ethnic and religious cultures within United States.