Title: The Tree in the Courtyard, Looking Through Anne Frank’s Window Written by: Jeff Gottesfeld Illustrated by: Peter McCarty Random House/Knopf, 2016, fiction Suitable for ages: 5-8 (I would recommend 8-11) Themes/topics: caring, tolerance, Holocaust, trees, WWII Opening: The story opens with a quote from Anne Frank about the tree outside her window. Following the … More The Tree in the Courtyard
PPBF Special: For all the teachers who are in the midst of testing season, I’ve included a literature unit for this amazing book. Title: A Splash of Red, the Life and Art of Horace Pippin Written by: Jen Bryant Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet Random House/Knopf, 2015, biography Suitable for ages: 5-8 (easily Gr 1-5) Lexile: 610 … More A Splash of Red
As a person who loves the interplay of words, I’m not usually drawn to wordless books. But this one, featuring different points of view, is a wordless gem. … More The Other Side
Literature, Science, and Math, OH MY! Title: Tree of Wonder, The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree Written by: Kate Messner Illustrated by: Simona Mulazzani Chronicle, 2015, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 5-8 Themes/topics: rainforest, math, animals Opening: Deep in the forest, in the warm-wet green, ONE ALMENDRO TREE grows, stretching its branches toward the … More Tree of Wonder
There IS something truly marvelous about trash pick up. Experience the magic in this week’s Perfect Picture Book selection. Title: Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans Written by: Phil Bildner Illustrated by: John Parra Chronicl e Books, 2015, Fiction (based on a true story) Suitable for ages: 5-8 Lexile: AD560L Themes/topics: … More Marvelous Cornelius
Here’s a fun approach to nonfiction. Title: I’m Trying to Love Spiders Written and Illustrated by: Bethany Barton Viking, 2015, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 4+ Themes/topics: spiders, arachnophobia Opening: I keep telling myself: “Spiders are cool.” I want to love them. Brief synopsis (from worldcat.org) This fresh and very funny non-fiction picture book shares lots … More I’m Trying to Love Spiders
Here is a truly beloved classic, guaranteed to invoke contagious giggles.
… More The Monster at the End of This Book
“Have I not told you how anger is like electricity?…Anger can strike, like lightning, and split a living tree in two…Or it can be channeled, transformed. A switch can be flipped, and it can shed light like a lamp.”
… More Grandfather Gandhi
Every once in a while I like to pull one of my all time favorites off the bookshelf. Here’s a clever tale from the Middle East. Title: Sanji and the Baker Written by: Robin Tzannes Illustrated by: Korky Paul Scholastic 1993, fiction Several re-issues and Spanish translation available Suitable for ages: 5+ Themes/topics: justice, honesty, greed … More Sanji and the Baker
Here is Miranda Paul’s latest treasure – a great addition to any home or school library. It received multiple read requests from three-year-old Corinne, a bona fide testimonial.
… More Whose Hands Are These?
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 