Sara Jones

November 14, 2014

Annotated Bibliography

Picture Books
Picture books should include themes or topics that children enjoy, such as, humor,
fantasy and friendship. Illustrations should be appealing to the eye and accurate to
the plot, characters, and setting. Wordless books should provide enough details so
that the reader can understand the story without text.
1. The Other Side
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator by E.B. Lewis
Publisher: Putnams, New York, 2001
Type of Book: Juvenile Fiction
Reading Level: Grades 14

A powerful narrative with echoes of metaphor. This is a story about a fence that
divides a white neighborhood from a black one and the two little girls whose need
for play and companionship allow them to straddle and then cross it. I would use
this book in the lower level grades to discuss how to be good friends and that even
though we all look different, we are all the same on the inside and can all work and
play together.

2. Owl Moon
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: John Schoenherr

Publisher: Philomel Books, New York, 1987

Type of Book: Picture Book, Fiction
Reading Level: Grades 15

An example of childs mind expanding a simple walk into a glorious adventure. As a

girl and her father hike through the moonlit night, the creatures they encounter
become thrilling companions for their owl hunt.

3. The Mitten
Author: Jan Brett
Publisher: Putnam, New York, 1989
Type of Book: Folktale, Picture book
Reading Level: Grades K4

With illustrations to delight, this story of a grandma-knitted mitten that becomes a

home to a whole group of chilly winter animals until a sneeze ousts them all is a
perfect winter companion. Nickis glove has a life of its own!

4. Harold and the Purple Crayon

Author: Crockett Johnson
Publisher: Bloomsbury, 1996
Type of Book: Fiction, Fantasy, Picture Book
Reading Level: K-3

A little boy takes a walk, using his purple crayon to create everything he encounters
along the way, including an apple tree, a dragon, an ocean, a picnic, a hill, a hot-air
balloon and a big city. I would use this book in my classroom when discussing the
color purple and to be the opening to a lesson all about purple or another color
where students draw different things in that color.
5. The Little Rose
Author: Sheri Fink
Illustrator: Mary Erikson Washam
Publisher: Sheri Fink, March 2011
Type of Book: Childrens Fable, Picture Book
Reading Level: K-3
Finely detailed and beautiful illustrations bring to life this endearing story of the
Little Rose who grows up in weedbed and, because it's all she's ever known, believes
that she's the weed. The story inspires children to embrace who they really are
despite their current environments and to truly believe in themselves.

Novels
Choosing good novels should require them to be something of interest. With the
many millions of books on shelves today, there's bound to be something out there
for everyone. Emphasizing the interest connections is super-important as well. I also
consider the amount of details, character development and the overall plot when
choosing good novels.

1. The Giver
Author: Lowry, Lois.

Published: Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1993.

Type of Book: Science Fiction
Reading Level: 5-8

This book is a science fiction-type novel about a boy named Jonas who lives a socalled perfect world where everything is controlled by strict rules. This novel
questions what is right or wrong for society, and how differences and choices make
life good. Lois Lowry wrote many books including the Anastasia series. The title
comes from the friend Jonas finds in his instructor. Jonas is assigned to an important
position in the community and is the only one who learns the truth about the past.

2. Holes
Author: Sachar, Louis
Publisher: New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998
Type of Book: Adventure Fiction
Reading Level: 5-8

Stanley Yelnats, a boy who has bad luck due to a curse placed on his great- greatgrandfather, is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention camp, for a crime he
did not commit. Stanley and the other boys at the camp are forced to dig large holes
in the dirt every day. Stanley eventually realizes that they are digging these holes
because the Warden is searching for something.

3. The Hobbit *Classic

Author: J R R Tolkien
Publisher: London: HarperCollins, 2012 (first published in 1937)

Type of Book: Fiction, Fantasy

Reading Level: 6-8

A reluctant hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited
group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home and the gold within it from the
dragon Smaug. This is typically a book popular among young boys but I would
enourage any group or individual in my class who likes fantasy fiction books to read
this novel.
4. Matilda
Author: Roald Dahl
Published: New York : Viking Kestrel, 1988
Type of Book: Fiction, Fantasy
Reading Level: 3-5

Matilda follows Matilda Wormwood, a bright little girl who immerses herself in
books. Matilda is discarded and belittled by her parents and her hostile
headmistress, the outrageous and wicked Miss Trunchbull. Reclusive, but with an
imagination and sharp mind, and with a protector in her teacher Miss Honey,
Matilda dreams of a better life, daring to take a stand against unjust forces and to
grasp her destiny in her own hands. This is a fantastic, fun, and empowering book for
any child, specifically young girls.

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: Rowling, J. K.
Published: New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 1998
Type of Book: Fantasy Fiction

Reading Level: 4-6

Harry Potter is orphaned when the Dark Lord kills his parents and attempts to kill
him, but the curse backfires. He has to live with his only living relatives who hate him
and where he comes from. Around the age of 11, Harry starts to receive letters from
someone but he is never allowed to read the letters. Finally, a giant man, Hagrid,
comes to meet him and he finally gets to know the truth about his parents and
himself. Harry gets accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There,
he meets the Weasleys and befriends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger who
go on many adventures with him.

6. Because of Winn Dixie

Author: Kate DiCamillo
Publisher: Candlewick, August 2001 (first published in 2000)
Type of Book: Fiction
Reading Level: 3-5
A 10-year-old girl, abandoned by her mother when she was three, moves to a small
town in Florida with her father, a preacher. While there, she adopts a stray dog
whom she names after the local supermarket where he was found. With her goofy
pooch by her side, she meets an eclectic group of townspeople and rekindles an
almost lost relationship with her father. This book is widely loved by many young
children and could be read during Guided Reading or aloud to a class with whole
group discussions.

7. Hatchet

Author: Gary Paulsen

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers: Richard Jackson Books, April 2000
(first published in 1987)
Type of Book: Fiction
Reading Level: 5-8

A story of a thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson whose survival following a plane

crash, which has become a modern classic. Stranded in the desolate wilderness,
Brian uses his instincts and his hatchet to stay alive for fifty-four dreadful days. This
book would especially appeal to young men in a classroom, but I would also consider
reading it aloud to my entire class to compliment a unit about the environment or
survival.

8. Where the Red Fern Grows *Classic

Author: Wilson Rawls
Publisher: Yearling, May 2000 (first published in 1961)
Type of Book: Fiction
Reading Level: 4-6

This story is told as a flashback to a time when the protagonist was a boy raising his
first red coonhounds. Old Dan and Little Ann become his best friends. They quickly
become the best hunting dogs in the county, winning Billy acclaim and monetary
awards. In a confrontation with a mountain lion Billy's life is saved by the two dogs,
but they lose their own lives. He buries them and over the graves two red ferns
grow. This book is not only great to explore different breeds of coonhounds, but to
also examine the character of Billy Colman. Several active reading activities could be

done in small groups to analyze his character and the differences and similarities
between Old Dan and Little Ann.

9. Number the Stars

Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Laurel Leaf, February 1998
Type of Book: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 3-5

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life
before the war. It's 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food
shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark
are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the
family. Annemarie is then asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life. This
book relates directly to life during the Holocaust. It would be an age appropriate and
impactful novel for young students to read during a unit during this time period in
Germany.

10. Love That Dog

Author: Sharon Creech
Publisher: HarperCollins, April 2008
Type of Book: Poetry
Reading Level: 6

Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty.
But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments
and Jack can't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he
writes, the more he learns he does have something to say. This would be an
awesome novel to spark students interest in writing and the amazing possibilities
that writing can provide!

Non-Fiction Books
As a teacher, Ive been taught to consider the 5 As when choosing good non-fiction
books. Those include: Authority of the author, accuracy, attractiveness,
appropriateness for a child, and artistry. Artistry meaning whether the text is
interesting, organized, and written in a way that children can understand.

1. Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macys Parade
Author: Melissa Sweet
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers, November 2011
Type of Book: Biography
Reading Level: 1-4

Everyones a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see
what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who
first invented these "upside-down puppets"? Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! I
would introduce my class to this book around Thanksgiving in November when the
Macys Day Parade occurs. We could discuss the students favorite puppets and the
history of the event.

2. If You Lived Here: Houses of the World

Author: Giles Laroche

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers, October 2011
Reading Level: 2-6

This book explores unique homes from around the world and the many fascinating
ways in which people live and have lived. Showing the tremendous variety of
dwellings worldwidelog cabins, houses on stilts, cave dwellings, boathouses, and
yurtsthis book addresses why each house is build the way that it is. This would be
an amazing book for children interested in buildings and architecture and for a whole
class to explore cultural and geographical differences.

3. The Diary of a Young Girl

Author: Anne Frank
Translator: B.M. Mooyart-Doubleday
Publisher: Bantam, June 1993 (first published in 1947)
Type of Book: Autobiography
Reading Level: 6

In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family
fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. This diary, which was discovered
in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable
story has since become a world classica powerful reminder of the horrors of war
and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. This is a classic novel which relates
very well to the language of young children while instilling the tragic realities that
existed in Amsterdam. Another ideal novel to read with a classroom of students
during a Holocaust unit.

4. Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

Author: Brian Floca
Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books, April 2009
Type of Book: Historical Non-Fiction
Reading Level: K-2

Simply told, grandly shown, the flight of Apollo 11. Here are their great machines in
all their detail and monumentality, the ROAR of rockets, and the silence of the
Moon. Here is a story of adventure and discovery -- a story of leaving and returning
during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away. This
book depicts the flight of Apollo 11 with great amusement and excitement, an
enchanting book for all viewers, especially young students who are instantly and
naturally amazed by space.

5. Ancient Egypt
Author: George Hart
Publisher: DK Publishing, August 2004
Reading Level: Historical Nonfiction

Complete with full color photos, this book takes its readers from the splendor of the
pharaoh's court to the everyday life of ordinary people. The great civilization of the
Nile valley is revealed in page after page of dramatic photos of the objects they left
behind: human
and animal mummies, childrens pull-toys, and reed brushes. A perfect book to use
to introduce a third grade unit about Ancient Egypt!!

Poetry Books
When it comes to choosing poetry anthologies, it all depends on what you are
looking for. Some anthologies are compiled by subjects while others offer a lot of
variety. Of course, they are often compiled for different age groups. Consider the
audience of the poems before choosing the anthology as well.
1. Read Aloud Treasury
Authors: Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, August 1988
Type of Book: Poetry
Reading Level: Preschool Grade 2

This was actually my all-time favorite book when I was younger because the
poems include pictures which make it easy for young children to contribute to
reading aloud with a parent. I will definitely have and use this book in my classroom
if I am teaching at the primary level. Although it is an older collection, The ReadAloud Treasury makes finding good children's literature easy. It includes over thirty
popular Mother Goose rhymes; poetry from renowned authors and world-famous
picture stories, many with their original illustrations.
2. A Light in the Attic
Author: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: New York, N.Y, Harper & Row, 1981
Type of Book: Poetry
Grade Level: 3-5

This classic collection of poetry and drawings from Shel Silverstein includes
Silversteins best work which is loved and admired by all ages. Silverstein's humorous
and creative verse can amuse the dullest of readers. I will definitely include this
collection in my classroom and plan to expose my children to the greatness of
Silverstein by making him Poet of the Week.
3. Sharing the Seasons
Authors: Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrator: David Diaz
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, March 2010
Type of Book: Poetry
Reading Level: Ages 7-10

In this anthology, Hopkins selects thematically-linked classic poems, organized

by the season. Combining a diverse selection of classic quotations and forty-eight
poems, twelve for each of the four seasons. Diaz brings his bold award-winning style
to brightly-colored illustrations that perfectly amplify the poems.
4. The 20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury (Treasured Gifts for the Holidays)
Compiler: Jack Prelutsky
Illustrator: Meilo So
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, September 28, 1999
Type of Book: Poetry
Reading Level: K-3
Over 200 poems that represent the best this century has to offer. From sibling
rivalry, school, monsters, food, and just plain silliness, to such ageless themes as the
seasons, and the many moods of childhood, this anthology includes it all. The

poems, from every decade of this century, showcase 137 famous poets and an
extremely talented illustrated. This anthology would be especially appealing to
children who like modern poetry and want to read current, new poetry rather than
the classics.
5. Days to Celebrate: A Full Year of Poetry, People, Holidays, History, Fascinating
Facts, and More
Author: Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrator: Stephen Alcorn
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, December 2004
Type of Book: Poetry
Reading Level: Grades 2-7
A collection of information to show us that each day of the year gives us a reason to
celebrate. For every month Hopkins has compiled a calendar of birthdays, holidays,
historic events, inventions, world records, and thrilling firsts. And for every month
he has selected surprising poems in honor of some of the people and events
commemorated in the calendar. This is a great book to have on hand in the
classroom to relate poetry to the time of year and important people in history.