Charlotte Ballot—Primary Books, Grades K-3
Books are listed in alphabetical order. Resources were available online as of March 2009 and as with all online content may change over time. If you have additional resources to add to the list or have concerns about what is posted here, please contact Liz at lyanoff@nycap.rr.com.
Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend. Written by Deborah Hopkinson. Illustrated by John Hendrix. Schwartz & Wade, 2008.
Author website(s):
http://www.deborahhopkinson.com/
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3291
Illustrator website(s):
http://www.johnhendrix.blogspot.com/
Publisher website:
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375937682
Other related website(s):
Our interview with Deborah Hopkinson was posted on Sept. 22, 2008.
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/interview-with-deborah-hopkinson/
Reading Rockets Video interview
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/hopkinson
Author profile in Library Talk
http://www.mcelmeel.com/writing/hopkinson.html
Reviews:
Planet Esme
http://planetesme.blogspot.com/2009/02/abe-lincoln-crosses-creek-picture-book.html
Through the Looking Glass
http://www.lookingglassreview.com/html/abe_lincoln_crosses_a_creek.html
Lesson plan ideas:
From Hopkinson’s website
http://www.deborahhopkinson.com/29722/index.html
Kid friendly Abraham Lincoln sites
Guess What is Growing Inside This Egg by Mia Posada. Millbrook Press, 2007.
While we reviewed the English version of this text, also note that this book is available in Spanish.
Author website(s):
I couldn’t find one. Can you?
Publisher Website:
Other related website(s):
IRA Teachers’ Choices 2008
Outstanding Science Trade Books
http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/ostb2008.aspx
Reviews:
The Well Read Child
http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/2008/05/guess-what-is-growing-inside-this-egg.html
Miss Rumphius Effect
http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2008/03/springing-to-life.html
Lesson plan ideas:
See the link above to the Miss Rumphius blog where she has a list of books on eggs and egg laying animals.
Follow this link to a ReadWriteThink lesson plan on writing reports, including riddle books.
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=73
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach. Written by Carmen Agra Deedy. Illustrated by Michael Austin. Peachtree, 2008.
Author website(s):
Illustrator website(s):
http://www.austinillustration.com/
Our interview with Michael Austin
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/michael-austin-interview/
Publisher Website:
http://peachtree-online.com/product/2844.aspx
Other related website(s):
The Pura Belpré Award winners
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/belprepast/index.cfm
Reviews:
Booklist Online
http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=2086688
BookHive
http://www.plcmc.org/bookhive/books/details.asp?id=3074
Lesson plan ideas:
http://www.beautifulmartina.com/index.aspx
The Orange Shoes. Written by Trinka Hakes Noble. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. Sleeping Bear Press, 2007.
Author website(s):
http://www.trinkahakesnoble.com/
Our interview with Ms. Noble.
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/trinka-hakes-noble-interview/
Illustrator website(s):
http://home.comcast.net/~mcfad/ett/
Our interview with Ms. Ettlinger
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/doris-ettlinger-interview/
Publisher Websites:
http://www.sleepingbearpress.com/
Other related website(s):
IRA Teachers’ Choices 2008
Reviews:
Tara Lazar
http://taralazar.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/the-orange-shoes/
Rutgers
http://www.fas.rutgers.edu/cms/econkids/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=855&Itemid=214
Lesson plan ideas:
From Sleeping Bear Press
http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/TeachersGuides/orangeshoes.pdf
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme. Written by Marianne Berkes. Illustrated by Jeanette Canyon. Dawn Publications, 2007.
Author website(s):
http://www.marianneberkes.com/index.htm
http://www.dawnpub.com//shopping_cart/INDEX.CFM?do=AuthorIllustrator&ID=47
Our interview with Ms. Berkes
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/marianne-berkes-interview/
Illustrator website(s):
http://www.dawnpub.com/shopping_cart/index.cfm?do=AuthorIllustrator&id=61
Our interview with Ms. Canyon:
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/jeannette-canyon-interview/
Publisher website:
http://www.dawnpub.com/shopping_cart/INDEX.CFM?ProductID=118&do=detail
Audio book
http://charlotteaward.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/jungread2.mp3
Other related website(s):
IRA Teacher’s Choices 2008
Reviews:
Reader views
Mom’s Choice Awards Store
More reviews on Berkes’ website
http://www.marianneberkes.com/over_in_the_jungle__a_rainforest_rhyme_44794.htm
Lesson plan ideas:
ReadWriteThink had numerous lessons for counting books, rhyming, and the rainforest. Search for these terms and you’ll get a long list.
Yahoo! Kids also has a range of resources on the rainforest for kids.
Printable bookmarks for this book
http://www.dawnpub.com/2DetailLinks/EducatorTools/JungleBookmarks.pdf
Stargazer’s Alphabet. Written by John Farrell. Boyds Mill Press, 2007.
Author and illustrator website(s):
http://www.boydsmillspress.com/contributors/contributors/farrell_john.html
Our interview with John Farrell
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/john-farrell-interview/
Publisher Website:
http://www.boydsmillspress.com/books/nonfiction/stargazers_alphabet.html
Reviews:
Library Thing
http://www.librarything.com/work/3016026
Lesson plan ideas:
National Geographic Kids (Search for constellations)
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
Awards according to publisher
- Adopted for the latest edition of the Kansas Reading Circle catalog, intermediate level
- 2007 Society of School Librarians International Honor Book
- 2008 IRA Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Award Notable Books List
- Included in NEW BOOKS FOR MISSOURI STUDENTS, 2008 edition produced by the Missouri State Teacher Association
There’s a Bird on Your Head! Written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Hyperion, 2007.
Author website(s):
http://mowillemsdoodles.blogspot.com/
Publisher Website (Includes an Elephant & Piggie kit):
http://www.hyperionbooksforchildren.com/board/displayBook.asp?id=1852
Other related website(s):
http://www.pigeonpresents.com/
Geisel Award
Reviews:
NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/books/review/Cowles-t.html
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=1051
Lesson plan ideas:
Students of mine have used the Elephant & Piggie books in many ways from talking about dialogue to creating comics. Check out the ReadWriteThink tool for creating comics http://www.readwritethink.org/MATERIALS/COMIC/ But also realize that Willems is proud that his own illustrations can be easily copied by young children.
I’ve also thought the use of nonverbal communication and spare language would be great for speech and language teachers. (Liz)
Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly. Written by Alan Madison. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Schwartz & Wade, 2007.
Author website(s):
Our interview with Alan Madison
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/alan-madison-interview/
Illustrator website(s):
http://www.kevinhawkes.com/home.htm
Publisher Website (includes teacher guide):
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375835971
Reviews:
Common Sense Media
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Velma-Gratch-Way-Cool.html
100 Scope Notes
http://100scopenotes.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/book-review-velma-gratch-and-the-way-cool-butterfly/
Lesson plan ideas:
Check out “drawing tips” on the kids’ section of Kevin Hawkes’ website. Also see in “extras” the story to be illustrated on Alan Madison’s site. Text also connects well with butterfly units.
When Dinosaurs Came With Everything. Written by Elise Broach. Illustrated by David Small. Atheneum, 2007.
Author website(s):
Our interview with Ms. Broach
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/elise-broach-interview/
Illustrator website(s):
Publisher Website (includes activities):
http://books.simonandschuster.com/When-Dinosaurs-Came-with-Everything/Elise-Broach/9780689869228
Other related website(s):
http://shelfelf.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/when-dinosaurs-came-with-everything/
Reviews:
http://books.google.com/books?id=uRbBhVq040UC#reviews_anchor
Imperfect parent
http://www.imperfectparent.com/books/articles562_1.php
Lesson plan ideas:
Dinosaurs, need we say more?
Other information:
· ABC Children’s Bookseller’s Choices,
· ALA Notable Children’s Books,
· Bank Street Best Books of the Year
Wolf’s Coming! Written and illustrated by Joe Kulka. Carolrhoda Books, 2007.
Author website(s):
Our interview with Joe Kulka
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/joe-kulka-interview/
Publisher Website:
Reviews:
BookBuddy reviews
http://bookbuddyreviews.pbwiki.com/Wolf%27s+Coming!
James Patterson’s ReadKiddoRead.com
http://www.readkiddoread.com/book/65
Lesson plan ideas:
This book connects to fairy tale units and plays on our perceptions of fairy tale characters. For on possible connection see this lesson on “Comparing tales through performance” from ArtsEdge.
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2343/
Other information:
Wolf’s Coming was won the following awards: Wanda Gag Award for Best Book To Read Aloud, one of the best books of 2007 from School Library Journal, bronze medal in the “picture book 4-8 year old category” in the Moonbeam Awards, and 2007 Society of School Librarians International award in the Language Arts-Picture books category). From Joe Kulka’s website)
