Childrens and Adolescent Library Resources Log

Cathy Kaus
Graduate Student, University of Nebraska Kearney

TE 869 Intro. /School Library Program

Dr. Crow
April 22, 2013

Title/Author/
Publisher/Year

Award/Review

Description

Grandfathers Journey
By: Allen Say
Houghton Mifflin Co.,
1993

Caldecott Medal 1994

How Much is a Million?

By: David M.
Schwartz
Harper Collins
Publishers, 1985

ALA Notable
Childrens Books 1995

Owl Moon

Caldecott 1988

The story is told by

the grandson about
his grandfather. He
tells about his
grandfather coming
to America and his
experiences. The
grandfather misses
his homeland and
returns to Japan. The
author telling the
story follows in his
grandfathers
footsteps and goes to
California. He will
also develop a love
for both countries
This book helps
children
understand/visualize
a million, billion and
trillion by explaining
in terms they
understand. For
example, it would
take 95 years to
count to a billion.
This is the story of a

Interest Level

Curriculum
Connection

Picture Books (10)

K-3

Social Studies The

geography and
culture of America
and Japan (compare
and contrast)

K-3

Math Use to teach

place value, number
sense, addition.
Older students could
read how the
calculations were
made and create their
own.

K-3

Language Arts Use

By: Jane Yolen

Philomel Books, 1987

little girl and her dad

who go owling late
one night.

to discuss different
types of figurative
language
Science Use along
with a unit on owls

Round Trip
By: Ann Jonas
Greenwillow Books,
1983

Book Links 03/01/07

Unspoken: A Story
from the Underground
Railroad
By: Henry Cole
Scholastic Press, 2012

School Library Journal

starred 11/01/12

Casey at the Bat: A

Ballad of the Republic
Sung in the Year 1888
By: Ernest L. Thayer
Handprint Books,
2000

Caldecott Honor 2001

This is the story of

taking a trip to the
city and returning
home. You read the
book forward to hear
the trip to the city
and then turn the
book around and read
back for the return
trip.
The story of a little
girl who becomes
aware of a runaway
slave hiding at her
farm. She shares
food with the slave.
In return, the slave
will leave a doll for
her.

K-3

Art Use to teach

perception
(perspective) or
imagery. For older
kids, positive and
negative space.

K-3

This is the story of

Casey, a baseball
player. His team has
2 outs and it is
Caseys turn to bat.
Casey is a fan
favorite. However, he
strikes out.

3-6

Social Studies Use

to discuss the
underground railroad,
the Civil War and/or
slavery
Character-Building
Discuss compassion
and bravery.
Art Different
components of art,
paper/pencil sketches
Vocabulary Use to
teach vocabulary
words (haughty,
grandeur, writhe,
etc.)
Language Arts Unit
on poetry (alliteration,
parody & rhyme)

The Eleventh Hour

By: Graeme Base
Puffin Books, 1988

School Library Journal

02/89

Gilgamesh the King

Retold by: Ludmila
Zeman
Tundra Books, 1992

Publishers Weekly
5/26/98

This is the story of

Horace and his
birthday party. The
story itself tells about
the party and the
games the animals
played while waiting
for the feast. At the
end, the feast has
been stolen. The
reader must go back
through the book and
find the clues in order
to find the guilty
party.
Gilgamesh is a king
( god & man). He
is very cruel. The
gods create Enkidu
who is as powerful as
Gilgamesh. When the
two meet, there is a
fight. Gilgamesh will
eventually learn
about friendship and
eternal life. He will
change forever.

3-6

Language Arts
Recognize
foreshadowing and
symbolism, the
importance and
meaning of
illustrations,
importance of details
in a story, use of
logical thinking and
reasoning to figure
out the guilty party
and vocabulary
instruction

3-6

Social Studies Study

life/culture in
Mesopotamia, what
literature can tell us
about life in ancient
cultures
Language Arts Use
to discuss an epic,
archetype (heros
quest) or irony. For
younger kids study
of a heros quest

Januarys Sparrow
By: Patricia Polacco
Philomel Brooks, 2009

Multicultural Review
06/01/10 & School
Library Journal starred
09/01/09

An Undone Fairy Tale

By: Ian Lendler
Simon & Schuster
Books, 2005

Booklist 01/01/06

This is the story of

Sadie Crosswhite and
her family. The family
is owned by the
Giltner family in
Kentucky. After
witnessing the
beating of a fellow
slave & overhearing a
conversation, the
family runs away.
They use the
underground railroad
to make their way
north. Eventually,
they arrive in
Marshall, Michigan.
The threat of being
discovered never
goes away.
Eventually, they are
found and the town
and the Crosswhites
must decide what to
do. This is based on a
true story.
Starts as a typical
fairy tale but since
the reader is reading
too fast, the illustrator
cant keep up and is

3-6

Language Arts
Vocabulary
instruction,
comprehensions
questions and making
predictions, writing
assignments.
Social Studies Use
to discuss the
Underground Railroad
or slavery and explain
the roles of various
individuals, groups &
movements in the
social conflicts
leading to the Civil
War.

3-6

Language Arts Use

to discuss illustrations
or what an illustrator
does. Could also use
to discuss imagination

forced to make do
with whatever props
are at hand.
Eventually, he quits
and the narrator has
to finish the
illustrations. There
are 2 storylines
happening at the
same time.

or students could
create their own
stories spotlighting
part of the bookmaking process.

Junior Novels/
Chapter Books (5)
McBrooms Wonderful
One-Acre Farm
By: Sid Fleischman
Beech Tree Books,
1992

Elementary School
Library Collection
03/01/98, Library Talk
05/01/96

The Mad, Mad, Mad,

Mad Treasure Hunt
By: Megan McDonald
Scholastic, 2009

Booklist 07/01/09,
School Library Journal
08/01/09, Horn Book
04/01/10

The Miraculous
Journey of Edward
Tulane
By: Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick Press,
2006

ALA Notable
Childrens Books 2007

Mr. McBroom, his wife

& 11 children have a
one-acre farm that
can grow plants (or
anything) in no time.
This book is divided
into 3 tall tales. One
tells of how the
McBrooms get the
farm, the second is
about wind and the
third deals with the
problem of
grasshoppers.
Judy Moody and Stink
take a vacation to
Ocracoke Island.
They become
involved in a treasure
hunt where they have
to solve clues in order
to find the treasure.
Edward is a toy rabbit
who only loves
himself. He gets
separated from his
owner and travels
across the country
acquiring new
owners. With each

3-6

Language Arts
Figurative language,
exaggeration, tall tale
unit
Science Farming and
growing things
Social Studies
Culture and diversity,
unit on U.S.
geography

3-6

Language Arts
Vocabulary, rhyme,
riddles & figurative
language
Social Studies Unit
on North Carolina
history & geography
or unit on pirates
Language Arts
Guided Reading
activities, literary
terms & vocabulary
Social Studies
Diversity
Science Constellations

3-6

owner, Edwards
learns about love and
eventually returns
home.

Out of the Dust

By: Karen Hesse
Scholastic Inc., 1997

Newbery Medal 1998

Snow Treasure
By: Marie McSwigan
Puffin Books, 2004

Horn Book starred

04/01/06

Told from the

perspective of a 13
year old girl during
the Dust Bowl. She
retells what life was
like on her farm and
the struggles she
encountered. These
include the death of
her mother and
brother, her
relationship with her
father and the
accident that scarred
her hands.
Snow Treasure is the
story of Peter
Lundstrom & a group
of Norwegian
children. The children
must use their sleds
to smuggle gold past
the German army. At
one point, a German
soldier is suspicious
and Peter must create
a diversion and is
captured. His only
chance for being
rescued comes from a
Polish soldier in the

3-6

Language Arts Use

to discuss poetry (free
verse) and imagery
(simile, metaphor,
personification etc.)
Social Studies Use
to discuss what life
was like during the
Dust Bowl and some
of the tough decisions
that had to be made

3-6

Language Arts
Vocabulary
instruction,
comprehension
discussions,
visualizing, making
connections to
present day.
Social Studies Unit
on World War II
Character Building
Discuss bravery,
teamwork & how
anyone can make a
difference

German army.

YA Novels (5)
The Coffin Quilt
By: Ann Rinaldi
Harcourt, 2001

Booklist 09/01/99

The Giver
By: Lois Lowry
Dell Laurel-Leaf, 1993

Newbery Medal 1994

This is the fictional

account of the
Hatfield-McCoy feud.
It is told from the
perspective of Fanny
McCoy. Fanny is
caught in the middle
of the feud and must
make some tough
choices. She must
also find a way out of
the hatred. The story
gives a brief
background but
focuses on the
romance between
Roseanna McCoy and
Johnse Hatfield and
the resulting violence.
The story is told from
the perspective of
Jonas, an 11 year old
boy. He lives in a
perfect community.
There is no emotion,
color or choices. He
is chosen to be the
Receiver of Memory.
As the Giver transmits
memories, Jonas

5-8

Language Arts
Literary term, dialect
and vocabulary
Social Studies
History of the
Hatfield-McCoy feud,
culture of the time
and area.
Character Building
Destructive nature of
hatred and violence

5-8

Language Arts
Literary devices and
symbolism, themes
such as: death,
individualism,
memories, pain &
pleasure, rules &
order, traditions &
customs

realizes what his

community is
missing. He also
develops an
attachment to Gabriel
and must escape to
Elsewhere in an
attempt to save him
from release (death).

The House of Dies

Drear
By: Virginia Hamilton
Aladdin Paperbacks,
1996

Book Links 01/01/99

Palace Beautiful
By: Sarah DeFord
Williams
G.P. Putnam Sons,
2010

Horn Book 10/01/10,

School Library Journal
starred 03/01/10,
Kirkus Reviews
03/01/10

This is the story of

Thomas Small. His
family moves to Ohio
and lives in a house
that was a stop on
the Underground
Railroad. The house
is said to be haunted
and has secret
passages and a
hidden treasure.
Thomas explores the
house and meets
Pluto, the caretaker.
He also deals with the
neighbors, the
Darrows. Thomas
must unravel the
mystery and save the
treasure.
Sadie moves to Utah
and finds a journal in
the attic of her new
home. She, her sister
Zuzu and the
neighbor Bella take
turns reading the
journal of Helen, a 13
year old living in 1918
during the influenza
pandemic. As Sadie

5-8

Language Arts
Practice active
reading skills, make
character maps, what
is a legend &
vocabulary instruction
Social Studies Study
the Underground
Railroad and the
social conditions that
led to it and research
abolitionists
Industrial Tech
Create house plans

5-8

Language Arts
Importance of
descriptions and how
the author uses color
words & character
development
Social Studies
History of influenza
pandemic and World
War I
Science Study of

reads Helens journal,

she come to terms
with events in her
own life that parallels
Helens life. Namely,
the loss of her
mother. Bella must
also face challenges.

influenza and
pandemics

Wonderstruck
By: Brian Selznick
Scholastic Press, 2011

ALA Notable Children's

Books 2012, Parents'
Choice Gold Award
2011, Schneider
Family Book Award
2012

This book is 2 stories

in one. The first story
is told with text and
occurs in 1977. The
second story is told
with illustrations and
occurs in 1927. At
the end, both stories
weave together. The
main character in
both stories is deaf
and deals with the
challenges they must
overcome.

5-8

Multicultural Deaf
culture and sign
language
Language Arts
Vocabulary, setting
and themes
Art Pencil drawings

Dave the Potter

By: Laban Carrick Hill
Little, Brown & Co.,
2010

Caldecott Honor 2011,

Coretta Scott King
Illustrator Award 2011

This is the biography

of Dave, a South
Carolina slave. The
biography
concentrates on
Daves art, making
pottery.

K-3

So You Want to be
President?
By: Judith, St. George
Philomel Books, 2012

ALA Notable Children's

Books 2001, Caldecott
Medal 2001

This book takes a look

at the Presidents of
the United States. It
focuses on their
personality character
traits. The message
is that anyone can
become President.

3-6

Language Arts
Discussions on
biographies & poetry
Social Studies
Slavery and the
impact on families,
significance of pottery
in history
Art types of pottery
Social Studies Use
when studying history
or government,
discussions could
include qualifications
or historical context

Non-Fiction(5)

Fun information you

wont find in
textbooks.

The Notorious
Benedict Arnold
By: Steve Sheinkin
Roaring Brook Press,
2010

YALSA Award for

Excellence in
Nonfiction for Young
AdultsWinner 2012

This is the biography

of Benedict Arnold. It
starts with his
childhood and
continues through his
death. It addresses
his heroism and
treachery.

5-8

Written in Bone
By: Sally Walker
Carolrhoda Books,
2009

ALA Notable
Childrens Books 2010

Several 17th century

graves are discovered
around Jamestown.
This book takes the
reader through the
scientific process of
discovering who
these people were
and their place in
history. Some of the
bodies found include
a young boy, a
captain, a slave and a
wealthy woman. All
results show
differences in way of
life and quality of life.
Great way to show
how science and
history are related.

5-8

Social Studies Use

during Revolutionary
War unit, analyze
primary and
secondary sources
Language Arts Use
for book projects or to
discuss components
of a biography
Language Arts
Vocabulary both
academic and content
(science & social
studies)
Social Studies Use
when studying
colonial history (way
of life, quality of life)
Science Use in the
study of biology and
scientific methods

Into Thin Air: A

Personal Account of
the Mount Everest
Disaster
By: Jon Krakauer
Anchor Books, 1999

ALA Notable Children's

Books 1998, Alex
Award 1998

Jon Krakauer recounts

his trek up Mt.
Everest in 1996.
Throughout the climb,
the reader gets to
know each member of
the group and the
challenges they faced
with acclimatization.
The climax of the
story occurs when the
team tries to reach
the summit and the
2:00pm turn-around
time is not enforced.

YA

Geography Unit on
the geography and
culture of the region
Science Human
anatomy and
physiology of cold
and oxygen
deprivation

The Dancing Turtle: A

Folktale from Brazil
By: Pleasant DeSpain
August House
LittleFolk, 1998

Booklist 05/01/98,
School Library Journal
05/01/98

K-3

Language Arts Unit

on folktales &
symbolism
Social Studies Unit
on Brazil (history,
geography, culture)

Frog Goes to Dinner

By: Mercer Mayer
Dial Books for Young
Readers, 1974

Horn Book 10/01/04

Turtle knows how to

play the flute and
dance. One day he is
captured and must
find a way to escape.
He will trick the
children in order to
escape but the dad
will try to catch her
again.
A family goes to
dinner at a fancy
restaurant without
knowing that the
boys pet frog has

K-3

Language Arts
Making predictions,
storytelling, creative
writing, discuss
emotions and

Free Choice(5)

come along. The frog

will create chaos in
the restaurant.

feelings.

Anpao
By: Jamake Highwater
J.B. Lippincott Co.,
1977

Newbery Honor 1978

Blood on the River

By: Elisa Carbone
Puffin Books, 2006

School Library Journal

starred 07/01/06,
Voice of Youth
Advocates 08/01/06

Anpao goes on a
quest in order to
marry Ko-Ko-Mik-e-is.
The adventures he
has on his quest are
supposed to allow
him to find out who
he really is. He must
travel through time
and encounter Native
American legends on
his way to the lodge
of the Sun.
Samuel Collier is an
orphan in London and
is chosen to go to
America to help settle
Jamestown. He is the
page to Capt. John
Smith. The story tells
of the ocean crossing
and life in the new
settlement. The
social class structure
of the time period is
evident. The story
tells how the colony
must implement new
ways in order to
survive. The
significance of the

5-8

Social Studies
Studies of the Native
Americans (traditions,
myths & culture)
Reading Discussion
on myths, older kids
could compare it to
Homers Odyssey

5-8

Social Studies Unit

on Jamestown or early
American history, use
of primary sources to
analyze history &
content vocabulary
instruction
Language Arts Use
in literature circle

Native Americans and

their culture is
included in the story.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

By: Jeff Kinney
Amulet Books, 2007

Book Links starred

01/01/08, Horn Book
10/01/07, Kirkus
Reviews 03/01/07

This is the JOURNAL

(not diary) of a middle
school boy, Greg. It
chronicles an entire
school in Gregs
middle school. He
has to deal with
bullies, friendships
and school activities.

5-8

Language Arts
Character analysis,
sequence chart
(timeline),
vocabulary, journal
writing