Savannah Reynolds

November 16, 2015

Bibliography
Criteria for Selecting Literature

Childrens Poetry Books

Picture Book
Childrens Novels
Non-Fiction Books

Picture Books
1) Author: Maurice Sendak
Title: Where the Wild Things Are
Publisher and year: HarperCollins, 1984
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading level: 3rd or 4th Grade
This picture book tells the story of a boy named Max who travels to the land of
where the wild things are. Max goes to this place after being sent to his room by
his mother for not listening to her or using his manners. In this strange land, the
wild things allow Max to become their king as he is different from them and so
they believe he is superior. After playing with his new friends for a while, Max
gets tired and decides it is time to go home to his mother so he travels back to his
bedroom where his mother has left him dinner.
Noteworthy traits: This story has a wonderful moral for children of all ages and
with its detailed penciled drawings and its famous quotes such as Ill eat you up I
love you so this book is a great one to have in a classroom. Because this story is
told from a childs point of view, like many childrens books, children can easily
relate to this novel which makes it a great teaching tool.
2) Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Title: The Polar Express
Publisher and year: Houghton Mifflin, 1985
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading level: 5th grade
This picture book tells the story of a young no named boy, who travels with
several other children to the North Pole via a train. While on the train he meets
several new friends and finds out the true meaning of Christmas as well as that
there really is a Santa Clause. Each friend that the boy meets upon the train has a
different personality which allows all of the characters to grow and realize that
there are different types of people. Also, the young boy is taught many lessons
with the help of the train conductor who is a man with great wisdom. At the
beginning of the book, the young boy does not believe in the famous holiday

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
figure, but by the end he realizes the true meaning of Santa Clause and how
important he is.
Noteworthy traits: This is a wonderful book with great pictures as well as
whimsical wording and wonderful detail. This could be a great book to read
around the holidays as it has a wonderful meaning and would help all types of
students understand the true meaning of the holiday season.
3) Author: Judi Barrett
Title: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Publisher and year: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1982
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading level: 3rd Grade
This picture book begins with a grandfather telling a story to his grandchildren
about a town in which precipitation is not water, but instead food. While at first
the town seems to like this situation, it soon begins to be a bad thing when the
calm rain becomes a terrible storm and the people of the town must figure out
how to stop food from falling from the sky. The book ends with the grandchildren
going outside the next morning to find snow. However it is not actually snow it is
food and it makes the children wonder if the grandfathers story was actually
fiction.
Noteworthy traits: Like most picture books, this story has wonderful picture
details and does a great job of illustrating the food coming from the sky. Also, the
authors word play is perfect for this audience age as she chooses words such as
Chewandswallow for the name of the town.
4) Author: Audrey Wood
Title: Heckedy Peg
Publisher and year: HMH Books for Young Readers, 1992
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading level: 4th Grade
This picture tells the story of seven children, who are named after the days of the
week, that let a witch into their house when their mother leaves to go to the
market. As they let the witch into the house, she turns each child into food and it
is up to the mother to change the child back before her children are permanently
edible.
Noteworthy traits: Favorite picture book as child. Amazing pictures and the
connection between the beginning and end is wonderful. Word play is great

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
(examples would include naming the children after the days of the week, or the
witch talking to the children in rhyme).
5) Author: Aaron Reynolds
Title: Creepy Carrots!
Publisher and year: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012
Type of book: Picture Book
Reading level: 2nd Grade
This book tells the story of a rabbit named Jasper who loved carrots. That was,
however, until the carrots started to fallow him everywhere he went. No matter
where Jasper was, he saw carrots and began to upset him so much that he began to
not like him. Fortunately for the carrots, this is exactly what they wanted and so
they carrots never had to worry that they were going to be eaten again.
Noteworthy traits: This is a great story. The author uses wonderful wording and
great pictures that are intense for something that is seen in a childrens book. For
the most part, the pages are in black and white with only the carrots being in
color. This book is great for young children as they could easily become
interesting and the simple sentences could help children learn to read.

Nonfiction Books
1) Author: Brian Floca
Title: Locomotive
Publisher and year: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2013
Type of book: Nonfiction
Reading level: 4th Grade
This nonfiction story of a locomotive tells about the beginning life of trains, the
people that rode on them, and the places that the trains were going. This story has
a main focus on the transcontinental railroad that began in 1869. Because this
story is nonfiction, it is full of facts and real information about trains during this
time and about the people and crew that were aboard them,
Noteworthy traits: Although this story is nonfiction, it also has wonderful pictures
that show great detail. With certain words being larger than others, the author does
a wonderful job at bringing attention to the text and making the book appealing to
a younger audience. Although younger children sometimes become bored with
nonfiction, it would be hard to do this with this book as it is so pretty and pulls
you in as you read.

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
2) Author: Melissa Sweet
Title: Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macys Parade
Publisher and year: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2011
Type of book: Nonfiction
Reading level: 4th
In this story, the author tells about the life of Tong Sarg, the man who invented the
Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons. The book tells of why Sarg decided
to take on such a large task and how his ideas went from being in his mind to
actually happening. Although this book is a biography, it is told to make sense to a
child which makes the story greatly appealing and perfect for the age group who
is probably the most interested in the balloons that float during the Macys
Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Noteworthy traits: This story has great pictures and does a wonderful job at telling
the story of a man whose hard work shows although his name is rarely known.
3) Author: Jennifer Berne
Title: On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein
Publisher and year: Chronical Books, 2013
Type of book: Nonfiction
Reading level: 5th Grade
This nonfiction story tells about the life of Albert Einstein from the time he was a
small child through his period of fame. The story highlights the concept of
imagination and how without it Albert Einstein would have never been the famous
genius that everyone knows him as. The book talks about some of Einsteins
famous discoveries as well as some things about his personal life and what made
him who is was.
Noteworthy traits: This book has a good variation of facts about Albert Einstein as
well as it could be a good teaching tool as it tells about what Einstein cared about
most. Although the pictures are simple, the overall idea is wonderful and writing a
book about Einstein so that a child can understand is a great idea.
4) Author: Philemon Sturges
Title: Bridges Are to Cross
Publisher and year: Puffin, 1998
Type of book: Nonfiction
Reading level: 5th Grade

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
The main point of this nonfiction book is to tell about the different types of
bridges. The book begins by talking about how bridges arent just for allowing
people to get across, but also for allowing materials to get across. The book then
continues by telling about all types of bridges and how bridges are often made of
different types of materials such as metal, wood, or concrete. The book even
includes how the ideas of bridges begin and how they become the real life thing.
Noteworthy traits: Although the topic of this book may not be interesting to
everyone, the pictures are incredible and because this book talks about all
different types of bridges it opens up the option for all types of students to
become involved. Even I, someone who doesnt find interest in bridges, enjoyed
reading this book.
5) Author: Nikki Giovanni
Title: Rosa
Publisher and year: Henry Holt & Company, 2005
Type of book: Nonfiction
Reading level: 5th Grade
This book tells the story of Rosa Parks decision to not give up her seat on a
Montgomery bus. This famous event was one of many parts of the civil rights
movement. Rosa Parks was also a part of the civil rights movement as she was
one of many that lead the way for desegregation. This book, like many of the
other nonfiction books I chose, was somewhat of a biography but because it was
written to appeal to children, this book is very interesting and easy to read.
Noteworthy traits: This book has wonderful pictures, as most childrens books
due. The cover photo is very intense as it shows a police officer hovering over
Rosa Parks. Great wording and the author does a good job of telling about this
time period and all of the events that were occurring.
Poetry Books
1) Author: Shel Silverstein
Title: Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings
Publisher and year: HarperCollins, 2014
Type of book: Poetry Book
Reading level: 4th Grade
This poetry book includes many poems by Shel Silverstein along with his famous
drawings that often accompany his poetry. Many of these poems are silly, as
childrens poems should be. Also, many of these poems tell a story or have a point
that goes along with them making them even better than just random, silly poems.

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
Noteworthy traits: I really like Shel Silberstein and all of his work. The poems in
Where the Sidewalk Ends are especially great as they have great word play as
many Silverstein poems do and they are so appealing to children of all ages.
2) Author: Mary Michaels White, Eva Moore, Beatrice Schnek de Regniers
Title: Sing a Song of Popcorn: Every Childs Book of Poem
Publisher and year: Scholastic Press, 1988
Type of book: Poetry Book
Reading level: 5th Grade
This book contains a collection of poems from several different poets. The poems
in this book are divided into sections to allow for easy finding and cover all sorts
of topics from weather, to presidents, to animals, to nonsense. Although this is a
book full of childrens poetry, poets do a good job of adding education to their
works and teaching as well as entertaining.
Noteworthy traits: The pictures in this poetry book definitely add to the poems
that are presented. Although some pictures do not match the poems that they go
with, for the most part the poets do a good job of making their works appealing to
the audience.
3) Author: Elsa Knight Bruno
Title: Punctuation Celebration
Publisher and year: Square Fish, Reprint edition 2012
Type of book: Poetry Book
Reading level: 3rd Grade
This poet using poetry to discuss the important topic of punctuation and uses
literary devices in a clever way to make punctuation much more appealing and
easier to learn. Also, by making poems about punctuation the audience is more
likely to remember what is being taught to them making these poems a wonderful
teaching tool. The poets in this book do a great job of making a boring topic seem
exciting.
Noteworthy traits: The author does a great job of using literary devices to teach
about punctuation via poetry (i.e. commas help a train to slow down). The
pictures, although somewhat cheesy arent bad and have somewhat of a
watercolor feeling.
4) Author: Jack Prelutsky
Title: Its Raining Pigs and Noodles
Publisher and year: Green Willow Books, Rep Rei edition, 2012

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
Type of book: Poetry Book
Reading level: 5th Grade
This poetry book has an overall theme of zaniness and whimsy. The poet, Jake
Prelutsky, is famous for his crazy and silly poems which allows for this book to be
very entertaining. Because there is not a big emphasis on seriousness in these
poems, they are very appealing especially to a younger audience.
Noteworthy traits: I really like all of Prelutskys work. Also in this book,
Prelutsky teams up with a wonderful illustrator which allows for wonderful
pictures to accompany funny poems. This is a perfect poetry book to have in a
classroom for when a break needs to be had by the students or the teacher.
5) Author: Lee Bennett Hopkins
Title: Sports! Sports! Sports! A Poetry Collection
Publisher and year: HarperCollins Publishers, 1999
Type of book: Poetry Book
Reading level: 2nd Grade
This book of poetry concentrates mainly on sports and sports related topics. With
several different poets involved in these poetic works, the book is filled with
many different types of poems as well as a variety of different sports that are
discussed within the poems. While some of the poems discuss the playing of the
actual sports, others discuss important topics such as winning and losing.
Noteworthy traits: I think this is a really import poetry book to have in a
classroom as often many children do play sports so it would be an easy way to
convey a message. Also, children may find an interest in reading by reading
poems about certain topics that they enjoy, like sports in this case.
Childrens Novels
1) Author: Madeleine LEngle
Title: A Wrinkle in Time
Publisher and year: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 1963
Type of book: Fantasy Fiction
Reading level: 5th Grade
This novel focuses on Meg Murray, an insecure teenage girl, who is in search of
her father. This is a coming of age story set against a science fiction backdrop.
This story has strong religious symbolism but the younger readers will only see
the concrete story of Meg and her siblings battling evil to rescue their father and
return him home.

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
Noteworthy traits: The characters in this story are appealing to young readers
because there is someone for almost every child to identify with. Despite the
science fiction/fantasy classification. This is in essence a coming of age novel rich
in symbolism and theme.
2) Author: E.B. White
Title: Charlottes Web
Publisher and year: Harper & Bros., 1952
Type of book: Coming of Age Novel
Reading level: 4th Grade
The novel is the story of a friendship. The first friendship is between Fern, a
young farm girl, and her pig Wilbur, the runt of the litter. The other friendship
that develops is between Wilbur and Charlotte, a spider who weaves messages
into her web. As the characters grow and develop they learn many lessons that
children will be able to identify with. This story deals with the issues of
friendship, sacrifice and death in ways that are both touching and realistic.
Noteworthy traits: The characters in the novel are well developed and believable.
The authors use of dialogue is especially effective in the personification of the
animals.
3) Author: Kate DiCamillo
Title: Because of Winn-Dixie
Publisher and year: Candlewick Press, 2000
Type of book: Coming of Age Novel
Reading level: 4th Grade
This novel tells the story Opal, a young girl, and Winn-Dixie, a stray dog that
Opal had found earlier that year in the Winn-Dixie parking lot. Throughout the
novel, the girl and the dog travel the town together learning about people that they
meet, making friends, and coming to terms with Opals mothers leaving. This is a
coming of age novel in which a girl finds herself and friends with the help of a
dog who probably needed her just as much as she needed him.
Noteworthy traits: Such a good coming of age novel with a great point that a dog
can be a girls best friend too. The language in this novel is perfect and the syntax
is written perfectly for its audience.
4) Author: Roald Dahl
Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
Publisher and year: Alfred A. Knopf Inc., 1964
Type of book: Fantasy Fiction
Reading level: 5th Grade
This novel tells about Charlie Bucket and several other children who win a chance
to tour a magic chocolate factory filled with candy, chocolate, and Umpa
Loompas. Throughout the book, the children fall to various temptations and must
suffer the consequences. In the end, Charlie is the only child left and he inherits
the factory thus good triumphs over evil.
Noteworthy traits: This book, like many other childrens books, explores a great
topic that would appeal to many young children. Also the fact that the young boy,
Charlie, is independent and brave unlike many of the people who enter the
chocolate factory with him allows for this character to be appealing and somewhat
noteworthy.
5) Author: Mary Norton
Title: The Borrowers
Publisher and year: J.M Dent, 1952
Type of book: Fantasy Fiction
Reading level: 5th Grade
This novel tells about a tiny family of three who live under the kitchen floor of a
family in England. The title of the book comes from the fact that this miniscule
family gets all of their belongings by borrowing items from their above neighbors.
However, because the family is so tiny most of the things they borrow are also
tiny such as thread spools to be used as chairs. The Clock familys journey begins
when they are spotted by one of their neighbors and they have to make the choice
to stay under the floor and risk being caught, or flee and try to save themselves.
Noteworthy traits: The concept of this novel is one that is very unique which
makes it appealing to children of all ages. Having a tiny family living under the
floorboards is something that could never happen although it is nice to wonder
where all of your missing house items go. Although the writing in this novel is
midcore, the concept is so unique that it makes up for the lacking other places.
6) Author: Margery Williams
Title: The Velveteen Rabbit
Publisher and year: George H. Dorgan Company, 1922
Type of book: Fantasy Fiction
Reading level: 4th Grade

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography
This novel has both realistic and practical elements. It is the story of a boy and
his toys. At first the velveteen rabbit is cast aside in favor of newer more exciting
toys, but in time the boy and the rabbit develop a special friendship. Although the
rabbit loves the boy he dreams of being real and in the end a fairy grants the
rabbit his wish and makes him into a real live bunny. Thus making him happy
and sad, because he can no longer be the boys special toy.
Noteworthy traits: This novel is a great example of personification in that all of
the toys in the nursery talk and have feelings. The illustrations are especially
beautiful and because parts of the story occur during the Christmas season, it is
often a holiday favorite.
7) Author: Neil Gaiman
Title: Coraline
Publisher and year: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002
Type of book: Dark Fantasy Fiction
Reading level: 5th Grade
This novel tells the story of Coraline who, after moving into a new home with her
parents, discovers a door that leads to a house almost exactly like hers with
another set of parents who have buttons for eyes. These parents, too, want
Coraline to be their daughter and want her to stay with them instead of going back
with her actual parents. Throughout this dark novel, Coraline has to decide
whether to stay with her actual parents or to leave them and befriend her new
found friends.
Noteworthy traits: This novels is very dark so it may not be appropriate for
younger readers, but it does have a good message and its dark content makes it
different than any other book on my bibliography. It is also somewhat of a
suspenseful book which could make it appealing to some children and possibly a
good teaching tool.
8) Author: Sid Fleishman
Title: The Whipping Boy
Publisher and year: Greenwillow Books, 1986
Type of book: Historical Fiction
Reading level: 4th Grade
Prince Horace (aka Prince Brat) and Jemmy from the streets are the main
characters in this novel set in Medieval times. When the Prince decides to run
away Jemmy is forced to join him and their adventure begins. Along the way they

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November 16, 2015
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make friends with a dancing bear and encounter outlaws. In the end the two boys
become friends and both learn lessons about life.
Noteworthy traits: This is a good novel to use in connection with a social studies
unit about medieval times. It does a good job of illustrating the class system and
setting of the time period. The novel also does a good job of developing
characters and theme.
9) Author: E.L. Konigsburg
Title: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Publisher and year: Atheneum Publishers, 1967
Type of book: Realistic Fiction
Reading level: 5th Grade
This novel tells about a young girl, Claudia, who runs away from her suburban
home with her brother Jamie and moves into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in
NYC. Once settling into the museum, the siblings find a statue and begin to figure
out the mystery behind it and the women who once sold the statue.
Noteworthy traits: This novel is one with a very good moral as it tells about a girl
with bravery, impendence, and determination. Although this story seems
implausible now, at the time it was written there is a chance that this could have
been a feasible idea for many children. Wonderful detail and the story concept is
one of uniqueness.
10) Author: Betsy Byars
Title: Cracker Jackson
Publisher and year: Puffin Story Books, 1985
Type of book: Realistic Fiction
Reading level: 5th Grade
This novel addresses the serious subject of spousal abuse through the eyes of
Cracker Jackson, the eleven year old central character. While treating the subject
in a serious way the author manages to work in humor through the exploits of
Cracker and his friend, Goat. Despite his attempts to help in the end it is
Crackers mother who comes to the rescue and saves his abused, former babysitter
Alma and her child.
Noteworthy traits: This book does a good job of addressing the serious subject of
abuse without overwhelming the reader with too much information. Although the
characters are relatively static, they are believable and likeable, keeping the reader
engaged and interested in the story.

Savannah Reynolds
November 16, 2015
Bibliography