Karly DeMain

TED 508
7/9/19
Annotated Bibliography for Children’s Books Grades 4th-8th

Clements, Andrew. Frindle. Scholastic, Inc., 1996.

This book is about a 5th grader named Nick who has a very creative mind and a
great ability to waste time in class. Nick learns that words only have meaning because we
assign them meaning. He takes this as a challenge and decides to create a new word:
Frindle. He and his friends come together to create an elaborate plan to replace the word
“pen” with “frindle.” Andrew Clements has written over 80 books, many of them for
young students. I think I would use this book in an author literature focus unit to compare
a variety of his writing.

Palacio, R. J. Wonder. Penguin Books Ltd, 2012.

This book is about a 5th grade students named Auggie who was born with a facial
deformity and going to a new school. The book follows Auggie through his year at school
as his classmates tease him and isolate him before very slowly starting to accept him. R.J.
Palacio has also written spin offs of this book as well as this book becoming a movie. I
would use this book as a literature focus unit to discuss social justice standards and could
play the movie at the end of the unit.

Tonatiuh, Duncan. Separate Is Never Equal: the Story of Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's

Fight for Desegregation. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2014.

This book is about the story of Sylvia Mendez and her struggles to end
segregation in California. After being denied access to an all white school, Sylvia’s
family rallies support to start a lawsuit in the federal courts. Duncan Tonatiuh is the
author of this book and has written other books featuring hispanic characters and
traditions. I would use this book in a literature unit to have a discussion with students
about the history of segregation and the unfair treatment of people of color.

Winston, Sherri. President of the Whole Fifth Grade. Little, Brown Young Readers,

2012.

This book is about a girl named Brianna who, after hearing a celebrity chef speak
at her school is determined to run for class president. Brianna faces a new challenge when
she learns there is someone else running against her. She struggles with balancing her
moral compass and her desire to win. Sherri Winston, the author of the book, has a
second book about Brianna becoming president of her 6th grade class. She has written a
few other books as well that feature African Americans as the main characters. I would
use this book in my library for students to read independently.
Yousafzai, Malala, and Patricia McCormick. Malala: the Girl Who Stood up for

Education and Changed the World. Indigo, 2014.

This is an autobiography of Malala Yousafzai that talks about her life and how
she has fought for women's rights in her home country of Pakistan. The book highlights
Malala’s desire to have education be a right for everyone. There are many books written
about Malala, but this one is specifically designed for younger students and focuses more
on her fight for education rather than her standing up against the Taliban. I think I would
use this book in my library, or have a literature unit that highlights her activism and can
incorporate social justice standards.