CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 1

LIS6564.720F20 Reading Project

Taylor Howell
University of South Florida
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 2

Table of Contents
I. Picture Books
1. Bilal Cooks Daal
2. A Different Pond
3. Drawn Together
4. Dreamers
5. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
6. My Beautiful Birds
7. My Papi Has a Motorcycle
8. My Rainy Day Rocket Ship
9. When Aidan Became a Brother
10. You're Snug With Me

II. Transitional books

1. The Alien Next Door 1: The New Kid
2. Juana and Lucas
3. Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel
4. Meet Yasmin!
5. The Un-Friendship Bracelet (1) (Craftily Ever After)

III. Poetry
a) Anthologies
1. Poetry By Heart
2. Poetry Speaks Who I Am: Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence,
and Everything Else
b) Themes
1. Rutherford B., Who Was He?: Poems About Our Presidents
2. This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness
c) Single Author
1. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers

IV. Traditional Literature

1. Fearless Ivan and His Faithful Horse Double-Hump: A Russian Folk Tale
2. Iron John
3. Leave Me Alone!
4. Ramayana: An Illustrated Retelling
5. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

V. Modern Fantasy and Science Fiction

1. The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain Book 1)

2. The Girl Who Drank the Moon
3. Gregor the Overlander
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 3

4. Pi in the Sky
5. A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1)

VI. Multimedia Items

1. ABC Mouse
2. Arduino
3. Ask the Story Bots
4. Crash Course
5. Tumble Books

VII. Contemporary Fiction

1. The Bridge Home
2. Ghost Boys
3. Guts
4. The Other Boy
5. Superstar

VIII. Historical Fiction

1. Ahimsa
2. Dogs of War
3. Finding Langston (The Finding Langston Trilogy)
4. Inside Out and Back Again
5. One Crazy Summer

IX. Nonfiction
1. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
2. Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans
3. A Journey Through Art: A Global History
4. The Mystery of Life: How Nothing Became Everything
5. Thank You, Mr. Falker
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 4

I. Picture Books

1. Bilal Cooks Daal

a. Saeed, Aisha. Syed, Anoosha. Bilal Cooks Daal. Salaam Reads / Simon &
Schuster Books for Young Readers (2019). Asian/Pacific American
Award for Literature Honor Book 2019
b. Age Range: 5-9
c. Evaluation of Quality: The story teaches overcoming anxiety about
cultural differences and also provides some information about Indian
cooking.
d. Assessment of potential use: Can be used to teach kids about patience,
diversity, or trying new foods.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will relate to the feelings of the
main character, Bilal, and love the evocative description of the tasty daal.

2. A Different Pond (Asian American)

a. Phi, Bao. Bui, Thi. Capstone Young Readers (2017). A Different Pond.
Caldecott Honor Books 2018
b. Age Range: 5-8
c. Evaluation of Quality: This book has a very positive portrayal of
immigrant parents, parents who need to work multiple jobs to make a
living, and Vietnamese culture.
d. Assessment of potential use: While this book would be good for
educational purposes, it would also make for a good bed time story due to
the muted color scheme and mostly night setting.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: This book will appeal to children's
desire to bond with their family, especially their father figures.

3. Drawn Together (Asian American)

a. Lê, Minh. Santat, Dan. Little, Drawn Together. Brown Books for Young
Readers (2018). Booklist.
b. Age Range: 5-7
c. Evaluation of Quality: The illustrations are framed loosely like a graphic
novel, which draws the reader into the story through the dynamism of the
colors and sketches
d. Assessment of potential use: This would make for a good story time book
for school and especially for a home with bilingual Vietnamese/English
family members.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 5

e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will love the super hero-like

drawings of the main character and his Grampa as they go on drawing
adventures.

4. Dreamers (Latinx)
a. Morales, Yuyi. Dreamers. Neal Porter Books (2018). Notable Children's
Books 2019.
b. Age Range: 3-7
c. Evaluation of Quality: The illustrations are of high artistic quality using
mixed media and vibrant acrylic.
d. Assessment of potential use: Children will learn about immigration,
learning to speak English as a native Spanish speaker, and the importance
of libraries.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will identify with the baby and
the mother, and will find the expressively drawn characters engaging.

5. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story (Native American)

a. Maillard, Kevin Noble. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story.
Roaring Brook Press (2019). Notable Children's Books 2020.
b. Age Range: 4-7
c. Evaluation of Quality: Fry Bread masterfully conveys concepts of Native
American culture, history, diversity and tradition in a very simple story
d. Assessment of potential use: This book can be used in school and at home
to introduce children to Native American culture.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: The description of the delicious fry
bread will entice children to know more about it and what it means
culturally.

6. My Beautiful Birds
a. Del Rizzo, Suzanne. My Beautiful Birds. Pajama Press (2017). Junior
Library Guild Selection.
b. Age Range: 6-9
c. Evaluation of Quality: The art done in polymer clay is stunning in its
beauty and the story delicately addresses emotions associated with
displacement, trauma and loss.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book can be used to talk to child about
the Syrian refugee crisis and is good for processing complex emotions.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: The art is very appealing and there is
tension as to if Sami will see his birds again.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 6

7. My Papi Has a Motorcycle (Latinx)

a. Quintero, Isabel. Peña, Zeke. My Papi Has a Motorcycle. Kokila (2019).
Pura Belpré Illustration Honor.
b. Age Range: 6-11
c. Evaluation of Quality: This book has a very positive portrayal of a
father/daughter relationship and attitude towards change.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book can be used in school to help
children learn Spanish words and about life in predominantly Spanish-
speaking communities.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Both Latinx and other children will
recognize similar neighborhood social structures and will have fun
comparing the book's to their own.

8. My Rainy Day Rocket Ship (African American)

a. Sheppard, Markette. Palmer, Charly. My Rainy Day Rocket Ship. Denene
Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2020).
Booklist.
b. Age Range: 3-5
c. Evaluation of Quality: The painted illustrations are extremely vibrant and
the story is a fun portrayal of a child creating for fun
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be a wonderful bedtime
story since the protagonist goes to bed by the end.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will love the simple story of
using household items to create an (imaginary) rocket ship and want to do
the same.

9. When Aidan Became a Brother (African American)

a. Lukoff, Kyle. When Aidan Became a Brother. Lee & Low Books (2019).
Rainbow List 2020.
b. Age Range: 5-8
c. Evaluation of Quality: The story sensitively addresses transgender identity
but centers on the dilemma of a new baby sibling.
d. Assessment of potential use: Parents may read this book to their child to
prepare them for a new sibling or reassure them that their gender identity
is valid.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will love the detailed
illustrations done in pen and pleasing shades of watercolor
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 7

10. You're Snug With Me

a. Soundar, Chitra. Mistry, Poonam. You’re Snug With Me. Lantana
Publishing (2018). Booklist.
b. Age Range: 3-7
c. Evaluation of Quality: The intricate and colorfully patterned illustrations
on each page warrant multiple re-reads.
d. Assessment of potential use: It can be used as a bedtime story due to the
repetitive "you're snug with me" refrain.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will feel comforted by the
mother bear's assurances and will love the beautiful designs.

II. Transitional Books

1. The Alien Next Door 1: The New Kid

a. Newton, A.I. Sarkar, Anjan. The Alien Next Door 1: The New Kid. Little Bee
Books (2018). SSYRA Jr. annotated list 2019.
b. Age Range: 5-7
c. Evaluation of Quality: Through the entertaining metaphor of an outer-space
alien child moving to Earth, readers sympathize with the difficulties of
integrating into a new school, culture, and social group.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be great for independent
reading or a book talk about tolerance.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will find Zeke's alien antics funny,
but yet will sympathize with Zeke's trepidation at facing his first day in a new
school.

2. Juana and Lucas

a. Medina, Juana. Juana and Lucas. Candlewick (2019). Pura Belpre Award
Winners: 2017.
b. Age Range: 6-11
c. Evaluation of Quality: The illustrations are vibrant and interact with the text in
interesting ways.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be great for an early Spanish
course or for ESOL students. It contains much Spanish and English
vocabulary
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children who have Latinx heritage or are
from South America will recognize aspects of Juana's life but all children can
empathize Juana's difficulty to learn a new language

3. Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel

 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 8

a. Grimes, Nikki. Christie, R. Gregory. Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel. Puffin
Books (2010). Denver Public Library recommended reads
b. Age Range: 6-11
c. Evaluation of Quality: Nikki Grimes vibrantly describes the inner city life and
the memorable and assertive protagonist, Dyamonde, in this story about
working past first impressions and making new friends.
d. Assessment of potential use: I would use this book in school curriculum
because there are many lessons and positive conversion starters that can be
gleaned from this book.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: This book portrays African American
characters and communities in a positive and non-stereotypical way that
relates to the lived experience of many children.

4. Meet Yasmin!
a. Faruqi, Saadia. Aly, Hatem. Meet Yasmin! Picture Window Books (2018).
School Library Journal.
b. Evaluation of Quality: The book is easily digestible by having colorful
illustrations and episodic structure, yet it is filled with good vocabulary and
teaching moments.
c. Assessment of potential use: This story has a number of positive lessons that
are reflected in discussion questions in the back of the book, such as having a
plan if one gets lost or coming up with project ideas.
d. Assessment of appeal to children: Yasmin is a very relatable and energetic
character and the portrayal of her Pakistani family is in no way stereotypical
or offensive.

5. The Un-Friendship Bracelet (1) (Craftily Ever After)

a. Maker, Martha. Yan, Xindi. Little Simon The Un-Friendship Bracelet. (2018).
Goodreads.
b. Age Range: 6-11
c. Evaluation of Quality: The illustrations pair well with the content of the story.
d. Assessment of potential use: The craft instructions in the back of the book can
be used as a class activity to pair with the reading of this book.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will sympathize with the feeling of
being left out, but will find comfort that there can be resolutions to friendship
problems.

III. Poetry
a) Anthologies
1. Poetry By Heart
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 9

a. Attenborough, Liz. Poetry By Heart. Chicken House (2001).

Source: Publisher's Weekly
b. Age Range: 8-10
c. Evaluation of Quality: The illustrations on each page vary in style
and medium which prevents the anthology from feeling repetitive.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book can be used in an English
class for an assignment to memorize poems or to put poems to
music.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will enjoy the fun and
simple sing-song poems and the way the anthology gently
progresses the complexity of the selected poems through the book.

2. Poetry Speaks Who I Am: Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence,

and Everything Else
a. Paschen, Elise. Raccah, Dominique. Poetry Speaks Who I Am:
Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence, and Everything
Else. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (2010). Source: School Library
Journal Book Review Stars
b. Age Range: 11-18
c. Assessment of Quality: Poetry is meant to be read out loud; the CD
accompanying this anthology gives readers the chance to listen to
these poems from their own authors
d. Assessment of potential use: This anthology can be utilized for
English class curriculum about poetry since it contains both classic
work and contemporary poetry.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: The poetry selections are
grounded in tangible experiences and places that tweens and teens
are familiar with."
b) Themes
1. Rutherford B., Who Was He?: Poems About Our Presidents
a. Singer, Marilyn. Hendrix, John. Rutherford B., Who Was He?:
Poems About Our Presidents. Little, Brown Books for Young
Readers (2013). Source: School Library Journal Book Review
Stars, 2014
b. Age: 6-13
c. Assessment of Quality: Not only are the poems about all of the
U.S. presidents up to Obama are inventive and informative, but the
illustrations on each page are bold and interesting as well.
d. Assessment of potential use: this would be a fun book to include in
a U.S. history curriculum as a tool to help learn about or memorize
the presidents.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 10

e. Assessment of appeal to children: The styles of the poems for each

president vary greatly, some are even rhyming dialogues, which
help keep children engaged."
3. This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness
a. Sidman, Joyce. Zagarenski, Pamela. This Is Just to Say: Poems of
Apology and Forgiveness. HMH Books for Young Readers (2014).
Source: School Library Journal Book Review Stars, 2007
b. Age: 6-13
c. Assessment of Quality: The way the poems in the second half of
the book answer the apology poems in the first half of the book
make the reader pay attention to and re-read many of the poems.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be great to read as a
class and emulate since all of the poetry in this book was written
by a class of 6th grade students.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Since most of the poetry in this
book are written by children, the poems are highly relatable and
digestible to children.
c) Single Author
1. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers
a. Rogers, Fred. Flowers, Luke. A Beautiful Day in the
Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers. Quirk Books (2019).
New York Times Best Sellers
b. Age Range: 6+
c. Evaluation of Quality: This collection of Mr. Roger's poetry
beautifully captures the positivity and love conveyed in his words
with accompanying bright, crayon-like drawings.
d. Assessment of potential use: A parent who grew up watching Mr.
Rogers would read or sing this poetry to their child to teach them
important life skills like self esteem, over coming fears and
learning from mistakes.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: The messages in Mr. Roger's
catchy songs are filled with positive message that are important for
and relatable to every generation of children."

IV. Traditional Literature

1. Fearless Ivan and His Faithful Horse Double-Hump: A Russian Folk Tale
a. Yershov, Pyotr. Zipes, Jack. Fearless Ivan and His Faithful Horse
Double-Hump: A Russian Folk Tale. Univ Of Minnesota Press
(2018). Source: Publisher's Weekly
b. Age: 10-15
c. Evaluation of Quality: The characters in this fable are very
memorable: the main character Ivan makes many foolish decisions
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 11

but his faithful friend Double-Hump is always there to provide a

comforting shoulder.
d. Assessment of potential use: This folktale can be used as assigned
reading for a curriculum about fairy tales around the world.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will laugh at the
exasperation of Double-Hump with the other foolish characters and
will be interested in the inventive world-building.

2. Iron John
a. Mayer, Marianna. Iron John. HarperCollins (1999). Source: Booklist.
b. Age: 5-10
c. Evaluation of Quality: The author pulls details from several classic Wild
Man folktales to craft an engaging and beautiful fairy tale.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be a wonderful bed time
story because there are no harsh themes like animal death which can occur
frequently in other traditional stories.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will find the character of Iron
John fascinating: at first, he may appear frightening like a big foot
monster, then, he may seem like a mystical Merlin-like character; later, he
appears as a benevolent father figure.

3. Leave Me Alone!
a. Brosgol, Vera. Leave Me Alone! Roaring Brook Press (2016). Source:
Publisher's Weekly
b. Age: 3-9
c. Evaluation of Quality: The illustrations with the cartoonish facial
expressions and accompanying text fonts make this a very humorous twist
on a traditional fairy tale.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be great read aloud to
children in a story time setting.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will find the ridiculous
escalation of the story (the granny goes to the forest, then a mountain, then
the moon, and finally a black hole) very entertaining."

4. Ramayana: An Illustrated Retelling

a. Sattar, Arshia. Ramayana: An Illustrated Retelling. Restless Books (2018).
Source: Publisher’s Weekly
b. Age Range: 10-15
c. Assessment of Quality: While many fairytales have didactic narration, this
retelling of the famous Hindu story vividly characterizes the heroes and
keeps the action fast-paced.
d. Assessment of potential use: Ramayana is a good starting point for
teaching children about Hindu mythology.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 12

e. Assessment of appeal to children: One of the main characters is a flying

monkey with shape shifting powers who fights a sea monster."

5. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

a. Scieszka, Jon. Smith, Lane. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly
Stupid Tales, Viking Books for Young Readers (1992). Source: Children's
Books in Children's Hands
b. Age: 5-8
c. Assessment of Quality: This book uses metanarrative, unique illustrations,
and playful text formats to create a delightfully zany take on traditional
fairytales.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be a great bedtime story or
as a learning tool to introduce the concept of metanarrative.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: The repetitive chant of the stinky cheese
man is very catchy and all of the stories are very funny."

V. Modern Fantasy and Science Fiction

1. The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain Book 1)

a. Alexander, Lloyd, The Book of Three. Square Fish (2006). Source:
Children's Books in Children's Hands
b. Age Range: 9-12
c. Evaluation of Quality: This book is the first in a classic ""hero's journey""
fantasy series with very memorable characters like Taran the ""assistant
pig keeper"", princess Elionwy, Hen Wen, and Gurgi.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be great read aloud for a
chapter-by-chapter story time for elementary school class.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: the Gaelic names are very fun to
pronounce and the author has put a pronunciation glossary in the back."

2. The Girl Who Drank the Moon

a. Barnhill, Kelly. The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Algonquin Young
Readers (2019). Source: Children's Books in Children's Hands.
b. Age Range: 10-16
c. Evaluation of Quality: The weaving narrative and entwining story lines,
emotions, and interpretations on familial love truly makes this fantasy
book stand out among the rest.
d. Assessment of potential use: This would be great either as and
independent reading assignment or as a bookclub selection for a middle or
high school bookclub since many situations in the book can be used as
conversation starters.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 13

e. Assessment of appeal to children: The book is a fast-paced read because of

the tension set up in the beginning of the book with the protagonist
destined for great magic and her mother being locked away."

3. Gregor the Overlander

a. Collins, Suzanne. Gregor the Overlander. Scholastic Paperbacks (2013)
Source: Children's Books in Children's Hands
b. Age Range: 9-12
c. Evaluation of Quality: Familiar fantasy tropes, like falling into a fantasy
realm from the real world, are used and given an urban spin that city kids
can more relate to.
d. Assessment of potential use: This would be a fantastic independent
reading series for a child who loved stories like The Borrowers or The
Tale of Despereux.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will find the fantasy creatures
and their cultures (human-sized bats, rats, roaches and spiders) fantastical
yet more familiar than trolls, fairies, and other typical fantasy beings."

4. Pi in the Sky
a. Mass, Wendy. Pie in the Sky. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2014).
Source: Publisher's Weekly
b. Age Range: 8-12
c. Evaluation of Quality: This book expresses an unflappable view of human
nature as inherently good and unique in the universe.
d. Assessment of potential use: This book would be a good recommendation to a
child who is interested in astrology.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will find the main character, Joss,
relatable and entertaining.

6. A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1)

a. Guin, Ursula K. Le. A Wizard of Earthsea. Spectra (2004). Source:
Children's Books in Children's Hands
b. Age Range: 10-18
c. Assessment of Quality: The fantasy worldbuilding is incredibly rich and
engrossing on a level similar to works by Tolkien or C.S. Lewis.
d. Assessment of potential use: This would be a great independent read for a
middle-schooler who already loves fantasy.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: This book has familiar fantasy elements
such as dragons, magic, and journeys, but centers on interpersonal
relationships and atoning for past mistakes."

VI. Multimedia
1. ABCmouse
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 14

a. Age of Learning, Inc. ABCmouse. iOS app. Multi subject areas.

b. Age Range: 2-8
c. Evaluation of Quality: ABCmouse is an app/website created by educators
that offers thousands of fun educational activities in reading, math, art,
music, etc.
d. Assessment of potential use: This app can be offered to young children by
parents as a safe and educational game during screen time.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will find the wide range of
games, avatar customization, and colorful graphics engaging and fun.

2. Arduino
a. Banzi, Massimo. Arduino. 2005. Math and computer science.
b. Age Range: 13+
c. Evaluation of Quality: Arduino is an open-source electronics hardware
and software platform that is educational, easy to learn, and contains
endless possibilities for creative projects.
d. Assessment of potential use: Arduino can be used as a creative tool in a
maker-space to teach children and teenagers about programming and
wiring.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: The Arduino scales in difficulty and the
way it is analogous to real-life electronics will keep interested children
coming back to learn more.

3. Ask the Story Bots

a. Spiridellis, Evan & Gregg. Ask the Story Bots. Netflix (2016). Science.
b. Age Range: 5-10
c. Evaluation of Quality: This Netflix show educates young children on
topics of science through the voices of children asking questions about
how the world works as they are wont to do.
d. Assessment of potential use: this show can be used as a better alternative
to usual cartoons.
e. Appeal to children: the visual medium of the show incorporates a mix of
animation types and live action actors and children which will keep
children engaged with the show.

4. Crash Course
a. Green, John. Crash Course. YouTube 2012-present. Social Studies
b. Age Range: 14-18
c. Evaluation of Quality: Crash Course is a long-running YouTube channel
by author John Green which has short, engaging videos covering a wide
range of historical and social topics.
d. Assessment of potential use: These videos are often used by American
students to study for history tests
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 15

e. Assessment of appeal to children: the way that the host(s) talk to the
audience is very down to Earth and the short animations accompanying
the videos are very well done.

5. Tumble Books
a. Tumblebooks Digital Inc. iOS app. 2015. Reading.
b. Age Range: 2-8
c. Evaluation of Quality: Tumble Books is an e-Book app containing
hundreds of picture books that are read aloud with highlighted text and
illustrations in a video accompaniment.
d. Assessment of potential use: This app can be used as a story time on the
go; for example, young children can listen and read along during a car
ride.
e. Assessment of appeal to children: Young children will love being able to
listen and watch their favorite picture books read aloud to them with just a
press of a button.

VII. Contemporary Realistic Fiction

1. The Bridge Home
i. Venkatraman, Padma. The Bridge Home. Puffin Books. 2020. (SSYR list
2020-2021).
ii. Age Range: 10+
iii. Evaluation of Quality: The book's setting in an impoverished area of urban
India gives a glimpse into life few American children have experienced,
and some heavy themes like parental abuse, homelessness, and grief are
treated gracefully.
iv. Assessment of potential use: This book would be a good pick for an
independent read or a summer read for a book report.
v. Assessment of appeal to children: Children would feel sympathy for
Rukku and Viji's plight, especially with the way the book is narrated in the
2nd person."
2. Ghost Boys
i. Rhodes, Jewell Parker. Ghost Boys. Little, Brown Books for Young
Readers. 2019. (Publisher’s Weekly).
ii. Age Range: 10+
iii. Evaluation of Quality: Ghost Boys addresses the problem of modern-day
institutional racism and police brutality in a sensitive and positive manner.
iv. Assessment of Potential Use: This book can be used for a middle school
class to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 16

v. Assessment of Appeal to Children: The palpable outrage and sorrow

Jerome expresses over his wrongful death and how it effects his family
will linger in young readers' minds.

3. Guts
i. Telgemeier, Raina. Guts. Graphix 2019. (Eisner Award).
ii. Age Range: 8-12
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This graphic novel about an anxious young girl
covers a wide variety of topics, such as metal health, IDB, and therapy,
which are not usually discussed with such honesty in books for children of
this age range.
iv. Assessment of potential use: This book can be used by parents and
teachers to open up a dialog about anxiety.
v. Assessment of appeal to children: Children who feel anxious and plagued
by mental health-related sicknesses will feel consoled and informed by
this work.

4. The Other Boy

i. Hennessey, M. G. The Other Boy. Monster, Sfe R. HarperCollins. 2016.
(Publisher’s Weekly).
ii. Age Range: 8-12
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This book thoughtfully explores what it is like to
grow up being transmasculine, and deals with different parental attitudes,
bullying, gender therapy, and sports.
iv. Assessment of potential use: This book can be used to spread awareness to
children about being transgender so that they can act appropriately when
they meet a transgender individual.
v. Assessment of appeal to Children: Children will not see Shane as other,
but as a normal boy who just wants to be loved and respected like
everyone else.

5. Superstar
i. Davis, Mandy. Superstar. HarperCollins. 2019. (Sunshine State Reader
2019-2020).
ii. Age Range: 8-12
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This story is told from the perspective of an autistic
child going to school for the first time; it is very endearing and
heartwarming.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 17

iv. Assessment of Potential Use: This book has positive messages about
neurodiverse kids and can be used to engender empathy for students with
autism.
v. Assessment of Appeal to Children: Children will sympathize with Lester's
struggles to understand the world and the bewildering environment of
public school."

VIII. Historical Fiction

6. Ahimsa
i. Kelkar, Supriya. Ahimsa. Tu Books. 2017. (New Vision Award Winner).
ii. Age Range: 8-12
iii. Evaluation of Quality: The story portrays with depth and complexity the
resistance of the Indians against British occupation and the religious and
class clashes during that period.
iv. Assessment of Potential Use: This would be a wonderful independent
reading selection for a middle-grade assignment about understanding non-
Western cultures.
v. Assessment of appeal to Children: Children will be interested in the social
nuances of a child their age coming to grips with ideas around prejudice
and oppression.
7. Dogs of War
i. Keenan, Sheila. Dogs of War. Fox, Nathan. Fox, Nathan. Graphix. 2013.
(Booklist).
ii. Age Range: 8-12
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This beautifully illustrated graphic novel has three
vignettes about war dogs from three different wars: World War I, World
War II, and the Vietnam War.
iv. Assessment of potential use: This book would be a great suggestion for
dog-loving children or for those wanting stories about dogs with jobs.
v. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will love the traditional comic
book style of art and the action packed, but not graphic, scenes."
8. Finding Langston (The Finding Langston Trilogy)
i. Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Finding Langston (The Finding Langston Trilogy).
Holiday House. 2020. (Caldecott Honor Winner).
ii. Age Range: 9-13
iii. Evaluation of Quality: The book’s protagonist is given a powerful voice
and his longing to belong in his new community is described memorably.
iv. Assessment of potential use: This book can be used in a middle school
class to help teach about the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Migration, or
Langston Hughes.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 18

v. Assessment of appeal to children: Children will relate to Langston’s

trepidation at going to a hostile new school and his comfort in going to the
library.
9. Inside Out and Back Again
i. Lai, Thanhha. Inside Out and Back Again. HarperCollins. 2013.
(Newberry Honor).
ii. Age Range: 8-12
iii. Evaluation of Quality: The distinctive voice of 10-year-old Ha paints an
unforgettable picture of a family escaping the Vietnam War to the
confusing world of 1960's rural Alabama.
iv. Assessment of potential use: I would use this book to help teach a 5th
grade class about the Vietnam War.
v. Assessment of appeal to children: Ha's vivid descriptions, like how she
remembers the taste of fresh papaya, or the confusion and anger she feels
from the American kids' teasing, will stick in student's memories."
10. One Crazy Summer
i. Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. Quill Tree Books. 2011.
(Newberry Honor).
ii. Age Range: 9-12
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This book not only captures the culturally vibrant
and racially turbulent times of 1960's California, it also has wonderfully
engaging characters.
iv. Assessment of potential use: I would recommend this book for an
independent reading assignment for Black History Month, or as a fun book
to read in general
v. Assessment of appeal to children: Protagonist Delphine has traits that
many older siblings can readily identify with such as exasperation with
their younger siblings but fierce protectiveness."

IX. Nonfiction
11. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
i. Hill, Laban Carrick. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave. Collier, Bryan.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 2010. (Children's Books in
Children's Hands).
ii. Age Range: 6-10
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This book tells what we know about Dave the
African American slave potter and poet through a beautiful combination of
lyrical prose and watercolor illustrations.
iv. Assessment of Potential Use: This book can be used in an Elementary-
grade art class or history class to show that oppressed peoples produce art
that should be celebrated.
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 19

v. Assessment of Appeal to Children: Children be engaged with the tactile

process of using a potter's wheel to produce pottery."
12. Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans
i. Brown, Don. Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. HMH
Books for Young Readers. 2017. (Children's Book sin Children's Hands).
ii. Age Range: 8-12
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This graphic novel depiction of the hurricane
Katrina disaster that struck Louisiana is honest, informative, and moving.
iv. Assessment of Potential Use: Children who want to learn not only about
the science of the hurricane, but the sociopolitical response to the disaster,
will have a fantastic visualization of it in this book.
v. Assessment of Appeal to Children: the graphic novelization and art
direction in this book will fully engage young readers."
13. A Journey Through Art: A Global History
i. Rosen, Aaron. A Journey Through Art: A Global History. Dalzell, Lucy.
Thames & Hudson. 2018. (Booklist).
ii. Age Range: 11-14
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This book provides a brief yet comprehensive guide
to human cultures' artistic highlights throughout recorded history.
iv. Assessment of Potential Use: This book would be a great additional read
for a middle school history class or art class.
v. Assessment of Appeal to Children: Original illustrations accompany
photographs of the actual art in interesting ways."
14. The Mystery of Life: How Nothing Became Everything
i. Schutten, Jan Paul. The Mystery of Life: How Nothing Became Everything
Watkinson, Laura.|Rieder, Floor. Aladdin/Beyond Words. 2015.
(Publisher's Weekly).
ii. Age Range: 10-14
iii. Evaluation of Quality: This book provides comprehensive explanations
backed by the latest science to life's biggest questions which are often
asked by children.
iv. Assessment of potential use: This book would be best read with an open-
minded adult, preferably a parent, to engage with the child about these
cosmic questions.
v. Assessment of appeal to children: The tone of the book is very
conversational rather than didactic and the chapters are arranged in easily
digestible sections"
15. Thank You, Mr. Falker
i. Polacco, Patricia. Thank You, Mr. Falker. Philomel Books. 2012.
(Children's Books in Children's Hands).
ii. Age Range: 7-10
 CHILDREN’S MATERIALS READING PROJECT 20

iii. Evaluation of Quality: The illustrations beautifully portray complex

emotions, such as stifled tears, on the characters' faces.
iv. Assessment of Potential Use: This book can be used for story time in class
to help explain dyslexia and differences in learning abilities.
v. Assessment of Appeal to Children: Children who struggle in school will
feel encouraged by Trisha's persistence and her teachers' dedication to
helping her learn."