Science

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

By: Deborah Heiligman & Barry Weissman
-nonfiction

I chose this text because it is a nonfiction story book that explains the life cycle in a kid
friendly manner. This would captivate the students interest in the subject and introduce it on an
appropriate level for comprehension. This is an above kindergarten grade level text that I would
read aloud, however it is simply written and also provides pictures and labels to enhance
comprehension.

The Curious Garden

By: Peter Brown
-fiction

This book is all about determination and transformation. One little boy discovers an
abandoned area with plants that are struggling to survive. He decides to take care of it and it
begins to thrive. He does his research, does the work and the brown and gray garden begins to
grow and thrive into a lush green world all around them! This book is full of beautiful
illustrations for the youngest of learners to appreciate what a little bit of hard work can transform
into.

Social Studies

A Chair For My Mother

By: Vera B. Williams
-realistic fiction

This book is about a young girl contributing to saving up to buy a chair for her mother.
Their apartment caught on fire and their furniture was destroyed. When they moved into their
new apartment neighbors and friends brought them furniture but there was not a comfy chair for
her mother to sit in. Her mother was a waitress who worked long hours and came home very
tired, ready to sit down and put her feet up. This is a story of hard-work, perseverance and a
family and community coming together.
This book is realistic fiction and is appropriate for grades K-2. This book can be used
during an economics lesson as the family is trying to save money for a chair after their house
burns down. This shows students they have to work hard to earn things. This could also be
used to show the importance of working together as the whole family was working together to
save money for the chair. This could be used when you need to teach the importance of
working together or about caring and helping people in need, especially friends and family or
those in your community.
This is a WOW book for me because it is important to show students that everything is
not instantaneous and that hard work can pay off. It is important for children to understand
working hard for something. The fact that the young girl is also working and saving her money
can be very impactful on children. It also shows the community coming together to help a family
in need.

The Other Side

By: Jacqueline Woodson
-historical fiction

The Other Side is a story of hope that is brought to life by two young girls; Clover and
Annie. Based when racial segregation was alive and strong, two girls live on opposite sides of a
fence. Annie spent her days sitting on the fence all alone. That summer Annie and Clover
noticed each other from across the fence. Both of their mothers warned them to not cross the
fence because it was not safe. Eventually the fence that kept them seperate would bring them
together. This historical fiction story is appropriate for grades K-3. This book would be
appropriate to read during black history month. In it’s simplistic manor, younger students would
get a glimpse of racial segregation and yet show that there is hope in kindness and inclusion.
This book was a WOW book for me because the illustrations were beautifully done and it was
written in a way that allows the chance to read this important topic and part of history to a
younger audience. This book could also be used as a read aloud during Black History month. It
presents this part of history in a simple way that young students would be able to understand. It
could also be used when discussing differences and accepting people that are different from
you.

Elizabeth Leads the Way

By: Tanya Lee Stone
-historical/nonfiction

What happens when you throw a stone in the water? It ripples and the ripples grow
wider and wider. That is what Elizabeth Cady Stanton did, she began the ripples for women's
rights. In nineteenth-century America, women were not allowed to vote, own property or go to
college. Elizabeth Cady Stanton did what she believed in and stood up for women and their
rights.
From a young age Elizabeth was aware, and horrified, by the unfairness that women
faced. She decided that she could do anything a boy could do and she set out to do just that.
She rode horseback, rafted across rivers and convinced her father to send her to a girls school
to continue her learning since at that time, girls could not attend college. Several years later
she met a man named Henry Stanton and he shared the same passion as she did when it came
to speaking out against the unfairness of people not having rights or power. Although she
conformed to the role of a wife and mother her thoughts and passion about women's rights did
not waiver. She began first by speaking to her friends about her thoughts and then it extended
to a group of women. She knew that to change anything for women, the first thing that would
need to happen is allowing women the right to vote! In July of 1948, Elizabeth held a “Women’s
Rights Convention” to read aloud what she and a few women had written to express that women
should have the right to vote too. The word of her meeting spread and women all across the
country joined in her battle. This is where the ripples began to widen and widen for women.
This book is written with an upbeat personality that makes it appropriate for grades 1st -
3rd. It is short and to the point but yet makes this very important part of our history accessible
and appropriate for children. Young children are not always aware of the struggles women had
to go through and reading this book aloud can open up dialogue to young girls about the fight
that had to be made for women to have the privileges we do now. This is appropriate to read
aloud when discussing discrimination, equal rights, womens rights and our history.

SEL

I Like Myself
By: Karen Beaumont
-poetry

“I Like Myself” by Karen Beaumont is a children’s book that encourages positive

self-esteem and appreciating oneself no matter what! Silly, crazy, fast, slow, wild, tame, she
loves herself all the same! A little girl and her dog go throughout this story in a fun and silly,
almost Seuss-like way to show that no matter how you look or what people say, you should love
yourself. This story, told in poetry form, is appropriate for young readers grade levels K-2. With
its catchy and rhyming phrasing it is a fun book to read! The silliness of not only the words but
the illustrations will appeal to it’s young readers. This is a fun book to read aloud when focusing
on social and emotional development. It’s simplicity will allow young readers to comprehend the
message of having a positive self-esteem and look at life. This is a book not only that I will read
to my kindergartners but I will read to my daughter as well.

Math

Quack and Count

by Keith Baker

Seven lively ducklings get ready to fly for the first time. With it’s rhyming text and
beautiful illustrations, students can explore counting and adding. They may not always be in a
neat row, which can provide a challenge, but they will find different ways to make the number
seven.
Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of School
By: Joseph Slate
The 100th day of school is quite the celebration in elementary school, especially so in
kindergarten! To celebrate, the students must put together 100 special things. With charming
illustrations, it is a fun way to get your students excited about the 100th day while also giving
students more practice counting objects to 100!