All book summaries courtesy of Goodreads. If the title of a book is blue, you can click on it to watch a book trailer.
Horrible Bear! - Written by Amy Dyckman, Illustrated by Zachariah Ohora
Bear didn't mean to break a little girl's kite, but she's upset anyway--upset enough to shout "HORRIBLE BEAR!" Bear is indignant. He doesn't think he's horrible! Then Bear gets a trulyHorrible Bear idea. What will he do next? As Bear prepares to live up to his formerly undeserved reputation, the girl makes a mistake of her own, and realizes that maybe Bear isn't as horrible as she had thought.
When Spring Comes - Written by Keven Henkes, Illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Before spring comes, the trees are dark sticks, the grass is brown, and the ground is covered in snow. But if you wait, leaves unfurl and flowers blossom, the grass turns green, and the mounds of snow shrink and shrink. Spring brings baby birds, sprouting seeds, rain and mud, and puddles. You can feel it and smell it and hear it—and you can read it!
Thunder Boy Jr. - Written by Sherman Alexie, Illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Thunder Boy Jr. is named after his dad, but he wants a name that's all his own. Just because people call his dad Big Thunder doesn't mean he wants to be Little Thunder. He wants a name that celebrates something cool he's done, like Touch the Clouds, or Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth. But just when Thunder Boy Jr. thinks all hope is lost, he and his dad pick the perfect name.
The Typewriter - Written and Illustrated by Bill Thompson
When three children discover a typewriter on a carousel, they are transported on an adventure of their own creation—complete with a giant beach ball and a threatening crab. Stunning, richly colored artwork is paired with limited text so children can tell their own version of the story. Link to blog post where Thompson describes how he created the artwork.
The Kid from Diamond Street - Written by Audrey Vernick, Illustrated by Steven Salerno
Beginning in 1922, when Edith Houghton was only ten years old, she tried out for a women’s professional baseball team, the Philadelphia Bobbies. Though she was the smallest on the field, soon reporters were talking about “The Kid” and her incredible skill, and crowds were packing the stands to see her play. Link to discussion/activity guide from Houghton Mifflin.
School's First Day of School - Written by Adam Rex, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him? The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he's not the only one going through first-day jitters. Link to activity kit from MacMillan.
They All Saw a Cat - Written and Illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. Link to activity kit from Chronicle Books.
The Deadliest Creature in the World - Written by Brenda Z. Guiberson, Illustrated by Gennady Spirin
Which creature is the deadliest? Is it the insect that bites, the ostrich that kicks, the snake that squeezes, or the shrew that paralyzes? Is it the most venomous, the most poisonous, or the one that infects its victims with a fatal disease? Fascinating facts and spectacular illustrations will inspire young readers to choose which creature they think is the deadliest.
A Morning with Grandpa - Written by Sylvia Liu, Illustrated by Christina Forshay
Mei Mei's grandpa is practicing tai chi in the garden, and Mei Mei is eager to join in. As Gong Gong tries to teach her the slow, graceful movements, Mei Mei enthusiastically does them with her own flair. Then Mei Mei takes a turn, trying to teach Gong Gong the yoga she learned in school. Will Gong Gong be able to master the stretchy, bendy poses? Readers of all ages will want to try out some tai chi and yoga too!
Little Elliott, Big Fun - Written and Illustrated by Mike Curato
Little Elliot, the polka-dotted elephant, and his friend Mouse go to the amusement park to see the sights and ride the rides—water chutes, roller coasters, carousels, and more. But Elliot isn't having much fun—the rides are too wet, too fast, too dizzy, and just plain too scary—until Mouse figures out a way to help him overcome his fears. Link to activity kit from Macmillan.
AASL: 3.1.2 - Participate and collaborate as members of a social and intellectual network of learners; 3.2.2 - Show social responsibility by participating actively with others in learning situations and by contributing questions and ideas during group discussions; 4.1.1 - Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth; 4.1.2 Read widely … to make connections with self, the world, and previous reading; 4.1.3 Respond to literature and creative expressions of ideas in various formats and genres; 4.1.8 Use creative and artistic formats to express personal learning
Common Core: SL.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1/2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups; SL.2 Ask and answer questions about/recount or describe key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media; RL.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text; RL.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events; W.1 Write opinion pieces in which they name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure