Teacher's Choices 2011

Hello,
I’m sorry I missed last week’s post, but I was attending the International Reading Association convention. It was held in Orlando, Florida, so the weather was sunny, hot, and humid. It was wonderful although I am glad to be back in the Pacific Northwest again. While I was there, I got some great ideas for promoting reading, and also a long list of books that I suddenly decided I must have. I thought that I would share some of those titles with you this week.

One session I attended was the Teacher’s Choices 2011. These are books read by and chosen by teachers who deemed them exceptional for curriculum use. They were book talked by teachers who were on the committee. I have read some of these titles, but not all of them. I will give the same blurb found in my handout. You can find this and more information on other books at http://www.reading.org/resources/booklists/teacherschoices.aspx . On this page is information about all the Teacher’s Choice books since 1998.

Primary Readers – Grades K – 2 – Ages 5 – 8

Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds. Philomel.
Told from a young boy’s point of view, we hear the story of Rosa Parks and her determination to keep her seat on the bus on Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. The language is authentic. Oil painting illustrations magnify the story.

The Brothers Kennedy: John, Robert, Edward by Kathleen Krull. Simon & Schuster.
Three ordinary brothers led three extraordinary lives. The Kennedys were raised to believe that they could change things for the better and with their tireless efforts, they did.

The Falling Raindrop by Neil Johnson and Joel Chin. Tricycle.
This is a simple story explaining the science of the water cycle. One little raindrop is falling to earth and is excited to be alive. However, he then worries about crashing. This story demonstrates how one should live life to the fullest.

Lily’s Victory Garden by Helen L. Wilbur. Sleeping Bear.
This World War II story emphasizes how one girl takes action in her own community by growing a vegetable garden. She asks a neighbor for a plot of land to use. Friendship is bestowed on a woman who has lost her son in the war and working in the garden heals her sorrow. The seed packet artwork adds to the story and shows that one person, no matter how young, can truly make a difference.

My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete. Scholastic.
Told from a little girl’s point of view, we see what it is like for her twin brother to have autism: “Kids with autism are valuable human beings with real feelings even though they can’t always express them.” This heartwarming story can be shared with children of all ages.

Seed Soil Sun by Cris Peterson. Boyds Mills.
This book has vibrant photographs with lots of details for children to see. It opens with hands showing a wide variety of seeds. We then watch corn grow. This book complements science curricula and demonstrates where food actually comes from rather than just the grocery store.

Intermediate Readers – Grades 3 – 5 – Ages 8 – 11

Bag in the Wind by Ted Kooser. Candlewick.
This book showcases environmental awareness through the travels of a plastic shopping bag. People in the United States use 100 billion plastic shopping bags per year. This book could be used for sequence lessons. After reading this story, you will definitely think differently about using plastic shopping bags.

The Buffalo Are Back by Jean Craighead George. Dutton.
Incorporating history and environmental awareness, we learn what happens when the prairie environment is decimated and nearly all buffalo are killed. A herd of 300 buffalo survive to begin the renewal of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, a protected patch of land, in Kansas. Thanks to this assertive effort, there are more than 200,000 buffalo in existence today. Brilliant watercolor illustrations illustrate this story.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine. Philomel.
Told from the point of view of 10-year-old Caitlin, we learn firsthand what it is like to deal with Asperger’s syndrome. A shooting in middle school took the life of her beloved older brother. Now Caitlin searches for closure for herself and her dad. (Note: this book contains a shooting, and may not be what you want in your library. I put this in because ALL the teachers who read it kept talking about it and I figured you could read it for yourself and decide if it will be appropriate for your school library.)

These titles are all taken from the 2011 Teacher’s Choices brochure. I will finish this section next week. I hope you are having a good week.

Library Announcement: This is the time to begin collecting all the library books and have them returned to school. School will be out in only three weeks.

Audrey