This document provides a summary of topics and books that could be included in a children's literature portfolio. It lists 38 books organized under 14 topics including race and ethnicity, religion, language and geography, class and socioeconomics, age, gender and sexuality, and multicultural schools. For each book, it provides the title, author, grade level, and a brief 1-3 sentence summary of the book and how it relates to the topic. The document concludes by listing additional reading lists and links to other resources.

1. EDU522 Children’s Literature
Portfolio

2. Topic slide Title Author
Race and Ethnicity 20 Play Ball, Jackie Stephen Krensky
32 Living in Two Worlds Maxine B. Rosenberg
10 The Yellow Star Carmen Agra Deedy
36 Maniac McGee Jerry Spinelli
Religion 17 Places of Worship: Sikh: Gurdwara (series) Kanwaljit Kaur-Singh
18 Night of the Moon Hena Khan
27 The Hundreth Name Shulamith Levey Oppenheim
29 The Miracle Jar Audrey Penn
34 The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming Lemony Snicket
Language and Geography 31 New York is English, Chattanooga is Creek Chris Raschka
33 Children's Atlas of the World Colin Sale
24 Flossie & The Fox Patricia McKissack
37 Locomotion Jacqueline Woodson
22 Chinatown William Low
25 19 Varieties of Gazelle Naomi Shilah Nye
Class and Socio-economics 7 Those Shoes Maribeth Boelts
11 Nickel and Dimed Barbara Ehrenreich
28 The Kid's Guide to Money Steve Otfinoski
26 One Gift Deserves Another Joanne Oppenheim
16 Any Small Goodness Tony Johnston
Age 21 Grandparents, A Special Kind of Love Eda LeShan
8 Jeremiah Learns to Read Jo Ellen Bogart
9 Arthur Babysits Marc Brown
15 When I Grow Old With You Angela Johnson
5 Dear Dumb Diary: Can Adults Be Human? Jim Benton

3. Topic slide Title Author
Gender and Sexuality 23 Mama is a Miner George Ella Lyon
13 Seven Brave Women Betsy Hearne
6 Bloomers! Rhoda Blumberg
12 Outspoken Michael Thomas Ford
4 Ivy & Bean, What's The Big Idea? Annie Barrows
35 Loser Jerry Spinelli
30 The Journey Out Rachell Pollock & Cheryl Schwartz
Multi-Cultural school 14 Come Home With Me: A Multicultural Treasure Hunt Aylette Jenness
19 Children Just Like Me Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley
Locomotion, Maniac McGee, 19 Varieties of Gazelle, Any
Small Goodness (from above)
Additional Reading Lists, girl and boy
38 characters, link to Summit School lists
39 Links to Additional Sites for reading lists

4. Barrows, Annie (2010). Ivy and Bean: What’s the Big Idea? San
Francisco: Chronicle Books. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall, 131 pages.
2nd-4th grades
• This is one of the more recent books in
this series about best friends, Ivy and
Bean. This particular adventure
revolves around the school’s science
fair, and sheds a positive light on the
girls’ interest in science. The girls deal
with ridicule from the other girls for
their desire to solve the problem of
global warming and not listing
“shopping” as one of their interests.
They come up with a creative
experiment to get the adults in their
lives to “feel happy in nature” and
subsequently care about global
warming.
• This volume also includes an extra
section discussing global warming,
answering questions about it and how
kids can help combat it.

5. Benton, Jim (2006). Dear Dumb Diary, Can Adults Become Human?
New York: Scholastic, Inc.
• Jamie Kelly is back in book #5 of this series
2nd-4th graders. Mr. VanDoy, the science
teacher assigns a social studies project to
find a social behavior in people that is
similar to the social behavior in animals.
This gets Jamie and her friend, Isabella
brainstorming on all the ways adults are like
animals (comparing her Dad’s going to work
like bees to the hive, and her mom to a
lioness). Their eventual conclusion is that
adults might not actually be human beings.
The book is a funny look into how children
view adults, teachers and parents and other
relatives in particular, and concludes that
everyone is human, and there are no adults.
It would be interesting to get students’
impressions of adults and whether they
could also see similarities between animal
behavior and human behavior (assuming
they may also have studied animals by this
point). The book uses humor to show that
with all the differences between children and
adults, on some level we are all alike.

6. Blumberg, Rhoda (1993). Bloomers! New York: Bradbury Press.
Illustrated by Mary Morgan, 29 pages. 1st-3rd grades.
• This book introduces readers to
several of the initial women’s rights’
advocates (Libby Miller, Elizabeth
Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, and Susan
B. Anthony) through their comings
and goings through Seneca Falls, NY,
and the freeing of themselves from
corsets, long skirts, and layers of
petticoats in favor of bloomers. This
freedom dovetails nicely into what the
women are doing in their lives through
the newspaper The Lily and
advocating for women’s rights,
particularly the right to vote. Amelia,
Elizabeth and Susan continued to defy
the traditional conventions of the day
stereotyped roles of women.

7. Boelts, Maribeth (2007). Those Shoes. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick
Press. Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones, 31 page picture book. K-2
• Jeremy just wants a pair of the black high-
tops with the two white stripes like all of the
other boys seem to have in his school.
Jeremy’s grandmother cannot afford them,
so they scour thrift stores until the find the
perfect pair, except they are too small.
Jeremy buys them anyway with his own
money. In the end, he cannot wear them,
but knows Antonio’s feet are smaller, and
Jeremy notices the tape holding Antonio’s
shoes together. After a struggle with
himself, Jeremy leaves the shoes on
Antonio’s front porch, rings the bell and
runs.
• This book is a great lesson about the
difference between “need” and “want” as
well as how giving to someone in need,
even when that means giving up something
you think is important to you, can have
unexpected benefits, like gaining a new
friend.

8. Bogart, Jo Ellen (1997). Jeremiah Learns to Read. New York: Orchard
Books. Illustrated by Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson, 29 pages.
K-3
• Jeremiah is a farmer and a grandfather who can
build a split-rail fence, grow beautiful vegetables,
follow animal tracks and read the signs of the
seasons, but he cannot read. He is determined to
learn, so joins the children in Mrs. Trumble’s
schoolhouse. The children help him with the letter
sounds and vowels at recess, and he teachers
them bird calls and whitling in return. He teaches
Mrs. Trumble to make applesauce and whistle
through her teeth.
• This is a great book about what we can learn from
each other, no matter our age. Jeremiah is
learning, but he teaches too, and it is a win-win
proposition for all involved. He also begins to write
stories about his life and reads poetry to his wife,
who is then inspired to learn to read herself.
• An easy exercise would be to ask students if they
had a grandparent or someone they had learned
something from, or taught something too in their
own lives. There is value in learning, and not just
what goes on in school, but in the life skills that
obviously got Jeremiah through his life despite not
knowing how to read. Could also foster a
discussion about determination and persistence,
and the fact you are never too old to learn
something new. Knowledge is a lifelong pursuit.

9. Brown, Marc (1992). Arthur Babysits. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and
Company. 30 pages, K-2.
• Timmy and Tommy Tibble are visiting their
grandmother, and she needs someone to
look after them for the evening. DW
volunteers Arthur for the job. Arthur is a little
worried about the responsibility although he
has cared for DW and Kate before, which
he remembers was not easy. But his
parents send him off with assurances they
are only a phone call away, and DW sends
him off with a helmet, as she is aware of the
twins’ reputation. Sure enough, as soon as
Mrs. Tibble is out the door, the twins
announce “bedtime” is now “playtime” and
go on a tear around the house.
• Arthur eventually figures out how to capture
the twins’ interest and engage the younger
boys in a story. It is a good book to start a
discussion about the changes that occur as
we get older, how to handle responsibility
and relate to those younger siblings or other
children.

10. Deedy, Carmen Agra (2000) The Yellow Star. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree
Publishers, Ltd. Illustrated by Henri Sorensen. 28 pages. 1 st-3rd
grades.
• The author’s notes at the end of this book
describe her attempts to verify the legend
told within, but she was only ever to find
unsubstantiated accounts.
• The book is set in Denmark during World
War II and describes the brave actions of
King Christian X in resisting the Nazis
through non-violent resistance, such as
insisting the Nazi flag would not fly from the
castle, as he would remove it himself if
needed, and that when the Nazis ordered
Jews to sew Yellow Stars of David onto all
of their clothing, the King himself did the
same, setting an example for his people that
they were Danes first, and Danes together.
The historical notes talk about the efforts of
the Danes to smuggle Jews out of the
country to safety, and how the vast majority
of Danish Jews did survive the war.
• This book provides a somber reminder that
we are all human, and need to stand up for
each other and for what is right even in the
face of grave danger. For school children
the lesson could also be adjusted to talk
about bullying and bystanders.

11. Ehrenreich, Barbara (2001) Nickel and Dimed, On (Not) Getting By in
America. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 221 pages. Grades 7 th
and up.
• The author of this investigative journalism
piece turned book decides to find out for
herself how women make ends meet
earning $6 or $7 an hour in low-paying, low-
skilled jobs. She takes on positions as a
waitress, an employee of a housecleaning
service, and a Wal-Mart associate. She
then tries to find adequate housing, feed
herself, and generally live on the wages she
earns in these positions. She discusses the
lack of respect from customers, the physical
toll of being on her feet all day or bending
over cleaning someone else’s house with
very little to show for it, and the treatment of
workers by a huge corporate entity. There
are no benefits or extras, and she is
fortunate that at the end of the experiment
she can return to her reality and leave this
one behind. The book certainly gives the
reader more appreciation for all those
people we may barely notice as we go
about our chores and daily lives.

12. Ford, Michael Thomas (1998). Out Spoken. Role Models From the
Lesbian and Gay Community. New York: Morrow Jr. Books. 240
pages, grades 7th and up.
• This books contains a collection of
interviews with 11 lesbians and gay
men who are “out” and come from
various walks of life. They discuss
their personal experiences with coming
out and living day to day as a
homosexual. They include an author,
TV actor, business entrepreneur,
boxer, editor, doctor, Rabbi, teacher
and police officer. Before each
chapter, the author includes a “Lesbian
and Gay Fast Fact” to tackle a
particular question which a teen might
have, such as: “What Does It Mean to
Be Lesbian Or Gay?”, “What Does
Coming Out Mean?” and “How Many
Gay People Are There?”

13. Hearne, Betsy (1997) Seven Brave Women. New York: Greenwillow
Books. Ilustrated by Bethanne Andersen, 20 pages.
• The author notes that previous history
books mark time by the wars that men
fought. Her book, however, is about
the women in her family who made
history by not fighting wars. Right off
the bat, you can discuss the different
perspectives of history and the fact
that it can be studied from all kinds of
points of view. She then describes
what her female ancestors were up to
instead of fighting wars.
• The book includes an author’s note in
the back on her research into her own
family history. This might be a good
way to introduce a section on families
and genealogy or personal histories to
have the children see what they can
find out about their own families.

14. Jenness, Aylette (1993). Come Home with Me: A Multicultural
Treasure Hunt. New York: The New Press. 48 pgs. 2nd-5th grade
• This book was part of a collaborative project
with the Children’s Museum of Boston (The
Kids Bridge). It is filled with snap-shots of
visits through areas of the city with four
different teens- Terri (Cambodian), Annie
(Irish), Marco (Hispanic/Puerto Rican) and
Abdus (African American/Nubian). They
also visit a kosher market, and museums.
• Exercises ask readers to put themselves in
the position of being in another country and
not being able to speak the language, and
discussing the simple things you couldn’t
do. Another asks the reader to think about
where their ancestors came from, and how
they got to America.
• It also includes ideas of how to explore the
neighborhoods in the reader’s own city and
activities to guide that study, including
making a video.
• There is a glossary in the back of words and
phrases found in the book which may be
new to readers.

15. Johnson, Angela (1990). When I Grow Old With You. New York:
Orchard Books. Illustrated by David Soman, 28 pages. K-2 nd grades.
• This is a sweet tale told by a young
boy who describes all the things he will
do with his grandfather- from making
only bacon for breakfast, to fishing, to
having a picnic, looking at old pictures
and trying on all the old clothes in the
attic.
• The paintings are full of life and a dog
and puppy as well in many of them.
The characters are African American,
so can add some diversity to children’s
reading.
• A teacher could discuss grandparents
or other special people in children’s
lives and have them talk about what
they do together, or what they would
like to do together (and then maybe
write the person a letter with those
ideas as an invitation.)

16. Johnston, Tony (2001). Any Small Goodness. New York: Scholastic,
Inc. 125 pages, grades 4-6.
• This book provides a glimpse into the lives
of Arturo and his family and friends in the
Los Angeles barrio. The book comes from
a point of view different certainly from most
students around here, although with the
increase in the number of Hispanic families,
that could eventually change. Arturo and
his friends struggle with teachers who want
to “Americanize” their names, to gangs who
threaten and intimidate them, and general
poverty. We meet Abuela and learn about
the importance of retaining Hispanic foods,
traditions and language, which is
interspersed throughout the book. In the
end, Arturo follows his father’s advice that
when you do not find enough of the good in
life, you might have to create it yourself.
We are shown one version of Arturo’s
potential future (gang violence and the
never-ending cycle of retribution) and the
path the Arturo chooses instead, which is
one of hope and concern for others even
less fortunate. It is a heartwarming story of
fighting against the odds, and also is told
from a culturally different point of view.

17. Kaur-Singh, Kanwaljit, (2000). Places of Worship: Sikh, Gurdwara.
Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens Publishing. 32 pages, grades 1-3
• This book is part of a series which also
includes Islam:Mosque and Judaism:
Temple, Budhism: Temple. They follow
similar formats, have a lot of photographs
and include an index in the back. The
books also use bold type to set off the
vocabulary words particular to each religion
or house of worship.
• The books give a brief view of the religion
around the world and discuss the house of
worship itself, the important books or
teaching associated with each religion, as
well as traditional dress, religious schools,
the worship service and holidays or festivals
observed. They provide a very general but
grade-level appropriate overview.
• It would be interesting to be able to visit
local houses of worship discussed (if
possible), either in person, or virtually, to
compare and contrast with the book.

18. Khan, Hena (2008). Night of the Moon. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, LLC .
Picture book appropriate for grades K-3
Although it is bedtime and time for a story,
Yasmeen’s mother wants her to come look at the
moon. She shows Yasmeen the moon’s first
crescent, which signals the beginning of a new
month. A new month on the 17 th? Yes, a new
month in the Islamic calendar, and this particular
month being the holy month of Ramadan.
So begins this beautifully illustrated book about the
customs, traditions, and meaning behind Ramadan.
Yasmeen traces the phases of the moon over the
course of the month while recounting the family
visits, prayers at the mosque, and nightly breaking
of the adults’ fasting.
The next first crescent arrives, the evening known
as the “night of the Moon” which heralds the end of
Ramadan and ushers in the holiday of Eid.
The book includes author’s notes which explain the
lunar calendar, the symbolism of the moon, and the
importance of Ramadan and Eid for Muslims. It
also provides a helpful glossary of terms and
pronunciations.

19. Kindersley, Barnabas & Anabel (1995). Children Just Like Me. New
York: DK Publishing, Inc. 80 pages. 2nd -5th grades.
• Each section of this book full of maps
and color photographs begins with an
overview of the area- The Americas,
Europe, Africa, Asia, and Southeast
Asia and Australia. The following
pages devote a “spread” to a child
from each country described for the
section, with pictures showing their
families, clothing, schools, homes,
activities, foods and other details of
their daily lives. Each child has also
handwritten their name on their page,
so the reader and see a sample of
different written languages.
• The book ends with a travel diary
compiled by the authors describing
some of the more memorable
moments from their visits to the 31
countries represented in the book.

20. Krensky, Stephen (2011). Play Ball, Jackie! Minneapolis, MN:
Millbrook Press. Illustrated by Joe Morse, 30 pages. 1st- 3rd grades.
• 10-yea old Matty Romana and his Dad are
off to see the Opening Day game of the
Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. This
also happens to be the day that Jackie
Robinson, the Dodger’s new first baseman,
breaks the color barrier in Major League
Baseball. Can Jackie get them to the World
Series? Will the fans accept him? How will
he react to the pressures facing the first
black player in the League?
• The book also discusses the plight of
African Americans in other parts of the
country, the Jim Crow laws, and the
segregation and prejudice they dealt with on
a daily basis.
• Matty’s father reminds him that when his
father came to America from Italy, he too
suffered discrimination because he looked,
talked and acted different. He just wants to
see the best players play baseball, no
matter their color.
• Complete with Author’s Note , actual
photographs and a listing of further reading

21. LeShan, Eda (1984). Grandparents, A Special Kind of Love. New
York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 119 pgs. 4th – 6th grades.
• This book is written by a family
counselor and tries to explain some of
the reasons why grandparents can be
wonderful and loving as well as critical
or seem so different to their
grandchildren. Just like in any other
relationship, emotions are complicated
and no one is perfect. The book tries
to show that grandparents bring their
own histories and perspectives to
modern situations, and sometimes the
way they were brought up clashes with
the way their grandchildren are being
brought up. The author suggest that
children ask questions about what their
grandparents have seen and what
their childhoods were like in order to
gain a better understanding of them as
people.

22. Low, William (1997) Chinatown. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
29 pages, K-2nd grades.
• This tour of Chinatown is told in
somewhat somber colors by a young
boy walking his grandmother through
the neighborhood. They pass the tai
chi class in the park, the street
cobbler, stop at the herbal shop for
medicinal soup ingredients, and pass
the poultry hanging in the window of
the Dai-Dai restaurant. They stop at a
restaurant for the freshest seafood
from the tank, watch the cooks stir-
frying vegetables, and pass through
the busy outdoor market along their
way. They end with the new year
parade and the boy’s hopes of
marching in it the next year with his
kung fu school.

23. Lyon, George Ella (1994). Mama is a Miner. New York: Orchard
Books. Illustrated by Peter Catalanotto, 28 pages. K- 3rd grades.
• Mama used to work in a store until
“ringing up grub” no longer pays the
bills for her family and she goes into
the mine with her crew. The
descriptions of her day spent
underground are interspersed with a
poem about mining. When she is
above ground, she is like any other
mom, serving meals and sending her
children off to school. There is danger,
but Mama’s mantra of “safety first” will
get her through until the second half of
her shift when she starts “digging for
home.” Mother and daughter think of
each other throughout their day- one
above ground and one underneath,
one in gym class, one shoveling coal.

24. McKissack, Patricia C. (1944). Flossie & the Fox. New York: Dial
Books for Young Readers. Illustrated by Rachel Isadora. 29 pages.
K-2nd grades.
• The author’s note in the front tells us this is
her retelling of a story passed down form
her grandfather who she describes as a
“master storyteller.” She captures his
diction and the cultural language and
expressions of rural African Americans,
probably at the turn of the century.
• Flossie is sent through the woods with a
basket of eggs for Miz Viola, whose
chickens are so scared of a prowling fox,
they have stopped laying eggs. Flossie
comes upon the fox in the woods, and
shocks the animal when she does not
believe he is who he says, and is not afraid
of him. The fox works so hard to prove his
identity, they reach Miz Viola’s farm, and her
hound dog, before the fox can harm Flossie.
• This book would be a good introduction to
authors writing authentic dialogue using the
speech that people use rather than the
language we may be taught in school.

25. Nye, Naomi Shilah (2002). 19 Varieties of Gazelle.
New York: Greenwillow Books, An imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
(141 Pages)
• This book holds a collection of 60 poems
written by Naomi Shilah Nye, who is of
Middle Eastern descent, but grew up in the
United States. The poems are of varying
length, and a casual, narrative structure.
The collection opens with a poem about
9/11, set on a bus in the middle of America
only hours after the Twin Towers have
fallen. The rest are set in Bahrain,
Jerusalem, and the West Bank among other
Middle Eastern locales and deal with
themes that include images of olive groves,
sheep, soldiers, war, fear, and death as well
as faith and hope.
• There is a theme throughout that in the
world of competing religions, no one is right
when everyone is wrong.
• Definitely for the middle school to high
school audience. (6th grade and up)

26. Oppenheim, Joanne (1992). One Gift Deserves Another. New York:
Dutton Children’s Books. Illustrated by Bo Zaunders, 29 pages. 1 st- 3rd
grade.
• This book is the classic tale of the rich greedy
brother who shares nothing, and the poor,
hardworking brother who shares all he grows with
his neighbors. The poor brother and his wife
somehow grow an enormous turnip. At first they
decide to have a feast for the 100 people they
could feed with turnip soup, but it grows still larger
overnight. They decide to take it to market, but do
not have horses or a wagon to transport it. The rich
man and his wife refuse to help, saying that such a
poor man should only grow small turnips. Word
soon spreads about the now giant turnip, and
neighbors and people form allover come to gawk.
Eventually the king himself arrives to see the giant
vegetable for himself. As the king admires the
proportions of the turnip, the poor brother offers it to
him. Noting the brother's generosity, and declaring
that one gift deserves another, the king bestows a
chest full of gold and other riches upon the poor
brother and his wife. When word gets back to the
rich brother, he is jealous and devises a scheme to
make his own gift of riches to the king, which he
assumes will be rewarded by an even bigger
fortune than the turnip garnered. In return for the
riches, the king bestows upon them the turnip, so
the rich brother ends up owning nothing, while the
poor brother and his wife never needed anything
again.

27. Oppenheim, Shulamith Levey (1995). The Hundredth Name. Honesdale, PA:
Boyds Mill Press, Inc.
Illustrated by Michael Hays.
• Appropriate for K-3rd grades.
• This is a sweet story of faith, hope and a
boy’s love for his animal set in Muslim Egypt
“far back in time.” Salah is an only son
growing up in a tiny village with five older
sisters. He is sad because his camel,
Qadiim (meaning ‘Anicent One’) always
looks so sad, as do all of the camels who
hang their heads. Salah’s father had told
him many times that prayer has great power
and that Allah wished all of his creatures to
be happy. He also told Salah about the 99
names for Allah that are known to man, and
the 100th, and most important name, which
has not been revealed to mankind. So that
night, Salah follows the example set by his
father and prays to Allah to allow the camels
to know the 100th name so that they will
stand tall and proud.

28. Otfinoski, Steve (1996). The Kid’s Guide to Money: Earning it, Saving It, Spending It,
Growing It, Sharing It. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 128 Pages. 4th-6th grades
• This book is all about money as the title
indicates. It discusses how to save
allowances and suggests different job and
product possibilities for children to earn their
own money. It also goes through the basic
steps of how to make a budget and become
a smart consumer by understanding the
aims and tactics of advertisers, using
coupons, researching products before they
buy, and comparison shopping.
• The book also explains how banks and their
different accounts and basic products work
(savings account, checking account, ATM
cards, etc.)
• There are also chapters on donating money
to charitable causes, borrowing money, and
investing in stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
• The book includes helpful appendices on
additional references, consumer
organizations and a glossary.

29. Penn, Audrey (2008) The Miracle Jar: a Hanukkah Story. Terre Haute,
IN: Tanglewood Press, LLC. Illustrated by Lea Lyon, 30 pages. 1st-3rd
grades.
• Sophie’s family is preparing the
celebrate Hanukkah in the Old
Country. She sweeps the floor as her
gift and her brother polishes the brass
menorah as his. When their father
comes in from gathering wood he
explains that in order for them to enjoy
all the traditional holiday treats, they
too, will need a Hanukkah miracle. He
then explains the story of the miracle
of the oil in ancient times, and shows
them they only have a little bit of oil in
the house to last the eight days of
Hanukkah cooking. They set out to
make their own Hanukkah miracle.
They proceed through the eight nights
explaining the traditions and treats
associated with the holiday.

30. Pollock, Rachel and Cheryl Schwartz (1995) The Journey Out. A
Guide for and About Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Teens. New York:
Viking. 148 pages. 7th grade and up.
• This book is written for teens who think
they might be gay as a guide to handle
the various situations that they may
encounter as their sexuality develops.
It offers real life advice from other
teens who have dealt with being
teased or worse, as well as how to tell
the people they love of their
orientation, how religion fits into the
equation, and what may be the future
for acceptance in society.
• It includes a glossary of terms used by
the community itself, lots of quotes and
stories from other gay teens, a list of
resources in the back and lots of
encouragement for teens to learn as
much as they can.

31. Raschka, Chris (2005). New York is English, Chattanooga is Creek. New
York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Picture book appropriate for
grades K-3.
• “New York” is throwing a party and wants to
invite all of his friends. The city runs
through its guest list of other geographic
locations across the United States, noting
the origins and meanings of their names
along the way. The books shows in a
creative way the variety of people who
settled this country and whose influence is
felt right down to the names of our rivers,
lakes and cities.
• The front and back inside covers are maps
showing the places mentioned in the text.
• Mr. Rachka also wrote Yo? Yes?! and Hip
Hop Dog which would be appropriate for this
grade level too.

32. Rosenberg, Maxine B. (1986). Living in Two Worlds. New York:
Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books. 46 pages, 1st-4th grades.
• The authors of this book also wrote books about
adoption (Being Adopted), twins (Being a Twin,
Having a Twin), people with disabilities (My Friend
Leslie), and what it is like to be an immigrant,
(Making a New Home in America). This book is
about biracial children. It discusses races, how
they came to be, and how as humans began to
move all over the world, they blended and
intermarried. There are four biracial children
introduced: Toah, Megan, Jesse and Anil, who
each have a Caucasian parent and one of another
race: African American, Asian, and Indian.
• The books discusses both the pros and cons of
being biracial, including the cons of prejudice and
teasing and the benefits of multiple customs,
cultures, holidays and a better understanding of
other cultures and sensitivity to others.
• The books would help single race children
understand a little more about how curious
questions might make someone uncomfortable,
and how name-calling can hurt feelings. Hopefully
it would also help them to see the positive and
interesting side and help open their thinking to how
people’s differences are worth learning about and
celebrating instead of ridiculing as “not normal”.

33. Sale, Colin (Editor) (2007 ) Children’s Atlas of the World. San
Francisco, CA: Fog City Press. 128 pages. 3rd- 5th grades.
• This is a kid-friendly atlas full of maps and
illustrations, including a world map inside
the front cover with page numbers on each
country on the map if students are trying to
research a particular area.
• Each section gives a textual overview of the
region, plus the capitals and populations of
each country (or state as the case may be)
included in the region.
• The maps are covered with major
geographic features, as well as pictorial
representations of popular attractions,
important products or cultural activities
found in the various areas. There is a
“World Fact File” in the back which provides
general statistics, (area, population) and
main languages, religions, currency, and
exports, as well as a pronunciation of the
country name.
• It could be interesting to compare and
contrast this edition with a current edition to
see how the world may or may not have
changed, and discuss any changes found.

34. Snicket, Lemony (2007). The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming, a
christmas story. San Francisco, CA: McSweeny’s Books. Illustrated by
Lisa Brown, 43 pages. 1st -4th grade.
• This is a hilarious holiday tale told by a
screaming latke who is running away from
the frying oil and encounters various
Christmas decorations along the way.
Gradually the latke explains the traditions of
Hannukah to the flashing colored lights, the
candy cane, and the pine tree- all of whom
try to define the latke based on their
understanding of Christian traditions. The
lights call him hash browns, the candy cane
suggests they write a Christmas carol about
the Jews hiding out in caves and playing
dreidel as a cover for their religious
activities, and sitting at the base of the tree,
he is called a present. The very last
paragraph sums it up by noting that it is
frustrating not to be understood in the world,
and that “if you say one thing and keep
being told that you mean something else, it
can make you want to scream.” It is a great
story about really listening to one another,
and not trying to make someone else’s
traditions fit into your understanding of your
own.

35. Spinelli, Jerry. (2002). Loser. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 218 pages,
5th-7th grades
• Even when he was younger and playing with
the other boys around the neighborhood,
Donald Zinkoff never wins. He is not the
tallest or the fastest, or the heaviest. He
wears a three-foot tall giraffe hat to school
on the very first day of 1st grade. It is a sad
story about a young man who is different, a
‘loser’ but does not realize it at first, and
then what happens when he does realize
that students are laughing at him and not
with him, and how he comes back from that
realization.
• The version of the book we have includes
both discussion questions about the book
and activities, such as imagining who you
would cast in the movie version of the book,
and making a timeline of the events
inlcuded in the book, and then trying to
extend that timeline to high school and
beyond in Zinkoff’s life.

36. Spinelli, Jerry (1990). Maniac McGee. New York: Little, Brown and
Company. 184 pages. 4th-6th grades
• This is the story of Maniac McGee, a
runaway orphan, and the racially divided
town of Two Mills (divided between the Eats
End and the West End). Maniac finds
shelter in the zoo at various times, as well
as with the Beale family, who is black,
Grayson, who is white, and briefly with the
impoverished, virulently prejudiced McNabs
(also white). Maniac literally balances on
the line in between the groups as he
balances on the railroad tracks to run. The
story evolves through his adventures and
seemingly reckless and amazing feats, such
as crossing from one end of town to another
and living to tell the tale, untying the
legendary knotted ball of twine, and ringing
the bell at Finsterwald’s house. The story
traces his journeys and his searching for a
home, whatever that comes to mean.

37. Woodson, Jacqueline (2003) Locomotion. New York: Puffin Books.
100 pages, grades 4-7.
• Locomotion lost his parents to a fire and his
sister to an adoptive family who did not want
an adolescent boy they thoguht might be
trouble. But Locomotion is anything but
trouble, in some small way due to the efforts
of his teacher to engage his imagination and
encourages him to write about his feelings
and life in her class through poetry. The
story unfolds through a series of
Locomotion’s poems.
• The book connects the importance of
language and expression and non-
conventional poems that flow without
necessarily rhyming. Locomotion is able to
write in his own voice without being
corrected or stifled. He is a poet.
• This would be an easy way to get kids
introduced to poetry, the fact that all poems
don’t rhyme or follow a set pattern, and can
be great forms of self-expression. Would be
a good introduction to a poetry section for
students to try their own writing.

38. Summit School Upper Primary summer reading • Girl Characters Who Rock!
• Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows
suggestions (additional lists by grade on site) retrieved • Bean doesn’t want to be friends with her new neighbor. Ivy doesn’t
from: look like a girl who climbs
• trees or stomps in mud puddles. However, when Ivy offers to help
http://summit.nc.schoolwebpages.com/education/compo Bean with a plan to trick her
nents/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=738 • older, bossy sister, Bean changes her mind. Also try Ivy + Bean and
the Ghost Who Had to Go.
• Lady Lollipop by Dick King-Smith
• Boy Characters Who Rock! • Spoiled, bad-tempered Princess Penelope always gets what she
• Fergus Crane by Paul Stewart wants. So when she asks for a
• Adventure calls when nine-year-old Fergus Crane, who lives by the • pig for her eighth birthday, Lady Lollipop enters her life along with
sea and goes to the pig’s trainer, Johnny.
• school on a ship with pirate-like teachers, receives a mysterious • Before long Johnny is training more than the pig. Also try Clever
flying box warning of danger and Lollipop.
• giving instructions for rescuing his missing classmates. (Far-Flung • Lulu’s Hat by Susan Meddaugh
Adventure series) • Lulu, adopted into a family whose members are born with the gift of
• Stink and the World’s Worst Super Stinky Sneakers by Megan real magic, isn’t expected
McDonald • to have any magical talent. Then she discovers a hat in her uncle’s
• When Stink’s class visits the Gross-Me-Out exhibit at the science costume trunk, and finds
museum, Stink discovers at the • herself on a truly magical adventure.
• Everybody Stinks display he has an above average nose for sniffing. • Clementine by Sarah Pennypacker
Stink decides to put his • Clementine’s week begins badly when she is sent to the principal’s
• special ability to work to win a stinky sneaker contest. office for cutting off Margaret’s
• Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen • hair. As the week progresses, Clementine’s week gets worse.
• Fifth grader Nolan Byrd adopts a secret identity to thwart the bully Clementine will have you laughing out
behavior of • loud. Also try The Talented Clementine.
• Bubba Bixby. First in a series of four books. • Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper
• Stuart’s Cape by Sara Pennypacker • Can Grace overcome the injustice of being called “Just Grace”
• Bored in his new house and worried about starting third grade at a (because of three other Graces
new school, • in her class) by her teacher? A promising plan to make herself feel
• Stuart makes a magical cape out of his father’s ties and has a series better by finding her
of adventures. • neighbor’s lost cat backfires and causes more problems.
• Martin Bridge Blazing Ahead! by Jessica Scott Kerrin • The Doll People by Ann Martin
• Martin experiences his first overnight camping trip with the Junior • A family of porcelain dolls that has lived in the same house for one
Blazers and comes to hundred years is taken
• appreciate the time he and his dad spend fixing the lawn mower, • aback when a new family of plastic dolls arrives and doesn't follow
even though it means missing The Doll Code of Honor.
• Zip Rideout on TV. • Favorite Series:
• Favorite Series • Willimena Rules! by Valerie Wesley
• Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieska • Ruby Lu by Lenore Look
• The Zack Files by Dan Greenberg • Amber Brown by Paula Danziger
• Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton • Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
• Ready, Freddy! by Abby Klein • Mallory by Laurie Friedman
• Dragon Slayer’s Academy by Kate McMullan • Lucy Rose by Katy Kelly
• Spiderwick Chronicles by Terri DiTerlizzi • Cam Jansen by David Adler
• Tales from the Odyssey by Mary Pope Osborne • Franny K. Stein by Jim Benton
• Dragonling by Jackie French Koller • Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry
• Marvin P. Redpost by Louis Sachar
• Hank Zipzer by Henry Winkler

39. Links to additional reading lists
• For Newbery medal winners:
• http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmed
• For additional Award winners:
• http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists
• For specific lists for grades 4-6:
• http://summitreaders4-6.wikispaces.com/