Tips For Choosing Children's Literature for the Classroom
- subjects your students enjozy
- explain an experience
- allow students to choose books themselves
- age appropriate
Tips for Choosing Books for Read Alouds in the Classroom
- choose books your students enjoy
- know how long your students can sit still
- choose a variety of books
- allow children to choose books
- find books with that deal with situations that children are dealing with
- allow children to participate
Recommended Books for Read Alouds
In Our Mothers's House by Patricia Polacco
The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania Al Abdullah
How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath & Mary Reckmeyer
Eleanor by Barbara Cooney
Amelia's Fantastic Flight by Rose Bursik
My Great Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll
The Lemonade Club by Patricia Polacco
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardon and Peter Parnell
A Picnic in October by Eve Bunting
We the Kids
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
The Big Test by Julie Danneberg
First Year Letters by Julie Danneberg
Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg
The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania Al Abdullah
How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath & Mary Reckmeyer
Eleanor by Barbara Cooney
Amelia's Fantastic Flight by Rose Bursik
My Great Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll
The Lemonade Club by Patricia Polacco
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardon and Peter Parnell
A Picnic in October by Eve Bunting
We the Kids
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
The Big Test by Julie Danneberg
First Year Letters by Julie Danneberg
Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg
Lesson Ideas
Book(s) |
Lesson Topic |
Activity |
Alphabet Mystery
|
Alphabet
|
Ask children to bring in an object that begins with a particular letter (maybe the first letter of their name)
|
* K is for Keystone: A Pennsylvania Alphabet
* The Last Frontier: An Alaska Alphabet * One for All: A PA Numbers Book * Animals Nobody Loves |
Research
|
Use the book as an introduction. Then allow the children to pick a topic in the book which they wish to research and learn more about.
|
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock
|
Moral:
Not nice to trick other people Don't take from others |
Discussion on what happens if you trick other and take things that don't belong to you.
|
Tony's Bread
|
Christmas
|
Bring in the bread and allow children to taste it.
|
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughter
|
Actions Have Consequences
|
Compare Nyasha and Manyara's actions and the outcomes of their actions?
Which girl is the better person based on their actions? |
Luba and the Wren
|
Moral: Be greatful for what you have.
|
Discussion
|
*The Three Little Pigs
*Prince Cinders * Somebody and the Three Blairs |
Traditional Literature stories were originally told orally; stories can change.
|
Create their own story based on a common tale.
|
Town Mouse, Country Mouse
|
Continuing Stories
|
What will happen to the cat and owl?
|
Possum Magic
|
Australia
|
Foods in the book are from Australia.
Last page of the book features a map of Australia. |
The Name Jar
I Hate English |
Diversity
|
Discussion
|
In Our Mothers' House
|
Different Types of Families
|
Discussion
|
More Than Anything Else
|
Booker T. Washington
|
Introduction book
|
The Memory Coat
|
Families
|
The coat is something that is passed down from generations to generation. What is something the kids have that is passed down?
|
Balloons Over Broadway
|
Thanksgiving
|
Bring in a video of the parade to let the children watch.
|
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?
|
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose
|
Valentine's Day
|
* Mr. Baker's Cookies
* Cook-a-Doodle-Doo |
Recipes
|
Cook recipes in book.
|
Resources On Children's Literature
Elements of Children's Literature: Infancy through Age 13 Nancy A. Anderson
Picture Book Database
Search for childrens book by a variety of options.
http://www.picturebookdatabase.com/
http://www.picturebookdatabase.com/
50 Literacy Strategies Fourth Edition
Strategies for teaching literacy. Ideas of activites to use in the classroom.
Read Aloud America
Lists hundred of books for read alouds. Organized by grade.
http://www.readaloudamerica.org/booklist.htm
http://www.readaloudamerica.org/booklist.htm
Bood Adventure
Website which encourages students to read. Children read books, go to the website and take a quiz. Children earn prizes. Teacher's can set up a classroom and track students quizzes. Teachers can also set up a contest within the school.
http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx
http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx