THE KEYSTONE STATE READING ASSOCIATION
HAS PROCLAIMED APRIL AS
FAMILIES AND READING MONTH
WWW.KSRA.ORG
Feel free to copy and distribute this material.
March 2014
Dear Families,
Let’s read!
Children develop a love of stories and poems when they read or are read to on a regular basis.
These experiences enrich and expand their world and encourage imagination. At the same time,
you’ll be building family memories to last a lifetime.
With this in mind, the Keystone State Reading Association – which is committed to developing a
love of reading in all children across Pennsylvania – is proclaiming the month of April as
Families and Reading Month. Throughout the month, families all across the state will be
sharing the joys of reading at home. We hope you will join in the fun by reading with your child
each day in April.
Throughout Families and Reading Month, we encourage families to engage in reading or
reading activities for 15 minutes each day during the month of April. Attached you will find a
calendar of ideas and activities to promote reading. The activities are suggestions that can also
be incorporated into a reading schedule throughout the year.
As a thank-you for your support and encouragement, we ask, at the end of April, that you sign
the attached calendar and return it to your child’s teacher. In return, you and your child will
receive a Certificate of Achievement.
We hope you will take time to create some special memories during April. Now, let’s read!
Sincerely,
Janice A. Stahlman & Debbie Urso
Families and Reading Co-Chairs
2
March 2014
Dear Colleagues,
The Keystone State Reading Association is committed to developing a love of reading in all
children across Pennsylvania. To this end, KSRA will again promote April as Families and
Reading Month throughout Pennsylvania to call attention to the importance of families reading
together at home.
Parents are a child’s first – and most important – teacher; their influence needs to be recognized
and encouraged. Research has shown that children who come from homes where reading is
valued usually become more successful readers. We need to continue to stress to parents their
importance in developing their children’s lifelong reading pattern.
We ask that you partner with KSRA to promote Families and Reading Month and to encourage
reading at home during the month of April. If you decide to do so, we recommend the following
procedure:
1. Reproduce the enclosed age-appropriate materials.
2. Encourage participation by asking families to read for a minimum of 15 minutes daily or
complete some of the attached calendar’s activities during April.
3. Have the families return the calendar to you at the beginning of May.
4. Award the Certificate of Achievement to students whose families successfully
participate.
In the past, many schools have partnered whole school reading projects with Families and
Reading Month. Some of those activities have included author visits, book fairs, parent
workshops, character dress-up days, mystery reader days, and book swaps. We encourage you
to use your imagination or utilize the ideas in the packet to create an exciting month that
promotes, encourages, and develops a love of reading.
We invite you to participate with other districts across the state to promote the importance of
reading at home. Families and students will thank you for assisting and encouraging them to
spend time reading. A love of reading will take one through life in a wonderful way.
Sincerely,
Janice A. Stahlman & Debbie Urso
Families and Reading Co-Chairs
3
PROMOTING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL
READING PARTY
Invite families to come to school during the school day to read with their children. Have
students read their favorite stories, poems and their own writing to their family members
and other invited guests. Arrange for volunteers to read with those children whose
family members cannot come to school.
READING BACKPACK
Use an old backpack to store a variety of books and reading games that children can
share with their families. Allow students to take turns taking the backpack home.
STUFFED TOY JOURNAL
Allow a stuffed toy to visit the homes of students on a rotating basis. Send a journal
along with the toy and encourage the students to write about the toy’s experiences at
their homes from its point of view.
BOOKMAKING WORKSHOP
Invite parents to school to learn how to make simple books with their children. Show
them several different formats and use a variety of materials.
BOOK SWAP
Encourage children to bring to books to school that they have read and would like to
trade with other children. Spend a week collecting books. Give students a ticket for
each book they bring in, and at the end of the week have them choose a different book
for each ticket they have. Make extra books available for those unable to bring a book.
KIDS’ PICKS
Have older students in the school think about picture books that they enjoyed when they
were younger. Have them make a card for younger students telling them why they
recommend a particular book. Have them illustrate their cards featuring the characters
in the story. Allow them to deliver their cards to the younger students.
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READING ALOUD TO YOUR CHILDREN
Reading aloud is a gift you can freely give to your children from the day they are
born until the time they leave the nest. Children’s reading experts agree that reading
aloud offers the easiest and most effective way to help children become lifelong
readers. It can also be as much fun for you as it is for your children.
A child whose day includes listening to lively stories is more likely to grow up
loving books and wanting to read them. To spark this desire in your children, you may
want to try some of these suggestions offered by Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), a
national nonprofit organization that inspires youngsters to read.

Set aside a special time each day to read aloud to your children. Fifteen minutes a
day is an ideal time.

Vary your selections.
For very young children, look for picture books with
illustrations and print that is simple, clear, and colorful.

Read slowly and with expression. The more you ham it up, the more your children
will love it. Try substituting your child’s name for a character in the story.

Have your children sit where they can see the book clearly, especially if it is a
picture book.

Allow time for your children to settle into the story, as well as time afterwards to talk
about it.

As you read aloud, encourage your children to get in on the act. Invite them to
describe pictures, read bits of text, or predict what will happen next. It is even fun to
dramatize the roles in the story or read lines of dialogue.

Children like a sense of completion, so finish what you begin. If the book is lengthy,
find an appropriate stopping point, such as the end of a chapter.

Continue to read aloud to your children even after they begin school and are
independent readers. There is no age limit to reading to your children.

Teenagers may enjoy reading aloud to a younger sibling. They often like to revisit
some of their old favorites.
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FAMILY STORYTELLING
Since ancient times, storytelling has fired the imaginations of listeners of all ages
in every corner of the world. Generation after generation, families have told stories to
entertain, instill values, pass on traditions and express their hopes and dreams.
Storytelling is highly regarded as an important step toward developing children’s
literacy. When you tell your children stories, you are building their vocabularies, giving
them a sense of how stories work and exercising their imaginations as they visualize the
story.
A family rich in stories has a true legacy to pass along.
Here are some
suggested storytelling ideas from Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), a national nonprofit
organization that inspires children to read.

Choose an appropriate story for the audience. Make sure young listeners will be
able to follow the plot, and that the story can be told within the limits of their
attention span.

Read or rehearse the story until you know it well.

Tell stories you like. If you are not enthused about a story, your voice will give away
your lack of interest. Remember that enthusiasm is contagious.

Use colorful words. Rich, descriptive language will help your children visualize the
story as it unfolds.

Change your voice. Distinguish among the different voices of your characters by
changing your own voice. Speeding up and slowing down or raising and lowering
your voice can dramatize story action and mood also.

Have your children participate. They can say the magic words at your cue, chant
lines that repeat, or add sound effects. If you are making the story up as you go
along, ask them to contribute.

Use props. Simple household props can liven up a story and encourage children to
retell it themselves. Children can also make their own stick or paper bag puppets.

Tell it again! Like a favorite book, a good story can be retold over and over. In time,
your children may want to tell the story themselves.
6
TIPS FOR SELECTING AND USING
LITERATURE WITH CHILDREN
Families often ask teachers for help with book selections and about the development
of reading skills. Many families are looking for a quick method to determine a book's
appropriateness for their child's independent reading level. Comprehension checks
and ways to enhance oral reading are also key areas of interest. May you find these
suggestions useful as you discover the wonderful world of books with your family!

Select books that appeal to your child's interest level.

Use the five-finger test to help your child select books appropriate for his/her
reading level. Encourage your child to choose a book that looks interesting, open it
to any page and read. Each time your child comes to an unknown word, a finger is
raised.
Five unknown words on a page indicate that the book is probably too
difficult for independent reading. Save the book to use at a later time or include it as
a read aloud selection.

Read books aloud to your child on a regular basis. Don't overlook chapter books!
Primary grade children enjoy them as much as intermediate grade children.

Provide opportunities for shared reading.
In a shared reading, you take turns
reading aloud with your child.

Invite your child to read a favorite book to a younger sibling or friend.

Use repeated readings with your son or daughter. Allow your child to practice the
story as many times as needed for the development of fluency with oral reading.

Record your child reading a favorite selection. Mail the tape to a distant relative or
friend. The recorded story could also become a wonderful addition to a childhood
memory box.

Use echo reading. Read a short passage from a favorite selection and ask your
child to reread it matching your fluency and expression.

Read paragraphs alternately with your child.
Provide guide questions for the
paragraphs read aloud. Allow your child to ask questions also.
7

Help your child summarize a story using these five questions:
Who or what is the story about?
When or where does the story take place?
What happens first?
What happens next?
How does the story end?

Invite your child to draw a picture illustrating a favorite scene or character from a
story. Encourage your child to write a descriptive paragraph about it. Ask your
child to read it to you.

Encourage your child to create an advertisement for a favorite book.

Invite your child to recommend three favorite books for you to enjoy!
Clip Art by Phillip Martin & Bookmark Clip Art by Dianne J. Hook
Prepared by the Families and Reading Committee of the Keystone State Reading Association
8
PRESCHOOL
New titles are denoted with an asterisk ( * ).
Classics:
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Frederick by Leo Leonni
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Newer Picture Books:
*A Kiss Means I Love You by Kathryn Allen
*Oh No, Little Dragon by Jim Averbeck
No Two Alike by Keith Baker
Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
Hey Diddle Diddle by Eve Bunting
The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle
Melvin and the Boy by Lauren Castillo
We’re Going on a Lion Hunt by Margery Cuyler
*The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
Llama Llama Misses Momma by Anna Dewdney
RRRalph by Lois Elhert
If You’re a Monster and You Know It by Rebecca Emberley
*Tell Me about Your Day Today by Mem Fox
Bedtime for Bear by Brett Helquist
Mother Goose Picture Puzzles by Will Hillenbrand
Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again by Dave Horowitz
*Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
One Night in the Zoo by Judith Kerr
*This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
9
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
The Frogs and Toads All Sang by Arnold Lobel
Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord
Sort it Out! by Barbara Mariconda
Eddie Gets Ready for School by David Milgrim
I Love You Just the Way You Are by Virginia Miller
How to be a Good Cat by Gail Page
A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
The Bear Who Shared by Catherine Raynor
You Can Do Anything, Daddy! by Michael Rex
Big Cat, Small Cat by Ami Rubinger
*Little Tug by Stephen Savage
Truckery Rhymes by Jon Scieszka
Bumble-Ardy by Maurice Sendak
Tilly the Trickster by Molly Shannon
*The Three Triceratops Tuff by Stephen Shaskan
I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead
The Loopy Coop Hens by Janet Morgan Stoeke
*Let’s Sing a Lullaby by the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson
*The Game of Finger Worms by Herve Tullet
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday by Melanie Watt
Happy Piggy Day! by Mo Willems
*It’s Duffy Time! by Audrey and Don Wood
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright
*Penguin and Pinecone: A Friendship Story by Salina Yoon
The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum
Chuckling Ducklings by Aaron Zenn
10
Newer Concept and Informational Books:
ABC Kids by Simon Basher
The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin
Bounce by Doreen Cronin
Everything I Need to Know before I’m Five by Valorie Fisher
*Underground by Denise Fleming
Moonshot by Brain Floca
I Spy with My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs
Duck & Goose 1, 2, 3 by Tad Hills
* Animal Opposites by Peter Horacek
Arf! Beg! Catch! Dogs from A to Z by Henry Horenstein
Hey, That’s Not Trash! But Which Bin Does It Go In? by Renee Jablow
*Alphabet Everywhere by Elliott Kaufman
* National Geographic Little Kids: Ocean Counting by Janet Lawler
*What’s Looking at You, Kid? by J. Patrick Lewis
* Up! Tall! And High! by Ethan Long
Fish, Swish! Splash, Dash!: Counting Round and Round by Suse MacDonald
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.
A Closer Look by Mary McCarthy
I’m Dirty by Kate McMullen
*Animals and Their Families by Barbara Nascimbeni
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Everything to Spend the Night from A to Z by Ann Whitford Paul
Read It, Don’t Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr
The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra
Waddle! By Rufus Butler Seeder
*Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow by Susan Shea
*Fall Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow
Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
Press Here by Herve Tullet
*Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff
Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood
*My Blue Is Happy by Jessica Young
11
Educational Apps:
ABC Mouse- leveled learning of letters, numbers, colors, songs, and stories
Duck Duck Moose Reading (Apple) teaches letters, sounds, and words
Faces iMake –create faces with food
Play & Sing- addresses letters, colors, shapes, sequencing, and animals
Read to Me- introduces a new book everyday
Reading Raven HD (Apple)- teaches letters and sounds
Starfall-sounds, letters, words, and sentences with interactive games
Super WHY- just like the TV show, it teaches letters, vocabulary, and rhyming
Tozzle – puzzles to build fine motor skills and shape recognition
What’s My Pair II by Tiny Hands
Magazines:
Big Backyard
Chickadee
CLICK
Highlights for Children
Humpty Dumpty
Ladybug: The Magazine for Young Children
National Geographic Little Kids
Sesame Street Magazine
Turtle Magazine for preschool Kids
Zootles
12
PRIMARY GRADES K-2
New titles are denoted with an asterisk ( * ).
Classics:
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Are You My Mother? by Phillip D. Eastman
Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne
Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Newer Fiction Books:
Itsy Mitsy Runs Away by Elanna Allen
*Don’t Copy Me by Jonathan Allen
The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson
At This Very Moment by Jim Arnosky
A Seed is Sleepy by D. Ashton
* Journey by Aaron Becker
* Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover by Cece Bell
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme by Marianne Berks
*I’m Bored by Michael Black
I Don’t Want to Go to School! by Stephanie Blake
Bailey by Harry Bliss
Pete & Pickles by Berkeley Breathed
*Maestro Stu Saves the Zoo by Denise Brennen-Nelson
The Umbrella Queen by Shirin Yim Bridges
13
Polar Opposites by Erik Brooks
*Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
Magda’s Tortillas by Becky Chavarria-Chairez
Magic Box by Katie Cleminson
Willie and the All Stars by Floyd Cooper
Dog Biscuit by Helen Cooper
Henry and the Crazed Chicken Pirates by Carolyn Crimi
Titanicat by Marty Crisp
The Green Mother Goose by David Davis and Jan Peck
Dogs Don’t Brush Their Teeth by Diane deGroat and Shelley Rotner
*Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo
*Locomotive by Brian Floca
*Boot & Shoe by Maria Frazee
Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman
Let’s Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile
*Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
Planting the Wild Garden by Kathryn Galbraith
Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! by Marie-Louise Gay
Minifred Goes to School by Mordicai Gerstein
*Call Me Oklahoma by Miriam Glassman
Say Hello to Zorro! by Carter Goodrich
Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley
Spells by Emily Gravett
Ant and Grasshopper by Luli Gray
Ain’t Nobody Stranger Than Me by Ann Grifalconi
Perfect Square by Michael Hall
Red Truck by Kerstin Hamilton
*Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon
Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie Harris
Most Loved in All the World by Tonya Hegamin
Cool Dog, School Dog, by Deborah Heiligman
* Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
*The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
That Book Woman by Heather Henson
Louie by Will Hillenbrand
14
*Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills
Dogs Night by Meredith Hooper
Jamal’s Busy Day by Wade Hudson
Dust Devil by Anne Isaacs
Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse by Rebecca Janni
The Birthday Pet by Ellen Javernick
*This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers
*Lemonade in Winter: A Book about Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins
Neville by Norton Juster
The Gingerbread Pirates by Kirstin Kladstrup
*It’s a Tiger! by David LaRochelle
First Dog by J. Patrick Lewis and Beth Zappitello
Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies
Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin
Being a Pig Is Nice: A Child’s-Eye View of Manners by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Ming Lo Loves the Mountain by Arnold Lobel
*Sleep like a Tiger by Mary Logue
*Frog and Fly: Six Slurpy Stories by Jeff Mack
*Monsters’ Monster by Patrick McDonnell
Lion’s Share by Matthew McElligott
Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day by Kate McMullan
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
*Joe and Sparky Go to School by Jamie Michalak
Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden by Kathy Miller
*The Gumazing Gum Girl!: Chews Your Destiny by Rhode Montijo
*What Brothers Do Best/ What Sisters Do Best by Laura Numeroff
* The Mighty Lalouche by Matthew Olshan
*Once upon a Royal Super Baby by Kevin O’Malley
*I Wanna New Room by Karen Orloff
*Mysterious Traveler by Mal Pet and Elspeth Graham
My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil by Hanoch Piven
A Pirate’s Guide to First Grade by James Preller
Louise the Big Cheese and the Back-to-School Smarty-Pants by Elise Primavera
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid
*Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
15
Blackout by John Rocco
*Me and Momma and Big John by Mara Rockliff
The Chicken Thief by Beatrice Rodriguez
*Chopsticks: Not Exactly a Sequel to Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Bandit by Karen Rostoker-Gruber
Those Darn Squirrels! by Adam Rubin
*A Leaf Can Be… by Amy Salas
*Trouble in Treeville by Shirley Santilli
Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer
All the World by Liz Scanlon
*Skippyjon Jones: Class Action by Judy Schachner
Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes by Alice Schertle
*Perfectly Percy by Paul Schmid
*The Meanest Birthday Girl by Josh Schneider
Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian
What If? by Laura Seeger
Sneaky Weasel by Hannah Shaw
I’m the Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
13 Words by Lemony Snicket
A Walk with Grandpa by Sharon Soloman
*S.W.I.T.C.H.: Spider Stampede by Alli Sparkes
Miss Fox’s Class Shapes Up by Eileen Spinelli
*Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip Stead
* The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague
The LOUD Book! by Deborah Underwood
Probudit! by Chris Van Allsburg
*Living with Mom and Living with Dad by Melanie Walsh
*Mr. Wuffles by David Weisner
*Let’s Go for a Drive by Mo Willems
My Name is Sangoel by Karen Williams and Khadra Mohammed
Piggy Pie Po by Audrey Wood
*Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates
16
Newer Informational Books:
Frogs by Nic Bishop
ZooBorns!: Zoo Babies from Around the World by Andrew Bleiman
America is Under Attack: September 11, 2011: The Day the Towers Fell by Don Brown
*A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant
One Giant Leap by Robert Burleigh
*Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic by Monica Carnesi
*Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of John “Appleseed” Chapman by Esme Raji
Codell
Teeth by Sneed Collard
* Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
by John Coy
*These Bees Count! by Alison Formento
Lincoln and Douglass by Nikki Giovanni
*Frog Song by Brenda Guiberson
Birds by Kevin Henkes
*How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge
What Bluebirds Do by Pamela Kirby
All the Water in the World by George Lyon
Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World’s Smartest Horse by Emily McCully
Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans
Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine
Metamorphoses: Butterfly by Arthur John L’Hommedieu
How Many Baby Pandas by Sandra Markle
*Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton by Meghan McCarthy
*The Christmas Tugboat by George Matteson and Adele Ursone
*Molly, By Golly!: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter by
Dianne Ochiltree
Seed Soil Sun: Earth’s Recipe for Food by Cris Peterson
*Miss Moore Thought Otherwise by Jan Pinborough
*Martin and Mahalia: His words, Her Song by Andrea Pinkney
Mr. Lincoln’s Boys by Staton Rabin
Rah, Rah, Radishes! by April Sayre
A Place for Birds by Melissa Sewart
About Penguins by Cathryn Sill
*Brick by Brick by Charles Smith Jr.
17
First Dog Fala by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk
*A Place for Bats by Melissa Stewart
Building Manhattan by Laura Vila
**A Zeal of Zebras: An Alphabet of Collective Nouns by Woop Studios
Teeth, Tails, & Tentacles: An Animal Counting Book by Christopher Wormell
Poetry Books:
Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue by Jon Agee
*We Go Together by Calef Brown
Dogku by Andrew Clements
The Bug in the Teacher’s Coffee and Other School Poems by Kalli Dakos
**Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies
*In the Sea by David Elliott
* Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More! Poems for Two Voices by Carole Gerber
You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Fables by Mary Ann Hoberman
*Poems to Learn by Heart by Caroline Kennedy
*National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry edited by J. Patrick Lewis
*The Bill Martin Jr. Big book of Poetry edited by Bill Martin Jr.
I Didn’t Do It by Patricia McLaughlin and Emily McLaughlin Charest
**Dear Hot Dog by Gerstein Mordicai
**National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That
Squeak, Soar, and Roar!
Sometimes I Wonder If Poodles Like Noodles by Laura Nummeroff
*Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems by Jack Prelutsky
Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka
A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems by Deborah Ruddell
Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman
**Every Thing on It by Shel Silverstein
*Digger, Dozer, Dumper by Hope Vestergaard
Beyond the Great Mountains: A Visual Poem about China by Ed Young
18
Series Books:
Cam Jansen by David Adler
*Ivy & Bean by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Clifford, the Big Red Dog by Normal Bridwell
Arthur by Marc Brown
Cork & Fuzz by D. Chaconas
*Pete the Cat by James Dean
*Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo
I Wonder by Dorling Kindersley
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Duck & Goose by Tad Hills
*Ready Freddy by Abbie Klein
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Conner
The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Curious George by H. A. Rey
*Galaxy Zack by Ray O’Ryan
Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
Ladybug Girl by David Somar
Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems
Pebble Go Animals by various authors
Educational Apps:
Booksy- download books
Dyslexia Quest- enhances working memory, processing, visual memory, & sequencing
Endless Alphabet- teaches letters, letter sounds, and vocab
Endless Reader- teaches sight words (like a sequel to Endless Alphabet)
Reading Raven HD (Apple)- teaches letters and sounds
Sight Words 1-300: Kids Learn- different interactive activities to learn sight words
That’s Baloney- quiz-like game for all content areas (2nd grade & up)
19
Magazines:
Big Backyard
Boy’s Life
Boy’s Quest
Chickadee
Children’s Playmate
Crinkles
Highlights for Children
Jack and Jill
Kids Discover
Ladybug: The Magazine for Young Children
National Geographic Little Kids
Nickelodeon
Ranger Rick
Spider: The Magazine for Young Children
Stone Soup: The Magazine by Young Writers and Artists
Zoobooks
20
INTERMEDIATE GRADES 3-5
New titles are denoted with an asterisk ( * ).
Classic Books:
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
The Watson’s Go to Burmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
Bunnicula by James Howe
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Holes by Louis Sachar
Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Newer Fiction Books:
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
The No. 1 Car Spotter by Antinuke
*The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The Moon over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston
The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane and Herm Auch
City of Orphans by Avi
Zoola Palooza: A Book of Homographs by Gene Baretta
*Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Max Goes to Jupiter: A Science Adventure with Max the Dog by Jeffrey Bennett, Nick
Schneider, and Erica Ellingson
*Nightsong by Ari Berk
Just for Elephants by Carol Berkley
*The Lonely Book by Kate Bernheimer
Painter and Ugly by Robert Blake
Tickety Tock by Jason Robert Brown
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
*The Water Castle by Megan Blakemore
*One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo
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Spunky Tells All by Ann Cameron
Good-bye, Havana! Hola, New York! by Edie Colon
*About Average by Andrew Clements
*Unspoken by Henry Cole
*Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzig and Holly Black
The Star Shard by Frederic Durbin
*Chickadee by Louise Erdrich
The Big Splash by Jack D. Ferraiolo
*Locomotive by Brian Floca
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
* Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graf
Night of the Spadefoot Toads by Bill Harley
Summer Jackson Grown Up by Teresa Harris
George’s Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy and Stephen Hawking
Me and Jack by Danette Haworth
When Anju Loved Being an Elephant by Wendy Hendricks
Junonia by Kevin Henkes
Peaceful Pieces by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Jack and the Beanstalk: A Graphic Novel by Blake Hoena
Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea by Tony Johnston
Monsters Eat Whiny Children by Bruce Kaplan
Night of the Moon: A Muslim Story by Hena Khan
Vincent Shadow: The Top Secret Toys by Tim Kehoe
Melonhead by Katy Kelly
*The Spotted Dog Last Seen by Jessica Kerrin
* Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked by Jarrett Krosoczka
* The Adventures of a South Pole Pig by Chris Kurtz
Itch by Michelle Kwasney
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Big Night for Salamanders by Sarah Lamstein
Savvy by Ingrid Law
Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal
E-mergency by Tom Lichtenheld
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Punished! by David Lubar
*The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan
*Because of Shoe and Other Dog Stories edited by Ann Martin
Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell
*Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon
*Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers
*The People of Twelve Thousand Winters by Trinka Hakes Noble
Plunked by Michael Northrop
*On the Road to Mr. Mineo’s by Barbara O’Connor
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
*I Funny by James Patterson
Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck
Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
* Bluffton (Graphic Novel) by Matt Phelan
The Town that Fooled the British: A War of 1812 Story by Lisa Popp
Blackout by John Rocco
The Dreamer by Pam Muńoz Ryan
Guys Read: Thriller edited by Jon Scieszka
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Fortune’s Magic Farm by Suzanne Selfors
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
*Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snickett
*Third Grade Angels by Jerry Spinelli
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
*Hound Dog True by Linda Urban
*Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales compiled by Chris
VanAllsburg
*So B. It by Sarah Weeks
The Listeners by Gloria Whelan
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda Woods
The Can Man by Laura Williams
Bobby versus Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yee
Minnow and Rose: An Oregon Trail Story by Judy Young
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Newer Informational Books:
A Picture Book of Harry Houdini by Davis Adler
A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Aston
The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob & Joe Switzer’s … by Chris Barton
Bubble Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock
The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia
*On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne
Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen Bernier-Grand
Nic Bishop Marsupials by Nic Bishop
The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook by David Borgenicht
*A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant
Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic by Robert Burleigh
* Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges
A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis by Matt de la Pena
Titanic Sinks!: Experience the Titanic’s Doomed Voyage in this Unique Presentation of
Fact and Fiction by Barry Denenberg
50 American Heroes Every Child Should Meet by Dennis Denenberg and Lorraine
Roscoe
One Million Things: A Visual Encyclopedia by DK Publishing
Face to Face With Sharks by Davis Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes
*Wild Animal Neighbors: Sharing Our Urban World by Ann Downer
Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
*Locomotive by Brian Floca
The Buffalo are Back by Jean Craighead George
The Human Body Factory: The Nuts and Bolts of Your Insides by Dan Green
Extreme Pets by Jane Harrington
*The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligman
*The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson
**Just a Second: A Different Way to Look at Time by Steve Jenkins
Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the True Story of an American
Feud by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain
Animals in the House: A History of Pets and People by Sheila Keenan
My Senator and Me: A Dog’s Eye View of Washington, D.C. by Edward Kennedy
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*Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and the Secret Mud that Changed Baseball by David
Kelly
The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley
*Queen of the Track by Heather Lang
*The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle
*Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy
Every Minute on Earth: Fun Facts that Happen Every 60 Seconds by Steve and
Matthew Murrie
*Frogs! Strange and wonderful by Laurence Pringle
*To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Doreen Rappaport
*Volcano Rising by Elizabeth Rusch
Drawing from Memory by Allen Say
Buried Alive! How 33 Miners Survived 69 Days Deep Under the Chilean Desert by
Elaine Scott
Autism and Me: Sibling Stories by Ouisie Shapiro
T is for Titanic: A Titanic Alphabet by Debbie and Michael Shoulders
Fire, Bubbles, and Exploding Toothpaste: More Unforgettable Experiments that Make
Science Fun by Steve Spangler
Explorer: A Daring Guide for Young Adventurers by Dugald Steer
Show Off: How to Do Absolutely Everything. One Step at a Time by Sarah Hines
Stephens
Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles Into Comics by James Sturm,
Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of the Macy’s Parade by
Melissa Sweet
Farmer George Plants a Nation by Peggy Thomas
*The Poppy Lady by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh
Alfred Nobel: The Man Behind the Peace Prize by Kathy-Jo Wargin
I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer by Carole Weatherford
Lincoln and His Boys by Rosemary Wells
*Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery by Margaret Weitekamp
You Never Heard of Sandy Kaufax? By Jonah Winter
*Voices from the Oregon Trail by Kay Winters
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Series Books:
American Girls
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron
Sports by Matt Christopher
Ramona by Beverly Cleary
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
The Bailey School Kids by Debbie Dadley
Amber Brown by Paula Danziger
Dear America
The Hardy Boys by Franklin Dixon
The Polk Street Kids by Patricia Reilly Giff
My Weird School by Dan Gutman
Russell Sprouts by Johanna Hurwitz
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
Giver Quartet by Louis Lowry
*The Babysitters Club Graphic Novels by Ann M. Martin and Raina Telgemeier
The Tapestry series by Henry H. Neff
Clementine by Sarah Pennypacker
Dork Diaries by Rachel Russell
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Goosebumps by R. L. Stine
*I Survived… by Lauren Tarshis
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
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Poetry:
Reading, Writing, and ‘Rithmetic by Dave Crawley
*Your Skeleton is Showing by Kurt Cyrus
*The Year Comes Round by Sid Farrar
Shiver Me Timbers!: Pirate Poems & Paintings by Douglas Florian
Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems by Douglas Florian
The Monarch’s Progress: Poems with Wings by Avis Harley
Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: a Collection of Family Poems by Mary Ann
Hoberman
Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins
A Foot in the Mouth: Poems to Speak, Sing, and Shout compiled by Paul Janeczko
Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems by Gail Carson Levine
*National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry edited by J. Patrick Lewis
Yum! MMMM! Que Rico: America’s Sproutings by Pat Mora
Slam Dunk: Basketball Poems by Lillian Morrison (Ed.)
Words with Wings: A Treasury of African- American Poetry and Art by Belinda
Rochelle (Ed.)
A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk by Deborah Ruddell and Joan Rankin
Button Up! by Alice Schertle
Tour America: A Journey through Poems and Art by Diane Siebert
Mirror Mirror: a Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer
A Pocketful of Stars: Poems about the Night by Nikki Siegen-Smith
Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli
Ocean Soup: Tide-Pool Poems by Stephen Swineburne
Nature’s Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse by Patricia Thomas
*Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Animal Poems by Valerie Worth
*Bug Off! Creepy, Crawly Poems by Jane Yolen
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Educational Apps:
Book Creator- create, publish, and share books that you make
Chicktionary – create as many possible words from 7 seven letters
Jumbline – word games
Mad Libs- like the paper-pencil version, create stories using various parts of speech
News-O-Matic- interactive, subscription based newspaper app
Popplet Lite- visual organizers to organize thoughts, pictures, etc.
That’s Baloney- quiz-like game for all content areas
Magazines:
American Girl
Ask
Boy’s Life
Boy’s Quest
Calliope
Child Life
Cobblestone: The History Magazine for Young People
Crinkles
Highlights for Children
Jack and Jill
Kids Discover
National Geographic Kids
Nickelodeon
Odyssey
Owl: The Discovery Magazine for Children
Ranger Rick
Spider: The Magazine for Young Children
Stone Soup: The Magazine by Young Writers and Artists
Sports Illustrated for Kids
Zoobooks
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MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 6-8
New titles are denoted with an asterisk ( * ).
Classics:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O’Brien
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare
Newer Fiction Books:
*The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
*The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Peeled by Joan Bauer
*Strike Three, You’re Dead by Josh Berk
*Doll Bones by Holly Black
*Serafina’s Promise by Ann Burg
A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg
Yes, I Know the Monkey Man by Dori Hillstad Butler
Dragon’s Keep by Janet Lee Carey
Wild Things by Clay Carmichael
*Will in Scarlet by Matthew Cody
The Steps by Rachel Cohn
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine
Replay by Sharon Creech
Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Pena
Kyle’s Island by Sally Derby
Trading Faces by Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Where I’d Like to Be by Frances O’Roark Dowell
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The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau
*Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman
*Africa Is My Home by Monica Edinger
Everything Is Fine by Anne Dee Ellis
The Mystery of the Fool and the Vanisher by David and Ruth Ellwand
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
*Better Nate Than Never by Tim Ferdele
Bang! by Sharon Flake
*A Diamond in the Desert by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
Washington at Valley Forge by Russell Freedman
Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War by Helen Frost
The Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz
The Fault is in Our Stars by John Green
Bronte’s Book Club by Kristiana Gregory
Babe & Me by Dan Gutman
Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn
Dark Water Rising by Marion Hale
*A Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell
Dream of Night by Heather Henson
The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse
Time to Smell the Roses by Michael Hoeye
Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf: A Year Told through Stuff by Jennifer Holm
My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath
*One of the Murphy’s by Lynda Mullally Hunt
*How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinks
Pigling: A Cinderella Story by Dan Jolley
*Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones
Stolen Children by Pat Kehret
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes by Marlane Kennedy
Dirt Road Home by Watt Key
Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
The Boy Project: Notes and Observations of Kara McAllister by Kami Kinard
Schooled by Gordon Korman
The Cheat by Amy Goodman Koss
Weeping Under This Same Moon by Jana Laiz
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Scumble by Ingrid Law
The Wish by Gail Carson Levine
*The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
*Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana López
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
The Big Field by Mike Lupica
*Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner
Thirteen by Lauren Myracle
*The False Prince by Jennifer Nielson
We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
The Freedom Business by Marilyn Nelson
Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa
*Wonder by R. J. Palacio
*Written in Stone by Rosanne Parry
Marching for Freedom by Elizabeth Partridge
The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Paton
The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulson
A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck
The Cat Master by Bonnie Pemberton
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan
Nation by Terry Pratchett
The Book of Time by Guillaume Prevost
*The Dogs of Winter by Bobbie Pryon
*A Girl Called Problem by Katie Quirk
Red Glass by Resau
Jimmy’s Stars by Mary Ann Rodman
*The Other Side of Free by Krista Russell
The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott
I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It by Adam Selzer
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth
Bruiser by Neal Shusterman
Alien Feast (Chronicles of the First Invasion) by Michael Simmons
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When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton
*Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
*Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
Barnaby Grimes: Curse of the Night Wolf by Paul Stewart
*The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone
*Lookwood & Co.: The Screaming Stair Case by Jonathan Stroud
Flight to Freedom by Ana Veciana-Suarez
*Dear Blue Sky by Mary Sullivan
Drama by Raina Telgemeir
Smile by Raina Telgemeir
Cardboard by Doug TenNapel
The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley by Colin Thompsom and Amy Lissiat
*Dark Lord: The Early Years by Jamie Thompson
*One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
*Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
*The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
*Paperboy by Vince Vawter
It’s Only Temporary by Sally Warner
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston
Dandelion Fire by N. D. Wilson
Dump Trucks & Dog Sleds by Henry Winkler
Minn and Jake’s Almost Terrible Summer by Janet Wong
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
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Newer Informational Books:
Extraordinary Explorers and Adventures by Judy Alter
The Skull in the Rock: How a Scientist, a Boy and Google Earth Opened a New Window
on Human Origins by Marc Aronson and Lee Berger
Denied, Detained, Deported: The Dark Side of American Immigration by Ann Bausum
Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World by Ken Beller and Heather
Chase
Swords: An Artist’s Devotion by Ben Boos
100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet: What to Do If It Happens to You by Anna
Claybourne
What the World Eats by Faith D’Aluisio
*Master George’s People: George Washington, His Slaves, and His Revolutionary
Transformation by Marfe Delano
Shadow Life: A Portrait of Anne Frank and Her Family by Barry Denenberg
My Last Skirt: The Story of Jenny Hodgers, Union Soldier by Lynda Durrant
The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming
Duel! Burr and Hamilton’s Deadly War of Words by Dennis Brindell Fradin
The Spalulatta Cookbook by Isabel & Oliver Gerasole
On My Journey Now: Looking at African American History through Spirituals by Nikki
Giovanni
Charles A. Lindbergh: A Human Hero by James Giblin
The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming by Laurie & Cambria Gordon
Disasters: Natural and Man-Made Catastrophes through the Centuries by Brenda Z.
Guiberson
We Were There Too! Young People in U. S. History by Phillip Hoose
*Ick! Yuck! Eew! Our Gross American History by Lois Miner Huey
Case Closed? Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science by Susan Hughes
*Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible …on Schindler’s List by
Leon Leyson
Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491 by Charles Mann
The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara & Susan McClelland
Hottest NASCAR Machines by K. C. Kelley
Snow Falling in Spring by Moying Li
The Fairy Ring by Mary Losure
Dance: No Matter What Kind of Dance You Like to Do, This Is the Book for You by
Apryl Lundsten
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Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the
World by Sy Montgomery
Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out by National Children’s Book and Literacy
Alliance
After Ghandi: One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance by Anne Sibley O’Brien and
Perry Edmond
In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Survivor by Irene Gut Opdyke
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Children’s Night Sky Atlas: The Universe Mapped, Explored, and Revealed by Robin
Scagell
Kid’s Almanac of Geography by Alice Siegal & Margo McLoone
*Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickels by Tanya Lee Stone
*Breakfast on Mars and 37 Other Delectable Essays edited by Rebecca Stern and Brad
Wolfe
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanta Lee Stone
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine
Thimmesh
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley by Sally
Walker
Under Siege! Three Children at the Civil War Battle of Vicksburg by Andrea Warren
Poetry:
I Feel a Little Jumpy Around You: Paired Poems by Men & Women by Aladdin
Paperbacks
Talking Drums: A Selection of Poems from Africa South of the Sahara by Bloomsbury
Poetry from A to Z: A Guide for Young Writers by Bradbury Press
A Foot in the Mouth: Poems to Speak, Sing, and Shout by Candlewick Press
My Letter to the World and Other Poems by Emily Dickenson
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
Side by Side: New Poems Inspired by Art from Around the World edited by Jan
Greenberg
More than Friends: Poems from Him and Her by Sara Holbrook
Black Stars in a White Night Sky by JonArno Lawson
*When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Laders by J. Patrick Lewis
Honeybee: Poems & Short Prose by Naomi Shihab Nye
Boris by Cynthia Rylant
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Well Defined: Vocabulary in Rhyme by Michael Salinger
*What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms and Blessings by Joyce Sidman
Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing by Gary Soto
Behind the Wheel: Poems about Driving by Janet S. Wong
Series:
*Oragami Yoda Series by Angelberger
*Skeleton Creek Series by Patrick Carman
*Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Matched Series by Ally Conie
The Second World War series by Morris Gleitzman
The Shadow Children by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Horse Diaries by Catherine Hapka and Ruth Sanderson
Mates, Dates by Cathy Hopkins
The Warriors by E. Hunter
The Narnia Chronicles by C. S. Lewis
Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart
Vietnam Series by Chris Lynch
*Legend by Marie Lu
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Middle School Series by James Patterson
Among the Hidden Series by Margret Haddix Peterson
Found, Lost, Missing Series by Margret Haddix Peterson
Heroes of Olympus Series by Rick Riordan
The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan
*Divergent by Veronica Roth
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
Pretty Little Liars Series by Scott Westerfield
Uglies by Scott Westerfield
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Educational Apps
Book Creator- create, publish, and share books that you make
Jumbline – word games
Middle School Confidential Book 1- graphic novel app for reflections and peer
perspectives
Show Me- create voice over white-board tutorials and share them online
Sparkle Fish- (Apple) audio story completion game similar to Mad Libs
Magazines:
Boy’s Life
Boy’s Quest
Calliope
Cobblestone: The History Magazine for Young People
Kids Discover
National Geographic Kids
Nickelodeon
Odyssey
Owl: The Discovery Magazine for Children
Ranger Rick
Stone Soup: The Magazine by Young Writers and Artists
Sports Illustrated for Kids
Zoobooks
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REFERENCES FOR ADULTS:
Raising Readers: Helping Your Child to Literacy
Reading Begins at Home by Dorothy Butler and Marie Clay
Raising Lifelong Learners: A Parent’s Guide by Lucy Calkins
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Cordell
Let’s Read About It: Finding Books They’ll Love by Bernice Cullinan
You and Your Child Reading Games by Ray Gibson
Growing Up Reading: Learning to Read through Creative Play by Jill Frankel Houser
Games for Reading: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Read by Peggy Kaye
Raising a Reader: Make Your Child a Reader for Life by Paul Kropp
Reading with Young Children: A Parent’s Guide by John Olmsted
Help America Read by Gay Su Pinnell and Irene Fountas
Families Writing by Peter Stillman
The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
WEBSITES FOR CHILDREN:
www.abcya.com
PARENT & TEACHER WEBSITES:
www.abcmouse.com
www.abcteach.com
www.bookadventure.com
www.babycenter.com
www.funbrain.com
www.eduhound.com
www.funschool.com
www.eduplace.com/parents
www.gamequarium.com
www.familyeducation.com
www.iknowthat.com
www.funbrain.com
www.noggin.com
www.kaboose.com
www.pbskids.org
www.ksrapa.org
www.primarygames.com
www.parents.com
www.rainforestmaths.com
www.pbs.org/parents
www.starfall.com
www.education.state.pa.us
www.storylineonline.net
www.scholastic.com
www.timeforkids.com
www.turtlediary.com
FOR AWARD-WINNING BOOK SUGGESTIONS BE SURE TO VISIT WWW.KSRAPA.ORG.
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