Literary Genre Bibliography: Narrative Nonfiction
Grades K-2
Sayre, April P. Eat Like a Bear. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 2013. ISBN: 978-1-58089-410-4.
Summary: Month by month, we follow a bear to see what she eats and how she finds her food. You
won’t believe what a bear eats to survive. Get your bear face on!
Curricular use: Lots of repetitive, rhythmic language and action that makes this a great read out loud.
Would be easy to do choral readings with the patterned text. Vivid language and sensory details
help students connect and imagine.
Audience: The book would appeal to Kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Markle, Sandra. Snow School. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-58089-410-4.
Summary: Twin Snow Leopard cubs learn lessons of survival from their mother. Through experiences,
lessons are taught like how to hunt and stay safe.
Curricular use: Use this book to make inferences. Students predict what will happen and infer what
could have happened as the cubs grow. The author suggests several websites – one has the cutest
video of snow leopard twin cubs.
Audience: This book would appeal to 1st through 4th grade.
Grades 3-4
George, Jean C. The Eagles are Back. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-80373771-6.
Summary: A young boy in the 1950’s helps a pair of bald eagles adopt an egg. The egg hatches and
survives the dangers of nature and man. The story ends in the present time with a boy telling his dad
this legend he read about on the Internet and the father tells him, “I am that boy.”
Curricular use: This book works with many topics – endangered animals, environmental concerns, cause
and effect and understanding flashbacks. Great time to check on the Decorah eagle cam.
Audience: This book would appeal to 2nd through 4th graders. When read, there will be a moment of
silence, then applause.
Hartland, Jessie. How the Meteorite Got to the Museum. Maplewood, NJ: Blue Apple, 2013. ISBN: 978160905252-2
Summary: The narrator introduces the story by having a student ask how the meteorite (Peekskill
Meteorite) got to the museum. Each of the events leading up to the meteorite being in the museum
is presented on a page and then added to the cumulative tale. The drawings are very fun.
Curricular use: Could be used when studying space or careers (as many careers are mentioned on the
meteorite’s way to the museum). It is also a great example of synonyms and making exciting word
choices for interest as the verbs change each time. It makes a fun read aloud.
Audience: The book would appeal to 1st through 4th grades.
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2013-2014
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Grades 5-6
McGinty, Alice B. Gandhi : A March to the Sea. Las Vegas, NV: Amazon Children's Pub., 2013. ISBN: 9781477816448.
Summary: Using lyrical language, Gandhi’s twenty four day March to the Sea to collect salt as a protest
about unfair laws and taxes under British rule is told. Beautiful pictures and repeating refrains give
students a real feel for this protest.
Curricular use: Could be used when 6th grades studies Ancient India. Also could be used to celebrate
peacemakers, giving students an understanding of why Martin Luther King, Jr. was inspired by
Gandhi. Great read aloud.
Audience: The book would appeal to 5th and 6th grade school students.
Smith, Charles R. Brick by Brick. New York: Amistad, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-06-192082-0.
Summary: Focusing on hands, this narrative verse honors the many workers who built the president’s
home (later to be called the White House). Many slaves were brought from other states to provide
labor. While they did the work, their owners collected their pay. Since skilled craftsmen were not
available, some slaves were trained and could earn a shilling a day to save to buy their freedom.
Curricular use: This book would tie in with 5th grade’s study of American history. The language is very
rhythmic making it great for a choral reading.
Audience: The book would appeal to 5th and 6th grade students.
Also Rans:
Coleman, Janet W. Eight Dolphins of Katrina : a true tale of survival. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books
for Children, 2013. Tells the story of how eight dolphins were saved and also includes a scrapbook
with wonderful pictures. Use with 3rd and above since there is a lot of text.
Coy, John. Hoop Genius : How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented
Basketball. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2013. With humorus pictures, the story is told of how
James Naismith invented basketball. 5th and 6th grade students found it funny.
Floca, Brian. Locomotive. New York: A Richard Jackson book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers,
2013. Caldecott winner takes you on a trip on the transcontinental railroad in 1869.
Hopkins, H J. The Tree Lady ; The True Story of How One Tree-loving Woman Changed a City
Forever. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2013. Narrative biography relates how Kate Sessions
changed San Diego from a treeless city to the beautiful city we know.
Markle, Sandra. The Long, Long Journey : The Godwit's Amazing Migration. Minneapolis: Millbrook
Press, 2013. Traces the path of the young Godwit bird as it flies nonstop from Alaska to New
Zealand without stopping.
Winter, Jeanette. Henri's Scissors. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2013. In this colorful narrative
biography, we watch as Henri Matisse finds a new art form, paper cut-outs in his later years when
he is confined to his bed. Your art teacher would love to use this with younger children.
ICCSD Library Program
2013-2014
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