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Dresang’s numerical links to characteristics of Radical Change:
1-nonlinear, non sequential, multilayered, interactive, graphic words and pictures.
2-multiple perspectives, previously unheard voices, speaking for oneself.
3-new subjects, new settings, new characterization, new communities, new endings.
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Adoff, Arnold. Love Letters. Illustrated by Lisa Desimini. New York: Scholastic, 1997.
A book of love poems often illustrated by “shaped-speech” and using different colors for the printed words. The variety of unique illustrations add to these humorous valentines and traditional love notes. The writer of the notes always signs the notes with a befitting closing such as “The Dribbler” and “Your Grandson - Big Belly.” 1 Poetry 2-5

Allsburg, Chris Van. Two Bad Ants. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1988.
The queen of an ant colony is introduced to a crystal that she declares is the most delicious substance she has ever eaten. All the ants want to please the queen so they set out to bring her all the crystals they can carry. Two ants are so thrilled by the treasure that they stay behind. Their adventure through a kitchen is seen from an the two ants’ perspective. Choosing the treasure has its consequences and the ants discover that the real treasure is home with family. 1,2 PB K-5

Angelou, Maya. My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken and Me. Photographs by
Margaret Courtney-Clarke. New York: Clarkson Potterr, Inc., 1994.
A book portraying the African culture not only through the beautiful photography, but also through the words of an eight-year-old first-person narrator. Thandi begins by speaking directly to the reader and sharing that her best friend is a chicken. She tells her chicken all her secrets. The reader takes a trip through Thandi’s village, and by the end of the book, the reader and Thandi are friends. Even the sizes and shapes of the words help the reader to share Thandi’s perspective on things in her daily life. 1,2 PB PreK-3

____. Kofi and His Magic. Photographs by Margaret Courtney-Clarke. New York: Clarkson Potter Publishers, 1996.
Kofi, a seven-year old boy who lives in West Africa describes his homeland as the most beautiful place in the world. He claims to be a magician on the first page of the book and assures the reader that he/she will believe him by the end. He has a magical way of sitting down, closing his eyes, and opening his mind that takes him places throughout West Africa. By the end of the book the reader is left contemplating what really happened - perhaps he is a magician! The beautiful photography and the changes in type compliment the interactivity of the book. 1,2 PB K-3

_____. Life Doesn’t Frighten Me. Paintings by Jean-Michael Basquiat. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1978.
A simple yet complex poem that celebrates the courage that can be found within a person despite all the scary things one encounters in life. The strong emotions and powerful imagination are brought out in words as well as in the paintings of Basquiat. A book that children and adults can relate to because of the universal theme of fear and inner strength. 1,3 Poetry K-5

Ben-Ezer, Ehud. Hosni the Dreamer: An Arabian Tale. Illustrated by Uri Shulevitz. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 1997.
Hosni, a shepherd, had always wanted to see the big city. It was his dream. He finally got is chance when one of the sheikh’s servants fell ill and could not make the journey to sell his camels. For his labor, the sheik gave Hosni and his other servants one dinar to spend. The others buy foods and trinkets, but Hosni buys a verse of wisdom. This wisdom saves his life and gives him a new life with a young maiden named Zobeide. A story showing wisdom to be more valuable than money. 3 Fic K-3

Bunting, Eve. Fly Away Home. Illustrated by Ronald Himler. New York: Clarion, 1991.
The story of a homeless boy and his father who live in an airport trying hard not to be noticed. They dress plainly and travel from terminal to terminal in order to keep from drawing attention to themselves. Some homeless people are noticed and put out by security guards. The boy dreams of having a home and leaving the airport someday. The boy’s thoughts are revealed through his excitement of seeing a trapped bird in the airport escape and find freedom. A touching story of the homeless. 3 PB K-2

_____. December. Illustrated by David Diaz. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1997.
Simon and his mother celebrate Christmas Eve in a cardboard box. Though homeless, they are not without hope. The walls of their small “home” are decorated with black printing of “Drink Coca Cola,” “Handle with Care” and “Clorox.” A tree top serves as their Christmas tree and it stands decorated with a toy soldier, a necklace found by the boy, a shiny silver spoon, and a star made by mom. Although they have little, they share it with an old woman who has less than they do. Was their generosity rewarded by a turn of luck or by a miracle? Simon believes it was a miracle he saw with his own eyes. A story of angels, miracles and a surprise ending that leaves the reader searching inside oneself to find the answer. 1,3 PB K-3

_____. Smoky Night. Illustrated by David Diaz. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company,
1994.
A story of Los Angeles riots and its effect on the people in a neighborhood. It centers on a mother and her son as they experience the chaos around them. From the first page, the reader feels the fear characters in the story are experiencing. Daniel learns to cope with the chaos through kindness. Prejudices fade as families from different backgrounds team together to survive and to make the best of their present circumstances. Even the previously fighting cats learn to share the same space in harmony. Diaz’s unique illustrations add to the intensity of the story. 1,3 PB K-4

_____. Scary, Scary Halloween. Illustrated by Jan Brett. New York: Clarion Books, 1986.
Told in the first-person narrative, a mother cat and her kittens tell of the eerie scenes of Halloween as they hide beneath the front porch of the house. Their eyes stare from the blackness as they watch the trick-or-treaters. A simple, yet vividly illustrated Halloween book that captures the feel of Halloween. It is not until the end that the reader becomes aware of the “prowlers of the night” who are telling the story. 2 PB K-2

_____. Sunflower House. Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1996.
A young boy, with the help of his father, plants sunflower seeds in a circle. The boy waters them everyday and tries to keep the birds away until the flowers start to grow. Soon he has plants of “mammoth” size that create a sunflower house for him and his friends. The sunflower house provides a place for cookies and tea, for pretending its a castle or a cage, for place to sleep out at night, and a place to have secrets and make wishes. Then, one day the sunflowers start to turn brown and fall down and even sticks, strings, and glue won’t solve the problem. The boy has a plan - to pick all the seeds he can and save them to plant next spring. PB K-2

Cannon, Janell. Stellaluna. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1993.
The story of a baby fruit bat that gets separated from her mother when attacked by an owl. Stellaluna falls into a bird nest where she is told she must obey all the rules of the house to stay there. During her stay with the birds, the baby bat learns to live like a bird. While flying far from home hone day with the birds, Stellaluna got lost. A flock of birds comes by and questions her about hanging by her thumbs. One of the birds is her mother. Once they are reunited, Stellaluna introduces the birds to her bat family and their way of life. The theme friendship overrides the differences between the bats and the birds. A beautifully illustrated book from which to draw parallels to human friendships and differences. 1,2 Fic K-5

Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 1987.
A brightly illustrated picture book that shows the growth of a caterpillar from an egg on a leaf to a fat caterpillar who builds himself a cocoon and stays there until he emerges as a beautiful butterfly. A wonderful book for teaching days of the week, counting, and metamorphosis. The pages cut in varying sizes with holes in them depict the trail of the caterpillar and are sure to catch the reader’s attention. 1 PB K-2

Carlson, Laurie. Boss of the Plains-The Hat that Won the West. Illustrated by Holly Meade. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1998.
The story of John Stetson who became an important figure in the American west for his mark with a hat. While most people were making a fortune by striking gold, Stetson made hats. His most famous hat was called the Boss of the Plains. Readers are introduced to nineteenth century American history. 3 NF 1-5

Cohen, Barbara. Molly’s Pilgrim. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1983.
Molly’s family moved to America from Russia. Life in the third grade is difficult for her because the girls at Winter Hill School make fun of her clothes and her accent. Molly’s family came to America to find freedom, but Molly is not experiencing this and she wants to return to Russia. It’s Thanksgiving and the students in Molly’s class must make a clothespin Pilgrim doll. With the help of her mother, Molly’s Pilgrim looks like a Russian peasant girl. Now Molly is afraid she will never fit in, but with the help of a sensitive teacher, Molly’s Pilgrim is praised and used to remind the students that Pilgrims are still coming to America. Molly learns a valuable lesson about Pilgrims and about her Mom. 2 Fic 3-5

Cole, Joanna. The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane. Illustrated by Bruce Degen. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 1995.
Ms. Frizzle and her class board the magic school bus which soon turns into a hot air balloon. Oblivious to the fact there’s a hurricane watch in effect, the class travels out over the ocean to hurricane breeding grounds. They are caught in the middle of a hurricane until the magic school bus ( now a weather plane) rescues them. When they discover that Arnold is missing, they head toward the storm again. The adventures of Ms. Frizzle and her class teach the students how changes in the air make different kinds of weather. A book of new, graphic formats and nonlinear organization that is sure to teach science facts in a lively way. 1 NF K-4

Dorris, Michael. Morning Girl. New York: Hyperion, 1996.
Morning Girl, a Taino Indian girl, loves the day, and her younger brother, Star Boy, loves the night. Each character gives his/her perspective of life on the island in Pre-Columbian America in alternating chapters. The reader is also able to get a glimpse of how each character feels about his/her position in the family and how they view the other family members in relation to how they are treated. The story takes place the eve of Columbus’ arrival. The last chapter closes with Morning Girl only having briefly met the settlers and struggling to communicate with them that she will be back soon with the right people. The book ends with a journal entry by Christopher Columbus with his perspective of their first interactions with the Indians. 2 Fic 3-8

Giovanni, Nikki. The Genie in the Jar. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. New York: Holt, 1996.
A definite Radical Change book that uses simple song/poem words and simple illustrations done on brown paper with very few colors other than brown and black. Though simplistic in word and art, the poem has many stories to tell. A girl is shown dancing with her mother nearby to run to when she needs her. As she gains independence and confidence, diversity enters her world as shown by more colors in the illustrations. The words also have the little girl moving out - “ on the Black loom, around the Black loom, from the Black loom” to to become a genie released from a jar who sings a Black song from the Black loom and runs off on her own.It is through the love and support of her mother and others that she is able to gain the strength she needs to go out alone. 1,2,3 Poetry PreK-adult

Goble, Paul. Iktomi and the Boulder - a Plains Indian story. New York: Orchard Books, 1988.
The story of Iktomi, a Plains Indian, who is always showing off and getting into trouble. He is a trickster in Plains Indian folklore. In this book, Iktomi needs help because he is trapped by a boulder. The bats are tricked into helping free Iktomi from the boulder. The reader is given helpful hints in the preface of the book for reading this story aloud. Text in italics is a signal for listeners to be allowed to make their own comments about Iktomi. The story explains why bats have flattened faces, and why there are rocks scattered over the Great Plains. 1,2,3 Fic 2-5
 

Greenfield, Eloise. Rosa Parks. Illustrated by Gil Ashby. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1973.
A story of the beginning of the modern Civil Rights movement depicting the life and struggles of Rosa Parks. Rosa hated the unfair rules she had to live by and this spurred her on to make changes. The changes that were brought about by this African American female signify an act of courage. The story exposes many of the unfair rules that blacks face daily. An excellent social studies chapter book that not only provides facts but also feelings associated with prejudices. 2,3 Biog 3-5

_____. First Pink Light. Illustrated by Moneta Burnett. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1976.
A story of a boy’s love for his father and his daily interfacing with his mother. Tyree longs to see his father who has been away for a month caring for Grandma. With great anticipation, Tyree awaits the arrival of his father and all the sounds that accompany his arrival. Despite mother’s insistence for her son to go to bed, Tyree is able to make a deal with her. Through persuasion, Tyree wins the deal, but the importance of winning the deal soon fades with the sight of the first pink light and the touch of dad’s big hand on his arm. A touching story of a father-son relationship. 3 Fic K-3

_____. Me and Neesie. Illustrated by Moneta Barnett. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1975.
Janell has an imaginary best friend named Neesie. Mama tolerates Neesie until Aunt Bea comes to visit. Although Mama has requested that Janell not mention Neesie in front of Aunt Bea, Jannell can’t control herself. It’s not until Jannell goes to school and makes new friends that Neesie disappears. Jannell is left with only the memory of her imaginary friend and the thought that Neesie was all Jannell’s - and Jannell’s alone. A touching story of a little girl’s friendship with an imaginary friend and the resolution of such a friendship. 3 Fic K-3

_____. Honey, I Love. Illustrated by Jan Spivey Filchrist. New York: Harper-Collins Publishers.
A little black girl expresses her love for many things: her cousin, the way her cousin talks, a flying pool, the laughing sound, to take a ride, her mama’s arm and herself. There’s only one thing she doesn’t like and that’s to go to sleep. A simple book with simple illustrations that convey the simple thoughts of a child about love. The story is filled with repetition, rhyme and rhythm to aid young readers. 3 PB K-2

_____. Talk About A Family. Illustrated by James Calvin. New York: Harper- Collins Publishers, 1978.
Genny is a young black girl who is waiting for her brother, Larry, to return from the military. Genny’s parents are having problems and Genny is depending on Larry’s return so everything will be the way it used to be. She soon realizes that the brother who used to fix everything can’t fix her family. It takes a neighbor, Mr. Parker, to help Genny see that you don’t throw broken things away. Genny’s family has gone through change and taking a different shape but not one to throw away. A great book to share with students who might be facing similar changes in family. 2,3 Fic 3-5

_____. Grandma’s Joy. Illustrated by Carole Byard. New York: Philomel Books.
Rhondy can’t understand why Grandma is sad. While Grandma puts clothes in a box, Rhondy attempts to make her laugh, but nothing works. Soon Grandma, in tears, tells Rhondy that she must move. Rhondy wants to remind Grandma of something she’s forgotten. At Rhondy’s request, she recounts the story of how Rhondy came to live with her. With this reminder, Grandma remembers that her joy is in Rhondy. A touching story of a grandmother-granddaughter relationship. 3 Fic K-3
 
Haley, Gail E. Go Away, Stay Away. New York: Charles Scribners Sons,1977.
A family works together to drive out the mischievous winter spirits that have remained in the village until spring. The villagers organize a procession and march around the village making noises, wearing masks, and chanting. Once the demons are driven off, the villagers put away their old clothes and dress in their best clothes to celebrate the spring with a feast, songs, and dances. The book ends with a short history explaining rituals of spring from around the world. 3 Fic K-6
 

_____. The Abominable Swamp Man. New York: The Viking Press, 1975.
A young girl, Edwardina, becomes interested in protecting the Swamp Man as the townspeople set out to capture him dead or alive. She goes to the swamp in the middle of the night and finds Grundlewich, the Last. The Swamp Man tells her that “people create the things they fear.” He lives in the world of magic and Edwardina has entered and revived his world. In the forest, Edwardina finds the ‘Singing Key.’ The Key is to the Chamber of Dreams that lies between the Light Kingdom and the Dark Domain. Edwardina returns from the Chamber of Dreams with 2 pearls on her necklace, having wed one to make a wish protecting the Swamp Man. 3 Fic 3-5

_____. Noah’s Ark. New York: Athenum, 1971.
A modern-day Noah tried to warn people that the animals were in danger. He wanted to save the animals so he builds a ship to house the animals. With his family, friends, and one of each kind of animal (male and female), they board the ship. Only the ostrich hid his head and did not listen to Noah. Initially, the animals aboard the ship experience sickness and fighting, but soon life on board the ship is so pleasant they almost forget about land. By way of radio, Noah communicates with the outside world to see if the land was ready to receive the animals. With one final check with the ship’s helicopter, Noah decides to go ashore. Men and women and animals lived happily ever after but the ostrich was never seen again. 1,3 Fic 3-5

_____. Sea Tale. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1990.
A mysterious magical tale of a boy named Tom who grew up by the sea. He was curious about the childhood stories that filled his head. He bought a golden mirror and an ivory comb for a cheap price and a promise of a lock of his sweetheart’s hair. Next day, he set out for the Lovelorn Islands where he sought out a mermaid he heard stories of. Using the mirror as bait, the mermaid surfaced and they fell in love. The mermaid gave him a strand of her golden hair woven into a golden ring and tied in a true lover’s knot. The ring was to keep him safe on the water, but if he lost it, he lost their love. Upon his return, the woman was waiting for the promised lock of hair. Tom refused to come ashore to give it to her. In fact, he never returned to the land of mortal man, but lived beneath the waves with his mermaid. 3 Fic 3-5

_____. A Story A Story. New York: Atheneum, 1970.
An African tale of ‘spider stories’ that tell how small, defenseless men or animals outwit others and succeed against great odds. The stories come from slaves delivered to America. The Spider-man wanted to buy the Sky God’s stories and he builds a web to the sky. The Spider-man must collect the things requested from the Sky God before he can own the stories. Eventually, he returns with Osebo, the Leopard-of-the-terrible-teeth, Mmboro, the hornets-who-sting-like-fire, and Mmoatia, the fairy-who-men-never-see. From that time on, the stories belong to Ananse and are called “Spider Stores.” The stories scattered to the corners of the world when opened. 1,3 Fic 3-5

_____. Jack and the Fire Dragon. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1988.
This is an Appalachian Mountain version of Jack and the Beanstalk. The Fire Dragaman has deadly fireballs that can be seen at night on Brown’s Mountain, as told by Poppyseed, who lives on Story Mountain. Jack, in the mountain version, must out wit the Fire Dragaman in order to win his beautiful bride, Jenny. Jealousy that arises between Jack and his brothers delays the capture of Jenny, but in the end, Jack forgives his rotten brothers for keeping them apart and marries Jenny. According to Poppyseed, on certain nights, the fireballs still rise over Brown’s Mountain and who's certain where they come from. 1,3 Fic 3-5

_____. Jack and the Bean Tree. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1986.
A classic tale of the boy who sold his cow for three magic beans. Poppyseed, the mountain storyteller, tells of Jack getting a magic tablecloth, a hen that lays golden eggs, and a harp that sings. Jack brings all the fortunes to his Ma whose struggling to “make ends meet” as her husband and older son are off to war. Told in the mountain dialect, children still sit at their grandparent’s feet to hear this age-old tale. 1,3 Fic K-5

_____. The Green Man. North Carolina: New River Publishing Company, 1977.
A legend known throughout Europe, the Green Man, is scoffed at by Claude, the son of Squire Archibald. Claude is told not to make fun of old beliefs about the Green Man or terrible things can happen. Soon thereafter, Claude finds himself lost in the woods where he learns to live with and appreciate nature. 1,3 Fic 3-5

Harris, Robie H. It’s Perfectly Normal: A Book About Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health. Illustrated by Michael Emberley. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 1994.
A book that answers many questions posed by older children and teenagers about human sexuality. The author presents changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health as perfectly normal. Biological and psychological facts about sex are presented in an accurate, unbiased format. The illustrations are done in watercolor and pencil and are often humorous, but scientifically correct. Though the book may be too explicit for some one must consider where children will go for the answers to their questions if not to a book like this that has been well-researched. 1,3 NF 4-7

Haugaard, Erik Christian. Princess Horrid. Illustrated by Diane Dawson Hearn. New
York: MacMillan Publishing Co., 1990.
In a kingdom by the sea lived a princess that was so bad everyone except her parents called her Princess Horrid. The Queen said the Princess was just mischievous because her father spoiled her, and the King declared the Princess was full of devilment because her other indulged her. Both parents seem to be too busy to pay attention to all of the Princess’s naughty tricks.One day the Duchess, who is tired of the Princess’s tricks, casts a spell on the Princess, turning her into a cat. The cat winds up in the hands of a scullery maid who eventually helps the Princess become her true self. 1,3 Fic 3-5

Herron, Carolivia. Nappy Hair. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1997.
The story takes place at a backyard picnic. It is told by Uncle Mordecai with help from the folks at the picnic who join in between lines, and it is taped by Jimmy. Comments are made throughout the book about Brenda’s happy hair. Uncle Mordecai explains how Brenda’s hair stems from not only her African roots, but also from her willful intentions and an act of God. In the end, all agree that Brenda has the nappiest hair in the world. 1,2,3 Fic K-5

Holman, Sandy Lynne. Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad? Illustrated by Lela Kommetiani. Hong Kong: The Culture CO-OP, 1998.
This book tells of an African American boy who notices all the things around him that are black - poisonous spiders, ugly witches, the scary night, colors people wear when they are sad, cats that bring bad luck, fires that turn the colors of the trees, etc. He begins to question if everything black is bad. His grandfather takes him aside and teaches him about his heritage which he can be proud of and the contributions that black people made to society. Grandpa plays his African drum which tells him stories of their past. The boy proudly says he will not forget what the drum said. A large portion is told in rhyme and rhythm and can be read as the children “beat the drum.” 1,2,3 Fic K-5

Joyce, William. The Leaf Men and The Brave Good Bugs. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1996.
An old woman refers to her garden as a miraculous place as she shares it with the children. Her treasured rosebush grows sickly and the old woman does, too. In desperation to save the garden and the old woman, the children along with the insects of the garden call upon Leaf Men to save things. They restore the garden, kill the evil Spider Queen, and return the metal man with a treasured rose to the old woman. The children are reminded that the garden is a miraculous place where anything can happen. Painted comic book illustrations add to the theme of the healing power of memories. 2 PB K-5

Lester, Julius. Sam and the Tigers. Illustrated by Terry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1996.
A retelling of Helen Bannerman’s Little Black Sambo. Lester retells the story with a black southern dialect. In Sam-sam-sa-mara, there was a boy named Sam. In this place, the animals and people worked together. Same went shopping with his parents (both named Sam) for new school clothes which they bought from various animals at the market. With his brightly-colored new clothes on, Sam headed to school. Along the way, he meets tigers one-by-one who agree to take an article of his new clothing rather than eating him. Finally, all is new clothes are gone and Sam is in tears. The tigers get into a battle over who looks the finest and leaving the clothing, Same retrieves it. The tigers become a pool of butter which is used for pancakes at home. This story includes humor using today’s idea (i.e., “eat me and it’ll send your cholesterol way up”). 2 PB PreK-3

Lied, Kate. Potato: A Tale From the Great Depression. Illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.
A story of a family that lived in Iowa during the Great Depression. The parents lost their jobs, borrowed money and left Iowa. The family lived in tents and worked in the potato fields for 2 weeks. During this time, the owner of the fields allowed them to pick the left-over potatoes for themselves. At the end of 2 weeks, they headed home with a load of potatoes which were traded for necessary items. The story changes from narrative, third person point-of-view to first person point-of-view on the last page where Dorothy, the daughter says, “All this could be how I have come to like potatoes.” 2 PB K-3

Lowell, Susan. The Three Little Javelinas. Illustrated by Jim Harris. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1992.
This is a southwestern adaptation of the folk tale, “The Three Little Pigs.” The setting is the Sonoran Desert with a blend of Native American, Mexican, and Anglo cultures. Wild pigs are the main characters and the wolf is replaced by the coyote. The houses as well as the surroundings fit the southwestern theme. Geographical and cultural materials tie in with the theme as well. A good book to use for a comparison study of folk tales. 2,3 Fic 3-5

Macaulay, David. Black and White. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin Company, 1990.
This Caldecott winner appears to be four series about parents, trains, and cows that converge into one story. The reader must pay careful attention to both pictures and the words. The stories appear to be occurring at separate times, but they may be occurring simultaneously. The reader is given flexibility of interpretation. The story is non-linear and the graphics are interactive. It’s a story that can confuse some readers, but spark the imagination of others. One may indeed say what the mothers said in the end, “What a journey you must have had.” 1 PB PreK-adult

MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah, Plain and Tall. New York, Scholastic, 1985.
Anna and Caleb live with their father. Life is lonely and difficult for Pa because his wife, Maggie, died at the birth of Caleb. Pa places an ad for a wife and mother. Sarah answers the ad and goes to visit the family. Life on the prairie is very different for Sarah who comes from the sea. The children are afraid she will miss her home and return, but Sarah decides she would miss the family more so she stays. 2 Fic 3-5

Mitchell, Rhonda. The Talking Cloth. New York: Orchard Books, 1997.
A young, black girl named Amber and her father go to visit her Aunt Phoebe. Amber loves to visit her aunt because she always gets to drink mocha and hear Aunt Phoebe’s stories about her “collection of life.” Amber’s father seems only to tolerate the visits and the tales of Aunt Phoebes, but he is listening. Aunt Phoebe has things and knows things. It is through her aunt that Amber learns the significance of the colors and the symbols of the the Ashanti people. When Amber wraps herself in the cloth from Ghana, she imagines becoming the Ashanti princess. In her visits Amber grows. As Aunt Phoebe says, “this child has grown a lot, inside, just today!” A good book for building self-esteem.

Munsch, Robert. The Paper Bag Princess. Illustrated by Michael Martchenko. New York: Annick Press Ltd., 1980.
Princess Elizabeth intends to marry Prince Ronald. The richly dressed beautiful princess is soon to be left with nothing but a paper bag to wear when the fiery dragon destroys her castle and burns her clothes. Worse yet, the dragon captures her prince, Ronald. Wearing her paper bag, Princess Elizabeth goes to rescue Ronald. She confronts the fiery dragon who doesn’t want to be bothered but can’t resist the quick-witted princess’s challenges. The dragon is soon exhausted and falls fast asleep. Elizabeth slips past the dragon and soon finds her Prince. Surprisingly, Ronald is not thankful for her effort, but critical of her appearance. In the end, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Ronald do not marry. A good story of inner versus outer beauty. 3 PB K-3

Myers, Walter Dean. Harlem. Illustrated by Christopher Myers. New York: Scholastic, 1997.
A poem about historic and contemporary Harlem. The graphics are multi-layered with a non-linear story. This radical change book uses Harlem as the character as well as the setting. A community not normally spoken of is shown as a collage of descriptive words and up-close, vibrant graphics that let the artist paint “a portrait of his own heart.” 1,2,3 PB K-3

_____. Angel to Angel: A Mother’s Gift of Love. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1998.
Myers writes of a mother’s love through rhyme and rhythm. In the preface, the author shares that his birth mother died when he was not quite two years old and she left him with no picture of the two of them together. This book of poems about mothers and the photographs of black American mothers provides that photograph the author never had. The poetry is a celebration of family - especially of mothers.
1,2,3 Poetry PreK-3

Noble, Trinka Hakes. The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash. Illustrated by Steven Kellogg. New York: Dial Books, 1980.
A little girl just back from a first-grade trip to the farm lets her imagination turn her simple field trip into sheer chaos as she reports it to her mother. Her story progresses from the usual farm animals to a boa constrictor. A circular story that has a surprise ending. It is sure to produce laughs. Kellogg’s action-packed, exaggerated illustrations offset the low-keyed story. 1,3 PB K-3

Nye, Naomi Shihab. Sitti’s Secrets. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. New York: Four Winds Press, 1994.
A young Palestinian girl tells of her visit to her grandmother’s village in the West Bank. Written in first person narrative, the author shares the differences she sees between her home in the States and her grandmother’s home and lifestyle. The theme is family ties. Though speaking is difficult because they don’t share the same language, Mona is able to communicate because of the bond they share. Leaving
her grandmother is tearful, but back in America Mona holds on to her memories of her grandmother and her experiences in the West Bank. 2,3 Fic K-5

_____. The Space Between Our Footsteps. Poems and Paintings from the Middle East selected by Naomi Shihab Nye. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998.
A collection of poems paired with beautiful full-color paintings from various Middle Eastern poets and artists. The poems tell of childhood, family, war, peace, love, sorrow, joy, homeland, exile, and emotions. Although most poems have been translated into English, they retain their deep thought and meaning. The poems are heartbreaking, thought-provoking, startling, humorous and joyful. The Middle East is referred to as “one of the most negatively stereotyped places on earth” but Nye manages to present a different perspective through her collection from one hundred artists and poets. 2 Poetry 6-12

Oberman, Sheldon. The Always Prayer Shawl. Illustrated by Ted Lewin. Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press, 1994.
The story of a Adam’s life, as a Jew from Russia, who must leave and go to America during the revolution is told by the narrator. Before leaving, Adam’s grandfather gives him his prayer shawl. In his new world, the only thing that stays the same is his name and his prayer shawl. As Adam grows into a man and becomes a grandfather himself, he passes the prayer shawl and the story down to his grandson. This is a story of Jewish tradition and the passage of generations. 1, 2, 3 Fic 3-5

Perrault, Charles. Puss in Boots. Illustrated by Fred Marcellino. Translated by Malcolm Arthur. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1990.
This story of Puss in Boots is told from the cat’s perspective. Puss is instrumental in bringing the miller’s son from rags to riches with his quick wit. It is a delightful tale laced with humor. The illustration for the book jacket immediately attracts your attention to Puss. 2 Folklore PreK-4

Pilkey, Dav. The Adventures of Captain Underpants. New York: Scholastic, 1997.
At Jerome Horowitz Elementary School, George and Harold are held responsible for most anything that happens. Harold draws and George makes up stories. Together, they create the amazing super hero, Captain Underpants, who becomes a comic book hero. After getting caught for pranks and punished by the principal who hated the two boys, the boys get revenge. They order and use a ring to hypnotize the principal and turn him into Captain Underpants. The novel is filled with humorous comic strips that tell the rest of the story. It will motivate even the most reluctant to pick up the book and read what happens. 1 Fic 3-5

Quackenbush, Robert. Batbaby. New York: Random House, 1997.
Batbaby goes off on his first solo flight. He is told to be back by day break but he gets caught in a storm and has to stay with a squirrel until the storm passes. Since bats don’t sleep at night, he disturbs squirrel by messing up his stack of acorns and practicing his bat signals. He remembers his mother’s advice, “When you visit someone, do as they do.” So, he lay on the floor like squirrel and tried to sleep. When the sun rose, he flew home but returned the next evening to leave acorns on squirrel’s door to say “thank you.” A book of child-like logic and gratitude. PB K-3

_____. Too Many Ducklings - A Henry the Duck Adventure. New York:
Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1987.
Henry was the duckling that always got into trouble. He brought down the wash, stepped into wet cement, wrecked a party, and wandered off until late at night. He never understood what his mother meant until one day at the zoo when the lion roared a terrible roar at Henry, and Henry suddenly understood what his mother meant. With understanding, came Henry’s first words. This is a story of a mother that can’t keep one of her many ducklings out of trouble and a duckling that slowly understands instructions. Fic K-3

_____.Detective Mole and the Haunted Castle Mystery. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1985.
Inspired by a tour of a medieval castle in Spain, Quackenbush writes a tongue- in-cheek mystery. The Rabbit family was digging in the garden and struck oil. Overnight, they become rich and purchase a Spanish castle to be assembled on their land piece by piece. The only problem is that the castle seems to be haunted. Detective mole is invited, along with other guests, to a masquerade party at the castle. During a tour of the castle, Detective Mole begins piecing together clues and soon uncovers the mystery. With the mystery of the noises solved, the Rabbits’ haunted castle becomes a safe and cozy home. Fic K-3

_____.Sheriff Sally Gopher and the Thanksgiving Caper. New York: Lothrop, Lee &
Shepard Books, 1982.
Pebble Junction faces a problem as all Thanksgiving preparations are put on hold to determine what statue should be put in the town square for the Thanksgiving holiday. Upon seeing a turkey being erected in the square, Virgil Vulture claims ties to the pilgrim feast, and Dirk Duck believes the pilgrims were influenced by his ancestors’ traditions. So, what statue will be the symbol for Thanksgiving - a turkey, a vulture, or a duck? The Mayor, Jake Horse, calls for an election. Sheriff Sally Gopher tries to maintain order at Pebble Junction and sensing foul play, she and her deputies keep a watchful eye on things. Dishonesty during the elections is soon revealed and Pebble Junction celebrates a traditional Thanksgiving. Fic K-3

Raschka, Chris. Charlie Parker played be bop. New York: Orchard Books, 1992.
A picture book with few words telling of a saxophonist and his unique style of jazz called be bop. The whimsical illustrations as well as the forms of type contribute to the sounds of be bop. Also, the words chosen for their number of syllables and sounds they make create the rhythmical pattern and spirit of jazz. 1 PB K-2

_____. The Blushful Hippopotamus. New York: Orchard Books, 1996.
The hippopotamus, Roosevelt, is often teased by his older sister for blushing. Roosevelt is called the blushful hippopotamus when: he falls down; eats ice cream; can’t stay on his bike; says the wrong word; or works on his counting. Roosevelt turns to his feathered friend named Lombard to ask his opinion. Lombard encourages the hippo by telling him he’s hopeful, mindful, thoughtful, skillful, and wonderful. The illustrations add to the story because the sister in the illustrations becomes smaller and smaller as Roosevelt is encouraged—while Roosevelt’s image grows larger and larger. These are symbolic of Roosevelt’s confidence and internal strength growing and sister’s shrinking. 1,3 PB PreK-1

_____. Yo! Yes? New York: Orchard Books, 1993.
One black and one white character meet on the streets. The black boy is assertive while the white boy is shy. Both characters are lonely and in need of a friend. The dialogue throughout the book uses very few words, but speaks of many thoughts and feelings. The typeface, the bold print, and the punctuation marks set the tone of the story. Both illustrations and print of the words convey the give and take that comes with building a friendship. The two races depicted show that this friendship crosses racial barriers. 1,3 PB PreK-2

Rylant, Cynthia. Miss Maggie. Illustrated by Thomas DiGrazia. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1983.
Miss Maggie lives in a rotting cabin in the mountains. She lives alone and struggles to survive. Nat Crawford lives close by and often peers through Miss Maggie’s windows looking for the black snake that folks say hang from her rafters. In the middle of winter, Nat becomes worried about Miss Maggie when he notices there’s no smoke rising from her chimney. So, for the first time, Natenters Miss Maggie’s  house to discover not only that Miss Maggie needs help but that she also has no snake hanging from her rafters. Nat helps Miss Maggiein more ways than one in the end. 3 Fic K-3
 
_____. The Relatives Came. Illustrated by Stephen Gammell. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1985.
In the summer, the relatives from Virginia arrived and stayed for weeks and weeks. Upon arrival, there’s plenty of food, happiness, and all the hugs you could want. It’s a once-a-year event that leaves both parties missing each other after they leave and things get back to normal, but there’s happiness in looking forward to next summer. A delightful book of families visiting and interacting. The detailed illustrations of the family members enhances the story. PB K-3

Say, Allen. Tree of Cranes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1991.
A Japanese woman remembers her childhood experiences of Christmas in California. She decorates a pine tree with paper cranes to celebrate Christmas with Japanese and American symbols of peace. This is her son’s first Christmas and his day is filled with a blend of the cultures. The story is told as seen through the young boy’s eyes. It is a story of family hope and cultures merging. 2 PB K-3

Scieszka, Jon. Tut Tut (The Time Warp Trio). Illustrated by Lane Smith. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 1996.
The time warp trio through the use of The Book find themselves inside the Pharaoh’s treasure rooms in Egypt. Mixed with humor, adventure and excitement is the race to find the book before the trio loses their hands or their lives. Filled with much of the terminology and factual information associated with Egyptology, this book adds a new dimension to history and geography. The trio helps the reader to visualize and question the geography, culture and lifestyle of ancient Egyptians. The trio interacts with famous ancient Egyptian figures and a new perspective is gained for the reader.
1,2,3 Fic 4-8

_____. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! Illustrated by Lane Smith. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1989.
The story of the three little pigs that we heard as children is retold by the wolf. He attempts to tell his version of all that happened in hopes to prove that he is not a big bad wolf. His version is that the real story is about a sneeze and a cup of sugar. With wit and humor, a newspaper account of the wolf’s account of his interaction with the three little pigs is told. The illustrations add to this far-fetched tale. 1,2,3 Fic K-3

_____. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Illustrated by Lane Smith. New York: Viking Press, 1992.
A book of ten silly stories and twenty-five paintings. Instead of fairy tales, the author has written fairly stupid tales changing titles and events in the original tales to the absurd. The narrator, Jack, often inserts himself and his comments into the stupid tales. 1 PB 2-5

Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1991.
A book exhibiting a child’s great imagination. Max, a mischievous little boy, gets sent to his room without his supper for talking disrespectfully to his mother. While in his room, his imagination transforms his room into a jungle and he gets on a boat and sails of to where the wild things are. Even the wild things are scared of him and obey him, but he soon tires of them and longs to be home with his mother. The story ends with Max returning to his room to find his supper waiting for him and it’s still hot. The illustrations quickly draw the reader into the book. 1,3 PB K-3
 

Shulevitz, Uri. Snow. New York: Farrar Straus Ginoux,1998.
A lyrical story of a boy who thinks it will snow but has a difficult time convincing others of this possibility. The story begins with a gray city and only one snow flake and ends with a whole city being white with snow. A delightful book that celebrates the first snowfall and the excitement it brings to a child. 1 PB PreK-3

_____. One Monday Morning. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1967.
As the rain falls outside his N.Y. tenement window, a little boy’s imagination takes over. He’s visited each day by a King, a queen, a prince, and many others from the royal court but each time he isn’t home. Finally, on a Sunday morning the entourage arrives and finds him home only to say “hello.” The royals are a result of his imagination bringing to life the play-card characters. There’s a sharp contrast between the boy’s mundane day and his make-believe world. An example of the power of the mind! 1,3 PB K-3

_____. Toddlecreek Post Office. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1990.
The small Toddlecreek village has a post office and this post office bustled with activity. The postal inspector stops by and declares that the post office must be closed because “it obviously does not have enough post office business.” Vernon could not explain that their P.O. was much more than a P.O. so he didn’t even try. Instead, he closes the door for the last time and goes to a big city far away. The P.O. is eventually torn down and forgotten by time and things are never the same again. This is Shulevitz’s eulogy to an America that was. 2,3 Fic K-3

Sis, Peter. Starry Messenger-Galileo Galilei. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 1996.
A biography of the man who studied the skies with is telescope, Galileo. Galileo changed the way people saw the galaxy and also changed the way people say themselves and their place in the universe. In this book the author/illustrator changes the way we look at Galileo, as well. The simple story of Galileo requires a great deal of thought, involvement and interaction with all the graphics interspersed on each page. A definite RC book. 1,2,3 NF 3-8

Spinelli, Eileen. Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’. Illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Harper Collins Publishers, 1982.
It’s time to begin preparations for the annual Thanksgiving dinner. Each immediate member of the Tappleton family has a job to do before the relative arrive, but the problems arise. The turkey ends up in the pond, the bakery sells out of pies, the salad fixings’ get fed to the rabbits, and the potatoes are splattered all over the kitchen. Thanksgiving day appears to be a disaster, but Grandmother saves the day which ends with a prayer, food, and most importantly, each other. A humorous story with a tender ending. Fic K-3

_____. Tea Party Today - Poems to Sip and Savor. Illustrated by Karen Dugan. Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press, Inc., 1999.
A beautiful collection of poems to celebrate the special tea times in our lives and special places around the world where one may have tea. Teatime tips are given to encourage the reader to create their own special tea times. The warm, whimsical illustrations add to the cozy atmosphere of the tea times described. Poetry K-3

Spinelli, Jerry. Tooter Pepperday. New York: Random House, 1995.
Tooter Pepperday is angry about leaving Morgantown and so on moving day she handcuffs herself to a bathroom pipe. Once freed, her parents escort her to the car as she begins the silent treatment. Two states and 300 miles away is Aunt Sally’s farm where they can live for free. Her dad had quit his job and her mom didn’t earn much driving a school bus. Everyone was happy about the move except Tooter. It’s not until she becomes the “mother” of a baby chick she’s been baby-sitting that she is as “happy as a pig in slop” like the others. Fic 2-5

_____. Blue Ribbon Blues. New York: Random House, 1998.
Tooter’s family has moved from the city to Aunt Sally’s farm and farm life is not for Tooter. While her father is busy writing books, Tooter tends to her pet chicken. With the help of Aunt Sally, Tooter makes a friend named Jack who was raised on a farm and is obviously farm-wise. From the first moment, the two “friends” become rivals at farming. Both intend to enter their goats in a blue ribbon contest, but Tooter doesn’t make it to the contest. Her brother paints her goat with blue stripes. The one person she calls on for help (Jack) laughs and tells her there’s nothing she can do about the paint. Overcome with anger, she sets out to let her brother paint Jack’s goat but ends up saving his goat from a coyote. In the end, Jack gives the blue ribbon to Tooter for being a hero. Fic 2-5

_____. The Bathwater Gang. Illustrated by Meredith Johnson. Little, Brown, and Company, Canada & U.S., 1990.
It’s summer and Bertie Kidd is bored. At the suggestion of her grandmother, she forms a gang, but not after a great deal of effort. She sends pizza to 59 girls and only has 2 return to the fist gang meeting. Even so, she presses on writing up a platform to prove her gang is a good gang. Meanwhile, the boys form their own gang and the war is on. there are water fights, egg fights, noodle fights, and mud fights. The biggest surprise is that Granny is a gang member in her own group that doesn’t discriminate against sex—it’s the Bathwater Gang who goes around selling baths for pets! Fic 2-5

_____. Fourth Grade Rats. Illustrated by Paul Casale. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1991.
The story begins with the rhyme “First grade babies! Second grade cats! Third grad angels! Fourth grade rats!” Suds enjoys being an angel and is not so sure being a rat is for him. Joey, on the other hand, is glad to be a rat. He considers it the next thing to being a man. Suds tries out being a rat but decides he doesn’t even like himself as a rat. Through confession to his mom about his rat deeds, Suds discovers that being a man is taking blame on yourself and admitting you’re wrong. Still, he decides he’d rather just be a kid. Fic 3-5

_____. Do the Funky Pickle. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1992.
Eddie can think of nothing but Sunny, whom he met on the bus the first day of school. He tries to make Sunny like him but nothing seems to work. Salem tries to give Eddie lessons in “cool” talk and in “cool” moves. Fic 3-6

_____. Wringer. New York: Harper Collins, 1997.
Palmer is a nine-year-old boy who is dreading his tenth birthday. He knows that when he turns ten he must become a “wringer”. He can’t stand the thoughts of killing the wounded pigeons at the Family Festival. He secretly cares for a pigeon that comes to his window each day. The relationship he builds with this pigeon gives him the courage to stand up for his beliefs. An excellent story of peer pressure that many preteens must face as well as personal decisions that must be made as one grows and matures. 3 Fic 6-10

Stevenson, James. Sweet Corn: Poems. New York: Greenwillow, 1995.
A collection of short poems that take shape as words become pictures. The illustrations are done in watercolor paints and a black pen and depict, as the poems do, life in the summertime. Everyday events are seen as humorous such as the clothes on the clothesline that could end up in Spain if it were not for the clothespins that keep them from flying in “Clothespin Vacation” and “Promises” that will happen next time. As so accurately described inside the front cover of the book, This book will turn you head over heels with delight.” A wonderfully, simple book to use for a poetry unit. 1 Poetry K-4

Tate, Eleanora E.. Front Porch Stories. Illustrated by Eric Velasquez. New York: Bantam Books, 1992.
Margie Carson, age 12, tells about the stories her daddy tells her and her cousin, Ethel. It is a hot summer night and Margie is so bored she tries to lie still in the yard and see how many mosquitoes she can allow to bite her before she swats at one. Her daddy soon conquers their problem of boredom with his art of storytelling. Margie, Ethel and Margie’s daddy go over to the front steps of the abandoned one-room schoolhouse with a tub of rags to burn for light and a tray of snacks to munch on. The evening is filled with daddy’s stories of what it was like growing up in Nutbrush, Missouri. His stories are funny, sad and scary. Before the evening is over, the girls also get a chance to tell their stories. Ethel’s story is different than the others because she tells a story that is quite similar to her present situation without using the actual names. This book is filled with a total of ten stories that tell of family, friendship and childhood. It is a book that may help children to see that we all have a story to tell and are, therefore, storytellers. 3 Fic 3-6

_____. A Blessing in Disguise. New York: Delacorte Press, 1995.
Zambia is a twelve year old girl who lives with her aunt and uncle in Deacon’s Neck, South Carolina. Zambia is always dreaming of going to live with her father and half-sisters. Zambia’s father, “Snake,” is the talk of the town when he opens a new nightclub in town. His fast track life is attractive to Zambia. She is naive about her father and this kind of life, but slowly she learns of the real life he leads that is filled with drugs, theft, gambling, and physical abuse. Zambia learns she can love a person without loving what they do. This is a story of the decline of a town and the true meaning of family. 2,3 Fic 3-6

Uchida, Yoshiko. The Bracelet. Illustrated by Joanna Yardley. New York: Philomel Books, 1993.
Emi, a second grade Japanese American, and her family must move to an internment camp during WWII. The story takes place in America in 1942 when Japan and the United States are at war. Emi doesn’t want to leave her home, school, and friends, but she has no choice. Before leaving, her best friend, Laurie, comes to give her a gold heart bracelet as a reminder of their friendship. Emi’s emotions are guarded until she loses control at the discovery that the bracelet is missing. She learns that friendship and memories go beyond a physical reminder. A touching story dealing with a delicate topic and causing the reader to question one’s own feelings of prejudice, war, and friendship. 3 PB K-4
 

Wiesner, David. Sector 7. New York: Clarion Books, 1999.
A beautifully illustrated picture book of a child’s school trip to the Empire State Building. The boy leaves his group as he is carried off by a cloud to Sector 7 where he learns how clouds are shaped and sent out throughout the country. He quickly begins drawing his own blueprints for cloud shapes that spread beyond Sector 7 and become a part of the world he returns to. 1,3 PB PreK-5

_____. Tuesday. New York: Clarion Books, 1991.
A beautifully illustrated picture book of what takes placed on a Tuesday evening as
everyone in town is asleep. Frogs on lily pads go floating through the air and move in and out of houses unobserved by anyone except the birds and the dogs. As the sun begins to rise, the frogs return to the pond and the town is left wondering where all the lily pads on the streets came from. Wiesner leaves the reader in suspense as he closes with a scene of next Tuesday as pigs go flying through the sky. 1,3 PB PreK-5

Wolkstein, Diane. Little Mouse’s Painting. Illustrated by Maryjane Bregin. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1992.
Little mouse is a social little creature who lives in her own house under the earth. Everyday she visited her friends, Bear, Squirrel, and Porcupine. She picked berries with bear, drank tea with Squirrel, and took nature walks with Porcupine. One day, Little mouse decides to do something by herself. She paints a blueberry bush. All her friends see themselves in the painting rather than the blueberry bush and soon Little mouse sees them in the painting too. Even her dreams are filled with visions of her friends. This is truly a story of friendship with beautifully vivid illustrations. 3 PB K-3

_____. A retelling of The Glass Mountain. Illustrated by Louisa Bauer. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1999.
A classic Grimm fairy tale retold by Diane Wolkstein. The king is ready for his daughter, Raina, to marry, but he wanted a young man who would love and cherish his daughter. He challenged the young men of the kingdom to climb a glass mountain he had built. The one who climbed the mountain would marry his daughter. Many men fell and some even died. Finally, a young man named Jared came. Raina like him and wanted to help him up the mountain, but in doing so, she fell through a crack into a cave. The Princess is held captive by a little old man known as Old Rinkrank until she tricks him and escapes. Jared and Raina eventually take Rinkrank’s gold and silver and create a beautiful garden in which to marry. 2 Fic K-4

_____.The Banza (A Haitan Story). Illustrated by Marc Brown. New York: Dial Press, 1981.
In this Haitan folk tale, little tiger named Teegra and a little goat named Cabree become best friends during a storm on the island. When it is time for Teegra to leave he give Cabree his family banza (banjo) to protect her. He says tells her “the banza belongs to the heart and there is no stronger protection than the heart.” Without understanding Cabree takes the banza, carries it with her and plays it until her heart and the banza become one when she experiences its protection. This is a story of love, community, and self-expression. 2 Folklore K-5

Yolen, Jane. Owl Moon. Illustrated by John Schoenherr. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1987.
In this Caldecott Medal winner a young boy and his father go owling on a late winter night. The sights and sounds are described in detail from the young boy’s perspective. Except for a shrug, a sigh and a smile, little interaction occurs between the father and the son as they walk along in silence. To go owling, you have to be quiet, make your own heat, and be brave. To go owling, all you need is hope and with hope, the boy and his father spot an owl deep in the center of the woods. 2 PB K-3