Hungry, Written by: H.A. Swain

Hungry

Written by H. A. Swain

Grades: 7-12

Hungry is set in a future world where there is no food. Crops and other of the Earth's resources are decimated by wars and mega storms. Scientist have created a pill to erase hunger pains and the need for food. The people drink shakes for nutrition. This creates a better life. Thalia is one of the main characters, who at seventeen, has pains in her stomach. Come to find out they are hunger pains. She finds a boy, Basil, and an underground movement to bring food back.  Basil and the group also want to take control away from the One World Corporation. They go outside the loop of the city and grow food. Life is far from perfect though. Thalia and Basil do get the revolution they wanted. 

In the classroom it would bring up a good discussion question of, "What would happen if we were not able to grow food?". It would also let them think out the box about options for drugs.  

I Need My Monster, Written by: Amanda Noll, Illustrated by: Howard McWilliam

I Need My Monster

Written by: Amanda Noll

Illustrated by: Howard McWilliam

Grades: K-3

Awards:
2013 Virginia Readers Choice Award 
2012 California Young Reader Medal 2012 Georgia Children’s Book Award 2012 Golden Sower Award – Honor Book 
2012 Nevada Young Readers’ Award 2011 Buckaroo Book Award 2011 Grand Canyon Reader Award 2011 Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award – Nominee                                                                                     2010 Alabama Camellia Award – Winner 

I Need My Monster is about Ethan whose monster-under-the-bed, named Gabe, is away one night. He cannot sleep without his monster. It is to quiet. He is familiar with the friendship and comfort of his ooozy slime and ragged breathing and his long, sharp claws. He knocks on the floor to get other monsters to fill in but, no one except Gabe can make him stay in his bed. 

This is a great book for the classroom with the descriptive words and the wonderful pictures in the book. It is a funny look at the monsters under the bed stories. Loved it!

The Saggy Baggy Elephant, Written by: Kathryn Jackson & Byron Jackson, Illustrated by: Gustav Tenggren

The Saggy Baggy Elephant

Written by:Written by: Kathryn Jackson & Byron Jackson

Illustrated by: Gustav Tenggren

Grades: PreK-2

After a parrot makes fun of Sooki's big ears, long nose, and wrinkled skin, the saggy baggy elephant is not too sure of himself. Sooki tries to fit in but, just can't because he is not like the others. He feels sad and self-conscious, so the little elephant decides to hide in a cave where no one can see how ugly he is. Then he finds something just like him, other elephants. Sooki sees he just needed to be himself to be loved. 

This is a great book for kids trying to fit in or feeling self-conscious. It will make them see that they only need to be themselves to be happy. 

The Little Engine That Could, Written by: Watty Piper Illustrated by: George Hauman & Doris Hauman

The Little Engine That Could

Written by: Watty Piper

Illustrated by: George Hauman & Doris Hauman

Grades:PreK-2

Awards: Lewis Carrol Shelf Award (1958)

The little engine that could is about an engine that came along and helped a broken down train after other trains refused. The train is only a moving train that had never been over the mountain but, when it thought of all the girls and boys who wouldn’t get their toys and food. The little train had never done anything like this before. She chants "I think I can, I think I can," and after a lot of hard work it does make it. It is a story about perseverance and reaching your goal. 

In the classroom this book encourages students to not give up. That if they keep trying they to can reach the goals that are set for them. 

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe ( The Chronicles of Narnia) Written by: C.S. Lewis Illustrated by: Pauline Baynes

The Lion, The  Witch, and The Wardrobe ( The Chronicles of Narnia)

Written by: C. S. Lewis

Illustrated by: Pauline Blayne 

Grade: 3-8

Awards:
Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel (1954)
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (1962)




During WWII in London families are sending their children to the country and away from the dangerous air raids of the city. Four of these children are Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. They are sent to the country estate of a Professor. During a game of hide and seek Lucy steps into the wardrobe and finds a new world called Narnia. Lucy gets her siblings to follow her into Narnia. It is a world that will change them forever. Edmund betrays them by helping the White Witch. Aslan the lion gives his life for Edmund's. Eventually all four assist the lion Aslan to defeat the White Witch who has cursed Narnia with eternal winter. The four of them will have to face their own fears and find strength they did not know they had. This is the first book of seven in the series. 

These are wonderful classic books to have in the classroom. They teach kids about adventure and overcoming obstacles. They are one of the best fantasy series I have read. 

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Written and Illustrated by Mo Wiliams

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Written and Illustrated by: Mo Williams

Grades: PreK- 2nd

Awards:

• Caldecott Honor (2004)
• Kentucky Bluegrass Award for K-2 (2005) 
• Charlotte Zolotow Award Nominee (2004)
• Vermont's Picture Book Awards: Red Clover (2005)
• South Carolina Book Award for Picture Book Award (2006)
• Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (2005)
• Golden Archer Award for Primary (2005)
• Buckaroo Book Award (2004)
• Indies Choice Book Award for Picture Book Hall of Fame (2009)

When a bus driver goes on break, he asks the audience to keep an eye on his vehicle and the daft, bug-eyed pigeon who desperately wants to drive it. The pigeon then relentlessly begs readers for some time behind the wheel: "I tell you what: I'll just steer. My cousin Herb drives a bus almost every day. The pigeon who dreams of driving a bus pleads and begs for an opportunity from the readers who are "watching" the bus for the driver. When finally the pigeon can not take anymore and he erupts in a full-spread tantrum screaming, "Let me drive the bus!!!". When the driver returns and takes off, the bird slumps dejectedly until a big red truck inspires a new round of motoring fantasies. 

The Velveteen Rabbit Written by Margery Williams Bianco and Illustrated by Monique Felix

The Velveteen Rabbit

Written by Margery Williams Bianco

Illustrated by Monique Felix

Grades: Pre-k - 2nd
Awards:
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (1971)

A stuffed toy rabbit with real thread whiskers and pink satin ears,  comes to life. Given as a Christmas gift to a young boy, the Rabbit lives in the nursery with all of the other toys, waiting for the day when the Boy will choose him as a playmate. In time, the shy Rabbit befriends the tattered Skin Horse, the wisest resident of the nursery, who reveals the goal of all nursery toys: to be made "real" through the love of a human. "'Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'" The boy does love the rabbit and he soon looses his nice plump stuffed body and his pink ears fade. Will the rabbit become real?

This is a wonderful story of love between a child and his toys. Every child feels their toys are real. This will let them continue to question that and understand how the animals feel as well. 

Children Make Terrible Pets (Starring Lucille Beatrice Bear) Written and Illustrated by Peter Brown

Children Make Terrible Pets
Written and Illustrated by: Peter Brown
Grades: PreK-3
Awards:
Irma Black Award Nominee (2011), 
NAIBA Book of the Year for Picture Book (2011), 
Cybils Award Nominee (2010), 
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Picture Book (2010)

Lucy the bear finds a boy in the forest one day. She thinks he is the cutest thing in the world and must keep him for a pet. The boy makes a squeak sound, so she names him squeaker. Lucy's mom warns her that the boy will make a terrible pet, but she lets Lucy keep him anyway. It was a really cute story and the pictures are funny. The boy eventually returns to his "habitat" and Lucy finds that he is happy there. 

This is a great book for the classroom. It can be used for any child who has wanted pets that are not your average dog or cat. It shows there is a lot more to taking care of a pet than you think. 

Gossie, Wrtten and Illustratedby Olivier Dunrea

Gossie, Written and Illustrated by Olivier Dunrea
Grades: PreK - 1st



Gossie features a little goose who loves wearing her bright red boots everywhere. One morning, they are missing. Searching everywhere, Gossie becomes increasingly distressed until she finds her boots on the feet of another, slightly smaller gosling. The last page shows the duo walking together, each wearing one red boot.

This little book shows sharing and friendship.

Optical Illusions by Kieth Kay

Optical Illusions by Kieth Kay is part of the Little Giant Book Series. It is a small paperback that is 352 pages. It is for ages 8 to 12 and grades 3rd to 7th.

This really interesting book is not a story book, but a book that makes you think outside the box. It has many pictures that can be an illusion and not what the eye sees at first. If you look more closely at the picture it could be something else if you turn it or look at the lines and shading another way.

Optical Illusions have been around for a long time. The last picture I have posted is from 1915, but there is also one in the book from the early 19th century.

My son who is very technology driven and loves video games, spent hours looking at the book trying to figure out all the different pictures.  I think this is a great book for kids and adults. I enjoyed it as well.

When you read the page it gives you a hint on
what you are you looking for. 

                           When you turn the page after looking at the frog.

This makes you look for the magician's rabbit.
It doesn't give  you any direction to to turn the page. 

This picture actually gives you an
arrow hint to turn the page to see the rabbit. 

The rabbit.