Wonder, Written by R.J. Palacio

Wonder

Written by R.J. Palacio

Awards:

Josette Frank Award (2013)

West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Younger Readers (2013)

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2014)

Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Preis der Jugendjury (2014)

New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award for Children (2014)

Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature (2013)

NAIBA Book of the Year for Middle Readers (2012)

Waterstones Children's Book Prize (2013)

Washington State Sasquatch Award Nominee (2015)

Bluestem Book Award (2014)

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Middle Grade & Children's (2012)

Carnegie Medal Nominee (2013)

James Cook Book Award Honorable Book (2013)

North Carolina Children's Book Award (2014)

Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas Nominee for Mejor novela extranjera independiente (2012)

Wonder is is the story of August Pullman or Auggie. Auggie was born with a facial deformity. He has had many surgeries in is young life. At the age of 10 he has not ever been to school. He has been out in public and hates the looks of horror he gets from people. That is why Halloween is his favorite holiday. Auggie can put on a mask at Halloween and be treated just like any other kid. He has a hard time making friends and his sister Via always sticks up for him. His fifth grade year of school his parents decide it is time for Auggie to go to school. They enroll him in Beecher Prep a private school not far from their home. Auggie and his parents meet the principal, Mr. Tushman. While August is there Mr. Tushman has arrange for some of the kids who will be in August's grade take him on a tour of the school. One of them, Jack Will, is nice, but another, Julian, is noticeably rude. When Auggie starts school he has a rough start and not many want to be his friend. He stays friends with Jack and makes a new friend named Summer. There are many ups and downs through the school year. On a school trip to a Nature Preserve, Jack and Auggie are confronted by bullies from another school. Two boys who have been friends with Julian, and bullies to Auggie, step in to help their classmates. Auggie and Jack are surprised when they attack the bullies and bring them safely back to the area where the schools is watching the movie. Word spreads how Auggie was starting to stand up for himself and how the boys rescued him. This event starts a turn in the schools attitude toward Auggie. He is no longer considered untouchable like he has the plague. At the Fifth Grade End of The Year Graduation, Mr. Tushman gives Auggie the award for kindness and courage. Mr. Tushman also says at the end, " J.M. Barrie says,  'Shall we make a new rule of life ... always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?' ... What a marvelous line, isn't it? Kinder than is necessary. Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed ... what I want you, my students, to take away from your middle-school experience is the knowledge that, in the future you make for yourselves, anything is possible. If every single person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary -- the world really will be a better place." Advice I think everyone should follow.

Frindle, Written by Andrew Clements, Illustrated by: Brian Selznick

Frindle

Written by: Andrew Clements

Illustrated by: Brian Selznick

Grades:3-7

Awards:

Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (1999) Massachusetts Children's Book Award (1999)

Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (2001)

Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award for Grades 3-6 (2000)

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (1998)

Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (1999)

Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (1998) Phoenix Award (Children's Literature Association) (2016)

The Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Honor (1997)

Washington State Sasquatch Award (1999)

Bluestem Book Award Nominee (2015)

North Carolina Children's Book Award (1999) 

Nick Allen is a fifth grader at Lincoln Elementary in Mrs. Granger's class. Nick is known for his wild and inventive ideas. These ideas normally lead to trouble. He tries one of his ideas to kill time. He ask, "Mrs. Granger, where do all the words come from?" but, Mrs. Granger is no fool. She assigns Nick an assignment on the origin of words. This leads to Nick thinking about creating a new word. His new word is, "frindle",  has it takes over the word "pen". Eventually, everyone everywhere is using his new word. He can't stop the word from spreading even if he wanted to. Nick is soon on the national news and merchandise is being created. Money is being made off the word. A trust fund is set up for Nick to hold the earnings. Nick, however, is not so sure he likes all the attention and starts to lose his creativity. Mrs. Granger tells him to keep dreaming up ideas. The book skips to 10 years ahead. Nick is very wealthy now from his trust. He receives a package one day with a dictionary from Mrs. Granger. Mrs. Granger has noted that frindle is included in it. She also sent her favorite pen with frindle engraved on it. When Nick realizes what an impact she had on his life he sets up a scholarship fund in her name. He sends Mrs. Granger another pen with an engraving that reads, "This object belongs to Mrs. Lorelei Granger and she may call it any name she chooses".

Students will find this book amusing and may try coming up with their own words. It is a very creative  book. 

How to Eat Fried Worms, Written by Thomas Rockwell

How to Eat Fried Worms

Written by: Thomas Rockwell

Grades: 3-7

Awards: 

Grand Canyon Reader Award (1979)

Nene Award (1976)

Massachusetts Children's Book Award (1976)

Iowa Children's Choice Award (1980)

Oklahoma Sequoyah Award (1976)

Billy and Allan make a $50 bet to see who can eat a worm for 15 days. The worm can be prepared anyway as long as the person eats it. Billy has a hard time at first eating the worms. Allan is surprised that Billy is eating them so he starts a rumor that worms are poisonous. Billy starts to feel sick so he tells his dad about the bet. Billy's dad reassures him they are not poisonous. Billy's mom even helps prepare the worms so they taste better. Allan has not eaten any worms. To stop Billy on the last day Allan takes him to a baseball game and fills him up with junk food. Allan thinks he has won when Billy falls asleep and can't eat his worm. Billy wakes up just before midnight to eat his worm. The kids wake up the whole neighborhood up to see the bet end. Allan's father is furious at him for trying to trick Billy and makes him go door-to-door to apologize. Billy gets his $50 and buys the mini bike he has been dreaming about. 

This book was funny and even has rhymes and songs for the kids about worms. It shows kids do not underestimate others when they really want something. It also shows them not to make bets. 

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Written by Judy Blume

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Written by Judy Blume

Grades: 3-7

Awards: 

West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Younger Readers (1980)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (1977) 
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (1977)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (1975) 
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (1974)Oklahoma Sequoyah Award (1975)



This book is about Peter Hatcher who is 9 years old. Peter is beyond frustrated and annoyed at his little brother's behavior. Fudge, which is what his little brother goes by, is often unpunished for his behavior. Fudge's favorite thing to annoy is Peter's turtle, Dribble. Fudge continues being a hassle for Peter by breaking his front teeth after catapulting himself from the jungle gym, throwing temper tantrums, and smearing mashed potatoes on the wall! Then horror strikes, Dribble is missing. When Fudge is asked about it, he said he ate Dribble. In the emergency room they extract Dribble from Fudge, but he is dead. As usual, Fudge doesn't get into trouble. Peter gets a dog to replace Dribble so he names him Turtle. 

In the classroom this is a classic book to have. It lets other children with siblings know they are not alone in the struggle of siblings.  

Football Fugitive, Written & Illustrated by: Matt Christopher & Larry A. Johnson

Football Fugitive

Written & Illustrated by: Matt Christopher & Larry A. Johnson

Grades: 3-7

Football Fugitive is about a young boy and football player named Larry. The Green Bay Packers has a player named Yancy Foote, his favorite team and player. Larry writes to Nancy and Nancy writes back but, then letters come back stamped "moved no forwarding address". Then Yancy shows up in Larry's town and he is in a bit of trouble. Yancy and some other guy get in a bar fight and Yancy got caught for being the first to throw a punch. So Yancy asks Larry to ask his dad to be his lawyer. Larry's dad agrees if Yancy will help his son's football team. Larry's team starts winning and Yancy wins in court. 

A great football book for the classroom. If kids want to do pen pal writing or learn about football. 

Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon Written by Patty Lovell and Illustrated by David Catrow

Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon

Written by Patty Lovell

Illustrated by David Catrow

Grades: Pre-K -3










Awards: 

• Book Sense Book of the Year Honor Book (2002)

• Wyoming Buckaroo Nominee (2003-2004)

• Georgia Children's Book Award (2003.1|Picturebook, 2003-2003)

• AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss (2002.1|Primary, 2002)

• Florida Reading Association Children’s Book Award (2003.2|Honor, 2003)

• Utah Beehive Book Award (2003.4|Children's Picture, 2003)

• Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award (2004.2|Honor, 2003-2004)

• Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee (2003.4|Winner Children's Picture, 2003)

Molly Lou Melon is different. She stands out because she is short, has buck teeth and can't sing. She has huge insect-like eyes and a voice sounds like a boa constrictor is wrapped around her throat. Her grandma encourages her to take pride in her flaws. Everything is good for Molly Lou Melon until she moves to a new town away from her grandma and friends. She goes to a new school and a boy, Ronald Durkin begins to make fun of her. Ronald Durkin taunts Molly Lou Melon in the dull-witted but sharp-edged manner of career bullies, calling her "shrimpo" and "bucky-toothed beaver". He tries to make Molly Lou Melon look like a fool but, she manages to befriend the other children. Ronald Durkin ends up looking like a fool instead. In the end, she wins over Ronald Durkin and everything is okay. 

Where is Baby's Belly Button? Written and Illustrated by Karen Katz

Where is Baby's Belly Button?

Written and Illustrated by Karen Katz

Ages: 3mths-2yrs. 

Where is the Baby's Belly Button is a simple board book that teaches body parts to children. This peek-a-boo book with flaps is constructed of cardboard with heavy card stock for the flaps. The images are brightly colored and the text appears on the left side of the book. The writing consists of short, four or five word sentences, such as, "Where are baby's eyes?" The reader lifts the flap and it says, "Under the hat." The picture shows a baby hiding under a hat, and when the flap is lifted the baby's face is revealed. She is pointing to her eyes. My son received this book as a gift when he was a baby and he loved having it read to him. 

Amelia Bedelia and The Surprise Shower, Written by Peggy Parish Illustrated by Fritz Siebel

Amelia Bedelia and The Surprise Shower
Written by Peggy Parrish
Illustrated by Barbara Siebel Thomas 
Grades: K-3 


Amelia Bedelia will have everyone laughing out loud, until the last page.This is because Amelia takes everything literally. In this story, Miss Alma, Amelia's boss is going to have a shower at the House. So Amelia Bedelia almost crashes the party with her cousin, Alcou. She helps Alcou "prune" the hedges, ices raw fish with chocolate frosting, runs with the iron on Mrs Rogers's favorite tablecloth, and sprays all the party guests with the hose. Amelia Bedelia knows how to do one thing the right way, and that is to make chocolate cupcakes. 


This can be used in the classroom when going over idioms. Idioms are figures of speech or common expressions that can easily be misunderstood by someone who has not heard them before. Generate a list of idioms that students find in the Amelia Bedelia books. Then assign each student the task of learning a new idiom by asking a family member for a favorite idiom and what it means. 

When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry... Written and Illustrated by Molly Bang

When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry...
Written and Illustrated by Molly Bang
Genre: Fiction, Picture Book
Grade Level: Pre-K - 3
Awards:
Caldecott Honor Book 2000
Charlotte Zolotow Award Winner 2000

Sophie is a little girl who is told to let her sister have a turn playing with a truck and a gorilla. Sophie does not want to give up her turn, so when her sister grabs her gorilla, she gets very angry. Her emotions inside are compared to a volcano about to explode. Sophie leaves her house and goes for a walk. She finds a large tree and climbs up high. While Sophie is in the tree her emotions calm down by the views around her and the quiet. After sitting awhile she climbs down and walks home. At home everything is normal.

The pictures are bold and bright in this book. It shows children that there are ways to calm down. They can go for a walk, climb a tree,  or just sit and take in the air and views around them. Thier parents will still be there when they come home. 

In the classroom this is a good book to open discussions about emotions ways to deal with them. 

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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day written by Judith Viorst

Alecander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Written by Judith Viorst
Illustrated by Ray Cruz
Genre: Fiction, Comedy
Grade Level: K-2
Awards: 

• ALA Notable Children's Books
• George G. Stone Center Recognition Of Merit
• Georgia Children's Book Award
• Reading Rainbow Book

Alexander wakes up and his day gets off to a bad start. He fell asleep with gum in his mouth and it is now in his hair. As the day goes along it does not get any better. One bad thng after another just keep happening througout his day. Alexander says Australia would be a much better place to be because he believe his day would be better there. His mom cooks a horrible dinner and even that is horrible. When the day is over and his mom puts him to bed, she assures him everyone has those days. Horrible days are just a part of life everywhere, even in Austrialia. 

Teachers can use this book to show students that some days are just bad days. We all have them and we all get through them. It does not matter where you live or who you are there are bad days. We just get through it and hope the next day is better. One day we can look back and laugh on it. 

The teacher could then have a duscussion with the students about thier bad days. What happened? Did they get better and how? It did not stay a bad day forever did it?

The Dot Written and Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

The Dot
Written and Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Genre: Art; Fiction
Grade level: K and up
Awards:
The Christopher Award

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner
Irma S. and James H. Black Honor--Bank Street College of Education
Publishers Weekly - STARRED Review
Booklist - STARRED Review
Chicago Public Library Best Books for Children and Teens
School Library Journal - STARRED Review
Nick Jr. Family Magazine - "Best of 2003" Awards - "Most Inspiring Book"
Borders Original Voices Selection"Best Book of the Year" - Valerie Lewis "Children's Book Review"/Hicklebee's
Book Sense 76 selection
Babyzone Amazing Book Awards 2003
Book Links Editor's Best of 2003
Chapman Awards for Best Classroom Read-Alouds

Vashti is in Art class and does not think she can draw. Her teacher encourages her to just to make a mark. Out of frustration Vashti throws her pencil on the paper and makes a dot. The teacher uses the dot to encourage Vashti to draw and paint more dots. Vashti's dots make her an artist and it all started with just a little dot. That little dot showed Vashti she can do anything if she just tries a little bit. Vashti then encourages others to just try and they can do it too. 

This story shows children if they just try something new, they may surprise themselves. Vashti did not know she could paint or draw until she tried. Teachers could discuss with the students about things they have tried and succeeded at doing. It may also encourage others to try something new too.