Annotated+Bibliograhies+of+Children's+Books+With+Social+Studies+Themes

Various Themes ** **//The Singing Tree//** by Kate Seredy. 247 pages. (1939). Set in Hungary during World War I, a farm family must adjust to the tribulations of war. Connecting humanity is the aim for peace that this family strives to achieve, each in their own way. Fantastic story (one of my favorites) that is perfect for young novel-readers. Grades 4-6. E. Moser
 * || Children's Literature With Social Studies Themes
 * [[image:WorldMuseumofMiningBut.jpg width="800" height="508"]]

//**The Fighting Ground**// by Avi. 160 pages. (1994). Jonathan is 13 years old and enlists as a young solider in the Revolutionary War. He experiences American History first hand, as well as what it means to fight and to stare into the face of death. This is a great novel for young boys to connect with the main character and learn a bit of history. Grades 4-6. E. Moser


 * //The American Girl Series//** by Various Authors (First book published 1986). Ex: Meet Kaya by Janet Beeler Shaw. 80 pages. (2002). These books feature female heroines from different time periods in the history of America. Kaya, from 1764, is part of the Nez Pierce Indian tribe, while Molly, from 1944, is an imaginative young girl in the midst of World War II. These books are a great way for young readers, especially girls, to connect to American History. Grades 2-5. E. Moser


 * //Why Are You Calling Me a Barbarian?//** by Birgitta Petren and Elisabetta Putini. 60 pages. (1999). Set in the third century A.D. two children (one from Rome and one from Scandia) tell each other about their lives and find all that is different about them. I read it was used as a great discussion starter. Grades 1-3. E. Moser


 * //Faithful Elephants//** by Yukiotsuchiya, translated by Tomoko Tsuchiya Dykes. 32 pages. (1988). This book talks about the often unintended consequences of war on a zoo in Japan during the Second World War. Many of the animals deemed “dangerous” were killed to prevent them from escaping if a bomb dropped on the city. This is sad and heavy content that I would recommend for a read aloud at a grade you deem appropriate. Grades 3-6. E. Moser

Ban, Noemi. **//Sharing is healing: A holocaust’s survivor story//** (2003).Holocaust Educational Publications; Bellingham, WA. (4-6 Grade Appropriate) This book is a touching autobiography of Noemi Ban’s tragic experiences surviving the concentration camp Auchwitz during theHolocaust. Noemi lost her mother, grandmother, little brother and sisterto the gas chambers, and she relives how she triumphed over hatred. She often tells her story across campuses nationwide. C. Friswold

Carmi E., & Eco. U. **//The three astronauts//** (2001). Harcourt Brace & Company; New York, New York. (1-3 Grade Appropriate) This book was originally written in Italian. It is a story about a Russian, American and Chinese astronaut that land on the moon and want to hurt each other because they are different. One night when they are scared they realize how alike they are. This book teaches about diversity and acceptance. C. Friswold

Fox, Mem. **//Whoever you are//** (1997). Scholastic inc.; New York, New York. (K-3 Grade Appropriate) This beautifully written book has a pattern that says, “Whoever you are, you have a smile, tears, people who love you etc.” It has a rhyming pattern and shows pictures of children around the world and the many different types of homes they live and schools they go to. C. Friswold

Kerasote, Ted. **//Merle’s door: Lessons from a free thinking dog//** (2007). Harvest Book Harcourt Inc.; New York, New York. (4-7 Grade Appropriate) This touching story is narrated from the perspective of a yellow lab who is lost in the wilderness with his owner. The dog talks about the geography of the area they are in and gives fun survival tips to the readers. C. Friswold

Schnetzler, Pattie. //**Widdemaker**// (2003). Carolrhoda Books Inc. Minneapolis. (K-3 Grade Appropriate) This story is a tall tale about a bull named Widdemaker that get really angry and runs through the southwest states (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas) leaving mountains crumbled and mountains carved out in his wake, i.e (he is responsible for the grand canyon). This book is a fun way to teach about the national landmarks and geography of the southwest. The end of the book has interesting facts about these types of landmarks. C Friswold

**__The Jade Dragon__, Carolyn Marsden (Candlewick, 2006).** This is a story that beautifully portrays a young girl’s struggles as she finds herself caught between her Chinese heritage and American culture. She longs to have a Chinese friend like herself, but instead she meets Stephanie, a girl adopted from China but totally Americanized. In the end, she makes peace with both worlds. Grades 3-6. KR


 * __Playing El juego de la Loteria__, Rene Colato Lainez (Luna Rising, 2005):** This multilingual picture book is written in English and Spanish. The English translation also includes certain words and phrases in Spanish. The story is about a little boy who does not know a lot of Spanish and goes to visit his Grandmother who knows no English. Together, they have fun, build a relationship, and learn about each other’s languages. **Grades K-3**. K. Rowlett


 * __Hush__, Jacqueline Woodson (Puffin, 2006):** When her father, a black cop in a mostly white city, agrees to testify against fellow cops in a murder case, Toswiah and her family are suddenly relocated to another part of the country through the Witness Protection Agency. Toswiah struggles to find her place and identity as her life and family seem to fall apart. **Grades 4-8**. K.Rowlett

//Maniac Magee//, Jerry Spinelli (Little, Brown, 1999) This folk tale is about a boy named Maniac Magee, he bears this name because he becomes a legend in his town. He confronts racism as he tries to find where he fits in. A Newbery Medal book. Grades 4 & up: independent reading, K & up: read aloud H.Dekeyser //Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest//, Gerald McDermott (Voyager Books,2001) A traditional “trickster” story that would easily tie into Pacific Northwest place-based education. Grades 2 & up H.Dekeyser //The Wall//, Eve Bunting ( Clarion Books, 1992) This picture book is a story of a boy who visits the Vietnam War Memorial with his father to look for his grandfather’s name. The carefully chosen descriptions are only made stronger by the beautiful illustrations. Grades 1-4 H.Dekeyser
 * __ Rules, __**** Cynthai Lord (Scholastic, 2006): ** . All Catherine wants is a “normal” family. However, with an autistic younger brother who does not understand social “rules,” this dream seems far out of reach. As Catherine deals with her brother and becomes friends with a boy in a wheelchair who can’t talk, she is forced to reconsider what “normal” really is. **Grades 4-6**. K. Rowlett

John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith. (Hyperion, 2006). A fun and entertaining book that introduces John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington and Ben Franklin, important men in the founding of our country, as young children. The book talks about their historical accomplishments in a way that should make students laugh. A good book to read during a unit on the American Revolution or to talk about important people in United States history. Good Read Aloud for any grade or for 3-5th graders. MW

September 12th: We Knew Everything Would be All Right by the First Grade Students at H. Byron Masterson Elementary in Kennett, Missouri. (Scholastic, 2002). This book was written after September 11th and can be used in a discussion about how we moved on from this awful event. Many students that we will be teaching don’t remember this event or weren’t alive during it. They are still affected by it, and this book can tell them about how school children dealt with September 11th. Good for a read aloud or 1st or 2nd graders. MW

Raspberries! An American Tale of Cooperation by Mary Newell DePalma. (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2006). This story is about a four animals that are trying to work together to cross a road. The animals are a bird, a dog a chipmunk and a frog. They are trying to reach the other side of the road to reach some raspberries. This story would be great for teaching community and social skills for kindergarten and first graders. MW

Gentle Ben by Walt Morey (Puffin books, 1965) Gentle Ben tells the story of a young boy named Mark. Mark must deal with the lose of his brother. His death consumes him. To deal with this he makes friends with a brown bear in the alaskan wild. Thepeople of his town are determined to destroy this relatinoship and the bear. This book deals with death and how we handle it, it also can show that friendship can come in many different ways. Like in the form of an animal, and that we neeed help to come to terms with things. MW

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred B. Taylor (Puffin books, 1976. Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry is about Young Cassie and her family. they are a black family that owns its own land in the deep south in the early days of the depression. Most of the black people in the deep south of the 1930's do not own their own land and have to share crop. Teh book details the inequilties and racial struggles that African Americans went through during this time. Especailly in the regards to rights, voting, politics and education. This book would be great for 4-8 graders studying history, equality, and race. MW

//The Crayon Box That Talked,// by Shane DeRolf and illustrated by Michael Letzig (Random House, NY, 1997) A box of quarrelsome talking crayons learns to appreciate one another after a young girl takes them home to draw with them. She shows them how each color helps create a bigger brighter picture. This very simple book demonstrates how we must all get along and accept each other’s differences because together we make the world a better place. (Grade K-2) S. Glaspell

//When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry…//, by Molly Bang (The Blue Sky Press, 1999) Sophie is playing with her stuffed gorilla when her sister takes it from her, knocking her to the floor. Sophie becomes so angry that "She wants to smash the world to smithereens." Sophie manages her feelings by taking time to cool off, enjoy nature and regain her self-control. Readers learn to label angry feelings and understand they can be dealt with and survived without harming either individuals or relationships. (Grade K-2) S. Glaspell Caldecott Honor Book 2000, Charlotte Zolotow Award 2000.

//Mama, Do You Love Me?// by Barbara M. Joosse and illustrated by Barbara Lavallee (Chronicle Books, 1998) This story depicts an Eskimo mother who loves her daughter, no matter what. The daughter repeatedly asks, "Mama, do you love me?" coming up with many reasons why the mother might be persuaded to withhold love. The mother does not hide or lie about her feelings, but explains that emotions do not change her love for her daughter. This story confirms for children, that no matter what they do, their parents will still love them. (Grade K-2) S. Glaspell

//A Child’s Calendar//, by John Updike and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (Holiday House, 1999) This Caldecott award winner offers readers a rich introduction to the imagery of poetry. Twelve lyric poems describe the unique characteristics of each month in the year. The simple poems are packed full of words for children to gain meaning and understanding of the calendar seasons, holidays, emotions, and activities related to each month throughout the year. (Grade K-3) S. Glaspell

//The Sneetches//, by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1961) In this story, there are two types of sneetches: star-bellied and plain-bellied. To have a star on your belly once made you the BETTER sneetch. Until one day an inventor made a machine to add stars to the plain belly Sneetches. But this upsets the star belly Sneetches who decide to get their stars taken off. Soon, a horrible mess is made. Everyone is getting their stars taken off and then put back on until they realize, star or no-star had no true basis in defining who you are. (Grade K-4) S. Glaspell

__The First Thanksgiving__, by Linda Hayward, Grades Pre K-2. This non-fiction story describes the life and hardships of the pilgrims in New Plymouth and how/why Thanksgiving became a holiday. Great introduction to study of Native Americans – describes first meeting and how they helped the pilgrims to survive. CA __Number the Stars__, by Lois Lowry, Grades 4-6. Fiction. This is an amazing story about the Johansen family of Denmark who takes in and hides a Jewish girl from the Nazis during WWII. “In this tale of an entire nation’s heroism, Lois Lowry reminds us that there is pride and human decency in the world even during a time of war and terror.” (Taken from the books cover.) CA __Time Life Student Library: 20th Century America__, Grades 3-6. This book (more like an encyclopedia of the 20th century) breaks down the 20th century into nine year intervals and discusses important people and major political and social events with colorful pictures, facts, and trivia of that time frame. CA __Somewhere Today__, by Shelley Moore Thomas, Grades Pre K -3. A simple poem that describes how peace begins with a simple gesture or act that any child can participate in. This poem also encourages readers to become aware of the kindness that surrounds them. CA __Homeless__, by B. Wolf, Grades 3-5. A photographer documents the trials and tribulations of a homeless family of six in New York. The narrator is 8-year old Mikey and offers readers a new perspective of homelessness through child friendly language. CA //Seminole Diary: Remembrances of a Slave// by Dolores Johnson - Libbie, a slave, tells of the peaceful coexistence of African-American slaves and the Seminole Indians. In the Seminole villages, runaway slaves found a haven of mutual respect. AD

//The Sad Night: The Story of an Aztec Victory and a Spanish Loss// by Sally Schofer Mathews - In text surrounded by Aztec codices, the story of this ancient civilization is recounted. Told from the Aztec perspective, this book connects the past with a modern-day discovery. AD

//Hilde and Eli: Children of the Holocaust// by David A. Adler - Children of the Holocaust are like any others: Hilde Rosenzweig loved to ride her tricycle and play with dolls; Eli Lax studied hard and loved animals. AD

//Doesn't Fall Off His Horse// by Virginia A. Stroud - Narrative prose and exceptional artwork trace this dangerous adventure back to the Oklahoma Territory of the 1890s. Readers experience the life of a Kiowa boy, as told by a very old man to his great-granddaughter. AD

//Steal Away Home// by Lois Ruby (Macmillan); 176 pages; $14.95 History, drama, and mystery are interwoven in two overlapping stories: one of the Underground Railroad of the 1850s and the other of a young girl in Lawrence, Kansas, in the 1990s. AD

//The Shadow Children// by Steven Schnur - The ghosts of Jewish children haunt a rural village in post-World War II France in this powerful and moving tale of a boy and his grandfather. AD

//The Glory Field// by Walter Dean Myers - This novel is about the experiences of five generations of an African-American family on Curry Island, South Carolina. The book encompasses the Lewis family's joys and challenges, beginning with the first slave boat that landed on the island. AD

//I Met a Roman Last Night, What Did You Do// by Nik Perring - Jack doesn't like going to bed, nothing exciting could possibly happen once you're in bed could it? Maybe it could, because whenever Jack goes to sleep something extraordinary happens, he travels back in time! He meets Vikings and Anglo Saxons, helps to write the Doomsday book and much more. AD

__Around the Neighborhood__ by Katherine Mead This non-fiction book describes the different areas of neighborhoods. There are pictures with different people interacting within the neighborhood and what they do. The main idea behind this book is to give a general idea about what a neighborhood entails and also how all neighborhoods and communities are different. The question at the end of the book is, “How is your neighborhood like mine?” (Grade 1) – KDL

__Helping Out: Community Volunteers__ by Karen Kane Volunteering is defined and explained in this book meant for young learners. It describes what kinds of things volunteers can do and how they help out the community. Full of pictures and examples of how people can help the community keep clean, spring back from a disaster, and helping people everyday, this book is a great beginning book to start to understand how children can get involved in their community for the common good. (Grade 2) – KDL

__Schools Around the World__ by Donald Mitchell Large pictures fill the pages of this book with one sentence per page. Each page has a different type of school identity from around the world. From how students get to school to what students wear to school, this book gives a wide spectrum of how schools can be very different but so similar at the same time. The main idea of this book is that we all can learn from each other although we may be separated by large oceans and bodies of land. (Grade 1) – KDL

__Families Series__ (__Mothers, Grandfathers, Aunts, Cousins__, other books include __Brothers, Family Pets, Fathers, Grandmothers, Sisters__, and __Uncles__) all by Lola M. Schaefer Each of these non-fiction books describes who the people are in families. They give physical descriptions of each family member as well as qualities they have, from caring to fun loving. The pictures in these books give a wide view of diversity and how even though we come from different ethnicities and backgrounds, mother, fathers, cousins, and grandparents are all part of families and share the same attributes and qualities. This gives children an idea about how all families, although very different, can be very similar. (Grade 1) – KDL

__Then and Now__ by Glenn Conner With specific vocabulary being highlighted, this non-fiction book explains how all families need to stay safe and healthy, go places, take pictures and have fun. The pictures are from two different times, now and then. There are old pictures with the more recent pictures right below them. The text explains how long ago there were police, fire fighters, hospitals, laboratories, transportation, cameras, and people having fun, all with many differences. Children can see the similarities and differences of way back when and today. (Grade 2) – KDL

//The ABC Book of American Homes// by Michael Shoulders and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. (2008). This book describes a different kind of home for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a good way to show the diversity of the kinds of homes found in America and how various cultures have been combined to form the “American” culture. Grades 3-5. Bron

//Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico// by Dianne Hoyt-Goldsmith with photographs by Lawrence Migdale. (2008). This book describes the many traditions surrounding the Cinco de Mayo holiday. It is full of colorful photographs and words in Spanish. The book would not be useful as a read-aloud but would make a great resource for students learning about Mexican culture. Grades 4-6. Bron //Al Capone Does My Shirts//, by Gennifer Choldenko. This is a very hard to put down chapter book about a boy living on Alcatraz Island during the depression in 1935- right next door to convicts! The main character has many responsibilities, including taking care of his older sister who has autism. Grades 5-7. L. Schadt

//Bootsie Bark Bites//, by Peggy Rathmann. This is a wonderfully, hilariously illustrated book about standing up to bullies. This is a quick read and great for leading into a discussion/unit on bullying. Grades 1-3. L. Schadt

//Brother Eagle, Sister Sky//, by Jeffers. This is a rich picture book that covers a brief history of Chief Seattle, America's wilderness and wildlife, the web of life, and stewardship of the land. Grades 2-6. L. Schadt

//The Courage of Sarah Noble//, by Alice Dalgliesh. A Newberry Honor chapter book about a young girl in 1707. Sarah Noble a story about keeping your courage in the unfamiliar wildernss, caring for family, and befriending Native Americans. Grades 4-6. L. Schadt

//Horrace//, by Holly Keller. This is a wonderful, easy to follow along picture book dealing with adoption and family similarities and differences. A leopard who is adopted by a tiger family goes on a little adventure to find where he truly belongs. Grades k-3. L. Schadt

//My Family Plays Music,// by Judy Cox and Illustrated by Elbrite Brown. (Holiday House, 2003) This book is a story of a whole family who plays different musical instruments and discussed family values. Grades 2 - 3. M. Shea

// That’s Good! That’s Bad! //, by Margery Cuyler and pictures by David Catrow. (Henry Holt, 1991) The plot is different than the typical book about right and wrong. This book would be great to do a unit on explicitly why things are good or bad. Grades K -1. M. Shea

// Tell Me Again About the Night I was Born, // by Jamie Lee Curtis. (HarperCollins, 1996) What a wonderful story about an adoptive child from birth! I personally relate to this story because of a special brother of mine which can become a discussion of differences in families and siblings. Grades 1 - 3. M. Shea

// Duck for President, // by Doreen Crooin. (Simon & Schuster, NY, 2004) A duck runs for president and finds out all about the process in between. This would be a great beginner’s book to government. Grades 2-5. M. Shea

// When I was Five, // by Arthur Howard. (Harcourt, 1996) I am using this book and another my unit in kindergarten about a timeline of events; how we age as people and change throughout the years. Grade K. M. Shea

// A Fine, Fine School, // by Sharon Creech. (Joana Cotler, 2001). Hilarious story about a principle who loves school and children learning so much, everyday is a school day! This would be a great unit/topic for discussing who is responsible for making the rules in the school and much more. Grades K-1. M. Shea

//Citizenship//, by Ann-Marie Kishel – This book describes the citizenship process and what it means to be a citizen. It is only twenty pages and could be read by able 3-4th graders. Lists concepts from voting to laws and the community. (SHH)

//Thank You World,// by Alice McGinty – This is a great read aloud that focuses on eight different countries. Each set of pages includes eight pictures that display the same idea from different cultures. It is written as a thank you letter to the world for the nature, life and abundance it gives us. Could make a good read aloud or for a 4-5th grade readers. (SHH)

//Bein’ with you this way// ,W. Nikola-Lisa (Lee & Low Books,1995) Individual differences and similarities are celebrated through this book. With a great tune and verse it was an instant attention grabber. K.Kalstad

//The colors of Us//, Karen Katz (Owlet Paperbacks, 2002) A mother and daughter take a walk together though their neighborhood where they come across their friends and families. This sparks discussions of skin colors and all the shades of brown that exists. Significantly supported with wonderful illustrations. K.Kalstad

//Henry’s Freedom Box,// Ellen Levine, (Scholastic, 2007) A wonderfully written and beautifully crafted picture book shares the story of Henry “Box” Brown. After being torn from his mother as a child and separated from his family as an adult, this daring adventure tells his escape from slavery is a very unusual way. Grades 2-5 K.Kalstad

// The Araboolies of Liberty Street //, Sam Swope A new and different family, the Araboolies, move into a house on Liberty Street. General Pinch and his wife disprove of this unique family very much. The book tells what obstacles the Araboolies overcome and teaches about embracing those who are different. Ages:4-8 MK

// Immigrant Kids //, Russell Freedman Introduces students to immigration in the past and how it is different from the immigration that occurs today. Various cultures are discussed and the beginnings of New York are developed in the story. Ages: 9-12 MK

// Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse //, Kevin Henkes Lilly brings a noisy purse, among other things, to class one day. When she is unable to stop playing with it and stay quiet, her teacher takes it away. She writes a mean note to him, only to regret it later when she finds a nice note in her purse. Her job is to make things right. Ages: 4-8 MK

// My Name Is Yoon, // Helen Recorvits Yoon just moved immigrated to the United States with her parents. She is having a difficult time adjusting to the new settings and the classroom environment she is placed in at school. Told from a child’s point of view, it is easy to understand where Yoon is coming from and how she feels and adjusts to her new life. Ages: 4-8 MK

// Red, White and Blue //, Susan Canizares This is an Emergent Reader book, ideal for Kindergarteners just starting to read. Lots of pictures and minimal words makes this book a good start in learning about the flag and American culture. Ages: 4-8 MK

Curlee, L. (2004). __Parthenon.__ New York: Atheneum Books - This book provides a detailed account of the construction and history of the famous architectural structure, the Parthenon. It includes the surrounding historical context of the structure as well as information about its reconstruction. The author includes many specific and interesting details about this masterpiece, such as that there are no straight lines in the Parthenon’s framework – all its horizontal lines curve upwards. This book would be a great supplement to discussing ancient Greece, or ancient civilizations and their architecture. Grades 3-12. (KMM) //The Hundred Dresses//, Eleanor Estes – a classic story about a Polish immigrant girl who is teased for saying she has 100 dresses, when she wears the same faded dress every day. Cowhey

//The Lady in the Box//, Ann McGovern – a story about two children who notice and befriend a homeless woman living in their neighborhood. Cowhey

//Fly Away Home//, Eve Bunting – about a homeless boy and his father who live at an airport. Cowhey

//The Hundred Dresses//, Eleanor Estes – a classic story about a Polish immigrant girl who is teased for saying she has 100 dresses, when she wears the same faded dress every day. Cowhey

//Si, Se Puede!,// Diana Cohn – a bilingual story about the Service Employees International Union organizing drive and janitor’s strike in Los Angeles. Cowhey

//The Streets Are Free//, Karusa – a bilingual story about children in a Venzuelan barrio who organize and protest the lack of a playground in their community and the eventual community action that builds it. Cowhey

//Shingebiss//, Nancy Van Laan – an Ojibwe legend about a merganser duck that demonstrates the values of persistence, conservation, and resourcefulness to survive the northern winter. Cowhey

//Tight Times//, Barbara Shook Hazen – about a boy in a financially stressed family who really wants a dog. Cowhey

//Vote!,// Eileen Christelow, (Clarion, 2004) – a non-fiction book with loads of information on campaigning, registering to vote, volunteering, and ballot boxes. Ages 6-10. W. Parker

//The Day Gogo Went to Vote//, Elinor Batezat Sisulu, (Little Brown, 1994) – tells the story of Thembi who accompanies her great-grandmother, Gogo, to vote for the first time in the new South Africa after apartheid. Ages 4-8. W. Parker

//The Ballott Box Battle//, Emily Arnold McCully, (Dragonfly/Random House, 1998) – tells the story of young Cordelia whose neighbor is none other than Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the heroic suffragist. Ages 5-9. W. Parker

//Madam President//, Catherine Thimmesh, (Houghton Mifflin, 2004) – a nonfiction book with lots of facts and a good narrative about the roles women have played in politics. Ages 10 and up. W. Parker

//This is My Planet: The Kids Guide to Global Warming//, Jan Thornhill, 2007 – hopeful, loaded with information. W. Parker

//The Hoover Dam//, Elizabeth Mann, 2001 – vividly conveys this gigantic feat of human-environment interaction. W. Parker

//The Librarian Who Measured the Earth//, Kathryn Lasky, 1994 – combines math, history, and geography. W. Parker

//Night Boat to Freedom//, Margot Theis Raven, 2006 – story of a boy who rowed slaves across the river to freedom in Ohio. W. Parker

//Frog and Toad Together//, Arnold Lobel – the nature of bravery. (Cowhey)

//The Bear That Wasn’t//, Frank Tashlin – who determines identity. (Cowhey)

//Matthew’s Dream//, Leo Lionni – the nature of prejudice. (Cowhey)

//I Hate English//, Ellen Levine – a picture book about a Chinese girl who loves speaking, listening to, reading, and writing Chinese with her family and her neighborhood, but hates having to learn English, until she finally sees the need for it. (Cowhey)

//Angel Child, Dragon Child//, Michele Maria Surat – a picture book about a Vietnamese girl who gets into a fight with a boy who taunts her. Conflict resolution and cooperation. (Cowhey)

//Read for Me//, //Mama// , Vashanti Rahaman – a boy who loves reading is amazed when his mother asks for help learning to read. (Cowhey)

//Grandfather’s Journey//, Say, 1993. This story describes a Japanese man’s journey to America.

//A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin.// By David Alder. A great real-aloud picture book shows how Ben Franklin, on of 17 children in a poor family in Colonial Massachusetts, became one of our greatest statesmen and inventors. Ages 9-12 SS

// The Trip // by Ezra Jack Keats. 1978. New York: A shoebox helps Louie to remember the old times before he moves away and then helps him to make friends in his new neighborhood. (Understanding self and others) Ages 4-8 SS

//My Best Friend,// Pat Hutchins. Two best friends with quite different skill levels discover how their strengths complement one another. (Understaging self and others) Ages 2-6 SS

//Greorge Washington's Teeth,// Deborah Chandra and Medeleine Comora. History comes alive through a focus on the frist presidents's teeth, presented in rhyming verse. Ages 5-8 SS


 * Yoshizawa, L. (2000).** **__PW Cracker Sees the World__. Ill. Berendt. E. Texas: Steck-Vaughn Company.** This is the story of a classroom parrot who studies the classroom map and decides to go travel the world and see what he can see. He flies to England, France, Egypt, China and accross both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans til he is back in the classroom. Great for a geography or social studies lesson. **Grades: 4-5 S. Anderson**


 * Yanitzia. C. (2000). __Our World of Wonders.__ Illustrated. Texas: Steck-Vaughn Company.** This book gives students a first look into the wonders of our world. It guides them through the Great Tower of France, the Eiffel Tower, Guatemala's temple of the Giant Jaguar, Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Taj Mahal, the Parthenon, the Great wall of China, Russia's palaces and the statues at Easter Island. Great for a geography lesson. **Grades: 4 and up. S. Anderson**


 * Hobbie. H. (2002). __Toot and Puddle:Top of the World__. Illustrated. New York: Little Brown Young Readers.** This is a story about two little pigs who set off to see the world and have adventures along the way. **Grades 2-4. S. Anderson**

//So You Want to be President?,// Judith St. George and David Small (Philomel,2008) This Caldecott Medal book is filled with fun stories and facts about United States Presidents. The pictures will entice any reader to look deeper and read more about all of the presidents! Grades 3 & up H.Dekeyser
 * Electing the President: Children's Books **

//Wackiest White House Pets,// Kathryn Gibbs Davis (Scholastic Books, 2004) This book shares with it’s readers 15 presidents. Summarizing their terms of office and really focusing on the unusual pets that they kept. A fun and quirky story. Grades: 2-4 K.Kalstad

//Grace For President,// Kelly S. Dipucchio (Hyperion Books, 2008) After Grace discovers that there has been no woman presidents, she takes it upon herself (with help from her teacher!) to teach the rest of the school about politics. Ages 6-10 K.Kalstad

//Ask Me Anything About the Presidents//. By Louis Phillips. A collection of facts and stories about U.S. presidents presented in a question and answer format. Grade 5 (1992) Camelot, Paperback, ISBN 0-380-76426-1, $4.50 MJ

//Bill Clinton//. By Elaine Landau. A biography of the current president of the United States. Illustrated. Grades 4-5. (1993) Trade Operations, Hardback, ISBN 0-531-11143-1, $19.60, Paperback, ISBN 0-531-15670-2, $5.95 MJ

//The Buck Stops Here .// By Alice Provensen. This lavishly illustrated picture book uses rhymed text. It provides fascinating details about the presidents and the eras in which they served with symbols and colorful pictures of inventions, battles, and discoveries. Illustrated. Grades 3-5. (1990) HarperCollins, Hardback, ISBN 0-06-024786-X, $18.00 MJ

//Campaigns and Elections//. By George Sullivan. A history of American presidential campaign management including strategies and tactics. Illustrated. Grades 4-5. (1991) Macmillan Publishing, Paperback, ISBN 0-382-24321-8, $11.00 MJ

//Class President .// By Johanna Hurwitz. This story pits the teacher's pet against the class clown with all the how-to of organizing a school campaign. Illustrated. Grades 3-5. (1990) William Morrow, Hardback, ISBN 0-688-09114-8, $15.95 Apple, Paperback, ISBN 0-590-44064-0, $4.50 MJ

//Dinah For President//. By Claudia Mills. Dinah enters middle school and decides to run for president of the Student Council. Grades 3-5. (1992) Simon & Schuster, Hardback, ISBN 0-02-766999-8, $14.00 Aladdin, Paperback, ISBN 0-689-71854-3, $3.95 MJ

//The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents//. By Wyatt Blassingame. A good alternative to an encyclopedia, with several pages of readable text on each president. Includes politics, policies, and biographical information. Illustrated. Grade 5. (1990) Random House Childrens Publishing, Hardback, ISBN 0-679-90353-4, $14.99, Paperback, ISBN 0-679-80358-0, $8.99 MJ

//Maggie Marmelstein For President .// By Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. Maggie Marmelstein campaigns for the presidency of the sixth grade in this hilarious story. Illustrated. Grades 4-5. (1975) HarperCollins, Hardback, ISBN 0-06-025555-2, $14.89 HarperCollins Library, Paperback, ISBN 0-06-440079-4, $4.95 MJ

//Presidents//. By Carol Greene. Information about the American presidents is presented, including pictures and brief biographies. Illustrated. Grades 2-4. (1995) Trade Operations, Hardback, ISBN 0-516-01928-7, $21.00, Paperback, ISBN 0-516-41928-5, $5.50 MJ

//The President's Cabinet and How it Grew//. By Nancy Winslow Parker. A colorfully illustrated history and explanation of the development of the president's cabinet from Washington's time to the present. Illustrated. Grades 4-5. (1991) HarperCollins, Hardback, ISBN 0-06-021618-2, $14.89 HarperCollins, Paperback, ISBN 0-06-446131-9, $5.95 MJ

//Rosie Swanson: Fourth-Grade Geek for President//. By Barbara Park. Tired of being picked upon, Rosie decides to run for class president. Grades 3-5. (1991) Random House Paperback, ISBN 0-679-83371-4, $4.50 MJ

//Soup for President//. By Robert Newton Peck. Soup enters the race for the class presidency against Rob's girlfriend, Norma Jean. Illustrated. Grades 3-5. (1986) Random Library, Hardback, ISBN 0-394-93675-2, $10.99 Dell, Paperback, ISBN 0-440-48188-0, $3.99 MJ

//The Story of the White House//. By Kate Waters. Readers follow the 200 year history of the White House and take a modern-day tour. Illustrated. Grades 3-5. (1991) HarperCollins, Hardback, ISBN 0-590-43335-0, $12.95 Blue Ribbon, Paperback, ISBN 0-590-43334-2, $5.95 MJ

//Voting and Elections.// By Dennis B. Fradin. A beginner's introduction to the election process. Large print. Illustrated. Grades 1-5. (1985) Trade Operations, Hardback, ISBN 0-516-01274-6, $21.50, Paperback, ISBN 0-516-41274-4, $5.50 MJ

//If I Ran For President,// Catherine Stier and Lynne Avril ( Albert Whitman & Company, 2008) A easy to understand explanation of the election process told through the story of students who are holding their own presidential election. They have debates and voting and everything else in between. Grades 2-5 H.Dekeyser
 * Elections and Voting **

// The Ballot Box Battle, // by Emily Arnold McCully From Caldecott medalist Emily Arnold McCully comes the inspiring story of Cordelia, a young girl whose relationship with her neighbor, the great suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, inspires her to a remarkable act of courage. ** Ages 5-8 ** MJ // Class President, // by Johanna Hurwitz Julio works to get his good friend Lucas elected class president. Their opponent is Cricket, whose ambition is to be the first female president of the United States. It turns out that Julio shows a natural talent for leadership. ** Ages 8-12 ** MJ // The Day Gogo Went to Vote, // by Elinor Batezat Sisulu In this 1999 Parents' Choice Gold Award winner, young Thembi accompanies her 100-year-old great-grandmother to the polling place in the first all-race elections in South Africa. Infirm and housebound, Gogo is determined to vote and does so with a little help from her community. This story can help younger children understand the importance of the electoral process through its depiction of one woman anxious to vote for the first time in her life. ** Ages 4-8 MJ ** // Get Real #6: Girl Reporter Rocks Polls, // by Linda Ellerbee In this new installment of award-winning journalist Linda Ellerbee's // Get Real // series, the students at Trumbull Middle School gear up for student government elections. Casey Smith, awesome girl reporter, is on the scene to document the madness. She's got a new video camera and a list of questions. Why do the "popular" kids always get elected? What would it take to make students care about their vote? An election scandal at Trumbull? Get real! ** Ages 9-12 ** MJ // Granddaddy's Gift, // by Margaree King Mitchell It is the American South, pre-civil rights era. Granddaddy Joe, who has only an eighth-grade education, has just passed the Constitution test and registered to vote. Told by his granddaughter, nicknamed "Little Joe," Granddaddy's story is one of courage and conviction. It should give younger readers some insight into another era and what participating in the election process really means. ** Ages 5-9 ** MJ // The Kid Who Ran for President, // by Dan Gutman Twelve-year-old Judson Moon is running for president of the United States! "I must have kissed a zillion babies, said a zillion hellos, shaken a zillion hands," he says. Enough to make him president? Read and find out! ** Ages 9-12 ** MJ // NEATE to the Rescue! // by Deborah Newton Chocolate and Wade Hudson This is the first in a planned series of fiction books dealing with young people's experiences growing up in an urban setting. NEATE is an acronym for Naimah, Elizabeth, Anthony, Tayesha, and Eddie -- five African American middle school friends. When the city council elections turn into a bitter struggle between Naimah's mother, who is up for reelection, and her opponent, an advocate of re-zoning community districts, which would affect African Americans' voting power, Naimah and her pals get involved in the campaign. // Presidential Elections: And Other Cool Facts, // by Sylvan A. Sobel, illustrated by Jill Wood This brand-new book is informative and fun to read. Fascinating facts abound; the book, includes the birthplaces of all the presidents, the story of the presidential election that a major newspaper got wrong, and lots more. For more information, please see the Education World Books in Education article [|Elections and Our Government -- In Words a Third Grader Can Understand!] ** Ages 7-12 ** MJ // Rosie Swanson: Fourth-Grade Geek for President, // by Barbara Park Sure, she wears geeky-looking glasses, and she tattles on her classmates. With the help of her two best (and only) friends, however, Rosie devises a brilliant campaign to defeat the two most popular kids in her class. ** Ages 8-11 ** MJ // The Voice of the People, // by Betsy C. and Giulio Maestro Betsy and Giulio Maestro have taken another complex subject and made it understandable and fascinating. From the complicated Electoral College to the process of enacting laws, the Maestros breathe life into our system of government. ** Ages 6-up ** MJ
 * Ages 10 and up ** MJ

//LaRue for Mayor//, by Mark Teague – This is a comical book about a dog who decides to run for mayor against the evil Bugwort who is calling dogs “a menace to our community”. Funny story, good pictures. (SHH)


 * History **

//Seeing the Elephant: A story of the Civil War// by Pat Hughes and illustrated by Ken Stark. (2007). This book is about a young boy’s experience during the Civil War. It is based on a true story. Grades 3-5. Bron

//Anne Hutchinson’s Way// by Jeannine Atkins and illustrated by Michael Dooling. (2007). Based on the true story of the Hutchinson family, this book describes Susanna Hutchinson’s experience as a young girl whose family settles in America seeking religious freedom. It would make a great read aloud and would fit well into a unit or lesson about the freedoms we enjoy in America. Grades 3-5. Bron

//Underground// by Jean Ferris. (2007). This is a novel about runaway slaves in Kentucky in 1839. The characters are based on real people. It would make a good novel for a student to read on his own or a good read-aloud. Grades 5-8. Bron

//Yankee Doodle America//, by Wendell Minor – This is a great book for learning about America and some of its history. It has an A-Z guide of American history from the Boston Massacre to Paul Revere. Good read aloud with great illustrations. (SHH)

//Baseball Saved Us.// By Ken Mochizuki. An attractively illustrated book about a young Japanese/American boy’s struggle after he and his family are sent to an internment camp following the Pearl Harbor attack of 1941. Illustrated. Historical Fiction. Grade 4. (1993) NY: Lee & Low Books, Inc. MM

//A Picture Book of Paul Revere.// By David A. Adler. A beautifully illustrated biography about the famous American Paul Revere and his connection to the American Revolution. Illustrated. Biography. Grade 3. (1995) NY: Holiday House. MM

//Young Christopher Columbus: Discoverer of New Worlds.// By Eric Carpenter. An illustrated biography about the well-known explorer, Christopher Columbus, his younger years, quest for exploration and eventual travel to discover the New World. Illustrated. Biography. Grade 2-3. (1992) Troll Associates. MM

//Dear Austin: Letters from the Underground Railroad.// By Elvira Woodruff. A well written sequel to //Dear Levi: Letters from the Overland Trail// telling the story, in letter fashion, of young Levi living in the South during the time of slavery and the Underground Railroad. Illustrated. Historical Fiction. Grade 3-5. (1998) NY: Scholastic Inc. MM

//The Sign of the Beaver.// By Elizabeth George Speare. A Yearling Newberry book about twelve year old Matt’s struggle for survival during his time alone in the Maine wilderness while his father returns to Massachusetts for his remaining family. Historical Fiction. Grades 4-5. (1983) NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. MM

//My Great Aunt Arizona.// By Gloria Houston. This is the story of Arizona, who devoted her life to teaching children in a one-room schoolhouse in the Blue Ride Mountains. Ages 4-8 SS

Rappaport, D. (2001). __Martin’s Big Words.__ Ill. B. Collier. New York: Hyperion Books for Children - An incredibly beautiful account of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told using some of his very famous inspiring words, along with sensational illustrations. The author Doreen Rappaport was a supporter of the civil rights movement and spent many hours researching- reading and re-reading Dr. King’s words for this book. Bryan Collier constructed the illustrations from water color and cut paper collage. He represents Dr. King’s life in rich imagery, using metaphor and light to evoke emotions in the reader. Grades K- 12. (KMM) Curtis, C. (1995). __The Watson’s go to Birmingham – 1963.__ New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf - This story is told through the perspective of ten year old Kenny Watson, of the “weird Watson” family who reside in Flint, Michigan. There are many humorous occurrences in the day to day lives of the Watsons, and the reader comes to experience the struggles, laughter, and love shared by the Watson family. After the characters are well developed, the story takes the family to Birmingham, Alabama where they encounter a bombing at a church. There were many bombings in Birmingham at the time of the civil rights movement, including one historically known and represented in this book. This story introduces a dark time in American history in a way that makes the events of the civil rights movement relatable to students, for learning of these bombings is much more meaningful when students are invested in real characters and can place themselves in a given situation. Grades 3-12. (KMM) Giovanni, N. (2005). __Rosa.__ Ill. B. Collier. New York: Henry Holt and Company - An inspiring encounter of the courage of Mrs. Rosa Parks and the events following her sit for justice. The illustrations bring life and feeling to the words and are constructed from water color and cut-paper collage. The collage adds many elements to the story, such as texture, emotion and vivid imagery. Grades K-12. (KMM) Weatherford. C. (2006). __Moses, when Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom.__ New York: Hyperion Books for Children - __ Moses __, is the story of Harriet Tubman’s solid faith and how she felt protected and guided through her journeys through the underground railroad. The text is beautifully written, almost like a song and the illustrations provide incredible support for the emotions and experience of fear and hope during a dark time in American history. Grades K-12. (KMM)

// Albert Einstein, A Biography, // by Milton Meltzer – A biography about Albert Einstein which also depicts his major strides made in science and mathematics. A good class read aloud or for an able 5th grade reader. (SHH)

As a part of the Dear America series, this is written by a fictional character who journals his daily life as his family travels to California to escape the Dust Bowl. This story gives great insight as to what children and families were experiencing and struggling with as they had to move. The language represents the era well using words such as “feller” and young-uns”. This helps to set the tone of the story and to really get into the time period. **Ages 11+ N. Ingroum**
 * Durbin, W. (2002). __The journal of C.J. Jackson.__ New York: Scholastic, Inc.**

Billie Jo is a young girl growing up in Okalahoma in the 1920s and 30s. The novel is written in prose poetry as a journal of her daily activities expanding from avoiding the dust and cleaning their home. A terrible accident happens and Billie Jo is left with only her father. Thos is an excellent glimpse into life between 1934 and 1935. This makes for an excellent read aloud with any elementary-age students. **Able to be read by 11+ N. Ingroum**
 * Hesse, K. (1997). __Out of the dust__. New York: Scholastic Press.**

This is a fictional journal written by a young girl living in Kansas during the Depression. She writes explaining her feelings about neighbors moving away to the west coast to find work and her brother running away to New York to become an artist. The pages are out lined with small pictures or comics (done in colored pencil) referring to special events of the day. The colors and fonts used in the story represent and carry the idea that this is the story of a girl as she sees the world. I enjoy how the author incorporates many historical events of the time even though the main character is actually fictional. The story is believable and flows very well with photographs taken by Dorothea Lange. This story would be enjoyed by other ten-year olds who can relate to Rose. **Ages 10+ N. Ingroum** Turner, R.M. (1994). __Dorothea Lange.__ Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.** This is a biography of Dorothea Lange who is a famous American photographer from the Great Depression. She was hired under the New Deal to travel across America taking pictures for the record books. The story begins with Dorothea as a child and moves through her work as a photographer. It includes many famous black and white photographs and discusses the hard times of the Depression. It is very informative and includes great detail about Lange’s work. **Ages 9+ N.Ingroum
 * Moss, M. (2001). __Rose’s journal__. San Diego, Cal: Silver Whistle.**

Hopkinson, D. (2005). __Saving Strawberry Farm.__ Ill. R. Turner. New York: Greenwillow Books.** This set in a small town devastated by the Dust Bowl. Davey and Rose work to save one of the last farms to go to auction in their town. Davie gets the entire town to come together to create penny auction and save Strawberry Farm. The illustrations are done in colored pencil on two page spreads. This story supports the underlying theme of many of these books: friendship and community helped families survive during the Depression. **Ages 6-10 N. Ingroum**

This is a story of Weedpatch Camp. Complimented with real photographs of the school and camp provides a better understanding of how much better the living environment was for the “Okies” than the Hooervilles had been. This is an excellent non fiction about the camp’s beginning and the Okie Schools. It provides details about people trying to help Okies out of the depression rather than shooing them away. I am amazed by how much they were able to accomplish at this camp. I really enjoyed this story because it provided a different view of how Americans were treating one another during this hard time. I would recommend this book for fifth grade and above. **Ages 11+ N. Ingroum**
 * Stanley, J. (1992). __Children of the dust bowl__. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc.**

Based on actual events, a boy takes up selling newspapers to help his family through the Great Depression. He later finds out that his father, who has been “working at the office” has actually been laid off and has been selling apples on the side of the street. The illustrations are done in golden acrylic paint over a two page spread. The scenes depicted in the story represent every day life during this time period. This shows just how much the Depression effected every social class in America. **Ages 7-10 N.Ingroum**
 * Adler, D. (1999). __The Babe and I . Ill. T. Widner. San Diego, CA: Gulliver Books. __**

Willie Brinkman is a young boy growing up in the 1920s selling newspapers after school. In 1928, Willie covers the largest boxing match of the time between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. As Willie tries to earn more money fir his family of eight he is promoted to a richer part of town. The illustrations done by Lewin are done in watercolor with great detail. Lewin effectively portrays Willie’s thoughts in black and white and his daily life in color. Helpful for understanding the time period with a short read. **Ages 7-10 N. Ingroum**
 * Borden, L. and Kroeger, M. (1996). __Paperboy__. Ill. T. Lewin. New York: Clarion Books.**


 * Hampton, W. (1997). __KENNEDY ASSASSINATED! The World Mourns: A Reporters Story.__ Ill. black and white photographs. MA: Candlewick Press.** Wilborn Hampton was one of the reporters to pick up the phone and receive the call that President Kennedy had been shot. This is his retelling of what struck him about that fateful day, when he was a young man trying to process what happens to a country when their President is killed. This book pairs striking black and white photos to Hampton's text and the books is both powerful and riveting historical non-fiction. **Ages 12-up. S. Anderson**


 * Avi. (2002). __Crispin: The Cross of Lead.__ New York: Scholastic.** This is the story of a nameless young boy who witnesses some events in his town that change his life. It takes place in thirteenth century England, during a time in which there was a prevalent distinction between classes and rank, as well as bloodline. For this young boy, his bloodline changes everything, and suddenly he is being pursued and has to run for his life even though he does not yet know his own name nor why he is worth killing. **Ages 12-14 S. Anderson**

**__Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow,__ Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Scholastic, 2005):** This book offers as chilling glimpse into the lives of German children, their indoctrination in Nazi ideology, and their consuming desire to serve the state of Germany—even at the cost of turning in their own parents to the Nazi powers. This book is detailed graphic, and does not shy away from the Nazi’s systematic elimination of all those they thought were tainting the perfect Aryan race. **Grades 5-8** K. Rowlett


 * Forbes, E. (1960). __Johnny Tremain__. New York: Houghton Mifflin.** This is set during the time of the Boston Tea party and the brink of the American Revolution. Johnny is a young man who works in a silversmith shop, and due to a bad burn on his hand, he must give up silversmithing. This allows him to go and witness first-hand the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Through this story, well known historical figures, such as Paul Revere come alive and the reader feels an attachment and connnection to this period in history. **Grade 4-8 S. Anderson** ||