Monday, March 19, 2018

TOP 50 ELEMENTARY #3 - Meet more greatness!

On March 9, we presented Kiss the Book's Top 50 books that every elementary school should have in their library.  You can find the whole list here, but here are a few more - I will post the rest of the list soon. I hope you find some books on here that you can love for your schools and homes as much I do have loved them!

Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovernNarrated by Chester (the dog) this is a gripping, sweet story about a dog who has found his “person” and wants to do his job.  The author gives a lot of insight into the difficulty of working with an autistic child.

Grandma Forgets by Paul RussellThe topic of a grandparent whose memory is slipping is all too familiar to many, and I think this book tackles it in a way that will help readers of all ages. Adults might find themselves shedding a tear over it, and younger readers will enjoy the message and pictures for what they are.

The Blue Hour by Isabelle SimlerThe illustrations in this book are magical.  My son kept petting the pages because the drawings have so much texture.  There are only 1-2 sentences per page and the text reads like a poem. 

What Would Happen? Serious Answers to Silly Questions by Crispin Boyer - Have you ever wondered what would happen in zombies attacked?  If so, this is the book for you.  The book is split into eight chapters: You First, Wonders of the World, Second Nature, Time Warped, Tech Checked, Natural Wonders, Worst-Case Scenarios, and Reality Chucked.

One Good Thing about America by Ruth Freeman9-year-old Anaïs is a refugee from The Congo.  She and her mother and baby brother Jean-Claude are living in a shelter while her mother applies for asylum.  Anaïs' father is still in Africa, trying to keep one step ahead of the soldiers who are looking for him.

Polly and Her Duck Costume by Leanne LauricellaWhen Polly arrived on Leanne’s rescue farm, the little blind goat was very lonely.Once she settled into her new homes, she still needed comfort and warmth.  Leanne found a cuddly, yellow duck costume that did the trick and Polly started to blossom.  Based on the true story of Leanne and Polly and the other rescued goats on her farm.  The photographs of Polly in her duck costume at the end of the book are absolutely priceless! 

Lights, Camera, Cook (Next Best Junior Chef) by Charise Mericle Harper4 young contestants, Tate (9) Caroline (11) Oliver (12) and Rae (11) are vying to be the “Next Best Junior Chef”.  Reading like a reality show, the contestants are taken through a series of instructions and challenges to see who has the most skill.

The Darkest Dark by Chris HadfieldThis is a wonderfully illustrated book written by real life astronaut Chris Hadfield about his experience as a child being afraid of the dark. This book is fantastic for young readers struggling with their own fears, who have an interest in space exploration, or both. The story is inspirational as it encourages children to look past their fears and embrace the excitement of what is possible for them to achieve.

Different? Same! by Heather TekavecWhat in the world do a tiger and a bumblebee have in common?  They both have stripes!  And so does a zebra and a ring-tailed lemur.  Manes, tusks, horns, even scales – all characteristics that bring different animals together in a point of alikeness.  What a fun, clever book!  Text and illustrations work together to make a perfect package ready for a science lesson on almost any level.

Unplugged by Steve AntonyBlip the robot is very happy being plugged into her computer all day – until the day of a blackout, when she trips over her cord and ends up outside.  There she learns she can do the same kinds of things she did only on her computer.  But now she can do them with friends.

Thunder Underground by Jane YolenThis is a great book of poetry that also feeds the curiosity of young readers and the world beneath them.  The poems have interesting facts and at the end of the book there is a key that explains more about what scientists know of those underground worlds.  The illustrations are well done and my kids loved this book.  

Time Traveling with Hamster by Ross Welford - On his 12th birthday, Al Chaudhry gets a letter from his father that tells him to travel back in time to save him from a go kart accident. Unfortunately, the time machine is at their old house and he has one week from the time of the note to travel back in time.

Margaret and the Moon by Dean Robbins Margaret's coding skills were key to most of the Apollo missions and especially to the safe landing of Apollo 11. Robbins’s picture book is a perfect combination of text and picture for a dynamic read aloud for elementary students.  It shows the not her growth in her field, but the important programming work she did on the Apollo missions.
SaveSave

No comments: