Picture Books:
1. Picture Book: Beardream by Will Hobbs Illustrated by Jill Kastner
This book is about a boy who dreams of a great bear known as "the great one". While searching
for the missing bear the boy gets tired and decides to take a nap. His dream is very magical and when he returns to his people
he shares his dream about dancing bears. The illustrations in the book alone could tell the story. Also, the water colored
art drawings are eye cathching and magical.
2. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – Picture Book
Author: Bill Martin, Pictures by
Eric Carle
This picture book strongly emphasizes word patterns. The images of animals will captivate a child’s imagination.
3. The 108th Sheep- Picture Book
Author: Ayano Imai
This story is about a young girl who can not sleep a wink. A great bedtime story with illustrations in pencil and watercolor.
4.What James Likes Best- Picture Book
Author: Amy Schwartz
This interactive picture book has illustrations that will catch a young reader’s eye. The questions in the
book stimulate children’s verbal participation
5.Not My Dog- Picture Book
Author: Colby Rodowsky
A transitional picture book for older children who can read but has not yet become a fluent reader.
The story is about a girl who looks forward to her ninth birthday because of a dog she was promised. Because of her aunt,
she may not ever get a dog of her own.
6.The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author: Eric Carle
This book is more of a mechanical book for children of all ages. It is also about metamorphosis of a butterfly with
colorful and bright illustrations.
7.Circle of Wonder by N. Scott Momaday
This is a Native American Christmas story of one lonely child’s experience of a special magic at Christmas. Tolo
a lonely boy misses his deceased grandfather to where he talks to a magical fire. The animals , Elk, Wolf and Eagle share
the real gift of the fire that strengthens Talo.
8. Forbidden Talent by Redwing T. Nez
This is a picture book about a boy who lives on the Navajo reservation with his grandparents. The boy has the passion
to do art work but his grandfather forbids him to do so because it is not the Navajo way of life.
9. Sing Down The Rain by Judi Moreillon
The Tohono O’odham tribe celebrate a ceremony for summer rain to grow their crops. For two nights the men, women,
and children dance in a large circle outside the “Rain House” to ask for plentiful of rain.
10. The Gingerbread Cowboy
By Janet Squires
Illustrated by Holly Berry
A cowboy gingerbread boy runs away running into different animals who think they can outrun him to eat. Only the coyote
can trick and catch him
11. Abby’s Chair
Written by Barbara Santucci
Illustrated by Debrah Santini
After moving to her new house Abby dislikes her chair. She tries everything she can to fix it up. But with the help
of her new friends she is able to accept the chair she has disliked.
12. A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry pictures by Marc Simont
A picture book about trees, how birds can make a nest, you can climb the trunk, roll in its leaves and how it fills
up the sky.
13. A Man Called Raven
Written by Richard Van Camp
Pictures by George Littlechild
Two your boys try to trap a raven but is confronted by a mysterious old man. He tells them a true story about a man
who liked to hurt ravens. The man teaches the two boys about the respect for life.
14.I Wonder as I Wonder
By Gwenyth Swain
Illustrated by Ronald HImler
A story of a young girl whos mother has died and is being raised by her father who is a preacher. Annie Morgan wonders
where her mother is (in the clouds)and creates a song of wonder.
15. Something to Tell the Grandcows
By Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by Bill Siavin
This picture book is about a cow volunteering to go to the south pole to tell stories to his grand cows. An adventure
of running into other animals and making the best of the south pole before returning home.
16.Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
Pictures by Barbara Cooney
This is a picture book about survival. A father sells what the family makes throughout the winter. He also sells the
ox which carries all the materials to be sold.
17. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
By Paul Goble
A young girl who loves horses spots a stallion and goes missing for a year. He family searchers for her and is finally
found. She has missed her parents but is lonely for the wild horses. Her parents can see that she is sad, so she was given
permission to live with the wild horses. Each year she visited her family and gave them a colt.
18.The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit
By Susan Lowell , Illustrated by Jim Harris
This picture book is about different animals that live in the southwestern desert. They see the race between the slow
tortoise and the overconfident, quick jackrabbit.
19. Just Like Josh Gibson
By Angela Johnson
Illustrated by Beth Peck
A young girl who had the passion to play baseball but has to face challenges the remind us small steps made by of us
inspire us all (book).
20. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Simms Taback
Joseph‘s coat was too old so found new ways to make something out of nothing,
Poetry and Verse
1.Hoofprints Horse Poems
Author: Jessie Haas
This book is filled with poetry about the adventures of horses. It reveals the love of horses between human and horses.
Folktale
1. Finn and the Fairies- folklore
An enchanting fairytale about fairies. Finn the tailor does not believe in superstition
of fairies until the king announces he will hold a royal ball to find a wife for his son (book). Finn realizes he is not only
making dresses for the maidens but for fairies also.
2.The Old Women Who Lived in A Vinegaer Bottle
by Margaret Read MacDonald
A Brithis fairy tale of an ungrateful women who complains constantly about her house.
A fariy grants her wishes but the old lady is never pleased.
3. Sky Sisters
Written by Jan Bourdeau Waboose
Illustrated by Brian Deines
Two Ojibway sisters set off across the frozen north country to Coyote Hill where the
skyspirits dance. Their granmother told them of the story of an expereince of the northern lights dancing in the sky,
4.Old Father Story Teller by Pablita Velarde
Folktale
This book is about the culture of the Santa Clara Pueblo. Stories are told about the legends of the Santa Clara Pueblo
told by previous generations.
5.Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark
An Indian boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru
learns the traditions and secrets of his Inca ancestors. (book)
6.Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
A pair of twins are shuffled between foster families and orphanages all their lives longing for a place to call home.
A mysterious place changes their lives forever.
7.The Golden Coyote by Eileen Thompson
After the death of an Indian boys grandfather he finds a companion and brings him back to health.
8.The Gorilla Who Wanted to Grow Up by
Jill Tomlinson
This story is about the gorilla named Pongo who is playful as can be, climbing in and out of trees wanting to hurry
up and grow up.
9. The Best (Worst) School Year Ever by Barbara
Robinson
A young
girl and her siblings are known to be outlaws of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. If anything goes wrong, they are sure to
have been involved.
Realistic Fiction:
1. The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois
This story is about a professor who leaves San Franciso in a hot air balloon
trying to fly across the Pacific Ocean. He lands in Krakatoa, a lengendary island where he trys to find the means to escape.
2.The Vision Seeker by James Whetung
Realistic Fiction
This story reveals how the sweat lodge was brought to the Anishinaabek people.
3.Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac
After moving from a Mohawk reservation to Brooklyn, New York fourth grader Danny encounters stereotypes about his Native American heritage.
4.Meet Josephina by Valerie Tripp
In Santa Fe, New Mexico
in 1824 Josephina and her sisters struggle to carry on after their mother’s death. Josephina looks forward to her grandfathers
visit because of the stories he will tell.
5.Josephina Leans a Lesson by Valerie Tripp
Josephina learns to weave after a flash flood kills hundreds of the familys sheep. She is also challenged to learn
how to read but is afraid the things she is learning will lead to forgetting her mom.
6.Meet Kaya by Janet Shaw
In 1764, when Kaya and her family reunite with other Nez Perce Indians to fish for red salmon, she learns that bragging
even about her fast horse can lead to trouble.
7.Al Capone Does My Shirt by Gennifer Choldenko
A twelve year old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards families housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary
new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.
Historical Fiction:
1.Number The Stars- Historical Fiction
Author: Lois Lowry
This is a book about tow young friends surviving the Nazi invasion in Denmark. A young girl named Annemarie encounters obstacles that reveal her courage.
2. Morning Girl – Historical Fiction
by Michael Dorris
The story is about a young girl name Morning Girl who is the complete opposite from her brother Star Boy. Morning Girl
loves the day and Star boy loves the night. They take turns describing their life on an island in pre-Columbian America.
3.Sarah, Plain and Tall-Fiction by Patricia MacLachlan
When their father invites a mail-order
bride to come to live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by her hope that she will stay. (book)
4. Ashkii's Journey by Verna Clinton
This story is about a young Navajo boy who becomes of age following his familys return
from Bosque Redondo.
5. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza is a girl who thought life would be wonderful forever. Due to her fathers
death she and her mother had to flee to California, where they settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers during the Great
Depression.
Fantasy
1.Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
New folks are coming to live in the big house. The animals of Rabbit hill wonder if they will plant a garden and be
good providers.
2.Harry the Poisonous Centipede by Lynn Reid Banks
A worm experiences terrifying dangers while lurking above the earths tunnel where centipedes live.
3. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Two friends create and imaginary land of Terabithia. There they rule as
king and queen until the death of Leslie that helps Jess understand how much he has learned from his friend.
