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Gale In Context: For Educators gives middle and high school educators lesson planning tools to curate their classroom curriculum by combining standards-aligned content from Gale In Context student databases with instructional resources and an educator-focused tool set.

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This valuable resource provides access to a diverse, curated collection of eBooks that can easily be shared with others and downloaded through Google Classroom and Docs with G Suite for Education integration, email, or bookmarked links. These eBooks will be useful for any staff interested in growing professionally! If you have questions about using text studies and/or if you have suggestions for topics to include in future purchases to the professional library, please contact the Professional Development & Learning Department through email at professional.learning@jefferson.kyschools.us.

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Book List Connections

The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra Barracca
Publication Date: 1990
TO ENTERTAIN
Maxi, a homeless mutt in New York City, has always fended for himself. Then one day a kind taxi driver named Jim offers him friendship, a home, and a place in the front seat! From that moment on, Maxi and Jim revel in the sights and sounds of the city, and share all sorts of wild adventures-from rushing two clowns and a chimp to the circus, to singing duets with an opera diva!
Apples by Gail Gibbons
Publication Date: 2000
TO INFORM
All about apples, from pollination to picking and eating.
As the Crow Flies by Gail Hartman
Publication Date: 1991
TO INFORM
A look at different geographical areas from the perspectives of an eagle, rabbit, crow, horse, and gull.
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Publication Date: 2012
TO PERSUADE
Wilbur, a pig, will become Christmas dinner unless his friend Charlotte, a spider, can find a way to help. Perfect. Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death.
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Publication Date: 2012
SHARE FEELINGS
Each kindness makes the world a little better. With its powerful anti-bullying message and striking art, it will resonate with readers long after they've put it down. Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.
Earrings! by Judith Viorst
Publication Date: 1990
TO PERSUADE
What's a young girl to do when her mom and her dad refuse to let her have her ears pierced? She can argue, she can beg, she can swear that -- if only they'll say yes -- she'll be nice to her little brother for one whole year. And whether or not she persuades them, she can find herself in this true and funny tale of a charmingly persistent girl determined to have what she wants and needs and loves: beautiful, glorious earrings for pierced ears.
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Publication Date: 1991
TO INFORM
"Dad says we are going to grow vegetable soup." So begins this bright, bold picture book about vegetable gardening for the very young. The necessary tools are pictured and labeled, as are the seeds (green bean, pea, corn, zucchini squash, and carrot). Then the real gardening happens . . . planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, chopping, and cooking! In the end? "It was the best soup ever." Ehlert’s simple, colorful cut-paper-style illustrations are child-friendly, as isthe big black type. A recipe for vegetable soup tops it all off!
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Publication Date: 2013
SHARE FEELINGS
Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class. When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine. This gentle story shows how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish. Any parent, teacher, or counselor looking for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource. Includes backmatter with discussion questions and resources for further reading.
I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
ISBN: 0399237178
Publication Date: 2004
TO PERSUADE
Alex just has to convince his mom to let him have an iguana. He promises that she won't have to feed it or clean its cage or even see it if she doesn't want to, but all Mom can imagine is the iguana growing larger and messier until it takes over the entire house. Hilarious notes go back and forth as Alex negotiates with his mother, using all his powers of persuasion, while their polar-opposite dreams of life with an iguana are shown in David Catrow's hysterical illustrations. See how clever and funny family debates can be!
Messages in the Mailbox by Loreen Leedy
Publication Date: 1991
TO INFORM
Gator is a teacher full of curious animal students. When her students ask why they do not get any letters she thought this would be a good time to teach them how to write letters. All about letter writing, and the joy of receiving them.
Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton
Publication Date: 2012
TO ENTERTAIN
Bold, hilarious artwork captures the innocent charm of affable George, a dog who is trying to be good — with disastrous results. George is a dog with all the best intentions. And his owner, Harry, has all the best hopes that George will be a well-behaved dog when he leaves him alone for the day. But when George spies a delicious cake sitting on the kitchen table, his resolve starts to waver. You see, George loves cake. . . . Uh-oh. What to do now? It’s so hard to be a good dog when there are cats to chase and flowers to dig up! What ever will Harry say when he gets back? Chris Haughton’s fetchingly funny story and vibrant, retro illustrations are sure to lure dog lovers of all ages — and anyone who has ever met a temptation too good to resist.
The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups by Judith Caseley
Publication Date: 2001
TO ENTERTAIN
Urgent! It's happened again! David Wisniewski has completed another daring raid into the vault of parent rules. Within these forbidden pages lurk the real reasons why grown-ups want you to brush your teeth, eat your breakfast, and clean under your bed. The truth has been hidden for centuries, but the time of mystery is over. Grab a flashlight! Get under cover! It's time for ... The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups! The Second File
The Trouble with Tadpoles by Sam Godwin
Publication Date: 2004
TO INFORM
Join Junior Frog and discover how a tiny tadpole becomes a frog.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Publication Date: 2000
SHARE FEELINGS
Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Then it was time for school to start and Wemberly worried even more.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Publication Date: 1972
He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped over his skateboard and by mistake dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Publication Date: 1991
Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance. Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect until her first day of school. "You're named after a flower!" teases Victoria. "Let's smell her," says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
ISBN: 0689707495
Publication Date: 1982
If food dropped like rain from the sky, wouldn't it be marvelous! Or would it? It could, after all, be messy. What if you didn't like what fell? Or what if too much came?
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Publication Date: 2014
"Once there was a tree . . . and she loved a little boy." A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Publication Date: 2000
If a hungry little mouse shows up on your doorstep, you might want to give him a cookie. And if you give him a cookie, he'll ask for a glass of milk. He'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and then he'll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim... It is a spare, rhythmic text and circular tale.
Jimmy's Boa and the Big Splash Birthday Bash by Trinka Hakes Noble
Publication Date: 1989
Jimmy's mother thought a goldfish would be a nice, sensible pet. Surely it wouldn't be a source of constant chaos like her son's pet boa constrictor. But there's a tidal wave of trouble when Jimmy takes both animals to his birthday party at Sea Land.
The Monkey Goes Bananas by C. P. Bloom; Peter Raymundo (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781419708855
Publication Date: 2014-05-06
A determined monkey spies a banana tree across the water. What happens next is an inventive romp, as the resourceful monkey attempts to grab a snack, with some hilarious consequences. Full of energy, surprise, and strong visual storytelling, this practically wordless picture book will entice even the most reluctant reader. The Monkey Goes Bananas is fast-paced, delicious fun that's sure to leave young readers hungry for another read.
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
Publication Date: 1994
He was wounded in a fierce battle and left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. Pinkus' skin was the color of polished mahogany, and he was flying Union colors like the wounded boy. Pink picked him up out of the field and brought him to where the black soldier's mother, Moe Moe Bay, lived. She had soft, gentle hands and cared for him and her Pink. But the two boys were putting her in danger, two Union soldiers in Confederate territory!
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Publication Date: 1942
An imaginative little bunny tests his mother's love by relating his dreams of running away. His steadfast mother who finds him every time.
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Publication Date: 2013
With perfect comic pacing, Greg Pizzoli introduces us to one funny crocodile who has one big fear: swallowing a watermelon seed. What will he do when his greatest fear is realized? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? This crocodile has a wild imagination that kids will love.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Publication Date: 1991
Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be. Remarkable watercolor illustrations give full expression to Grace's high-flying imagination.
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
ISBN: 9780062209696
Publication Date: 2013
Amelia Bedelia, a literal-minded housekeeper, causes chaos in the Rogers household when she attempts to make sense of some instructions.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Publication Date: 1991
Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance. Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. "You're named after a flower!" teases Victoria. "Let's smell her," says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?
Crow Boy by Taro Yashima
Publication Date: 1955
From a small village in Japan Chibi, or Tiny Boy, is shunned and teased by his classmates for being "different." An insightful new teacher encourages Chibi to finally reach out with a poignant display that touches all and earns him the bold new name of Crow Boy. Powerful illustrations and simple text mark this moving story.
Holes by Louis Sachar
Publication Date: 1998
A darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment Stanley Yelnat's family has a history of bad luck, so he isn't too surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to a boys' juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake. There is no lake - it has been dry for over a hundred years - and it's hardly a camp. As punishment, the boys must each dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in the hard earth of the dried-up lake bed. The warden claims that this pointless labor builds character, but she is really using the boys to dig for loot buried by the Wild West outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow. The story of Kissin' Kate, and of a curse put on Stanley's great-great-grandfather by a one-legged gypsy, weaves a narrative puzzle that tangles and untangles, until it becomes clear that the hand of fate has been at work in the lives of the characters - and their forebears - for generations. With this wonderfully inventive, compelling novel that is both serious and funny, Louis Sachar has written his best book to date.
The Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
Publication Date: 2014
When an eight-year-old girl and her six-year-old brother take turns describing each other, it's no surprise that The Pain & The Great One are the nicknames that emerge. As this duo debates whom Mom and Dad love most, their competition becomes increasingly humorous because when it comes to family affection, there's no such thing as win or lose.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
Publication Date: 2016
Ramona likes that she’s old enough to be counted on, but must everything depend on her? Mrs. Quimby has gone back to work so that Mr. Quimby can return to school, and Ramona is expected to be good for Mrs. Kemp while her parents are away, to be brave enough to ride the school bus by herself, and to put up with being teased by Danny the Yard Ape. In Ramona’s world, being eight isn’t easy, but it’s never dull!
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Publication Date: 1987
Set in the late nineteenth century and told from young Anna's point of view, Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of how Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton comes from Maine to the prairie to answer Papa's advertisement for a wife and mother. Sarah, Plain and Tall gently explores themes of abandonment, loss and love.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Living with his little brother, Fudge, makes Peter Hatcher feel like a fourth grade nothing. Whether Fudge is throwing a temper tantrum in a shoe store, smearing smashed potatoes on walls at Hamburger Heaven, or scribbling all over Peter's homework, he's never far from trouble. He's a two-year-old terror who gets away with everything—and Peter's had enough. When Fudge walks off with Dribble, Peter's pet turtle, it's the last straw. Peter has put up with Fudge too long. How can he get his parents to pay attention to him for a change?

Come a Tide by George Ella Lyon
Publication Date: 1990
COMPARE WITH A BOOK ABOUT FLOODS
A girl provides a lighthearted account of the spring floods at her rural home.
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems
Publication Date: 2012
COMPARE WITH THE GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is a new take on the fairy-tale classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears, so funny and so original-it could only come from the brilliant mind of Mo Willems. Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. One day-for no particular reason-they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then-for no particular reason-they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl. Definitely not!
Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat
ISBN: 0590433504
Publication Date: 1989
COMPARE WITH A BOOK ABOUT GOATS OR ABOUT DIET
Mother Goat, alarmed by Gregory's bizarre dietary preferences--he prefers toast and scrambled eggs to shoe boxes and tin cans--consults Dr. Ram, who devises an appetizing transitional diet for little Gregory
Lon Po Po by Ed Young
Publication Date: 1996
COMPARE WITH LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
"Not for the faint-hearted, Lon Po Po (Grandmother Wold), is a tale of a menacing danger and courage....(Young's) command of page composition and his sensitive use of color give the book a visual force that matches the strength of the story and stands as one of the illustrator's best efforts."
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John L. Steptoe
Publication Date: 1987
COMPARE WITH CINDERELLA
This memorable retelling of Cinderella is perfect for introducing children to the fairy tale as well as the history, culture, and geography of the African nation of Zimbabwe. Inspired by a traditional African folktale, this is the story of Mufaro, who is proud of his two beautiful daughters. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but everyone—except Mufaro—knows that Manyara is selfish and bad-tempered. When the Great King decides to take a wife and invites the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land to appear before him, Mufaro brings both of his daughters—but only one can be queen. Who will the king choose?
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Publication Date: 1997
COMPARE WITH A BOOK ABOUT BATS
While out searching for food, fruit bat Stellaluna and her mother are attacked by a vicious owl. Stellaluna is separated from Mother Bat and taken in by a family of birds where she must put aside her bat habits to fit in with her new family. But one fateful flight when she is separated from her adoptive siblings, Stellaluna is reunited with her bat family and learns that even though we're different, we're very much the same.
Today Was a Terrible Day by Patricia Reilly Giff
Publication Date: 1984
COMPARE WITH ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY, BY VIORST
Follows the humorous mishaps of a second grader who is learning to read.
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka
Publication Date: 1989
COMPARE WITH THE THREE LITTLE PIGS
A spoof on the three little pigs story, this time told from the wolf's point of view.

The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola
Publication Date: 1989
Tommy knows he wants to be an artist when he grows up. He can't wait to get to school and have real art lessons. When Tommy gets to school and finds out that the art lessons are full of "rules", he is surprised and dismayed. How the wise art teacher finds a way to give Tommy the freedom to create and stay within the "rules" makes a wonderfully perceptive picture book about growing up and keeping one's individuality.
Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin
Publication Date: 1988
Four young cats with wings leave the city slums in search of a safe place to live, finally meeting two children with kind hands.
Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber
ISBN: 0395138930
Publication Date: 1973
Ira is thrilled to spend the night at Reggie's, until his sister raises the question of whether he should take his teddy bear.
Julius by Kevin Henkes
ISBN: 0688089437
Publication Date: 1990
The riotously funny Lilly thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting -- if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.
Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen
Publication Date: 1983
At Thanksgiving time, Molly begins to feel proud of her Jewish heritage.
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
Publication Date: 2010
Six-year-old Ruby Bridges and her family have recently moved from Mississippi to New Orleans in search of a better life. When a judge orders Ruby to attend first grade at William Frantz Elementary, an all-white school, Ruby must face angry mobs of parents who refuse to send their children to school with her.

Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco
ISBN: 0399221336
Publication Date: 1992
1ST & 3RD POINT OF VIEWS
After being initiated into a neighbor's family by a solemn backyard ceremony, a young Russian American girl and her African American brothers' determine to buy their gramma Eula a beautiful Easter hat. But their good intentions are misunderstood, until they discover just the right way to pay for the hat that Eula's had her eye on. A loving family story woven from the author's childhood.
The Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
Publication Date: 2014
1ST PERSON POINT OF VIEW
Judy Blume’s quintessential tale of sibling rivalry is as funny as ever! When an eight-year-old girl and her six-year-old brother take turns describing each other, it’s no surprise that “The Pain” and “The Great One” are the nicknames that emerge. As this duo debates whom Mom and Dad love most, their competition becomes increasingly humorous—because when it comes to family affection, there’s no such thing as win or lose.
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Publication Date: 1987
1ST PERSON POINT OF VIEW
Set in the late nineteenth century and told from young Anna's point of view, Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of how Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton comes from Maine to the prairie to answer Papa's advertisement for a wife and mother. Sarah, Plain and Tall gently explores themes of abandonment, loss and love.
White Socks Only by Evelyn Coleman
Publication Date: 1996
1st PERSON POINT OF VIEW
Grandma tells the story about her first trip alone into town during the days when segregation still existed in Mississippi. The young girl thinks that she can drink from a fountain marked "Whites Only" because she is wearing her white socks

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
Publication Date: 2011
Features seven narrators, each with a unique story, and each with a different perspectivenbsp;on what makes their teacher so special. It's the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There's . . . Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who's having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school. nbsp; Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn't let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything--and everyone.
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
Publication Date: 2004
A vacant lot, rat-infested and filled with garbage, looked like no place for a garden. Especially to a neighborhood of strangers where no one seems to care. Until one day, a young girl clears a small space and digs into the hard-packed soil to plant her precious bean seeds. Suddenly, the soil holds promise: To Curtis, who believes he can win back Lateesha's heart with a harvest of tomatoes; to Virgil's dad, who sees a fortune to be made from growing lettuce; and even to Maricela, sixteen and pregnant, wishing she were dead. Thirteen very different voices and perspectives—old, young, Haitian, Hispanic, tough, haunted, and hopeful—tell one amazing story about a garden that transforms a neighborhood.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
ISBN: 9780810996502
Publication Date: 2010
Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda.
Sylvia and Aki by Winifred Conkling
Publication Date: 2011
Sylvia never expected to be at the center of a landmark legal battle; all she wanted was to enroll in school. Aki never expected to be relocated to a Japanese internment camp in the Arizona desert; all she wanted was to stay on her family farm and finish the school year. The two girls certainly never expected to know each other, until their lives intersected in Southern California during a time when their country changed forever. Here is the remarkable story based on true events of Sylvia Mendez and Aki Munemitsu, two ordinary girls living in extraordinary times.
A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff
Publication Date: 2013-02-05
Told in multiple viewpoints, A Tangle of Knots is a magnificent puzzle. In a slightly magical world where everyone has a Talent, eleven-year-old Cady is an orphan with a phenomenal Talent for cake baking; But little does she know that fate has set her on a journey from the moment she was born and her destiny leads her to a mysterious address that houses a lost luggage emporium, an old recipe, a family of children searching for their own Talents, and a Talent Thief who will alter her life forever. However, these encounters hold the key to Cady's past and how she became an orphan. If she's lucky, fate may reunite her with her long-lost parent.
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appel
Publication Date: 2013
Raccoon brothers Bingo and J'miah are the newest recruits of the Official Sugar Man Swamp Scouts. The opportunity to serve the Sugar Man; the massive creature who delights in delicious sugar cane and magnanimously rules over the swamp; is an honor, and also a big responsibility, since the rest of the swamp critters rely heavily on the intel of these hardworking Scouts. Twelve-year-old Chap Brayburn is not a member of any such organization, but he loves the swamp something fierce, and he'll do anything to help protect it. And help is surely needed, because world-class alligator wrestler Jaeger Stitch wants to turn Sugar Man swamp into an Alligator World Wrestling Arena and Theme Park, and the troubles don't end there. There is also a gang of wild feral hogs on the march, headed straight toward them all. The Scouts are ready. All they have to do is wake up the Sugar Man. Problem is, no ones been able to wake that fellow up in a decade or four.
Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne; Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff
Publication Date: 1998
Four people enter a park, and through their eyes we see four different visions. There's the bossy woman, the sad man, the lonely boy and the young girl whose warmth touches those she meets. As the story moves from one voice to another, their perspectives are reflected in the shifting landscape and seasons. This is an intriguing, many-layered, enormously entertaining book that demands to be read again and again.
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Publication Date: 2011
Set fifty years apart, two independent stories - Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures - weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Ever since his mom died, Ben feels lost. At home with her father, Rose feels alone. He is searching for someone, but he is not sure who. She is searching for something, but she is not sure what. When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mom's room and a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose, both children risk everything to find what's missing.

Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin
Publication Date: 2000
The quirky, hilarious farmyard tale that started it all, from the New York Times bestselling duo of Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin! Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears Click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. Clickety, clack, MOO. But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes.... Doreen Cronin's understated text and Betsy Lewin's expressive illustrations make the most of this hilarious situation. Come join the fun as a bunch of literate cows turn Farmer Brown's farm upside down.
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 1989
Each ring of the doorbell brings more friends to share the delicious cookies Ma has made. This terrific and suspenseful read-aloud picture book about friendship, sharing, and cookies can also be used to introduce basic math concepts to young children.
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
Publication Date: 1999
A young boy and his mother bake a gingerbread baby that escapes from their oven and leads a crowd on a chase similar to the one in the familiar tale about a not-so-clever gingerbread man.
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Publication Date: 1996
A grouchy ladybug who is looking for a fight challenges everybody she meets regardless of their size or strength
Marvin and the Meanest Girl by Suzy Kline
Publication Date: 2002
Marvin Higgins is always calling people names and making them mad. And because the new girl in class, Lucy Tinker, has hair that sticks up like a porcupine, Marvin starts picking on her. But Lucy decides to be mean, too, and scratches Marvin with her long, rainbow-colored nails! Will Marvin and Lucy ever stop fighting?
No Roses for Harry! by Gene Zion; Margaret Bloy Graham (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 1958
Harry the Dirty Dog does his best to be rid of Grandmother's birthday present;a silly green sweater with yellow roses.
Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume; James Stevenson (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2007
MEET THE PAIN: My sister's name is Abigail. I call her The Great One because she thinks she's so great. Who cares if she's in third grade and I'm just in first? MEET THE GREAT ONE: My brother's name is Jacob Edward, but everyone calls him Jake. Everyone but me. I call him The Pain because that's what he is. He's a first-grade pain. I'll always know exactly what he's thinking. That's just the way it is.
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson; James E. Ransome (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2003
As a seamstress in the Big House, Clara is luckier than the slaves who work the fields. Still, she dreams of a reunion with her Momma, who lives on another plantation and even of running away to freedom. Then she hears two slaves talking about how they could find the Underground Railroad if only they had a map. In a flash of inspiration, Clara sees how she can use the cloth in her scrap bag to make a map of the land;a freedom quilt; that no master will ever suspect. Drawn from true incidents in African-American history, this is a compelling and emotionally charged picture book.
Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg
Publication Date: 1988
When two bad ants desert from their colony, they experience a dangerous adventure that convinces them to return to their former safety.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Publication Date: 2000
Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Then it was time for school to start and Wemberly worried even more. The mouse who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of school.

Dakota Dugout by Ann Warren Turner
Publication Date: 1985
A woman describes her experiences living with her husband in a sod house on the Dakota prairie long ago.
Hey World, Here I Am! by Jean Little
Publication Date: 1990
Kate Bloomfield is back! And she's got a lot to say -- about school and friends and parents, about cartwheels (she can't do them), about parsnips (she won't eat them), about being alone and being herself, about life and love...even about Dave Nelson, who doesn't know she's alive. Outspoken, funny, sometimes confused but always observant, Kate is writing it all down -- "Hey World, Here I Am!"
I Am the Dog, I Am the Cat by Donald Hall
Publication Date: 1994
A hilarious, affectionate portrait in contrasts of our companions, and often best friends, a cat and a dog. With evocative words and masterful paintings, they delineate the doginess and catlike qualities that everyone will recognize.
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children by Jack Prelutsky (Selected by)
Publication Date: 1983
A generous collection with a distinctly upbeat tone, this gives a taste of the best poets writing for children over the last several decades.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Publication Date: 2014
This classic poetry collection, which is both outrageously funny and profound. Silverstein has an excellent sense of rhythm and rhyme and a good ear for alliteration and assonance that make these poems a pleasure to read aloud.