Madelyn Metzger November 13, 2013 Childrens Literature Annotated Bibliography Criteria for a good picture book: A good

picture book should have bright inviting picture for the child to read. The artwork should go along well with the text to help with context clues and also keep the reader focused. The book should also be something that the child can relate or sparks their interest. The text should not be filled with very complex words so that the child gets lost or confused often. Picture Books:

1. Author: Norman Bridwell Title: Cliffords ABC Publisher and year: Cartwheel 1986 Type of book: ABC Book Reading level: PreK-3 This book is an alphabet book. As you turn the pages Clifford tells objects for each letter. The book is full of great pictures and bright color. Noteworthy traits: The pictures are very rich in color. 2. Author: David A. Adler Title: A Picture Book of Rosa Parks

Publisher and year: Holiday House 1995 Type of book: Picture and Biography Reading level: 3-5 This picture book tells the story of Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement taking off after her heroic act. The books talks of her courageous tale such as not moving her seat, her arrest, and the impact she had on the Civil Rights Movement. Noteworthy traits: This book has detailed pictures of the Civil Rights Movement. 3. Author: Robert N. Munsch Title: The Paper Bag Princess Publisher and year: Annick Press 1992 Type of book: Picture Book and Science Fiction Reading level: 3rd Grade This picture book tells a story about a Princess that is arranged to marry Prince Ronald when a problem occurs. A dragon attacks the castle that the Princess lives in and also kidnaps the Prince. The Princess is courageous and defeats the dragon saving the Prince. Noteworthy traits: This book is humorous and the Princess is very clever. 4. Author: Ludwig Belemans Title: Madeline Publisher and year: Hippo 1939 Type of book: Picture Book Reading level: 3rd Grade

This book tells a story of a little girl named Madeline that is an orphan. She lives in an orphanage and out of all the girls Madeline is the smallest and bravest. Madeline wakes up one night crying and is rushed to the hospital. All the other girls visit her and bring her gifts. The next night all the other girls cry they are sick to be treated like Madeline. Noteworthy traits: This book is a Caldecott Winner and a classic. 5. Author: Audry Wood Title: The Napping House Publisher and year: HMH Books 2000 Type of book: Picture Book Reading level: 3rd Grade This book tells the story about both animals and people. All of the animals and people in this book are very tired and they all end up napping in one house in the same exact bed. Noteworthy traits: This book is a good silly bedtime story. Criteria for good nonfiction books: A good nonfiction book had a real world connection the child can connect to. The story should be told throughout the text in a way the child can relate. An example is if it is about the war the writer should be specific because many may not be able to relate but they can relate to missing someone or being afraid. The book should draw the child in because in some area of the book the child should be able to comprehend the feelings or actions. Nonfiction Books 1.

Author: Claire A. Nivola Title: Life in the Ocean Publisher and year: Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2012 Type of book: Nonfiction Reading level: 3rd grade This book is about life under the ocean. A woman explores the sea and writes about her love for the ocean and her experiences. She has many experiences like swimming with whales and exploring submarines. Noteworthy traits: True story with great detail. 2. Author: Rosanna Hansen Title: Animal Rescuers Publisher and year: Childrens Press 2003 Type of book: Non Fiction - Informative Reading level: 3rd 5th This book is informative about animals and their abilities to rescue adults. The book tells true stories about a cat, two dogs, and a pig that rescue humans and other animals. The animals are heroes and this book shows how the import roles animals play in the rescuing world. Noteworthy traits: This book is one in a series of many. The book is informative and tells true tales. 3. Author: Rick Bundschuh, Bethany Hamilton and Sheryl Berk

Title: Soul Surfer Publisher and year: MTV Books 2006 Type of book: Autobiography Reading level: 6th grade This novel tells the story of a young girl whom a shark when surfing attacks. The girl then prevails from her accident and surfs once again. She faces some hard times and has to learn to do many things in a different way but over times succeeds. Noteworthy traits: This book is a true story with pictures of Bethany, the shark, Bethanys surfboard, and other things. 4. Author: Peter Benoit Title: Civil War Publisher and year: Scholastic 2011 Type of book: Informative Reading level: 3rd 5th This book tells the story of the Civil War. There are stories about the battles, soldiers, and leaders such as Abraham Lincoln. Noteworthy traits: This book is a series with pictures of the battlegrounds and soldiers. 5. Author: Kadir Nelson Title: We are the Ship Publisher and year: Jump At The Sun 2008 Type of book: Informative

Reading level: 3rd grade This novel tells the story of unsung heroes in the Negro Baseball League. This book talks about specific players, their talent, and their leadership. Noteworthy traits: This book is a true story with great illustrations. Criteria for good Poetry: Childrens poetry should be enjoyable for the children and something they can understand. Poetry can intimidate children easily if it is too complex for their understanding. Childrens poetry should have some rhyming, but not even poem absolutely need it. Children enjoy the rhyming and humor in most children poetry. Poetry 1. Author: Bruce Langsky Title: My Dog Ate My Homework Publisher and year: Meadowbrook 2003 Type of book: Poetry Reading level: K 4th grade This book is a collection of funny poetry. These poems are about things the children can relate to. Noteworthy Traits: Very humorous. 2. Author: Mary ONeil Title: Hailstones and Halibut Bones Publisher and year: Double Play Book 1961

Type of book: Poetry and Rhymes Reading level: 3rd 5th This book is filled with poetry about emotions, feelings, and colors. These poems are something children can relate to. All of the poems have a sense of rhythm and are rich. Noteworthy traits: Very colorful pictures. 3. Author: Crescent Dragonwagon Title: Alligators and Others All Year Long Publisher and year: Atheneum Books 1993 Type of book: Science and Animals Reading level: K 2nd This book is filled with poetry about the 12 months. Each poem is dedicated to a specific month. The poems are also about animals. The verses are very clever and the child can relate to each poem. Noteworthy traits: Very clever and clear. 4. Author: Shel Silverstein Title: Everything On It Publisher and year: HarperCollins 2011 Type of book: Poetry Reading level: 3rd grade This book is full of comedic poetry that children love. There are over 130 poems in this one book. Each poem is unique and fun.

Noteworthy traits: Very humorous. 5. Author: Margarita Montalvo Title: Poetry Zoo Publisher and year: Scholastic 2006 Type of book: Animal Poetry Reading level: 3rd grade This book is filled with poetry about animals. These poems are in Spanish and English, which is god for those in ESL or learning both languages. The poems are very rich in text and colorful. Noteworthy traits: Watercolors used for great pictures. Criteria for a good novel: A good childrens novel should not be too complex for children. The text should be something they can read and engage in. The children should also be drawn into the book in the beginning so that they want to keep reading and do not loose interest easily. Novels 1. Author: Judy Blume Title: Double Fudge Publisher and year: Puffin 2007 Type of book: Realistic Fiction Reading level: 3rd 5th grade The character Fudge is starting a new school year. He is also meeting some members of

his family doe the first time. Like his own family his cousins are strange in their own way. Between making new friends and getting to know his family he is in for some changes. Noteworthy traits: Very relatable 2. Author: C.S. Lewis Title: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Publisher and year: HarperCollins1950 Type of book: Fantasy Reading level: 3rd 5th grade Four children were sent to play when they enter a wardrobe. The wardrobe is a different world they begin to explore. A white witch has frozen the world so it is winter and cold all the time. The children encounter with the White Witch and run into trouble. Noteworthy traits: This book is a classic and known for the great story. 3. Author: J.K. Rowling Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone Publisher and year: Scholastic 2003 Type of book: Fantasy Reading level: 4th-8th grade This book is about a boy living a unhappy life with his aunt and uncle. An owl comes to his home brining him a letter about a magical school, Hogwarts. He meets new friends and becomes accustom to his new life.

Noteworthy traits: This book is a series and one loved by many. 4. Author: Gabrielle Reyes Title: Dolphin Tale: The Junior Novel Publisher and year: Scholastic 2011 Type of book: Realistic Fiction Reading level: 3rd 5th Grade This book is about a dolphin named Winter. She looses her tail in a crab trap. A young boy named Sawyer and a Marine Aquarium Team are trying to help her survive but the odds are highly against her. Sawyer begins off shy in the book but decided to try to make the dolphin a tale with the help of others they both overcome some obstacles. Noteworthy traits: This book is based on a true story and inspirational. 5. Author: Lois Lowry Title: Number the Stars Publisher and year: Laura Leaf 1998 Type of book: Historical Fiction Reading level: 3rd 4th Grade This book is about two girls that are best friends, Annemarie and Ellen. They often picture their life before the war began. They are living through the Holocaust and Ellen moves in with Annemaries family to hide from the Nazis. The life of both of these girls goes through some dangerous times and they face many hardships. Noteworthy traits: This book is realistic and very detailed.

6. Author: Katherine A. Applegate Title: The One and Only Ivan Publisher and year: HarperCollins 2011 Type of book: Animal Stories Reading level: 3rd 5th Grade A Gorilla named Ivan lives in a mall above an arcade. All throughout the day humans are watching him, which he has gotten use to. He is not the only animal and likes the other animals around him. He spends his days dreaming of things he has seen on TV and does not miss the jungle. Noteworthy traits: This is a very visual text with some comedy. 7. Author: Beverly Clery Title: Ramona Quimby, Age 8 Publisher and year: Yearling 1982 Type of book: Realistic Fiction Reading level: 3rd 5th Grade This book is about an eight year old girl names Ramona. Her family is quite busy so after school she stays with her grandmother until her older sister picks her up. She is maturing and helping around her house, but it isnt as easy as it seems. She has a bully and a lot going on for an 8-year-old girl. Noteworthy traits: This book is one in a series. 8.

Author: Andrew Clements Title: Frindle Publisher and year: Atheneum Books 1998 Type of book: Comedy and Humor Reading level: 4th Grade This book is about a boy named Nick Allen that is in 5th grade. He has transformed both his 3rd and 4th grade classrooms into places his classmates love. In 5th grade he decided to change his classroom once again transforming the word pen into frindle, which he thinks is just another prank. Not only does the whole class catch on but also the whole school. Noteworthy traits: This book is comedic. 9. Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder Title: Farmer Boy Publisher and year: Harper Trophy 2007 Type of book: Historical Fiction Reading level: 3rd 5th Grade This book is about a boy names Alfonzo that lives on a big farm in New York State. Alfonzo and his siblings help on the farm all year long. Alfonzo wants his own horse but his father does not think he is responsible enough. He needs to prove himself but he isnt sure how to do so. Noteworthy traits: This book is a classic and one in a series of many. 10. Author: Johanna Spyri

Title: Heidi Publisher and year: Kingfisher 1880 Type of book: Classic Reading level: 4th- 6th Grade Heidi is an orphan who is sent to live in the Great Alps with her grandfather. Her grandfather is known for not being the nicest man in town, but Heidi warms up to him very quickly. As soon as Heidi becomes accustom to her new life in the Alps she is sent to care for her cousin Klara. Noteworthy traits: This book is a classic.