Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel is an illustrated F collection of short stories about two friends, Frog and Toad. This easy read is a Newbery Award winner that could make for a good GR or IR if students want to continue reading. These short, simple stories are all about Frog and Toad, and all of their adventures together. #UCFLAE3414F17

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a RF N that teaches students to be kind. Auggie is 10 yrs old & has never been to school. He‘s not exactly your average kid. Auggie was born with a deformity, causing him to have several surgeries. It‘s now time for Auggie to enter 5th grade at a school with other children. He slowly becomes friends with a few students, or so he thinks. Friends don‘t talk bad about each other, right? This one pulls at the heart strings.

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull & illustrated by Yuyi Morales is a B that has won the Jane Addams and Pura Belpre awards. This could be read as a GR/ RA. Magnificently illustrated, evoking emotions throughout the entire book, Harvesting Hope takes you on the journey of Cesar Chavez‘ life. He was a young shy boy who later became one of America‘s greatest civil rights leaders. #UCFLAE3414F17

Meet Kaya, An American Girl by Janet Shaw with illustrations by Bill Farnsworth is a HF novel that is book 1 of the American Girls Collection. Kaya, living during 1764, was a Nez Perce Indian. She adores her horse, Steps High& dreams of racing her. But Kaya is most courageous in riding Steps High to rescue Speaking Rain, a blind girl who is like a sister to her, from the river. The end of this book contains a few pages of info on the Nez Pereces.

Galaxy Zack: Journey to Juno by Ray O‘Ryan &illustrated by Colin Jack is a SF novel filled with illustrations. #2 of the Galaxy Zack series, this would make for great IR. Zack and his family just moved to the planet Nebulon. In this book, we follow Zack as he joins his school's Explorer's Club and visits planet Juno. He is paired with Seth Stevens (a bully), finds a rare gemmite, and makes new friends when the day is done. #UCFLAE3414F17

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen is a F/ NF hybrid PB that could be done as GR. In this book of the collection, Ms. Frizzle uses the bus as a rocket ship, blasting the students into space and teaching them all they need to know along the way. From how craters on the moon were formed, to what Saturns rings are made of, the students are fully submerged in a lesson all about space. #UCFLAE3414F17

I am Abraham Lincoln by Brad Meltzer &illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos is a B PB that is part of the “Ordinary People Change the World" series. These PB have adorable illustrations and a central message in each book based on the bio of the person. It takes us back to when Lincoln was young, & he first stood up & spoke out against something that was wrong. From there, we journey through his life & learn about the impact he had on our country.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds is a RF PB that can be a RA on or around Dot Day! Vashti doesn‘t believe she can draw. Her teacher tells her, “Just make a mark and see where it takes you...now sign it” Those inspiring words released Vashti‘s creativity of her very own dot art, all featured in the school art show. This book reminds us all to “make a mark” and see where it takes us. #UCFLAE3414F17

Where the Sidewalk Ends is a collection of P with drawings both by Shel Silverstein. Many strategies could be used for this book, but I chose GR. The poem “Sick” (oh 58-59) is about a girl named Peggy Ann McKay. She has many reasons of why she can‘t go to school... until she realizes that it‘s Saturday! Of course she then wants to go out and play! #UCFLAE3414F17

Edgar Allan Poe‘s Pie is a P/NF collection written by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Michael Slack that could be used as an AS or as a RA for math puzzles. This book provides poems inspired by other famous poems/ poets, but these particular poems have math problems intertwined in them. The back of the book provides short bios about the poets included in this book. #UCFLAE3414F17

Independent Publisher award winning F PB, What Do You Do With An Idea? By Kobi Yamada& illustrated by Mae Besom, could be read to students of all ages as a RA. Charmingly illustrated, this story follows a little boy and his idea. Afraid of what people would think, he almost abandoned this idea, but soon realized he should give it all of his attention. After it became everything he ever imagined, he reminds us that ideas change the world.

By now, we all know the F Caldecott PB Don‘t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! By Mo Willems. Read as a RA with engaging voices and gestures, students will love this story. A bus driver specifically let‘s us know that we shouldn‘t let the pigeon drive the bus, but he won‘t stop asking! Disappointed after all of the begging, he finally gives up once the bus driver returns. Adorably silly, but could make for a great start to a writing/retelling lesson!

Waiting by Kevin Henkes is a F Caldecott and Geisel Honor PB and would make a great RA. Waiting and being patient is something we all strive to teach our students quickly. This adorably illustrated book is 5 friends who do almost nothing except for wait. The owl, pig, bear, puppy, and rabbit are always waiting..one for the rain, one for the moon, and one for no reason at all. #UCFLAE3414F17

What better way to start off Thanksgiving week than with this RA! Orbis Pictus 2012 winner, Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet is the NF PB of Tony Sarg, creator and puppeteer. This inspiring story starts off with Tony as a young boy, taking us on the journey of his life. His love of being a puppeteer grows... so big in fact that he made the Macy‘s Parade what it is today because of his inventive and imaginative spirit. #UCFLAE3414F17

Red Sings from Treetops: A year in colors by Joyce Sidman & illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski is a beautiful P Caldecott Honor picture book. Color comes to life through poems, taking you on a visual journey through the seasons and the changing landscape throughout the year. Having students either be assigned a color or season could make this a great RT. #UCFLAE3414F17

Sparky! By Jenny Offill&Chris Appelhans is an adorable F (or RF if you think sloths could be pets) PB that won the Charlotte Zolotow Award in 2015. Have you ever begged for a pet, but your parents say no way? That‘s just what happened in this story, except the mother finally agrees based on these criteria: as long as it doesn‘t need to be walked or bathed or fed. So one inventive little girl finds just the pet... a sloth that she names Sparky.

Grace for President written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by LeUyen Pham is a New York Times Best Seller RF picture book that would be best read as a RA. It tells the story of a young girl named Grace who, when told that there has never been a woman president, decides to run for class president. This inspiring story outlines the election process, making it easier for students to understand. #UCFLAE3414F17

The Mitten is a TL PB (Ukrainian Folktale adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett) best read as a RA or S. This is a beautifully illustrated story of Nicki who wants his grandma to knit him white mittens. She warns that he may lose them in the snow, but he persists. As he plays, he loses one. Several animals come across the mitten and wiggle their way in to stay warm. When Nicki finally finds it, it was not the same size that Baba originally made.

Redwoods by Jason Chin is a NF picture book that would be great for PR. Have you ever wondered about the Redwoods? Exactly how tall and wide are those trees? How old are they? How can they continuously grow? All of these questions and more are answered right in this book. Visually, it takes you on a journey through the Redwoods in a student‘s eyes who just picked up the book about the Redwoods.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M Draper is a RF NY Times Bestselling novel that would be a great LC read. Melody is an 11 yr old that can‘t walk, talk, or write, yet she is smarter than her peers. No one else sees her that except for her family and Mrs.V. Melody is labeled disabled but is more than able. Like any 11yr old, she just wants to fit in, but Melody stands out when she shows everyone just how intelligent she really is. Read more to find out!