Run, Boy, Run

Title: Run, Boy, Run
2004 Batchelder Honor Book
Author: Uri Orlev (translated: Hillel Halkin)
Published: 2003
Group: Jewish
Cultural Indicators: (1)Srulik is the name of the main character. In Jewish culture the Srulik figure represents Israel and serves as an antithesis to antisemitic stereotypes. (2)Srulik is from the Warsaw ghetto. During World War I Nazis isolated and controlled Jews by confining them to segregated areas called ghettos which are characterized by poor living conditions. (3) This fiction novel is an historical account of a young Jewish boy's survival during the Holocaust under the Nazi Regime. (4)During WWI Jews were forced to wear the Star of David to indicate their Jewish identity. The Star of David is a symbol of Judiasm. Judiasm is customarily practiced by Jews. Yosele, Srulik's friend from Warsaw says that his mother, "made a living by sewing and selling the blue stars of David that Jews had to wear on their sleeves." (5) Traditionally, circumcision was a Jewish custom. Srulik is warned not to expose himself in the nude lest his Jewish identity be revealed by his circumcision. (6)Yiddish is a distinct Jewish language. Srulik is concerned that his accent might reveal that he is Jewish, "Srulik suddenly realized why Shleymi had told him not to talk to Poles. 'Do I talk Polish like a Jew too?' (7) Hebrew is traditionally spoken by the Jewish in prayer and in formal education. "When he was little, Srulik had gone to Hebrew school." (8) Under the Nazi regime, German government organized an internal police security known the gestapo to control the Jewish population. Srulik and his family try to escape the Warsaw ghetto but, "The Germans caught him and his mother...and brought them to the Gestapo. His mother was given a whipping and they were returned to the ghetto." (9) An influence of the Germans, sausage is a staple of the Jewish diet. "Run, Boy, Run" makes severals references to sausage. (10) The Nazis were thought to be very fund of vodka. In the novel, vodka is offered by the Jews to the gestapo as a bribe to avoid punishment.

Feathers

Title: Feathers
2008 Newbery Honor Book
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Published: 2007
Plot Summary: A white boy is the new kid at a predominately black school in Brooklyn during the 1970s. His classmates nickname him Jesus Boy. Fannie's contemplations of faith, hope, prejudices, etc are sparked by school events surrounding Jesus Boy and by family life.
Main Characters: Frannie, Jesus Boy, Sean, Samantha
Theme(s): the ways in which people find hope in the world
Reader's Response: Readers grapple with the things that give us hope and the things that threaten that same hope.
Teaching Idea: Students compare and contrast the ways in which the civil rights movement and the black panther movement worked to bring about change.
Grade Level: 4 - 7
Reading Level (Lexile): 760

The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963

Title: The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963
1996 Newbery Honor Book
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Published: 1995
Plot Summary: This historical novel is based on the Birmingham Church bombing which resulted in the deaths of four African American girls. In this novel, 10 year old Kenny light heartedly describes his family's trip to a turbulent South during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Kenny is jarred by the events that take place in Birmingham. Kenny's brother Byron, his sibling rival, consoles Kenny and helps ease Kenny out of his troubled state.
Main Characters: Kenny, Byron, Wilona, Joetta, Daniel
Theme(s): the family as a shield against racism and discrimination
Reader's Response: Readers reflect on the ways in which people deal with trauma and how they acknowledge and manage their emotions during tough times.
Teaching Idea: Students create a photo gallery of pivotal moments during the 1960s civil rights movement. Students use voice over to provide commentary for each photo.
Grade Level: 6 - 8
Reading Level (Lexile): 1000

The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights

Title: The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights
2005 Newbery Honor Book
Author: Russell Freedman
Published: 2004
Plot Summary: This biography celebrates the artistic accomplishments of world renown singer Marian Anderson. Her artistic achievements are place in a historical and political context highlighting the Jim Crow US through the civil rights movement. Anderson's performance at the Lincoln Memorial ushered in the desegregation of the arts.
Main Characters: Marian Anderson
Theme(s): defying discrimination
Readers Response: Readers will reflect on the rights of citizens and various groups fight against racial and gender discrimination by exploring the life of Marian Anderson
Teaching Idea: Using Windows Movie Maker (or media format of choice) juxapose images and text, past and present, of struggle against and victory over racial and/or gender discrimination from each era: 1920s - 1940s, 1950s - 1960s, 1970s - 1990s. Select a song that could represent each era.
Grade Level: 5 - 9
Reading Level (Lexile): 1180

Sounder

Title: Sounder
1970 Newbery Winner
Author: William H. Armstrong
Published: 1969
Plot Summary: This is a story about an African American sharecropper family living in the rural south during the Depression era. In response to the despair of their poverty, the father steals food to feed his family and is consequentially jailed. The boy, relying on the comfort of his dog, goes on a quest to find his father.
Main Characters: The boy, Sounder, mother, father
Theme(s): the importance of education for social mobility
Reader's Response: Readers will be forced to challenge notions of right and wrong and explore how external circumstances such as poverty and education may inform a person's decisions
Teaching Idea: Using different images (photos, music, text, art work) have students create a media presentation (PowerPoint, Flickr, Google) about what the boy learned from each character in the story eg mother, father, teacher, Sounder
Grade Level: 4 - 6
Reading Level (Lexile): 900

The Whipping Boy

Title: The Whipping Boy
1987 Newbery Winner
Author: Sid Fleischman
Published: 1986
Plot Summary: This adventure story of mistaken identity takes place in Medieval 19th century. In this tale, it is forbidden to whip a prince. Jemmy, a peasant, serves as a stand -in for the punishments dueled out to the spoiled and obnoxious Prince Brat. When Jemmy and Brat run away together they encounter numerous perils. Because of Jemmy's wit and Brat's dullness, Jemmy rescues them from kidnappers, Hold-Your-Nose-Billy and Cutwater.
Main Characters: Jemmy, Prince Brat, Hold-Your-Nose-Billy, Cutwater
Theme(s): overcoming class discrimination to forge friendships
Reader's Response: Readers will be confronted with social disparities that exist between classes.
Teaching Idea: Have students view PBS's documentary People Like Us and discuss class inheritance and how class informs our lives, attitudes, expectations, etc.
Grade Level: 4 - 6
Reading Level (Lexile): 570

The Dark - Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural

Title: The Dark - Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural
1993 Newbery Honor Book
Author: Patricia C. McKissack
Published: 1992
Plot Summary: This is a collection of ten eerie and haunting supernatural tales. Each tale is preceded by a short excerpt that places it in a historical context from the pre-civil war era to modern day. Many of these tales highlight African American History and the tradition of oral storytelling.
Main Characters:
Theme(s): the use of the supernatural as a form of empowerment for an individual or a group of people seeking justice
Reader's Response: Readers will root for the heroes in this story and thus identify themselves with the African American protagonists in these tales that are historically rooted in experiences of slavery, segregation, and civil rights in America.
Teaching Idea: Have students look at folktales that feature supernatural powers used in fights for justice such as Golem. Using the graphic novel format, have students create a supernatural tale about a hero that fights for justice.
Grade Level: 4 - 7
Reading Level (Lexile): 730

The Hundred Dresses

Title: The Hundred Dresses
1945 Newbery Honor Book
Author: Eleanor Estes
Published: 1944
Plot Summary: This is the story of a poor Polish immigrant named Wanda Petronski who tells her well-off American classmates that she has 100 dresses. Wanda classmates, observing the shabby clothing that signifies poverty, deride and tease Wanda. Maddie realizes the brutality of her silence as she watched her friends tease Wanda day after day.
Main Characters: Wanda Petronski, Maddie, Peggy
Theme(s): the complicity of silence in carrying out injustices
Reader's Response: Readers will examine the process by which group identity is often formed and legitimized by marginalizing people from different backgrounds.
Teaching Idea: Discuss bullying. Have students create 2 to 3 minute short videos about bullying scenarios and how to deal with bullying.
Grade Level: 3 - 4
Reading Level (Lexile): 870

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Title: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
1977 Newbery Winner
Author: Mildred D. Taylor
Published: 1976
Plot Summary: An African American family living in Mississippi during the Depression era is terrorized by racism and poverty. 9 year old Cassie tries to make sense of the violence of the KKK that she and her family endure. Ultimately, her family survives in tact and maintains their land.
Main Characters: Cassie Logan, The Logan Family, TJ, Miz Lillian Jean, Mr. Morrison
Theme(s): the survival of the family despite terrible circumstances
Reader Response: Through an examination of race relations, readers will explore the rights of citizens and citizen responsibility in combating injustice.
Teaching Idea: Students form groups and role play scenarios where they resolve and negotiate conflict caused by an injustice. Students discuss the perceived injustice and how they felt as the perpetrators and/or the victims.
Grade Level: Gr. 4 - 7
Reading Level (Lexile): 960

Snow

Title: Snow
1999 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
Published: 1998
Summary: This is a parallelism between the purity of snow and the simplistic views of a child's thoughts.
Memorable Quote: "But snowflakes don't listen to the radio"
Artistic Example: The illustrator gradually uses snowflakes to show the transformation of the city's imperfections of grey to the stainless, purities of the snow.
Teaching Idea: Have children make snowmen for each family member, with the snowmen's facial expressions depicting the attitude of that family member.
Grade Level:
Reading Level (Lexile): 220

Peppe the Lamplighter

Title: Peppe the Lamplighter
1994 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Elisa Bartone/ Ted Lewin
Published: 1993
Summary: The story summarizes the life of an Italian family during the early 20th century.
Memorable Quote: Please, Peppe, light the lamps. You will make me proud.”
Artistic Example: Illustrations cleverly projects the look of early 20th century. The dark background shows how important the "lamplight" is.
Teaching Idea: Have children write/draw feelings/reactions of children when first in the dark, then in the light.
Grade Level: K5 - 5
Reading Level (Lexile): 570

White Snow, Bright Snow

Title: White Snow, Bright Snow
1948 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Alvin Tresselt/ Roger Duvoisin
Published: 1947
Summary: The story of how the snow does not interrupt the adults' routines but to the children, the snow brings excitement and fun
Memorable Quote: Softly, gently in the secret night, down from the North came the quiet white
Artistic Example: The splash of yellow with blue on a white background emphasizes the humor and easy read of the story.
Teaching Idea: Children can draw the fun things of winter
Grade Level: K5 - 1
Reading Level (Lexile): 870

A Child's Calendar

Title: A Child's Calendar
2000 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: John Updike/ Trina Schart Hyman
Published: poems, 1965/ illustrations, 1999
Summary: The poetic celebration of children through the four seasons.
Memorable Quote: The live-long light/ Is like a dream,/ And freckles come/ Like flies to cream
Artistic Example: Illustrations brilliantly project the livelihood of children's activities
Teaching Idea: Let children match the activity with the season
Grade Level: K5 - 5
Reading Level (Lexile): N/A

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery

Title: Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery
1994 Newbery Honor
Author: Russell Freedman
Published: 1993
Plot Summary: This biography portrays the life of Eleanor Rooselvelt. The biography chronicles her life from childhood through her adult life. Eleanor Rooselvelt defies traditional social and political conventions and is consequentially heralded as "First Lady of the World" and a very important humanitarian.
Main Characters: Eleanor Roosevelt
Themes: standing up for what you believe in while facing criticism and unpopularity
Reader's Response: Readers will explore citizen rights and the role of a citizen by questioning misconceptions about social norms concerning gender and race.
Teaching Idea: Using PowerPoint, have children do a comparison of a female activist/ humanitarian from the past and a present day female activist/ humanitarian.
Grade Level: 5 - 9
Reading Level (Lexile): 1100

Bud, Not Buddy

Title: Bud, Not Buddy
2000 Newbery Medal
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Published: 1999
Plot Summary: Set during the Depression -era, this story is about a 10 year old boy , Buddy Caldwell, who becomes an orphan after his mother dies. His mother leaves Buddy a suitcase filled with family memorabilia in which Buddy finds a possible clue in discovering who his father is. Buddy, in search of identity, hope, and survival, goes on a quest to find his father whom he believes to be a jazz musician in Grand Rapids Michigan.
Major Characters: Buddy Caldwell, Angela Caldwell, Todd Amos, Mr. Herman Calloway
Theme(s): Finding hope in bleak circumstances
Reader's Response: Readers are forced to explored the harsh conditions of American life during the depression era and how racism further complicated life for African Americans during that period.
Teaching Idea: Have students create their own historical graphic novel (3 or 4 slides using PowerPoint) of what life was like during the depression era as a member of a different ethnic group (Polish, German, Irish, African American, etc.) using primary documents such as photos, flyers, art work and music representing that time period. Students can explore economic status, religion, education, etc.
Grade Level: 4 - 6
Reading Level (Lexile): 950

April's Kittens

Title: April's Kittens
1941 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Clare Turlay Newberry
Published: 1940
Summary: The story of how a little girl, April, has to choose to keep one of her four cats; choosing between her beloved Sheba and one of her three kittens.
Memorable Quote: 'So April and her mother and father and Sheba lived all crowded up together in a very small apartment."
Artistic Example: Striking look of a single black cat on white background helps to keep the theme of the book.
Teaching Idea: Have children select four of their most favorite toys and then choosing only one to keep.
Grade Level: K5 - 2
Reading Level (Lexile):

The Ugly Duckling

Title: The Ugly Duckling
2000 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: adapted by Jerry Pinkney
Published: 1999
Summary: The journey of an awkard bird's survival as he endures redicule and criticism.
Memorable Quote: "Can he be a turkey chick?"
Artistic Example: Illustrations are keen and detailed.
Teaching Idea: Have children point out the different items from a list and then explain why.
Grade Level:
Reading Level (Lexile): 650

Martin's Big Words

Title: Martin's Big Words
2002 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Doreen Rappaport/ Bryan Collier
Published: 2001
Summary: The story of Martin Luther King, Jr
Memorable Quote: You are as good as anyone
Artistic Example: Beautiful, expressive, bold but yet age appropriate
Teaching Idea: Talk of the contributions of Martin Luther King
Grade Level: K5 - 3
Reading Level (Lexile): 410

Ten, Nine, Eight

Title: Ten, Nine, Eight
1984 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Molly Bang
Published: 1983
Summary: A loving bedtime countdown (from 10 to 1) featuring an African-American father and daughter.
Memorable Quote: "10 small toes all washed and warm.
Artistic Example: Illustrations are gentle and loving portraying a father's love for his daughter.
Teaching Idea: With the aid of various items, children could learn how to count forwards and backgrounds.
Grade Level: PreK - 1
Reading Level (Lexile):500

No, David

Title: No, David
1999 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: David Shannon
Summary: David is constantly getting into trouble and constantly hearing "No, David!"
Memorable Quote: "No, David!"
Artistic Example: Illustrations are based on drawings done by the author when he was 5 years old.
Teaching Idea: Have the students make up their own stories, using their own names.
Grade Level: K - 2
Reading Level (Lexile): Beginner Reader

Freight Train

Title: Freight Train
1979 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Donald Crews
Published: 1978
Summary: Freight trains move across train tacks. There are 8 different colored cars; a red caboose, a Orange tank and so on until the black engine.
Memorable Quote: "Freight trains...moving in the darkness. Moving in the daylight. Going, going...gone."
Artistic Example: colorful freight trains.
Teaching Idea: basic colors
Grade Level: PreK - K5
Reading Level (Lexile): N/A

In the Small, Small Pond

Title: In the Small, Small Pond
1994 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Denise Fleming
Published: 1993
Plot Summary: This picture books introduce children to wildlife habitats and seasons from the perspective of a frog.
Memorable Quote: cold night, sleep tight, small, small pond
Artistic Example: The collage of colors depict the changing seasons, red and orange autumns, yellow summers.
Teaching Idea: Share more children books about habitats such as Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Animal Habitats by Jim Arnosky . Create a habitat for children to observe such as a bird feeder or an ant farm.
Grade Level: K5 - 2
Reading Level (Lexile): 770

Snowflake Bentley

Title: Snowflake Bentley
1999 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Jacqueline B. Martin/ Mary Azarian
Published: 1998
Plot Summary: This is a true story about a self-taught scientist named Wilson Bentley whose life passion was photographing snowflakes.
Memorable Quote: Mistake by mistake, snowflake by snowflake, Willie worked through every storm.
Artistic Example: Each page is framed like a photo to compliment Bentley's interest in photography.
Teaching Idea: Students will be divided into partners. Partners will make a graphic biography of one another by using items that give insight into who they are such as the cover of their favorite cd, family pictures, tickets to a concert/play, etc. These items will serve as primary documents for crafting the graphic biography.
Grade Level: K5 - 3
Reading Level (Lexile): 830

Duke Ellington the Piano Prince and His Orchestra

Title: Duke Ellington the Piano Prince and His Orchestra
1999 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Andrea Davis Pinkney/ Brian Pinkney
Published: 1998
Summary: This is the life of legendary jazz pianist, Duke Ellington.
Memorable Quote: "Creole Love Call" was spicier than a pot of jambalaya.
Artistic Example: Like jazz music itself, the illustrations are bright, colorful and vibrant.
Teaching Idea: A lesson on the music and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance.
Grade Level: K5 - 5
Reading Level (Lexile): 800

Hot Air: The Mostly True Story of The First Hot-Air Baloon Ride

Title: Hot Air
2006 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator:Marjorie Priceman
Published: 2007
Summary: The book uses humor and facts in describing the first (ever) hot air balloon ride with animals.
Memorable: Å cock-a-doodle-doos.
Artistic Example: The illustrations of pen, ink and watercolor contribute to the cheerful humor of this book. The ocassion full page art showns the elevation of the balloon.
Teaching Idea: Talk with children about experiencing hot air rides
Grade level:
Reading Level (Lexile): 690

Puss in Boots

Title: Puss in Boots
1991 Caldecott Honor Book
Published: 1990
Author/Illustrator: translated by Malcolm Arthur/ Fred Marcellino
Published: 1990
Summary: A clever cat makes a fortune for his master.
Memorable Quote: "If you don't, you'll be cut up into sausage meat."
Artistic Example: Muted colored illustrations with a hazy finish evoke nostalgia for the past.
Teaching Idea: Allow students to act out the order of events in the story. Stick puppets of the story's characters can be used or students can dress up in costume.
Grade Level: K5 - 3
Reading Level (Lexile): 790

Jambo Means Hello; A Swahili Alphabet Book

Title: Jambo Means Hello: A Swahili Alphabet Book
1975 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/ Illustrator: Muriel Feelings/ Tom Feelings
Published: 1974
Summary: Introduces the language of Swahili. Each alphabet, 24 total, is illustrated in a two page spread, with pronunciations , sample words, and desciptions
Memorable Quote: "Parents teach their children the things they will need to know when they are grown."
Artistic Example: The pages are illustrated in black and white
artwork.
Teaching Idea: A lesson in the Swahili language.
Grade Level: k-4
Reading Level (Lexile): 640

The Graphic Alphabet

Title: The Graphic Alphabet
1997 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: David Pelletier
Published: 1996
Summary: This visually challenging graphic alphabet book is an intriguing departure from traditional alphabet books.
Memorable Quote: Pelletier, "the illustration of the letterform had to retain the natural shape of the letter as well as represent the meaning of the word."
Artistic Example: The illustration of the bold red rip down the page naturally represents the letter "r" as well as the meaning of rip.
Teaching Idea: Students create electronic alphabet book using PowerPoint or other programs adding photos, sounds, graphics, etc. Compare with other graphic books like Z Was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg.
Grade Level: K5 - 3
Reading Level (Lexile): N/A

So You Want to Be President?

Title: So You Want to Be President?
2001 Caldecott Winner
Author/Illustrator: Judith St. George/ David Small
Published: 2000
Summary: This is a humorous account of the vices and virtues of the US Presidency from George Washington to Bill Clinton.
Memorable Quote: It's said that people who run for President have swelled heads.
Artistic Example: Comical caricatures help depict the personalities of the Presidents.
Teaching Idea: Define political cartoons and explore elements of cartoons such as caricature and symbolism by showing examples of current day political cartoons. As cartoonists, students will draw their own political cartoon based on a current event. Put together a class book of students' cartoons' and share collectively.
Grade Level: 3 - 6
Reading Level (Lexile): 730

Tuesday

Title: Tuesday
1992 Caldecott Medal Winner
Author/Illustrator: David Wiesner
Published: 1991
Summary: A swarm of harmless frogs on flying lily pads hover over a slumbering neighborhood.
Memorable Quote:
Artistic Example: Hues of dark blue depict the midnight sky.
Teaching Idea: Show how pictures tell a story. Have children draw conclusions about the story by asking them questions about the pictures.
Grade Level: PreK - 3
Reading Level (Lexile): N/A

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

Title: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
2004 Caldecott Winner
Author/Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein
Published: 2003
Summary: A true story about how in 1974 French trapezist, Philippe Petit, walked on a tightrope suspended between the World Trade Center towers.
Memorable Quote: Now the towers are gone.
Artistic Example: Gerstein artistic play on vertical and horizontal line denotes Petit's balancing act.
Teaching Idea: Use google map to teach geographical concepts such as location, direction, region, etc. by locating site where World Trade memorial and museum will be. Discuss the purpose of memorials and national traditions that honor the memories of historical events. Work with students using personalized google map to create a map of some other national memorials such as Mt. Rushmore. Upload photos of these memorials with brief description onto google map. Discuss other books that feature national memorials such as So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George; take students on virtual tour of national monuments using United Streaming.
Grade Level: K5 - 3
Reading Level (Lexile): 730

Smoky Night

Title: Smoky Night
1995 Caldecott Winner
Author/Illustrator: Eve Bunting/ David Diaz
Published: 1994
Summary: Looking down from their window, Daniel and his mom watch people riot in the streets.
Memorable Quote: They don't care anymore what's right and what's wrong.
Artistic Example: Photographs of symbolic debris such as bits of food and coat hangers give the story a very realistic feel.
Teaching Idea: Encourage tolerance of diversity and foster students strong sense of connection and responsibility for their communities by discussing ways children can volunteer in their community. Students create a journal of volunteer ideas and experiences. Some students that volunteer in their community will be featured on school's morning news show to share volunteer experiences.
Grade Level (Lexile): K5 - 3
Reading Level: 360

Golem

Title: Golem
1997 Caldecott Medal Winner
Author/Illustrator: David Wisniewski
Published: 1996
Summary: Rabbi Loew forms a giant, Golem, from clay to defend the Jews of Praque from persecution.
Memorable Quote: Would a people who celebrate the end of their own slavery wish to inflict slavery on others?
Artistic Example: Layered cut-paper collages of Rabbi Loew giving life to the clay formed Golem convey the richness of symbolism in Jewish mysticism.
Teaching Ideas: Discuss the art technique of collage. Students will use magazines to make a collage inspired by another collage illustrated book about a group of people who have historically fought against prejudice and intolerance such as African Americans in Nikki Giovanni's Rosa.
Grade Level: 3 - 6
Reading Level (Lexile): 690

The Stray Dog

Title: Stray Dog
2002 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/ Illustrator: retold by Marc Simont
Published: 2001
Summary: The story of how a family, when going to the park, plays with a stray dog and falls in love with him.
Memorable Quote: "This dog is a stray. He doesn't belong to anybody."
Artistic Example: Illustrations are cheerful and simple for the targeted audience.
Teaching Idea: Have children act out the emotions of a lost dog
Grade Level: PreK - 2
Reading Level (Lexile): 60

Black and White

Title: Black and White
1991 Caldecott Medal Winner
Author/Illustrator: David Macaulay
Published: 1990
Summary: Four different stories inventively illustrated about trains, cows, parents, and workers are united by one motif.
Memorable Quote: "And every evening at seven o'clock they come home, sort through the mail, ask about homework, and send us to bed."
Artistic Example: The story about parents is illustrated in drab brown to represent their monotonous lives.
Teaching Idea: Examine Macaulay's use of irony in presenting illustrations that contradict the text. The title Black and White is illustrated in blue and green.
Grade Level: K5 - 3
Reading Level (Lexile): 610

Seven Blind Mice

Title:Seven Blind Mice
1993 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Ezra Jake Keats
Published:1992
Summary: The fable of the old blind men is remixed with learning concepts--days of the week, colors, and ordinal numbers--to advise young readers to always get the whole story before making a judgment.
Memorable Quote: "Knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole."
Artistic Example: Bold, vivid colors are contrasted against a black background.
Teaching Idea: The mice in this story make educated guesses about what the "strange Something" might be. Use this story to teach children how to form a hypothesis based on evidence.
Grade level: PreK - 2
Reading level: 350

Starry Messenger

Title: Starry Messenger
1997 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Peter Sis
Published: 1996
Summary: After putting forth evidence that the earth was not the center of the universe, Italian Galileo Galilei faced persecution from the Catholic Church, but his ideas still live on.
Memorable Quote: "Finally, more than three hundred years later, the leaders of the very Church that had punished Galileo Galilei pardoned him, and they admitted that he was probably --in fact, surely and absolutely--right."
Artistic Example: The complexity of Galileo's life is implied in the illustrations that are woven together like an intricate tapestry.
Teaching Idea: Compare the biographies of Snowflake Bentley and Starry Messenger. Talk about how the use of scientific inventions, microscope and telescope, helped make their discoveries possible.
Grade level: 1 - 5
Reading level:830

Zen Shorts

Title: Zen Shorts
2006 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Jon J. Muth
Published: 2005
Summary: Giant panda, Stillwater, introduces neighborhood children, Addy, Michael, and Karl to the teachings of Zen.
Memorable Quote: "I set the woman down hours ago," the old monk replied. "Why are you still carrying her?"
Artistic Example: Water color pictures are illustrated in soft greens, blues, and yellows set the peaceful, calm, and relaxing moods of Zen teachings.
Teaching Idea: Use as a read a loud to teach about forgiveness. Pair Zen Shorts with biography of MLK, Martin's Big Words, to show an example of a historical figure that exercised forgiveness.
Grade Level: K5 - 4
Reading Level (Lexile): 540