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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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