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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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