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

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

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

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

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