The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing (Modern Fantasy)

By: Stan and Jan Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears learn the teasing is simply part of life. Although teasing may be fun to the person doing the teasing, but it could really hurt the person who is being teased. After being teased at school for being the principal’s helper, Brother Bear realizes that teasing really hurts. He stops teasing Sister Bear, and when a new bear comes to school and is teased by Too-Tall, Brother Bear takes a stand for him. In the end, the new Bear is a great wrestler and beats Too-Tall and all of his gang. I would use this in the classroom to teach students about the negative affects of teasing others. Students in the upper elementary grades are bad for teasing each other and it is important for them to realize how harmful teasing can be.

Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Folk Literature)

By: Dr. Seuss

This is one of my favorite books. The yellow suit guy takes us through ups and downs of life, but encourages us to find our success along the way. Dr. Suess uses creative illustrations to encourage the reader to make the best of all situations and find satifaction throughout the adventures of life. This would be a great book to read on the first or last day of school.. You can encourage and inspire students to do their best and strive for success always.

Mirette on the High Wire (Internatinonal Literature)

By: Emily Arnold McCully

Mirette works hard in her family's inn in Paris. When a high wire walker comes to stay at the inn, Mirette wants to learn how to walk on the high wire as well. As she learns, she also helps Monsieur Bellini face his fear of walking the wire. In the end Mirette meets Monsieur Bellini on the hire wire and he is able to overcome his fear. I would use this book to show students that you can do anything you have your mind set on. If you stay positive and keep trying, you just may succeed at what you are aiming for.

T is for Tar Heel: A North Carolina Alphabet (Nonfiction)

Written By: Carol Crane

Illustrated By: Gary Palmer

This book takes the reader across North Carolina form the mountains to the coast. You can learn all about many landmarks, people, and animals throughout our state. Carol talks about the Biltmore house, the Outer Banks, Nascar, state animals, how certain cities got their names, lighthouses, caverns, and many other interesting place and people in North Carolina that would be fun to visit and learn more about. I would use this book in the classroom to share interesting places and history about North Carolina. It would also be great to use it in other curriculums. Students could write about some place they have visited in North Carolina or something they find really interesting that may not be discussed in the book. They could also make graphs of the places discussed in the book that student in the class have visited. This would especially be useful in fourth grade when students learn about our great state.

Christina Katerina and the Time She Quit the Family (Realistic Fiction)

Written By: Patricia Lee Gauch

Illustrated By: Elise Primavera

On a Saturday morning Christina gets fed up with her mother, father, and brother and decides to quit the family. She changes her name to Agnes, makes her own rules, and split the house in two; one side was for her to use and the other side was for the rest of her family. There are many up and down sides to being her own boss. Eventually, she gets lonely and almost asks to rejoin the family. Her mother beats her to the draw and begs Christina to rejoin the family because everyone is having a hard time without her help and normal routines. This is book that most children can identify with. I would use this as a writing prompt. The students would have to write about a time when they got mad at their family members and explain what they would have done if they had quit their family.

Dooby Dooby Moo (Modern Fantasy/Wordle)

By: Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

This is a cute book that has barn animals who are preparing for a talent show at the upcoming fair. Duck wants to win the prize for first place, a trampoline. This would be a great book to read aloud to your students after lunch or if then simply need some down time during the day. It could also be used when teaching about different genres.

The Magic School Bus: Butterfly and the Bog Beast (Science Fiction)

Written By: Joanna Cole
Illustrated By: Bruce Degen

Ms. Frizzle takes her students on a field trip to the swamp. They want to know about the bug beast. They are able to learn about beautiful butterfly creatures. They learn that butterflies have many characteristics that make their life easier. Most of their enemies are larger and stronger than they are. Some butterflies are able to camouflage themselves to blend in with their surroundings. Some have huge eye spots that can make them look larger than they are and scare predators. Butterflies stay alive by tricking, hiding, and scaring their enemies using these characteristics. I would use this book when teaching a unit about butterflies. These books help students understand the science behind things in a much friendlier text. I would be sure to read the extra note at the end of the story which summarizes the ideas discussed in the book about butterflies. This clarifies many of the concepts from the book.