Picture Books: Profusely illustrated books in which both words and illustrations contribute to the story's meaning.
The Day the Crayons Quit Written by Drew Daywalt Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Award: Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Books Reading Level: 3rd and 4th Grade Summary: One day, a boy finds a stack of letters addressed to him. Each of his crayons has written him a letter, describing their lives as crayons and what they do and do not prefer when being colored with. Duncan, in an attempt to please them all, creates a masterpiece at the very end of the story. This story is humorous and engaging for young readers. Interdisciplinary Uses: This is a great book to use in a lesson on colors for early elementary grades. Students can use this book to associate colors with objects and engage in fun activities that helps them practice naming their colors. This book could also be used in an English language arts lesson where students write letters to themselves from inanimate objects.
In the Forest Written and Illustrated by Marie Hall Ets
Award: Caldecott Award Reading level: 1st and 2nd grade Summary: This book is about a young boy who is taking a walk in the forest. Along the way, he meets many animal friends who join him in his walk through the forest. The story ends with the boys father finding him and bringing him home. Interdisciplinary Uses: This book could be used in a math lesson. Students can use it to practice addition and subtraction of the animals in the story. It could also be used in a science lesson on animals and their environments where students explore the habitats of the animals in the story.
I Want My Hat Back Written and Illustrated by Jon Klassen Award: Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Reading Level: 1st and 2nd grade Summary: This story is about a bear who is trying to find his hat. He encounters multiple woodland creatures and, one by one, asks them if they have seen his hat. Soon, he becomes sulky, because he can’t find his hat. When a deer who was walking by asks him why he is upset, the bear has a realization, remembers where he saw his hat, and runs to retrieve it. Interdisciplinary Uses: This book could be used in a science lesson unit on animals and their environments. This particular book could be used to show the forest and animals that live there. It could also be used in a lesson that explores shapes and colors, as many are present within the story.
The Night Gardener Written and Illustrated by Terry and Eric Fan
Award: Canadian Children’s Literature Award Reading Level: 2nd and 3rd Grade Summary: The Night Gardener is about a town whose trees undergo a wondrous transformation overnight, taking on the shapes of animals. One boy in the town becomes curious and discovers the one who is responsible. Interdisciplinary Uses: This book could be used in a geometry lesson as well as in a sculpting lesson.
Tap the Magic Tree By Christie Matheson Genre: Interactive Picture Book Award: The Cribsie Award Reading Level: 1st and 2nd Grade Summary: This short and sweet book engages it’s readers by instructing them to tap, shake, wiggle and clap. As readers follow the prompts, they watch the tree change through the four seasons, summer, fall, winter and spring. Interdisciplinary Uses: This book would be fantastic to use in a science lesson on the seasons. Students can see how seasons effect trees and engage in conversations about seasons and their effects on plants. It could also be used in a Physical Education lesson where students interact with the book while exercising.
This is Not My Hat Written by John Klassen
Award: Caldecott Award Reading Level: 2nd and 3rd Grade Summary: This book is about a small fish who steals a hat from a sleeping fish. Little does the small fish know, the big fish is right on his tail. Interdisciplinary Uses: This book could be used in a science lesson unit on animals and their environments. This particular book could be used to show the ocean and the animals that live there. It could also be used in a social studies lesson on law and order.
Mr. Wuffles Written and Illustrated by David Wiesner
Award: Caldecott Award Reading Level: Ages 4 and Up Summary: Mr. Wuffles is an engaging, imaginative story about tiny aliens who are trying to escape the clutches of the house cat. Interdisciplinary Uses: This book could be used in a creative writing lesson where students write the story to go along with this wordless picture book. It could also be used in a math lesson where students count, add, and subtract.