Good Books to Build OnName: Megan Crossett

Genre / Type Title, Author and Illustrator (Year published)(Characteristic of Difference if applicable)

Who is it a good fit for?

Traditional Literature

Fa Mulan By Robert D. San Souci and Illustrated By Jean & Mou-Sien Tseng 1998Hyperion Books for Children Traditional Literature – Characteristic of Difference: Culturally Diverse; Asian Folklore29 pages

This book would be great for a middle elementary classroom library’s folklore and fairytales section.

Fantasy or Science Fiction

Hollow City By Ransom Riggs 2014Quirk BooksFantasy – Characteristic of Difference: Perceived Mental Disability 396 pages

8th grade and above would enjoy this as an independent read– themes are too dark and abstract for lower grades.

Realistic Fiction For the Love of a Pug By Woodleigh Marx Hubbard 2003G.P. Putnam’s SonsRealistic Fiction 32 pages

I would use this book with kindergarten and/or first grade students as a read aloud. The difficulty of the text would be that of the instructional level for both.

Historical Fiction

Hannah’s Journal By Marissa Moss 2000ScholasticHistorical Fiction – Characteristic of Difference: Culturally Diverse – Jewish characters, insight into Jewish culture and history55 pages

I would use this book to enrich a social studies lesson on immigration for 5th, 6th, and 7th graders.

Biography Squanto and the First Thanksgiving This book

Written by Eric MetaxasIllustrated by Michael A. Donato2012Rabbit Ears BooksBiography40 pagesCharacteristic of Difference – Native American Culture

would be good to use with 3rd grade and above as a small group reading selection.

Social Studies The Pledge of Allegiance Written and Illustrated By Francis Bellamy 2000ScholasticSocial Studies24 pages

I would use this with 3rd graders as a read aloud. I would use it as a tool to introduce citizenship, rights, responsibility, importance of civic action, etc.

Science DinosaurBy David Lambert2010DK BooksScience72 pages

I would use this book in a 3rd through 5th grade classroom library. I would use it as a personal-choice text for students to read independently.

Math Feast for 10 Written and Illustrated by Cathryn Falwell1993ScholasticMath32 pages Characteristic of Difference – African American Characters

I would use this book with kindergarten to review counting to 10 and practice 1:1 relationships between numbers and objects they represent.

Mystery Closed for the SeasonWritten By Mary Downing Hahn 2009Clarion Books

I would use this book with students who are in 5th – 7th

Mystery192 pages

grade as either a read aloud or small group selection to explore the genre of mystery and challenge students to write their own suspenseful narratives post-reading.

Important Note:*A minimum of four titles must represent three different characteristics of difference. (InTASC #2)*A minimum of four books must have a publication date after 2004.