The Latest & Greatest Book titles for Elementary Teachers

Kristen Majkut, Librarian & Instructional Technology

Specialist in Schenectady CSD

Never Smile at a Monkey

• Author: Steve Jenkins• Picture Book, © 2009

Summary:

Discover how dangerous an animal can be when it feels threatened or trapped. Discusses what not to do around various dangerous animals, with warnings about petting a platypus, touching a tang fish, or pulling a python's tail.

City Dog, Country Frog

• Author: Mo Willems• Illustrator: Jon J. Muth• Picture Book, © 2010

Summary:

Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country, he runs straight for Country Frog's rock to play games with him, but during the winter things change for them both.

• Author: Dan Gutman, Series - My Weird School

• Beginning Chapter Books for grades 3-5, all © 2010

Summary:

A brand new year at the weirdest school in the history of the world! A.J. and the whole gang are taking on third grade in this humorous chapter-book series about the nutty teachers at Ella Mentry School.

My Weird School series

One• Author: Kathryn Otoshi

• Picture Book, © 2008

Summary:

Red picks on Blue while Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple wonder what they can do until One unites the colors and helps everybody learn about acceptance, tolerance, and boundaries amidst bullying while the reader learns numbers and primary and secondary colors.

In the Wild

• Author: David Elliott• Illustrator: Holly Meade• Poetry, Picture Book• © 2010

Summary:

Pairs simple, humorous poems about a dozen wild creatures of the natural world with vibrant woodcut artwork.

The Boss Baby

• Author: Marla Frazee• Picture Book, © 2010

Summary:

From the moment he arrives, it is obvious that the new baby is boss and he gets whatever he wants, from drinks made-to-order around the clock to his executive gym.

Little Black Crow

• Author: Chris Raschka• Picture Book, © 2010• Stories in rhyme

Summary:

A boy thinks about the life of a little black crow that he sees, wondering where it goes in the snow, where it sleeps, and whether or not it worries like he does.

The Dunderheads

• Author: Paul Fleischman• Illustrator: David Roberts• Older-reader Picture Book,

© 2009, 54 pages

Summary:

When Miss Breakbone confiscates Junkyard's crucial find, Wheels, Pencil, Spider, and the rest of the Dunderheads plot to teach her a lesson.

Field Trip Day• Author: Lynn Plourde• Illustrator: Thor Wickstrom• Picture Book, © 2010• Series – School Days

Summary:

Juan Dore-Nomad, a boy who has a tendency to wander, provokes mayhem on a field trip to the farm.

Easy as Pie

• Author: Carl Best• Illustrator: Melissa Sweet• Picture Book, © 2010

Summary:

Jacob watches his favorite television show, "Baking with Chef Monty," and bakes a beautiful peach pie, which he gives to his parents for their anniversary.

Lucky Beans

• Author: Becky Birtha

• Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell

• Picture Book, © 2010

Summary:

During the Great Depression, Marshall, an African American boy, uses lessons learned in arithmetic class and guidance from his mother to figure out how many beans are in a jar in order to win her a new sewing machine in a contest.

Bag in the Wind• Author: Ted Kooser• Illustrator: Barry Root• Picture Book, © 2010

Summary:

One cold, spring morning, an ordinary grocery bag begins blowing around a landfill, then as it travels down a road, through a stream, and into a town, it is used in various ways by different people, many of whom do not even notice it.

The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams

• Author: Rhonda Hayter• Chapter Book, © 2010• Series: to be determined

Summary:

Fifth-grader Abbie, descended from a long line of witches, tries to keep her family's magic powers secret from everyone she knows until her father brings home a kitten with some very unusual characteristics.

Clementine series

• Author: Sara Pennypacker• Illustrator: Marla Frazee• Beginning Chapter Books• © 2006 - 2010

Summary:

Features amusing, chapter-book stories about the irrepressible Clementine, a charmingly flawed and quirky character.

Wild Tracks! A guide to nature’s footprints

• Author: Jim Arnosky• Picture Book, © 2008• Series: to be determined

Summary:

Includes four large gatefolds. Presents detailed illustrations of life-size paw, claw, and hoof prints; and explains how to identify tracks and how fast the animal might be traveling.

The Grasshopper's Song:

an Aesop's fable revisited • Author: Nikki Giovanni

• Illustrator: Chris Raschka

• Picture Book, © 2008

Summary:

Angry that his singing is unappreciated by the Ants who relied on his music to make their summer work easier, Jimmy Grasshopper decides to sue them for lacking respect and not acknowledging his usefulness in their lives.

Missing Math: a Number Mystery

• Author: Loreen Leedy

• Picture Book, © 2008

Summary:

A numerical mystery ensues when the numbers all over town suddenly disappear bringing a halt to everyday activities.

The Retired Kid

• Author: Jon Agee• Picture Book, © 2008

Summary:

Brian has decided to retire early. VERY early. Although he enjoys some aspects of his retirement, eight-year-old Brian gains a new perspective on his job of being a child after spending time in Florida's Happy Sunset Retirement Community.

Luna & the Big BlurA story for children who wear glasses

• Author: Shirley Day• Picture Book, © 2009

Summary:

A young girl who hates her glasses learns to appreciate them after spending a day without them.

The Dirtiest Hair in the World

Summary:

A little girl named Claire refused to wash her hair; but when her tangles grew into giant brambles and things began to live in her hair, Claire decided it was time to wash it.

Author: Bob McAllenIllustrator: Tom McClurePicture Book, © 2009

Cowgirl Kate & Cocoa series

• Author: Erica Silverman• Early Chapter Book series• © 2005 - 2010

Summary:

Cowgirl Kate and her always-hungry horse Cocoa have adventures much like Henry & Mudge of series past

Alligators & Crocodiles

• Author: Gail Gibbons• Picture Book, © 2010

Summary:

An introduction to alligators and crocodiles that features captioned illustrations and describes their physical characteristics, natural habitats, and behaviors, as well as threats to their populations and conservation efforts.

Our Children Can Soar

a celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the pioneers of change

• Author: Michelle Cook

• Picture Book, © 2010

Summary:

Illustrations and brief text introduce early readers to the achievements of prominent African-Americans throughout history, and features George Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, Barack Obama, and others.

A Book

• Author: Mordecai Gernstein

• Picture Book, © 2009

Summary:

A young girl living in a book tries to find a story of her own while figuring out what a reader is and thinking about the stories of her family members.

Circus Ship

• Author: Chris Van Dusen

• Picture Book, © 2009

Summary:

A circus ship has an accident off the coast of Maine which leaves the animals stranded, but they are soon taken in by the citizens of a small island who grow fond of the new residents and fight to protect them.

Alvin Ho series • Author: Lenore Look

• Chapter Book, © 2008-2010

Summary:

Touching, drop-dead-funny chapter books about a young boy in Concord, Massachusetts, Alvin Ho, who loves superheroes and comes from a long line of brave Chinese farmer-warriors, wants to be courageous, but first he must overcome his fear of everything.

Duck! Rabbit!

• Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal• Picture Book, © 2009

Summary:

Two unseen characters argue about whether the creature they are looking at is a rabbit or a duck.

Trouble Gum

• Author: Matthew Cordell• Picture Book, © 2009

Summary:

Playing indoors with his little brother on a rainy day, a rambunctious young pig causes a ruckus and then breaks his mother's three chewing gum rules.

Thunder Boomer!

• Author: Shutta Crum• Illustrator: Carol Thompson• Picture Book, © 2009

Summary:

A farm family scurries for shelter from a violent thunderstorm that brings welcome relief from the heat and also an unexpected surprise.

The Cheese

• Author: Margie Palatini

• Illustrator: Johnson & Fancher

• Fractured Fairy Tale

• Picture Book, © 2007

Summary:

Palatini’s uproarious spoof on “The Farmer in the Dell” features the rat, cat, dog, child, farmer, and his wife. They have a party with the tempting hunk of cheese as the guest of honor.

It’s a Book!

• Author: Lane Smith• Picture Book, © 2010

Summary:

Two readers compare books in print to digital media, and learn that books are still valuable.