Picture Books
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost
The traveler stops her journey between the woods and a frozen lake to watch the woods "fill up with snow." Without a farmhouse nearby, the horse is very confused. He's unused to stopping in such an isolated spot. He shakes his harness bells as if to question the halt. The only other sounds are the gentle wind and the falling snow. Although she would like to sit and stay in this peaceful spot a while longer, the rider remembers her responsibilities and the long road ahead and continues onward.
Robert Frost's famous poem comes to life in this beautifully illustrated book.
Please note: If you can not find this particular version, there are many other illustrated renditions worth reading as well, like this one.
by Lisa Moser
A peddler drops a ball of red yarn, which unrolls throughout the woods. Separately, best friends Porcupine and Badger both find an end. They have determined to knit something special for each other. All is well until they realize that the other friend has used half the yarn, and neither can finish their projects. Instead of sharing the remaining yarn, the two selfishly decide to unravel their creations and make something for themselves. They soon learn that thinking only of oneself leads to loneliness and that friendship requires friendliness.
The Sequoia Lives On
by Joanna Cooke
From a tiny seed no bigger than an oatmeal flake, a giant sequoia grows--a giant among giants. It can live for more than 40 human lifetimes and become home to numerous creatures. While accidental fires can destroy acres of woods, controlled burns are crucial for the survival of Earth's largest trees. When a sequoia finally dies, it crashes thunderously to the forest floor. In time, it decomposes and provides necessary nutrients for new, budding sequoias.
Unlike most picture books that feature these ancient trees, this narrative non-fiction does not describe the sequoia's life cycle with terms like "millions of years." It does, however, mention evolutionary terminology in the back "author's note" section that is primarily intended for parents and educators.
Gertie: The Darling Duck of WWII
by Shari Swanson
Along the banks of a Milwaukee river, under the busy Wisconsin Avenue Bridge, a mother duck laid her eggs. A local reporter for The Journal named her Gertie, and her story was picked up by newspapers across the country, offering a bright distraction from the news of World War II. The entire city adopted the duck and waited anxiously for the eggs to hatch. When the day finally arrived, a storm threatened the little family. They were safely rescued by local bridge tenders, taken to Gimbel's department store, and became a temporary display in the shop window. They were eventually released into a nearby park lagoon and lived out their days as symbols of hope and community spirit during one of the darkest times in our nation's history.
This is the true story of a brave mother duck and her family of chicks.
Leveled Readers
The Pup Speaks Up
by Anna Jane Hays
Bo's dog, Pal, is shy. He's not sure what to say. To help the pup learn to speak, Bo asks other animals how they greet one another. The duck says, "Quack." The pig says, "Oink." But what does the pup say?
This Level 1 reader contains two 3 to 5-word sentences on each page and will introduce emergent readers to the spelling and phonetic sounds of many animal names.
Lewis and Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President
by Shirley Raye Redmond
When our country grew to nearly twice its original size, President Thomas Jefferson needed to learn more about it. He, obviously, couldn't leave his important job, so he asked explorers Merriwether Lewis and William Clark to head west. They were to make maps, collect plant samples, and bring back unique treasures.
Determined to send the perfect present back to the White House, Lewis and Clark stumbled upon a field of small rodents. They looked like squirrels but barked like dogs. The men named the tiny rodents prairie dogs, captured one, and sent it on a long journey eastward. President Jefferson was delighted with their discovery and decided not to keep the furry friend to himself. Instead, he donated it to a museum in Philadelphia, where it captured the heart of a growing nation, becoming the first western animal seen by most early Americans.
This Level 3 narrative nonfiction will introduce young readers to the relatively untold story of Westward expansion and wildlife exploration following the Louisiana Purchase.
Illustrated Chapter Books
Evergreen
by Matthew Cordell
When her mother tasks her with delivering a fresh batch of soup to the ailing Granny Oak, Evergreen must leave the safety of her bedroom. Trouble is, Evergreen harbors many fears, from heights to germs to thunderstorms. Would she be safe outside alone? Traveling through the dark and daunting forest, Evergreen encounters several forest dwellers in distress. Despite her fears, she stops to help. And in return, her new friends help to give her the courage she needs to keep on her mission.
This is a lengthy picture book divided into chapters, each depicting Evergreen overcoming a fear.
Please note: Evergreen describes her mother's soup as "magical," but only as it helps sick folks feel better, cold folks feel warmer, hungry folks feel nourished.
After Happily Ever After: The Three Little Pigs Go Camping
by Tony Bradman
After they defeated the Big Bad Wolf, the three little pigs decided to go camping. The first two want to relax and play, but the Third Pig is preoccupied with planning. His inability to go with the flow keeps him from most of the fun.
In the end, he learns that planning and hard work are essential, especially when building a house. But sometimes, it's best to be flexible and easy-going.
This is one of the After Happily Ever After titles, a series of illustrated chapter books based on the characters of popular fairy tales. I have not read the other 13 books in the collection.
Parents, Be Aware
The Smallest Cow in the World
by Katherine Paterson
Rosie the dairy cow is Marvin's best friend. When Marvin must move with his family to a new farm, he's heartbroken to leave Rosie behind. He creates a miniature Rosie to help him cope. Frustrated with the move, Marvin causes trouble at home and at school. He blames every mess on Rosie, his "tiny cow." With his sister's help, Marvin eventually learns to appreciate his cow's memory and to make new friends without her.
Things to know: Throughout most of the book, Marvin and his sister treat each other horribly, calling each other names. In his grief over losing Rosie, Marvin trashes his family's belongings and lies about it, blaming it on his imaginary cow. To comfort him, the family plays along with his deception, never meting out appropriate consequences for his behavior.
Just for you, Mom
Between Shades of Gray
by Ruta Sepetys
Like so many of their neighbors, Lina, her mother Elena, and brother Jonas are ripped from their home in Lithuania and forced onto cattle cars with other civilians, beginning a brutal, months-long journey to Siberia. Together they endure the unimaginable.
Determined to document their experiences for their missing father and to pass secret messages to other prisoners, Lina draws pictures whenever and however she can. Despite the horrors, Lina finds strength in her art, her family, and a budding romance with fellow deportee Andrius.
This historical fiction is based on true accounts of Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians deported to the Arctic Circle by Stalin during WWII. In 2018, the story was renamed Ashes in the Snow for a screen adaptation.
Best in Show
by Ruth Stiles Gannett
A young Elmer heads to Wild Island to rescue a dragon that is being held captive by the jungle animals, who are forcing him to shuttle them across a raging river each day. Elmer must use his brain and only what is in his backpack to outwit tigers, gorillas, crocodiles, and more. This is the first in a three-part series about Elmer and his beloved dragon.