Notable Recording and Video

Audiorecording

McMullun, K et al. (2008). I'm dirty. (audiorecording). Weston Woods.

Steve Busceni narrates this story and brings the backhoe to life as he goes about performing his job and getting dirty along the way. The story is accompanied by fast paced music that accentuates the frolic of the story.

Genre: fiction picture book

Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3

Awards: ALA Notable

Videorecording

Manzano, S. (2007). A box full of kittens. (videotape). Nutmeg Media.

Ruthie wants so badly to be a super hero. Her time to shine comes when she is asked to help her aunt who will be delivering a baby soon. On an errand, Ruthie is distracted by a box of kittens. Unbeknownst to Ruthie, her aunt goes into labor while Ruthie is gone. The video recording is narrated by the author, who emphasizes the Latin flavor of the story. The animated illustrations and sound effects add interest to the delightful story.

Genre: fiction picture book

Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3

Awards: ALA Notable

Texas Bluebonnet Award Winners

DeFelice, C. (2006) One potato, two potato. (A. U’Ren Illus) New York: Farrar, Straus,

Giroux.

This retelling of a Chinese folktale tells the story of the O’Gradys, a poor, elderly couple who only have one of the bare essentials to share. Even though they have little they are content with life, but their one true wish is to have a friend. When digging for potatoes, Mr. O’Grady finds a magical pot that doubles everything that they put in. They double hairpins, chairs, potatoes, candles and gold coins. When Mrs. O’Grady accidentally falls in, she is also doubled! Mr; O’Grady falls in as well, and the O’Grady’s get what they have always wanted, friends. The two O’Grady couples decide to bury the magical put so that someone else might have their good fortune. The sketchy illustrations and simple color scheme uniquely capture the characterization of the O’Gradys and the theme of the story.

Genre: fiction picture book

Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3

Awards: Bluebonnet Award

Hayes, J. (2004) Ghost fever. El Paso: Cinco Puentos Press.

In a small town in Arizona there is a haunted house that nobody will live in, until Frank Padilla moves into town with his two daughters. Frank does not heed the townspeople’s warnings and moves into the haunted house. Frank’s daughter Elena is haunted by the ghost, and with her grandmother’s advice helps the ghost and puts it to rest.

Genre: Fiction

Suggested Grade Level(s): 5-8

Awards: Bluebonnet Award

Texas 2x2 Reading List

Friend, K. (2007). The perfect nest. (J. Manders Illus.) Cambridge: Candlewick Press.

The Perfect Nest is an endearing story about a cat, Jack, who builds the perfect nest in the hopes of luring a chicken so that he can collect an egg to make an omelet. Through his endeavors Jack ends up with a baby chick, duck, and goose to care for. The illustrations, done in gauche, are cartoonish, vibrant, and supportive of the text.

Genre: fiction picture book

Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3

Awards: none

Katz,S. (2007). Oh theodore: guinea pig poems. (S. Schuett, Illus.). New York: Clarion.

Oh, Theodore! Is a collection of poems that tells the story of a boy and his pet Guinea Pig. The poems illustrate to the reader the guinea pig’s personality, how the boy cares for the guinea pig, and the joys and heartaches that come along with loving and caring for a pet. The simplicity of the poems make them easy to read and understand for young readers. The illustrations, done in acrylic paint and acrylic gouache, are bright and cheerful.

Genre: poetry

Suggested Grade Level(s):K-3

Awards: none

IRA Children's Choices

Himmelman, J. (2008). Katie loves the kittens. Orlando: Holt.

Katie the family dog is overwhelmed with excitement when kittens join the family. She is in love with the kittens, and doesn’t understand how her eager howls and enthusiasm frighten the kittens. She desperately tries to control her howling and boundfulness, but she just can’t help herself. Exhausted with her efforts of self-control, she fall asleep, delighted to find the kittens snuggled with her when she awakens. The simple sketches of illustrations capture the emotions of both dog and kittens.

Genre: picture book

Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3

Awards: none

Schaefer, L. (2007) Frankie stein. (K. Atteberry Illus.) Terrytown: Marshall Cavendish

Children.

The monster family the Steins can’t understand why their son Frankie was not born a monster. Throughout the story the Steins try to make their son scary looking like the rest of the family. When Frankie grows up, he shows his family the scariest way to be scary, which is to be a normal boy. This comical twist on the classic character Frankenstein is

a sure pleaser for children who love monster stories. The detailed, comical, and dark illustrations set the mood for the story.

Genre: fiction picture book

Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3

Awards: IRA Children’s Choice

Challenged Books

Henkes, K. (2003). Olive’s ocean. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Twelve-year-old Martha Boyle is preparing for her annual summer vacation to her grandmother’s house in Cape Cod when she receives an unexpected visitor. The visitor is the mother of one of Martha’s classmates Olive, who was an outcast at school, who has recently died in a fatal accident. Through one of Olive’s diary page, Martha discovers that one of Olive’s wishes in life was to become friends with her, and that the girls had similar dreams and likes. Throughout Martha’s vacation, she is haunted by Olive’s words as she experiences first love, heartache, family worries, and self-discovery.

Genre: Chapter Book: Realistic Fiction

Suggested Grade Level(s): Grades 5-8

Awards: 2004 Newbery Medal Honor

Schwartz, A. (1981). Scary stories to tell in the dark. (S. Gammell Illus.) New York:

HarperCollins Publishers.

This book is a collection of scary stories that is intended to entertain and intended for readers to carry on the tradition of story telling. The book is divided into types of stories: “jump stories,” ghost stories, stories about different creatures, recent scary stories, and funny scary stories. The drawings by Stephen Gammell add to the eeriness and grotesqueness of the stories.

Genre: Chapter Book: Fiction

Suggested Grade Level(s): Grades 5-8

Awards: none

Folk Tales and Fairy Tales

Hyman, T. (1983). Little red riding hood. New York: Holiday House.

This is a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairytale. Little Red Riding Hood is headed for her grandmother’s house in the woods. While on her journey she is encountered by the sly wolf. The wolf eats the grandmother, impersonates the grandmother, and then eats Little Red Riding Hood. Luckily a woodsman saves Little Red Riding Hood, and Little Red learns the lessons of keeping promises and staying away from strangers. The illustrations are classic and true to fairy tale style.

Genre: Folktale

Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3

Awards: Caldecott Honor

Young, Ed. (1989). Lon Po Po. New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers.

Lon Po Po is the Chinese folktale rendition of Little Red Riding Hood. When Shang, Tao, and Paotze are left alone, the wolf tricks them into believing that he is their “Po Po,” or grandmother. The children believe him, but find a way to escape from the wolf. The dark illustrations reflect the sinister, climatic, and suspenseful tale.

Genre: Folklore

Suggested Grade Level(s): 2-6

Awards: Caldecott Medal

Poetry

Esbensen, B. (2003). Swing around the sun. (C. Cheng et al. Illus.) Minneapolis:

Carolrhoda Books.

This book is a collection of poems that are inspired by the four seasons of the year. This collection was first published in 1965, and was published again in 2003 with 5 poems reflecting each season of the year. The new edition features illustrations from four different artists: Cheng-Khee Chee for spring, Janice Lee Porter for summer, Mary GrandPre for fall, and Stephen Gammell for winter. The illustrations capture the beauty and uniqueness of each season.

Genre: Poetry

Suggested Grade Level(s): K-3

Awards: NCTE award winning poet

Greenfield, E. (1972). Honey, I love and other love poems. (D and L. Dillon Illus.).

New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

This small collection of narrative poems explore the everyday pleasures of a child. The poems reflect the emotions and situations that all children can relate to: family, friendship, and self-reflection. The sketches in the book features African American children and reflect the theme and mood of each individual poem.

Genre: poetry

Suggested Grade Level(s): 3-6

Awards: none