Genre: English~Language Arts

Teachers and students often sigh at the thought of teaching/learning grammar and mechanics.  These topics tend to be dry and boring but are a crucial part of our academic success.  Adding a quality picture book can help liven up the concept, while being a great model for students of all ages.  English~Language Art Skills are introduced at a primary level and continue through school as stated by the Iowa Core. These standards are put in place to ensure success for all students in all academic areas.  "The Standards insist that instruction in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language be a shared responsibility within the school. The K–5 standards include expectations for reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language applicable to a range of subjects, including but not limited to ELA. The grades 6–12 standards are divided into two sections, one for ELA and the other for history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. This division reflects the unique, time–honored place of ELA teachers in developing students’ literacy skills while at the same time recognizing that teachers in other areas must have a role in this development as well."  Choosing quality books for this category must include: accuracy, appropriateness as well as text type can help students have a better understanding of this abstract concept.

My Favorite Picks:

Cleary, B. (2005). Pitch and throw, grasp and know: What is a synonym? Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.

Lexile: 510L
Complexity Band: 2-3

I love this series!  These texts are very cutely written.  The whimsical illustrations attract to young readers.  The text is simply written and appropriate for developing readers.  However, the theme of the series is complex and would make a great Read Aloud.  The series has a total of seven texts.  Each text is specific to a specific grammar category.  For example, this text I chose is all about synonyms.  The first page has a text box with a definition of what a synonym is.  The rest of the book is written story like with fun illustrations to capture the words.  Each synonym found on the page is highlighted by a bright color font to set it apart from the rest of the words.  Using this text to introduce the language arts concepts would be perfect.  Students could get the actually definition and then multiple examples of the concept.  Also, a great reference for students to go back and double check their own work or get new ideas.


Thomson, R. (2002). Grammar is great! Lewes: Thameside Press.

Lexile: 650L
Complexity Band:  4-5

This text is the perfect way to introduce early grammar skills.  Themes covered in this text include: capital letters, commas, connectives and simple writing tips.  The text is filled with colorful pages.  On each page the concept is introduced in a question format.  The text answers the question and then gives multiple examples.  This text is designed in the gradual release process, used by many classrooms.  After the concept is introduced, examples are modeled for the student (I do).  Next, students are given some practice but with limited options (We do).  Finally, the concept ends with a more challenging question that leaves the student on their own (You do).  The text is written to grades 4 and 5 but would be a great Read Aloud for primary grammar instruction.  This text would also be a great reference tool to have in your classroom.  Students can refer back to the grammar rules and they are explained in text they can understand.  A perfect addition for your classroom!

Genre: Music

Music has been around since the world began.  Banging on logs, shaking pebbles, blowing through carved out bones, clapping hand and stomping of feet signaled: celebrations, dangers, worships and even stories.  Every country has its own sounds, rhythms and instruments which reflects their cultures and people.  Listening to a favorite kind of music can bring comfort and pleasure and inspire new artists to find their creativity.  Music is essentially everywhere, why not include music in your classroom?  Music can add warmth to your classroom, increase concentration for auditory learners, challenging students to find the real meaning of lyrics, all while introducing students to multiple cultures.  Quality features to look for are: appeal, accessibility and appropriateness.


My Favorite Picks:

Gilbert, S. (2010). Play it loud!: The rebellious history of music. Mankato, MN: Compass Point Books.

Lexile: 1180L
Complexity Band: 6-8

This text talks about how music teaches us about social, political and cultural change that have taken place in our world. This text starts out with a small introduction to what music is and then leads into specific chapters on influential turning points.  The text explains the many movements that have taken place in music history, leaders of the eras, musical statements and the effects of their music.  The text is filled with actual illustrations and timelines of significant events.  Text features include: chapters, bolded vocabulary words, a glossary and additional sources in the back.  This book is best suited for 6th grade and above but would be a great Read Aloud as an introduction to a 3rd or 4th grade music lesson.  This text has so many functions in the classroom.  It is filled with dates and timelines as well as current events happening in our world at those times, so would pair up nicely with a history lesson.  This text could also be used as topics for a writing lesson.  Students could read and listen to the artists and how their lyrics play a role in what is happening around them.  Students could write their own lyrics telling a story of who they are.  A very diverse text to add to your library.


Walsh, K. (2006). Music math. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Pub.

Lexile: 870L
Complexity Band: 4-5

This text links music to mathematics.  The students will learn important music vocabulary words while working math problems.  The book starts out by defining the word quartet and duet and then progresses into a math challenge "how many more people are in a quartet than a duet".   This text moves from simple problems, like the above, to more complex problems like, "A standard piano usually has 88 keys.  If there are 12 notes in an octave, how many octaves are there on a standard keyboard?"  The text ends with a challenge on how many songs can your MP3 player hold.  This text is suited for 4th and 5th graders but could be Read Aloud to 2nd and 3rd graders to work through the challenges together.  I think this text has a strong appeal to students due to the current up to date music formats.  This book is perfect for overlapping math and reading into a music setting.

Genre: Health

Health is an ever changing concept.  Health to most people is simply defined as the condition of being well. But actually health includes: mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual aspects.

• Physical: how you perform
• Social: how you interact with others
• Emotional/Mental: how you feel
• Spiritual:how you view the world

Health is such an important part of all of our lives.  Even if one small piece is missing, our overall health can be affected.There is no doubt that as an educator we will be challenged by these complex aspects of health.  Sometimes these concepts are intimidating to approach, so adding literature will help ease into the complexity of these topics.   Important things to consider when choosing health texts for your classroom are: accuracy, recommended sources and appropriateness.

Student Pick:

Dunham, K., & Rkman, S. (2013). The boy's body book. Kennebunkport, Me.: Applesauce Press.

Lexile: 990L
Complexity Band:  6-8

This text comes in a boy version as well as a girl version.  It covers all topics from hobbies, to friendships, emotions and any other question a young boy or girl may have.  This text is written by an expert in the field of health, so it is filled with facts and expectations about growth and puberty, from a reliable source.  The book contains illustrations to appeal to young readers.  However, I know this is not the fun book that students are going to seek out at the library but it is filled with important details on growing up and is written in a kid friendly way.  With the complexity of the themes aimed at older students, this text is best suited for Grade 6 and above depending on the  purpose of the text-it could be used for a younger student.  I think these topics are so important to be addressed in a Health or Science unit.  This book would be a great Read Aloud for 5th grade and above.  Students may be intimidated by checking out this text but using it as a Read Aloud for older students will ensure everyone is getting the information without the embarrassment.  This is a great asset to any school library.

 Teacher Pick:

Summerford, C. (2009). Action-packed classrooms, K-5: Using movement to educate and invigorate learners (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Corwin.

Lexile: Not found, this text is reference tools for educators
Complexity Band: 11-12


This text was actually introduced to me in a college course.  I purchased the book because of all of the great ideas to implement in a classroom.  The text explains the importance of movement in learning.  "Action and movement stimulate the body, which in turn stimulates the brain and hence one's ability to learn and retain information."  From cover to cover, the text is filled with great ideas; some are 3o second "Brain Breaks" and others are detailed actions to add to any content area lesson.  Text features include: a table of contents, resources and a listing of all activities.  There are also templates for implementing these activities in your class.  This is an easy to use text and a great reminder to constantly add movement to boost your students academically. 

Genre: Research~Report

The research/report genre is a very underrepresented genre, in terms of physical books.  With resources fluctuating to digital collections; there is less need for physical books.  Physical books are expensive and out date very quickly, so using online sources gets you up to date information and it is free.  Although, there are not many “new” (copyright after 2000) texts; this is still an important genre.  As educators, we will always be teaching about doing research and reporting our findings, so it is vital that we have ample resources available.  Research/Reports are important for two reasons, first they add knowledge to our own personal schema.  Second, it adds to the knowledge of others by clearly and thoughtfully communicating the results of our research.  When searching for research/report texts for your classroom keep in mind the accuracy of the text; to ensure the information is up to date and also the accessibility of the text.  

My Favorite Picks: 

Sebranek, P., & Kemper, D. (2006). Writers INC: A student handbook for writing and learning. 

       Wilmington, Mass.: Write Source, Great Source Education Group. 

Lexile: Not found, estimated 950L
Complexity Band: 6-8

This text has been a personal favorite of mine since my freshman year of high school.  This text was introduced to us back in the day when there were not online sources to reference.  The day our English teacher  introduced this text to us, the very next day our whole class purchased their own personal copy.  This book is a great tool to have in your classroom.  There is always going to be that time when the Internet is not working or students will not have access to technology.  Text features include and index and glossary for quick reference.  This text covers multiple topics including: a listing of presidents and vice presidents, world maps, amendments, math formulas, the periodic table, weights and measures, traffic signs, language rules and everything you need to know about choosing a research topic to your final draft.  This text, honestly, covers everything!  It is a great reference and easy to use.  However, it is quite detailed so is suited for middle school through adult learners.  Specific portions of this book or samples could be sectioned out for 4th and 5th graders but better suited for more advanced students.  This text is a phonominal reference for all content areas!

Welcome to the Purdue OWL. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2015, from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/

 

With more digital sources available my next pick is an online website created by Purdue University.  It is referred to as Purdue Owl, which stands for "online writing lab."  This is a great resource to have listed for students to access as needed.  Not only is it a great online source that is free and available around the clock but it offers writing resources for all areas as well as instructional materials for educators to use.  This source may be complicating for lower elementary students to use but it is ideal for 4th grade and above.  It also has many sources that are available to print out for students.  A great site to add to your media list.

Genre: Enviromental

According to KidSource, The rationale for environmental education during the early childhood years is based on two major premises. First, children must develop a sense of respect and caring for the natural environment during their first few years of life or be at risk for never developing such attitudes. Second, positive interactions with the natural environment are an important part of healthy child development, and these interactions enhance learning and the quality of life over the span of one's lifetime. Children learn these qualities through life experiences.  Since these experiences are sometimes very limited; adding quality books to your lessons will supplement these life experiences or add greater meaning to previous knowledge.  Quality features to look for in environmental texts include: accuracy, appropriateness and appeal.

My Favorite Picks:

 Frith, A., & Allen, P. (2010). Recycling and rubbish. London: Usborne.

Lexile: 830L
Complexity Band: 4-5

This text is an Usborne published books so it is created by a reliable resource.  The book is very interactive because it asks questions on the top of each page and then students lift the flaps to find the answers. Every page is full of cartoon illustrations appealing to students.  This text is a pretty complex theme and a world problem but written in a kid friendly style. The back page is full of quick facts and additional resources to deepen learning.  A few pages are really busy but I also think this is part of the appeal for developing readers.  The text features make the book look like a kindergarten to first grade level but due to the complex theme and tier 3 vocabulary words, this text would be better matched 3rd graders and above. This book would be a great pair with Social Studies; to teach students how our actions can affect our world.  Also, a great connection to Science with the break down of materials and what waste does to our Earth.  I think Recycling Awareness would be a great classroom project that students could get involved with their families and communities and really make a difference!


Edwards, H., & Russell, H. (2009). Big and busy where things come from. Priddy Books.

Lexile: 850L
Complexity Band: 4-5

This board book is a great introduction on how things are made, not only in the United States but other regions as well.  In the back there is a map to show what is grown in various regions of the world.  The map is laid out very simply with a symbol of the product on the region.  There is a key to verify the symbols, but the symbols are very simple and serve as a great visual for ESL students.  Although, this book is written in large print and is suited for developing readers; the themes are challenging so suited for 4th grade.  Text features include: bolded vocabulary words found in a glossary, illustrations to go along with the text, and many actual photos as well.  Simply flipping through the pages I learned a few things myself...I had no idea how pineapple was grown!  This book would be a fun addition to a primary grade library due to the durability of the board pages but would also play into a Social Studies lesson on imports and exports.