PICTURE BOOKS
Dr. Pompo's nose by Freymann & Elffers
Case of the missing pumpkin nose is a literary and visual
delight-close to fright!
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Officer Buckle was an officer who visited the school to talk about school safety; the police department bought
Gloria a police dog. Officer Buckle was pleased and so was Gloria that all the kids loved their safety presentations illustrated
and performed with humor.
Rainbow Goblins by Ulde Rico
Rainbow Goblins live on the colors of the rainbow and search around for these delicious colorsto fill
their bellies. Beautiful illustrations.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
A strange yet interesting towm of Chewandswallow where the food comes daily fromthe sky! There are sequels
too.
Abiyoyoyo By Pete Seeger
Townspeople love to tell stories about giants especially Abiyoyoyo but noone really believes in these
giants until one day a young boy saves the town with his quick thinking and musical ability.
Bubba, the cowboy prince by Helen Ketleman
"A fratured texas tale" as it is called is the cinderfella counterpart to yetanother Cinderrella story.
I have a sister; My sister is deaf by Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson
The deaf world is depicted through the eyes of nn older sister.
When mama wore a hat by Eleanor Schick
This story is based on the author's own experience with surviving cancer. Eleanor continues to work with
cancer patients in using writing as a therapy and healing tool.
My sister's wedding by Eleanor Schick
Two young girls who attend a Navajo wedding ceremony are bonded also in their friendship.
Aldean Learns to Make Flutes : A Story about a White Mesa Ute Boy by Aldean Ketchum
Color pencil drawings makes this autobiographical story come to like. There is a website of Aldean Ketchum
playing his fulte in the Salt Lake Winter Olympics.
FANTASY
Gossamer by Lois Lowry
A fantasy about fairies who oversee our dreams and use our dreams by night to help us during
the day.
Skellig by David Almond
I like this author! The possibility of a creature from long ago, a descendent of angels, could it
be?
A series of unfortunate events series by Lemony Snicket
I once heard someone describe these children as the most unlucky children in the world!
Equally they are the most clever children, too. You have to read their stories to believe it fortunately.
Inside my feet by Richard Kennedy
A true hero's journey where the child has the responsibility of saving his parents with his own ingenuity
from a Giant with bewitched boots. Now out of print, it is worth searching for and reading and rereading. Great during Halloween
or anytime!
SCIENCE FICTION
Ugglies, Pretties & Normals series by David Westerfeld
An advanced time in our human civilization when beauty is engineered and culturally controlled.
What happens when there are outcasts who do not follow this perfect plan?
POETRY
Where the Sidewalk Ends & Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Ride a Purple Pelican by Jack Prelutsky
Grandma Bear, Poor Potato, Little Pink Pig, Yellow Bill Duck are a few of these
short rhyming ditties that enthrall your tongue and captivate young children into chanting.
A Breeze Swept Through by Luci Tapahonso
Her poems tell of what Navajo life is like. As I read the poems I could
tell that these days were in the seventies because many of the things she speaks of were true in my mother's life.
I was especially sad on the passing away of her brother and the marital discord.
American folk songs for children by Ruth Crawford Seeger
Just about every traditional folk song is in this book. A good reference with music and
lyrics.
Go in and out the window edited by Dan Fox
Fine art pictures are also featured along with piano accompaniment for each song
and brief background information. A gift from a dear friend, Nancy Hess.
Talking to the Sun selected by Kenneth Koch & Kate Farrell
Metropolitan of Art selected art graces the pages of this anthology
of poems for children and young adults. Also a gift from Nancy Hess.
REALISTIC FICTION
Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli
A story of otherness and how difficult it is to just be yourself with high school peer pressure.
Crsuader by Edward Bloor
A great read by Bloor, who was a former high school teacher. He captures the angst of teens' lives.
The art of keeping cool by Janet Lisle
Explores the issue of trying to please a parent and coming to terms with knowing yourself instead
of what others think of you.
Holes by Louis Sachar
When you are falsely accused of a crime and then have to dig holes in the desert, Stanley Yeltnas
finds hope and that his family's luck isn't so terrible after all.
The Wandere by Sharon Creech
Little Sophie is a crew member along with her uncles and cousins to meet their grandfather in England.
This perilous sailing adventure tests them all. The veracity of Sophie's stories of her grandpa, Bompie, told during
the excursion are questioned by the other crew members. How could Sophie know so much and they so little of their grandpa?
Kit's Wilderness by David Almond
Set in England the sotry focuses on coal mining and pays tribute to the young boys who worked in
the mines. Literally, the coal industry was formed on the backs of these boys who toiled through injury and inhospitable conditions.
There is a chiscura of darkness versus ligh in the two major characters of Kit Watson and John Asher. Will darkness win out
over light?
Woodsong by Gary Paulsen
Paulsen learns all about the dog athletes he is about to race in the famous Iditarod. There is a
great teacher web unit study which can be found on my resouce page.
Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson has authored many a book about the African-American experience of growing up. This
is a tender story of three boys trying to make sense of a family tradgedy in their own way while trying to remain a family.
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Moose and his family move to Alcatraz and what he thought was going to be a boring and inconvenient
time, has adventures of his own to keep him busy!
So B It by Sarah Weeks
While searching for her mother's true identity challenges herself to deal with
her own issues of growing up.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
This story of diversity, exceptionalities and working together reminds gifted
children of their responsibility of serving others and taking on challenges.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by
Sherman Alexie
Partly autobiographical the story deals with identities on and off the reservation for one young man who in striving
for a better education must leave the comfort of his life on the reservation to attend a more prestigious high school.
Told in the familiar laugh out loud style of Alexie, he describes people, emotions and situations with
masterful insight and storytelling.
HISTORICAL FICTION
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
A boy in the foster care sysyem is determinded to find his father once his mother dies. A richly told story full of humor
and compassion for Bud, the protagonist.
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Lowry used actual details and profiles of people who were instrumental in helping the Jews. The story is testimony to
the cleverness, ingenuity and resilience of people acting courageously to help others in need.
Al Capone Does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Set at the notorious Alcatraz prison where the most nefarious prisoners are housed, a boy and his family are
among the nonjailed population who also live and work at the prison as carpenters, electricians, welders and construction
workers.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Puppies, Dogs & Blue Northers by Gary Paulsen
A true adventurer who details his life with his Huskies and the special relationship that ensues
working toward running the Iditarod. Over the years he and his beloved canines wear with age and these accounts are the most
tender of all as they share their remaining days together even though the love of running and mushing are past memories. They
are memories they share together.
The Color of Water by James McBride
As the subtitle celebrates, a Black
man's tribute to his mother, written from both perspectives is a humorous, strong testimony of how a mother's love defies
any and all preconceived racial boundaries.
Requiem for a German past: A boyhood among the Nazis by Jurgen Herbst
A memoir of a boy growing up in Germany during WWII and as the preface
states:
"I wrote this book
primarily for my children... who have a right to know where their father came from. I neither attempt to analyze and explain,
nor do I answer directly the questions that I know many readers will have."
Keeping the rope straight: Annie Dodge Wauneka's life of service to
the Navajo by Carolyn Niethammer
Daughter of Navajo Chairman Henry Chee Dodge, Annie Wauneka was a female warrior whose
wisdom and inspiration influencing health, eduation and welfare contributions are still evident in Navajoland today.
FOLKLORE
Just so stories by Rudyard Kipling
How the Camel got its hump is one of my favorite stories.
Aesop's Fables retold by Ann McGovern
These parables are still relevant today.
Wolf Tales: Native American Children's Stories edited by Mary Powell
A collection of short, easy to read stories for all ages.
Coyote & Native American Folk Tales: Native American Folk Tales
by Joe Hayes
Ten trickster coyote tales perfect for oral storytelling.
INFORMATIONAL
Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats by Ann Earle
An informational beginner book about the different type of bats, how they
use sound to hunt and their eating habits.
When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Masson & Susan McCarthy
Examples of animals documenting emotions in case after case.
Dinetah by Robert Roessel
Published by Rough Rock Demonstration School to supplement their Navajo Studies curriculum,
Dinetah documents the original homeland of Navajos.
Navajo History" The Land and the People by Bill Acrey
An important source of historical information about Navajo people, events and culture.
