Woodrow, The White House Mouse

Woodrow, The White House Mouse
Cheryl Shaw Barnes and Peter J. Barnes

Little Patriot Press
Washington D.C.
2012

This book introduces readers to the workings of American government through every kid's favorite rodent a mouse! As the authors explain, every four years, just like human Americans, the United Mice of America elect a president. Through President Woodrow G. Washingtail and his family, kids learn about presidential responsibilities as well as life in the White House where these mice work and play side-by-side with our very own First Family. This book became so popular that it is the first of a series.

Noteworthy Features:

• Teaches about the government and presidents
• Illustrations are very colorful and detailed

I would use this book to begin teaching students about the White House, the presidents, and the government. Students will find this book to be very humorous. It is a great way to introduce these topics to students in a fun and engaging manner.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Lesson Plan 

Shadow on the Mountain

            

Shadow on the Mountain

Margi Preus

Abrams Publishing

Salt Lake City

2012

This tells the story of a boy named Espen and his friends. It takes place during the resistance movement in Nazi occupied Norway. This fourteen year old boy begins delivering illegal newspapers as part of the resistance movement. Then he moves up to the position of courier, and later becomes a spy. The Nazi’s reign for five years, during this time, because of Espen’s position in the resistance movement he both gains and loses friends, he falls in love, and makes mistakes. As he flees to Sweden, he worries that his mistake with threaten to catch up with him. 

I like this book because it is based on real people and includes old photos, maps, and other archive materials. This is a great book because it tells a story about an important and difficult part of history. It is important that students learn about this time in history. This book gives students an understanding of the emotions and struggles that people faced during this time period. It includes great adventure as this child spy resists the strong forces of the Nazi’s the students will find exciting and enjoy reading.  

Girls Who Rocked the World

Girls Who Rocked the World
Amelie Welden

Beyond Worlds Publishing
New York
1998

This book discusses girls who have accomplished a lot before the age of 20. It gives a short overview of the girls' lives. It explains their life, what they did, and challenges they needed to overcome. Some of the girls discussed in the book are well known while others are not. A couple people included in this book are: Mother Theresa. Phyllis Wheatley, and Cleopatra.



Noteworthy Features:

• Illustrations: There are pictures of the girls discussed. However, the pictures are more cartoon than realistic. 
• Dreams: All of the girls had dreams (not sleeping, but achievements they wanted to attain). Shows that you should have dreams, make goals, and set out to achieve them. 

This is a great book to use to show that women are equal to men. It shows that women have made huge achievements in the world. It would be great to have students read, to help them see the importance of having dreams. It is also good for the students to see that these girls, who achieved so much, faced many challenges along the way. It expresses to students to not give up, but to persevere when they face challenges.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Women's History Month Lesson Plans
• Gender Roles in Social Studies

If You Grew Up with George Washington

If You Grew Up with George Washington
Ruth Belov Gross

Scholastic 
New York
1993

This book explains facts about George Washington. It explains aspects of his life such as his childhood, colonial life, and transportation. It has fun facts, like the fact that George Washington's teeth were made of hippopotamus not wood. There are details on the customs of his time period. Some of these include: games, schooling, clothing worn, medical techniques, and the food eaten.

Noteworthy Features:

• Format: Written in a question-answer format. This makes it easy for students to read and understand. 
• Table of Contents: All questions are listed in a table of contents making information easy and efficient to find. 

This is a great book for teachers to use with students to introduce them both to the President George Washington and to the time period. The information includes a good mix of fun and informational facts. The fun facts make it more interesting for the students, while still including great informational facts the students should know.

Links to Classroom Activities:

•  Additional Books for a Lesson
• President Activities
• Scholastic

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Elizabeth George Speare

A Yearling Book
New York
1958

This award winning book tells the story of Kit Tyler a girl living on the shore of Connecticut Colony who moved there from the Caribbean islands. She felt lonely and trapped by the Puritan community and finds freedom in the meadows. It is in these meadows that she meets the women known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond. Because Kit becomes friends with this "witch" others begin to accuse Kit of also being a witch.



Noteworthy Features:

• Women's history
• Friendship
• Prejudice and Tolerance
• History of late 1860s

This is a good book for teachers to use to teach about this time period in history. It is also a good book to use to talk about various prejudice - starting with this time period leading up to today's time. It can also be used to talk about friendships and how you can be a friend to someone even when it is difficult to be their friend. 

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Unit Plan
• Activities
• Lesson Plans
• Scholastic

Caddie Woodlawn

Caddie Woodlawn
Carol Ryrie Brink

Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division
New York
1935

This award winning book provides readers a image of authentic Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s. Caddie is a young girl who refuses to be a "lady." She loves adventure. Whether is pranks or a schoolhouse fire, Caddie will find an adventure. When Indians threaten the family, it is her courage that saves the family and the neighbors.




Noteworthy Features:

• Civil War Period
• Pioneers
• Sibiling
• Courage

This book would be great to teach the time period of the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s. Students will learn about the gender roles of the time, the daily struggles, and the relationship with the Indians. Teachers can use this book in a history class to help the students better understand the material. 

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Scholastic - Lesson Plan
• Literature Unit 
• Book Trailer (See video for example)

Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy
Christopher Paul Curtis

Delacorte Press
New York
1999

This award winning novel is about an African American boy named Bud. Living during the Great Depression, Bud was orphaned and goes on an adventure to find his father. The only clue he has of where is father is, or who is father is, is from a flyer his mother left him. He travels to Grand Rapids, Michigan in hopes of finding his father. When he finds the man he thinks is his father, he discovers the truth. The man is actually his grandfather, who did not know Bud existed nor did he know that Bud's mother had died. Bud and his grandfather begin to form a relationship.
Noteworthy Features:

• Afterword: This book contains a section called "Afterword." It explains that this story is fictional but contains historical truths from the time period of the Great Depression. 
• Time Period: It takes place during the Great Depression. It gives a historically correct depiction of the time period.

This is a great book for teachers to use in the classroom. Not only is it a well written and adventure filled book. It is a great depiction of the Great Depression time period. Teachers can combine the subjects of Language Arts and Social Studies when teaching this book.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Lesson Plan 
• Scholastic - Lesson Plans 
• StoryBoards 
• Novel Unit 
• Press Conference Activity 

One Crazy Summer

One Crazy Summer
Rita Williams-Carcia

Amistad
New York
2011

This award winning book tells the story of three African American girls in 1968. The girls went to visit their mother who abandoned them when they were young. The mother has the girls go to the Center where they become involved with the Black Panthers.

This is a well written book that students should read. Teachers can include this book in the studying this time period in history. Students will learn about the injustices placed against African American's in the United States. Using this book to teach history will benefit the students in teaching them not only what happened, but also the emotions that went along with it.

Lesson Plans

Three Years and Eight Months

Three Years and Eight Months
Icy Smith

East West Discovery Press
Manhattan Beach
2013

This Moonbeam Children's Book Award winning multicultural picture book tells the story of a Chinese boy named Choi. It tells about the struggles he faces as the Japanese take over China. He is separated from his mother and ends up working at military base in order to survive. This story tells of the struggles, pains, and emotions Choi and others experienced during World War II.

Noteworthy Features:

• The pictures in this book are extremely detailed. Some details include writing on a filing cabinets, on the soldiers uniforms, and on postcards. 
• The author of this book is from China
• The book is based on her father and grandmother experience during World War II. 

This is an emotional and informational book. It is a book worth reading, however, the topic could be difficult for some students. Teachers need to be sensitive when reading this book with students or when allowing students to read this book. It is a good book to use to teach World War II from a different perspective.

So You Want to Be President

So You Want to Be President
Judith St. George

Philomel Books
New York
2000

This Caldecott Medal Award winner discusses the first 41 presidents. It talks about the presidents in a manner that makes them seem more human. For example, it discusses embarrassing moments, their pets, where they are from, etc. It also tells interesting facts like how many presidents are name James, which presidents are related, and how many grew up in log cabins.


Noteworthy Features:

• Pictures: The pictures in this book are funny. They are drawn in a comedic and colorful manner. Most of the pictures are exaggerated in some way, making the pictures funny, but also help make the point the author is trying to make about the president(s). 
• Language: This book is written in a way that is easy to understand. It is a book of funny or interesting facts, but it does not read like reading a bunch of facts. It is entertaining and engaging.

This is a great book for students to read for social studies. It allows the students to see that even though the president has a very important job, all the presidents were people and have human qualities like themselves. They will learn interesting facts about the presidents that may not be the most important, but do allow the students to have a different perspective of the presidents. Students will find this book funny and want to read it. After reading this book, students may be more interested in learning more about the presidents (giving teachers an in to teach the important facts!)

Links for Classroom Activities:

• http://mrswarnerarlington.weebly.com/unit-25-so-you-want-to-be-president.html
  This link leads to a fourth grade teachers website. The website includes many ideas to use with this book. Some of the topics in this link include: about the author, puppet video of books, and a slideshow about the book. 
• https://www.teachervision.com/presidents/literature-guide/5241.html
  This link leads to a page that contains 10 tips for teaching using this book!
• http://bookinitat50.blogspot.com/2012/10/lesson-plan-so-you-want-to-be-president.html
  This is a social studies lesson plan using this book.