On Hanukkah by Cathy Goldberg Fishman

Title/Series:   On Hanukkah

Author: Cathy Goldberg Fishman

Copyright  Date: 1998

Reading Level:  5^th grade

Interest Level:  K – 6^th grade

Summary:  Join a Jewish family as they celebrate a traditional Hanukkah.  Every day that a candle is lit on the menorah a tradition is shared.  This book teaches the history behind the holiday as well as modern family traditions.  We watch the family hang their Hanukkah quilt, make potato latkes, and play dreidel.

Educational: Good– teaches the history behind the holiday, introduces many vocabulary words, includes a glossary

Content: Good – shows the holiday in an interesting way, colorful illustrations

Message: Good– teaches the reason behind Hanukkah and how to celebrate this holiday

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Title/Series:   The Wild Christmas Reindeer

Author: Jan Brett

Pages: 30 pages

Copyright  Date: 1990

Reading Level: 4^th grade

Interest Level: K – 4^th grade

Summary:  This is the first Christmas that Teeka will get the reindeer ready to fly on Christmas Eve.  When Teeka is strong and firm with the reindeer, everything goes wrong!  Will Teeka be able to get Santa’s reindeer ready to deliver gifts on Christmas Eve?

Educational: Average –Teeka learns that it is better to be patient than push and yell

Content: Excellent – magical pictures, boarder pictures show the elves working in Santa’s workshop, meaningful story that contains the Christmas spirit

Message: Average – teamwork and patience is important

   

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Title/Series:   The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Author: Barbara Robinson

Pages: 81 pages

Copyright  Date: 1972

Reading Level:  5^th grade

Interest Level: 3^rd – 6^th grade

Summary:  The annual Christmas pageant is changing this year.  The worst kids in history, the Herdmans, will be involved and learning the Christmas story this year.  When the Herdmans become the lead roles in the pageant, things really get interesting.  It will be amazing if the town can put together the pageant this year.

Educational: poor –introduces bad ideas that kids may not think of on their own (burning down building, stealing from church, blackmailing peers), teaches the Christmas story

Content: poor– includes the word “hell”, tells how mom forces dad to watch his children in the pageant, Mrs. Herdman avoiding her children, describes the Christmas story including King Herod, the end of the book shows the Herdman children beginning to change for the better

Message: Good – take time to really think about the Christmas story and what it means

      

A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

Title/Series:   A Plump and Perky Turkey

Author: Teresa Bateman

Pages: 31 pages

Copyright  Date: 2001

Reading Level:  3^rd grade

Interest Level:  K – 6^th grade

Summary:  Where are all the turkeys?  The people in Squawk Valley need a turkey for their Thanksgiving meal, but the turkeys are getting smart and disappearing in the fall.  The town decides to try to trick a turkey into coming into town for a job as a turkey model.  Who will be smarter, the turkey or the citizens of Squawk Valley?

Educational: Average– rhyming words

Content: Good – illustrations are very enticing with lots of bold colors and action on each page, fun Thanksgiving story

Message: Average– use teamwork to solve a problem

Thanksgiving Mice! by Bethany Roberts

Title/Series:   Thanksgiving Mice!

Author: Bethany Roberts

Pages: 32 pages

Copyright  Date: 2001

Reading Level: 1^st grade

Interest Level: Preschool – 3^rd grade

Summary:  It’s Thanksgiving time and the mice are putting on a play!  The mice start with preparing for their two act play “The Story of Thanksgiving”.  We then enjoy the play with the mice’s animal friends.

Educational: Good –shows a brief history of Thanksgiving including the vocabulary words England, Pilgrim, Mayflower, and Plymouth Rock

Content: Good – colorful pictures, the story told as a play makes the book interesting

Message: Average – Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate

Words Are Not for Hurting by Elizabeth Verdick

Title/Series:   Words Are Not for Hurting

Author: Elizabeth Verdick

Pages: 24 pages

Copyright  Date: 2004

Reading Level: Board Book Version

Interest Level: Baby - Preschool

Summary:  We all use many words each day.  This book shows the different kinds of words we use such as loud and soft.  It also shows what hurtful words do and what you can do to stop the hurtful words.  The last two pages give good tips on how to use this book in starting a positive discussion with a child.  The ideas suggested are age appropriate for the baby to preschool audience.

Educational: Excellent– the entire “Best Behavior” series promotes positive character building

Content: Excellent– words are simple yet powerful, vivid illustrations, great parent discussion and behavior tips

Message: Excellent– not only points out the problem with hurtful words but also gives positive ideas (what to do instead, what to do if you didn’t stop words), promotes good character traits without preaching the skills

                Note: The entire board book series “Best Behavior” promotes and teaches positive behavior in an easy to understand way to young children.  It gives the child options on how to improve their mistakes.  This board book series is intended for the age range baby through preschool.  The parent and caregiver tips in the back of the book are intended for this age range.  For older children, many titles in the board book series are also available in a more in depth paperback version.  These paperback books are approximately 40 pages long and aimed at children 4 to 7 years old.  They include the same powerful language and options on what to do if mistakes happen.  These books also include parent and caregiver tips.  The tips are geared more towards children ages 4 – 7.

Board Book Version (baby-preschool)

                                    

Paperback Version (ages 4-7)  

Rainbow Magic - The Fun Day Fairies - #2 Tara the Tuesday Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Title/Series:   Rainbow Magic – The Fun Day Fairies - #2 Tara the Tuesday Fairy

Author: Daisy Meadows

Pages: 67 pages

Copyright  Date: 2006

Reading Level: 3^rd  grade

Interest Level: K- 2^nd grade

Summary:  Jack Frost has stolen the magical Tuesday Fun Flag from Fairyland!  It’s Field Day at school and everyone is miserable without the Fun Flag.  Can Rachel and Kristy help the fairy Tara find the Fun Flag in time to save Field Day?

Educational: Average– solve one riddle

Content: Average – story moves quickly

Message: Poor– teaches that magic is needed to have a good day instead of creating a positive outlook, teaches that misplacing something can ruin a celebration (medals and certificates are misplaced in the beginning of the day)

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon

Title/Series:   All the World

Author: Liz Garton Scanlon

Pages: 40 pages

Copyright  Date: 2009

Reading Level: 2^nd grade

Interest Level: PreK- 2^nd grade

Summary:  A small community of family and friends show active illustrations of many things to enjoy in the world.  The characters enjoy the little things at a beach, meal time, and family time. 

Educational: Average– rhyming words, shows words that are related (body, shoulder, arm, hand)

Content: Average – illustrations are beautiful and full of action

Message: Good– appreciate all of the small and large things in life 

The Boxcar Children #123 The Amazing Mystery Show Created by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Title/Series:   The Boxcar Children # 123 The Amazing Mystery Show

Created By: Gertrude Chandler Warner

Pages: 111 pages

Copyright  Date: 2010

Reading Level: 3^rd  grade

Interest Level: 3^rd  – 5^th grade

Summary:  Join the four Alden children as they work together to win on the TV show “The Amazing Mystery Show”.  They travel to Philadelphia to solve clues which lead them to gold coins.  Something seems fishy when their map has been tampered with and Benny’s special pink cup goes missing!  Will they be able to overcome someone misleading them and still win the show?

Educational: Great –teaches the history of Philadelphia (historical landmarks, Betsy Ross), shows using small clues to come to a good conclusion

Content: Good – easy to read fun mystery series

Message: Good – working together can accomplish large tasks

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness - #1 Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Title/Series:   Chronicles of Ancient Darkness - #1 Wolf Brother

Author: Michelle Paver

Pages: 320 pages

Copyright  Date: 2004

Reading Level: 5^th grade

Interest Level: 6^th – 8^th grade

Summary:  Six thousand years ago, twelve year old Torak is suddenly alone when his father dies.  Torak is now on his own with an impossible mission to complete.  He must find the Mountain of the World Spirit to stop the evil demon bear from destroying the world.  Torak bonds with a wolf cub who will be his guide to the Mountain or death.

Educational: Good – well researched information on the lives of people 6,000 years ago

Content: Good – the action makes the reader want to keep reading, theme of being respectful to nature

Message: Average– courage and resourcefulness are useful throughout life

    

Samuel Eaton's Day by Kate Waters

Title/Series:   Samuel Eaton’s Day – A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy

Author: Kate Waters

Pages: 39 pages

Copyright  Date: 1993

Reading Level:  3^rd grade

Interest Level:  2^nd -4^th grade

Summary:  This historical fiction book tells the story of the pilgrim Samuel Eaton’s first rye harvest with his father.  If Samuel Eaton can prove that he is a good worker, he will be able to help with all of the harvest!  The day begins with getting dressed with his garters and doublet.  Before Samuel even begins to harvest he has fetched water, set his snare, and gathered firewood!  Will Samuel have the strength to do well with his first rye harvest?

Educational: Great– This book does an excellent job of describing and showing the life of a pilgrim boy.  The photographs of the Plimoth Plantation and everyday life of pilgrims really shows how life was during the seventeenth century.  The story is also excellent as it tells details of what a day would be like for a pilgrim boy.  It describes things such as clothing, meals, chores, family, and traditions.  This story would be a good addition to a discussion on Thanksgiving.

Content: Good – teaches about the life of children in the seventeenth century, but also tells a good story of a boy becoming a man

Message: Average– shows the benefit of hard work

Sara Morton's Day by Kate Waters shows the day in the life of a pilgrim girl.  This story also includes excellent photographs with a detailed story.

Rainbow Magic - The Music Faries - #4 Danni the Drum Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Title/Series:   Rainbow Magic – The Music Fairies - #4 Danni the Drum Fairy

Author: Daisy Meadows

Pages: 64 pages

Copyright  Date: 2008

Reading Level:  3^rd  grade

Interest Level:  K – 3^rd grade

Summary:  Jack Frost has stolen the Music Fairies’ magical instruments.  Music in fairyland and the human world is out of tune!  Rachel and Kristy need to act fast to help the magic fairy Danni find her drum set.  If they are careful, maybe fairyland and its magic can be kept secret.  Will they be able to get the fairy drums back from Jack Frost’s goblins?

Educational: Average– vocabulary words (dainty, harmonious)

Content: Average – magic fairy makes the story fun, good read out loud for younger children

Message: Average– work together to solve problems