Trees of North America

Trees of North America 

Author: Alan Mitchell
Illustrator: David More
Genre: Nonfiction
Awards: None
Grades: 3-6

This books has detailed descriptions of different kind of trees. At the beginning it describes what a tree is and how they grow. It then starts going into details about the different types of trees and gives examples of each type using illustrations. In some pages, there are small activities or experiments students can do to go along with the text. This book also has an index and glossary to be able to easily look up something instead of having to go through the entire book.

I would not read this entire book to the class, but might use the beginning of it to explain what a tree is and how it grows. The illustrations are appropriate for younger children, but the book has a lot of content that might be better for students between third grade and six grade.  I would use this book to have students pick a favorite tree to do more research on or to branch of a flower unit.

The Reason for a Flower

The Reason for a Flower

Author/Illustrator: Ruth Heller
Genre: Nonfiction
Awards: None
Grades: PK-2

This book describes how flowers grow. It explains how pollen is distributed as well as seeds to grow flowers. The seeds grow into flowers if they find water, sun, and air and then grow roots. It explains how some flowers survive in dry weather and others in wet locations. It also teaches about animals that eat flowers and those that don't. At the end, it shows what we make from flowers.

This book would be amazing to read when starting a lesson on flowers. It has vivid pictures that would capture my student's attention. This book is appropriate to read for students in second grade and below since it is an intro on how flowers grow. I would use this to teach students how to grow their own flower since it describes what is needed. I would also use the book to teach students what happens when pollen or seeds are moved by the wind and insects. It would a perfect book to start a unit on flowers or living things.

The Ocean Alphabet Book

The Ocean Alphabet Book

Author: Jerry Pallotta
Illustrator: Frank Mazzola Jr.
Genre: Nonfiction
Awards: None
Grades: PK-4

This book is an alphabet book describing different things in the ocean. Each letter represents an animal or some kind of creature in the ocean and gives details and a picture on it. Examples include an Inkfish, a Jellyfish, and a Killer Whale.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach students different facts about animals in the ocean. It is a very detailed book with a lot of illustrations that can help students understand what each thing looks like. This book is appropriate for students in grade PK through 4th grade since it teaches about ocean animals in a creative way to captivate students of all ages. I would use this as I am teaching a lesson on animals or about living things. I would even include this in my library in case students are interested in ocean animals.

Seasons

Seasons

Author: Melvin Berger
Illustrator: Ron Jones
Genre: Non-fiction
Awards: None
Grades: 2-5

This book describes all the seasons in detail It describes the weather during the season, the holidays that happen during it, what animals do, the life cycle of different insects, and even talks about the flowers and trees. It has a glossary of words at the end to use if they only need to look at one particular thing.

I would use this book as a personal book to teach the seasons. It has great details that I can use explain the differences between each one. This book is appropriate for students in the upper grades like second grade and above because of the heavy content and vocabulary. I would keep this in my classroom to show students pictures of the seasons or in case students need it as a resource for a season projet.

Henry's Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box

Author: Ellen Levine
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Genre: Biography
Awards: Caldecott Honor
Grades: PK-5

Henry and his family were slaves owned by a white master. They were treated fairly good until one day he was separated from his family and sold to the master's son. Henry met Nancy as he was walking alone in the streets one day and asked her to marry him. When their masters agreed, they got married and had three children. One day as he worked in at the Tabacco factory, his coworker came up to him and informed him that his wife and kids were sold at the slave market. He was so upset and decided to try every thing he could to be a free slave. He decided to ask Dr. Smith, a white man who was against slavery, to help him by shipping him in a box to Pennsylvania. Luckily, he made it safe and sound and declared the day he arrived to be his birthday.

I would read this book in my class so that my students understand how hard it was to be a slave. This book is appropriate to read to grades PK through 5th grade since it is a book that is easy to follow and understand. I would use this book to teach history lessons on slavery so that they understand how hard it was for slaves to be free.