Recommended Books

Mrs. Mitchell's

Great Book Picks

The list below identifies books that will help meet specific Provincial Learning Outcomes in Language Arts (LA), Social Studies (SS), Science (Sc), Math, and Art
 
 

Titles with a * are some of my favorites.

 

grade level subject or topic r = reader
ra = read aloud
s = series
ch = chapter book
title, author, book series

      Language Arts & Social Studies Focus

K - 3 LA & others r, s Hello Readers, series by Scholastic - this series contains a tremendous variety, get one and see the inside covers for more excellent titles. Example: Gr.1 Buzz, Said the Bee

K - 3 LA & others r, s Ready to Read by Aladdin paperbacks this series features some true stories that are captivating and excellent reading for young people. Example: Gr. 1/ 2 Brave Norman, a true story

K - 3 LA & others r, s All Aboard Reading series these paperback readers are organized into four levels from age 3 Gr.3. Not all titles are appropriate but many are fun and interesting. Example:. K-1 Meet Mo and Ella

K - 3 LA & others r, s I Can Read Books, this hard cover series is widely recognized as the premier line of beginning readers. Inaugurated with Else Holmelund Minarik's LITTLE BEAR, the series has grown to over 200 titles that include mysteries, adventure stories, poetry, historical fiction, and humor. Example: Seasons, a book of Poems by Charlotte Zolotow

K - 3 LA & others r, s

Early Step into Reading Books, a series for the very beginning reader
Step into Reading series contains 4 steps that guide readers from K to grade 4 level.


K - 3 LA & others r,s beginning readers I've used with my son, somewhat in order of reading difficulty
Ten Apples Up On Top
by LeSieg
Put Me in the Zoo
by Lopshire
Are You My Mother
by Eastman
The Cat in the Hat
by Dr. Seuss
Go Away Dog
by Nodset
Come Down Now Flying Cow
by Roland
The Big Honey Hunt
by Berenstain
The Bike Lesson
by Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears By the Sea
by Berenstain
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
by Dr. Seuss
Richard Scarry's the Early Bird
by Scarry
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Frog and Toad Together
by Lobel
Franklin's Surprise
by Jennings

1-3 LA r, ra by Nancy Shaw
Sheep In a Ship
- the "sh" sound in rhyme. "Sheep sail a ship on a deep-sea trip..."
Sheep In a Jeep- focus on "ee". Records the misadventures of a group of sheep that go riding in a jeep.
Sheep out to Eat
Five hungry sheep discover that a teashop may not be the best place for them to eat.
Sheep in a Shop Sheep enjoy the day, and each others company shopping.

1-5 LA r: gr. 3-5
ra
Dover Thrift Classics by Thornton W. Burgess
The Adventures of Bobby Coon
The Adventures of Jerry Muskrat at Home
The Adventures of Buster Bear
The Adventures of Poor Mrs. Quack
The Adventures of Peter Cottontail
The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum
The Adventures of Billy Skunk
The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel
The Adventures of Lightfoot the Deer
Mother West Wind's Neighbors
Mother West Wind
Mother West Wind's Children
LA - easy chapter books, could be read by a confident grade 2 student, animal characters in a "community" setting, originally published in the very early 1900's

K - 1 LA, SS, Sc, Math, Art r, ra, s, ch by Cynthia Rylant
Mr. Putter and Tabby....
... Pick the Pears
... Toot the Horn
... Take the Train
... Paint the Porch
... Walk the Dog
... Feed the Fish
... Pour the Tea
... Stir the Soup
... Make a Wish
... Write the Book
... Row the Boat
... Fly the Plane
... Pour the Tea
... Catch the Cold
... Bake the Cake
LA - a wonderful, gentle introduction to beginning chapter books
SS - A lonely old gentleman and the adventures he shares with his cat and unusual neighbor lady. Relationships. Creative problem solving. Simple pleasures.
Sc, Math - see discussion sheets (scroll down once you get there), seasons

K - 1 LA, SS, Sc, Math, Art r, ra, s, ch by Cynthia Rylant
Henry and Mudge....
... and the forever sea
... in the sparkle days
... in puddle trouble
... and the happy cate
... and the long weekend
... and the careful cousin
... and the sneaky crackers
... and the starry night
... and the snowman plan
... and Mrs. Hopper's house
... and the wild goose chase
... and the long weekend
... and the funny lunch
... in the green time
... get the cold shivers
... and the tall tree house
... and the tumbling trip
... and the best day of all
... and the big sleepover
... and Annies' good move
... and Annie's perfect pet
LA - a wonderful, gentle introduction to beginning chapter books, old people, and the seasons
SS - A young boy and his dog meet a variety of life experiences. Relationships. Creative problem solving. Simple pleasures.
Sc - a dog as a pet, seasons
Math - see discussion sheets (scroll down once you get there)

K - 5 LA & others r: older
ra, s, ch
The Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Warner (The first book is the absolute best. The next 4 or so are written by the original author, the remainder are "formula" written by others.) The children show old-fashioned resourcefulness and values.

K - 5 LA, SS r: gr 3+
ra, ch, s
The Courage of Sarah Noble, by Alice Dalgliesh
An 8-year-old girl finds courage to go alone with her father to build a new home inthe wilderness and the stay with the Indians when her father goes back to bring the rest of the family.
LA - beginning chapter book
SS - learning to see others beyond their skin color, bravery, courage, persevering through hardship

K - 5 LA, SS r: older
ra, ch
by Janette Oke (Bethel Publishing)
This Little Pig
The Prodigal Cat
A Cote of Many Colors
(pigeons)
The Impatient Turtle
Spunky's Diary
(puppy)
Prairie Dog Town
Who's New at the Zoo
(gorilla)
Pordy's Prickly Problem (
porcupine)
New Kid in Town
(skunk)
Maury Had a Little Lamb
Trouble in a Fur Coat
(bears)
Ducktails
(ducks)
LA - chapter books
SS - developing character traits, dealing with life situations, making choices
Sc - animal lives

1 - 5 LA, SS r: older
ra, ch
Hero Tales - volume I, II, III
A family treasury of True Stories From the Lives of Christian Heroes

by Dave and Neta Jackson
SS - history, character

K - 1 LA & others ra Lavender's Blue, A Book of Nursery Rhymes

1 - 2

LA, Sc.

ra Pride of Lions by Nicola Morgan a Canadian BC author/artist writes alliterations to teach animal groupings
LA - alliteration, Sc - animals

K - 2 LA ra *Jeremiah Learns to Read by Bogart

K - 3 L.A. & Art r, ra Making Cards by Penny King

K - 1 SS, LA r On My Street by Eve Merriam
SS - community, rhyming words

K -2 SS, LA, Sc ra The New Land by Marilynn Reynolds
SS, Sc - seasons, family

1 - 4 SS, LA, Sc r: gr. 2-4
ra: younger
When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs
S.S. gr. 3 environment & human behavior
Sc. gr. 2, 4 animals & interconnectedness

1-3 SS, LA, Math, cooking r: gr 3
ra: younger
*Thor by W.B. Valgardosn
S.S. Canada, directions & compass, helping others in community
Sc - solids & liquids, simple machines (auger & jigger)
Math - measurement

K-2 SS, LA r, ra Franklin's Neighborhood by Bourgeois
SS - community

1-3 SS, LA, Sc ra * Can You Whistle Johanna by Ulf Stark
SS - family (grandparents) and caring for others in community

1-3 SS, LA, Math, Art r: gr 3
ra: younger
* Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt by Smucker (Mennonite)
S.S.- family and change awareness of Canada,
Art quilt making,
Math -patterns

1-3 SS, LA, r, ra Selina and the Shoo-Fly Pie by Smucker (Mennonite); family, Canada, cooking

K-1 SS, LA r, ra Look What I See! Where Can I Be? In the Neighborhood by Michels
SS - neighborhood

K -2 SS, LA r, ra Pooh's Neighborhood by Kathleen W. Zoehfeld

1-2 SS, LA r, ra One Afternoon by Yumi Heo
SS - businesses in the neighborhood

1-2 SS, LA ra Something to Remember Me By by Bosak, A story about a grandmother's love for her daughter
SS - family and change

1-2 SS, LA ra *A Chair For My Mother by Vera Williams (excellent!!)
SS - family and change

1-3 SS, LA r: gr 3
ra: younger
*Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

1-3 SS, LA r: gr 3
ra: younger
Sarah May and the New Dress by Andrea Spalding
A beautiful book by a Canadian author, west coast setting
SS - change, patience, hope

2-3 SS, LA, Sc r: gr 3
ra: younger
Out and About at the Apple Orchard by Mayr
S.S. orchard farming, Sc.-interdependencies

3-5 SS, LA, Art r, ra A Dog Came Too by Manson & Ann Blades a true story of a dog who helped Alexander Mackenzie find the Pacific Ocean
SS - explorations
Art - watercolors

3 SS, LA, Art ra Lumberjack, paintings and Story by William Kurelek
S.S. - B.C. industry

3-4 SS, LA r, ra

s

informational textbooks
British Columbia
by Suzanne Levert
British Columbia, Eye on Canada series by Jill Foran
Vancouver: gateway to the Pacific by Jill Foran


1-5 SS, LA r, ra *M is for Maple: a Canadian Alphabet by Ulmer (Gr.1-2)
Canada: the Land
by Kalman (text book) Gr. 2-5
Canada the People
by Kalman (text book) Gr. 2-5
Canada the culture
by Kalman (text book) Gr. 2-5
Let's Call it Canada
: amazing stories of Canadian Place Name, by Hughes (gr. 4-5)
The Kids Book of Canadian Exploration
by Owens - Gr. 4-5
The Kids Book of Canadian History
by Hacker - Gr. 4-5
*The Kids Book of Canada by Greenwood (K-3)

1-3 SS, LA, Sc, Art r, ra Mary of Mile 18 by Ann Blades
a BC author/artist who depicts the simple life of a girl in northern BC and her desire to save a little wolf pup.
SS - goals, child's life
Sc - seasons/winter
Art - watercolors

1-3 SS, LA, Sc, Art r,ra Ida and the Wool Smugglers by Sue Ann Alderson & Ann Blades. Another fine story set o Vancouver Island, in BC
SS - sheep as a means of income
Sc - animals
Art - watercolors

K-2 SS, LA ra On The Town by Caseley;
SS - tour of town businesses

K-2 SS, LA ra by Bourgeois
Canadian Police Officers
Canadian Postal Workers
Canadian Fire Fighters

SS - community occupations and helpers

K-2 SS, LA ra *What is a Community? From A-Z by Kalman
SS - A great book for Grade 1 neighborhoods/community study. Even includes some built in activities

K-2 SS, LA r: advanced
ra
*Something From Nothing by Phoebe Gillman
A warm story about a Jewish Grandfather's love for his Grandson.
SS - Great for demonstrating reactions to change and community need vs wants.

1-3 SS, LA r: advanced
ra
*Bone Button Borscht by Aubrey Davis
LA - a take on Stone soup
SS - a great story about community cooperation and helping each other.

K-2 SS, LA ra Be My Neighbor by Ajmera & Ivanko

K-3 SS, LA r: advanced
ra
*Grandpa's Corner Store by Disalvo - Ryan
SS - Great story about change and mapping your neighborhood highly recommended

K-1 SS, LA ra Before I Was your Mother by Lasky
SS - family

K-2 SS, LA r: advanced
ra
by Morris
Houses and Homes, Families
That's Our Teacher
That's Our Librarian

We Need Auto Mechanics by Frost
Ask Nurse Pfaff, She'll Help You! By Flanagan

K-1 SS, LA ra Families are Different by Pellegrini

1-3 LA, SS r, ra by Barbara Cooney
Island Boy - Matthais grows from a little boy to a grandfather on a small island off the coast, includes map
Miss Rumphius - Miss Rumphius was once a little girl who loved the sea, longed to visit faraway places, and wished to do something to make the world more beautiful.
SS - family relations, setting and achieving goals

1-3 SS, Sc, LA r, ra Ox-cart Man by Donald Hall
SS, Sc - Describes the day-to-day life throughout the changing seasons of an early 19th-century New England family

1-3 SS, Sc, LA r, ra by Virginia Lee Burton
Katy and the Big Snow - Katy, a red crawler tractor goes to work for the Highway Dept of the city of Geoppolis
Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel - and old steam shovel proves his worth and is "recycled" rather than retired.
The Little House - A country house is unhappy when the city grows up all around her. Her family has a solution. Seasons.
SS - community workers, community development, recycling, problem solving
Sc - seasons

K-3 SS, Sc ra *Recycle! A Hand Book For Kids by Gibbons
Creating by Recycling by Llimos
SS, Sc - global stewardship

2-3 SS   Video City Under Siege, The Okanagan Mountain Park Fire Available at most libraries
SS - vivid demonstration of the contribution of community helpers

1-3 SS, Sc r: advanced
ra
*A Morning to Polish and Keep by Lawson
The Long Weekend by Harrison
A Mountain Alphabet by Kiss
SS, Sc - BC activity and scenery

1-4 SS, LA,
Sc
r: advanced
ra
*The Summer My Father was Ten by Brisson
SS - helping others in the community
Sc - plants

1-4 SS r,ra *Red Parka Mary by Eyvindson
SS - helping others in the community

1-4 SS, LA, Sc, Art r, ra, s by Jill Barklem
The Brambly Hedge series follows the activities of a community of field mice through the course of the seasons. Exquisitely detailed drawings and working diagrams of the community "businesses".
Spring Story
Summer Story
Autumn Story
Winter Story
The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge
(compilation of the above)
Poppy's Babies (Dusty presents Poppy with a new house)
Sea Story
SS - the many roles in a community, community interactions and relations, community in relation to the seasons
Sc - seasons, changes in plants, structures
Art - very detailed watercolor illustrations

1-5 SS, LA, Sc   Waiting for the Whales by Sheryl McFarlane
weblinks for kids http://www.sherylmcfarlane.ca/whales.html
SS - unique friendship that occurs between generations, family change
Sc - sea, garden
LA - BC author

1-5 SS, Sc, LA r,ra Jessie's Island by Sheryl McFarlane
SS - living on an island, "celebration of nature and the implicit entertainment available through the natural world..."
Sc - habitats
LA - example of using a web to create a story http://www.sherylmcfarlane.ca/jessie.html , BC author

1-5 SS, Sc, LA ra Only One Woof by James Herriot
SS - importance of relationships
Sc - dogs

1-5 SS, LA r, ra by Sydney Taylor
All-of-a-kind Family
More All-of-a-kind Family
All-of-a-kind Family uptown
All-of-a-kind Family downtown
Ella of All-of-a-kind Family
The adventures of five sisters and their brother growing up on New York's East Side in the early twentieth century.

1-3 SS, Sc, LA r, ra Amos's Sweater by Jant Lunn
SS, Sc - sheep, the making of a sweater from shearing to knitting
LA - Amos the sheep is old and cold and tired of giving up all his wool. Aunt Hattie shears him to make a sweater for Uncle Henry. This time Amos has head enough and sets out to reclaim what is rightfully his.

1-5 SS, Sc r, ra Harley by Star Livingstone
SS, Sc - getting along, building relationships, temper tantrums, llamas, sheep; Because Harley the llama does not get along with other llamas, he becomes a guard llama, protecting sheep from hungry coyotes and befriending a cantankerous ram.

1-3 SS, Sc r, ra by Kim Lewis
The Shepherd Boy
Emma's Lamb
Floss
One Summer Day
First Snow
SS - A family lives on an isolated sheep ranch. Each book is a "slice" from their life. Shows the importance of family, responsibility, trust, surroundings, simple pleasures...
Sc - sheep, dogs, weather

1-4 SS, Sc r, ra by James Herriot
Only One Woof - a dog teaches the importance of relationships
Oscar, cat-about-town -
a stray cat becomes a community cat
Blossom comes Home -
an old cow is sold to make room for a younger one... with surprising results
Moses the Kitten -
an orphaned kitten is raised by a pig
The Christmas Day Kitten -
how a stray cat gives a woman and her three Basset hounds a Christmas present
SS, Sc - farm life, rural relationships, animals

       

      Science & Math Focus

1-5 Sc, SS, LA r,ra Moon Snail Song by Sheryl McFarlane
weblinks for kids http://www.sherylmcfarlane.ca/moonsnail.html
Sc - sea, seashore environment, moon snails
LA - BC author

1-4 Sc, LA r,ra Mouton's Impossible Dream by Anik McGrory
Sc - (history) Mouton the sheep is fascinated by the thought of flying and she gets her wish, when she is sent up in the Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon in 1783

K-1 Sc ra God's Little Seeds: a book of parables by Bijou Le Tord
Sc - plants

K-1 Sc r, ra Seeds Grow! By Angel Shelf Medearis

*The Carrot Seed By Ruth Krauss,

A Gardener's Alphabet by Mary Azarian


3 Sc r: advanced
ra
How a Plant Grows by Bobbie Kalman

1-3 Sc, SS r: gr. 3
ra

*The Summer My Father Was Ten by Brisson
The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree
by Gail Gibbons
Sc, SS - plants, seasonal change


1&3 Sc r, ra From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
Sc - plants

2-4 Sc r, ra by Elaine Pascoe
The Ecosystem of a Garden
The Ecosystem of an Apple Tree
Sc - interdepnedencies, habitats

1-4 Sc r, ra, s Let's read and Find Out Science series
Who Eats What: Food Chains and Food Webs
by Lauber
Down Comes the Rain
by Branley
The Planets in our Solar System
by Branley
Sc - interdependencies, water cycle, space science

K-3 Sc ra I Wonder Why Camels Have humps: and other questions about animals by Anita Ganeri
Sc - animals

2 Sc ra Army Ant Parade by April Pulley Sayre
Sc - animals

2 Sc r, ra From Egg to Butterfly by Zemlicka
From Chick to Chicken by Powell
Sc - animals

1 - 4 Sc r: advanced
ra

A Loon Alone by Love by Laurence Pringle
Sc - animals


K - 4 Sc r, ra By the Seashore by Paul
Sc - animals

1-4 Sc r: advanced
ra
*Salmon Creek Crows: Strange and Wonderful Annette Lebox
*Tadpole and Frog by Christine Back
Sc -life cycles, seasons, habitats

2-5 Sc r: advanced
ra
Ride the Wind - Seymour Simon
They Swim the Seas - Simon
Sc -life cycles, seasons

2-4 Sc r: advanced
ra
*The Life cycle of an Earthworm by Kalman
Earthworms by Pascoe
*Wiggling Worms at Work by Pfeffer
Wonderful Worms by Glaser
Sc -life cycles, seasons, caring for an animal, interdependencies, composting

3-5 Sc r, ra Building Big (PBS) / David Macaulay
video and website series; watch the library videos, try the online virtual labs, challenges, and projects
Video Building Big - Bridges
Video Building Big - Domes
Video Building Big - Skyscrapers
Video Building Big - Dams
Video Building Big - Tunnels
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/index.html
Sc - structures and buildings

1-5+ Sc r, ra Books by David Macaulay (wonderful drawings and diagrams!)
Underground
Great Moments in Architecture
Unbuilding
(structure of a skyscraper)
Castle (planning and construction of a castle and adjoining town in 13th century Wales)
The Way Things Work (explains the scientific principles and workings of hundreds of machines)
Cathedral: the story of it construction
Pyramid
(follows the process of building an ancient Egyptian pyramid)
Rome Antics (a wonderful wordless picture book that shows buildings from unusual perspectives)
Sc - structures and buildings

1-5+ Sc r, ra Videos by David Macaulay
The Way Things Work : ballooning
The Way Things Work : floating
The Way Things Work : heat
The Way Things Work : magnets
The Way Things Work : sound
The Way Things Work : sensors
The Way Things Work : photography
The Way Things Work : screws
The Way Things Work : springs
The Way Things Work : pulleys
The Way Things Work : pumps
The Way Things Work : engines
The Way Things Work : telecommunications
The Way Things Work : pressure
The Way Things Work : light
The Way Things Work : flight
The Way Things Work : friction
The Way Things Work : inclined planes
The Way Things Work : cooling
The Way Things Work : steam power
The Way Things Work : belts and gears
The Way Things Work : sinking
The Way Things Work : levers
The Way Things Work : wheels and axles

1-5+ Sc r, ra Computer CD-ROM David Macaulay / Dorling Kindersley (available in many libraries)
The New Way Things Work

2 Sc ra My Pet Fish by Coleman

K-2 Sc ra Wild Babies by Ruurs

3 Sc r, ra

 

s

Houses and Homes by Anne Morris
Birds Build Nests
*I Wonder Why Tunnels are Round and Other Questions About Building. By Steve Parker
*We can build it
by Rosie Dalzell (this book is excellent and fun as it includes building crafts.)
How it Happens at the Building Site by Jenna Anderson
Sc - structures and building

3 Sc, SS r, ra Native Dwellings by Bonnie Shemie
Houses of Snow, Skin and Bones - the far north
Houses of Bark -
woodland dwellings: tipi, wigwam, and longhouse
Houses of Wood - Northwest Coast
House of Hide and Earth - plains dwellings
Sc - structures and building, geographic regions, habitats, use of renewable resources
SS - indigenous Canadian homes by region and building material, use of renewable resources

1-5 Sc r, ra Starting With Science: Living Things by Adrienne Mason
12 easy, hands-on projects; each with instructions and discussion questions; good opportunity for older children to lead younger children in discovery activities
Sc - living things, needs of living things, cells, types of living things, life cycles

Note: Look for many other Science titles by Adrienne Mason

3 Sc ra *Constellations by Sipiera
Dot to Dot in the Sky by Hinz
Stars by Birch
Sc - star study

5 Sc   *Shapes in the Sky: A Book About Clouds by Josepha Sherman
Sc - weather/clouds

5 Sc r, ra Ramps and Wedges by Oxlade
Sc - simple machines

1-3 Sc, Math r, ra Is a Blue Whale The Biggest Thing There Is? by Wells

1-3 Math, LA  

A Chair For My Mother by Vera Williams
Excellent for developing saving money habits.


K1 Math, Sc r, ra

Two Peas in a Pod by Fuchshuber
Math - counting 1-10
Sc - animals


1-3 Math r, ra, s

Fractions by Pistoia
Mighty Math others in the series areCounting, Fractions, Graphs, Measurement, Money, Patters, Shapes, Time


1-3 Math r: gr 3
ra, s
Spyglass Books - others in the series are
Numbers We Know
Patterns
The shape of Things
Take a Guess
Time to Tell Time

K-3 Math r: gr 3
ra

Why We Measure by Janine Scott


K-3 Math r, ra, s Math Start by Stuart J. Murphy. In this series, everyday life is the basis for each entertaining story. Simple math concepts are embedded in each story so that young children intuitively understand them. Adults can use the creative suggestions for activities in the back of each book to extend learning opportunities. For a list of titles and topics visit: www.mathstartbooks.com or www.stuartjmurphy.com . Some titles I have used:

Less Than Zero negative numbers
Lemonade for Sale simple bar graphs
Racing Around perimeter
Betcha! estimating
Give me Half ½ fraction


K-2 Math r, ra I.Q. It's Time by Mary Ann Fraser
Math - telling time