| Non-fiction Grades K-3 |
Fiction K-3 (Picture Books) |
| Non-fiction Grades 4-6 plus |
Fiction K-3 (Chapter Books) |
| Youth Non Fiction Grades 7 and up |
Fiction Grades 4-6 |
| Poetry/Novels in Poetry |
Youth Fiction Grades 7 and up |
| Suitable for All Grades |
Young Adult Grades 10 - 12 |
| Books suitable for French Immersion Students |
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Actual Size by Steve Jenkins
- Uses collage techniques to present images of animals, or parts of animals, their ‘actual’ size [try measuring your hand against the gorilla hand on the cover!]. Back pages book contain brief information about each of the animals pictured. Could be used in studying measurement, as well as for animal study, and also useful for art ideas. Jenkins is also the author of Prehistoric Actual Size.
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell
- At New York City's Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches. A true story and told in an entirely appropriate way, but nevertheless this is one of the most 'challenged' books in recent years.(02/08)
Chameleon, Chameleon by Joy Cowley; photographs by Nic Bishop
- Experience close-up the many moods (and colors) of chameleons, through wonderful close-up photographs, as one brave chameleon ventures from the safety of his tree in search of a new home.(02/08)
Crinkleroot’s Guide to Walking in Wild Places by Jim Arnosky
- Fun approach to studying nature. For primary grades. (12/05)
Follow the Line by Laura Ljungkvist
- We follow a single line as it moves through the book, creating a wide variety of objects and places. The reader is invited to count different objects found on each page, from fire hydrants in a big city to babies sleeping in a country village, but the most interesting aspect is the way all these can be created with one unbroken continuous line. (02/07)
The Hidden Alphabet by Laura Seeger
- Each page in this artful alphabet book begins with die-cut opening that seems to show an object - but when the flap is lifed a related letter of the alphabet appears. Sophisticated enough to also appeal to older children and with art project potential.(12/06)
In the Street of the Temple Cloth Printers by Dorothy Field
- Useful for the grade three Social Studies curriculum, although the level is more suitable for upper elementary. Through photographs and story the author follows the daily life of one family in the Gujarat area of India, as they create a temple cloth, using intricately carved blocks and dyes, and their story is interwoven with various Hindu stories represented by the images they use. Great art connections too. (12/06)
Little Bull: The Story of Little Bull by Ellen James (not in Doucette)
- A photo story following the life of a young African elephant from birth through his first year, with gorgeous pictures of the landscape of Kenya. Based on a Discovery Channel film. (02/08)
Mathematickles by Betsy Franco
- A collection of poems written in the form of mathematical problems. Used very successfully in a fraction lesson for grade five and then tied to an art lesson. The students really enjoyed the book and coming up with their own 'mathematickles' in both poetry form and art.(10/07)
A Million Dots by Andrew Clements
- Used in a grade six math class to help students conceptualize large numbers, this book consists of a series of pictures composed of dots that add up to one million (the author points out that if you observed each dot for one second, it would take you eleven and a half days!) A companion, or alternative, is David M. Schwartz's classic How Much Is a Million?. (03/07)
Move by Steve Jenkins
- This well illustrated book introduces a different form of animal motion on each new page, with the movements of one animal flowing into the movements of another. A playful exploration of all the different ways in which animals get around.(02/07)
Odd Boy Out by Don Brown
- Albert Einstein as a little boy whose differences from his peers make him the ‘odd boy out’.
One is a Snail, Ten is a Crab: A Counting by Feet Book by April and Jeff Sayre (not in Doucette)
- A fresh look at counting based on the number of feet different animals have - beginning with a snail's one foot, human's 2, up to 10 for crabs. After 10, the numbers go by 10s to 100, with the number shown in two ways, for example: "70 is seven crabs- or ten insects and a crab. 80 is eight crabs- or ten spiders." Fun for a grade 2/3 math class thinking about number groupings and writing math sentences.(03/07)
One Red Dot by David Carter
Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff
- Owen, a young hippopotamus found separated from his family after the 2004 tsunami bonds with a 130 year-old giant tortoise named Mzee, and gives him a new lease on life.(02/08)
The Peace Book by Todd Parr
- Relates the idea of peace in terms young children can understand (peace is making new friends) and with bright, bold illustrations. Parr is also the author of I'ts Okay to be Different.
Pigs from One to Ten by Arthur Geisert
- Combines a story with a series of ‘hidden picture’ illustrations in which readers are asked to find 10 hidden pigs and numerals in each picture. An unusual and entertaining counting book.
Puzzle Island by Paul Adshead (a Child’s Play book – not in Doucette)
- An intricate puzzle book with hidden pictures, scrambled words, secret codes and messages to be assembled. Also by the same author and publisher: One Odd Old Owl .
Red-eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley; photographs by Nic Bishop
- Amazing close-up photographs and a strong sense of narrative combine to make this an outstanding work of non-fiction. (02/08)
Vincent’s Colors Words and pictures by Vincent Van Gogh, edited by Willilam Lack. Published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Used in conjunction with The Yellow House for a unit on colour. The art connection is obvious.
What Does Peace Feel Like? by Vladimir Radunsky
- Kids express their ideas about what peace feels like, smells like, feels like etc. Words for peace in different languages at back. The idea could be used with students at higher levels too. (01/07)
Where’s the Dragon by Jason Hook; illus. by Richard Hook (not in Doucette)
- Kids will have fun learning to count to higher numbers, as they hunt for the 76 dragons hidden on the embossed pages of this book.
