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Pick of the Decade 1995-2005:
1st Grade
Picture Books
Feiffer, Jules. Bark, George , 1999.
When George's mother instructs him to bark, he tries to comply, but every time the canine opens his mouth, a different animal sound comes out.
Finchler, Judy. Miss Malarkey Doesn't Live in Room 10 , 1995.
A first grader pictures his teacher's round-the-clock life at school and is astounded when she moves into his apartment building. (Sequels: Miss Malarkey Won't Be in Today ; Testing Miss Malarkey ; You're a Good Sport, Miss Malarkey ; and Miss Malarkey's Field Trip .)
Fleming, Denise. Boxes for Katje , 2003.
In post World War II Holland, Katje receives a relief box from Rosie in the US , and this begins the sending of supplies that helps the townspeople survive the winter (based on a true story).
Fraser, Mary Ann. I. Q. Goes to School , 2002.
I.Q. is the class rodent that Mrs. Furber brings to school in September. He is not content to simply be the class pet, he wants to be a star pupil. (Sequel: I. Q. Goes to the Library .)
French, Jackie. Diary of a Wombat , 2003.
A wombat relates her week of antics as she becomes chummy with her human neighbors.
Greene, Rhonda. Eek! Creak! Snicker, Sneak , 2002.
Bugbear and Bugaboo specialize in making the creepy noises that scare children until a brother and sister turn the tables on them.
Henkes, Kevin, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse , 1996.
Lilly loves school and adores her teacher, until the day when he won't let her show off her purple, plastic purse. (See also: A Weekend with Wendell ; Sheila Rae, the Brave ; Chester's Way ; Jessica ; Julius, the Baby of the World ; Chrysanthemum ; and Owen .)
Henkes, Kevin. So Happy! 2005.
There once was a boy, a rabbit, a magic seed, and a book. The boy, who was bored, went looking for something to do. The rabbit, who was curious, explored until he was lost. The seed was thirsty, but soon it grew and grew and grew.
Hesse, Karen. Come on, Rain! , 1999.
Summer in the city is hot, hot, hot, and Tessie rejoices when rain showers down on them at last.
Hoberman, Mary Ann. You Read to Me, I'll Read to You , 2001.
Thirteen short stories feature text that is engagingly designed for an adult and child to read together. (Sequel: You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together .)
Howe, James. Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores , 1999.
Horace, Morris and Dolores, a trio of mice who are best friends, have loads of fun together until the boys join a club that does not allow girls. (Sequel: Horace and Morris Join the Circus (But What About Dolores? )
Inkpen, Mick. Nothing, 1998, o.p.
When the family moves away, they leave behind a tattered stuffed animal who ventures out into the world to find out who he is.
Isadora, Rachel. Bring on That Beat , 2002.
A trio of jazz musicians wake the neighborhood with music in 1930's Harlem .
James, Simon. Little One Step , 2003.
When three ducklings wander far from home, the older two convince the youngest to play, "one step," to make it home safely.
Kellogg, Steven. The Missing Mitten Mystery , 2000.
After playing in the snow all day, Annie realizes that she's lost a mitten and sets off to locate it.
Keller, Holly. Pearl's New Skates , 2005.
Pearl has new skates. They are shiny white with red tassels, and she loves them. Will Pearl ever skate in real life the way she skates in her dreams?
Kinerk, Robert. Clorinda , 2003.
When Clorinda the cow discovers ballet, she dreams of becoming a bovine ballerina.
Kitamura, Satoshi. Me and My Cat , 2000.
A witch casts a spell and Nicholas wakes up in his cat's body, while his cat is in his.
Krensky, Stephen. The Youngest Fairy Godmother Ever, 2000.
Mavis wants to be the person who makes wishes come true. She practices waving a magic wand and winking in the mirror until she meets Cindy, the new girl in school who could really use her help.
Krensky, Stephen. My Teacher's Secret Life , 1996.
A young student thinks he knows how teachers live at school after the bell rings, until he spies his teacher at the supermarket.
Kvasnosky, Laura McGee. Zelda and Ivy , 1998.
Three stories delineating the relationship between two fox sisters. Zelda, the oldest, is always the boss and Ivy always the one who gets to do whatever Zelda dreams up. (Sequels: Zelda and Ivy and the Boy Next Door ; and Zelda and Ivy One Christmas .)
Levine, Gail Carson. Betsy Who Cried Wolf , 2002.
Betsy tries valiantly to protect her sheep but a wolf tricks her into blowing her whistle for help. When, eventually, no help comes, Betsy discovers another way to solve her difficulties.
London, Jonathan. Sun Dance, Water Dance , 2001.
A group of fun-loving children play throughout the summer day. (See also: The Eyes of the Grey Wolf ; Like Butter on Pancakes ; Fireflies, Fireflies, Light My Way ; Ice Bear and Little Fox ; Baby Whale's Journey ; and When the Fireflies Come .)
Long, Melinda. How I Became a Pirate , 2003.
Jeremy becomes a buccaneer and discovers the ups and downs of being a pirate. When he decides it's time to head for home he convinces the pirates to bury their treasure in his backyard and makes it home it time for soccer practice.
Lowell, Susan. Little Red Cowboy Hat , 1997.
Mother warns Little Red to beware of snakes on her way to Grandma's in this mid-western version of the classic tale. (See also: The Bootmaker and the Elves and Cindy Ellen .)
Lucas, David. Halibut Jackson , 2004.
Shy Halibut Jackson rarely ventures far from home, but when he does, he is always camouflaged to match his surroundings until the day he attends the queen's party and miscalculates what to wear.
Mahy, Margaret. Dashing Dog , 2002.
Although this poodle's been spiffed-up for a day at the beach, he loves nothing more than dashing down the shore and chasing seagulls. (See also: The Rattlebang Picnic .)
McCaughrean, Geraldine. Unicorns! Unicorns! , 1997.
The forty days and forty nights of rain has begun and Noah is calling to the unicorns to come but they are busy helping other animals.
McClintock, Barbara. Dahlia , 2002.
In Victorian England, Charlotte likes to take her teddy bear and play in the mud or climb trees, and she takes her new porcelain doll, Dahlia, with her.
McGhee, Alison. Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth , 2004.
A first grader is frightened on her first day of school after hearing a rumor that her teacher is a 300-year-old alien with a purple tongue who steals baby teeth from her students.
McPhail, David. Edward and the Pirates , 1997.
Edward loves to read everything, even cereal boxes and seed catalogs. Everything he reads becomes real and one day at the library he finds a book on pirates. That's when the adventure begins. (See also: Santa's Book of Names and Edward in the Jungle .)
McPhail, David. Pigs Ahoy! , 1995.
Mischievous pigs wreak humorous havoc when they embark on an ocean voyage. (See also: Pig Pig Rides ; Pig Pig Gets a Job ; Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore! ; Pig Pig Goes to Camp ; Those Can Do Pigs ; Mole Music ; Drawing Lessons from a Bear ; and Big Pig and Little Pig .)
Millman, Isaac. Moses Goes to a Concert ,1998.
Moses and his classmates, who are all deaf, attend a concert. They sit up front where they can feel the percussion instruments and later meet their teacher's friend, the percussionist, who is also deaf. (Sequels: Moses Goes to School ; Moses Goes to a Concert ; and Moses Sees a Play .)
Mitchell, Marianne. Joe Cinders , 2002.
Ranch hand, Joe Cinders, thinks he has far too many chores to do to go to the fiesta until a mysterious stranger gives him some magical help.
Mitchell, Rhonda. The Talking Cloth , 1997.
An African-American girl learns from her aunt the significance of the adinkra cloth from West Africa .
Moss, Lloyd. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin , 1996.
With lilting rhyme, Moss introduces the instruments of the orchestra. |
