End of School:

The Last Day of School by Louise Borden, Adam Gustavson, illustrator (2nd- 4th)

The school year is coming to an end, and everyone at Albert E. Chapman Elementary School is counting down, including Mrs. Mallory’s third grade class. In the last weeks of school there is much to be done, from putting away supplies to cleaning out desks to finding a summer home for the class pet, Rhoda.

Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg, illustrator Judy Love (K-3rd)

Mrs. Hartwell’s students are worried about how sad she’ll be and how much she’ll miss them when school lets out for the summer. They search for the perfect gift to help her remember them and decide to make a poster with a poem and drawings featuring all of the things that they’ll miss about school, especially their teacher.

No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher’s Dirty Looks! (Gilbert and Friends) by Diane deGroat, (PreK-2nd)

It’s the last day of school! Gilbert is excited about summer vacation. First there’s a class party, and Mrs. Byrd will give out the end-of-the-year awards. But will Gilbert even get one? Patty’s the best speller. Philip’s the best reader. What is Gilbert best at?

The Last Day of Kindergarten by Nancy Loewen, Sachiko, illustrator (PreK-K)

“Today is the last day of kindergarten. I wish it were the FIRST. Then I’d meet Mrs. Popinski all over again.” A little girl is sad that kindergarten is coming to an end. She wishes it were the first day again, when everything was exciting and new and there was such a fun year ahead. But then she realizes that graduating is exciting, too, and maybe first grade won’t be so bad, after all! Bright mixed-media artwork is a perfect complement to the text.

Happy Endings: A Story About Suffixes by Robin Pulver, illustrator Lynn Rowe Reed (2nd-4th)

It is the last day of school before summer vacation and Mr. Wright has told his class that after lunch and the read-aloud, they will tackle word endings. When the word endings written on the board hear that they will be “tackled,” they become concerned and develop a plan of action.

Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten by Joseph Slate, Ashley Wolff, illustrator (PreK-K)

Miss Bindergarten and her class have had a great year in kindergarten! They have gone on a field trip, marked the 100th day, created a circus, and even survived a wild day. But now the school year is over, and it’s time to remember, to celebrate, and for Miss Bindergarten to say, “Good-bye, kindergarten, it’s been a special year.”

The Night Before Summer Vacation by Natasha Wing, Julie Durrell (PreK-3rd)

A little girl and her family are getting ready to go on vacation . . . or at least they are trying to. In the effort to pack everything that will be needed, there’s bound to be something overlooked, and what that is provides a funny ending to this meter-perfect “twist” on Clement Moore’s classic.

Summer Vacation:

Those Summers by Aliki (PreK-2nd)

This book is about remembering days of sand castles and sunburns, of saltwater taffy and sand-covered sandwiches. Remembering how the cousins would romp in the waves and roll in the hot sand like fish cakes. At night it was long walks on the boardwalks, Ferris wheel rides and cotton candy. Those are the days that Aliki calls back in this heartfelt remembrance of one special summer vacation by the shore.

Arthur’s Family Vacation: An Arthur Adventure by Marc Brown (PreK-2nd)

Arthur’s family vacation is all wet–it’s pouring rain! Arthur has to take charge and finds new things for his family to do–like go to Gatorville. Maybe family vacation isn’t so bad after all!

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Clooney (K-3rd)

Miss Rumphius fulfills her dream of seeking adventure in faraway places, and then sets out to make the world more beautiful.

‘Twas the Night Before Summer by Anne Margaret Lewis and Wendy Popko (PreK-2nd)

Take a ride with Luna Bee May on her enchanting bug ship as she shares the gift of discovery with a young girl and her brother. All it takes is one southern belle luna moth and one certain wishing star to rekindle the true spirit of their imaginations.

Saying Good-bye, Saying Hello…When Your Family Is Moving by Michaelene Mundy; illustrated by R.W. Alley (PreK-2nd)

As the title reflects this is about needing to leave friends and familiar places and going to a new place where there will be new friends to meet and new experiences.

Pictures from Our Vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins (1st-5th)

This account of a family’s cross-country road trip to visit family as told by using instant camera pictures, children’s captions, and hand-drawn maps is profound in its seeming simplicity.

Summer’s Vacation by Lynn Plourde and Greg Couch (PreK-2nd)

Vibrant, sunny Summer is too busy having fun shaping sand castles, jumping in the waves, gobbling berries, and camping under a blanket of stars to do her chores. But it’s not until she hikes to the top of a mountain and sees the dull, parched land below, that she realizes what she has done. Summer grabs her sprinkling can. Is she too late to make amends?

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant & Bonnie Kelly-Young (K-3rd)

This is a true classic from favorite author Cynthia Rylant about the anticipation of the visit from relatives, their festive celebration while together, and the sadness when they leave. But they know they will be together again next summer.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague (PreK-2nd)

Some kids spend their summer vacation at camp. Some kids spend it at Grandma’s house. Wallace Bleff spent his out west…on a ride, a rope, and a roundup he’ll never forget.

Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee (PreK-2nd)

On a hot summer day, a little girl finds ways to entertain herself and stay cool. She catches a butterfly, sips lemonade, jumps in a pool, and goes on a picnic. At night, she sees an owl in a tree and a frog in a pond, and hears leaves rustling. Before long, she’s fast asleep, dreaming about more summer days and summer nights.

Books About Travels:

Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure! by Jeff Brown (2nd-5th)

When Stanley Lambchop wakes up one morning, his brother, Arthur, is yelling; a bulletin board fell on Stanley during the night, and now he is only half an inch thick! Amazing things begin happening to him. Stanley gets rolled up, mailed, and flown like a kite. He even gets to help catch two dangerous art thieves. He may be flat, but he’s a hero! This is the first of many books about Stanley’s traveling adventures.

Here is a list of other favorite Flat Stanley books by Jeff Brown to share with students. These are short chapter books everyone enjoys.

Stanley, Flat Again

Stanley in Space

Flat Stanley and the Haunted House

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #1: The Mount Rushmore Calamity

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #2: The Great Egyptian Grave Robbery

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #3: The Japanese Ninja Surprise

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #4: The Intrepid Canadian Expedition

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #5: The Amazing Mexican Secret

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #6: The African Safari Discovery

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #7: The Flying Chinese Wonders

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #8: The Australian Boomerang Bonanza

Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures #9: The U.S. Capital Commotion

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague (PreK-3rd)

A beguiling dog laments his fate at obedience school through a series of hilarious letters home.

Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation by Mark Teague (PreK-3rd)

As if obedience school wasn’t bad enough, Ike now finds himself in jail–wrongly accused (of course!) of terrorizing the Hibbins’s cats and stealing their cat treats. Once again, he pleads his case to Mrs. LaRue, who’s vacationing in France, but to no avail. When a string of canary burglaries stalls the Snort City Police force’s investigation–and reveals their crime-solving ineptitude–Ike flees custody and takes matters into his own paws.

LaRue Across America: Postcards From the Vacation by Mark Teague (PreK-3rd)

Bestselling, award-winning author/illustrator Mark Teague makes readers laugh aloud when LaRue goes on vacation with Mrs. Hibbins’s cats! Ike’s plans for a peaceful cruise with Mrs. LaRue are thwarted when their neighbor Mrs. Hibbins falls suddenly ill from heat stroke. Mrs. LaRue suggests that she and Ike care for her cats while Mrs. Hibbins is in the hospital, inviting them along on the cruise. But cats aren’t allowed, and Mrs. LaRue decides to take them all on a week’s vacation of road-tripping.

A Lucky Dog by Dirk Wales (K-5th)

The true story of Owney, a friend of the mail service. He loved the smell of railroad mail bags. He slept on them and rode with them to the train station in Albany, New York. One day he got a chance to ride a Mail Train. That was the beginning of Owney’s travels on Mail Trains all over the country and his chance to make hundreds of new friends.

The Further Adventures of a Lucky Dog: Owney, U.S. Rail Mail Mascot by Dirk Wales, Catherine Dejong Artman and Townsend Artman, illustrators (K-5th)

More travels with Owney. This time he journeys across the United States through Chicago and on to Oakland, CA.

Stringbean’s Trip to the Shining Sea by Vera B. Williams & Jennifer Williams, Vera B. Williams, illustrator (K-4th)

Here are the postcards and snapshots that Stringbean Coe and his brother, Fred, sent home from the long trip they made one summer in Fred’s truck. Their grandfather made this album for the family.

Chapter Books:

These chapter books have been specially selected because they are from series of books or by authors who have written several chapter books. Hopefully, after hearing one of the books read aloud the students will be interested in reading other books in the same series or by the same author over the summer break from school.

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Tommy Greenwald, J.P. Coovert, illustrator (4th-6th)

Despite all attempts to avoid reading and extra work, Charlie Joe Jackson finds himself in a terrible dream he can’t wake up from: Camp Rituhbukkee (pronounced “read-a-bookie”)—a place filled with grammar workshops, Read-a-Ramas, and kids who actually like reading. But Charlie Joe is determined to convince the entire camp to hate reading and writing—one genius at a time.

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer (Book #10) by Megan McDonald and Peter H. Reynolds (2nd – 5th)

Judy is not looking forward to the summer because her parents are leaving for California and leaving her and Stink with their aunt. Just when it looks like her summer is going to be boring, Judy comes up with a thrill-a-delic plan that involves lots of exciting adventures which add up to a fantastically fun summer.

Magic Tree House #25: Stage Fright on a Summer Night by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca (1st – 4th)

This book in the favorite chapter-book series takes Jack and Annie back to Elizabethan England where they meet one of the greatest writers of all time: William Shakespeare. But Mr. Shakespeare’s having a hard time with some of the actors in his latest show. Are Jack and Annie ready to make a big entrance so the show can go on?

Magic Tree House #31: Summer of the Sea Serpent by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca (1st – 4th)

This book in the favorite chapter-book series celebrates the summer solstice. Jack and Annie are on a journey to a seaside land of mystery and myth where they must overcome their fears and solve an ancient riddle. Magic Tree House books are known around the world as books that inspire reading.

Spotlight on Books by Kevin Henkes:

Kevin Henkes (pronounced HENK-us) thought he would be an artist until his junior year of high school, when one of his teachers encouraged him in his writing efforts. He discovered that children’s books combined both his literary and artistic interests.

Henkes is author and illustrator of children’s picture books, many of which feature mice as their main characters. He also writes young-adult fiction. Henkes wrote his first book during his freshman year in college. Henkes, one of five children, says that many of his storylines are inspired by his family and the neighborhood where he grew up in Racine, Wisconsin.

Henkes’s first book, All Alone, was published in 1981 by Greenwillow Books. More than 30 books followed, including Chrysanthemum and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Henkes won the 2004 Newbery Honor for Olive’s Ocean, a 1994 Caldecott Honor for Owen, and a 2005 Caldecott Medal for Kitten’s First Full Moon. All of his books to date have been published by Greenwillow Books.

All Alone by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

When you are alone, you can do all sorts of things: pretend you are tiny (or enormous), hear things other people can’t hear, and see things they can’t see. Being alone is fine — sometimes. Kevin Henke’s first book makes it clear that he remembers his own childhood and respects that time in others. His remarkable paintings are unforgettable.

A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Wendell was spending the weekend at Sophie’s house. Playing house, Wendell was the mother, the father, and the children; Sophie was the dog. Playing bakery, Wendell was the baker; Sophie got to be the sweet roll. Wendell shone his flashlight in Sophie’s eyes when she tried to sleep. But when he gave her a new hairdo with shaving cream, it was the last straw, and Sophie made up a game that left Wendell speechless for a time — and won the day for friendship.

Birds by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek (PreK-3rd)

Birds come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Birds are magic. Birds are everywhere. If you listen very carefully you will hear them, no matter where you live. And if you look very closely you will see them, no matter where you are.

Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Chester and Wilson had their own way of doing things, and they did everything together. When they cut their sandwiches, it was always diagonally. When they rode their bikes, they always used hand signals. If Chester was hungry, Wilson was, too. They were two of a kind, and that’s the way it was – until indomitable Lilly, who had her own way of doing things, moved into the neighborhood.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Until Chrysanthemum started kindergarten, she believed her parents when they said her name was perfect. But on the first day of school, Chrysanthemum begins to suspect that her name is far less than perfect, especially when her class dissolves into giggles upon hearing her name read aloud.

Grandpa & Bo (Council of Wisconsin Writers Picture Book Award) by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Bo was spending the summer with Grandpa. They walked and fished and made things together. They celebrated Christmas together — a very special summer Christmas. But best of all, they talked and laughed and talked some more. And when they finally saw the shooting star at the end of the summer, there was no question that their wishes would be the same.

Jessica by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

“There is no Jessica,” said Ruthie’s parents. But of course there was. She ate with Ruthie, played with Ruthie, and was sorry when Ruthie was bad. Nobody could see Jessica — except Ruthie. When it came time for Ruthie to go to school, Jessica went with her. Her parents hoped Ruthie would find a friend at school who would replace Jessica. They were in for a (happy) surprise!

Julies, the Baby of the World (ALA Notable Children’s Books 1990, Booklist Editors Choice 1990) by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Lilly, from Chester’s Way, thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting. But when Cousin Garland criticizes Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.

Kitten’s First Full Moon (2005 Caldecott Medal) by Kevin Henkes (PreK-2nd)

What a night! The moon is full. Kitten is hungry, and inquisitive, and brave, and fast, and persistent, and unlucky . . . then lucky! What a night!

Lilly’s Big Day by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Mr. Slinger has big news. He’s getting married. Married! Lilly has big plans. She assumes she’s going to be the flower girl. (Lilly has always wanted to be a flower girl…even more than a surgeon or a diva or a hairdresser.)

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse and its treasures to school and can’t wait until sharing time, Mr. Slinger takes her prized possessions. Lilly’s fury leads to revenge and then to remorse and she sets out to make amends.

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes (PreK-2nd)

One bright spring day a little white rabbit sets out from home on an adventure. What does he find? Look! Everything is new. Anything is possible with this bunny’s huge imagination.

My Garden by Kevin Henkes (PreK-2nd)

The girl in this book grows chocolate rabbits, tomatoes as big as beach balls, flowers that change color, and seashells in her garden.

Once Around the Block (Library of Congress Best Books of the Year) by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Annie is bored until a walk around the block to visit her neighbors brings several pleasant diversions.

Owen (Caldecott Honor Book) by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket. “Fuzzy goes where I go,” said Owen. But Mrs. Tweezers disagreed. She thought Owen was too old for a blanket. Owen disagreed. No matter what Mrs. Tweezers came up with, Blanket Fairies or vinegar, Owen had the answer. But when school started, Owen’s mother knew just what to do, and everyone — Owen, Fuzzy, and even Mrs. Tweezers — was happy.

Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

When Penny comes home from school, she is ready to sing her song. But the babies are sleeping, and Mama and Papa are worried that Penny will wake them up. Oh, but it is a good song, a really wonderful song . . . and Penny wants more than anything to sing it.

Sheila Rae, the Brave by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Sheila Rae is not afraid of anything. She walks backward with her eyes closed, steps on every crack, growls at stray dogs, and bares her teeth at stray cats. But when Sheila Rae becomes lost on the way home from school, it is her “scaredy cat” sister, Louise, who shows her a thing or two about bravery and sibling love.

Wemberly Worried (ALA Notable Children’s Book 2000, Parenting Magazine — Reading Magic Award 2000, Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books 2001, School Library Journal Best Children’s Books 2001) by Kevin Henkes (PreK-3rd)

Wemberly worried about spilling her juice, about shrinking in the bathtub, even about snakes in the radiator. She worried morning, noon, and night. “Worry, worry, worry,” her family said. “Too much worry.” And Wemberly worried about one thing most of all: her first day of school. But when she meets a fellow worrywart in her class, Wemberly realizes that school is too much fun to waste time worrying!

Flower Month Favorites:

Flowers by Vijaya Bodach (PreK-3rd)

Simple text and photographs present the flowers of plants, how they grow, and their uses.

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting; illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (K-1st)

An urban African-American girl and her father buy plants, potting soil, and a window box at the supermarket, ride the bus to their apartment, and put together a colorful gift for the child’s mother.

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living things Grow by Joanna Cole; illustrated by John Speirs and Bruce Degan (K-3rd)

Ms. Frizzle’s class is growing a beautiful garden, but Phoebe’s plot is empty. Her flowers are at her old school! So the students climb aboard the Magic School Bus to go get some of her old flowers. Follow the students’ adventure as they learn how living things grow.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert (PreK-1st)

Young children learn about the variety and color in a flower garden and the excitement of gardening. The yearly cycle and process of planning, planting, and picking flowers in a garden are shared.

Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson; illustrated by Megan Lloyd (K-2nd)

Birds and other animals are busy searching around for food on a hot day in the desert. When they get tired, they stop to rest in a giant cactus. It is their hotel in the desert! This is an informational picture book about how plants store food and carry water up to the leaves.

How Flowers Grow by Emma Helbrough; illustrated by Maggie Silver and Uwe Mayer (PreK-2nd)

This is a great book to teach young children the basics of flowers and plants.

The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller (PreK-2nd)

The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style and teaching interesting words to children.

My Garden by Kevin Henkes (PreK-2nd)

In this imaginative book children are invited into a most unusual garden. It never needs weeding, the flowers are ever-blooming, and colors change just by thinking of them. The artwork brings this book alive for reading to groups.

Vincent Van Gogh: Sunflowers and Swirly Stars by Joan Holub (K-3rd)

This book is written as though it’s a child’s report about Van Gogh, which is informative and helps students relate the artist to life.

Oh Say Can You Seed?: All About Flowering Plants (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) by Bonnie Worth; illustrated by Aristides Ruiz (K-3rd)

The Cat in the Hat examines the various parts of plants, seeds and flowers, as well as photosynthesis and pollination.

May Day Favorite Books:

May 1st – Traditionally the first day of May, or May Day, has been a celebration following the cold of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Three favorite ways to celebrate over the years have been dancing the maypole dance, where dancers circle with ribbons; crowning the Queen of the May; and giving “May baskets,” small baskets of flowers left anonymously on neighbors’ doorsteps.

May Day/Lei Day by Jeffrey Kent; Minako Ishii (photographer) (K–2nd)

Great Britain and Hawaii have shared a liking for celebrations, royalty, and flowers for centuries. This book tells how May Day is celebrated in England, where it originated over 700 years ago, and how it came to be known as Lei Day in Hawaii.

Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak (1st–3rd)

This classic written in 1962 is loads of fun. It features a catchy rhythmic poem which teaches about the months. The format is small, but the content will capture the children’s attention. It is available in musical form within “Really Rosie” by Carol King.

Two Days in May by Harriet Peck Taylor (PreK-3rd)

Based on a real-life incident that occurred several years ago in Chicago, Taylor tells the story of a city girl who discovers five deer grazing in the small garden behind her apartment building and how the deer are brought back to safety in the wild.

Little Grey Rabbit’s May Day by Alison Uttley (PreK-3rd)

First published seventy years ago, Little Grey Rabbit is one of the classic gems of children’s literature. The woodland animals are preparing for a May Day celebration by making garlands and crowns of spring flowers. Wise Owl tells them that they need to have the most special flower of all, the Crown Imperial, for the scepter. Now they need a brave one to go to the village to find one.

Cinco de Mayo Classic Books:

May 5th – Cinco de Mayo is a date observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Mexican Hat Dance by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy (K-3rd)

This book is about preparing for Cinco de Mayo by learning a Mexican dance. In addition, it includes information about Cinco de Mayo.

Marco’s Cinco de Mayo by Lisa Bullard; illustrated by Holli Conger (K-2nd)

Marco loves the food, parades, and fun of Cinco de Mayo. This year he’s one of the dancers. As he listens to the mariachi music, Marco thinks of the brave Mexicans at the first Cinco de Mayo. Find out the different things people do to celebrate this holiday.

Cinco de Mouse-O! by Judy Cox, illustrator Jeffrey Ebbeler (PreK-2nd)

This is a lively cat and mouse tale that offers a fun and easy introduction to the music, dancing, and treats of the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, photographer Lawrence Migdale (3rd -5th)

Follow Rosa, a Mexican-American girl from California, as she learns about her heritage and celebrates Cinco de Mayo with her family, friends, and community.

Cinco de Mayo by Linda Lowery; illustrated by Barbara Knutson (K-2nd)

This book explores the origin of Cinco de Mayo and the many ways it is celebrated.

Viva Mexico!: The Story of Benito Juarez and Cinco de Mayo by Argentina Palacios and Alex Haley; Howard Berelson (2nd-4th)

This is an easy, short biography of the Zapotec Indian who grew up to become the President of Mexico. This book includes an accurate explanation of the basis for the holiday celebrated as Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by Mary Dodson Wade (PreK-3rd)

This is a nonfiction book that shares information for young children about the traditions and festivities of Cinco de Mayo.

Frindle by Andrew Clements (3rd – 6th)

An amazing story about a creative boy, an idea and a teacher. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, he’s got the inspiration for the “frindle.” Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Things begin innocently but spiral into something truly big.

Olive’s Ocean (Newbery Honor Book) by Kevin Henkes (4th-8th)

“Olive Barstow was dead. She’d been hit by a car on Monroe Street while riding her bicycle weeks ago. That was about all Martha knew.” Martha Boyle and Olive Barstow could have been friends. But they weren’t — and now all that is left are eerie connections between two girls who were in the same grade at school and who both kept the same secret without knowing it.

Sun and Spoon by Kevin Henkes (4th-8th)

Spoon Gilmore has been dreaming about his grandmother since her death two months ago, but the dreams are beginning to grow fuzzy and come less and less frequently. Afraid that soon even his memories of her will disappear, he sets out in search of the perfect thing to remember her by. When Spoon finds it, he quietly takes it to his room to cherish privately, making sure that his annoying little sister, Joanie, doesn’t follow him in as usual. But soon Spoon realizes he’s made a big mistake. Will things ever be right without Gram around?

Junie B. Jones Is (almost) a Flower Girl by Barbara Park (1st-3rd)

Nancy, George, and Bess have been invited to an April Fool’s Day party at their new schoolmate’s house. It sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun — each guest is bringing a gag to share.

Baseball

April marks the beginning of the year’s regular season for Major League Baseball. Many children play baseball during the spring months.

A Picture Book of Jackie Robinson by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla (1st-3rd)

This book is a good overview of the life of baseball great Jackie Robinson.

‘B’ Is for Baseball: A Fun Way to Learn Your Alphabet! by Harry Barker (PreK-1st)

Have fun learning the game of baseball using the ABCs! Harry Barker’s ABC baseball book is a fun way to turn learning the alphabet into an enjoyable experience.

ABC’s of Baseball by Antoine Cameron and Michael Golez (PreK-1st)

This baseball rhyming book is great for learning about baseball. The author has close ties to the game of baseball since he played for the Chicago Cubs.

The Bat Boy and His Violin by Gavin Curtis and E. B. Lewis (1st-4th)

Reginald loves to create beautiful music on his violin. But Papa, manager of the Dukes, the worst team in the Negro National League, needs a bat boy, not a “fiddler,” and traveling with the Dukes doesn’t leave Reginald much time for practicing. Soon the Dukes’ dugout is filled with Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach — and the bleachers are filled with the sound of the Dukes’ bats. Has Reginald’s violin changed the Dukes’ luck — and can his music pull off a miracle victory against the powerful Monarchs?

H Is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet by Brad Herzog and Melanie Rose (1st-4th)

Now anyone can be one of the “boys or girls of summer” and get a home plate view of America’s favorite pastime. Sports writer Brad Herzog pairs easy-to-read rhymes with detailed expository so that readers are pitched baseball’s facts, faces, history, and places from A-Z.

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki and Dom Lee (1st-4th)

During World War II, a young Japanese-American boy and his family are sent to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despondent in their desolate surroundings, father and son pull the camp together to build a baseball diamond and form a league.

Barbed Wire Baseball by Marissa Moss and Yuko Shimizu (1st-5th)

The true story of Kenichi “Zeni” Zenimura’s boyhood dream of playing professional baseball, but everyone tells him he is too small. Yet he grows up to be a successful player, playing with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig! When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in 1941, Zeni and his family are sent to one of ten internment camps where more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry are imprisoned. Zeni brings the game of baseball to the camp, along with a sense of hope.

Curious George at the Baseball Game by H. A. Rey, Margret Rey and Anna Grossnickle Hines (K-3rd)

Play ball! George is going to watch a baseball game. One curious little monkey in one big stadium makes for one exciting day at the ballpark!

How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball by David Shannon (K-4th)

Chosen as a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book. The very first book award-winner David Shannon wrote and illustrated himself tells an expressive, emotional tale of a time when spring no longer existed, and it was always winter in America. Why? Because an angry dictator declared baseball illegal, and once-happy citizens fell into a dull pace of endless ice, snow, factories, and drudgery.

Baseball from A to Z by Michael P. Spradlin and Macky Pamintuan (1st-3rd)

Learning about baseball has never been so much fun! From a pitching Ace to a strike Zone, this energetic alphabet book covers all the bases of America’s favorite pastime.

Eddie: Harold’s Little Brother by Pat Koch Thaler, Edward I. Koch and James Warhola (K-3rd)

No matter how much Eddie practices, he just can’t play baseball like his big brother, Harold. In fact, there’s only one part of the game Eddie’s any good at, and it has nothing to do with double plays or home runs: Eddie’s great at talking, and gives a fantastic game wrap-up. Fortunately for Eddie, Harold helps him see just how talented he really is and starts him on an amazing career!

Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick and Steven Salerno (K-3rd)

The Acerra family had sixteen children, including twelve ball-playing boys. It was the 1930s, and many families had lots of kids. But the Acerra family had enough to field a baseball team . . . with three on the bench! They were the longest-playing all-brother team in baseball history. They loved the game, but more important, they cared for and supported one another and stayed together as a team.

Butterflies:

Butterfly House by Eve Bunting and Greg Shed (K-3rd)

With the help of her grandfather, a little girl makes a house for a larva and watches it develop before setting it free. And when the girl grows old, the butterflies come back to return her kindness.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (PreK-1st)

In this classic Eric Carle book the very hungry caterpillar literally eats his way through the pages of the book.

Hurry and the Monarch by Antoine O Flatharta and Meilo So (K-3rd)

When the beautiful orange Monarch on her fall migration route from Canada to Mexico stops to rest at Wichita Falls, Texas, she makes friends with an old tortoise called Hurry. In the spring she stops again at Hurry’s garden just long enough to lay her eggs and head north to Canada.

Butterfly Butterfly: A Book of Colors by Petr Horacek (PreK-1st)

Lucy sees a beautiful butterfly in the garden, along with a bright green beetle, a brilliant blue dragonfly, some red ladybugs, and many more flying and crawling things. But when will the radiant butterfly appear again?

I Wish I Were a Butterfly by James Howe and Ed Young (K-3rd)

This is a simple and touching story of a miserable little cricket that doesn’t make music because the frog told him he was ugly. Children who have been bullied or criticized will identify with the feelings in this book.

It’s a Butterfly’s Life by Irene Kelly (K-4th)

What is a butterfly s life? It’s full of twists and turns as butterfly glide on air currents. There are more than 17,000 kinds of butterflies in the world. Some of them will only live for a few days. Others will migrate thousands of miles to winter in a warmer climate. Still others will hibernate through the cold months.

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison and Kevin Hawkes (PreK-3rd)

This School Library Journal Best Book of the Year celebrates everything butterfly, from migration to metamorphosis! It’s hard to be Velma entering first grade. That’s because everyone has marvelous memories of her two older sisters, who were practically perfect first graders, and no one even notices Velma. But all that changes on a class trip to the butterfly conservatory, a place neither of her sisters has been. When a monarch roosts on Velma’s finger and won’t budge for days—no one will ever forget it . . . or her!

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (PreK-3rd)

Nancy thinks butterflies are simply exquisite. And that is why she can’t wait for her friend Bree’s Butterfly Birthday. It’s going to be the fanciest birthday party ever! But when Nancy finds out she can’t go because her grandparents’ fiftieth anniversary party is the same day, she is furious. Will Nancy be able to overcome her disappointment?

My, Oh My—A Butterfly! All About Butterflies (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) by Tish Rabe, Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu (PreK-3rd)

With a little help from the Cat in the Hat, Sally and Dick observe a small miracle in their own backyard: the metamorphosis of an egg into a caterpillar into a chrysalis into a bright new butterfly!

Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder and Lynne Cherry (PreK-2nd)

In a field of lacy leaves a small caterpillar hatches, grows, and sheds its skin, becoming a smooth, green creeper. It eats and changes some more, then in a sequence of remarkable close-ups, spins a silken sling–until it finally bursts forth as a brilliant black swallowtail butterfly.

Butterflies Under Our Hats by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and Joani Keller Rothenberg (1st-4th)

Inspired by a Jewish folktale, this original story is about a mythical town where everything that could goes wrong…leaky houses, cracked sidewalks, weedy gardens.

Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope and Sue Riddle (PreK-1st)

“I don’t know much, but I know what I know. I gotta go! I gotta go! I gotta go to Mexico!” The creepy-crawly bug doesn’t know why she does what she does. She only knows she has to do it. But making the journey seems impossible for the slow-moving critter who has no idea what or where Mexico is.

An Invitation to the Butterfly Ball by Jane Yolen (PreK-2nd)

Foxes, turtles, raccoons, and owls are among the forest creatures trying to locate just the right outfits to wear to the social event of the woodland season. This classic rhyming story by Jane Yolen is an all-time favorite.

Classic April Fools’ Day Books:

April 1 is not a national holiday but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes. Some people say that the day originated around the 1580s in France when the Gregorian Calendar was introduced and New Year’s Day was moved.

April Foolishness by Teresa Bateman and Nadine Bernard Westcott (K-2nd)

Family pranks highlight the gentle, teasing relationships in this amusing tale. Grandpa thinks he’s wise to his grandchildren’s April Fools’ Day tricks and ignores their warnings of what’s happening with the animals.

Arthur’s April Fool by Marc Brown (K-2nd)

Arthur’s adventures are always a treat and speak to the hearts of children everywhere.

April Fool! Watch Out at School! by Diane De Groat (K-3rd)

Gilbert and his friends are ready to celebrate April Fools’ Day. The book is filled with tricks children enjoy: warnings of untied shoelaces, plastic spiders, and gummy worms in apples.

April Fool, Phyllis! by Susanna Leonard Hill (K-2nd)

Phyllis knows there’s a blizzard coming but no one believes her. She uses a combination of common sense and uncommon abilities to lead the April Fools’ Day treasure hunters back to safety.

April Fools’ Day by Melissa Schiller (K-2nd)

This is an enjoyable book to learn about April Fools’ Day and how it is celebrated.

Arbor Day Favorites:

Arbor Day is America’s National Tree holiday, founded by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska in 1872. On that first Arbor Day (April 10, 1872) an estimated one million trees were planted. Arbor Day is the day we set aside to plant trees, educate people about the importance of trees, and honor the role trees play in our daily lives.

In 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day. All fifty states celebrate Arbor Day, but the dates vary due to the differences in local climates.

Champion of Arbor Day: J. Sterling Morton (The Great Heartlanders Series) by Sandy Beaty (4th-6th)

Morton believed that “trees provide food for the table, wood for the stove, shade for the body and beauty for the soul.” Beaty chronicles the life of this early environmentalist who promoted the idea of a day dedicated to trees and motivated Nebraskans to plant one million on the first Arbor Day in 1872.

Arbor Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by Kelly Bennett (PreK-2nd)

This is a non-fiction book that shares information for young children.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry (K-4th)

Lynne Cherry journeyed deep into the rain forests of Brazil to write and illustrate this beautiful picture book about how a man trying to chop down a giant kapok tree learns about the importance of trees and how “all living things depend on one another.”

Be a Friend to Trees by Patricia Lauber (K-2nd)

Trees are a valuable natural resource. People depend on trees for food, and animals depend on trees for food and shelter. But most important, we depend on trees because they provide oxygen we need to breathe. While trees give us many important products, we must also protect them because we can’t live without them.

Arbor Day Square by Cyd Moore and Kathryn Osebold Galbraith (K-3rd)

Story of how a girl and her father help a new prairie town with no trees by collecting enough money to order fifteen trees from back East for the town square.

Arbor Day (Holidays and Festivals) by Rebecca Rissman (PreK-2nd)

Plant a tree and help preserve the planet. Readers will learn about different activities they can take part in to honor Arbor Day.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (K-6th)

This classic is an excellent book with an excellent message. It is the story of the relationship between a tree and a boy.

Classic Earth Day Books:

Similar, but not to be confused with Arbor Day is Earth Day. This special day was first suggested in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference on the Environment. The United Nations began an Earth Day celebration on the March Equinox and continued this celebration every year since.

An environmental teach-in was held on April 22, 1970. This Earth Day involved over two thousand colleges and universities and roughly ten thousand primary and secondary schools. The main purpose of the day was to promote environment awareness and reform.

Earth Day is still celebrated on two days: the March Equinox and April 22nd. The April date usually involves more schools, allowing students, teachers, and parents to have more time to learn about environmental awareness.

Earth Day–Hooray! by Stuart J. Murphy (1st-3rd)

In this latest addition to Murphy’s MathStart series, the Maple Street School’s Save the Planet Club decides to clean up Gilroy Park and plant some flowers to celebrate Earth Day.

The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle by Núria Roca (PreK-1st)

Factual information that younger children can understand about ways they can help the environment.

Earth Day Birthday by Pattie L. Schnetzler (PreK-4th)

This book presents a song written to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and celebrates Earth Day by featuring twelve different creatures that inhabit the planet.

The Lucky Baseball Bat by Matt Christopher and Robert Henneberger (2nd-4th) Martin is new to the neighborhood, and wants to make a good impression on his new teammates. But when he loses his lucky baseball bat, Martin fears that he has also lost his ability to play baseball. Will Martin be able to continue his winning streak without the bat? Matt Christopher has written many sports chapter books that would be good read-aloud books.

April Fools’ Day (easy Nancy Drew Series) by Carolyn Keene and Macky Pamintuan (1st-3rd)

Nancy, George, and Bess have been invited to an April Fools’ Day party at their new schoolmate’s house. It sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun — each guest is bringing a gag to the party, and the best prank will win a special prize.

Ballpark Mysteries #1: The Fenway Foul-up by David A. Kelly and Mark Meyers (2nd-4th)

Thanks to Kate’s mom, a sports reporter, cousins Mike Walsh and Kate Hopkins have tickets to the Red Sox game and All Access passes to Fenway Park. But as they’re watching batting practice before the game, the lucky bat of Red Sox star slugger Big D is stolen . . . right in front of dozens of people. Without the bat, Big D can’t seem to hit a thing. Can Kate and Mike figure out who pinched the bat before Big D and the Sox chalk up a loss? This is book #1 in a new early chapter book mystery series where each book is set in a different American ballpark!

April Fools’ Day from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler (2nd-3rd)

It’s the end of March, and Hubie is struggling to prepare his pranks for the big day. These fun-filled chapter books mix school, monsters, and common kid problems with hilarious results.

March 2, 2013, marks the 109th birthday of children’s book author Theodor Seuss Geisel. However, school districts and schools often plan special days or weeks during March that focus on literacy and the importance of reading in students’ learning lives.

There are too many books by Dr. Seuss to list all of them, but books should be easy to find because there are so many. A helpful resource for other materials is:

http://www.nea.org/grants/read-across-america-downloadables.html

Classic Dr. Seuss books for PreK – 1st:

The Foot Book

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Fox in Socks

Dr. Seuss’s ABC

Green Eggs and Ham

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut

Cat in the Hat

Longer Dr. Seuss books:

The Lorax

Horton Hears a Who

Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories

Did I Ever tell You How Lucky You Are?

If I Ran the Zoo

2013

Medal winner:

This Is Not My Hat written and illustrated by Jon Klassen (PreK-2nd)

When a tiny fish appears wearing a round blue bowler hat which he took (it happens to fit him perfectly), trouble could be following close behind. Klassen creates an ambiguous ending that invites discussion about the possible outcomes and ultimately leaves it up to the child to decide the little fish’s fate with every reading.

Honor Books:

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen (K-2nd)

From the seemingly endless box of Extra Yarn Annabelle knits clothing for everyone around her, tempering the ill-tempered and creating beautifully patterned warmth for people, animals, and objects alike. When a greedy clothes-loving archduke tries to buy–then steal–the box for himself, he discovers that ill-gotten gains bear no fruit–or in this case, yarn.

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by David Small (K-3rd)

When well-mannered Elliot reluctantly visits the aquarium with his distractible father, he politely asks whether he can have a penguin–and then removes one from the penguin pool to his backpack. The fun of caring for a penguin in a New England Victorian house is followed by a surprise revelation by Elliot’s father.

Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski (PreK-2nd)

In this magical bedtime story, the lyrical narrative echoes a Runaway Bunny – like cadence: “Does everything in the world go to sleep?” the little girl asks. In sincere and imaginative dialogue between a not-at-all sleepy child and understanding parents, the little girl decides “in a cocoon of sheets, a nest of blankets,” she is ready to sleep, warm and strong, just like a tiger.

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown (PreK-2nd)

The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch as a rabbit fears his favorite treats are out to get him.

Green written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (PreK-2nd)

How many kinds of green are there? There’s the lush green of a forest on a late spring day, the fresh, juicy green of a just-cut lime, the incandescent green of a firefly, and the vivid aquamarine of a tropical sea. This book will delight and quite possibly astonish you.

2012:

Medal Winner:

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka (PreK-2nd)

Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy the dog’s anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. Raschka’s signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will particularly appeal to young dog lovers and teachers and parents who have children dealing with the loss of something special.

Honor Books:

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell (K-3rd)

Patrick McDonnell tells the story of the young Jane Goodall and her special childhood toy chimpanzee named Jubilee. As the young Jane observes the natural world around her with wonder, she dreams of “a life living with and helping all animals,” until one day she finds that her dream has come true.

Blackout by John Rocco (K-3rd)

One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, “Mommm!” His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can’t work on her computer, and Dad can’t finish cooking dinner. What’s a family to do? When they go up to the roof to escape the heat, they find the lights–in stars that can be seen for a change–and so many neighbors it’s like a block party in the sky! On the street below, people are having just as much fun–talking, rollerblading, and eating ice cream before it melts. The boy and his family enjoy being not so busy for once. They even have time to play a board game together. When the electricity is restored, everything can go back to normal . . . but not everyone likes normal.

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith (K-4th)

Grandpa Green wasn’t always a gardener. He was a boy who lived on a farm and a child who had chickenpox. He was a soldier, a husband, and most of all, an artist. Follow his grandson through a garden where memories are handed down through the shapes of topiary trees and imagination recreates things forgotten. GRANDPA GREEN opens the door to a garden of wonder which parents and grandparents will be able to share with children for generations to come.

2011:

Medal Winner:

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (K-2nd)

Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee’s case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it’s time they returned the favor.

Honor Books:

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier (K-4th)

Little is known about the man known as Dave the potter. Two things are certain, though: he was a slave in South Carolina, and he was a potter of uncommon skill. This is a wonderful introduction to a great lost artist.

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein (PreK-3rd)

It’s time for the little red chicken’s bedtime story—and a reminder from Papa to try not to interrupt. But the chicken can’t help herself! Whether the tale is Hansel and Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood or even Chicken Little, she jumps into the story to save its hapless characters from doing some dangerous or silly thing. Now it’s the little red chicken’s turn to tell a story, but will her yawning papa make it to the end without his own kind of interrupting?

2010:

Medal Winner:

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (PreK-3rd)

In this wordless adaptation of one of Aesop’s most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he’d planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher’s trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling.

Honor Books:

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee (K-2nd)

Following a circle of family and friends through the course of a day from morning till night, this book affirms the importance of all things great and small in our world, from the tiniest shell on the beach, to warm family connections, to the widest sunset sky.

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski (PreK-2nd)

With original and spot-on perceptions, Joyce Sidman brings the colors of the seasons to life in a fresh light, combining the senses of sight, sound, smell, and taste. Illustrator Pam Zagarenski’s interpretations go beyond the concrete, allowing us to not just see color but feel it.

2009:

Medal Winner:

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes (PreK-1st)

A spare, patterned text and glowing pictures explore the origins of light that make a house a home in this Caldecott Medal-winning bedtime book for young children.

Honor Books:

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (3rd-6th)

Willie loved to write: words gave him freedom and peace. But he also knew that he needed to earn a living, so when he grew up he went off to medical school and became a doctor–one of the busiest in town! Yet he never stopped writing. This biography of poet William Carlos Williams celebrates the amazing man whose poems about ordinary, everyday things will inspire young readers to create poems of their own.

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee (1st-4th)

When James and Eamon go to a week of Nature Camp and stay at Eamon’s grandparents’ house, it turns out that their free time spent staying inside, eating waffles, and playing video games is way more interesting than nature. But sometimes things work out best when they don’t go exactly as planned. A moving and hilarious celebration of young boys, childhood friendships, and the power of the imagination, where Marla Frazee captures the very essence of summer vacation and what it means to be a kid.

How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz (2nd-6th)

Having fled from war in their troubled homeland, a boy and his family are living in poverty in a strange country. Food is scarce, so when the boy’s father brings home a map instead of bread for supper, at first the boy is furious. But when the map is hung on the wall, it floods their cheerless room with color. As the boy studies its every detail, he is transported to exotic places without ever leaving the room, and he eventually comes to realize that the map feeds him in a way that bread never could. The book is based on the author’s childhood memories of World War II and features stunning illustrations that celebrate the power of imagination.

Classic titles:

That’s What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully (PreK-2nd)

A fun-loving story of leprechaun mischief and burying pots of gold from a longtime favorite children’s author who just happens to be Irish-born.

Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola (K-2nd)

Another popular children’s book author shares information about St. Patrick’s life and retells some Irish legends.

St. Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons (K-2nd)

A popular children’s book author shares information about St. Patrick’s life and how St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated.

Jack and the Leprechaun by Ivan Robertson, illustrated by Katy Bratun (PreK-2nd)

Here is a delightful story of Jack Mouse visiting his cousin Sean in Ireland at St. Patrick’s Day. This book presents Irish folktales as well as traditions and customs of St. Patrick’s Day.

Clever Tom and the Leprechaun: An Old Irish Story by Linda Shute (K-3rd)

This is a favorite to read to children. When he captures a leprechaun Tom Fitzpatrick is sure his fortune is made, but the leprechaun has other ideas.

The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Amy Wummer (PreK-2nd)

An Irish twist on the Christmas classic finds Tim and Maureen setting traps to catch a leprechaun. But although they catch one, will they find his pot of gold?

The Whites of Their Eyes (Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School) by Andrew Clements (2nd-6th)

Benjamin Pratt is running out of time—and if the old Oakes School gets torn down by greedy developers, his hometown by the sea will be changed forever. Good thing Ben and Jill have found a secret weapon—a third Keeper. Who knew that a kid so annoying could be such a spy wiz? But the janitor has secret weapons of his own: a bag of high-tech tricks, plus some low-tech security measures that are simple but terrifying. These kids are smart, but can they outsmart Lyman and his new “assistant”? There’s history in the making here, and the clock keeps tick, tick, ticking toward total demolition.

Leprechaun in Late Winter! by Mary Pope Osborne (Grades 2nd-4th)

Jack and Annie are whisked back to long to Ireland—the land of leprechauns!

Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy (Junie B. Jones, No. 12) by Barbara Park (1st-3rd)

Junie B. Jones has a pet day problem! There’s going to be a pet day at school, only guess what? No dogs allowed! And that’s the only kind of pet Junie B. has! If Mother and Daddy won’t buy her a new pet, Junie B. will just have to find one on her own. Like maybe a jar of ants. Or a wiggly worm. Or—could it be—something even better?