An alphabetical exploration of our oceans. Beautiful illustrations. Written and illustrated by a high school student.

All About Sharks Arnosky, Jim

Down Comes the Rain Branley, Franklyn M.

The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day Leedy, Loreen

How to make choices from the Food Pyramid at the grand opening of The Edible Pyramid restaurant. Great pictures of a variety of foods in each group.

Endangered and Extinct Animals of the Islands and Oceans Bright, Michael

Fossils Tell of Long Ago Aliki

How a Seed Grows Jordan, Helene J.

Story of a classes experiment with seed growing. Gives ideas in the back on how to continue with experiments growing seeds of your own.

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs: All Kinds of Weather and Why We Have It Branley, Franklyn M.

"Collection of facts and folklore, scientific experiments and dramatic weather events." Discussion of the Santa Ana winds.

Life In the Water Time-Life, A Child’s First Library of Learning

The Planets in Our Solar System Branley, Franklyn M.

The Rainbow and You Krupp, E.C.

Explains the science behind and the conditions necessary for a rainbow to occur. Mention of Sir Isaac Newton. Includes brief accounts of rainbows and their meaning in various cultures.

Sharks Grace, Eric S.

Swimming with Hammerhead Sharks Mallory, Kenneth

The Truth About Great White Sharks Cerullo, Mary M.

Weather Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to the Elements Elsom, Derek

Explanations of various weather phenomena, how to forecast weather, climate change, and man’s affect on climate

*Where Does the Garbage Go? Showers, Paul

Makes me want to take a field trip to the dump!

Young Explorers Guide to Undersea Life Armstrong, Pam

*Easy Work! An Old Tale Retold by Kimmel, Eric A.

An old folk tale taking place in the Willamette Valley at the end of the Oregon Trail. Gives an idea of daily chores and life in the valley, as well as a brief biography of women’s suffragette Abigail Scott Duniway.

If A Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks Ringgold, Faith

Not for a 4 year old. A little black girl hops on a talking bus - the same bus that Rosa Parks made her famous stand for equal rights on. Talks about the Ku Klux Klan, lynching, and bombing. Otherwise a great book, just a little heady for a preschooler.

If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King Levine, Ellen

Question and answer book that describes what it was like to live in the time of segregation and the civil rights movement.

If You Were at… The First Thanksgiving Kamma, Anne

Very thorough book Thanksgiving written in a question and answer form. I’d say it’s written for slightly older children (maybe 6 or 7 and up). Details the Pilgrims’ daily life. This is another one we will be referring back to for years to come.

*The Invisible Princess Ringgold, Faith

The tale of a baby girl, born of slaves on a southern plantation, who brings peace and freedom to her people.

Pilgrims of Plymouth Goodman, Susan E.

Uses color photography to show that "the pilgrims were real people just like us". Shows images of everyday life, and roles men, women, and children took in pilgrim society.

Thanksgiving Day Gibbons, Gail

Simple illustrations accompany this story that gives just enough information to develop an understanding of how we came to celebrate Thanksgiving. This book will be used again and again!

*Two Bear Cubs (A Miwok Legend from California’s Yosemite Valley) Retold by San Souci, Robert D.

A legend of the formation of El Capitan. Includes information (in the back of the book) on the Miwok People, especially aspects of their life of interest to young children, such as clothing that was worn, and the kinds of toys played with.

*Where Does the Garbage Go? Showers, Paul

A House for Hermit Crab Carle, Eric

A Light in the Attic Silverstein, Shel

Bedtime For Francis Hobbs

Black Beauty Sewell, Anna

The Call of the Wild London, Jack

Charlotte's Web White, E.B.

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes Heyward, DuBose

I think this is MY favorite children's story that we've read this year.  This really illustrates the power of MOM.

Coyote and the Laughing Butterflies Taylor, Harriet Peck

Based on a legend from the Tewa tribe (group of Pueblo Indians)

*Easy Work! An Old Tale Retold by Kimmel, Eric A.

An old folk tale taking place in the Willamette Valley at the end of the Oregon Trail. Gives an idea of daily chores and life in the valley, as well as a brief biography of women’s suffragette Abigail Scott Duniway.

The Fox's Kettle Langston, Laura

Another Japanese folk tale with a girl saving the village.

*The Invisible Princess Ringgold, Faith

The tale of a baby girl, born of slaves on a southern plantation, who brings peace and freedom to her people.

Little House Farm Days Wilder, Laura Ingalls

Magic Treehouse (series - various titles) Pope Osborne, Mary

Nursery Tales Around the World Selected and Retold by Sierra, Judy

A collection of tales from all around the world, grouped under basic story lines (Runaway cookies, Incredible appetites, the victory of the smallest, chain tales, slowpokes and speedsters, and fooling the big bad wolf).

Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb Herriot, James

The Snowy Day Keats, Ezra Jack

Someday Rider Herbert Scott, Ann

The story of a young boy who is tired of waiting to be a "someday rider".  His mom helps his someday become today!

Tasty Baby Belly Buttons Sierra, Judy

A little girl is the heroinne in this twist on a popular Japanese folk tale.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff Galdone, Paul

*Two Bear Cubs (A Miwok Legend from California’s Yosemite Valley) Retold by San Souci, Robert D.

A legend of the formation of El Capitan. Includes information (in the back of the book) on the Miwok People, especially aspects of their life of interest to young children, such as clothing that was worn, and the kinds of toys played with.