A Shelter in Our Car by Monica Gunning
A Shelter in Our Car is the story of how Zettie and her mother left their warm and comfortable home in Jamaica for an uncertain life in the United Sates. Because Zettie's father is gone, Zettie's mother tries to find a job. However, she can't find a steady job that will support them, so they are forced to live in their car. Zettie's mother's unwavering love, support, and gutsy determination gives her the assurance that everything will be alright. Reading Level: 2.0 Interest Level: K-3 |
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
And Tango Makes Three is the story of Roy and Silo, two male penguins who had fallen in love. They did everything together, including bowing, walking, singing, and swimming. However, they realized that they could not have children as other male and female couples could. So one day, the zookeeper decided to place an egg in their nest. Roy and Silo cared for the egg until it hatched, and the zoo named the baby penguin Tango. Reading Level: 3.5 Interest Level: P-2 |
Before You Were Mine by Maribeth Boelts
Before You Were Mine is the story of a little boy that is reflecting on the past life of his new dog. He wonders things about the dogs past, like if he was treated poorly or if he just ran away. He also talks about how he didn’t think he could love another dog again, until he met his knew one. At the end of the story, the boy concludes that the dog’s past does not matter, because now he is home. Reading Level: 3.9 Interest Level: K-3 |
Bully by Patricia Polacco
Bully is the story of a girl named Lyla who is very nervous about starting sixth grade at her new school. On the first day of school, Lyla meets Jamie, and they become instant friends. Lyla found herself fascinated by the three popular girls in school, who completely ignored her, but managed to get their attention when she got the top grade on an essay and tried out for cheerleading and made the team. However, after a twist of fate, Lyla became friends with the popular girls, and she got accused of stealing the answers to a test. Reading Level: 4.1 Interest Level: 2-5 |
Elmer by David McKee
Elmer is the story of an elephant named Elmer who was different from all of the other elephants. He had multicolored patchwork skin, unlike all of the others. One day, he decided he was tired of looking and being different from all of the others, so he covered himself in grey juice. However, he realized that even though he could change his outside appearance, his inside feelings would remain the same. So, when it started to rain, Elmer embraced his skin, and all of the elephants called it “Elmer’s Day.” Reading Level: 3.2 Interest Level: K-3 |
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Giraffes Can’t Dance is the story of Gerald the giraffe who is too scared to dance because he is afraid of embarrassing himself. All of the other animals, including warthogs, rhinos, lions, chimpanzees, and baboons were all graceful dancers, but Gerald was clumsy and awkward. After embarrassing himself at the Jungle Dance, he met a cricket who taught him a valuable lesson. The cricket said that when you are different, you might just need a different song to dance to. Gerald then found music he was good at dancing to, and became the best dancer in the jungle. Reading Level: 3.8 Interest Level: P-2 |
Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher by Becky Ray McCain
Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher is the story of Kimmy, whose parents are going to leave her with her grandmother for a week while they go and search for a new house in Chicago. Kimmy is a girl who is prone to having bad dreams. But when her grandmother hears of these bad dreams, she makes Kimmy a dreamcatcher, and tells her the Chippewa legends about how it will trap her bad dreams. After Kimmy hangs it above her bed, she stops having her bad dreams. Reading Level: 3.1 Interest Level: K+ |
I Hate English! By Ellen Levine
I Hate English! is the story of Mei Mei, a Chinese girl who moved with her parents to New York. She found herself feeling left out, and wanting to speak Chinese and not English. However, a tutor named Nancy came by to help Mei Mei feel more comfortable about learning the English language. One day, Mei Mei and Nancy took a walking trip around the city, and Mei Mei broke out of her “Chinese only speaking” shell. Now Mei Mei uses Chinese and English interchangeably when she pleases. Reading Level: 2.7 Interest Level: K-3 |
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Rules is the story of twelve-year-old Catherine, a girl struggling to come to terms with her younger brother David’s autism. However, she has a set of “rules”, both for David and herself, that she feels are important to follow. One day, at her brother’s occupational therapy, she meets a boy named Jason, who is wheelchair bound and cannot speak. They form a connection that cannot be broken, despite the ups and downs that they have, and Catherine learns a very valuable lesson about friendship. Reading Level: 3.6 Interest Level: 5-9 |
Standing On My Own Two Feet by Tamara Schmitz
Standing On My Own Two Feet is a story of how children are loved in the midst of divorce. This story focuses on the fact that when a child’s parents get divorced, it is not because of the child. For example, the child points out the fact that even though their parents fight and live in different homes, it is not because of them. The child also realizes that they are loved just the same by both parents. Reading Level: 2.0 Interest Level: P-2 |
Tea with Milk by Allen Say
Tea with Milk is the story of a Japanese girl named Masako or “May” for short. May and her family lived in California until she graduated high school, but then they moved back to Japan. May was forced to go back to high school, learn Japanese, take calligraphy and flower arranging, and even go on a forced date with a wealthy Japanese man. However, May wanted to return to the city and start a new life for herself. And while she was there, she met a man named Joseph, and they eventually got together, got married, and had a child. Reading Level: 3.7 Interest Level: K-3 |
The Can Man by Laura E. Williams
The Can Man is the story of a boy named Tim, whose birthday is just a week away. Tim wants a skateboard more than anything, but he knows money is tight, and understands his family cannot afford one. Tim thinks about how he might earn money for a skateboard, he learns that "The Can Man" down the street collecting empty soft drink cans. The clang of the cans in the homeless man’s cart gives Tim an idea about collecting cans too to cash them in for redemption money. By the end of the week, Tim has almost reached his goal—until a couple of chance encounters with The Can Man change everything. Reading Level: 3.4 Interest Level: 1-4 |
The Composition by Antonio Skarmeta
The Composition is the story of Pedro, who lives with his mother and father in an unnamed country under a dictatorship. Every day after work Pedro’s parents and neighbors sit around the radio in his home listening to broadcasts from a “long way away.” Pedro does not understand why the adults are so interested in listening to the radio, and goes on with his daily life, going to school and playing soccer with his friends. While he is playing soccer one day, Pedro witnesses his friend Daniel’s father, the owner of the local grocery store, being taken away by soldiers. When he asks his parents about what happened, he learns that Daniel’s father, as well as his own parents, are against the government dictatorship. Reading Level: 3.8 Interest Level: 2-5 |
Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen by Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan
Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen follows a boy and his uncle as they volunteer at a soup kitchen on a Monday morning. The boy’s uncle, Willie, volunteers regularly at this soup kitchen, and decides to bring his nephew along. The boy learns how a soup kitchen is run, and feels good when he sees some of the homeless people in his town show up. At the end of the story, he realizes just how important institutions like soup kitchens are for people who are less fortunate than others. Reading Level: 3.3 Interest Level: K-3 |