Imagine a World by Rob Gonsalves

I love Mr. Gonsalves' art! 
This book shares more of his imaginative work which will stimulate creative thinking and writing.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Alphabet from the Sky by Benedikt Grob and Joey Lee

This alphabet book even captured my 11 year old's attention!
Birds eye view photographs of various towns contain buildings or land formations that look like the letters of the alphabet. 
A text box shows where the specific town is located in the United States and also the degrees longitude and latitude. 
-Borrowed from the library.
A very fun book!

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting illustrated Ronald Himler*

Andrew and his dad are homeless and live in an airport.  Andrew describes how he and his dad live systemically so they are not caught and also how they are both working each day to break free from homelessness.
My eight year old and I read together to practice the strategy "asking questions".
Strategy: asking questions, inferring
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Savitri A Tale of Ancient India by Aaron Shepard illustrated by Vera Rosenberry

A king of India had many wives but no children.  After praying for a child for years, Savitri, the goddess, gave him a daughter.  He names his daughter  "Savitri" in honor of the goddess.   When it comes time for Savitri to marry, no man seems to want her.  Her father  permits her to search for a husband.  She finds Prince Satyavan at a hermitage, an honorable man.  Unfortunately he is destined to die within the year.
This admirable Indian Princess demonstrates perseverance, determination and wit despite incredible odds!
My eight year old and I read this aloud together to support our study of Ancient India.
We may use the end pages for an art idea-rice flour designs (rangoli).
Strategy: character traits
-Borrowed from the library.

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Greek Athlete by Michael Ford illustrated by David Antram

This book delves into the history of the Olympic games and offers great details about the training involved and the various events and structure of the games.
Additional facts are at the end plus a time of the Olympic Games.
I read this aloud to my boys to support our study of early Greek History.
-Borrowed from the library.

Jack and the Baked Beanstalk by Colin Stimpson

Jack and his mother serve delicious burgers from their truck.  Whenever the overpass is built, however, they lose their business.  With their last pennies, Jack trudges to the store for milk and coffee beans.  Instead he buys a can of baked beans from a stranger who claims they are magical.  Jack's mom, of course, throws the can out the window, sends him to bed without dinner and over night a huge beanstalk grows which has cans of baked beans dangling from it.  Jack climbs the stalk and meets a lonely giant.  A different, pleasant ending!
-Borrowed from the library.
I read this aloud to my boys for fun.  They liked it so much that they both reread it in their free time!
The illustrations were a bit dark for my taste.

Martin Rising Requiem for a King by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney*

This husband-wife team have created an unique piece of art.
Through  "docu-poems" (as Mrs. Pinkney calls them), Martin Luther King Jr.'s last days and months on earth are shared. 
So many different books about this man have been written yet these poems invite the reader to consider some novel ideas.  The artwork is abstract and fitting.
Mrs. Pinkney invites teachers to utilize these poems and the timeline for class productions.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Tumble and Blue by Cassie Beasley*

For two hundred years the Montgomery family has lived under a curse.  Apparently under a blood sickle moon Walcott Montgomery and a woman named Almira LaFayette tried to change their destinies. The problem was only one could have the vial.  They argue and forevermore curse their families.
Two hundred years later their descendants meet-Blue-destined to lose and Tumble (Lily) who tries to be a hero in every situation.  Can the two break the curse even if it means venturing into the Okefenokee swamp where Munch, the alligator lurks, controlling their destiny?
I loved Blue's quirky extended family.
Ms. Beasley addresses some serious issues here and slowly reveals their cause and possible resolutions (abandonment, guilt over a death, confidence in one's uniqueness).
The general mood and feeling of the book reminded me of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn Dixie. 
Some buzz on blogs that this book may be a contender for a Newbery Honor award this year (silver). 
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Children's Book of America Edited by William J. Bennett illustrated by Michael Hague*

A wide variety of songs, poetry, legends and history about the beginnings of our country and various individuals who have sacrificed to build a foundation of this great country.
Examples: The stories behind the songs/poems of America the Beautiful,  The Star Spangled Banner, Yankee Doodle, The Erie Canal; legends-Grand Canyon, John Henry, Paul Bunyan; and stories about various individuals-Abigail Adams, Abe Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Martin Luther King Jr, Lewis and Clark to name a few.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Fort McHenry : Our Flag Was Still There by Joanne Mattern*

Before my boys visited Fort McHenry with their grandparents, we read most of this book to build some schema. 
This book shares about the person for whom the fort is named, its importance during the War of 1812, information about Francis Scott Key and his poem, how the poem was transformed into a song and eventually our national anthem and the purposes the fort served after the War of 1812.
Great photographs, maps and artwork.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
More in this series: Ellis Island, The Gateway Arch, The Grand Canyon, Historic Williamsburg, The Liberty Bell, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty and Yellowstone National Park.

American Flag Q & A Smithsonian Publications by Denise Rinaldo (although Amazon says "Sarah Thomson".

Each page or 2 page spread presents a question and its answer.
I like how comprehensive the information is about flags-from the parts of the flag to their origin to the history of the American flag.
Wonderful photographs.
-Borrowed from the library.

Guardians of Ga'Hoole The Rise of a Legend by Kathryn Lasky

My eleven year old son read this book to himself.  This is his review:
"It is about the life of Ezylryb, a Ryb at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.  It contains a lot of adventure and war tactics." 
-Borrowed from the library.

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky illustrated by Kevin Hawkes*

Wow!  This book is extremely interesting and well researched.
Ms. Lasky displays inquisitive Eratosthenes, an ancient Greek,  who begins asking questions from an early and continues to ask questions throughout his adulthood.  These questions propel him to search out answers and discover life changing answers for the entire world.  Along with being the head librarian at Alexandria, Egypt, he also devoted his time to figure  out the circumference of the earth by utilizing his knowledge of geometry.
My eight year old and I read this book together.
Strategy: asking questions
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Guardians of Ga'Hoole #15 The War of the Ember by Kathryn Lasky

My eleven year old read this book to himself.  This is his summary:
"The Striga and Nyra join forces.  They are trying to recreate hagfiends from dragon owls' eggs.  There is a war over the ember."
This one is the last one in the series.
-Borrowed from the library.

Guardians of Ga'Hoole #14 Exile by Kathryn Lasky

My eleven year old read this book to himself and this is his summary:
"The Striga, a blue owl, comes to Great Ga'Hoole Tree and he starts influencing the King Coryn.  The Band is exiled from the Tree."
-Borrowed from the library.

God King by Joanne Williamson*

I read this book aloud to my boys during our study of Israel and Assyria.
Egyptian Taharka, a very minor royal son, loves the study of medicine and healing and is thankful that he will never be Pharaoh, bound by regulations and rules.  To his horror, when his father dies, the wand points to him as the next Pharaoh.  As he quickly learns his duties and responsibilities, he realizes how much he despises this kind of life and longs to be free.  Conspiracy abounds and it seems like the Assyrians are plotting to kill him.  But is there a foe within his own court and family?  He escapes with an Israelite, Amos, and meets two kings, Sennacherib, the Assyrian king and also Hezekiah, the king of Judah. 
Very exciting and a great way to bring history alive!
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Bound by Ice by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace*

A True North Pole Survival Story
This husband-wife team relates their careful research in an engaging narrative.  Their writing style will disprove anyone that claims historical accounts are dry!
After the Civil War, explorers were obsessed about reaching the North Pole.  Many theories were spouted about the North Pole, including that a tropical sea surrounded it.  George W. De Long led an expedition to discover the mysteries of the North Pole.  The men encountered danger and mishap continuously.  Out of the 33 men who left on the expedition, only 12 survived.  Sadly, George W. De Long died in Siberia along with several of his men.  Although many men died and they did not reach the North Pole, De Long's  journal and record keeping continues to aid science and researchers. 

As I read this exciting account, I was amazed by the men's good cheer, perseverance and willingness to endure physical hardship for the sake of science and discovery.  Do individuals exist like that anymore?!
This quote from George Melville, the Chief Engineer, summarizes the attitude of these men well. "If men must die, why not in honorable pursuit of knowledge?  Woe, woe to  America when the young blood of our nation has no sacrifice to make for science.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
The library has this book categorized as "young adult".

The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater illustrated by The Fan Brothers

Marco, a curious fox, ventures out on the antlered ship to find different foxes to answer his deeper questions.  The crew consisting of deer and pigeons and Marco, of course, spend days at sea experiencing adventure.  Marco finds his answers in a different manner than he expected.
What I like most about this book are the illustrations and the detailed map. 
Great book to read aloud when introducing and implementing "asking questions" strategy.
-Borrowed from the library.

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot illustrated by Edward Gorey*

Cat lovers will adore these humorous poems about various cats.
Great vocabulary opportunities abound!
The musical Cats was inspired by these poems.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Kathryn Brown*

An old woman names various items she owns, but only items that will outlive her.  She has outlived all of her friends and refuses to become attached to anything else that may pass away or become worn out before her.  Then a stray puppy arrives outside her gate and shakes up her well ordered world!!
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.
Strategies: mentor text for personal narratives; character traits

The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills*

Minna longs to attend school but feels like she cannot since she does not have a coat.  When her father dies from the miner's cough, the local ladies gather their rags and sew them together to make a coat for Minna. 
Points to discuss: death, the children at school are cruel to her and make fun of her
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.
Strategy: A perfect book to utilize when introducing inferring.  One can infer the feelings Minna has throughout the book.

Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr*

Aissa is born with two extra floppy thumbs.  She is the first born of the priestess and is destined to lead the island in worship and life.  Can a future priestess be imperfect?  The midwife sent to throw her over the cliff cannot bear the task so she leaves Aissa with a fisherman's wife who just lost a baby.  Four years later, raiders from Crete arrive destroying Aissa's adopted family's home.  Her mother hides her in a bush, telling her not to speak or make a sound until she returns.  Her mother never returns and thus begins Aissa's inability to talk.
After she is discovered, she is taken to the great Hall where she lives a life of physical, mental, and emotional abuse.
Can she redeem herself and prove that she is worthy when she willingly leaves with the Bull King to be a bull dancer on Crete?  Can she and Luki free the island from the yearly tribute to Crete?

This book is well researched and submerges the readers into the Bronze Age.    The style is a mix of prose and free verse.
Points to discuss: The island people are extremely cruel to Aissa and abuse her without consequences.  She begins her menstruation  cycle and the author gives details about it.  The bulls kill some of the characters and the bloody fights are described.
*Highly recommend.

A Journey Through Time-The Minotaur of Knossos by Roberta Angeletti

As Robbie reads about Ancient Crete for a history assignment, he falls asleep and finds that he has traveled back in time to the palace of Knossos.  Here he meets Sir Arthur Evans who discovered the palace, and the dreaded Minotaur!  The illustrations display the beautiful artwork on the palace walls.

Most of the learning about the Minoans, Crete and the myth surrounding the palace will occur on the last 3 pages where the author shares the history and facts.
My eight year old read this book to himself to support our learning about Crete and early Greek civilizations.
Two times in the book are illustrations depicting a woman with her breasts fully sticking out (it was how the women dressed during this time period.).  The illustrations are small enough that a sticky note can cover them.
-Borrowed from the library.

Graphic Novel- The Trojan Horse -The Fall of Troy by Justine and Ron Fontes illustrated by Gordon Purcell*

Mr. and Mrs. Fontes base this graphic novel on, Homer's Iliad, Virgil's Aeneid and Quintus of Smyrna's The War at Troy (A.D. 375). 
They fuse these three sources well, creating a more concise, understandable story for younger readers.
My eight year old and I read this together to further our study of the Ancient Greeks.  We both enjoyed it!
Paris runs away with Helen, the wife of Menelaus, causing the Greek kings to fight against Troy.  After ten years of war, Odysseus' comes up with a clever plan to decimate the Trojans.

*Highly recommend (especially for reluctant, older readers).
-Borrowed from the library.

The Beautiful Stories of Life Six Greek Myths, retold by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Carson Ellis*

Ms. Rylant retells the myths in a concise yet beautiful manner.
She retells the following myths: Pandora, Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Narcissus, and Psyche.
My eleven year old read this book for fun to support our study of early Greeks.
Warning: On pg. 37 a naked statue that Pygmalion carved is in the illustration.
*Highly recommend because of how concise and clear the stories are.
-Borrowed from the library.

In Search of Knossos by Giovanni Caselli

The Quest for the Minotaur's Labyrinth
My eleven year old read this book to himself when we studied Ancient Crete.
There are not many books in the library system which focus solely on the Minoans.   It explains how archaeologist Arthur Evan diligently  searches the island of Crete for the labyrinth and uncovers many treasures and insights about this civilization.
Warning: The women wore gowns with their breasts exposed.  Various pictures throughout the book depicts this way of dressing.  I was able to cover them up with bits of sticky notes.

-Borrowed from the library.

Wings by Jane Yolen illustrated by Dennis Nolan*

When Daedalus of Athens murders his nephew, he is banished from the city.  He travels until he arrives to the island of Crete.  Over time King Minos utilizes Daedalus' skills and gifts to build a labyrinth to keep his son the Minotaur captive.  Daedalus eventually marries and has a son named Icarus.
Then Theseus,  also from Athens,  secretly comes to Daedalus, informing how Athens must send a tribute of boys and girls for the Minotaur to devour.  Daedalus is horrified and draws a map of the labyrinth so Theseus can defeat the Minotaur.  Theseus is successful in slaying the Minotaur and takes the boys and girls and Ariadne (King Minos' daughter) with them.  Enraged, King Minos throws Daedalus and Icarus into a tall tower.  Then Icarus gives Daedalus an idea for escape.  But Icarus is not able to enjoy the freedom when his wings melt and he plunges into the sea.
The last page shares what happens to Daedalus after this tragedy.
Ms. Yolan ends each page with an italic sentence about how the gods are reacting to the events.

My eight year old and I read this book together over a couple of days to support our study of Crete.
This story is so sad!
Mr. Nolan's watercolor illustrations add heart to the story.  He also includes the gods' facial expressions in the sky as the story is told.
Warning: Icarus' death may bother sensitive readers.
*Highly recommend.

You Wouldn't Want to Be an Assyrian Soldier by Rupert Matthews illustrated by David Antram*

This book shares how the life of an Assyrian soldier during King Sargon II's reign.  Interesting ways the soldiers and its army conducted battles were explained. 
I read this aloud to my boys during our study of Assyria.  For the sake of the audience, this book did not portray how brutal the Assyrians were to their enemies and captives.
*Highly recommend (this book and the series).
-Borrowed via inter-library loan (county libraries do not have it).