One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole*

-Wordless picture book

Readers witness how a tree is cut down and changed into a brown paper bag.  The paper bag is then used by a boy for a myriad of tasks.  As the boy matures, he still utilizes the bag.  The bag spans generations.

I loved this story about a family (and a  brown paper bag)! The only color throughout the book is anything related to the brown paper bag.

Based on actual events.

Strategies: inferring, predicting

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

What Are the 7 Natural Wonders of the United States? by Cheryl L. Defries

Each chapter is devoted to a different natural wonder in the United States.
The location/size, description of it, animal and plant life and threats are common sections in each chapter.
A good overview of these amazing places.
-Borrowed from the library.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park*

Based on a True Story
Ms. Park heard about Salva Dut's nonprofit organization Water for Sudan and was able to interview him about his life.  From those interviews, she wrote this book based on his life.
She reveals the turmoil Salva experiences in war-torn Sudan and how he vows to help his country to have clean water.  The story begins in 1985 when Salva flees for his life into the bush to escape Muslim soldiers, away from his family and home.  For eleven years he travels the desert and lives in several refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya.  During that time, he leads twelve hundred boys to Kenya to a refugee camp.  These boys are called "The Lost Boys".  Ultimately Salva is blessed to be sent to Rochester, NY where a family adopts him.  He, however, does not rest in the comfort of the United States but begins his nonprofit organization to help his country.
An alternating story is interwoven throughout the book about the girl Nya who must walk far just for water and how her life is impacted positively by Salva.
An inspiring story!
I am not sure kids will pick up this book on their own accord.  But, once they begin to read it, they will be drawn to the amazing story.
Points to discuss: war, violence
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.4
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

I Survived The Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 by Lauren Tarshis illustrated by Scott Dawson

Ms. Tarshis originally began this series because her three sons did not like to read.  It seemed to her that there were tons of books that appealed to girl readers but not boys.  So she created a series which would encourage reluctant boy readers to pick up a book and enjoy it.  She was very successful.
Some girls, however, wrote to her and asked why there were not girl main characters in this series.  As a result, Ms. Tarshis decided to have a girl as a main character in her latest book.
In my opinion, books with strong female characters abound and was greatly disappointed to see this switch!
Jessie and her best friends, twin brothers Sam and Eddie, find themselves within miles of Mount St. Helen's when it erupts.  With determination, Jessie escapes the rubble and finds help to rescue her friends.
-Borrowed from the library.
Perfect for reluctant readers.
Guided Reading Level: R (beginning of 4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4th

Balloon Trees by Danna Smith illustrated by Laurie Allen Klein

For kids who love balloons this will be an interesting book!  It starts in a forest of rubber trees where latex is tapped and continues to the factory where they are made.
I found it fascinating!
In the back the author has more information about rubber, a little quiz-like, a sequencing page, and a true or false page.
Wish the map on the information page was bigger-difficult to read the words/map key.