Weird but True: 300 Outrageous Facts

This book will have kids totally hooked! There are totally crazy facts on every page that will keep kids flipping until the very end. I would definitely keep this in the classroom. It's an interesting and creative way to get kids more excited about reading.

 Weird but true: 300 outrageous facts. (2010). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.  

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

This hilarious retelling of the Three Little Pigs is written in the wolf's perspective! This story lets the reader know that the whole thing was a misunderstanding and an accident. The wolf tells readers that he had a bad cold and that was what caused him to blow down the pigs' houses. It is very entertaining. 

This book would work wonderfully for a read aloud, and could also be incorporated into a lesson about perspective or point of view. 

Scieszka, J., & Smith, L. (1989). The true story of the 3 little pigs. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking Kestrel.

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood is traveling on her own through the woods when a devious wolf convinces her to stray from the path. The wolf proceeds to eat her grandmother before Little Red can reach her. The young girl has to find a way to avoid being eaten herself!

This classic folk tale would be a great addition to any classroom. It could be used to teach a lesson about safety and "stranger danger" and its charming quality makes this book an excellent read aloud. I think this book would also work well for creative writing exercises because it is so well-known by most children.

 Hyman, T., & Grimm, J. (1983). Little Red Riding Hood. New York: Holiday House.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

This collection of hilarious, insightful, meaningful poems by Shel Silverstein is so perfect for any classroom. Whether the reader is learning of the importance of taking out the garbage or knowing how to do math with money, that reader will be laughing all through this book. It is a personal favorite of mine and I can't wait to someday share it with students.

 Silverstein, S. (1974). Where the sidewalk ends: The poems & drawings of Shel Silverstein. New York: Harper and Row.  

A Pizza the Size of the Sun

This collection of poems by Jack Prelutsky is perfect for an occasional read aloud and a place in any classroom library! His poems are humorous and fun.

 Prelutsky, J., & Stevenson, J. (1996). A pizza the size of the sun: Poems. New York: Greenwillow Books. 

Henry and the Paper Route

Henry is a young boy anxious to prove that he is responsible enough to have his very own paper route. He yearns to earn his own money and deliver papers around his neighborhood like the older boys do. Henry is given a glimpse into what it’s like to have a paper route when another boy has Henry cover his own route for the day. Henry must prove to his parents and potential boss that he can juggle schoolwork, family matters, a paper route, and the neighborhood pest Ramona Quimby. He does all of this and more in this charming story!

This book would make an outstanding addition to a classroom library. Ideally, the entire series would be included so students could become familiar with the collection. It is a wholesome, entertaining story that boys and girls alike can enjoy.

Cleary, B., & Darling, L. (1957). Henry and the paper route (Morrow eagle library ed.). New York: Morrow.

The Book Thief

Zusak, M. (2006). The book thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

This book would be appropriate for older classrooms. I, myself, read it in 8th grade and absolutely loved it at that time. However, the content is mature as is the reading level. I do not think students much younger than 7th or 8th grade would handle the book well. It could absolutely be used for a novel study or a read aloud. It is fantastic. 

The Book Thief is a fascinating piece of historical fiction told from death's point of view. It centers around a young girl, Liesel,  who loses her family to illness during World War II. She is taken in by an older couple who later also take in a Jewish young adult named Max. Max is in hiding because of the dangers surrounding the time period. This book follows Liesel through countless trying times as well as some genuine moments of youthful happiness. Zusak's words make the story come to life.

Wonder

This incredible, moving story is about August Pullman, a fifth-grader with a facial deformity. He has never gone to a normal school, until now. He has to learn how to make friends and navigate the challenges of being the new kid in school, all while trying to cope with his extraordinary exterior. This novel is uplifting, emotional, and beautifully written. I think it would be an excellent read aloud and could really help kids see how their actions affect others. I truly hope to use this in my classroom someday.

 Palacio, R. (2012). Wonder. Knopf. 

Hoot

This novel has middle-schooler Roy Eberhardt starting over as the new kid in school once again. Bullies and loneliness haunt his daily life. Roy becomes fascinated by endangered burrowing owls that reside in his new town. He teams up with two unlikely allies and together they form a plan to save these endangered creatures. The New York Daily News called Hoot "offbeat" and "hilarious". It is very likable and is certainly worth a read. I will certainly include it in my classroom and may even use it for a read aloud or even a novel study in upper grades.

 Hiaasen, C., & Knopf, I. (2002). Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

One Crazy Summer

This novel by Rita Williams-Garcia has received many acknowledgements for its impressive content, including the Coretta Scott King Award, the Newbery Honor, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and a finalist place for the National Book Award. The book follows three sisters, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, who travel to California to visit their mother who abandoned them. The story is set in 1968, a "tumultuous" time in American history. The girls are exposed to many different things in California, most notably the Black Panther group.

This historical fiction piece is moving and thought-provoking. I would definitely use it in my class for a read aloud, if not for a novel study. I would do this only in upper grades, as the content is somewhat sensitive and mature. I wouldn't want to overwhelm younger students with concepts they may not understand or be mature enough to handle.

Hansel and Gretel

 Marshall, J. (1990). Hansel and Gretel. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

This classic tale is perfect for a read aloud. Hansel and Gretel live with their father and stepmother. The stepmother is desperate to get rid of the children, so she leads them deep into the forest with a plan to abandon them. However, Hansel suspects her plan and leaves a trail of rocks to find their way home by. The stepmother tries her plan again. This time, Hansel leaves a trail of breadcrumbs which is eaten by animals and is thus ineffective. The children stumble upon a candy cottage in the woods, home to an evil witch. Hansel and Gretel must figure out how to foil the witch's plan to eat them for dinner and find their way home.

I would definitely include this book in my classroom library. It teaches a good lesson on being resourceful, solving problems with creative solutions, and having faith that things will be okay.

Ella Enchanted

This is a spin off of the classic tale Cinderella. Ella, the protagonist, is given a "gift" by a fairy named Lucinda when she is just a baby. Ella's "gift" is obedience. She must do whatever she is told. This is both embarrassing for Ella in many circumstances, but also proves to be dangerous. I think this book would work very well as a read aloud in class. It is a fun, entertaining read that most students would enjoy!

Levine, G. (1997). Ella enchanted. New York: HarperCollins.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

This is the first in a series of seven books telling the epic tale of a young wizard, Harry Potter. In this first book, we read about Harry’s entrance into the magical world. He discovers he is a wizard, begins his first year at Hogwarts, a school of magic, and has many dangerous yet thrilling encounters. Harry becomes best friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and together, the three of them attempt to protect the Sorcerer’s Stone, which they believe is in danger of being stolen. This book that teaches about friendship and bravery is inspiring, whimsical, and full of adventure! It has been published in many different countries.

I would definitely use this book for a read aloud or for a whole class novel study.

Rowling, J. (1998). Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone. New York: A.A. Levine Books.

The Hunger Games

This is a widely known story. The Hunger Games is the first in a a series of three books about a futuristic dystopia. Each year, 2 tributes from each of the 12 districts are randomly selected to participate in a gruesome fight to the death. Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist, volunteers to take the place of her sister in these horrific "games," and the events that follow leave readers unable to put the book down!

In older grades, I would certainly consider using this book as a read aloud. However, it is likely that I would simply keep it in the classroom library (in upper grades). I think that the content may be too sensitive for the classroom setting in some cases.

The book was also made into a major motion picture which has yielded a lot of popularity.

Collins, S. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press.

Divergent

Roth, V. (2011). Divergent. Harper Collins.

This is the first in a series of truly fascinating books! I could not put it down. This novel tells the story of Beatrice, or Tris, who is living in a futuristic society divided into factions. Tris is at the age that she must decide which faction to spend the rest of her life in- this could mean deciding to live apart from the family she grew up with. This story has so many different components that make it popular. It is a coming-of-age novel, it is about a dystopia, there is a lot of romance, and the book is full of action! 

I would consider using this for a read aloud in class. It is such an exciting read and I think it would be very enjoyable. I would only do that in upper grades. I would definitely include this book and the rest of the series in my classroom library, if nothing else. I think it would be extremely popular with most students. 

The book has also been made into a fantastic movie. It is rated PG-13 so I would not show it in class. 

The Cat's Pajamas

This is a book of idioms written by Wallace Edwards. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful while also providing a lot of humor!

This book is perfect for a read aloud. I used it to teach a lesson on idioms. The photos are very literal and help to demonstrate that idioms are not meant to be taken literally, but figuratively. You're guaranteed a laugh on most pages! The story does not have much of a plot, but it is a very fun read.

Edwards, W. (2010). The cat's pajamas. Toronto: Kids Can Press.

The Emperor's New Clothes

The Emperor’s New Clothes is a popular tale by Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author. In this story, the Emperor is tricked into wearing a suit to his birthday parade made of fabric allegedly so exquisite only people with very good taste can see it. In reality, the Emperor is wearing nothing at all. No one accepts this until a small boy in the crowd shouts that the Emperor isn’t wearing any clothes. The phrase “emperor’s new clothes” has even become an idiom about logical fallacies and pluralistic ignorance, to be used in a case when someone is ignorant but believes that no one else is ignorant, or the opposite.

There are several different versions of this title. One modern adaptation includes a CD that narrates the story, voiced by many well-known people, including Madonna, Calvin Klein, Melissa Joan Hart, Geena Davis, and Rosie O’Donnell. The book also contains illustrations from a variety of popular illustrators, including Tomie DePaola, Quentin Blake, and Chris Van Allsburg, among others. The cover of this particular rendition boasts that it is “An all-star illustrated retelling of the Classic Fairy Tale,” referring to Hans Christian Andersen’s original and much less detailed story.

There are some aspects that may be a little sensitive in a school setting, but overall, I think it would be wildly appreciated by students! It is perfect for a read aloud scenario- though I would almost definitely use the audio CD.

Below is Madonna's excerpt from this version. 

Andersen, H. (1998). The Emperor's new clothes: An all-star retelling of the classic fairy tale. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company.

Chopsticks

Rosenthal, A., & Magoon, S. (2012). Chopsticks. New York: Disney/Hyperion.

This is an adorable, humorous picture book written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Amy's website (link in previous sentence) contains many fun activities!

This book tells the story of a pair of chopsticks that do everything together. Then, one chopstick suffers an injury (he breaks in half) and the two are forced to spend time apart while the injured stick recovers. The book is full of laughs and puns. Right on the front cover, it says “Not exactly a sequel to Spoon. More like a change in place setting.” The two chopsticks learn the importance of independence and functioning on their own.

This book teaches a very important lesson to young kids. While it is important to stick together with friends, it is also important to learn to stand on your own. This book gives kids a valuable lesson while at the same time avoiding cheesiness and including humor. It is perfect for a quick read-aloud to help infuse some laughs into the classroom setting!

Half Magic

Eager, E., & Bodecker, N. (1999). Half magic. San Diego, Calif.: Harcourt Brace.

This is a fascinating story of four children who come across a magical coin. Of course, there is a catch. The coin only grants half wishes. For example, when the children's mother wishes she was home, she is transported just halfway there. The book is one in a series of seven magical tales by Edward Eager, the covers of which are illustrated by the talented Quentin Blake. The different stories in the series have unrelated characters. This is one criticism I have. After reading the first book, I was eager to read more about the characters from Half Magic, but the next in the series had different characters entirely. That said, each story in the Tales of Magic series brings something different to the table and is wonderful in its own way.

I think that this story could be interesting to reference in relation to math. It could be used to review fractions and why two halves equal a whole. While I may not center a whole math lesson around the book, it would certainly be helpful to reference it.

Ramona's World

Ramona’s World is one of several books about spunky young Ramona Quimby, a character of Beverly Cleary’s own invention. Ramona is a typical, fun-loving fourth grader. She struggles with spelling, fights with her sister, and longs to be viewed as responsible by her parents. This book follows Ramona’s adventures as she takes on fourth grade, makes new friends, and deals with Yard Ape, a rowdy boy at school.

Find Beverly Cleary's website here.

Find lesson plan ideas here.

Ramona and Beezus was made into a movie that combines the storylines from the many Ramona books in Cleary's series. See the trailer below:

Many of the Ramona books won awards, including:
Ramona and her Father, 1978, Newbery Honors
Ramona Quimby, Age 8, 1982, Newbery Honors
Ramona and her Mother, 1981, National Book Award in Category Children's Fiction

Cleary, B., & Tiegreen, A. (1999). Ramona's world. New York: Morrow Junior Books.