ALA Notable Children's Books

The Quiet Book

Written By: Deborah Underwood
Illustrated By: Renata Liwska
Underwood, D. (2010). The Quiet Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended ages: 1-8 years old
Awards: ALA Children’s Notable Books (2011)
Summary: Underwood illustrates the many different types of quiet.
Personal Reflection: This book is a notable children’s books because it demonstrates the fundamental reasons to be quiet. This book relates to all children because they are able to make connections with their life. Making connections is an important tool that children need to develop as they begin to read. I would use this book to show how there are many different reasons we do something. I would even use this book as a writing prompt in first or second grade. As a class, I would have the students create a list of reasons why we talk, write and/or read. The students could use the list to make their own “Quiet Book.”
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for library purchase because it has many useful teaching points, mentioned above. The text allows for children to make connections which is a fundamental tool that children need to develop as they become fluent readers.


Old Bear

Written and Illustrated By: Kevin Henkes
Henkes, K. (2008). Old Bear. Greenwillow Books.
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended ages: 4-7 years old
Awards: School Library Journal Best Book, ALA Children’s Notable book (2009)
Summary: Old Bear sleeps during winter and dreams about waking in spring.
Personal Reflection: This book is a notable children’s book because it relates nonfiction ideas, seasons and bears, in as interesting story as bear is hibernating. In the classroom, I have used this book many times throughout the year. First I use this book to introduce color. Henkes uses different colors during the seasons and matches the text to the illustrations. I plan on using this book again when we learn about seasons and bears. When reading this book, it is important to notice how the illustrations change from Bear’s dreams and reality. Bear’s dream illustrations use exaggerated colors and cover the whole page but when Bear is in reality the illustrations look real.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for library purchase because it’s a quick read that teaches children about basic concepts such as dreaming, hibernation and seasons.


Birds

Written By: Kevin Henkes
Illustrated By: Laura Cronzek
Henkes, K. (2009). Birds. Greenwillow Books.
Genre: Informational
Recommended ages: 4-7 years old
Awards: ALA Children’s Notable Book (2010)
Summary: A girl tells all she knows about birds.
Personal Reflection: This book is a great book to use to teach children how to write about what they know. I use this is in my writing workshop unit “Write Write About…” because Birds is told from the perspective a girl telling the reader all she knows about birds. When I introduce this book, the students get so excited because they are able to write like authors. Birds teaches students what good writing is and how to compile their thinking.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for library purchase because it demonstrates how to write a book from a child’s point of view.


Maybe a Bear Ate It

Written By: Robie Harris
Illustrated By: Michael Emberley
Harris, R. (2008). Maybe a Bear Ate It. New York: Scholastic INC.
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended ages: 3-7 years old
Awards: ALA Notable Children’s Book (2009)
Summary: A cat has lost his book and recalls all the possible things that could have happened to it.
Personal Reflection: This book is great to demonstrate the attachment one feels for a book. For early readers, it is important to show children how to books are important to us. This book also helps students make connections with their own special book. When I read this to my students, I share a special book from my childhood and talk about how much it means to me. I then have students “buddy buzz,” talk with a friend, about a special book to them. As educators, we have to model, teach and emphasize an attachment to books to develop readers.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for library purchase because it helps children develop a love for books as well as an imagination for “what if/maybe” situations.