Ackerman, Karen. Illustrated by Stephen Gammeil. Song & Dance Man. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988. Caldecott Medal Book. 29 pages. ISBN 0-394-89330-1.
An afternoon at the grandparent's house turns into a Vaudeville show when the kids want to watch TV but Grandpa convinces them they want some real fun, like before television was invented. He takes the kids up to the attics where he unearths his old trunks of costumes, becoming the Song and Dance Man from his youth spent on the Vaudeville stage. His show completely mesmerizes the grandkids. THe illustrations make the fancy footwork come to life; they relay the action and the feelings of both Grandpa and the grandkids. The story is told in a very clever manner, letting the reader into Grandpa's memories while at the same time portraying the story as entertaining and amazing from the kids' point of view. When the act is over, the kids want more - as does the reader!
Adler, David A. A Picture Book of Louis Braille.
Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women.
Alcott, Susan. Young Amelia Earhart: A Dream to Fly.
Allard, Harry. Illustrated by James Marshall. Miss Nelson is Missing! Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. 32 pages. ISBN 0-395-25296-2.
Miss Nelson is the nicest, sweetest teacher. Her students adore her, but sometimes they don't listen to her and often take advantage of her. One day Miss Nelson's students show up to class but there is no Miss Nelson! Instead, there is a mean old witch-looking teacher sitting behind Miss Nelson's desk. Her name is Miss Viola Swamp and she is just mean! Every day the children miss Miss Nelson more and more. They don't know where she went or when she'll be back. Some students fo to the police and file a missing persons report. Others go by her house but there's no sign of her. They all come up with some pretty imaginative stories for what could have happened. Then one day Miss Nelson comes back! Her students are ecstatic. They do everything Miss Nelson asks - when she asks for quiet, they are quiet; no one makes a squeak or moves a muscle during story time. After mean old Miss Swamp they sure do appreciate Miss Nelson! Bur as Miss Nelson goes to bed that night, she can't help but chuckle at that black dress and wig hanging in her closet...
Axworthy, Anni. Anni's Diary of France.
Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline. New York: Puffin Books, 1977. 46 pages. Caldecott Honor Book. ISBN 0-14-050198-3.
Madeline is a courageous little girl living in Paris where she goes to a boarding school with eleven other little girls. This is the story of their daily adventures with their teacher, Miss Clavel. Madeline is brave and sometimes a troublemaker, until one night she is rushed to the hospital to have her appendix taken out! The other girls miss her terribly and after a while Miss Clavel takes them to visit Madeline. They are prepared for the worst, noly to find her room filled with toys and candy. She even has a scar as a souvenir. That night the girls are even more sad as they get ready for bed; they wnt their appendixes out too! Miss Clavel chastises them, saying they should be thankful for their health as she bids them good-night. Children, especially little girls, will love Madeline's spunk.
Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline and the Bad Hat. New York: Puffin Books, 1977. 54 pages. ISBN 01-4-050206-8.
The Spanish AMbassador moves into the house next door to MAdeline's school, bringing with him his rambunctious son, Pepito. Miss Clavel is excited but the girls are not. Madeline knows better; she calls him a "bad hat." Does Pepito ever prove her right! He is always causing trouble and showing off. Then one day Pepito goes too ar, teasing some dogs with a cat in a bag. Miss Clavel and Madeline must resuce him when the excited dogs attack him. Pepito is hurt badly but he will be okay. He vows to never harm another animal again. And of course he goes too far, releasing all the animals from the zoo. Once again MAdeline saves the day, telling Pepito he is no longer a "bad hat" - now he's their friend.
Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline and the Gypsies.
Everyone goes to the carnival - Miss Clavel, the girls, the Spanish Ambassador and his family. A storm comes out of nowhere sending everyone scurrying home. It's not til then that they realize Madeline and Pepito are missing! The carnival gypsies rescue them from atop the Ferris Wheel. Madeline and Pepito go with the gypies to warm up and end up traveling with them! They love performing with the gypsies but they miss their families, as their families miss them. The two send a postcard to Miss Clavel - who is horrified that they've forgotten how to spell - which send the families on their way to reclaim their children. the gypsies try to hide Madeline and Pepito in a lion suit but they see Miss Clavela and rush to her arms. The gypsies are sad but Madeline and Pepito are glad to go home.
Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline's Christmas.
Everyone in the vine-covered Parisian home is sick - except Madeline. She cares for all of them: cleaning, cooking, nursing them back to health. When a rug merchant shows up with exactly 12 rugs to sell, Madeline buys them all to put beside the beds to keep everyone's feet warm. The merchant is cold without his rugs so he returns to the school where Madeline takes care of him, too. He is so greatful he turns the rugs into magic carpets, sending each girl home to visit their family on Christmas. Miss Clavel brings them back with a ring of her bell, just in time for a New Year's Eve feast.
Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline in London. New York: Puffin Books, 1977. 54 pages. ISBN 0-14-050199-1.
The Spanish Ambassador has been reassigned to London. The girls and Pepito are sad that he has to move away. Pepito is so sad that he refuses to eat and becomes very sick. The Ambassador decides Pepito needs a visit from Madeline and the others so he rings up Miss Clavel ad invites them all to London. Of course they accept and Pepito instantly feels better. The girls forget to bring a present for Pepito so they find a retired horse in London since they remember he has always wanted a horse. Pepito is thrilled! As he and Madeline are riding the horse, the Queen's Guard goes by - and the horse jumps in front to lead. The others chase them all over London. That night they forget to feed the horse so he helps himself to a treeful of apples and a bushful of roses; it all makes him very sick. They decide to take the horse back to Paris where the girls will take care of him for Pepito.
Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeline's Rescue. New York: Puffin Books, 1977. 54 pages. Caldecott Medal Book. ISBN 0-14-050207-6.
Madeline falls into the river and is rescued by a dog. The dog is a stray so the girls take her home and name her Genevieve. They all live happily in the vine-covered house until the school's benefactors come for a visit and announce, "No Dogs Allowed!" Miss Clavel must throw Genevieve out into the night. The girls cry and cry. Miss Clavel surprises them all by taking them to search high and low through all of Paris, to no avail. But who should show up on their doorstep in the middle of the night but Genevieve herself! They take her inside; a short time later she gives birth to puppies - enough for everyone!
Benjamin, Amanda. Two's Company. New York: Viking, 1995. 31 pages. ISBN 0-670-84876-X.
Maddy is an imaginative little girl who lives with her mother, an artist. They live a cozy life, just the two of them. Then one night a man named Simon comes over for dinner. Maddy likes his wild black beard. Her mom must like him too, because after that they begin to spend a lot of time together. When Maddy's mom talles her that her and Simon might get married, Maddy says it isn't a good idea. She thinks that's the end of that. But they decide to get married anyway; Maddy doesn't like Simon very much anymore. She asks her best friend, Little Adam Zurka, who also happens to be a lizard, for help. He asks her to marry him! It takes some convincing but finally Maddy says yes. When Maddy tells her mom, she replies by helping Maddy plan the wedding. Maddy is surprised but loves the attention from her mom, who goes along with the charade; she buys a "wedding" dress for Maddy and asks where and how Maddy and Adam will live. Eventually her mom brings up Simon and Maddy confides she is afraid her mom will end up liking Simon more than her. Her mom reassures her that will never happen; Maddy starts to feel better. They all dance ogether at the wedding, even Little Adam Zurka.
Brown, Margaret Wise. The Runaway Bunny.
Bunting, Eve. Illustrated by David Diaz. Going Home. New York: Harper Collins, 1996. 32 pages. ISBN 0-06-026296-6.
A touching story about a Mexican family going home for Christmas. The children don't understand what is so special about their parents' village until they get there and see how happy their parents are there. They also realize what their parents have given up for them so the children can have a better life with the opportunities available in America.
Bunting, Eve. Once Upon a Time.
Bunting, Eve. Illustrated by Diane deGroat. Our Teacher's Having a Baby. New York: Clarion Books, 1992. 32 pages. ISBN 0-395-60470-2.
A sweet story about a teacher who tells her class she's going to have a baby. The kids have a million questions, which Mrs. Neal answers by teaching them about animals and their offspring. the students help think of baby names and find things to put in the baby's room. They anxiously await the arrival of the baby. They don't realize until a substitute shows up one day that Mrs. Neal being a mother means she won't be their teacher. The kids are confused - they are happy she's a mother but sad she won't be their teacher. When Mrs. Neal brings the baby in for a visit, she put the kids' fears to rest by saying mothers can be teachers, too.
Bunting, Eve. illustrated by David Diaz. Smoky Night. San Diego: Harcourt BRace & Company, 1994. Caldecott Medal Book. 31 pages. ISBN 0-15-269965-6.
This is a story inspired by the Los Angeles riots in 1992. It is told through the eyes of a little boy, Daniel, who is living in the middle of the riot area. He is confused and his mother does her best to explain what is going on and how it is wrong. Daniel and his mother watch as rioters loot Mrs. Kim's store - a store they never go to because she isn't on of "their kind." Fire spreads to Daniel's building; they must leave quickly and he can't find his cat, Jasmine, but they must go. A lady takes the families to a shelter at a local church. Soon a firefighter comes in with Daniel's and Mrs. Kim's cats - they were hiding together. No one could believe it because the cas hated each other! Daniel said that must have been because they didn't know each other. These two cats bring a divided community together in a horrible time of tension and hatred.
Bunting, Eve. Illustrated by Irene Trivas. Trouble on the T-Ball Team. New York: Clarion Books, 1997. 32 pages. ISBN 0-395-66060-2.
Soemthing is happening to the t-ball team. In between playing games, they keep losing something. Their families are happy, sad, excited, nostalgic - a whole gammut of emtions over these lost things. The kids don't know what to think - mostly they are surprised! That's what happens when you lose your first tooth.
Burnett, Frances Hodgson. A Little Princess.
Burnett, Frances Hodgson. The Secret Garden.