ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Emma Bauman

EDUC 233
THE HUNT FOR SPRING
Written by: Susan O’Halloran
Illustrated by: Dick Smolinski
Publisher: Riverbank Press ©1995
42 Pages
Adventure
The illustrations in this book cover about half of the book and show specific scenes that are
told in the story.
This book tells the story of a little girl who’s village is trapped in winter. The girl notices
that her mother is very sad and never leaves the house because the winter is depressing to
her. So, the little girl takes it upon herself to travel to the coldest place in the world and
ask winter to let spring come.
This is a great book that shows the love that the little girl has for her mother and it also
shows the imagination of the little girl.
This book could be used to introduce a lesson about seasons to a classroom.
THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS
AND THE SCIENCE FAIR EXPEDITION
Written by: Joanna Cole
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. ©2006
48 Pages
Adventure
The illustrations in this book ae very detailed covering the entire books including speech bubbles.
This book is about an adventure that Ms. Frizzle’s class went on through a science museum. The
children learned many things about chemistry, biology, astronomy, and about various influential
scientists.
I enjoyed this book because it was an educational book that didn't’t feel educational. It seemed like
going on and adventure with a class with all of these really cool facts in it.
This book would be helpful to begin a unit on science. You could introduce this book then ask the
students to do a project where they made their own science museum in the classroom.
BIGFOOT
AND OTHER MYSTERIOUS
CREATURES
Written by: John Townsend
Publisher: Crabtree Publishing Company ©2009
32 Pages
Science Fiction
This book does not have many drawings, it just has photo evidence of the mysterious creatures.
This book describes the myths of bigfoot as well as other creatures like the Loch Ness Monster,
The Kraken, Giant Squid, Yeti and other famous mysterious creatures.
I have never believed in any of these creatures but some of the evidence presented was
convincing.
This book could be used with a read and respond lesson. Children could choose which creature
they believe was most convincing and provide reasons from the text to support their claim.
THE GIVER
Written by: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co. ©1993
240 Pages
Science Fiction
This book is about a boy in a dystopian society who is given the a very important job
that forces him to be stronger than he ever had imagined. He is faced with new
information that changes the way he thinks forever.
This is one of my favorite books and I wanted to read it again so that I could put it into
my binder to share with my students.
In this story, Jonas receives memories. A class could do an activity where they reflect on
one of their favorite memories and write about it and tell why it is important to them.
THE HUNGER GAMES
Written by: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Inc ©2008
374 Pages
Science Fiction
A book about a dystopian society set in the future that uses something called the Hunger
Games to maintain strong political control over the nation. The Hunger Games is an annual
televised battle to the death that selects a boy and a girl from each district to compete
for their lives.
Before this project, I had only seen the movie so I wanted to read the book and to me, the
book was so much better than the movie!
This book could be used in upper elementary to make children analyze and discuss the
inhumane things that these people are being put through.
ROBOT ZOT!
Written by: John Scieszka
Illustrated by: David Shannon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ©2009
40 Pages
Science Fiction
The illustrations in this book were done by one of my favorite illustrators, David
Shannon, the photos were helpful in depicting the scenes told in the book!
This book is about a robot who was trying to take over the world. He leaves a path of
destruction until he finds a pink cell phone and a princess and decides to change his
course and tries to become a hero to prove his love.
I enjoyed this book because it was a cute, feel-good story and a quick read.
This book could be helpful in a classroom for a student to read when they are
struggling, it is an easier book to help the student develop an enjoyment for reading.
RED RIDING HOOD
Written and Illustrated By: James Marshall
Published by Scholastic Inc ©1987
30 Pages
Genre: Fairy Tale
The illustrations in this book were more that of a cartoon style that went along
with the story line of the book.
The book is about a little girl who is on her way to her grandmothers to
deliver some treats. The girl runs into a wolf in the woods and the wolf
decides that he wants to eat both the girl and the grandmother. The wolf
tricks both the grandmother and the girl until he can eat them. After he eats
them, a hunter notices that grandmother is missing and cuts the wolf open
freeing the girl and her grandmother.
I grew up reading this story and I have always enjoyed it. It is worrying when
the wolf eats the grandmother then tricks the girl. Those events introduce the
idea of possible death to children.
This book could be used in the classroom to discuss old fables. It could also be
used in the classroom to identify plot structure. The students could be asked to
identify the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Retold by: George Bridge
Illustrated by: Don Gauthier
Publisher: Flowerpot Press ©2011
18 pages
Fairy Tale
This book illustrates a magical kingdom where a little boy adventures
into to receive gifts for his family. The illustrations do a great job using
colorful pictures to help tell the story.
The story is about a little boy who climbs up a bean stalk and finds a
castle at the top. The castle is home to a big, angry giant that loves to
eat little boys. The wife of the giant convinces the boy to leave by giving
him gifts so he continues to return and receive more gifts to give to his
mother.
This is a classic story that I was read as a child I love the imagination that
is inspired by this book.
This book could be used to introduce a unit on plants. The students could
grow bean stalks and see how tall they could get theirs.
NINJA RED RIDING HOOD
Written by: Corey Rosen Schwartz
Illustrated by: Dan Dantat
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. ©2014
40 Pages
Fairy Tale
The illustrations in this book are similar to a comic book. The pictures are bright and colorful and
they help accompany the story.
This book is a twist on a classic fairy tale. In this telling of the story, little red riding hood, was a
ninja and used her skills against the big, bad wolf.
I enjoyed this book because it twisted the story that I am used to reading, it shows that women can
have power and defend themselves.
This book could be used to teach a class plot sequencing and help the class practice identifying a
conflict and a solution.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Written and Illustrated by: Maurice Sendek
Publisher: Harper Cullins ©1963
40 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
The illustrations in this book are detailed with mystical creatures and at some points in the
book, they take up the entire page telling the story without words.
This story is about a boy named Max. Max dresses up as a wolf and got in trouble with his
mom and was sent to his room. Suddenly, his room turned into a forest and max explored the
forest and the open sea. He became friends with mystical creatures and even ruled their land.
I remember this book always being in my classrooms growing but I don’t remember ever
reading it. I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book but I didn't find the story line to be
very interesting.
This could be used in a classroom to teach the children the magic of imagination.
ELLA ENCHANTED
Written by: Gail Carson Levine
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers ©1997
232 Pages
Fantasy
This book is about a girl named Ella who was given the gift of obedience by her fairy
god mother at birth. The gift ends up being a curse and Ella goes on an adventure
through the kingdom to find her fairy god mother and ask her to take back the gift.
This book was better than the movie, my mom read this book to me as a child and we
also watched the movie together. I enjoy this fantasy book a lot because of the thrill
of the adventure.
This book could be used to identify sequencing and it would be an interesting book to
assess reading comprehension of students.
ALICE THE FAIRY
Written and illustrated by: David Shannon
Publisher: The Blue Sky Press ©2004
32 Pages
Fantasy
The illustrations in this book are the famous style of David Shannon who has written and
illustrated many popular children's books.
This is a story about a little girl who is training to become a fairy. She completes a lot of tasks
to train to be a real fairy and no longer a temporary fairy but no matter how hard she tries,
she can’t become a real fairy.
This was my favorite book growing up because as a child I related to Alice with my wild
imagination. I enjoyed reading it as a child and I am glad that children in my classroom will
have access to it.
This book could be connected to the classroom by using it to introduce an activity where
students brainstorm their own power and write it out and illustrate a picture to go with it.
EMMA’S DRAGON HUNT
Written and Illustrated by: Catherine Stock
Publisher: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books ©1984
32 Pages
Fantasy
The illustrations are detailed and imaginative and depict the scenes in the book.
This book is about a girl named Emma and her grandfather. Her grandfather teaches
her about dragons and they set off to find a dragon so Emma can see that they are
nothing she should be afraid of.
I chose this book because the title has my name in it. I enjoyed reading the book and
seeing the little girl concur her fears.
ROSIE’S WALK
Written by: Pat Hutchins
Publisher: Scholastic Inc ©1968
28 pages
The illustrations in this book depict a hen taking a walk and a fox sneaking behind her. The
illustrations fill most of the pages and in some cases, the illustrations are the only thing on the
page.
This is a short book about a hen who is going on a walk. Throughout her walk, there was a fox
following her. The entire time, she didn't’t know about the fox lurking behind her wanting to eat
her, she just continued on walking.
This story was very short but the suspense of the fox lurking may make it interesting to a child
reader. It makes me think what the deeper meaning behind this book is.
I can imagine reading this book to my students and hearing them giggle this book could teach
children about right verses wrong. When you do things that are wrong, like the fox planning to
eat the hen, bad things happen to you, like when he got attacked by bees.
A MOTHER FOR CHOCO
Written by: Keiko Kasza
Published by: The Penguin Group ©1992
32 Pages
Animals
The illustrations in this book shows a bird traveling all over to find it’s mother. The
illustrations in this book are bright and colorful and help to tell the story.
This book is about a bird who doesn’t know who his mother is, he travels all
around looking for someone who looks like him who could be his mother.
Eventually, he runs into a bear who changes his life.
This book could be used in the classroom in situations with children who are being
adopted or who are struggling in the foster system.
THE EMPEROR’S EGG
Written by: Martin Jenkins
Illustrated by: Jane Chapman
Publisher: Candlewick Press ©1999
29 Pages
Animal
This book has interesting illustrations that cover the entire page and help tell the story. There
are also illustrations that remind me of a comic strip.
This book tells the story of the sacrifices that a father Emperor Penguin makes in order to
protect his egg. Then, the story teaches us how the father takes care of the baby before the
mother comes home.
This was a very cute book about a very cute type of animal. I enjoyed the delivery of this
books story because it did not seem like a boring non-fiction book.
This book could be used in class to learn vocabulary, and to teach children about penguins.
ELLA
OF ALL OF A KIND FAMILY
Written by: Sydney Taylor
Illustrated by: Gail Owens
Publisher: E.P. Dutton, Inc. ©1978
133 Pages
Western
There are not many illustrations in this book, but there are some sketches throughout the book
depicting the scenes told in the story.
This is a light-hearted book in a series of novels about a girl named Ella, the oldest of six
children. Ella is finds it difficult to get time alone with a boy named Jules. This is all she is
worried about until she is scouted by a talent scout from Broadway and her priorities change.
This is a good book about growing up and changing your priorities based on your future.
This book could be used in a classroom to compare and contrast what life was like when this
book was set and now and how people today would handle the situations Ella faced.
TEN TIMID GHOSTS
Written and Illustrated by: Jennifer O’Connell
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. ©2000
29 Pages
Spooky/Scary
The book illustrates a haunted house filled with ghosts and a witch. The illustrations completely cover the pages
and wrap the text.
This is the story of ten timid ghosts who lived in a haunted house that a witch recently moved into. The witch was
not happy that the ghosts were there and she wanted them out. The witch came up with ten different ways to
scare the ghosts out of the home until they were all gone.
I enjoyed reading this book. I believe that it would be fun to read to a class full of young children. I can see them
really getting in to the spooky nature of the story.
I would use this book to teach students how to count. This book is a light enough read that children who are still
learning their numbers would be able to understand. It would also be useful to read around Halloween when the
children are more interested in spooky things.
WE’RE GOING ON A GHOST
HUNT
Written by: Susan Peterson
Illustrated by: S.D. Schindler
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. ©2012
29 Pages
Spooky/Scary
This book illustrates four children walking through places like the woods, a graveyard, and a cornfield searching
for ghosts. The illustrations cover the whole page and help tell the story.
This book tells the story of four children who are searching for a ghost. It tells the story of all of the different
places they go through and all of the obstacles they face to get to the grave yard and find a ghost.
This book is a fun read, I enjoy the repetition and the rhyming scheme.
This book would be helpful in teaching rhyming and repetition. The book has repeating lines as well as repeating
themes. The book also has a lot of examples of rhymes.
SPOOKY STUFFS
Written by: Eric A. Knudsen
Illustrated by: Guy buffet
Publisher: Honolulu Publishing Company ©1974
64 Pages
Spooky
A variety of different illustrations to accompany multiple different spooky stories.
This book is a compilation of many Hawaiian ghost stories. There were thirteen
different stories in this book telling a variety of spooky tales.
This book would be interesting to read in the thirteen days leading up to Halloween
and have the children practice writing their own spooky stories to create a booklet.
GAME CHANGERS
HEAVY HITTERS

Written by: Mike Lupica

Publisher: Scholastic Inc ©2014
217 Pages
Sports
This book is about a group of friends playing in their towns baseball league. The boys in the
book are having problems in their personal lives and the friends rally together to support each
other.
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and it was very heartwarming to see the boys supporting
each other as a teammates.
This is a good book for children in upper elementary. This book could be used in the classroom if
children are having problems understanding issues going on in their friends lives as well as help
them learn how to be supportive.
GAME CHANGERS
Written by: Mike Lupica
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. ©2012
207 Pages
Sports
This book is about a boy who is hopeful for the starting quarterback position on the football
team but he is loosing his chance to the coach’s son. The boy must prove himself more able
than the coach’s son to beat out the coach’s favoritism and earn his spot on the team.
This book was a great story about how the world isn't fair. It also teaches you that hard work
pays off.
This book would appeal to students in a classroom who like football. Having your students
read material about things that they are interested in help them to enjoy reading fiction.
BICYCLE MYSTERY
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN #15
Written by: Gertrude Chandler Warner
Illustrated by: David Cunningham
Publisher: Scholstic Inc. ©1970
125 Pages
Mystery
There are very few illustrations in this book, the illustrations are drawn in black and white and they
are depicting specific parts of scenes in the book.
This book is about four children who embark on a bicycle trip. On their first night, they get caught
in a rainstorm and take shelter in an abandoned house where they get caught up in a mystery.
I enjoyed reading this book. Before I read this, I didn't’t think I would like mystery books but I
enjoyed this quick read a lot.
After reading this book, the class could practice writing their own mystery stories based on ideas
from this story.
COFFIN ON A CASE
Written by: Eve Bunting
Publisher: Harper Trophy ©1992
105 Pages
This book tells the story of a son of an investigator who helps an older high school
girl try to find her mother who has been kidnapped with hopes of getting the girl to
like him.
I enjoyed the mystery of this book, I don’t feel like I see a lot of kidnapping
happening in the books that I read for children. I also enjoyed the naïve boy trying to
win the older girl’s heart.
This book could be used in a fiction unit for a student to read during silent reading
time in the classroom. This book has a suspense factor to it that some children may
enjoy.
THE STORY OF RUBY BRIDGES
Written By: Robert Coles
Illustrated By: George Ford
Published By: Scholastic Inc ©1995
26 pages
The illustrations throughout the book colorfully cover the all of the pages and portray the emotions
and actions of the characters in the book.
This book is about a the first black girl to go to a white elementary school. Ruby was met with
protesters everyday coming and going from school it was even dangerous to her safety. However,
despite everyone giving her a hard time she showed up to school everyday and she even prayed
that God would forgive the hateful people twice a day.
This book would be helpful when teaching nonfiction to students or teaching students about black
history. This is a pivotal moment in history and it shows the student not to give up even if they
believe that the odds are against them. It also teaches students that it is important to forgive
people even if they aren’t nice to you.
YOUNG FREDERICK DOUGLASS
FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
Written by: Laurence Santrey
Illustrated by: Bert Dodson
Publisher: Troll Associates ©1983
48 Pages
History Based Non Fiction
The illustrations in this book are black and white sketches that help to tell the story.
This book is about the early life of Frederick Douglass who was a slave that became an
abolitionist, a journalist, and a statesman.
This book was very inspiring. It showed me that no matter your upbringing or what other
people think of you, you can make a difference in this world.
This book would be helpful to teach children about slavery and the conditions that come
with being a slave. It also is important in teaching the students that everyone is important
and everyone can make a difference if they are determined.
ABE LINCOLN
THE YOUNG YEARS
Written by: Keith Brandt
Illustrated by: John Lawn
Publisher: Troll Associates ©1982
48 Pages
Biography
The illustrations in this book are sketched in black and white, they are not on every page in this book.
This book is about the events in the life of Abraham Lincoln when he lived in Kentucky and Indiana that
influenced his life in later years.
I enjoy reading books about former presidents so I found this book fun to read. I also thought that it
was interesting that the book took place in Indiana and Kentucky, both places that I know a lot about.
This book could be used in a unit about former presidents of the united states. This book is full of
information and is not too hard of a read so I believe that children would enjoy the book.
FAITHFUL ELEPHANTS
A TRUE STORY OF ANIMALS, PEOPLE AND WAR
Written By: Yukio Tsuchiya
Translated By: Tomoko Tsuchiya Dykes
Illustrated By: Ted Lewin
29 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
This book was full of detailed illustrations that depicted the emotions and actions of the characters
in the book.
This book is about the Uneo Zoo during a war. The zoo was ordered to euthanize all of its animals.
The last animals that the zookeepers were ordered to poison and kill were large and mighty
elephants. The elephants were too intelligent and strong to be poisoned so the zookeepers are
forced to starve them. The elephants fight for their lives and they are eventually found dead
positioned like they are preforming for food.
This book would be an important book to use in class when talking about war. No one really thinks
about what happens to the animals and this opens your eyes to another side of tragedy that is not
talked about when war is taught.
 HENRY’S FREEDOM BOX
A TRUE STORY FROM THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Written By: Ellen Levine
Illustrated By: Kadir Nelson
Published by Scholastic Inc. ©2007
40 pages
Historical Nonfiction
The illustrations in this book cover the entirety of the pages. The illustrations are detailed and colorful that
depict the emotion and sorrow of the characters.
This book is about a slave named henry who was sold as a boy and would never see his family again.
When he became a man, he married and had three children. One day when he was at work, his entire
family was sold and he would never see them again. By this point, he was ready to be freed. He shipped
himself to Philadelphia by white men who wanted to help and became a free man.
This book is heartbreaking when you read about all this man has lost but he doesn't give up hope of
becoming a free man and I think that is inspiring.
This could be easily used in a classroom to explain what happened in the personal lives of slaves. It shows
the tragic events that happen to a lot of slaves without going in to gory details that really did happen.
THE STORY OF THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
Written by: Norman Richards
Illustrated by: Tom Dunnington
Publisher: Regensteiner Publishing Enterprises Inc. ©1968
31 Pages
Nonfiction
The illustrations in this book are sketched mostly in black and white with some red mixed in, the
illustrations go along with the story.
This book tells the story of how the declaration of independence came to be. It is a longer story with
more words than pictures.
I like this book because I am very interested in United States history so it was a very interesting read
for me.
This book would be helpful for children who are in upper elementary who are interested in history to
read on their own as well as for introducing the topic of the US history.