Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. By: Bernard Waber. (1965).

I remember reading Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, by Bernard Waber when I was a child. I was reunited with the book a few years ago at one of my practicum sites. The students were in second grade and they were in their reading groups. They were listening to Lyle, Lyle Crocodile on headsets while they read along. The five students in the group were totally engaged. They all were smiling and visibly enjoying themselves. So of course, the first thing I did when I left the school was to head over to Barnes and Noble and buy a copy of Lyle, Lyle Crocodile for my son. He was only 3 or 4 at the time, but he liked the book. It was a little long for him, but he always enjoyed it for as long as a book could hold his attention. He's almost 7 now and we still read it from time to time. It is just one of those classics that kids are always going to enjoy. Who doesn't like to read about a crocodile who lives in an apartment in the city?!?

This book is about Lyle, a crocodile who lives in the city with the Primm family; Mr Primm, Mrs. Primm and their son Joshua. The Primm's neighbor, Mr. Grumps had a cat named Loretta that did not like Lyle, but in the end it was Lyle who saved Mr. Grumps and Loretta. Lyle has many fun adventures in the city; shopping, and ice skating and all kinds of other fun activities! Not your average crocodile!

About the Author: Bernard Waber was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1924. He was a staff Sergeant in the United States Army from 1942-1945. After he left the Army, he went to the Philadelphia College of Art and graduated in 1951. He started writing in 1962.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Waber

Genre: Fiction, humor, character education

Theme/Skill: Be positive and kind. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Be a good citizen

Grade Level: K-4

Pre-reading Activity: Discuss with the class what it means to be a good citizen and a good neighbor. Discuss how it makes you feel when you see someone who is not being kind and not being a good neighbor. Have students discuss as well. 

Post-reading Activity: Lyle is the hero. Mr. Grumps announces that Lyle is the bravest, kindest, most wonderful crocodile in the whole wide world. He did not always feel this way about Lyle. Discuss in partners a time when you decided something about someone before you knew them. When you got to know them, did you find out they were different than you thought? Did you find out you had more in common with them than you thought?

The Berensteain Bears and the Trouble With Friends. BY: Stan and Jan Berenstain. (1986)

The Berenstain Bears: Trouble With Friends, by Stan and Jan Berenstain was one of my favorite books growing up! Who doesn't love the Berenstain Bears; I think I had them all (that were published at the time). This one was one of my favorites, probably because I was a bossy little girl myself, much like Sister and Lizzie Bruin in this book. In this book, Sister Bear is sad because Brother Bear is always off playing with Cousin Fred, and his other friends, leaving Sister Bear to play by herself. Then one day, she sees a moving van down the road. A new girl cub was moving in... Lizzie Bruin. Lizzie and Sister became the best of friends right away. Then Sister went over to Lizzie's to play school. Both Lizzie and Sister thought they should be the teacher. They got in an argument and Sister left. Later on, Lizzie came by and Sister and Lizzie made up. This is a cute story about childhood friends, who may not always get along, but learn that they should compromise with one another to keep each other happy.

About the Author: Stan and Jan Berenstain started drawing together when they met in Miss Sweeny's drawing class on the first day of art school at Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now called The University of the Arts) in 1941. Stan went into the Army in WWII, and shortly after his return home, Stan and Jan married. They raised two sons, Mike and Leo. In 1962 then introduced the Bear Family in The Big Honey Hunt. Since 1962, they have created over 300 Berenstain Bear books. In 2005, at the age of 82, Stan died, but Jan and her son Mike continue to write Berenstain Bear books.

http://www.berenstainbears.com/sjbio.html

Genre: fiction, character education.

Theme/Skill: Character Education: How to be a good friend. Compromise with your friends so that you can both be happy. Take turns, and do what others want also (within reason).

Age Level: 2yrs-7yrs.

Pre-reading activity: Students should talk about the importance of being a good friend. What makes a  good friend? What makes you think someone is not a good friend? Class discussion.

Post-reading activity: Students should write something they like to do with their best friend and they should draw a picture of themselves with their best friend playing together.

My Brother Sammy. By: Becky Edwards and David Armitage. (1999).

My Brother Sammy, by Becky Edwards and David Armitage is a story that all children should read.The book is about a boy, and his brother Sammy, who is Autistic. The boy describes his feelings he has about Sammy, and about the things about Sammy that he does not understand. People are afraid of what they don't understand. If we teach people about special needs at a young age, they will understand more and be more accepting. This book was special to me because I have a child with special needs. Much like Sammy, he doesn't play the same way other children play, and he acts differently, and gets upset easily. When he was younger the difference between him and other children was obvious, but as he gets older, he seems a little less different than the other children. He's learning how to socialize, and through therapies, his world has opened up. I could really relate to this book though, looking back, not understanding why he was acting different than the other children. I now know that he is special, and I wouldn't change him for the world. He's so smart, he's so creative, and he's an all around great kid. When he gets upset by loud noises, we give him earplugs; when its a sunny day, we give him sunglasses; we buy him socks without seems and make sure all the tags are cut out of his clothes. He's different than the other children, but there is nothing wrong with him. Now that we are learning to control some of his sensory issues, he's really coming out of his shell and has been making a lot of friends. His friends know that he gets upset easily, and that he needs help in gym class, and they also know he's fun to play Pokemon with and and to color with. Its when kids are not exposed to people who are different than them that they become scared of those who are different.

The book My Brother Sammy  is all about accepting Sammy for who he is, not wanting to change him. He might play differently, but he's still a lot of fun!

Genre: Special needs, character education

Theme/Skill: Accepting and understanding differences.

Grade level: Kindergarten and up.

Pre-reading activity: Class discussion: What is your favorite thing to play? What are your brother/sister/cousins/friends favorite things to play? Do you always like to play the same things? What is your favorite color? What is your favorite food? Discuss the similarities and differences between the class. Is it okay that we like different things? Is it okay to be different?

Post-reading activity: Everyone should draw a picture of their family. Some families are big, some families are small, but we all love each other. Post everyones' family pictures so students can see the similarities and differences between families.

My Sister, Alicia May. By: Nancy Tupper Long. Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. (2009)

I really enjoyed reading My Sister, Alicia May, by Nancy Tupper Long. It is a story about a girl named Rachel, and her sister, Alicia May who has Down Syndrome. Alicia May is a very friendly, very lovable little girl. Rachel discussed that Alicia May is a lot like other kids; she likes dogs and horses, and she loves to paint her toenails and watch for bugs, especially ladybugs. Rachel does not always play with Alicia May, because she has her own friends. Sometimes Alicia May really annoys Rachel, some days Rachel is really sick of watching out for Alicia May. But by the end of the book Rachel says to her mama, "I wish everyone had an Alicia May. But then Alicia May wouldn't be special would she?" Rachel loves Alicia May, she loves her for who she is, she loves her for all her differences, and even though Alicia May annoys her sometimes, she feels lucky to have someone like Alicia May in her life. I really loved this book. It was beautiful!

Genre: Special Needs, Character education

Theme/skill: We all have special talents and interests

Grade level:

Pre-reading activity: Teacher should talk about someone with special needs that they know. Maybe the person is in a wheel chair, maybe the person is deaf or blind, or maybe the person has Autism. Teacher should make a point of talking about the things that the person with special needs likes, just like any other kid. Ask students if they also like these things. Its important for students to feel like they can relate people with special needs. It makes them seem less different.

Post-reading activity: Students should be assigned to work with a student that they do not always work with/ are not close friends with. Students will interview their partner to find out their partners special interests, what they like to do on the weekend, what their favorite foods are, what they are scared of, etc. Students should then present their partner to the class. This is a  great way for students to learn about one another.It's a great community builder!

Nancy Tupper Ling won the Writer's Digest Grand Prize and the Pat Parnell Poetry Award. She lives in Walpole, Massachusetts, with her husband Vincent and their two daughters.

Crocodaddy. By: Kim Norman. Illustrated by: David Walker. (2009)

Crocodaddy, by Kim Norman is a cute story about a little boy that is swimming with a crocodile, and he is the crocodile hunter. Only its not really a crocodile, its the crocodaddy. Its a really sweet story about a boy that is having a fun afternoon with his daddy. I love this story. I think of all the fun my son has with his daddy. Its a lot of fun to watch as Daddy becomes a child again while he plays with his little boy. While I am reading I can picture my husband as the Crocodady, and my son as the little boy. I love reading this book with my son, Jonathan, and he loves it too. He has such a special bond with my husband, and whenever there are stories or songs about a daddy and his little boy, my son gets really into it. It is so adorable!

Genre: fiction, humor

Theme/Skill: Family is important. Having fun with family

Grade Level: PreK-2

Pre-reading activity: Students should discuss in small groups activities they like to do in the summer. Do they like to go to the beach? On a hike? On vacation some place in particular? Students should then draw a picture of themselves doing their favorite summer time activity.

Post-reading activity: During rug time students will add to a family word web. They should talk about the best memory they have with someone in their family and it should be added to the word web. After students will go back to their seats and write about their special memory.

The Snow Bear. By Miriam Moss. Illustrated by: Maggie Kneen.

The Snow Bear is a special book in my house. We always read it during the Christmas holidays. Jonathan loves it, and it's something I love to read. This year, at Jonathan's first grade classroom Christmas Party, I read The Snow Bear to his class. All the kids loved it, and many of them told me they also had this book at home, and liked to read it in the winter time.

The Snow Bear by Miriam Moss is a beautiful story about a little polar bear cub who is looking for his mother. He gets help from other animals as he looks. The animals help him build a snow bear. In the evening, all the other animals' mothers call them to come home, but not the little white bear cubs. He goes to sleep with the snow bear, and when he wakes up, his mother has found him. Its a beautiful story, and the picture by Maggie Kneen really help bring this story to life.

Genre: Fiction, character education

Theme/Skill: Be a good friend. Help others

Grade Level: PreK-2

Pre-reading activity: Small group discussion: Have you ever lost something very important to you? How did this make you feel? Did you ever find it? How did you find it?

Post-reading activity: The little bear lost his mother,and his friends helped him build a snow mother. He must have some great friends. What are some things you think would make a great friend? Students should have a copy of a word web. They should work with a partner to fill in what are characteristics of good friends.

I Was So Mad. By Mercer Mayer (1983)

I Was So Mad, by Mercer Mayer is one of my all time favorite children's books. I love the Little Critter series, and can remember being a young child reading these books with my mom before bed. Whenever we were at a book store or another place where I saw a Little Critter book, I just had to have it when I was a child. My mother saved these books (along with a number of others from my childhood library), and she has given them to my children. My son Jonathan always gets a kick seeing Bridgid written in a child's hand writing in the inside cover. The Little Critter is so easily relatable to most little kids. In this book he was getting so mad by normal everyday kid stuff, but it really is the pictures that bring this story to life. While I was student teaching I used this book as part of a character education lesson on dealing with frustration. This was a perfect book because the words were simple, the kids could relate to the story, and they could see through the illustrations how the Little Critter was feeling.

About the Author:  Mercer Mayer was born in Arkansas in 1943, and he moved to and went to college in Hawaii. He began illustrating books in 1966 (and along the way wrote many of them too) and has published over 300 books! Very impressive!! Most of his books are about things that happened to him as a young child, and he also uses things that have happened to his children and grandchildren. He now lives in New England, and there together, he and his wife Gina write the Little Critter books. In 2007, he was chosen as the "Artist of the Year" at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C..
http://www.littlecritter.com/about_mercer_mayer2.html
Genre: Character Education, Fiction, Humor
Grade Level: Preschool and up
Theme: Dealing with frustration
Pre-reading activity: (2nd grade):  We will have a class discussion on frustration. Then we will make a word web. Students will add about times that they felt frustrated and why these things made them feel frustrated.
Post-reading activity: After reading, we will have a class discussion about appropriate responses to being frustrated or dealing with disappointment. Students will then take the Frustration word web and write about one example of feeling frustrated and an appropriate response and then they will share with a partner.

Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. By: Judith Viorst (1987)

I loved reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst. I read it for the first time a few years ago, and as a teacher, I saw so much potential in it. Not only is it a funny book, Alexander's character is very relatable, and there is so much children can learn from Alexander.

Alexander is having just one of those days; one of those days where nothing goes right. He didn't get the window seat on the way to school, he got in trouble in school, he had to go to the dentist, and they found a cavity, etc. Alexander starts to get really down and decides he's going to move to Australia.  Luckily his mom gives him some good words of wisdom, and he starts to see everything in a different way. This is a great book to teach students how to deal with disappointment and that things are not always going to go our way.

About the Author: Judith Viorst was born in 1931 and brought up in New Jersey. She has lived in Washington D.C. since 1960 since she married her husband, Milton Viorst. She has three sons, and I was surprised and excited to learn that their names are Anthony, Nick and Alexander, because those are the names of the brothers in the Alexander series. She writes science books, children's picture books, adult fiction and non fiction, poetry for children and adults and she has also written three musicals.

http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Judith-Viorst/707395/biography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Viorst

Genre: Character education, fiction, dealing with disappointment.

Theme: Things are not always going to go our way, no matter where we are (even in Australia). We need to learn positive ways to deal with disappointment.

Grade level: Grades 1-5

Pre-reading activity: Students will have already read I was So Mad, by Mercer Mayer and they will have completed the word web on frustration during the previous class. Before reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, students will discuss what makes them frustrated and the ways that they can make themselves and others around them feel better when this happens. It is important that during the story students help fill out a story man concept map. This will help them with the post reading activity.

Post-reading activity: After reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day, students will use their story man to complete a new day for Alexander. They will take events from Alexander's day, and make them more positive. They will call their new versions: Alexander and the Terrific, Amazing, Super Duper, Very Good Day.



Junie B. Jones: Is a Graduation Girl. By Barbara Park (2001)

I was introduced to Junie B. Jones while I was student teaching in second grade. We read a couple of chapters of Junie B. everyday after recess to get the students calmed down and back into school mode. I fell in love with the adorable five year old! One thing I learned about Junie B. is that you never know what she's going to do or say. I chose to put Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl in my blog, because its the end of an era. This is the last of Junie B.'s adventures as a kindergarten student. The next book starts first grade.

In this book, Junie B. is so excited about her graduation from kindergarten. Mrs., her teacher gives each student a white cap and gown that they will need to bring home, and wear to school on the graduation day. She tells the students not to play with them, and to keep them safe. Well, of course, Junie B. cannot handle knowing that beautiful cap and gown are sitting there in a box in her house and she cannot touch them. If you know Junie B., you can just imagine what happens next! Everything works out in the long run, but there are a lot of laughs along the way.

Junie B. is such a great character for young children developing a love for reading. My son will read these books on his own, but we really enjoy reading Junie B. together before bed. Story time before bed is one of my favorite moments with my kids, and Junie B. always makes it even more enjoyable

Genre: Fiction, humor, character education

Theme/Skill: Getting ready for graduation/ moving from one grade to the next.

Grade Level:1-3

Pre-reading activity: Students will discuss what they felt like when they graduated from preschool/kindergarten/first grade, etc with a partner. Were they happy? sad? scared? excited? confused? And why did  they feel this way. They will share with the class how they felt.

Post-reading activity: Junie B. was ready to go to first grade, but things were going to be different for her next year. What can you tell Junie about the first day of first grade was like for you? What did you like best? Seeing old friends? Meeting new friends? School lunch? Write Junie B. a letter about what you think she is going to like best about first grade.

Coraline, By: Neil Gaiman (2009)

Coraline,  by Neil Gaiman,
Adapted and Illustrated by Craig Russell.

Text copyright: 2002 
Graphic Novel copyright: 2008

Written for grades three and up.

I read this graphic novel and then I watched the movie. I enjoyed the graphic novel more than the movie. I actually became annoyed when things in the movie did not follow the book close enough because I didn’t think the book really needed to be changed. I did like that the movie had a friend for Coraline and that the characters seemed more magical in the movie, but other than that I felt the book was superior.

I like how Coraline came to appreciate her real parents and her not-too-exciting life throughout the book. The new world that the other mother had created could have been a perfect place. The food was better, the toys were better, her other parents paid more attention to her; but all this didn’t matter to Coraline after awhile, because she knew this was not real. Behind the façade, there was nothing good about the new home with her other parents. Everything was fake, and everything was forced to be a little more perfect.

I think that kids that read this can appreciate what they have a little more. In life everyone is always trying to one up one another, everyone always thinks that the grass is greener on the other side. Coraline learns that while you could wish that everything was bigger and better, and just to your liking, but that is just not real life. Home is where your heart is, Coraline could never of really felt at home at the new house with the other parents because her heart would always be with her real parents, in her real home.                

Coraline Awards:

• Publishers Weekly Best Book (WINNER)
• Book Sense 76 Pick (WINNER)
• Child Magazine Best Book of the Year (WINNER)
• New York Public Library's "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing" (WINNER)
• Amazon.com Editors’ Choice (WINNER)
• ALA Notable Children’s Book (WINNER)
• ALA Best Book for Young Adults (WINNER)
• New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age (WINNER)
• IRA/CBC Children's Choice (WINNER)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award Masterlist (Vermont) (WINNER)
• Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers (WINNER)
• Hugo Award for Best Novella (WINNER)
• School Library Journal Best Book (WINNER)

Neil Gaiman was born in England in 1960. He started writing in 1987. He is most famous for his Sandman graphic novel series that he wrote between 1991-1996.

< http://www.answers.com/topic/neil-gaiman>

Craig Russell was born in 1951 in Ohio. He got into comic books in 1971. He did Coraline in 2008.

< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._Craig_Russell>


Genre: Graphic Novel, Character Education
Theme: Appreciating what you have in life.
Grade Level: 3rd and up
Pre-Reading Activity: Students should discuss something they like about their lives. Then they should discuss something they would like to change. This should be done in a small group setting, so that students don't feel embarrassed are are more willing to share.
Post Reading Activity: Students should work with a partner to create their own graphic novel. They Should come up with a short script and use illustrations to tell the story.

No David! By: David Shannon (1998)

"No, David!” by David Shannon is a children’s book that I will always hold dear to my heart. I have read this to my own son many times. When he was younger I would read it as “No, Jonny” instead of “No, David” as my son would act out the silly parts, and we would both laugh and laugh. David is a character that anyone can relate too. He is always getting into trouble, and like many children he is constantly hearing the word “No” Whether he is tracking mud through the house or banging on pots and pans, this little guy is always getting into something. At the end of the book David’s mother assures him everything is okay as she hugs him and says, “Yes, David… I love you!”

David Shannon’s mother found a collection of drawings that David had created as a child. The only words on those pages were “no” and “David”. These drawings inspired David to write and illustrate the first of the Diaper David books. “No, David!” This book was based off of David Shannon’s memories of his own childhood. The pages of “No, David” have very few words, but the pictures really tell the humorous story of young David.  In 1999, this book became a Caldecott Honor Book, because the pictures really bring the pages alive.

David Shannon was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Spokane Washington. He went to college at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena California, and then moved to New York City. He currently lives with his wife in Los Angeles, California. (http://www.scholastic.com/titles/nodavid/davidshannon.htm, retrieved on February 8, 2011).

Genre: This book is fiction, although it is based on the author, David Shannon's childhood. This book could be used for character education in the classroom.
Theme: Following rules. Consequences. Cause and Effect.
Age level: 2 years and up
Pre-reading Activity: While sitting on the mat with a large group, discuss the cover with students. Talk about times when students have been in trouble. What happened when they got in trouble. How did this make them feel?
Post-reading Activity: Students should discuss the rules they know. What are the rules at home? What are the rules in the classroom? What are the rules in other places they spend time? Ask students why they think we have rules? Discuss safety.