Patriot Moms

By Megan Morgan, Patriot Mom

With summer coming and more time to cozy up with a good book, it helps to know some good ones to choose. This is a suggested book list of recommendations from Teachers Kim Brinson and Kristen Radcliffe. Also included are links to the Caldecott and Newbery lists from the Rogers Library and Erin’s list which was compiled by a mom who wrote down all the books read aloud to her daughter. Other references you may want to check out would be The Read Aloud Handbook and Honey for a Child’s Heart for suggestions.

We would encourage you to respond to the Providence Mom’s Blog with your own suggestions that can be incorporated.

http://150.208.142.10/screens/caldecot.html

http://150.208.142.10/screens/newberry.html

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/erinlist2.html

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/erinlist3.html

Caldecott

Mrs. Brinson had the following to say: With most book lists, the older the book, the better. Most people will tell you that you can trust most book content if written before 1960. So, looking at The Caldecott Award Winners, all those early ones are terrific! They Were Strong and Good is one of my absolute favorites. I love everything by the d'Aulaires. After 1964, I enjoyed

Drummer Hoff
Noah's Ark
Ox-Cart Man
Saint George and the Dragon
Polar Express
Black and White
Note that many of Paul Gobel's books have Indian religious beliefs.

Newbery –* are read in school
Ones I would either not recommend or give a warning:

The Giver - WARNING - NOT for kids in elementary or middle school (in my opinion) - deals with a utopian society which includes killing a baby, euthanasia
Holes - we thought this was a waste of time
I would recommend that parents try to ensure they do not choose books that are adapted or edited ... it is not what the author intended.

Recommended:

The Westing Game
Julie of the Wolves
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Island of the Blue Dolphins*
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Miracles On Maple Hill
Ginger Pye
The Door in the Wall*
King of the Wind*
Johnny Tremain*
Adam of the Road*
Daniel Boone*
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle - fantastic
Smoky, the Cowhorse - good boy book

The Trumpeter of Krakow - probably too advanced unless read aloud - student needs some historical background to understand it

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze *
Caddie Woodlawn - excellent

Matchlock Gun - great boy book, pretty short, easy to read

Call It Courage - we liked this but I read it aloud - I think there are tribal religious beliefs mentioned
Miss Hickory - Oh, my gosh, this is the cutest book ever!
Twenty- One Balloons *
Amos Fortune, Free Man - wonderful, freed slave story

Secret of the Andes - terrific but it does have religious beliefs of the people - good read aloud
The Wheel On the School - wonderful, but this author is a little difficult, great read aloud
Carry On, Mr Bowditch - excellent -*
Rifles For Watie - Civil War book - boys love it
The Witch of Blackbird Pond - excellent - *
The Bronze Bow - *
A Wrinkle in Time - a little weird, but we liked it
I, Juan de Pareja - terrific!

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - *

The High King - anything by Lloyd Alexander is excellent - fantasy but not creepy
Sounder - you'll cry your brains out
Roll of Thunder, Hear My CrySarah, Plain and Tall - easy read
The Whipping Boy - terrific

*Lincoln: A Photobiography
The Midwife's Apprentice - good for jr. high

Please note that books with a * are current Providence Academy literature selections used in the classroom.

Please comment and let us know other great books you and your family enjoy.