We Dig Worms!

by Kevin McCloskey

McCloskey, K. (2015). We dig worms! New York, NY: Toon Books.

This Texas 2x2 book introduces young children to the importance of earthworms in a beginning level comic format.  Written especially for the K-1 crowd, the book offers interesting tidbits such as the fact that worms have no eyes or nose, they move easier when it is wet, oh and sure to garner a laugh or a chorus of "ewwws"...their "poop is good for the soil."  We even learn that worms can have 100's of babies and that the longest worm in the world grows up to 10 feet long!  The illustrations are comprised of rounded, colorful shapes drawn on brown paper bag backing, which McCloskey notes is a nod to his belief in recycling.  They do a great job of showing the fine details of not only the worms but their environment; not to mention that pesky bluebird who just wants to have lunch!

Educator's Guide to We Dig Worms!

We Dig Worms! Book Trailer

Comic Squad: Recess!  

Edited by Jennifer & Matthew Holm 

and Jarrett Krosoczka

Holm, J., Holm, M., & Krosoczka, J. (2014). Comics squad: Recess! New York, NY: Random House.

The graphic novel is one of the hottest reading trends for children today.  Ask any kid about Captain Underpants or Babymouse and chances are they will know who you are talking about.  This compilation brings together the minds of 10 of the leading authors in graphic novels for children in the industry including Jennifer and Matthew Holm, Dave Pilkey and Raina Telgemeier to name just a few.  From the boy who gets left out of the Super-Secret Ninja Club, to the Lunch Lady saving the school from a pizza monster, to Babymouse who just wants to make it through the day and get to recess, this book has something for everyone and will have readers cracking up and begging for more.  The style of this book is very unique in that it is a collection of 8 completely different graphic short stories based on some very popular characters that readers may already be familiar with.  Although each story is written by someone different, they are all equally hilarious filled with informal, witty dialogue and silly illustrations using a basic color scheme of black, white and orange.  What ties all of these stories together is that each of them take place at school, either in the building or out in the yard, and revolve around the theme of recess.  While the characters may be fantastical, such as pizza monsters, a fraction battling mouse and a talking cupcake, readers will definitely be able to relate to and find humor in these scenes and situations that are faced in and around school on a daily basis.

Videos and Author Information from Random House

Book Trailer for Comic Squad: Recess!

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

by Kelly Jones

Jones, K. (2015). Unusual chickens for the exceptional poultry farmer. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

12-year-old Sophie Brown is a city girl from L.A. who has been uprooted from her home after her father lost his job and her Great-uncle Jim passed away leaving her family his run down farm.  There are not many people around their new home, and the few people she does meet automatically assume she's a poor, migrant worker.  While rummaging around in the barn she comes across a flyer from the Redwood Supply Company for "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer."  To make things more interesting for herself, she decides to request a catalog, hoping to order perhaps some chickens, or even ducks or a peacock.  The story is told in a sequence of letters to the Redwood Supply Company's owner Agnes, her late Great-uncle Jim, and her dearly beloved, deceased abuelita.  As Sophie learns as much as possible about caring for chickens through Agnes' lessons and letters and from library books, chickens with some rather unusual behaviors begin making their way to the farm.  Sophie quickly becomes attached to these extraordinary chickens and does her best to care for them properly.  However a neighboring farmer also shows interest in these very special chickens and seems determined to steal them for herself.  A determined Sophie must foil the plot of the chicken thief and makes a few new friends in the process.  Facts and descriptions of a variety of chicken breeds, and chicken care information, add to the authentic chicken care element.  This 2016-2017 Bluebonnet nominee is recommended for grades 3-5.

Activities and Resources

Book Trailer for Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

Interview with Author Kelly Jones

Interview with Illustrator Katie Kath

Meet the Dullards 
by Sara Pennypacker

  

Pennypacker, S. (2015). Meet the Dullards. New York, NY: Balzer + Bray.

Meet the Dullards, the world's most boring family, and mom and dad have every intention of keeping it that way.  Children will love following along as the children test their limits by reading books (gasp!), playing outside and asking to go to school.  When a snail slides across the drive way, that is it.  Mr. and Mrs. Dullard exclaim they have had enough of this "circus" and decide it's time to move.  Their children should only be exposed to the more mundane things in life such as eating plain, flavorless ice cream, watching an unplugged television and watching paint dry.  While the family may be "dull" the book is anything but.  Daniel Salmieri uses colored pencils to create the dull and monotonous scenes that is the Dullard’s world.  They are perfectly content in their world of grays, browns and beige.  The Dullard children however, and readers alike, find themselves drawn to the outside world full of bright colors and excitement.

Meet the Dullards Read Aloud

Last Stop on Market Street

by Matt De La Peña

De La Peña, M. (2015). Last stop on Market Street. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

As CJ and his grandmother leave church one Sunday morning, the young boy is full of questions...Why do they have to wait for the bus in the rain?  Why don't they have a car?  Why do they always have to go here after church?  Rather than scold CJ for his endless questions and envy of others, Nana continues to gently point out all the things they can appreciate that make their lives special.  While on the bus, CJ encounters many different types of people, truly reflective of a typical urban setting; a blind man with a dog, a tattooed man looking at his phone, an older woman with a jar of butterflies, teens with an IPod and a man with a guitar.  When they finally reach their stop, the last one on Market Street, as they walk down crumbling sidewalks and past graffiti covered buildings and boarded up stores, CJ inquires as to why "it's always so dirty over here?"  Nana joyfully replies that, "Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, you're a better witness for what's beautiful."  We come to discover that their destination is a soup kitchen, and when CJ sees the familiar, smiling faces, he exclaims that he is glad they came.  This Newbery Award winner and Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor book is a wonderful tribute to life in the city, encouraging kindness, appreciation, and volunteering.  

Teacher's Guide and Read Alikes for Last Stop on Market Street

Last Stop on Market Street Book Trailer

Last Stop on Market Street Read Aloud