Nelson, J. (2014) I'll give you the sun. Dial Books: New York.

2015 Michael L. Printz Award Winner

This story is told in two voices.  The voices are Jude and Noah twins and sister and a brother. In the beginning they are 13 and very close.  Then the story goes foward three years and they are dealing with losing their Mother and an absent Dad.  They are no longer close and both have changed in so many ways.  Noah no longer does art and Jude got accepted into CSA.  Jude starts working with an artist as her mentor Guillermo and meets Oscar.  They always used to argue over who had the trees, sky and the sun.  In the end the truth comes out and everyone finds a happiness of sorts.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd8H5Syg-yI&feature=player_embedded

Kang, A. (2014). You are (not) small. Two Lions: New York.

2015 Theodore Suess Geisel Award Winner

Two creatures meet, one says you are small.  The other replies you are big and so they begin to argue.  Then two more creatures show up one smaller and one bigger.  They then walk off together to get something to eat.  This book is great to teach kids about perspective.  Cute simple pictures that help to guide the reader through the story.

Could also use it to teach opposites (antonyms) and size.  After reading have students brainstorm a list of words from the book.  Then have them come up with opposite (antonyms) for the words.

1st Grade TEKS

6)  Reading/Vocabulary Development. Students understand new vocabulary and use it when reading and writing. Students are expected to:

(D)  identify and sort words into conceptual categories (e.g., opposites, living things); and

2nd Grade TEKS

(5)  Reading/Vocabulary Development. Students understand new vocabulary and use it when reading and writing. Students are expected to:

(C)  identify and use common words that are opposite (antonyms) or similar (synonyms) in meaning; and

Willems, M. (2014) Waiting is not easy!. Hyperion Books for Children: New York.

2015 Theodore Suess Geisel Honor Book

Piggie has a surprise for Gerald but he has to wait and wait and wait.  It's not easy to wait.  Then finally the wait is over and it was worth it.  I laughed out loud with Gerald's antics while waiting and poor Piggie.  Funny read with simple engaging pictures.

If you liked this book then you would want to check out other Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems.  They all teach a lesson and are fun and enjoyable read alouds.

Foley, J. (2014) The carnival at Bray. Elephant Rock Books: New York.

2015 Michael L. Printz Honor Book

This book is about a 16 year old girl named Maggie whose Mother gets married and she and her sister Ronnie have to move from Chicago to Ireland.  The story begins at a old carnival near the water and the weather is dreary.  It takes you through first times, first love, suicide, finding yourself and being true to who you are.  I really enjoyed that book since it was based in the 1990's during the height of the grunge rock with Nirvana playing an important role in her life and the connection it made with her Uncle Kevin.  It took me back to my youth and I could really relate to Maggie and it could be good to show teens that social media has really changed how we connect and interact with each other.  

This is a great link to explain the book and how she came up with the inspiration to write it.

Jessie Ann Foley talks about her book, The Carnival at Bray

Morales, Y. (2014) Viva Frida. Roaring Books Press: New York.

2015 Pura Belpre Illustrator Award

This books has beautiful eye catching vibrant colors that show Frida exploring the world around her, looking at things, helping animals, and dreaming.  In the end she paints a picture of herself with the animals that she comes across while exploring .  The book has English and Spanish words on the pages.

Video book review


Video to show the art used to create the book. Fascinating!

Rylant, C. (2014) Mr. Putter & Tabby turn the page. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company: New York.

2015 Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book

This is another fun read with Mr. Putter and Tabby.  They love to read, quiet reading that is.  He goes to the library and signs up for a read aloud with your pet.  He shares the information with his neighbor and then has second thoughts about it.   In the end the read aloud turns out great and Mr. Putter and Tabby have a great time and the kids love it.  This is a great easy to read book with illustrations that help to tell the story.

If you liked this book then you would enjoy reading other books in the this series by Cynthia Rylant.

Bryant, J. (2014) The right word: Roget and his thesaurus. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers: New York.

2015 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winner

This is a very interesting look at the life of Peter Mark Roget.  It gives details about his life and how he came to write his thesaurus.  His children actually were the ones that convinced him to share his book.  The illustrations are collages of words with pictures.  

Lesson plan ideas:

Have students create their own personalized thesaurus. Ask students to scan some of their previous writing and keep track of the words they see themselves using repeatedly. Have them write these words in the back of their writer’s notebooks, in a Notes file on their tablets or smartphones, or on a sheet of paper to keep in their writing folders. Then, have students use either a print thesaurus or one of the online versions listed below to compile a list of synonyms they can use in place of their own commonly used words. Have them write these synonyms down alongside those commonly used words, so they have a personalized thesaurus on hand whenever they’re writing.

5th Grade TEKS (b)  Knowledge and skills.

(C)  produce analogies with known antonyms and synonyms;

(E)  use a dictionary, a glossary, or a thesaurus (printed or electronic) to determine the meanings, syllabication, pronunciations, alternate word choices, and parts of speech of words.

Idea taken from http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-right-word-roget-and-his-thesaurus.html

Some more great ideas by the author's website are below.

Lesson Plan ideas for The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

Barnett, M. (2014) Sam & Dave dig a hole. Candlewick Press: New York.

2015 Caldecott Honor Book

Sam and Dave dig a hole looking for something exciting.  They aren't finding anything and change up their plan.  As they change directions the illustrations show you that they are missing many interesting things.  At the end they find something interesting and end up somewhere else.  I love the simple muted colors of the illustrations and the dog is always looking at where they should have gone.

Booktrailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRZU4uXPCLQ&feature=player_embedded

Alexander, K. (2014) The crossover. Houghton Mifflin Harcout: New York.

2015 John Newberry Medal Winner

This is the story of Josh Bell or Filthy McNasty as he is called one the court.  He and his twin brother JB play basketball like his famous Dad.  His mother is the assistant principal.  JB gets a girlfriend and it causes problems in their relationship and Josh hurts his brother with a pass.  His Dad ends up having a heart attack and dying before their championship game.  It is all written in poetry verse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=modPFEyuBYg&feature=player_embedded

Woodson, J. (2014) Brown girl dreaming. Nancy Paulsen Books: New York.

2015 Coretta Scott King Author Book Winner

This book is written in free verse and gives an account of her life growing up with her family in Columbus, Ohio and in South Carolina. I was really drawn into the fact that she had such a difficult time with reading but was able to write and become an author.  I really loved in the book how she says words are her brilliance which even though she struggled with reading, writing was her passion.

A book that came to mind when reading this one was Thank you Mr. Falkner, written by Patrica Palacco.  She also struggled with reading and became a writer.

Agosin, M. (2014) I lived on Butterfly Hill. Atheneum Books for Young Readers:New York.

2015 Pura Belpre Author Award

The story takes place in Valparaiso, Chile.  It is about Celeste and her families life while their country was facing many political challenges.  Her parents are doctors that help the poor and they had to go into hiding to stay safe and then Celeste herself is sent to her Tia in Massachusetts.  She is able to return after two year but her parents are still missing.  She goes on a quest with her friend Cristobal to find her Dad and they do with the help of two fisherman.  Her Mom is able to return and they are all reuinited.

If you liked this book you might want to try The Complete Persepolis which is another memoir about a girl and her life in Iran during change and war.

Santat, D. (2014) The adventures of Beekle: the unimaginary friend. Little, Brown and Company: New York.

2015 Randolph Caldecott Medal Winner

He was born on an island and waits for his child.  He waits and waits until he is the last one.  He gets tired of waiting and decides to go find his friend.  He journeys to a strange place and still cannot find his friend.  He finally finds a friend and they are perfect for each other.  Together they do the unimaginable.  This book won awards for the illustrations.  Great use of lines, colors and shapes to help tell the story.  It makes me think of the cartoon that my son used to watch Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.

Lesson plan idea -

Have students identify the character, setting and key events in the story.  Have them illustrate on a folded piece of paper with six squares.  Two for characters, two for the setting and two for events.

You could also have students discuss the word courage as it is used in the story while he is on his journey.

Kindergarten TEKS  K6A, K8B

6)  Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Theme and Genre. Students analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about theme and genre in different cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding. Students are expected to:

(A)  identify elements of a story including setting, character, and key events;

(8)  Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Fiction. Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of fiction and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to:

(B)  describe characters in a story and the reasons for their actions.

Elya, S. M. (2014) Little roja riding hood. G.P. Putnam's Sons: New York.

2015 Pura Belpre Illustrator Award Honor Book - Illustrator Susan Guevara

This is a contemporary spin on Little Red Riding Hood with the parts of the classic tale present.  I enjoyed the rhyming words interlaced with Spanish words.  The illustrations are lively with lots going on and there are little hidden creatures in the pictures that make it fun for kids to look at.

Books that are similar in theme with a Spanish spin on a classic is another book by the same author and illustrator.  Rubia and the Three Osos – September 7, 2010.