Recommended Books
These books will help children explore the unit themes and topics.
Books About Families
Fiction and Poetry
Abuela by Arthur Dorros
A girl and her grandmother go on an adventure, flying above the streets of New York City.
Bigmama’s by Donald Crews
The author fondly remembers family visits to his grandmother’s farm when he was a small boy.
Black is brown is Tan by Arnold Adoff
A story poem about a biracial family growing up in a loving home.
Buzz by Janet Wong
An Asian-American child watches as his mommy and daddy get ready for work.
Corduroy by Don Freeman
A stuffed bear waits hopefully in a department store until he finds a home with a little girl who hugs and loves him.
Do Like Kyla by Angela Johnson
On a snowy day, a young girl imitates her big sister from morning to night.
I Love You Like Crazy Cakes by Rose Lewis
A mother describes going to China to adopt a baby girl.
Jamaica’s Find by Juanita Havill
When Jamaica brings a stuffed animal that she finds in the park to the lost-and-found, she makes a new friend.
Kevin and His Dad by Irene Smalls
Kevin has a great time spending a day doing chores and playing with his dad.
Mama Zooms by Jane Cowen-Fletcher
Mama has a zooming-machine—a wheelchair that she uses to zoom everywhere.
Missing: One Stuffed Rabbit by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
When Josie takes the class pet, Coco the stuffed rabbit, home for the weekend, she loses him in the mall.
Night on the Neighborhood Street by Eliose Greenfield
Poems paint a vivid portrait of urban life.
Olivia and the Missing Toy by Ian Falkoner
While Olivia helps her mother make a soccer uniform, her stuffed toy goes missing.
Quinito’s Neighborhood by Ina Cumpiano
A young boy takes readers on a tour of his neighborhood and the people who live there.
Nonfiction and Concept
Be My Neighbor by Maya Ajmera and John Ivanko
Photos show neighborhoods around the world where children live, play, worship, and work.
Families are Different by Nina Pellegrini
A Korean girl, adopted by an American Family, looks at different types of families.
You and Me Together: Moms, Dads, and Kids Around the World by Barbara Kerley
Beautiful photographs show parents and children around the world as they laugh, work, and spend time together.
Books about Libraries
Fiction
ABC Letters in the Library by Bonnie Farmer
An alliterative ABC book about what it is in the library.
Beatrice Doesn’t Want To by Laura Numeroff
When her older brother takes her to the library Beatrice discovers the wonders of books.
Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss
When the children go back to school, the animals on the farm are bored, so they go visit the library.
D. W.’s Library Card by Marc Brown
D. W. is eager to get a library card so she can take out any book she wants.
I. Q. Goes to the Library by Mary Ann Fraser
I. Q., the class pet, goes to the library with his class and learns all about books and libraries.
Once Inside the Library by Barbara A. Huff
This simple story tells about the different adventures that books can bring.
Red Light, Green Light, Mama and Me by Cari Best
Lizzie spends the day in the city at the public library helping her mother, a children’s librarian.
Nonfiction
Check It Out! The Book About Libraries by Gail Gibbons
This book describes libraries and how they work.
Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora
This biography tells the true story of how a librarian helped open the world of books to the son of migrant farm workers.
Alphabet Books
The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni
A wordbug teaches the alphabet letters how to become stronger by banding together to form words.
Jeepers Creepers: A Monstrous ABC by Laura Leuck
Follow a group of little monsters, from A to Z, during a day at school.
Mrs. McTats and Her House Full of Cats by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Mrs. McTats starts off with a cat named Abner, but ends up with 24 more and a puppy named Zoom.
What Pete Ate from A to Z by Maira Kalman
Pete the dog eats an accordion and then a variety of outrageous items in alphabetical order.
Concept and Rhyming Books
Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson
In this counting book, lively numbers make their way up an apple tree.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
This rhyming story tells what playful dinosaurs do before bedtime.
Mrs. McNosh and the Great Big Squash by Sarah Weeks
In this silly rhyming story, a squash grows out of control.
Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis
This rhyming book describes a child’s many moods and feelings.