GRADE 1 SUMMER READING LIST
Summer 2006

Grade 1 Summer Reading

The Babe & I by David A. Adler Published 1999 by Gulliver Books Find this book in our catalog While helping his family make ends meet during the Depression by selling newspapers, a boy meets Babe Ruth. Full-color illustrations.

The Fortune-Tellers by Lloyd Alexander Published 1992 by Dutton Books Find this book in our catalog REVIEW: Publisher's Weekly 06/22/1992 The hands of fate deftly propel this original folktale. A seedy fortune-teller profits from gullible and sometimes desperate villagers who seek predictions for a rosier future. One unhappy carpenter takes to heart the seer's hardly helpful advice--"Rich you will surely be, on one condition: that you earn large sums of money''--and looks forward to a prosperous life. Most surprising to the craftsman, he ends up in the right place at the right time and the prediction comes true. Alexander's chipper text has a jaunty and infectious "just so'' tone. Amazing coincidences fuse the plot elements, but the story's logic remains intact, successfully suspending the reader's disbelief. Hyman's acrylic, ink and crayon illustrations capture the landscape and people of West Africa in vivid detail. Indigenous plants and animals--including comically placed lizards--dot each scene, and the villagers' lushly textured apparel is spectacular. Especially opulent are spreads featuring the fortune-teller's cluttered quarters and the market stalls with their baskets and pottery. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)

Togo by Robert J. Blake Published 2002 by Philomel Books Find this book in our catalog Togo wasn't meant to be a sled dog--he's too feisty and independent. But he and his trainer are determined, and soon Togo becomes one of the fastest sled dogs in history. Full color.

Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges Published 2002 by Chronicle Books Find this book in our catalog Based on the inspirational story of the author's grandmother, this tale is an engaging portrait of a young Chinese girl who strives for more and a family who rewards her hard work and courage. Full color.

Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and C by Deborah Hopkinson Published 2004 by Atheneum Books Find this book in our catalog This uproarious tall tale from the creators of "Fannie in the Kitchen" makes the perfect introduction to learning about apples and the Oregon Trail, and is loosely based on the true story of Henderson Luelling, a real fruiting pioneer. Full color.

Minnie and Moo and the Musk of Zorro by Denys Cazet Published 2000 by DK Publishing Find this book in our catalog 11/01/2000 REVIEW: School Library Journal Gr 1-3-Cows Minnie and Moo are back in this hilarious spoof. Moo has been thinking again, this time about the olden days when heroes like Zorro ruled the land. She enlists Minnie in her cause to save the world and the two dress up as masked men. Their weapons of choice are a sword with a tube of lipstick taped to the end and a can of aerosol deodorant spray, hence the "musk" of Zorro. The mishaps that follow include attacking an innocent rooster and the farmer's underwear on the clothesline. Unfortunately, in the second case, their attempted signs of the "Z" come out as "P" and "U," and the puzzled farmer and his wife are left pondering the source and meaning of this affront. Cazet's entertaining and endearing story is a fine addition to the series. The lively pencil-and-watercolor illustrations enhance the humorous text. A rollicking good time.-Meghan R. Malone, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA

Inspector Hopper by Doug Cushman Published 2000 by HarperCollins Publishers Find this book in our catalog 07/01/2000 REVIEW: School Library Journal K-Gr 3-A beginning reader with gentle humor and charming characters. Inspector Hopper, a fedora-wearing grasshopper, solves three separate mysteries with the assistance of McBugg, a bowler-topped beetle. The first case involves the disappearance of Mrs. Ladybug. Her husband says, "I called out `Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home!' But she did not come home. I am worried." Following his instinct and some blueberry-stain clues, Inspector Hopper finds the missing spouse. The humor continues in "A Boat Disappears," in which the inspector interviews the Eensy Weensy Spider and a jogging snail in his search for the thief of a leaf. In the last episode, the detectives think that the moon is following them and assume it wants to help them solve a case. This "New Detective" ably shines its light on a rat that is caught stealing some seeds, leading to his arrest. The short sentences, catchy dialogue, and repetitive vocabulary are just right for beginning readers, and many of the pictures provide visual clues. Children will find the colorful cartoon characters appealing and enjoy Cushman's detailed world of these small creatures.-Maura Bresnahan, Shawsheen School, Andover, MA

Iris and Walter True Friends by Elissa Haden Guest Published 2001 by Gulliver Books Find this book in our catalog Walter shows Iris how to make friends with his horse Rain, and in turn, Iris helps Walter deal with a problem at school. Full-color illustrations.

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat by Sara Swan Miller Published 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company Find this book in our catalog Why do cats sleep so much? Maybe they are bored. Maybe they cannot think of anything else to do. What if you had to sit inside all day? You might get bored too. You can do a nice thing for your cat - you can read these stories out loud. They are funny stories about things cats think about and things cats like to do, and they have lots of funny pictures. Invite your cat to come hear a story - but ask nicely! Cats hate being told what to do. Sara Swan Miller and True Kelley, author and artist of the highly popular Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog, have joined forces to prove again that they know what will delight young readers and their pets.

Good Night, Good Knight by Shelley Moore Thomas Published 2000 by Dutton Books Find this book in our catalog PreS-Gr 2-Whether used as a beginning reader or as a read-aloud at bedtime, this sweet story will charm readers and listeners alike. When the Good Knight hears a "very large, very loud roar," he sets off on his faithful steed to determine its origin. Thus begins the first of four visits to a homey cave where three lonely, young dragons are delaying their bedtime. The creatures appear more precocious than ferocious with their teddy bears, bunny slippers, and patterned "jammies." Young children will immediately recognize the tactics the wide-eyed, pudgy serpents use as each request for a drink of water, a story, or a song prompts another visit from the Good Knight. On his fourth call, the youngsters explain that they can't fall asleep without a good-night kiss. The intrepid hero kisses "each scaly little cheek" and patiently waits for them to fall asleep. Only when he hears them snoring does he head back to the castle for his own peaceful night's rest. The short, simple, repetitive phrases are sure to capture the imaginations of young children. The knight stands guard at a "crumbly tumbly tower" and gallops through the forest, "Clippety-clop. Clippety-clop." Observant viewers will enjoy the expressions of the horse as he awaits his master upon each visit to the cave. With a palette dominated by the blues, grays, and purples of the nighttime setting, Plecas's illustrations are a wonderful complement to this endearing tale.-Maura Bresnahan, Shawsheen School, Andover, MA

More Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron Published 1989 by Random House Find this book in our catalog The star of The Stories Julian Tells is back, and he has more great tales to tell. There's the one about the day so hot, even frogs wore shoes. Or the time his best friend, Gloria, really made the sun move. Sometimes, though, Julian's way with words can backfire. At least that's what happens when he calls his brother, Huey, a name -- and their father overhears. How can a few little stories get Julian into so much trouble?

Buster: The Very Shy Dog by Lisze Bechtold Published 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company Find this book in our catalog In these three stories Buster discovers his self-worth and self-confidence and makes friends along the way. Beginning readers will relate to Buster"s fears and successes and will relish in their very own triumph of completing a chapter book.

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett Published 1987 by Random House Children's Books Find this book in our catalog "A Newbery Honor Book in 1948, this humorous adventure story about a boy who uses his wits to rescue an enslaved baby dragon is . . . reissued in a near facsimile of the first edition, including original full-color jacket and long-lost endpaper maps".--Booklist. ALA Notable Children's Book; Newbery Honor Book; IRA Children's Choice.

Trouble on Thunder Mountain by Russell Hoban Published 2000 by Scholastic Find this book in our catalog 07/01/2000 REVIEW: School Library Journal PreS-Gr 3-The thoroughly modern O'Saurus family of Thunder Mountain owns a TV and a VCR, and watch Rocky Dinosaur movies. Even so, the dark side of contemporary life catches up to them when J. M. Flatbrain of Megafright International sends them a letter saying that they have to move. His company wants to level their home in order to build "a hi-tech plastic-mountain theme park" on their mountain. How the dinosaurs prevail over Flatbrain and his robot-monsters makes for a wonderfully quirky story full of humor and drama. Blake's signature watercolors capture so much emotion with just a few sketchy lines that he makes the artwork look effortless. Hoban's writing is equally skilled. He compares manufactured entertainment to such simple pleasures as fresh air, picnics, and birds singing; he exposes the steamroller/bullying tactics of big business; and portrays an uprooted family (one can draw comparisons to anything from the Indian's displacement to wild animals forced out by suburban sprawl and shopping centers). The ideas are there for the taking but they never get in the way of the story. It is rare for a book with such serious themes to be so much fun.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Horrible Harry and the Mud Gremlins by Suzy Kline Published 2003 by Viking Books Find this book in our catalog No one knows why Harry is wearing a necklace. Sidney thinks they're for girls. But when Harry opens the necklace cover to reveal a mini-microscope, the whole class in intrigued. Everyone wants to try it, so Harry promises to show them all some wicked-looking fungi at recess. But he doesn't mentiom that to see them they'll need to go outside the fence--and that means breaking a school rule. Will everyone follow him? What if Miss Mackle finds out? Has Harry gone too far this time?

The Mightiest Heart by Lynn Cullen Published 1998 by Dial Books Find this book in our catalog REVIEW: Publisher's Weekly 10/26/1998 Welsh legend has it that as a boy, 12th-century Prince Llywelyn was blessed with a faithful dog named Gelert, and this strange and sentimental retelling marks novelist Cullen's (Stink Bomb; The Backyard Ghost) picture book debut. Llywelyn and his canine companion are inseparable until he marries a cold princess and begins to ignore his true-hearted dog. One day, the couple's newborn son is missing and Llywelyn, discovering Gelert near the crib with a bloody mouth, raises his sword to the animal, only to find the infant safe and a dead wolf outside. Gelert then disappears, and Llywelyn is doomed to a life of regret. Later the prince is redeemed when the heroic beast reappears to him in two mysterious ways. Though somewhat stilted language dots the prose ("With an anguished roar, Llywelyn attacked Gelert"), the period setting and compelling plot will carry readers along. In a remarkable debut, Long crafts oil paintings that resemble medieval tapestries: steeped in a wide array of greens, sprinkled with blood reds and burgundies and teeming with flower and fauna. Her close-up renderings of expressive faces against deep landscapes of rolling hills and turbulent skies give the tale an epic quality. A handsome presentation of a fairy tale with an unusual moral: "The mightiest heart can come in the humblest vessel." Ages 4-up. (Oct.)

Tiger Math: Learning to Graph from a Baby Tiger by Ann Whitehead Nagda Published 2000 by Henry Holt & Company Find this book in our catalog T.J., a Siberian tiger cub born at the Denver Zoo, is orphaned when he is just a few weeks old. At first he won't eat his new food, but the staff refuses to give up and finally their love and persistence pay off. Readers can follow T.J. as he grows from a tiny newborn into a beautiful 500-pound adult tiger using graphs to chart his progress. Illustrations.

Neil, Buzz, and Mike Go to the Moon by Richard Hilliard Published 2005 by Boyds Mills Press Find this book in our catalog On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy set a goal for the nation: to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade. Eight years later, on July 20, 1969, the world heard Neil Armstrong announce, "The "Eagle has landed." Here is the exciting story of "Apollo 11 and the three men who made the historic flight to the moon: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. When they were boys, each had dreamed of flying planes. Their dreams came true when they joined the United States military, flying and testing new types of aircraft. Finally, they became members of a select group of flyers called the Astronaut Corps, which would venture into space. From Project Mercury, whose goal was to put a single astronaut in orbit, to Project Apollo, whose goal was to put an astronaut on the moon, Richard Hilliard's lively picture book, featuring, a simple text, bold illustrations, and informative sidebars, follows the inspiring journey of three genuine heroes.

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola Published 1999 by G. P. Putnam's Sons Find this book in our catalog   06/01/1999 REVIEW: School Library Journal K-Gr 4An autobiographical account of dePaolas childhood, centered on the building of his familys new house during the 1930s. Each short chapter is also a slice-of-life view of young Tomies worldwitnessing a hurricane, a disillusioning first day of kindergarten, a much anticipated theater trip to see Disneys Snow White, and holiday gatherings. The authors thrill at being allowed to draw on the walls of the new house before plastering would be a fantasy come true for many budding artists. DePaola presents it all with a keen understanding of the timeless concerns children share. Filled with subtle humor and detail that children will appreciate, the narrative is crisp and casual, making it an ideal read-aloud. Black-and-white drawings portray family members, many of whom are already familiar from earlier picture books. A thoroughly entertaining and charming story.Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI

Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven Published 2002 by Sleeping Bear Press Find this book in our catalog A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy that Dropped from the Sky. 08/01/2002 REVIEW: School Library Journal Gr 3-5-This outstanding picture book depicts one of the lesser-known aspects of the Berlin Airlift following World War II as seen through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl. Operation Little Vittles was run by Lt. Gail Halvorsen who, out of the goodness of his heart, began dropping candy in parachutes made from handkerchiefs to the children of West Berlin. This heartwarming story provides not only the historical context, but an epilogue as well. Although the text is slightly wordy at times, it shows, in part, how the Cold War impacted children, and how one child struggled to find hope amid the ruins of postwar Germany. It is also a tribute to the thousands of people involved in the effort. With views of devastated buildings and shrapnel holes in concrete, the full-color paintings elicit a real sense of the war's devastation.-Robyn Ryan Vandenbroek, Elgin Court Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada