Cultural Anthropology

Coles, R. (1995).  The story of Ruby Bridges. New York: Scholastic.

This is the story of Ruby Bridges, who was one of the first African American children to attend a white school in the late 1950’s. (K – 2nd) [I, II, V]

Cronin, D.  (2000).  Click, clack, moo: cows that type.  New York, NY:  Simon and Schuster Children's.

          A story with a heard of cows as the main characters who demand respect from the farmer, their owner.  The cows use a typewriter to communicate with the farmer.  (K - 2nd grades) [I, IV, V, VIII].

 Polacco, P. (1990). Babushka’s doll. New York: Simon & Schuster Inc.

           

A story about Natasha, a very rambunctious little girl. Natasha wants everything and wants it to be given to her as soon as she asks.  An encounter with Babushka’s doll changes Natasha’s perspective on the way she is acting. (2nd-3rd grade) [I, IV, V]

 

Polacco, P. (1990). Thunder cake. New York: Philomel Books.

 

This is a story of a grandma and her granddaughter.  The grandmother helps her granddaughter, who is scared of thunder, to overcome her fear. (1st-2nd grade)  [I, II, III]

Rylant, C. (1992). When I was young in the mountains. Puffin books.

When I Was Young in the Mountains is the true story of Cynthia Rylant’s childhood. Rylant retells her story of living in the Appalachian Mountains and the things she remembers about her family and the events that occurred in her life. (2nd – 3rd grades) [I, III, II]

 

History

Adler, D. (1991). A picture book of Christopher Columbus. New York: Holiday House.

A brief account of the life of Christopher Columbus with great pictures and details. (2nd-3rd grades) [II,III,I]

Cheney, L.  (2003).  A is for Abigail: an almanac of amazing American women.  New York, NY:  Simon & Schuster.

          A is for Abigail is a book that celebrates the history of American women by using the alphabet.  (2nd - 4th grades) [II, III, IV].

Duden, J. (2002). Betsy Ross. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

 

This book is a biography of  Besty Ross’s life.  The book describes the story of sewing the first flag, stories of her family, religion, and how she dealt with hard times that she encountered in her life. (2nd-5th grade)  [II, V, X]

Greene, R. (2002). The very first thanksgiving day. New York: Atheneum Books.

          A poetic story of the first Thanksgiving holiday with excellent illustrations. (K – 3rd) [II, III, I]

Polacco, P. (1996). Aunt Chip and the triple creek dam affair. New York: Philomel Books.

 

This is a story of a boy and his aunt who live in a town where people have forgotten how to read, for they are watching too much T.V.  Aunt Chip saves the town by teaching people the importance of being able to read. (2nd-3rd grade) [II, I, IV]

 

 Geography

Hendershot, J. (1987). In coal country. New York: Dragonfly Books.

The life of a coal miner’s family is explained in great detail through the eyes of the coal miner’s young daughter.  (2nd – 4th) [III, V, VII]

Kellogg, S.  (1988).  Johnny Appleseed.  New York, NY:  Morrow Jr. Books.

          This biography tells how Johnny Appleseed became became known.  Johnny traveled throughout Massusschettes, Ohio, and Indiana planting apple orchards for the new settlers.  (4th - 5th grades) [III, IV, VIII].

O’Dell, S. (1960). Island of the blue dolphins. New York: Dell.

            Island of the Blue Dolphins is a story of an Indian girl who was left behind on an island.  She survives, alone, by building a shelter and making weapons to hunt for food. (4th – 9th grades) [III, I, II]

Polacco, P. (1990). Just plain fancy. New York: Bantam Books.

 

Just Plain Fancy is a story of an Amish girl who wishes for something fancy.  Just when her wish is granted she is not so sure if fancy is better. (2nd- 3rd grade) [III, I, IV]

Say, A.  (1993).  Grandfather's journey.  New York, NY:  Houghton Mifflin.

          This is a story of a Japanese immigrant who likes living in both the United States and Japan.  Because of war the immigrant is not permitted to return to the United States. (1st - 3rd grades) [III, I, IV].

 

Sociology

Flourney, V. (1985). The patchwork quilt. New York: Dial Books/Penguin.

         Tanya helps her grandmother make a patchwork quilt, by using old scraps of material.  The material and quilt tell the story of her family. (3rd – 4th grades) [V, I, II]

Nickle, J. (1999). The ant bully. New York: Scholastic.

 

When Lucas is getting picked on, he wishes he could stand up for himself. Because Lucas is so small, he knows that winning to a bully is next to impossible. Lucas finds something he can stand up to, ants, although Lucas is not aware that ants can fight back. (1st-3rd grade) [V, IV, VI]

Polacco, P.  (1992).  Chicken Sunday.  New York, NY:  Philomel.

          The children want to buy a new hat for Gramma Eula and must find a way to come up with enough money to purchase the hat.  (1st - 3rd grades) [V, I, IV,].

Say, A.  (1982) The bicycle man.  New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

       In a small Japanese village a school is holding an annual sports day; each person who wins receives a prize.  Just when the day is almost over the children notice two strange men peaking over the fence; the two strange men are American soldiers who have been watching the events take place.  One soldier borrows the principal’s bike, in which he performs tricks for all the children and he also wins a prize. (2nd grade) [ V, III, X ]

Wood, A. (1985). King Bidgood’s in the bathtub. New York: Harcourt.

          A funny tale of a king who will not get out of the bathtub; the king eat, sings and does other things in the bathtub.  (K – 3rd) [V, I, VI]

            Political Science

Adler, D. (1990). A picture book of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Holiday House. 

 

This book tells the story of Benjamin Franklin and his involvement with the creating of the Constitution of the United States. (2nd-3rd grade) [VI, II, III]

Bennett, W. (1998). The Children’s Book of America. New York: Scholastic.

          A contemplation of America’s heritage and government. (3rd – 6th grades) [VI, I, II]

Bunting, E.  (1996).  Blue and gray.  New York, NY:  Orchard Books.

          A little boy moves into a new house that was built on a Civil War battlefield.  They reminisce about the days of the Civil War.  (3rd - 4th grades) [VI, II, III,].

Cherry, L. (1990). The great Kapok tree. New York: The Trumpet Club.

            This is a book about the animals and people of the rainforest pleading with man not to destroy the rainforests that is left. (2nd to 4th  grade) [VI, I, III,]

George, J. & Small, D. (2000). So you want to be president? New York: Philomel Books.

           

This book gives relevant information about the presidents and about being a president. It provides things that the presidents does during their presidential terms.  It also gives interesting facts that one probably would not know if they had you not read this book. (3rd-5th grade) [VI, V, X]

 

 

 

Economics

 

 

Berenstain, S & J. (2001). The Berenstain bears’ dollars and cents. New York: Random House.

           

When Brother Bear and Sister Bear want something, like a toy, they ask their papa for money. Papa Bear gets tired of giving out money and being asked for money, so he decides to give Brother Bear and Sister Bear a weekly allowance. When Brother and Sister Bear spend their week’s allowance in one day, Mama and Papa Bear give the cubs a much needed lesson in managing money.(2nd-3rd grade) [VII, V, IV]

 Fleischman, S. (1987). The whipping boy. New York, NY: William Marrow.

           The Whipping Boy is a story of a prince, who is selfish.  The prince learns about life when his life is switched with his servant’s life. (3rd – 6th) [VII, II, I]  

 

Hall, D. (1979). Oxcart man. New York: Scholastic Inc.

 

The story of a family who works all winter to make things, and then to sell them at the market. (2nd-3rd grade). [VII, II, V]

Parton, D.  (1994). Coat of many colors.  Dolly Parton Enterprises:  Harper Collins.

         A poor girl’s mother sews a box of rags she received into a colorful coat.  Everyone at school makes fun of the coat; the poor girl ignores the remarks because she knows her mom sewed it with all her love.  (2nd - 6th grades)  [VII, I, IV].

Ziefert, H.  (1986).  A new coat for Anna.  New York, NY:  Dragonfly Books.

         Anna and her mother go to a farmer, a spinner, a weaver, and a tailor, without money,  so Anna can have a new coat.  (3rd - 5th grades)  [VII, II, III].