Annotated Bibliography

Geography

Sweeney, Joan.  (1996). Me on the Map.  New York:  Crown Publishers.

An introduction to maps of locale, regions and the world that gives children an idea of location and where they are in relation to the rest of the world.  (1^st-2^nd grades)

[I, III, IX]

Simon, Norma.  (2000).  All Kinds of Children.  New York:  Whitman.

Children all over the world seem to have certain things in common such as food, clothing, love, and even belly buttons.  This book gives children the chance to see that although there is diversity, children are still very similar.  (2nd-3^rd grades) [III, IV, V]

Cooper, Margaret.  (2002).  Exploring the Ice Age.  New York:  Athenaeum.

Provides comparisons and contrasts between myths or typical believes of what occurred during this time period to actual facts about the ice age. (3^rd-5^th grades)

[I, II, IX]

Lee, Milly.  (2002).  Earthquake.  New York:  Frances Foster Books.

The true story of the author’s family and their escape from an earthquake that devastated their Chinese-American community.  This book documents the 1906 that damaged her community in San Francisco.  (Ages 2^nd-4^th grade) [III, II, I]

Hartman, Gail.  (1993).  As the Crow Flies.  New York:  Aladdin.

A look at different geographical areas from the perspectives of an eagle, rabbit, crow, horse, and gull. (1^st-2^nd grades) [III, I, IX]

Cultural Anthropology

Littlesugar, Amy.  (2000). Tree of Hope.  New York:  Penguin Putnam.

A girl living through the Great Depression makes a wish on the “Tree of Hope”.  This tree is a remnant of Harlem Renaissance.  Her dream comes true when Orson Welles directs black Mac Beth in Harlem.  (3rd-5^th grades) [I, IV, V]

Swain, Ruth Freeman.  (2000).  Bedtime!  New York:  Holiday House.

Facts about sleep, the history of beds, different types of beddings and clothing worn to bed are discussed for different cultures and time periods.  (2nd-4^th grades)

[I, II, III]

Hausman, Gerald.  (2002).  The Jacob Ladder.  New York:  Orchard Books.

A Jamaican story that is rich in culture and is about a twelve year old boy, named Tall T who leaves his home and struggles to keep his family together.  (3^rd-4^th grades)

[I, IV, II]

Lyon, George Ella.  (1991).  Cecil’s Story.  New York:  Orchard Books.

Cecil’s father is a solider in the Civil War and Cecil tells his fears of what may happen if his father never returns and he will be forced to take care of his mother and family.  (3^rd-4^th grades) [I, II, V]

Haskins, James.  (2002).  Building a New Land: African Americans in Colonial America.  New York:  HarperCollins.

This book tells of all of the contributions of African Americans from 1607 until 1763 and includes a bibliography, index, and a timeline.  (4^th grade) [I, II, III]

History

Ammon, Richard.  (2001).  Conestoga Wagons.  New York:  Holiday House.

The Conestoga wagon was an important role in American history and is demonstrated through the descriptions of how they were built, what the wagons carried, and who drove the wagons.  Detailed paintings show the historical time period of when these wagons were in use.  (3rd-5^th grades) [II, VII, VIII]

MacLeod, Elizabeth.  (2000).  Alexander Graham Bell:  An Inventive Life.  New York:  Kids Can.

A biography that presents the life of the fascinating and creative inventor, Alexander Graham Bell.  (3rd-5^th grades) [II, III, IV]

Hest, Amy.  (1997).  When Jessie Came Across the Sea.  Cambridge:  Candlewick Press.

Jessie is chosen to travel to America and must leave her grandmother behind.  This is a courageous tale of history and culture in order to seek a better life.  (4^th grade) [II, III, V]

Schmandt-Besserat, Denise.  (2000).  The History of Counting.  New York:  HarperCollins.

This book investigates why systems of counting came about in different cultures, what needs they met, and how they developed and spread.  (3^rd-4^th grades) [VIII, IX, I]

Levy, Elizabeth.  (1992).  If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution.  New York:  Scholastic.

The basic facts of framing the Constitution are presented and the background of the Constitution and the Revolutionary War are discussed.  Readers are able to experience the Philadelphia State House during the Constitutional Convention.  (2^nd-3^rd grades) [II, III, VI]

Political Science

Mead, Alice.  (2002).  Girl of Kosovo.  New York:  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 

Based on a true story of a girl from Kosovo, the horrors of war are described and the process of overcoming bitterness about the war is explained.  (3^rd-5^th grades)

[I, III, VI]

Waber, Bernard.  (1964).  Just Like Abraham Lincoln. New York:  Scholastic.

A boy tells of a man that moved in next door to him that has behaviors like Abraham Lincoln.  This book tells of the history of the President and about his life and his Presidency. (3^rd grade) [VI, II, V]

Allen, Thomas.  (2002).  Remember Pearl Harbor:  American and Japanese Survivors Tell Their Stories.  New York:  National Geographic Society.

Actual survivors from the World War II Pear Harbor battle tell their stories through memories and shared photographs.  (5^th grade) [II, V, VI]

Smith, Whitney.  (2002).  Flag Lore of all Nations.  New York:  Millbrook Press.

Gives descriptions of flags from 192 countries from around the world.  Each country has a historical background and the meaning of flag symbols. (3^rd-5^th grades)

[III, VI, X}

Monsell, Helen Albee.  (1989).  Tom Jefferson:  The Third President of the U.S.  New York:  Aladdin.

Focuses on the childhood of America’s third President of the United States.

(3^rd-4^th grades) [VI, II, V]

Economics

Cherry, Lynne.  (1992).  A River Ran Wild.  San Diego:  Harcourt Brace & Co.

An environment history of the Nashua River and how one woman’s vision and determination changed the face and the future of the river.  The story begins with the history of the once beautiful river and how the English began to pollute the river and build up dams to change it.  (4^th grade) [VII, II, V]

Adler, David.  (2000).  The Babe and I.  New York:  Harcourt.

A young boy sells newspapers to help his family during the Great Depression. (3^rd-5^th grades) [VII, IV, III]

DeFelice, Cynthia.  (2000).  Nowhere to Call Home.  New York:  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Two orphans befriend each other during the Great Depression and work together to survive during this time of hard conditions.  (3^rd-4^th grades) [II, IV, VII]

Aird, Hazel.  (1986).  Henry Ford:  Young Man with Ideas.  New York:  Aladdin.

The early life of Henry Ford, the man who founded the Ford Motor Company and pioneered in assembly-line methods of mass production.  (4^th-5^th grades) [VII, II, I]

Krull, Kathleen.  (2002).  Supermarket.  New York:  Holiday House.

This book describes modern supermarkets and how they work, organize, display, and keep track of the items that they sell on a day-to-day basis.  (2^nd-3^rd grades)

[VII, IX, III]

Sociology

Ancona, George.  (2001). Cuban Kids.  New York: Cavendish.

Through the events in their daily lives, Cuban children of all shapes and sizes introduce their country, the society and their culture to the reader. (2^nd-4^th grades)

[III, I, V]

Lyon, George Ella.  (1994).  Mama is a Miner.  New York:  Orchard Books.

A daughter describes her mother’s job working as a miner.  (1^st-2^nd grades)

[V, I, VII]

Kalman, Bobbie.  (2000).  What is a Community from A to Z?  New York:  Crabtree.

An introductory book to the basics of community including such themes as “Buildings”, “Family”, “Rules”, and “Working Together”.  Common aspects shared by most communities are discussed and how physical features of their location impact the way of life.  (Kindergarten-2^nd grade) [V, I, III]

Maynard, Christopher.  (2001).  Jobs People Do.  New York:  DK Publishing.   

An introduction for small children about what people do at work, descriptions and typical uniforms that people wear to their particular jobs.  (Kindergarten-1^st grade) [V, I, VII]

Caseley, Judith.  (2002).  On the Town:  A Community Adventure.  New York:  Greenwillow.

A boy and his mother keep track on a notebook of the people and places in their neighborhood.  He documents important jobs and establishments that help to make up his community.  (1^st-2^nd grades) [V, I, III]