Annotated Bibliography

Culture

De Paola, T. (1979). Strega Nona. New York: Simon & Schuster. 

Strega Nona (Italian for "Grandma Witch") warns foolish Big Anthony never to touch her pasta pot. Big Anthony does touch it and it won’t stop making spaghetti. Grade level: 1st -2nd) [I, III, IV, IX, X]

Fox, M. (1991). Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. New York: Kane Miller.

Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge is a boy who lives right next to a home for old people.  
They are all his friends and his favorite is Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, because she has four names too. (Grade level: 1st -2nd) [I,II,III,IV,V]

Hart, A. (2001). Ancient Rome: Exploring the culture, people and ideas of 

this powerful empire. New York: Ideals.

This book examines the history, geography, culture, and politics of the Roman Empire and similarities to the 
United States. This would be a great way to study other cultures.  (Grade level: 1st-2nd) [I,VI,II,III,IX]

Sands, E. (2004). Egyptology. New York: Candlewick Press. 

This book studies the Egyptian culture. The type resembles that of an old manual typewriter and the photos, reproductions, and sketches make the journal seem more realistic. 
 (Grade level: 3rd -4th) [I,II,III,V,IX]

Thompson, K. (1990). Eloise. New York: Simon & Schuster. 

This book is about a six-year-old girl named Eloise who lives with her British nanny in New York City
's Plaza Hotel. Great Britain and city living culture could be addressed in this book. (Grade Level: 1st-2nd) [I,III,IV,VI, II]

Economics

Hall, D. (1997). The Ox-cart man. New York: Scholastic.

The story of a family who works all winter, spring and summer to well item at the market. (Grade level: 2nd-3rd) [VII, II, V,III,I] 

Leedy, L. (2003). Follow the money! New York: Holiday House.

This book is narrated by a quarter and shows many stops through town to purchase things.  
(Grade level: 1st-2nd) [VII,I,III,V,VIII]

McGillan, J. (2004). The kids' money book: Earning saving spending 

investing donating. New York: Sterling.

This book teaches kids how to create a budget, use their talent to make money, invest their earnings, and donate to charity. They can begin to take stock of their financial fitness with a Money Matters to Me quiz. Grade level: 1st-2nd) [VII,VIII,I,III,IV]

Rosinsky, N. (2003). All about money (let's see, economics). New York: Compass 

Point.

This book introduces children to the history, uses, and evolution of money. It begins by briefly explaining that people have not always needed money. (Grade level: 2nd-3rd) [VII, I,II,II,V]

Sabin, E. (2004). The giving book: Open the door to a lifetime of giving. New 

York: Watering Can.

 This book has an  interactive process that allows parents, teachers or friends to help children understand giving and participate in a stimulating experience.
  (Grade Level 1st-2nd) [VII,I,II,III,V]

Schwartz, D. (1994).  If you made a million. New York: William Morrow.

This book teaches children learning money, investing it, accruing dividends and interest, and watching savings grow.
  (Grade level:3rd-4th) [VII,II,IV,VII]

Geography

Knowlton, J. (1997). Geography from A to Z: A picture glossary. New York: 

Harper Collins.

This book takes the reader from A to Z describing the earth's features and its physical geography. Beautiful illustrations add to the book. (Grade level: 1st-2nd) [III,I,V,IX,II]

Leedy, L. ( 2003). Mapping Penny’s world. New York: Henry, Holt.

The teacher says they can make maps of anyplace, so Lisa starts with her bedroom. This book teaches kids how to read the map, using things like a scale and a key to the symbols. (Grade level: 1st-2nd) [III,I,II,V,VIII]

Petty, K. (2000). Amazing pop-up geography book. New York: Penguin 

Putnam.

This pop-up book has mountains and volcanoes, lift-the-flap continents and countries, storms, earthquakes, and more. There is even a pop-up globe for kids to help them learn fascinating facts about our planet. (Grade level: 1st-2nd) [III,II,IV,IX,I]

Rabe, T. (2002). There's a map in my lap! New York: Random House. 

The Cat in the Hat introduces beginning readers to maps.  This is a fun rhyming book.  
(Grade level: 1st-2nd) [III, I, II,V,IX]

Riehle, M. (2004). M is for mountain state: A West Virginia alphabet.  Chelsea, 

MN: Sleeping Bear Press.

The delightful book shares historical and geographical facts about West Virginia
. (Grade level: 2nd-3rd) [III, II, I]

Wolfman, I. (2003). My world and globe. New York: Workman. 

This kit has an inflatable globe to help students learn about different countries and the earth itself. This is a great way to incorporate hands-on activities. 
 (Grade level: 1st-3rd) [III, I,II,IX,V]

History

Cheney, L. (2003). A Is for Abigail: An almanac of amazing American women. 

New York: Simon & Schuster.

Each letter of the alphabet tells about an important woman in the history of the United States.  
This book is very unique and makes learning fun. (Grade level: 1st-2nd) [II,III,IV,V,VI]

Grace, C. (2003). The White House: An illustrated history. New York
: Scholastic.

 This book tells about the history, architecture, and symbolism of the White House. The photographs in it would be great to photocopy and paste in the classroom. (Grade level: 1st-3rd) [II,VI,V,III,X]

Khanduri, K. (2003).  Great history search. London: Usborne Publishing.

This book describes the lives of people, animals and objects from all over the world.  
It would be a great book for studying the history of other cultures. (Grade level:2nd-4th) [II, III,I,IX,V]

Schade, S. (2004). Smart about the presidents (smart about history series). New 

York: Scholastic.

This book is current through the 2004 presidential election and includes two empty pages for kids to fill-in the results. There is also a floor plan of the White House and each page is has trivia, fun facts, handwritten captions, and much more. (Grade level: 3rd-5th) [III,II,V,VI,X]

St. George, J. (2000). So you want to be president? New York: Penguin Press.

This book tells lots of interesting facts about Presidents Washington to Clinton.  
It also tells about the characteristics and qualifications for presidents. (Grade level: 4th-5th)  [II,III,V,VI,X]

Political Science

De Capua, S. (2002). Abolitionists: A force for change. Minnesota: Child’s 

World.

This book talks about the accomplishments of American abolitionists.   
It goes from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries. (Grade level: 2nd-4th) [II,III,IV,VI,X]

 Gaustad, E. (2003). Church and state in America. Oxford: Oxford University 

Press.

The differences in church and state with considerations of religion are examined throughout the history of the 
United States. It begins with early issues and is current through the current debate about religion in schools. (Grade level: 2nd-3rd) [VI,IV,II,III,X]

Kupperstein, J. (1999). Celebrating patriotic holidays no. 4529: Honoring 

America.

This book talks about all the patriotic holidays in detail and lets kids realize what they are celebrating when they are out of school. (Grade level: 1st-4th) [VI,IV,II,III,X)

Maestro, B. (1991). More perfect union: The story of our constitution. New York: 

William Morrow.

This books talks about how our constitution was made and why it was made.  It has many facts.  
(Grade level: 1st-2nd) [II,III,IV,VI,X]

Ryon, P. (1999). Bill of rights. New York: Sagebrush.

Topics talked about in this book are: how the Bill of Rights came to be, the freedoms it guarantees, details each of the amendments, and how some have affected life in the 
United States. (Grade level: 2nd-3rd) VI,IV,X,II,III]

Sociology

Hendershot, J. (1987) In coal country. New York: Alfred Knopf. 

The life of a miner’s family is vividly seen through the eyes of his daughter. (Grade level: 2nd-3rd) [IV, I,II,III,V]

Heywood, R. (2004). Great city search. London: Usborne.

Mayor Maurice is looking forward to being your guide as you travel around it for the day. A train station, a crowded shopping street and a busy hospital are just a few of the places you will visit. You will also see the people who live and work in there. (Grade level:3rd-4th) [V,III,VII,VIII,IX]

Huynh, O. (1999). Water buffalo days: Growing up in Vietnam. New York: 

Harper Collins. 

The author in this book describes his close relationship to two water buffalo that were part of his family when he was growing up in a village in 
Vietnam.  This is a great way to study the lifestyles of people from other countries. (Grade level: 2nd-3rd) [V,IX,III,II,I]

Kalman, B. (1999). What is a community? From a to z. New York: Crabtree.

The basic concepts of a community are taught.  Things like family, working together and rules. (Grade level: 1st-2nd) [V,III,II,I,VIII]

Romain, T. (1999). Cliques, phonies, and other baloney. New York: Free Spirit.

Discussions about cliques, what they are and their negative aspects are examined in this book.  
Advice is given advice on forming healthier relationships and friendships. (Grade level: 3rd-4th) [V,IV,VIII,III]

Williams, S. (2003). Gangs and your neighborhood. New York: Rosen.

Gangs can take over neighborhoods and leave residents caught in the crossfire. This book tells kids how to stay safe. (Grade level: 3rd-4th) [I,V,II,III,IV]

I used barnesandnoble.com as a source.