Picture books are books where images and ideas join to form the complete meaning. The illustrations are equally as important as any written text to the reader's experience. The images engage the reader and enhance the significance of the story.
Books for Kindergarten - Grade 2
Flotsam *
by David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion, p2006
ISBN-13:978-0-618-19457-5
Fiction- wordless book
Interest Level: K-3
Description: A wonderful picture book that features a boy exploring at the beach and discovers an underwater camera that contains a collection of unusual pictures. Great for readers of all ages.
Gone Wild *Written and illustrated by David McLimans
Publisher: Walker, Distributed to the trade by Holtzbrinck Publishers, p2006
ISBN-13:978-0-8027-9563-2
Non-fiction
Interest Level: K-3
Description: Unique alphabet book all capital letters designed to look like endangered animals, and lists facts on each species, covering their habitats, geographic ranges, threats to survival, and statuses. Includes bibliographical references.
Big Red Lollipop*
Written by: Rukksana KhanIllustrated by: Sophie Blackall
Publisher: Viking, p2010.
ISBN13: 978-0-670-06287-4
Fiction
Interest Level: K-3/Reading Level: 1.6
Lexile Level: 410
Description: Colorful and engaging realistic depiction of a sisterly relationship.
Chester *written and illustrated by Melanie Watt.
Publisher: Kids Can Press, p2007
ISBN-13: 978-1-55453-140-0
Fiction
Interest Level: K-3/Reading Level: 1.8
Lexile Level: 350
Description: Humorous book about a self-centered cat named Chester keeps interrupting his owner as she tries to write a story about a mouse.
Beetle Bop*
Written and Illustrated by: Denise FlemingPublisher: Harcourt,p2007.
ISBN13: 978-0-15-205936-1
fiction
Interest Level: K-3/Reading Level: 2.3
Description: Great book for any reader interested in bugs. Illustrations and rhyming text reveal the great variety of beetles and their swirling, humming, crashing activities.
Written by: Jacqueline Jules
Illustrated by: Amy Huntington
Publisher: Mitten Press, p2007.
ISBN13:
Fiction
Interest Level: K-3/Reading level: 3.0
Description: A heartwarming story, with lovely illustrations, of how a girl becomes friends with another who cannot speak English.
Written and Illustrated by: Matt Faulkner
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, p2008.
ISBN13: 978-1-41691-629-1
Fiction
Interest Level: K-3/Reading Level: 3.5
Lexile Level: 670
Description: This story presents a different perspective on segregation. Two young cousins go to the city to get a gulp of special water that comes from a "colored" drinking fountain.
Written and Illustrated by: Uri Shulevitz
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux, p2008.
ISBN13: 978-0-374-33499-4
Fiction
Interest Level: K-3/Reading Level: 4.4
Lexile Level: 660
Description: Beautifully illustrated story of how a young refugee escapes hunger and misery studying a world map.
Written and Illustrated by: Lita Judge
Publisher: Viking, p2009.
ISBN13: 978-0-670-01132-2
Non-Fiction/Biography
Interest Level: K-3/Reading Level: 5.0
Lexile Level: 900
Description: Story chronicles Thomas Moran's adventure into Yellowstone. Beautiful illustrations.
Books for Grade 3 - Grade 5
Written by: Becky Birtha
Illustrated by: Nicole Tadgell
Publisher: Albert Whitman, p2010.
ISBN13: 978-0-8075-4782-3
Fiction
Interest Level: 3-6/Reading Level: 3.9
Lexile Level: 600
Description: An enjoyable book about how a young boy wins his mother a prize.
Written by: Calvin A. Ramsey
Illustrated by: Floyd Cooper
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, p2010.
ISBN13: 978-0-7613-5255-6
Fiction
Interest Level: 3-6/Reading Level: 4.6
Lexile Level: 810
Description: Powerfully illustrated picture book telling the story of a road trip from a young black girls perspective.
Written by: Susan Goldman Rubin
Illustrated by: Bill Farnsworth
Publisher: Holiday House, p2005.
ISBN13: 978-0-8234-1653-0
Non-fiction
Interest Level: 3-6/Reading Level: 5.6
Lexile Level: 940
Description: Moving illustrations from the Mauthausen concentration camp and what happened when the US Army arrived.
Books for Grade 6 - Grade 9
Illustrated by: Sara Varon
Publisher: First Second, p2007.
ISBN13:978-1-59643-108-9
Wordless Book/Graphic Novel/Fiction
Interest Level: 3-6
Description: Wonderful illustrations tell the story of how a robot and a dog go through the many stages of friendship.
The House*
Illustrated by: Roberto Innocenti
Publisher: Creative Editions, p2009.
ISBN13:978-1-56846-201-1
Interest Level: 3-6/Reading Level:7.1
Description: Through wonderfully detailed illustrations and verse tell the evolution of a house on a hill.
Written by: Karen Gray Ruelle
Illustrated by: Deborah Durland DeSaix
Publisher: Holiday House, p2009.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8234-2159-6
Non-fiction
Interest Level: 3-6/Reading Level: 7.2
Lexile Level: 1090
Description: Superb illustrations and clear writing share how Muslims helped hide Jews and other escaped prisoner during World War II.
