Definition: stories that are centered around realistic problems that children may face or be going through; allows for kids to relate to the plot
And Tango Makes Three
By: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Picture Book
Summary: In Central Park, there is a zoo where many animals and their families live, including penguins! Typically a girl penguin and a boy penguin become interested in each other and spend lots of time together. They make a nest and have a baby penguin. But, Roy and Silo were not interested in a girl penguin. Instead, they spent all of their time together and built a nest, except they never got a baby penguin. Until one day, the zookeeper, Mr. Gramzay, placed an egg in their nest. It hatched and out came a Tango, a baby penguin!
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.5 (3rd Grade 5 Months)
By: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Picture Book
Summary: In Central Park, there is a zoo where many animals and their families live, including penguins! Typically a girl penguin and a boy penguin become interested in each other and spend lots of time together. They make a nest and have a baby penguin. But, Roy and Silo were not interested in a girl penguin. Instead, they spent all of their time together and built a nest, except they never got a baby penguin. Until one day, the zookeeper, Mr. Gramzay, placed an egg in their nest. It hatched and out came a Tango, a baby penguin!
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.5 (3rd Grade 5 Months)
Before You Were Mine
By: Maribeth Boelts
Picture Book – Animal Adoption
Summary: A little and his family adopt a puppy from an animal shelter. As the new owner, the little boy begins the wonder what life was like for his new dog before he adopted him. In the end, he realizes it does not matter what life was like before because the puppy is in a fun and loving home now!
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.9 (3rd Grade 9 Months)
By: Maribeth Boelts
Picture Book – Animal Adoption
Summary: A little and his family adopt a puppy from an animal shelter. As the new owner, the little boy begins the wonder what life was like for his new dog before he adopted him. In the end, he realizes it does not matter what life was like before because the puppy is in a fun and loving home now!
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.9 (3rd Grade 9 Months)
Bully
By: Patricia Polacco
Picture Book
Summary: Lyla and her brother Jack are moving to a new house, which means they have to change schools. At her new school, Lyla meets another new kid, Jamie, who is in sixth grade with her and sits right next to her in homeroom! They become best friends and quickly learn the cliques in the grade. Gage, Kenyon, and Maeve are the most popular girls, who everyone wants to be. Lyla falls into their popularity once she gets a Facebook, joins the cheer team, and gets the highest grades in the class. However, Lyla quickly learns how being their friend is not as great as she thought; after being accused of stealing the state test and cheating.
Interest Level: 2nd Grade – 5th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 4.1 (4th Grade 1 Month)
By: Patricia Polacco
Picture Book
Summary: Lyla and her brother Jack are moving to a new house, which means they have to change schools. At her new school, Lyla meets another new kid, Jamie, who is in sixth grade with her and sits right next to her in homeroom! They become best friends and quickly learn the cliques in the grade. Gage, Kenyon, and Maeve are the most popular girls, who everyone wants to be. Lyla falls into their popularity once she gets a Facebook, joins the cheer team, and gets the highest grades in the class. However, Lyla quickly learns how being their friend is not as great as she thought; after being accused of stealing the state test and cheating.
Interest Level: 2nd Grade – 5th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 4.1 (4th Grade 1 Month)
Elmer
By: David McKee
Picture Book
Summary: Unlike all of the other elephants, Elmer is multi-colored and definitely stands out. Wherever he goes, he makes all the elephants laugh. But, he is unhappy with his multi-colors. One day he decides to run away into the jungle to find a bush of grey colored berries. Elmer rolls all over the berries to be the same color as the rest of the elephants. He finally feels like he fits in. However, things seem boring and dull. Nothing is bringing the other elephants amusement the way Elmer used to make them laugh. The berry color washes off of Elmer when it rains and all the elephants decide that is the funniest thing Elmer’s ever done. The elephants celebrate this day every year by painting themselves colorful patterns and Elmer paints himself gray.
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.2 (3rd Grade 2 Months)
By: David McKee
Picture Book
Summary: Unlike all of the other elephants, Elmer is multi-colored and definitely stands out. Wherever he goes, he makes all the elephants laugh. But, he is unhappy with his multi-colors. One day he decides to run away into the jungle to find a bush of grey colored berries. Elmer rolls all over the berries to be the same color as the rest of the elephants. He finally feels like he fits in. However, things seem boring and dull. Nothing is bringing the other elephants amusement the way Elmer used to make them laugh. The berry color washes off of Elmer when it rains and all the elephants decide that is the funniest thing Elmer’s ever done. The elephants celebrate this day every year by painting themselves colorful patterns and Elmer paints himself gray.
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.2 (3rd Grade 2 Months)
In Our Mother’s House
By: Patricia Polacco
Picture Book – LGBT
Summary: This story is told from the perspective of a young girl who has two younger siblings, Will and Millie, and two moms, Meema and Marmee. Even though they have two moms, instead of one mom and one dad, they still do everything a family would do with a mom and a dad. Many traditions are held at their house each year. Most importantly, they love each other just the same as other families love each other! However, their neighbor, Mrs. Lockner, does not like them and she makes that known. But, Meema and Marme and their three children do not let her get in the way of their family!
Interest Level: 1st – 4th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 4.3 (4th Grade 3 Months)
By: Patricia Polacco
Picture Book – LGBT
Summary: This story is told from the perspective of a young girl who has two younger siblings, Will and Millie, and two moms, Meema and Marmee. Even though they have two moms, instead of one mom and one dad, they still do everything a family would do with a mom and a dad. Many traditions are held at their house each year. Most importantly, they love each other just the same as other families love each other! However, their neighbor, Mrs. Lockner, does not like them and she makes that known. But, Meema and Marme and their three children do not let her get in the way of their family!
Interest Level: 1st – 4th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 4.3 (4th Grade 3 Months)
Mockingbird
By: Kathryn Erskine
Chapter Book – Autism Spectrum
Summary: This story is told through the lens of a ten-year old girl, Caitlin, who has Asperger’s Syndrome. Caitlin has recently lost her brother, Devon. Although Caitlin was extremely close with him and misses him all of the time, she does not grieve quite the same way as her father does. She sees life through a different perspective than most people.
Interest Level: 5th – 9th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.6 (3rd Grade 6 Months)
By: Kathryn Erskine
Chapter Book – Autism Spectrum
Summary: This story is told through the lens of a ten-year old girl, Caitlin, who has Asperger’s Syndrome. Caitlin has recently lost her brother, Devon. Although Caitlin was extremely close with him and misses him all of the time, she does not grieve quite the same way as her father does. She sees life through a different perspective than most people.
Interest Level: 5th – 9th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.6 (3rd Grade 6 Months)
Standing On My Own Two Feet
By: Tamara Schmitz
Picture Book – Divorce
Summary: Addison’s parents are divorced. However, just because they do not live together or do not always get along, does not mean they do not love him. They will always love him and their divorce was not caused Addison at all! At his Mommy’s house he is loved just the same as at his daddy’s house.
Interest Level: 3 – 7 Years Old
Grade Level/Reading Level: Pre-School – 1st Grade
By: Tamara Schmitz
Picture Book – Divorce
Summary: Addison’s parents are divorced. However, just because they do not live together or do not always get along, does not mean they do not love him. They will always love him and their divorce was not caused Addison at all! At his Mommy’s house he is loved just the same as at his daddy’s house.
Interest Level: 3 – 7 Years Old
Grade Level/Reading Level: Pre-School – 1st Grade
The Can Man
By: Laura E. Williams
Picture Book – Helping Others
Summary: Tim wishes for a skateboard for his birthday so he can ride with Mike. However, Tim’s parents tell him they do not have enough money for that. While sitting on his front step, Tim sees “The Can Man” walking by with his shopping cart full of cans. Tim talks to him and finds out his real name is Joe Peters and he used to live in their building, but now he collects cans for change. This gives Tim the great idea to do the same to save up for his skateboard. Except Mr. Peters is saving up for a winter coat before the snow comes. After collecting cans for a week, Tim gets enough money for his skateboard, but instead gives the money to Mr. Peter to get a coat.
Interest Level: 1st – 4th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.4 (3rd Grade 4 Months)
By: Laura E. Williams
Picture Book – Helping Others
Summary: Tim wishes for a skateboard for his birthday so he can ride with Mike. However, Tim’s parents tell him they do not have enough money for that. While sitting on his front step, Tim sees “The Can Man” walking by with his shopping cart full of cans. Tim talks to him and finds out his real name is Joe Peters and he used to live in their building, but now he collects cans for change. This gives Tim the great idea to do the same to save up for his skateboard. Except Mr. Peters is saving up for a winter coat before the snow comes. After collecting cans for a week, Tim gets enough money for his skateboard, but instead gives the money to Mr. Peter to get a coat.
Interest Level: 1st – 4th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.4 (3rd Grade 4 Months)
Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen
By: Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan
Picture Book
Summary: This story is told from the perspective of a young boy, who’s Uncle Willie works in a soup kitchen to help feed the people who are hungry. The young boy gets to go to work with his uncle to see what he does. He helps his uncle and the other workers set the tables, prepare the meal, and serve all the hungry people. This opens his eyes to the different kinds of people who live right in the same community as he does.
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.1 (3rd Grade – 1 Month)
By: Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan
Picture Book
Summary: This story is told from the perspective of a young boy, who’s Uncle Willie works in a soup kitchen to help feed the people who are hungry. The young boy gets to go to work with his uncle to see what he does. He helps his uncle and the other workers set the tables, prepare the meal, and serve all the hungry people. This opens his eyes to the different kinds of people who live right in the same community as he does.
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.1 (3rd Grade – 1 Month)