5 Great Books About Trains

Freight Train
by Donald Crews
This freight train is on the move! Picture Book

I Love Trains
by Philemon Sturges (Author) and Shari Halpern (Illustrator)
A rhyming look at the cars on a train. Picture Book

Stop, Train, Stop!
by Rev. W. Awdry (Author) and Jane E. Gerver (Illustrator)
Thomas the Tank Engine rushes past all his stops! Easy Reader

Two Little Trains
by Margaret Wise Brown (Author) and Leo and Diane Dillon (Illustrators)
A classic picture book by the author of Goodnight Moon with new art.

Window Music
by Anastasia Suen (Author) and Wade Zahares (Illustrator)
Ride the train from Grandma and Grandpa’s all the way home. Picture Book

Literacy Links

Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Thanksgiving

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie
by Alison Jackson (Author) and Judy Schachner (Illustrator)
The old lady swallows a Thanksgiving pie and more! Picture Book

Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks
by Margaret Sutherland (Author), Sonja Lamut (Author)
A simple picture book explanation of the holiday.

Thanksgiving on Thursday (Magic Tree House #27)
by Mary Pope Osborne (Author) and Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)
Jack and Annie go back to the night before the first Thanksgiving. Chapter Book.

The Perfect Thanksgiving
by Eileen Spinelli (Author) and JoAnn Adinolfi (Illustrator)
A rhyming tale of two Thanksgivings, at a “perfect” house and…the other kind. Picture Book.

The Very First Thanksgiving Day
by Rhonda Gowler Greene (Author) and Susan Gaber (Illustrator)
Thanksgiving in a “This Is the House That Jack Built” rhyme. Picture Book.

Literacy Links

Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Turkeys

10 Fat Turkeys
by Tony Johnston (Author) and Richard F. Deas (Illustrator)
Count from 10 to 1 with this rhyme. Picture Book.

All About Turkeys
by Jim Arnosky (Author)
Learn all about wild turkeys. Picture Book

A Turkey for Thanksgiving
by Eve Bunting (Author) and Diane de Groat (Illustrator)
Mrs. Moose wants Turkey to come over for Thanksgiving. Picture Book.

Little Tom Turkey
by Frances Bloxam (Author) and Jim Sollers (Illustrator)
Little Tom is the smallest, but he has big plans. Picture Book.

Make a Turkey
by Anastasia Suen and Kurt Nagahori (Illustrator)
Make a turkey handprint with this simple easy reader.

Literacy Links

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Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Pumpkins

Big Pumpkin
by Erica Silverman (Author) and S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)
A witch grows a pumpkin for pumpkin pie, but it grows so big she can’t move it! Picture Book

From Seed to Pumpkin
by Wendy Pfeffer (Author) and James Graham Hale (Illustrator)
Three kids help the farmer in this Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1 picture book.

Pumpkin Pumpkin
by Jeanne Titherington
A boy plants seeds, grows a pumpkin, and saves new seeds for next year. Picture Book.

Pumpkins
by Ken Robbins (Author/Photographer)
Follow a pumpkin from seed to jack-o-lantern. Picture Book.

Runaway Pumpkin
by Kevin Lewis (Author) and S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)
Uh-oh! The pumpkin is thumpin’ and bumpin’ down the hill! Picture Book.

Literacy Links

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Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Cats

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?
by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson (Authors) and Laura J. Bryant (Illustrator)
Kitty Cat gets ready for school. Picture Book.

Oh, Cats!
by Nola Buck (Author) and Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator)
There are only 25 words in this “My First I Can Read” easy reader.

Millions of Cats
by Wanda Gag
It all starts with one little cat… (This 1928 picture book is a classic!)

The Cat in the Hat
by Dr. Seuss
Share a rainy day adventure with this classic 1957 easy reader.

The Fire Cat
by Esther Averill
Pickles learns how to be a fire cat in this I Can Read Book 1 easy reader.

Literacy Links

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Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Spiders

Diary of a Spider
by Doreen Cronin (Author) and Harry Bliss (Illustrator)
Find out what a spider does all day in this picture book diary.

Nic Bishop Spiders
by Nic Bishop (Author/Photographer)
See amazing close-ups and learn astonishing facts about spiders. Picture Book.

Spinning Spiders
by Melvin Berger (Author) and S. D. Schindler (Illustrator)
A “Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science” picture book for level 2 readers.

The Very Busy Spider
by Eric Carle
Feel the web the spider spins in this tactile picture book!

Time For Kids: Spiders!
by Editors Of Time For Kids (Author)
This level 3 easy reader is packed with photographs and facts.

Today’s Literacy Link is a name puzzle!

Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Bats

Amazing Bats
by Seymour Simon
See photographs and kid-friendly facts about bats in this level 1 easy reader

Bats – Creatures of the Night
by Joyce Milton (Author) and Judith Moffatt (Illustrator)
The bat facts in this level 2 easy reader are illustrated with cut-paper collage.

The Truth about Bats
by Eva Moore (Author) and Ted Enik (Illustrator)
Ralphie and the class learn about bats in The Magic School Bus Chapter Book.

Time For Kids: Bats!
by Editors Of Time For Kids (Author)
This level 3 easy reader is packed with photographs and facts.

Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats
by Ann Earle (Author) and Henry Cole (Illustrator)
A “Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science” picture book for level 2 readers.

I’m adding short chapter books to 5 Great Books – and to the Cybils (Children’s and Young Adult Blogger’s Literary Awards). This year we’re expanding the Cybils Easy Reader category to include short chapter books. Last year, we discovered many gems that were too long for easy readers and too short for middle grade, so we’re giving these “bridge” books a list of their own. Our new category name is Easy Readers and Short Chapter Books. From October 1-15, you can nominate a book for this award!

Literacy Links

Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Colors

Color Dance
by Ann Jonas
Colors mix and change as the dancers move. Picture book

Colors Everywhere
by Tana Hoban
This wordless picture book has color bars for each color in the photograph.

Color Farm
by Lois Ehlert
Brightly colored shapes change page by page in this picture book with cut-outs.

Little Blue and Little Yellow
by Leo Lionni
This classic picture book, created on a train ride with his grandkids, is now 50 years old!

Spicy Hot Colors: Colores Picantes
by Sherry Shahan (Author) and Paula Barragan (Illustrator)
Learn the colors in English and Spanish. Picture book

Today’s Literacy Link: Make color cards to help your child learn the color names.

Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books For Fall

Fall Leaves
by Don L. Curry (Author) and Aaron Jasinski (Illustrator)
A girl rakes and plays in the fall leaves. Easy reader

How Do You Know It’s Fall?
by Allan Fowler (Author)
Learn about fall in this easy reader.

It’s Fall
by Linda Glaser (Author) and Susan Swan (Illustrator)
A boy describes what happens in the fall. Picture book

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
by Lois Ehlert
From seed to tree–the life of a sugar maple. Picture book

Why Do Leaves Change Color?
by Betsy Maestro (Author) and Loretta Krupinski (Illustrator)
A picture book that answers a question (with projects, too!)

Literacy Links

Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books For Labor Day

A Day in the Life of a Firefighter
by Heather Adamson (Author)
See a fire fighter at work in this easy reader.

Career Day
by Anne Rockwell (Author) and Lizzy Rockwell (Illustrator)
Family members visit class to talk about their jobs. Picture book

Labor Day
by Carmen Bredeson (Author)
Learn how and why we celebrate Labor Day. Easy reader

Labor Day
by Mari C. Schuh (Author)
This easy reader explains the origins of Labor Day.

Whose Tools Are These?: A Look at Tools Workers Use – Big, Sharp, and Smooth
by Sharon Katz Cooper (Author) and Amy Bailey Muehlenhardt (Illustrator)
A picture book of tools!

Literacy Links

Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.