#UCFLae3414F17 Hatchet is a Newbery award winning RF text, written by Gary Paulsen. The story is about a boy named Brain Robeson. He is on his way to visit his father when his plane crashes. Brian learns to survive in the wilderness, by himself, with only a hatchet. He learns to make fire, avoid the dangers of the wilderness, and find food. He is faced with terrible weather, much adventure, and his own secrets. He eventually realizes that the

#UCFLae3414F17 Where the Wild Things Are is a classic F tale written by Maurice Sendak. The story focuses on a young boy named Max. Max gets sent to his room without supper after putting on his wolf suit and wreaking havoc on his house. When Max goes to his room it is transformed into a Jungle and Max sails off to where the wild things are. He becomes king of the wild things, but ultimately misses home and leaves. When he returns there is a hot

#UCFLae3414F17 Rules is a touching RF text, written by Cynthia Lord. The book was a recipient of a Newbery award. The story depicts a young 13-year-old girl, Catherine, and her brother David who has autism. The story starts with Catherine babysitting David and we soon realize that this is a common occurrence. Throughout the story Catherine teaches David rules like “chew with your mouth closed” and “a peach is not a funny-looking apple.” Catherine

#UCFLae3414F17 Quackers is a F text written by Liz Wong. The story is about a cat named Quackers, who hilariously thinks he‘s a duck. He thinks he‘s a duck because he lives at the pond, and everyone else is a duck. He feels like he doesn‘t belong and tells how he hates duckweed and getting wet. Quackers meets a “strange duck” named Mittens, who helps him realize who he really is… a cat. Later, he begins to miss the pond and realizes that he can

#UCFLae3414F17 Don‘t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is a F book and a recipient of the Caldecott seal, written by Mo Willems. The story is about a Pigeon who desperately wants to drive the bus when the driver steps out. He begs and pleads with the audience and trees to convince them to let him drive the bus. Ultimately the driver comes back, and the Pigeon turns his attention to another vehicle. This book is a terrific RA or S, and Mo Willems would

#UCFLae3414F17 The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is a captivating HF, by AVI. The story details the journey of Charlotte Doyle, a 13-year-old girl, on a voyage from Rhode Island to England in 1832. The families she was supposed to travel with cancel at the last minute and she goes on the trip alone. She ends us on a ship with a treacherous captain and evil crew and she must prove her innocence while on trial for murder. She ends up realizing

#UCFLae3414F17 The Kissing Hand is a heartwarming F tale, written by Audrey Penn. The story is about Chester Raccoon and his mother. Chester is nervous about school, so his mother gives him the “Kissing Hand.” She kisses his palm and explains that her love will stay with him throughout the day. She tells him to put his hand to his cheek and his mother‘s love will touch him. This comforts him and at the end Chester gives his mother a “Kissing Hand”

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Holes is a Newbery award winning RF text, written by Louis Sachar. This text is a gripping mystery with comedic elements that keep the pages turning. The story is about Stanley Yelnats, a 14year old boy cursed with bad luck. He is mistakenly arrested for stealing shoes and shipped off to camp for punishment. Stanley thought camp would be like in the movies with a pool and friends and other fun amenities. He is sadly mistaken when

#UCFLae3414F17 Last Stop on Market Street is a Caldecott and Newbery award winning RF text, written by Matt De La Pena. The story tells of a boy and his nana who are taking the bus. The boy keeps asking why they don‘t have certain things and why they must ride the bus. Nana always found the bright side and made what they had seem great. The story ends when they get off the bus to volunteer at a soup kitchen, making CJ feel grateful. This story

#UCFLAE3414F17 Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type is a Caldecott award winning F text, written by Doreen Cronin. The story is about cows that get a type writer and begin sending letters to the farmer. All through the farm you hear “Click, Clack, Moo, Click, Clack, Moo” and the cows begin sending their demands. Eventually the cows get what they want, but the ducks take the typewriter and the madness begins again. This text is a perfect RT or RA.

#UCFLae3414F17 She Persisted is a collection of biographies written by Chelsea Clinton. The book details the trials and tribulations of many historically significant women, like Helen Keller, Clara Lemlich, and Oprah Winfrey. The story is beautifully depicted and inspires women and all people to keep going to be persistent and to accomplish great things that may have never been done before. The book is a great RA, SR, and GR.

I would use ESOL 4

#UCFLae3414F17 Flora and the Ostrich is a RF book by Molly Idle. It is one of many Flora books. The rest of the series is just pictures with no text, this one is different. This book uses Flora to depict opposites, usually between her and the Ostrich. It is a cute and engaging picture book, with many flip pages that show the Ostrich doing the opposite of whatever Flora is doing. This book would be great for RA‘s and CR.

I would use ESOL 9 and

#UCFLae3414F17 The Giving Tree is a Poetry book written by Shel Silverstein. The Giving Tree is about a boy and a tree. The boy loves the tree and plays on the tree and this makes the tree happy. As the boy grows up he needs more than just a play place and the tree gives him everything she can to make him happy. The more she gives the less she has and eventually she is just a stump. The boy, now a man, tells the tree that all he needs is a quiet

#UCFLae3414F17 Panda Kindergarten is a NF text by Joanne Ryder. The book is a factual depiction of the birth and growth of a panda cub. It is filled with facts about the life of the panda bears and how they grow and change and eventually become full grown panda bears. It has a narrative style to it and unfolds in chronological order. It uses pictures to help the reader fully understand the life cycle of a panda bear. This text would be great for

#UCFLae3414F17 Six Dots is a biography, written by Jen Bryant. It tells the story of Louis Braille a young boy who lost his sight, but not his yearning to read and write. The story explains how hard it was for Louis to read and how they had to redefine the Braille system many times before he perfected it. It is a great read that incorporates English, French, and Braille and will definitely inspire your students.
I would use ESOL strategies 6 & 12.

#UCFLae3414F17 Wonder is a heartwarming page turner written by R.J. Palacio. This RF text tells the story of young Auggie Pullman‘s transition from homeschooling to a real classroom. August has a physical facial deformity, he lives with his mom, dad, sister and dog. The reader follows August as he makes real friendships, while dealing with bullies and constant weird looks. The author varies the viewpoint and allows the reader to see the story from

#UCFLae3414F17 Oh No! Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World is a SF text written by Mac Barnett. This story is about a girl who builds a robot for the science fair. Unfortunately, her robot takes off and begins to destroy the town. She thinks about the things she should and shouldn‘t have installed as she tries to stop the robot.

I would utilize ESOL strategy 44 and have students practice predicting and summarizing the story. The text is

#UCFLae3413F17 Charlotte‘s Web is a classic story about friendship and loyalty. This MF text was written by E.B. White. This beloved story is about a girl named Fern who helps save Wilbur, the runt of the latest piglet liter, and a clever spider named Charlotte. Fern saves Wilbur from her father and eventually helps Wilbur become famous and beloved by all.

This book would make a terrific LC, IR, and some parts would make great DR‘s. I would

#UCFLae3414F17 Strega Nona is a TL text that received a Caldecott seal, it was written by Tommie dePaola. Strega Nona is an old woman who helps heal the townspeople with potions and concoctions. She has a magical pot that makes her pasta when she sings a certain tune. Her helper, Big Anthony, tells the town about her pot and tries to impress the townspeople by using the pot by himself. He doesn‘t understand how it works and ends up covering the

#UCFLAE3414F17 One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia is a historical fiction text that has won the Newbery Award, Coretta Scott King Award, Scott O‘Dell Award, and was a National Book Award Finalist. The story follows three sisters as they reunite with the mother that abandoned them.