Teacher Resources 1.R.3.2 (Analysis) Students can identify similarities and differences in text written by the same author. By: Camie Johnson

Eric Carle is an incredible artist and well as an author who focuses most of his books on his love for nature. He writes his books in attempts that children will learn something new about the world around them as they are reading. He is a very well known author and artist and his books can be recognized by all. All of Eric’s books focus on different topics. Students can read the book, and then be surprised to find out that it was written by an author they already knew – he just wrote about something different and used different styles of writing! Eric Carle Website

Pancakes, Pancakes (1970) Jack, the main character, wakes up and wants pancakes for breakfast. His mother explains that she needs supplies from the different animals on the farm – wheat field for wheat, chickens for eggs, milk from the cow, etc. This can help students learn where items come from as well as letting them see order.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969) This story follows the life cycle of a caterpillar. From a single egg, to a caterpillar, to the cocoon, to a butterfly. It can be an introductory for students when it comes to healthy, and not so healthy foods. This will help students learn about lifecycles of animals, as well as interest them with the great pictures provided.

1,2,3, To The Zoo (1968) Counting and recognizing numbers with objects can be a tough feat for kids. This book combines animals you may find at the zoo, with a corresponding number. For instance, you might see 5 birds, and so there will be 5 birds on the page that the kids can actually “see” and understand where that number came from. This can show students a way they can understand letters and solve math problems better – drawing pictures/objects

The Tiny Seed (1970) Following the life cycle of a seed – blowing through the air, landing on the earth, stretching it’s roots into the ground, and growing into a beautiful flower, and then starting over again. This is a great intro to life science. Not only does it follow the progress of the seed, but it also goes through the seasons as well, so students can start to understand that in the winter seeds don’t grow; however in the spring they do.

Do You Want To Be My Friend (1971) This is a great book for friendship with students. A mouse goes around asking other animals if they will be his friend – they all deny him until he meets another mouse like him. The animals he meets on the way are unfriendly to him, and hurt his feelings. This is a great way for students to talk about what good friends do to each other, how they act, and what they say and that simply being nice to a friend can go a long way. Everyone has feelings – and this book reminds students that.

Tedd Arnold has a number of different books with a number of different topics, from super heroes, frogs, bathtubs and beds, his books are sure to captivate your students and the stories he wants to tell. He adds humor and real life lessons in his stories make it ideal for kids to learn from. Tedd Arnold Website

Green Wilma (1998) This book is about a girl who turns into a frog! She starts to eat flies at school, causes mischief and chaos, as well as shocks her parents when she gets home! Your students will be laughing at this book as well as trying to guess what could be next.

No Jumping On The Bed (1996) Kids love jumping on the bed! This book has a boy who jumps on the bed, but falls through the floor and lands in different people’s apartments! This could have you starting a discussion about how each choice that we make has consequences – such as falling through the floor!

No More Water In The Tub (1998) This is a continuation of the “No Jumping On The Bed” book, except instead of falling through the floor, the boy fills the bathtub too high and floats down through the building – bumping into some of the same people from the previous book. This is a great way to introduce making a sequel to a book that they can make. Explains to them that they can go off of ideas from a previous book with the same characters is a great way to get them excited about reading and writing.

Huggly Goes Camping (2003) Huggly goes camping and on a great adventure! This book will help your students make “lists” of what they could bring on trips, as well as figure out problems to tough circumstances – in this book, Huggly wants to know how he could get back home if he has to go through the cave and a big brown bear lives in there! This is a great interactive book for students.

Buzz Boy and Fly Guy (2010) Younger children love the idea of superheroes – this is just the book for them. Buzz boy and Fly Guy wake up one morning to discover they are superhero's with superpowers. Their brain happens to be the best superpower that they could have. A great way for children to be excited about writing again, knowing they can create books that are “make believe” as well as encourage them to keep learning because your brain is so important!

Barbara Parks is the author of the Junie B. Jones series. Kids love these books, as they are funny, and actually have thoughts in them that your young readers will be thinking of. These books are great books to introduce to students when they are starting to make the transition from picture books to chapter books – and an exciting start at that! Junie B. Jones Website

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (1992) Remember when school use to be scary to students? They might remember their first day of school and how nervous and scared they were. This is the perfect book for them. It covers the ideas of meanies on the bus, ad well as trying to fix problems that surround you and your friends.

Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth (1993) Do you have students who yell out in your classroom? This book is just for them. Junie B. Jones “shoots of her mouth” while in kindergarten, and gets in trouble for it. And soon, she realizes that shooting off her mouth to those around her, get her in trouble and don’t make her seem very nice to her friends.

Junie B. Jones and that Meany Jim’s Birthday (1996) One of the hardest things for kids to go through is if they are not invited to a birthday party that all of the other students in her class are. It makes them feel like they are not important – and this book does a great job of helping kids through that rough time. Your students wonder if maybe they should not invite that person to their party so that it’s “fair”, or if they should be the bigger person, and invite them anyways.

Junie B. Jones Has A Monster Under Her Bed (1997) Monsters under the bed and in the closet is a common complain for younger children. This book reminds your students that monsters don’t exist – but they are not the only person who thinks that they do!

Junie B. Jones is a Party Animal (1997) Sleepover parties are so exciting for younger kids – you can stay up with your friends all night, eat junk food, and have a great time. Junie B. is staying over at her Nana’s house, and she can’t wait to see all the cool things at her house.

All of these books teach great lessons to your students. Since authors right numbers of different books, your students will be able to compare, and contrast them. Different topics and different types of books keep your students interested in what they are reading. Summary: