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Stinky

Stinky

By Eleanor Davis 40 pages Children

Danny Says

Fun read aloud. Kids enjoy hearing about a swamp monster who tries to scare away a boy – only to wind up becoming his friend.
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The Journey That Saved Curious George

The Journey That Saved Curious George

By Louise Borden 80 pages Children

Danny Says

I cannot believe it took me so long to recommend this wonderful book, which I just recommended to a couple of my mentors. The true story of Jews Margret and H.A. Rey (creators of Curious George) fleeing Paris in 1940 from Nazi invasion. Makes a wonderful writing prompt for children, as the world would have never known Curious George if they had not escaped. My writing prompt: who did not escape – the person with the cure for cancer, the world’s most-gifted ballerina or perhaps the inventor of a microphone for NFL referees that actually works? 
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Splendiferous Christmas

Splendiferous Christmas

By Jane O'Connor 32 pages Children

Danny Says

Teaching students tricks to enhance their vocabularies is one of my specialties, and one of my favorite series of books for all ages are O’Connor’s wonderful (and highly successful) Fancy Nancy books (with terrific illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser). I felt like I had to include at least one holiday book on this month’s list.
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What Color Is Your Underwear?

What Color Is Your Underwear?

By Sam Lloyd 16 pages Children

Danny Says

This may not win any great literary awards, but my own kids ask me to read this book to them every night so they can see the silly pictures of animals wearing different types of underwear (and one elephant who left his at home).
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Beyond Old MacDonald

Beyond Old MacDonald

By Charley Hoce 32 pages Children

Danny Says

Nothing gets kids reading more, in my opinion, than short, funny poems. This book is a hilarious collection of farm poems filled with puns, idioms and homophones. Kids will delight in the silly rhymes and fun illustrations by Eugenie Fernandes, while parents and teachers will appreciate Hoce’s play with language and stimulating vocabulary.
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Waddle!

Waddle!

By Rufus Butler Seder 12 pages Children

Danny Says

Have you checked out Seder’s scanimation books (he also wrote Gallop! And Swing!)? These are totally cool, and kids and adults alike delight in optical illusions that make animals appear to be in motion. A “fireworks” book that produces plenty of “ooos” and “ahhs” from young readers.
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An Apple Pie for Dinner

An Apple Pie for Dinner

By Susan Vanhecke 32 pages Children

Danny Says

What a simply wonderful story about an elderly woman who wants to bake an apple pie but has no apples. She has plums, though, so she loads them in a basket and embarks on an adventure of trades that leads to a terrific lesson in sharing and kindness. This is one of my favorite books to read to my own children.
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The Dot

The Dot

By Peter H. Reynolds 32 pages Children

Danny Says

It amazes me that this is one of my favorite books of all time, I recommend it all around the country and until now I have failed to include it as one of my monthly book picks. An outrage! BUY THIS BOOK. This is one of the simplest, most powerful stories I have ever had the pleasure of sharing with children. The message is simple: we are all artists. I think every teacher should read this book to see the potential in every child. Simply magical.
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The Lion & the Mouse

The Lion & the Mouse

By Jerry Pinkney 40 pages Children

Danny Says

After being a Caldecott Medal bridesmaid five times, Pinkney finally earned a long overdue Caldecott Medal for this beautifully illustrated retelling of an Aesop Fable. Congratulations, Jerry – you are a role model to so many aspiring illustrators. My students love it when I read Pinkney’s books and share stories about how he became an artist. Truly inspiring.
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Octopus Hug

Octopus Hug

By Laurence Pringle 32 pages Children

Danny Says

This book shows dads how to be silly with their kids. Also, February is Black History Month, and I greatly appreciate illustrator Kate Salley Palmer’s refreshing depiction of a playful African-American father (I am sick of books that insist on making ethnicity the central point to every story with minority characters). This is a book all families can enjoy. 
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You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

By Jonah Winter 40 pages Children

Danny Says

I am a huge fan of Sandy Koufax (read Jane Leavey’s terrific biography on the Dodger icon). This book is such an easy sell with boys. Andre Carrilho’s illustrations add so much, as young readers are treated to seeing Koufax’s perfect pitching motion.
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Daft Bat

Daft Bat

By Jeanne Willis,Tony Ross 24 pages Children

Danny Says

Jeanne Willis always makes me laugh, and Tony Ross always provides Willis with fabulous illustrations. Funny how everything looks different when you’re upside down.
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Yip! Snap! Yap!

Yip! Snap! Yap!

By Charles Fuge 24 pages Children

Danny Says

Looking for an interactive read aloud that is sure to delight young children? Go no further. Kids love participating in the sound effects of Fuge’s simple story with fun illustrations.
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Bad Luck Bridesmaid: The Complicated Life of Claudia Cristina Cortez

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: The Complicated Life of Claudia Cristina Cortez

By Diana G Gallagher 88 pages Children

Danny Says

Another title in the popular Complicated Life of Claudia Cristina Cortez series that is great at building reading confidence for third graders starting chapter books. The books are all teacher-friendly, with discussion questions, writing prompts and helpful illustrations by Brann Garvey that make these books ideal candidates for Readers’ Theatre.  
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Letters To A Soldier

Letters To A Soldier

By David Falvey 32 pages Children

Danny Says

Hutt organized her fourth graders to write letters to Lt. Falvey while he was deployed to Iraq, and this book includes the kids’ letters and pictures, as well as Falvey’s responses and photographs. I use this book to inspire students to write.
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