Literature Circle Favorites
Picture books:
Barrett, Judi. 1982. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
This is a vividly imaginative book about the town of Chewandswallow where food falls from the sky at mealtime.
Bunting, Eve. 2001. The Days of Summer. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
This is a touching story about a divorce among grandparents. The girl in the story learns new words while she adjusts to her new life.
Cooney, Barbara. 1985. Miss Rumphius. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
Remembering to always leave the world a better place is the lesson Miss Rumphius wants all children to know and what she learned in this story of her life.
Hoffman, Mary. 1991. Amazing Grace. New York, NY: Dial Books.
This is a story about a young African American girl named Grace who loves stories. When she wants to star in the school play of “Peter Pan”, she is told she can’t because she is a girl and African American. Grace is ready to prove them all wrong.
Howland, Naomi. 2004. Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
The mother of a poor family receives a magic pan with specific instructions to make latkes for her family to celebrate Chanukah. When her sons misuse it they learn many valuable lessons.
Leighton, Maxinne Rhea. 1992. An Ellis Island Christmas. New York, NY: Viking.
A book about a family’s journey from Poland to the United States arriving just in time to celebrate Christmas in their new home.
Pfister, Marcus. 1992. The Rainbow Fish. New York, NY: North-South Books.
A beautiful fish learns to the value of friendship and sharing in this classic children’s tale.
Polacco, Patricia. 1990. Thunder Cake. New York, NY: The Putnam Berkley Group, Inc.
This story is about a girl who is scared of storms. On a stormy summer day, she makes thunder cake with her grandma and without realizing she is able to overcome her fears.
Rylant, Cynthia. 1996. The Old Woman Who Named Things. Orlando, Fl: Harcourt Books.
An old woman has lost so many friends that she decides she will only name things that she knows she can outlive. It’s a funny story with a deep meaning.
Seuss, Dr. 1971. The Lorax. New York, NY: Random House.
Dr. Seuss helps us learn to not be greedy or take too much from the environment in this fun and rhyming book.
Silverstein, Shel. 1964.The Giving Tree. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
This book tells the story of a boy and his best friend a tree. When he grows up and leaves the tree is always there for him when he needs anything.
Soto, Gary. 1993. Too Many Tamales. New York, NY: Putnam.
A little girl wants to help her mother make tamales for the family to celebrate Christmas. When her mother’s ring comes up missing all the children become involved in the search to find it.
Chapter Books:
Atwater, Richard and Florence. 1938. Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
Mr. Popper’s love for the Antarctica leads to the arrival of a penguin. When the expense of the penguins gets to great the Poppers train the penguins and take a show of the road.
Blume, Judy. 1971. Freckle Juice. New York, NY: Yearling.
This book is about a young boy who is willing to do just about anything to get freckles like his friend.
Bulla, Clyde Robert. 1987. The Chalkbox Kid. New York, NY: Random House.
Moving to a new school can be hard and it’s no different for Gregory. Fortunately, he is able to find an empty building and create a beautiful garden but not all the kids would see it that way.
Catling, Patrick Skene. 1979. The Chocolate Touch. New York, NY: Harper Trophy.
John Midas loves chocolate. After receiving the “chocolate touch” he learns that there may be such thing as too much chocolate.
Clearly, Beverly. 2006. Ramona Quimby, Age 8. New York, NY: Avon Books.
Ramona is an 8 year old who wants to fit in at school. Because her dad is going back to school there are extra stresses put on the family and sometimes Ramona sometimes doesn’t get enough attention.
Clearly, Beverly. 2000. The Mouse and the Motorcycle. New York, NY: Harper Trophy.
When a mouse and a boy meet in a hotel room it seems like the most unlikely friendship. Together they learn about what a true friend is.
Dahl, Roald. 1988. Fantastic Mr. Fox. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
This book is about a clever fox that outwits three farmers to get food for his family.
dePaola, Tomie. 1999. 26 Fairmount Avenue. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
This is a true story about the childhood of the famous author Tomie dePaola. It is about the struggles of building a new house and moving on.
Estes, Eleanor. 1994. The Hundred Dresses. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Company.
In this book, the popular girls pick on a poor girl until she moves away. It is then the girls learn to treat people with respect.
Gardiner, John Reynolds. 1980. Stone Fox. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Little Willy’s determination to save the family farm and his grandfather make this adventurous book great for literature circles.
Barrett, Judi. 1982. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
This is a vividly imaginative book about the town of Chewandswallow where food falls from the sky at mealtime.
Bunting, Eve. 2001. The Days of Summer. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
This is a touching story about a divorce among grandparents. The girl in the story learns new words while she adjusts to her new life.
Cooney, Barbara. 1985. Miss Rumphius. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
Remembering to always leave the world a better place is the lesson Miss Rumphius wants all children to know and what she learned in this story of her life.
Hoffman, Mary. 1991. Amazing Grace. New York, NY: Dial Books.
This is a story about a young African American girl named Grace who loves stories. When she wants to star in the school play of “Peter Pan”, she is told she can’t because she is a girl and African American. Grace is ready to prove them all wrong.
Howland, Naomi. 2004. Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
The mother of a poor family receives a magic pan with specific instructions to make latkes for her family to celebrate Chanukah. When her sons misuse it they learn many valuable lessons.
Leighton, Maxinne Rhea. 1992. An Ellis Island Christmas. New York, NY: Viking.
A book about a family’s journey from Poland to the United States arriving just in time to celebrate Christmas in their new home.
Pfister, Marcus. 1992. The Rainbow Fish. New York, NY: North-South Books.
A beautiful fish learns to the value of friendship and sharing in this classic children’s tale.
Polacco, Patricia. 1990. Thunder Cake. New York, NY: The Putnam Berkley Group, Inc.
This story is about a girl who is scared of storms. On a stormy summer day, she makes thunder cake with her grandma and without realizing she is able to overcome her fears.
Rylant, Cynthia. 1996. The Old Woman Who Named Things. Orlando, Fl: Harcourt Books.
An old woman has lost so many friends that she decides she will only name things that she knows she can outlive. It’s a funny story with a deep meaning.
Seuss, Dr. 1971. The Lorax. New York, NY: Random House.
Dr. Seuss helps us learn to not be greedy or take too much from the environment in this fun and rhyming book.
Silverstein, Shel. 1964.The Giving Tree. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
This book tells the story of a boy and his best friend a tree. When he grows up and leaves the tree is always there for him when he needs anything.
Soto, Gary. 1993. Too Many Tamales. New York, NY: Putnam.
A little girl wants to help her mother make tamales for the family to celebrate Christmas. When her mother’s ring comes up missing all the children become involved in the search to find it.
Chapter Books:
Atwater, Richard and Florence. 1938. Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
Mr. Popper’s love for the Antarctica leads to the arrival of a penguin. When the expense of the penguins gets to great the Poppers train the penguins and take a show of the road.
Blume, Judy. 1971. Freckle Juice. New York, NY: Yearling.
This book is about a young boy who is willing to do just about anything to get freckles like his friend.
Bulla, Clyde Robert. 1987. The Chalkbox Kid. New York, NY: Random House.
Moving to a new school can be hard and it’s no different for Gregory. Fortunately, he is able to find an empty building and create a beautiful garden but not all the kids would see it that way.
Catling, Patrick Skene. 1979. The Chocolate Touch. New York, NY: Harper Trophy.
John Midas loves chocolate. After receiving the “chocolate touch” he learns that there may be such thing as too much chocolate.
Clearly, Beverly. 2006. Ramona Quimby, Age 8. New York, NY: Avon Books.
Ramona is an 8 year old who wants to fit in at school. Because her dad is going back to school there are extra stresses put on the family and sometimes Ramona sometimes doesn’t get enough attention.
Clearly, Beverly. 2000. The Mouse and the Motorcycle. New York, NY: Harper Trophy.
When a mouse and a boy meet in a hotel room it seems like the most unlikely friendship. Together they learn about what a true friend is.
Dahl, Roald. 1988. Fantastic Mr. Fox. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
This book is about a clever fox that outwits three farmers to get food for his family.
dePaola, Tomie. 1999. 26 Fairmount Avenue. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
This is a true story about the childhood of the famous author Tomie dePaola. It is about the struggles of building a new house and moving on.
Estes, Eleanor. 1994. The Hundred Dresses. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Company.
In this book, the popular girls pick on a poor girl until she moves away. It is then the girls learn to treat people with respect.
Gardiner, John Reynolds. 1980. Stone Fox. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Little Willy’s determination to save the family farm and his grandfather make this adventurous book great for literature circles.
