3.+Literature+List

Literature List

Michelle Schwartz Books: Volcanoes! By National Geographic Kids This book is a leveled reader all about volcanoes. It is meant for readers who are on an independent reading level. It provides many nonfiction text features such as the table of contents. It could be read aloud to introduce the topic or independently.

El Libro da las Estaciones (A Book of Seasons) by Alice and Martin Provensen This book teaches about the different seasons in both English and Spanish. It is a good book to use when introducing how weather, which is a part of geography, affects the seasons. I also like that it is in both English and Spanish because it would be a good book to help your ELL students learn the names for the seasons.

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble This book is about a Native American girl who roamed free with wild horses. She loved to watch them throughout the day and took care of them when they were injured or needed assistance. She had a special connection with the wild horses and her tribe began to see that.

Follow That Map! By Scot Ritchie This book is a good way to introduce map skills to students. It is about the different features of a map and how to use maps to tell directions and to know your place in the world. It is more for a primary grades but it a good way to introduce the concepts of maps to a geography lesson.

Literature List Stacy Watkins //S is for Sunshine: A Florida Alphabet// Written by Carol Crane and Illustrated by Michael Glenn Monroe Using each letter of the alphabet, the author presents aspects of Floridian culture in rhyming verses. The sidebars feature additional details about each subject.

//Puzzle Maps U.S.A.// By Nancy L. Clouse Nancy creates images through collages of state shapes of varying sizes to get children to recognize the shapes of states. Students will not even realize they are learning as they try to identify which states are used in this fun and creative book.

//The United States// By John Baines This kid-friendly encyclopedia presents aspects of American life ranging such as food and farming; trade and industry; the landscape; and population.

//The Scrambled States of America// By Laurie Keller In this fantasy, the states come to life as they decide to mix things up a little. They soon find out they liked their original locations better.

Michelle Powiliatis __ Geography From A To Z: A Picture Glossary __  By: Jack Knowlton Pictures by: Harriett Barton <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">This book provides various geographical terms for each letter of the alphabet. Since students need to be taught content specific vocabulary, this is a great tool for exposing the kids to the elements of geography.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__ Blast Off To Earth __ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Written and Illustrated By: Loreen Leedy <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">This book is about aliens that visit Earth and learn about the different continents of the planet. They travel to each continent and learn about the people geographical features, climate, animals, and the people that live there.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__ Make it Work!: Maps __ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;"> By: Andrew Haslam <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">This book is about the aspects of mapmaking. It begins with a segment on being a mapmaker and looks into scales and grids. The book introduces information about three-dimensional maps, the globe, and surveying and measuring. The book even provides a glossary for the geographical vocabulary in the book so the students can look up the words they may not know.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__ Good Night World __ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;"> By: Adam Gamble and Cooper Kelly Illustrated by: Cooper Kelly <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">This is a book about the different places around the world. It takes place throughout the four seasons exploring the different places around the globe. Since it takes the form of a story, the students can read the book and learn the content at the same time. The book focuses on individual elements of the different locations and can be used as a read aloud to introduce the unit.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">Melissa Armstrong

Children of the Wild West by Russell Freedman

This book tells about everyday life for children of the wild west in the mid-1800s. The book is filled with photos of wild west children, families, schools, and more. Freedman includes material on Native American children, tribal life, and boarding schools, as well as on settler's lives.

Evening Meals Around the World by Michele Zurakowsky

Zurankowsky answers just one question; what do people around the world eat for dinner? This book provides information on the different types of food people eat around the world as well as other information pertaining to different cultures. Zurakowsky also includes a map map showing the places mentioned in the book, and a couple of recipes kids can make.

Wise Guy: The Life and Philosophy of Socrates by M.D. Usher

The "Wise Guy" is Socrates, and this book introduces kids to his life and thought. The author does a good job of expressing complicated ideas in a way kids can understand. The left side of the book is kid friendly biography information, while the right side the author includes historical records and the philosophy of Socrates. At the end of the book the author includes a list of people that Socrates influences which could further the lesson even more.

The Spirit of Tio Fernando by Janice Levy

Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other places on November 1 and 2.The story is told from the perspective of Nando. His uncle died six months ago, and Nando remembers him as his family prepares for Day of the dead. Levy tells the story following Nando and as he shops and for the holiday and seeks questions about life and death.

Kelsey Rapp

Literature List


 * 1) // 1. // // The United States Region by Region //

By: Patricia K. Kummer

This is a nonfiction book that introduces students to the five regions of the United States. The students learn about the climate, culture, history, landforms, and other distinctive features of each region.


 * 1) // 2. // // The Little Man In the Map: With Clues to Remember All 50 States //

By: Andrew Martonyi

This fiction book has a classroom of students trying to remember the 50 states. A magical man appears and takes them across the United States teaching them about the different regions. He gives clues to connect the states, explain their shapes, or tell a story to remember their names and locations.


 * 1) // 3. // // Across This Land: A Regional Geography of the United States and Canada //

By: John C. Hudson

This book is excellent for teachers wanting to learn more about the regions of the United States before they teach it. The book talks about the facts of each region, its characteristics, and politics.


 * 1) // 4. // // Wilderness Journey: the Life of William Clark //

By: William E. Foley

This biography is about William Clark who went with Lewis on a great expedition in the United States. It tells about his life and voyage. This book would be good for teachers to read and then use the information to present to the class (ex. Glog).