Fiction

Balliett, B. (2004). Chasing Vermeer. Illus.B. Helquist. New York: Scholastic.
I want to use this book in my classroom because it integrates math and teaches concepts so that students can solve the mystery of the stolen painting. This book is very creative and might spark an interest in students to study art history. This book is appropriate for middle and high school grades. I would use this book in an Art History class and have students create stories about their favorite artist.

Non-Fiction Informational

Finley, C. (1998). Art of the Far North: Inuit Sculpture, Drawing, and Printmaking. Minneapolis: Lerner. I like this book because it explores different disciplines of art (sculpture, drawing, and printmaking) and a culture that creates the Inuit style of art. This book introduces the readers to different cultures and expands their appreciation and awareness of multicultural art. It is appropriate for high school and middle school grades. I would use this book in a Social Studies to explore different culture. Art History classes can analyze the artworks and Visual Art classes can learn the process of art making.

Non-Fiction Informational

Rubin, S. G. (2004). Art Against the Odds: From Slave Quilts to Prison Paintings. New York: Crown Publishers. I like this book because it so different than the traditional stories of western art painting and drawing. This book explains and shows different ways that a lot of self-taught artists created artwork. The book shows how troubled individuals used art to help themselves and others. I think a lot of students can relate to this book at some point. I would use this book in an Art History class to show the various types of people who create art. This book is geared for middle school and high school students.

Non-Fiction Informational

Gilbert, G., with Fehl, P. (2006). Career Opportunities in Photography. New York: Checkmark Books. This sounds like a great book and worth checking out because it introduces students to different occupations that they can pursue in the vast field of photography. It allows the students to see what others do in their particular aspect: whether students want to explore the business side or leisure side. I will use this book in my Visual Art class to show what students can do with a major in Photography. This book is geared for middle and high school grades to inspire them to continue with photography.

Non-Fiction Biography

Romare Bearden : Collages of Memories ( by Jan Greenburg, 2003) Once again, this book introduces other media (collage) to my students. This book shares the trials and tribulations that Bearden encountered being a black man at the time of the Harlem Renaissance and the meanings behind his work. This book is geared for ages 6-10 years. This book contains beautiful illustrations that spans from all points of Romare Bearden's career. Although the book is appropriate for elementary grades, I would use this in my Visual Art class as a resource for multimedia projects.

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

Non-Fiction Biography

Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist (2003) by Jan Greeberg, Sandra Greenberg, Sandra Jordan, Sandra Jane Jordan. (Random House Children's Books)This is an excellent book that has won numerous awards. It contains reproductions of Van Gogh’s impressive career. It shares his biography of his troubled childhood and life as well as explains the meanings and style of his art. The book follows Van Gogh's life in chronological order and contains letters to his brother, Theo. This book is appropriate for middle and high school students. I would use this book in an Art History course to show examples of the Impressionists.

Poetry

Rochelle, B. (Selector). (2001). Words with Wings: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art. This book pairs poems with expressive artwork. I really liked this quote by Rochelle “Poems are word wings, wings made out of words.” “But we must help give the poems and art their wings by bringing to them our own experiences and histories, and our willingness to let them take us somewhere new” (Introduction, unpaged). This is a great way to have students express themselves! I will definitely have this book as a resource in my art classroom. This book is appropriate for middle and high school students. I would use this book in an English course to create poetry. Visual Art classes could use this book to help illustrate their poems.

Poetry

Brenner, B. (Selector). (2000). Voices: Poetry and Art from Around the World. New York: National Geographic. This book shows how students can take the descriptive words from poems selected from different cultures and create a sense of geography. Students are able to compare and contrast different styles that are evident between various cultures, countries, and regions. This is another great way to incorporate other cultures and engage students to appreciate others’ heritages. Voices: Poetry and Art from Around the World is appropriate for middle and high school grades. Social Studies, English, and Visual Art classes can use this book to incorporate geography, poetry, and illustrations.

Poetry

Angelou, M. (1993). Life Doesn’t Frighten me. Paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat, edited by Sara Jane Boyers. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang.
Maya Angelou’s strong poem is complemented by Basquiat’s paintings. This is a neat way to share two different ways of expressing oneself: through words and visual art. Angelou’s and Basquiat’s biographies are shared in this book. This book is appropriate for middle and high school ages. English courses and Art History courses can use this book. English classes can appreciate the descriptive words Angelou has created and Art History classes can analyze the paintings by Basquiat.

Fiction

Park, L.S. (2001). A Single Shard. New York: Dell Yearling. This book is a Newberry winner and integrates several different subjects all in one book. Students can learn about the Korean culture and traditions, historical periods, and ways to create different types of clay and build pottery. This book is appropriate for middle and high school students. A Single Shard can be utilized in an English, Social Studies, and Visual Art Classes. English classes can appreciate the words, Social Studies can appreciate the traditions and culture, and artists can appreciate the pottery.

The Pura Belpré Award

The Pura Belpre' Award is named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. Belpre' celebrated Latino/Latina culture and brought awareness to the public about different Latino/Latina traditions through her love of books and storytelling. The award is given every other year to the best narrator and to the best illustrator who celebrate the Latino/Latina culture and experiences. In 2009, however, they will begin giving out the award every year. This particular book won the American Library Association Notable Children's Books Award in 2006. Also in 2006, it was awarded the Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year. In 2008, the Pura Belpre' Award Medal was awarded for best Illustrator and the book received an Honor for the Author category.
In this story, scary creatures celebrate Halloween and Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Traditional symbols of Halloween and Day of the Dead are evident throughout this whimsical Children's Story. This story is intended for students of kindergarten through third grade.


Montes, M. & illustrated Morales,Y. (2006). Los Gatos Black on Halloween.New York, NY: Holt.

Batchelder Award

The Pull of the Ocean written by Jean-Claude Mourlevat and translated from the French by Y. Maudet. It was 2007's winner of the ALA Notable Children's Book and the 2007's Mildred L. Batchelder Award. The Batchelder Award is given to the best book written in a foreign language and translated into English. This story is about seven brothers and their journey as told through numerous narrators. Each chapter is told from someone else's point of view. Each brother narrates as well as a police officer, a social worker, a baker, a writer, etc... This story shows a strong bond through brotherhood. The book is geared towards fifth through eighth grade. This story is set in France and could easily be integrated into a Social Studies curriculum explaining the setting and culture of France. The students in an English Class could write a chapter from their own perspective that could be an addition to the book.

Mourlevat, J.tr. from French by Maudet.Y (2006). The Pull of the Ocean. New York, NY: Delacorte Books.

Children's Novel

The Whipping Boy, by Sid Fleischman is a Children's Novel and is a Newbery Honor Winner of 1986. In this novel, the main character, a street boy Jemmy, takes the "Prince Brat's" punishments when the prince misbehaves. Jemmy learns how to read and write when the prince was supposed to be learning. Some people mistake Jemmy for the prince because of his bravery. There is a good lesson to be learned from reading this novel. This book is intended for grades 3,4, and 5. This book can be incorporated into a Social Studies lesson by introducing the Middle Ages and castles.





Fleischman, S. (1986). The Whipping Boy. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Contemporary Realistic Fiction/ Children's Mystery Novel

The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin won the 1979 Newberry Award. The book is about Samuel Westing, a wealthy industrialist, who dies and leaves his fortune to one of the 16 individuals who work or live in the Sunset Towers. The 16 people are grouped into pairs and must answer the puzzle given the clues/riddles by Westing. The individuals must find who killed Samuel Westing. The book is appropriate for fifth grade and up. I remember reading this book in sixth grade and enjoyed the supsense of finding out who was the murderer! This book could be used in an English Class in discussing and analyzing the different parts of a story: plot, settings, characters, and summary.


Raskin, E. (1978). The Westing Game. New York, NY:Dutton.

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

This is one of the many adventures of Ramona Quimby. In this story, Ramona begins the third grade. This book was a Newberry Honor Book in 1982. Alan Tiegreen is the illustrator. This book is geared for ages 9-12. The book allows you to follow the journey of an eight year old. This book is also available in audio and would be fun to listen and follow along in an English class. A short story of the student's life could be written after reading this book. Students could write a brief excerpt of their life at age eight.

Cleary, B. (1981). Ramona Quimby, Age 8. New York, NY: Morrow.

Picture Books

Tar Beach is a wonderful Children's Picture Book that is written and illustrated by Faith Ringgold. This book won the 1992 Caldecott Honor Book and was the winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. Faith Ringgold shares the story of a young black girl with a vivid imagination who lives in Harlem set in 1939. She dreams of flying above the stars. This book is suited for all grade levels and can be introduced in an English Class. The students could create their own stories relating to their imaginations. Tar Beach can also be integrated into the Social Studies curriculum and students can learn what kind of environment Harlem was like in 1939. This book can also be introduced into an Art Class because of the beautiful illustrations and the fact that the author/illustrator is an artist!

Ringgold, F.(1991). Tar Beach. New York, NY. Crown Publishers.

Picture Books

Maurice Sendak is the author and illustrator of this Caldecott Winner and "Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year" for 1964. This book follows the imagination of a young boy (Max) after he is punished and sent to his room without supper for the night. The vivid colors complement Max's vivid imagination. This book is suitable for all grade levels and can be shared in Art Classes where students can create scenes from their imaginations. This story can also be integrated into the Creative Writing Classes.

Sendak, M. (1962). Where the Wilds Things Are. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

Picture Books

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales is written by Jon Scieszka & illustrated by Lane Smith. The New York Times rated it "Best Illustrated Book" and is a Caldecott Honor Winner in 1993. This is a very humorous book that puts a spin on the classic fairy tales. This book could be coupled with a creative writing assignment in an Enlish or Language Arts Class. This book is appropriate for all grade levels.

Scieszka, J. & Smith, L. (1992).The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. New York, NY: Viking Press.

Picture Books

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs is written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith. It is a fun parody of the classic Children's Story of the Three Little Pigs. Students will enjoy this humorous story told from the wolf's point of view. This story is appropriate for children of all ages. This book can be introduced in an English Class when explaining such vocabulary words like parody and satire.
Scieszka, J &Smith, L. (1989). The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.New York, NY: Viking Press.

Picture Books

The Polar Express is a Children's Picture Book. The book is illustrated and written by Chris Van Allsburg. Houghton Published the book in 1985. The book was a medal winner for the Caldecott Award in 1986. This book has exceptional pictures that help illustrate a young boy during Christmas. I could share these illustrations with my high school art classes and engage them in a class critique. This book is appropriate for any grade level and can be integrated with English classes.

Van Allsburg, C. (1985). The Polar Express. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.