Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet

This new title is an intricate look into the life and career of famed author E.B. White. The biography is full of outstanding text features for students to explore. The amount of photographs of the authors life really helps readers to identify with the authors simple life growing up and his family life as an adult. There are also copies of the E.B. White's journal pages and original drafts of writing that shows his edits and revisions. Original sketches from the creation of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little are included. This book truly highlights the creativity and the laborious but exciting process all good writers go through in creating their work. This would be an excellent text for teaching multiple aspects of writing instruction. It is also an excellent mentor text to teach text features for reading instruction. Melissa Sweet has created another masterpiece of a biography!

Author's Website

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy

This new picture book biography of Ruth Bader Ginsberg is astoundingly captivating! This is an excellent book for teaching the authors purpose. There are several words that are formatted differently on almost all the pages. This can lend itself  to modeling and discussing author's purpose example of author's purpose. The book is eloquently written with exceptional word choice and descriptive language.  The illustrator does an amazing job of drawing Ruth Bader Ginsberg. You will find actual photos and a more in depth factual biography in the back. There are many important life lessons to be learned from reading this book. Students learn the importance of education, determination, bravery, staying true to yourself, and lastly respecting yourself and others. I would highly recommend this for all students!! It will be of particular interest to students that enjoy a strong female role models, historical books and biographies. I can not recommend this book highly enough! It is an Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book for outstanding nonfiction for children. The author website attached has a helpful curriculum guide attached as well. 

Author's Website

The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson

This story written by Jackie Robinson's daughter is based on the true story of a baseball legend moving in next door to one of his biggest fans. The book follows the life of a little boy named Stephen who is complete baseball fanatic and more importantly a Brooklyn Dodgers fan living in Brooklyn at the time Jackie Robinson was playing for the Dodgers. Stephen has his share of difficulties at school due to his lack of academic focus, and increase focus on pranks and silly jokes. Students will easily identify with this main character. Much to Stephens surprise, his real life hero moves in right next door to him and an endearing friendship begins. Jackie teaches Stephen how to remain calm and stand up to bullies in a peaceful way. This is an heart warming book that I would recommend for students grades 4 and up who are interested in a book about real life heroes. The author has many other book regarding discrimination and life of her father that can be found on her website Author Website

Growing up Pedro by Matt Tavares

Matt Tavares is an accomplished author who has written several picture book biographies about hall of fame baseball players who happen to also have been Red Sox players. However this one was slightly different and I really enjoyed the extra dimension to the book. I consider myself a rather dedicataed Red Sox fan and baseball fan but still managed to learn some new facts through this book. While this book is primarily about the life and career of the famed Pedro Martinez is, it also has information about the life and career of his brother, Ramon. You will learn about their childhood together and how they each came up through the MLB system. The illustrations are gorgeous and the attention to detail is impeccable. One of my favorite photos clearly illustrates the difference in hand position for various pitches. This is an excellent book for a biography mentor text. There are direct quotes from Pedro, a timeline, bibliography, as well as a stats table chart for Pedro's career. It' a must read for springtime baseball season!
Author Website
A  list of excellent picture book biographies by topic Picture Book Biographies

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Ghost is one of the best realistic fiction books I have read in a long time. It is written with authentic and intriguing dialogue that keeps the reader interested and amused. The main character Castle is nothing short of awe inspiring and genuine. Castle endures an early childhood that is terrifying but is only described enough to create background and setting. The strength and resilience that is shown through the main character provides many life lessons for a young reader to learn from. Castle ends up joining a local running team and creates a friendship instantly with the coach and his teammates. Students will be gripped from the chapter titles, the genuine dialogue, and fascinating characters and the themes of bravery, friendship, honesty, and loyalty. This book would particularly appeal to students interested in athletics but is ultimately easy for any student to relate to. This is an absolute must read!! It was a National Book Award Finalist for 2016 and it's not hard to tell why.  I have somehow missed this acclaimed authors previous books but will be adding them to my summer reading. I would recommend this for 5th and 6th grade students. This book is a standout among the crowds of books about children athletes! Video of the author acceptance speech for being a finalist for The National Book Award Author Website

The Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough

This book deals with the themes of courage and kindness during a tragic time in world history. The setting is the french countryside during the German Occupation in World War 11. The main character, Marcel has a passion for cycling. He follows the Tour de France every  year and dreams of one day competing in it. Marcel's passion for cycling creates a bond with the new mysterious student in town. Through the pages of this book Marcel and Delphine develop a unique friendship. They learn to appreciate not only each others similarities but also their differences. Delphine shows Marcel that competitiveness and courage can come from a girl just as easily as from a boy. Marcel shows Delphine that kindness can be come from people and places when you least expect it. This book is a historical fiction mystery. There are many twists and turns to keep up with. The setting is created beautifully by the author's choice of words. Lastly the characters are easy to relate to and well developed. This is a sure page turned. I highly recommend this book for 4th and 5th graders looking for either a mystery or a historical context.  Authors Website Review of the book by children's book blog

How to Speak Dolphin by Ginny Rorby

How to Speak Dolphin

This book brings to the surface topics about acceptance within a community, school, and family. The main character Lily is a tenacious girl who struggles to find her place in her family after losing her mother and being left to live with her stepfather Don and younger brother Adam who is autistic. Lily spends a great deal of time with her brother who loves dolphin. Lily thinks Adam seems to communicate better with the dolphins off the coast of Florida than with his own family. Author Ginny Rorby has created some complex and compassionate characters in this book. She also addresses family, community and environmental issues that many readers themselves with grapple with at some point in life. I would recommend this book for students grades 4-6 who enjoy reading realistic fiction books that deal with family, friendship and of course dolphins!

 

 

 

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—Lily has little time for friends or activities since her life seems to revolve around her half-brother, Adam, who has autism. Life has not been easy. Her stepfather, Don, doesn't acknowledge that Adam needs to attend a special school, and Lily has yet to get over the grief of losing her mother in a car accident two years ago. When Don, an oncologist, receives a call about assisting with a young dolphin who has cancer, he eagerly agrees to help. Adam has a strong attachment to dolphins, and Don thinks this will be the panacea to cure all his troubles. Adam quickly bonds with the dolphin Nori, but Lily begins to suspect that life in captivity in a marine mammal park is not the best scenario for Nori. Rorby paints a vivid picture of life with a child with autism and the struggles a family can face. VERDICT This book will raise questions about the ethics of marine life attractions and leave readers rooting for Lily, an appealing narrator.—Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY

The author has written other notable books that are appropriate for grades 5-8

 

 

 

Authors Website