For the last two years, my
colleague, Valerie Glueck, and I have coordinated a March Madness Nonfiction
Picture Book reading event in our school. We decided to center our celebration
around nonfiction, as we felt it was a neglected genre in classroom read
alouds.
The goal of this event is to inspire
curiosity, to build background knowledge, and to put outstanding nonfiction
books in the hands of our students. March Madness has grown into a
collaborative event for our entire school community that culminates in
school-wide assembly (complete with a soundtrack and spotlights!) to announce
the winner. It’s hard to capture in words the energy and excitement about books
that March Madness has created in our literacy community.
curiosity, to build background knowledge, and to put outstanding nonfiction
books in the hands of our students. March Madness has grown into a
collaborative event for our entire school community that culminates in
school-wide assembly (complete with a soundtrack and spotlights!) to announce
the winner. It’s hard to capture in words the energy and excitement about books
that March Madness has created in our literacy community.
Just as Pernille Ripp spends an
entire year searching for books for her Global Read Aloud project, Valerie and
I are fortunate to spend the year searching for nonfiction read alouds that we
want to include in our tournament. Although there will be sixteen outstanding
books in our bracket, here are five of my favorite expository nonfiction
contenders for this year’s celebration.
entire year searching for books for her Global Read Aloud project, Valerie and
I are fortunate to spend the year searching for nonfiction read alouds that we
want to include in our tournament. Although there will be sixteen outstanding
books in our bracket, here are five of my favorite expository nonfiction
contenders for this year’s celebration.
Can An Aardvark Bark? by Melissa Stewart (Beach Lane/Simon
& Schuster, 2017)
& Schuster, 2017)
Students at Williams Elementary
School are fans of Melissa Stewart and Steve Jenkins, so there’s no doubt that Can
an Aardvark Bark? will be a favorite in this year’s tournament. Readers
will explore similarities and differences in animal sounds through this
engaging text. In addition to the repeating question and answer format,
Stewart’s captivating facts are well-paired with Jenkins incredible
illustrations. This book will inspire curious readers of all ages to ask their
own questions.
School are fans of Melissa Stewart and Steve Jenkins, so there’s no doubt that Can
an Aardvark Bark? will be a favorite in this year’s tournament. Readers
will explore similarities and differences in animal sounds through this
engaging text. In addition to the repeating question and answer format,
Stewart’s captivating facts are well-paired with Jenkins incredible
illustrations. This book will inspire curious readers of all ages to ask their
own questions.
Give Bees A Chance by Bethany Barton (Viking/Penguin
Random House, 2017)
Random House, 2017)
We love reading aloud books that
arm students with facts while encouraging them to reflect on their opinions. Give
Bees A Chance will stretch students’ thinking about bees and hopefully
encourage them to reflect on the positive aspects of this hard-to-love insect.
The narrator of this text is hilarious and persuasive as he presents facts
about types of bees, the history of bees, and the role of bees in transporting
pollen in order to convince his best friend of the many reasons to appreciate
bees.
arm students with facts while encouraging them to reflect on their opinions. Give
Bees A Chance will stretch students’ thinking about bees and hopefully
encourage them to reflect on the positive aspects of this hard-to-love insect.
The narrator of this text is hilarious and persuasive as he presents facts
about types of bees, the history of bees, and the role of bees in transporting
pollen in order to convince his best friend of the many reasons to appreciate
bees.
Grand Canyon by Jason Chin (Roaring
Book/Macmillan, 2017)
Book/Macmillan, 2017)
Jason Chin will take our readers on
a journey through the breathtaking Grand Canyon, introducing rock layers,
plants, animals and the layers of the canyon in this beautifully illustrated
text. Written with incredible descriptions and details, the book also
compares the Grand Canyon from millions of years ago to today’s magnificent
landform. Not to be missed are the endpapers and extensive backmatter. Readers
will want to spend lots of time poring over the details and incredible
illustrations in this book, which makes it an outstanding March Madness
contender and nonfiction mentor text.
a journey through the breathtaking Grand Canyon, introducing rock layers,
plants, animals and the layers of the canyon in this beautifully illustrated
text. Written with incredible descriptions and details, the book also
compares the Grand Canyon from millions of years ago to today’s magnificent
landform. Not to be missed are the endpapers and extensive backmatter. Readers
will want to spend lots of time poring over the details and incredible
illustrations in this book, which makes it an outstanding March Madness
contender and nonfiction mentor text.
If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams (Roaring Book/Macmillan,
2017)
2017)
It’s important to share books that
inspire students to ask “What if…” If Sharks Disappeared confronts the
impact of the loss of sharks on the ocean, animals across the planet, and even
humans. Lily Williams presents her argument through an adorable narrator who
shares information about sharks, food chains, and balanced ecosystems. This
book will be great to pair in the bracket with the narrative nonfiction title Shark
Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless
Scientist by Jess Keating.
inspire students to ask “What if…” If Sharks Disappeared confronts the
impact of the loss of sharks on the ocean, animals across the planet, and even
humans. Lily Williams presents her argument through an adorable narrator who
shares information about sharks, food chains, and balanced ecosystems. This
book will be great to pair in the bracket with the narrative nonfiction title Shark
Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless
Scientist by Jess Keating.
What Makes a Monster? Discoveringthe World’s Scariest Creatures by Jess Keating (Knopf, 2017)
It’s going to be tough to beat Pink
is for Blobfish, our 2016 March Madness winner. Students will be thrilled
to explore Jess Keating’s newest collection of monsters found in nature. The
layout of this book is supportive with headings to catch the reader’s
attention, sidebars with organized information about each monster, and fact
boxes containing captivating facts. Just as students loved Pink is for
Blobfish, I know they will be excited to investigate shocking facts about
monsters from all around the world as they determine for themselves what really
makes a monster.
Our March
Madness bracket always includes biographies, as well as nonfiction about
inventions, important events, or famous landmarks. Books that expose students to rarely
discussed animals, people, and places often make the best read aloud
selections. The final result of our reading tournament is more than a book
champion. March Madness has energized our teachers to value informational texts
as powerful read alouds to share with our students. Most of all, it has
fostered curiosity about our world in our readers and connected our school
community around a shared love of nonfiction books.
Madness bracket always includes biographies, as well as nonfiction about
inventions, important events, or famous landmarks. Books that expose students to rarely
discussed animals, people, and places often make the best read aloud
selections. The final result of our reading tournament is more than a book
champion. March Madness has energized our teachers to value informational texts
as powerful read alouds to share with our students. Most of all, it has
fostered curiosity about our world in our readers and connected our school
community around a shared love of nonfiction books.
Shelly Moody is a literacy coach supporting teachers and students in grades
K-5 in Oakland, Maine. She taught third, fourth, and fifth grade for fifteen
years before moving into her coaching role three years ago. In 2011, she
was honored to be named Maine’s Teacher of the Year.
K-5 in Oakland, Maine. She taught third, fourth, and fifth grade for fifteen
years before moving into her coaching role three years ago. In 2011, she
was honored to be named Maine’s Teacher of the Year.
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