I chose five favorite titles that I have used
multiple times with high success in the classroom. All of these books are
titles that I consistently share in my workshops, and I hear back from teachers
that they have gone on to successfully share these books in their own
classrooms.
Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins (Candlewick,
2011)
This book introduces students to a huge variety of endangered and extinct
animals. With some creatures, like the tiger, a rich array of details are
provided about the animal, including reasons for its vulnerable status.
Heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. And the illustrations are
breathtaking.
Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,
2009)
encountered half of the large animals living in the sea? Explore various layers
of the ocean as Jenkins takes us on a journey farther and farther into the
deep. This is a slow read aloud that requires frequent stops to explore more
details in the back pages or further sources. This book leaves students
spellbound and wanting to learn more.
Eye to Eye: How Animals See The World by Steve Jenkins (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,
2014)
So much to learn about in this book: how sight has evolved, how different kinds
of vision work, and page after page of unique and incredibly interesting facts
about specific animal eyes. Students love comparing information about each
animal’s actual size, the size of its eyes, and how the way it sees impacts its
perception of the world.
Pink is for Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfectly Pink Animals by Jess Keating (Knopf, 2016)
This title
features a plethora of pink creatures from around the world and includes wild
and wacky facts about each one. Every page features specific information under
these headings: Name,
Species name, Size, Diet, Habitat, and Predators and threats. The consistent organization
makes this an easy title for students to navigate, and the handsome cover model
is a magnet for curious readers.
Tooth by Tooth: Comparing Fangs, Tusks, and Chompers by Sara Levine (Millbrook Press/Lerner, 2016)
This title is a fantastic resource in the elementary classroom, featuring fun
and interactive read aloud with interesting guess and find out questions and answers. What would you be if your top canine teeth
grew almost all the way down to your feet? Get the book and find out!
Carrie Gelson has taught Grades
2-5 for the last 22 years in Vancouver B.C. She is passionate about all things
literacy and building a community of readers in her classroom. Carrie blogs
about books and education on her blog There’s a Book
for That and can be found on twitter at @CarrieGelson. Carrie
particularly loves talking about nonfiction books and how to bring more
interactive and engaging nonfiction read-alouds into our weekly routines.
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