Transportation

Sub-Category 1:    Bus

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	School Bus	Donald Crews	K-3rd	Harper Trophy; Reissue edition:  August 26, 1993	This Bright Yellow School Bus goes on its everyday routine.  The readers can fill in blanks to create a story of their own.	I'd use this book to spawn creativity and explain schedules to children.
	Here Comes A Bus	Harriet Ziefert/ Richard Brown	PreK-2nd	Putnam Juvenile; Board edition:  July 22, 2002	A guessing book on Buses.  Not only a school bus exists but travel buses and this bus is on it's way to the zoo.	With is book the children could take turns guessing what bus is coming next.
	Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus	Mo Willems	PreK=2nd	Hyperion Press:  April 1, 2003	A lesson learning book about why a pigeon (child) should not be allowed to drive a bus.  The pigeon displays aggravation when not getting his way.  Just a fun book.	This book would help children see themselves getting into trouble and relate with the behavior.  An enjoyable read for introducing buses.
	Wheels on the Bus	Raffi, Sylvie Wickstrom	PreK-2nd	Crown Books for Young Readers; Board edition:  January 20, 1998	The bus takes its route and picks up passengers.  Interacting flip pages allows for learning and fun.	I'd bring singing about buses into this lesson with this book.
	Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus	Barbara Park/ Denise Brunkus	K-4th	Random House Books for Young Readers:  July 28, 1992	The main character encounters a new realm of events on her first day of kindergarten, and wants more than ever to not ride the bus.	I'd read aloud this entertaining chapter book because it lets children know how silly some of their fears are of buses and first days.
	The Wheels on the Bus	Paul O. Zelinsky	PreK-4th	New York:  Dutton's Children's Books, c1990	The bus is interactive with all of its pages and is a run off of the classic song.	Children could touch and feel the books movement.

Sub-Category 2:    Airplanes

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	Where is Coco Going?	Sloane Tanen/ Stefan Hagen	All Grades	Bloomsbury, New York and London: c2004	When Coco sets out on this journey, she takes many types of transportation but finally an airplane takes her to her destination.	The children could pick up on travel and how a plane is fun and could take them to their grandparents house.
	The Airport	Stuart A. Kallen	K-3rd	Checkerboard Books:  March 1997	The scenes occurring in an airport and what kind of organization is going on in the everyday workings.	I like this kind of detail because it informs children of the inter makes of an airport.
	We're Going on an Airplane:  Steve Augarde's Interactive Pop-Up Book	Steve Augarde	PreK-2nd	Handprint Books; Lift flap edition:  June 1, 2003	This book involves the children in learning parts of the airplane.	This book might be good for an individual lesson if there was a fear of how an airplane works.  Flights don't have to be scary.
	Richard Scarry's A Day at the Airport	Richard Scarry	K-4th	Random House Books for Young Readers:  April 24, 2001	The Richard Scarry bunch takes a field trip to an airport and explain all the great sites they see.	I'd tell the students about the set-up and design of an airport with this book.
	All Aboard Airplanes	Frank Evans/ George Guzzi	K-4th	Grosset & Dunlap:  May 4, 1994	Having dreams of flying, well this book takes the students aboard.	This book helps me teach flying and about airplanes.
	How Do Airplanes Fly?  A Book About Airplanes	Mevin Berger, Gilda Berger/ Paul Babb	K-4th	Ideals Publications:  December 1, 2001	A history of flight and suited for a young audience  Not too much detail. It  talks about questions children might have.	This book might be brought up for a lesson on a simple explanation on why airplanes fly.

Sub-Category 3:    Trains

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	Dinosaur Train	John Steven Gurney	K-4th	Harper Collins:  September 1, 2002	This picture books opens the mind into an exciting train ride.  The little boy interacts with all sorts of dinosaurs.	I'd use this to inspire children to be excited about reading.
	William and the Night Train	Mij Kelly/ Alison Jay	K-4th	Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR):  March 21, 2001	William the little boy doesn't want to sleep but this train ride lulls him off.  The adventure is smooth and full of energy at the same time.	A good nap time story.  Otherwise it explains train rides and who travel goes by quicker when sleeping.
	I Love Trains!	Philemon Sturges/ Shari Halpem	PreK-2nd	Harper Collins; 1st edition:  May 1, 2001	This story makes trains out to be the best.  The train extends throughout the whole book and uses rhyming text.	It teaches a love for trains and a grasp on short words.  Also what rides on a train.
	Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo	Kevin Lewis/ Daniel Kirk	PreK-2nd	Hyperion; 1st edition: May 20, 1999	Another rhyming picture book helps teach kids to love trains.  What and how a train works.	In the classroom this book helps create organization and working together.
	Freight Train Board Book	Donald Crews	K-4th	Greenwillow; Board edition: September 20, 1996	A book on trains that is labeled to inform children of colors and location.   Also a sense of speed and the train goes through the book, it constantly speeds up.	This helps teach colors and direction.  Reinforcing basic skills.
	Inside Freight Train	Donald Crews	K-3rd	HarperFestival;  Board edition: January 31, 2001	An interactive childrens' book that allows them to open up the freight carts and see what is inside.	I like this one because of the flipping pages.  The children like to be involved in stories and guess what is behind the doors.

Sub-Category 4:    Cars and Trucks

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	Zoom, Zoom, Zoom	Richard Courtney	K-4th	Grosset & Dunlap:  April 23, 2001	A story about a little boy picking his favorite car but it is too hard.  The story has lots of names of cars and pictures.	This story is easy to relate to for the children and understand the types and how they have different names.
	Trucks Giants of the Highway	Ken Robbins	K-4th	Atheneum:  September 1, 1999	Truckers on the road traveling across the country.  It informs about the parts of the 18-wheelers.	A good lesson on truck drivers and maybe what makes up the pieces.  Am I going to have any future truck drivers?
	Seymour Simon's Book of Trucks	Seymore Simon	K-4th	Harper Collins; 1st edition: February 29, 2000	Real Photos display true images of the trucks. Each photo has good comparisons to something the children can relate to.  Like the weight being equal to a dinosaur.	This book helps explain concepts of size and how dangerous a big truck can be.
	Trucks Trucks Trucks	Peter Sis	PreK-2nd	Greenwillow; 1st edition:  April 30, 1999	A simple description book for younger children.  It explains how trucks operates.  Also it is about a little boy doing what most little children have to do and that is clean their room.	This engaging picture book can assist me in teaching the importance of cleaning, imagination and how trucks work.
	Delivery	Anastasia Suen/ Wade Zahares	K-4th	Puffin; reprint edition:  November 12, 2001	This book goes into work vehicles and how goods are transported along them.  The easily written text reaches children and doesn't overwhelm them.	It goes along with importance of the consumer products getting distributed, like do you  know how we get our foreign goods, Children?
	Sleep Cadillac: A Bedtime Drive	Thacher Hurd	5th-8th	Harper Collins:  May 10, 2005	An inspiring book for children to dream and how anything is possible while they dream.  The story address the children directly.	This book could pull questions out like:  Can cars fly and what did the little child dream?
	Cars and Trucks and Things That Go	Richard Scarry	K-4th	Golden Books; 1st Book Club edition:  June 1, 1998	This book addresses not only cars and trucks but a concept of a road trip and how busy the streets can be.	This introduces a variety possible encounters on a road trip.  It helps produce good questions and work on the children's listening skills.
	Bunnies on the Go: Getting from Place to Place	Rick Walton/ Paige Miglio	PreK-2nd	Harper Collins:  February 1, 2003	Another road trip but with a bunny family that takes many different types of transportation.  The story has blanks for the children to make predictions about what kind of vehicle is next.	I like stories that leave blanks for the children to make predictions.  It helps me create critical thinkers.
	Cool Cars	Seymour Simon	1st-4th	Seastar Books:  January 1, 2004	This is a brief history of cars.  The real photos give the students a chance to see the real thing.	This would help demonstrate time and how long ago the first automobiles were invented.

Sub-Category 5:    Motorcycles

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	Lucky Chuck	Beverly Cleary/ J. Winslow Higginbottom	PreK-3rd	Harper Collins; Reissue edition:  March 28, 1984	Chuck doesn't follow the safety rules and runs into trouble with an officer, who sets him strait.	A big issue of safety is addressed in this book and I find it to come in handy for explaining it to children through an exciting story.
	Motorcycles	Lee Sullivan Hill	K-4th	Lerner Publications:  February 1, 2004	It gives a detailed description of motorcycles and real photos.  Tells about the functions of how they work.	Good detail  book for children who like to see how things run and allows for learning experience.
	The Little Motorcycle	Edward C. Link/ Jim Serfass	K-4th	Trafford Publishing:  November 1, 2003	The cute characters display a real experience of road racing for children to relate to.	This story justs brings a topic about something children like to their level.  I find character stories to be easily remembered.
	Big Wheelie Books: Motorcycle	DK Publishing	PreK-3rd	DK Children; Board edition:  September 15, 1999	The good photographs display real detail and allow children to touch and feel the parts of a motorcycle.	I find these kinds of books to come in handy for a hands on learner because to the shape and feel.
	Mega Book of Motorcycles	Lynne Gibbs	4th-8th	Chrysalis Books:  September 1, 2003	Lots of detailed facts and history over any motorcycle type.  The fun facts and internet links set this book apart.	Any story that incorporates technology is awesome.  Also, it has really neat pictures for the children to investigate.
	The Mouse and the Motorcycle	Bevery Cleary/ Paul O. Zelinsky	K-4th	New York: W. Morrow, c1982	The story is an adventure of the mouse and how he goes to school and is like a real student.	I like Beverly Cleary.  Her stories introduce good morals in exciting ways. Like how the mouse is a peacemaker.

Books of Common Thread Project
By Teri Barton

Community

Sub-Category 1:    Strangers

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	Not Everyone is Nice	Frederick Alimonti, Ann Tedesco/Erik Deprince, Jessica Volinski	K-4th	New Horizon Press: October 1, 2003	The characters encounter situations with strangers and the cautious route is informed.	In this story I could explain methods for children to take when coming in contact with strangers.
	Stranger Safety	Pati Myers Gross	PreK-4th	Roo Publications: June 1, 1996	The characters are kangaroos and they are described by their names.  The define a stranger and tell/show how strangers come in all shapes, colors, and sizes.	A good read-a-loud story because the characters make it interesting.  Could also go into info about author because she once was an officer.
	Who Is a Stranger and What Should I Do?	Linda Walvoord Girard	K-4th	Albert Whitman & Company; Reprint edition: April 1, 1993	This goes into detail about how to deal with strangers in different places like cars, telephones, and public places.	The topics covered are safety and strangers, the pictures give a nice picture of what to do.
	The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers	Stan Berenstain	K-5th	Random House Books for Young Readers; Bk&Cassatt edition: October 12, 1986	The Papa Bear explains the matter of strangers to the little bears.  And the Mama Bear like usual helps make it more realistic.	A good awareness book for children, not only on stranger safety but the privacy of their bodys.  These lovable bears ease into difficult subjects.
	Never Talk To Strangers	Irma Joyce/S.D. Schindler	PreK-3rd	Golden Books: February 15, 2000	This story presents a rule:  Never talk to strangers.  The camel with its bony knees is comical.	This story puts a laugh on learning how to deal with strangers and I think children would stay interested.

 

Sub-Category 2:    Police

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	Police-Community Relations and the Administration of Justice	Ronald D. Hunter, Thomas Barker, Pamela D, Mayhall	All Grades	Prentice Hall; 6 edition: February 13, 2003	This book covers many topics such as public relations and community control. It gives large credit to the community lending a helping hand.	This is a book to use as an example of how the police function along with a community.  Pick a chapter that goes along with a lesson or issue.
	Keeping You Safe: A Book About Police Officers	Ann Owen/Eric Thomas	PreK-3rd	Picture Window Books: September 1, 2003	The characters define and explain what a police officer does to keep the community safe.	This simple informative book of police officers tells children what they do and I think it has cute illustrations with its explanations.
	Hall Monitor	Annie Auerbach/Mark O'Hare	K-5th	Simon Spotlight: November 1, 2000	SpongeBob SquarePants reports for duty as the hall monitor way beyond the school grounds and teaches his neighbors about safety.	This exciting tale teaches the children about different types of police officers.  Like a hall monitor and how they have the best interest at heart.
	Police Officers  (In My Neighborhood)	Paulette Bourgeois/Kim Lafave	K-4th	Kids Can Press: March 1, 2000	It covers community workers as well as police officers and their duties. A fictional story begins the book catching the children's interest.	Not only am I getting the police in the community but also other workers with this story. It could be used multiple times.
	Police on Patrol	Annie Auerbach/Jesus Redondo, Ivan & Moxo	PreK-2nd	Little Simon; 1st edition: July 1, 2003	An interactive squad car chase.  The story lets the children be a hero of the city.	An easy read to explain what all is in a police officers day.

 

Sub-Category 3:    Hospital

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	When Molly Was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children	Debbie Duncan/Nina Ollikainen	K-4th	Rayve Productions Inc: December 1, 1994	The sister goes through the process of having her younger sister be in the hospital.  The sister blames herself and also helps in the recover stage.	This story helps children in the same situation feel better about themselves and realize how to handle it.
	Going to the hospital	Anne Civardi, Michelle Bates/Stephen Cartwright	PreK-2nd	Educational Development Corporation; Rev edition: June 1, 2000	A first experince of going to the hospital is made easier after having it explained the little boy realizes.	Another good series of stories to introduce getting sick and dealing with going to the hospital.
	Franklin Goes To The Hospital	Paulette Bourgeois/Brenda Clark	K-4th	Scholastic Paperbacks: March 1, 2000	Through all the bumps and bruises Franklin got he was always a brave turtle.	This story approaches children from an every day visit to the doctor.  All the colds and tummy aches.
	Curious George Goes to the Hospital	H.A. and Margret Rey	K-4th	Houghton Mifflin: March 15, 1966	This curious monkey investigates the hospital and shows the children and inside look.	The children all like curious George because he is always up to mischief. They would definitely listen to the information.
	Katie Goes to the Hospital	Barbara Taylor Cork	K-4th	Peter Bedrick; 1 edition: May 23, 2002	The little girl experiences a case of anxiety about and ear operation but her parents, teachers, and friends reassure that it is fine.	This story will help explain hospitals and make them aware of situations.
	Keeping You Healthy: A Book About Doctors	Ann Owen/Eric Thomas	PreK-3rd	Picture Window Books: September 1, 2003	This informative book about doctors allows children to not fear the medical place.	I could read this story with a student having anxiety about keeping themselves healthy.

 

Sub-Category 4:    School

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	Going to School	Anne Civardi/Stephen Cartwright	PreK-4th	Usborne Books; Rev&Updtd edition: January 1, 2005	First school experiences are tough and scarry, the children find an understanding and overcome fear.	This story could cover what to expect with going to school.
	Will I Have a Friend?	Miriam Cohen/Lillian Hoban	PreK-2nd	Aladdin; Reprint edition: August 31, 1989	What child doesn't ask this question, the little boy consults his father and doesn't see the answer until nap time when he finds a kid with the same question.	This is a good first day of school book to read in order to assure the students about making friends.
	My Teacher's My Friend	P.K. Hallinan	1st-5th	Ideals Publications: September 1, 2001	The child explains how his teacher is more than just a teacher, she is his friend.	Students must understand a teacher is there to teach but also to listen and be a friend.
	Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten	Joseph Slate/Ashley Wolff	K-5th	Puffin; Reprint edition: July 9, 2001	Students find great comfort in Miss Bindergarten's classroom.  It explodes with excitement and learning.	This book helps prepare for the first day of school but also with the alphabet.  Her 26 students represent letters in the alphabet.
	Amanda Pig, School Girl	Jean Van Leeuwen/Ann Schweninger	K-4th	Puffin Books: July 1999	Amanda Pig expresses her excitement about starting school.  She tells everyone "School is fun!"  This pig enjoys learning.	This story tells students to be excited about school and not fear it.
	Amber Brown Goes Fourth	Paula Danziger/Tony Ross	4th-7th	Scholastic Paperbacks; Reissue edition: October 1, 1996	Amber Brown faces the challenges of going back to school with divorced parents and her best friend moving.  Will she recover?	This story opens the doors to many children's hearts because so many of todays children face divorce and moving way to often.

Sub-Category 5:    Church

Book Cover	Title	Author/ Illustrator	Grade	Copyright/ Publisher	Abstract	Reflection
	A Peek into My Church	Wendy Goody, Veronica Kelly/Ginny Pruitt	K-4th	Whippersnapper: March 1, 1999	These engaging illustrations explain the catholic religion so children will understand.	A peek into this religion will show children a broader perpective.
	Little Acts of Grace	Rosemarie Gortler, Donna Piscitelli/Mimi Sternhagen	K-4th	Our Sunday Visitor: March 1, 2002	The book ask the question about how "you" love.  Showing little acts of grace are demonstrated by actions of the little children learning.	I like this story because it focuses more on how important love is and that there are differences in showing it.
	Enid and the Church Fire	Cynthia G. Williams/Betty Harper	PreK-3rd	Broadman & Holman Publishers: September 1, 1999	Enid tries to understand and figue out what really happened.  The story tells about what might be or might not be an accident	This religious story confronts a bit of racism.  How a church should be a place of free worship and choices.
	The Log Cabin Church	Ellen Howard/Ronald Himler	K-4th	Holiday House: September 1, 2002	These full page illustrations give great detail in to the Michigan homesteads and how a church is a great symbol of fellowship and family.	I could use this story to inform about the settings of church and also use it in a history lesson about the older days.
	The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity	Jennie Bishop	1st-5th	Warner Press: July 1, 2000	The princess was born into the world loved by all and her parents were proud of the gift given as a child and when she was old enough to understand, they bestowed upon her the gift of purity.	This story explains how everyone is born free of sin into the world. A story to tell about good and bad and how every students gets a gift and choice.
	Grandpa Blows His Penny Whistle Until the Angels Sing	Susan L. Roth	PreK-4th	Barefoot Books: February 1, 2001	A defiant boy tries explaining his reasons for not wanting to go to church and the grandpa opens his eyes to songs of angels.	Many children don't want and/or understand going to church, so this story explains what can come out of sitting through that hour.
	Does God Have A Big Toe? Stories about Stories in the Bible	Marc Gellman/Oscar De Mejo	3rd-5th	Harper Trophy; Reprint edition: October 30, 1993	An easy understand book about stories from the Old Testament.  The collections are humorous and educate children about how life all started.	I like to teach a variety of methods for how it all began and this book does it in a way to not offend many.