A Working Reading List for Catholic School Students

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A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO

KAY BURGESS

National Catholic Educational Association

A | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO

KAY BURGESS

National Catholic Educational Association Copyright©2012 by the National Catholic Educational Association, Arlington, VA. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or part in any form. Published in the United States of America by the National Catholic Educational Association.

ISBN 1-55833-499-8 Part No. CUR-22-1502 table of contents

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Faith 3

Chapter 2 Hope 9

Chapter 3 Love 15

Chapter 4 Community 21

Chapter 5 Justice 29

Chapter 6 Courage 35

Chapter 7 Reconciliation 41

Chapter 8 Service 47

Resources 53

About the Author 55 introduction

MANY YEARS AGO, when a little girl raised her hand and volunteered her Mother’s help in the school’s library my life changed. I began a journey through literature, filled with joy in reading and sharing an author’s words of faith, hope, and love of God with children. This journey has led me to creating and sharing a list of books containing virtuous themes woven throughout the author’s words.

Children are impressionable. They are influenced by what is read to them and what they read. Their world today is far more open to many things through TV, music, and the World Wide Web. Teachers experience this influence from the day a child arrives in Pre-Kindergarten. Parents are the first at helping a child on their journey of discovery. Parents and teachers can work together to offer children good literature as a counter balance to their modern day influences.

The reading list provides parents and teachers suggestions of present-day authors who have created characters that learn and grow, demonstrating God’s virtues of faith, hope, and love and the human virtues of justice, courage, forgiveness, and service. These are characters we would like children to emulate. Sharing and offering suggestions of authors who create good characters can open meaningful discussions among parent, child, and teacher.

Reading aloud and sharing books with children helps to bring the characters alive. Children can develop a deeper sense of values by hearing and reading the way a character struggles between good, evil, right, and wrong. Jesus, understanding the power of a good story, taught through parables. Parents and teachers can harness the power of the written word, guiding children to the best of the best in literature.

The list is a starting point for parents, teachers, and children. It can be expanded as readers discover their own virtuous stories. Stories can also often move into other categories. The important thing is to read quality literature. Children become what they see and hear.

I would like to dedicate the reading list to all the students who remember Tikki Tikki Tembo, The Five Chinese Brothers, The Giver, and many more books that I read aloud to them; Sister Mary Arthur Hoagland, IHM, for teaching and sharing so much of her knowledge about libraries and reading; and Sister Catherine Delores White, IHM, and Sister Edward William Quinn, IHM, for their support and belief in me. Thank you, also, to parents and teachers who will use the reading list to bring the awareness of virtue to all their children. Lastly, I am grateful to my husband and children for always being there for me and to my daughter, who raised her hand to begin my journey.

“To love means loving the unlovable, to forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” —G.K. Chesterton

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 1

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 3 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” —Hebrews 11.1

Angel in the Waters. Regina Doman. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2004. In its mother’s womb, a baby grows, explores the waters, and talks with the angel who is there.

Angels among Us. Leena Lane. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2007. Contains twelve illustrated stories of angels from the Old and New Testaments.

Becoming Me: A Story of Creation. Marty Boroson. London: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2011. In the beginning, God is alone and lonely and squeezes all things out of His very essence: plants, fish, insects, birds, animals, and finally a human fetus. Once born, the child soon forgets that he is part of God, although later in life, the author reminds readers, he may suddenly have a revelation that he is part of God, as is everything else, even war.

Caedmon’s Song. Ruth Ashby. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2006. Based on the true story of Caedmon, the seventh-century cowherd who became known as the first English poet.

Can You Find Saints? Introducing Your Child to Holy Men and Women. Philip D. Gallery. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2003. This book is a fascinating way to learn about the saints. The saints are grouped in specific categories, but the final search is “Saints in the Making” which gives the children a look at what it takes to become a modern day saint.

Child’s Guide to Baptism. Sue Stanton. New York: Paulist Press, 2006. We meet Anthony, a young boy whose baby brother is about to be baptized. Anthony eagerly invites the reader into his church and explains the importance of this once-in-a-lifetime sacrament.

Faith. Maya Ajmera. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2009. In our world there are many faiths. Celebrate faith around the world in its many expressions: praying, singing, learning, helping, caring, and more.

God Found Us You. Lisa Tawn Bergren. New York: Harper Collins, 2009. When Little Fox asks his mother to tell his favorite story, Mama Fox recounts the day he arrived in her life, from God to her arms.

4 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS Goodnight Angels. Melody Carlson. Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz, 2011. Rhyming text follows a child who is saying goodnight to everyone and everything, from friends to a toothbrush to Father God and the angels.

How Big is God? Lisa Tawn Bergren. New York: Harper Collins, 2008. With help from his mother, a little boy tries to understand the immensity of God.

Images of God for Young Children. Marie-Helene Delval. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2011. The Bible describes God in many different ways: God is light; God is joy; God is wisdom. God is the beauty that fills the earth and the rock we stand on, the promises we live by, and the fire that purifies us.

Jesus A to Z. Michael O’Neill McGrath. Franklin Park, IL: World Library, 2007. Colorful and inviting children’s ABC book combines delightful illustrations with alliterative and whimsical (yet appropriate) Scripture story allusions.

Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat. Jeanne Perego. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2008. Relates the life story of Joseph Ratzinger, later to be known as Pope Benedict XVI, from his birth in Germany in 1927 through his election as Pontiff in 2005, as told by his cat, Chico.

Keoni’s Big Question. Patti B. Ogden. Oregon, IL: Capstone Productions, 2008. A young boy who seeks answers about God’s presence in everyday life finds that a family friend held the key to his revelation all along.

The Littlest Mountain. Barbara Rosenstock. Minneapolis: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2011. Discusses how Mount Sinai was chosen as the site of the giving of the Ten Commandments.

Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons. Rob D. Walker. New York: The Blue Sky Press, 2009. Powerful life lessons spoken to a child, delivered with a mother’s immutable love. Stunning illustrations will leave readers breathless and deeply moved.

Many-Colored Blessings. Dandi Baley Mackall. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 2005. Depicts children giving thanks for a world filled with color.

Mighty Casey. James Preller. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2009. The epic poem “Casey at the Bat” is recast for the T-ball set with much hilarity; this time, Casey comes out a winner!

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 5 My Friend Rabbit. Eric Rohmann. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2002. When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand new airplane, trouble isn’t far behind. Rabbit means well but he is much bigger than Mouse and when he tries to launch the plane it ends up in a tree, too high to reach. Rabbit tells Mouse not to worry since he has an idea.

A Night Night Prayer. Marijan Ramljak. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2008. This bedtime book introduces thankfulness and prayer in an evening routine.

The Oak inside the Acorn. Max Lucado. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2006. A tiny acorn fulfills its destiny by becoming the tree God made it to be, and then it watches the little girl who climbs its branches grow up as well.

Papa’s Pastries. Charles Toscano. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zonderkidz, 2010. Miguel’s family needs a new roof, firewood, and clothing to survive the winter. Miguel hope his father, a pastry peddler, will sell enough tasty treats to buy the things they need. But all the villagers they meet have also endured great hardship, and Miguel’s father gives his pastries to those who need them most. Miguel feels heartbroken. Then something happens that teaches him that kindness is far more valuable than money.

The Purples Are Coming! Ilow and Sheri Roque. La Jolla, CA: Rock House Press, 2010. Thrilled at the alarm signaling the arrival of spring: “THE PURPLES ARE COMING!,” a humorous band of meadowland animal pals sets off on a most unusual journey not only to the little chapel by the pond to see the purples at the very peak of their bloom, but also to a wise old ram, Father Fred, to learn important lessons about prayer, apostleship, and the love of God.

The Snow Dog’s Journey. Loretta Krupinski. New York: Dutton Juvenile, 2010. One wintry day, two children build a dog out of snow, and they play with him and love him just as if he were real. That night, the icy Frost King spies the dog and decides to make him his own. Together, they travel far and wide, but in his heart Snow Dog knows that no one loves him like the children. So he sets out to find his way home.

The Song of Francis and the Animals. Pat Mora. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2005. Saint Francis of Assisi, friend to all creatures, sings with various animals.

The Stars Will Still Shine. Cynthia Rylant. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. In pictures and rhyming text, this verse reassures the reader that life’s familiar things, such as stars that shine and sleeping kittens, will continue as they always have.

Sunday is for God. Michael McGowan. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2010. A young boy describes the events and activities that make Sunday a special day.

6 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS Thank You, World. Alice B. McGinty. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2007. Eight children from eight different countries express their thanks for many special things including the sun that colors the sky, breezes that lift kites, clouds that paint cotton pictures and send rain, and sparkling stars that “shine like Mommy’s eyes.”

What Happens When I Talk to God: The Power of Prayer for Boys and Girls. Stormie Omartian. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2007. An introduction to prayer for young readers describes how God is always ready to listen to His children and suggests some topics and times for prayer.

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” —Proverbs 30.5 my books on faith

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 7

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 9 “And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.” —Psalm 39.7

All in a Day. Cynthia Rylant. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2009. Illustrations and rhyming text pay homage to a new day, with promises for the future in its “perfect piece of time.”

Armando and the Blue Tarp School. Edith Hope Fine; Judith Pinkerton Josephson. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2007. Armando and his father are trash-pickers in Tijuana, Mexico, but when Señor David brings his “school”--a blue tarp set down near the garbage dump--to their neighborhood, Armando’s father decides that he must attend classes and learn.

The Blue Stone. Jimmy Liao. London: Little, Brown Children, 2008. The story of a beautiful blue stone that undergoes many transformations before it finds its way home.

Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Mary Williams. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2005. Eight-year-old Garang, orphaned by a civil war in Sudan, finds the inner strength to help lead other boys as they trek hundreds of miles seeking safety in Ethiopia, then Kenya, and finally in the United States.

Buffalo Song. Joseph Bruchac. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2008. The story of the first efforts to save the vanishing bison (buffalo) herds from extinction in the United States in the 1870s and 1880s.

Butterflies under Our Hats. Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Brewster, Mass.: Paraclete Press, 2006. “Once there was a town called Chelm where there was no luck. If something could go wrong, it did. The roofs of the houses always leaked. The sidewalks were cracked. The gardens grew only weeds. Nothing was ever right.”

Circles of Hope. Karen Lynn Williams. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2005. When his sister is born, Facile wants to find just the right gift for her. Recalling how his father planted a mango tree for him, he decides to carry on the tradition and, after several fruitless attempts, seeks advice from villagers on how to “plant a tree that will grow strong.”

10 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS Clever Jack Takes the Cake. Candace Fleming. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2010. A poor boy named Jack struggles to deliver a birthday present worthy of the princess.

Dogku. Andrew Clements. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007. When a homeless dog shows up at the back door, a family takes him in, feeds and bathes him, and names him Mooch.

Giraffes Can’t Dance. Giles Andreae. London: Orchard, 2009. Stamp your feet and swing your arms - it’s time for the Jungle Dance!

Gleem and Glow. Eve Bunting. Bel Air, CA: Sandpiper, 2005. Based on the true experience of a Bosnian family forced to flee their country during the recent civil war. Eight-year-old Viktor watches as his father walks away to join the Liberation Army, and knows that soon he, his mother, and younger sister, Marina, will be forced to leave their home, just one step ahead of the approaching enemy forces.

Hope for Haiti. Jesse Joshua Watson. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2010. A young boy finds hope when he is given an old soccer ball to play with in the wake of Haiti’s devastating earthquake.

How to Heal a Broken Wing. Bob Graham. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2008. When Will finds a bird with a broken wing, he takes it home and cares for it, hoping in time it will be able to return to the sky.

I Can Be Anything. Jerry Spinelli. New York: Little Brown, 2010. A little boy ponders the many possible jobs in his future, from paper-plane folder and puppy-dog holder to mixing-bowl licker and tin-can kicker.

Little Rat Rides. Monika Bang-Campbell. Riverside, UT: Sandpiper, 2006. Little Rat can’t wait to ride a horse, just like her daddy did when he was young. But when it’s time for her first lesson, she almost changes her mind.

Loon Summer. Barbara Santucci. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2005. While spending the summer with her father, Rainie wishes her parents would stay together, just like the family of loons she sees on the lake.

A Max Lucado Children’s Treasury: A Child’s First Collection. Max Lucado. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, [2007]. Offers hope and encouragement to parents and children alike in a collection of stories, including “The Crippled Lamb,” “Jacob’s Gift,” “Just in Case You Ever Wonder,” and “The Way Home: A Princess Story.”

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 11 The Pied Piper’s Magic. Steven Kellogg. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009. An elf acquires from a miserable witch a magic pipe that allows him to transform things, including the mean-spirited Grand Duke who rules over a rat-infested town.

Running Shoes. Frederick Lipp. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2008. Sophy, a determined young girl living in an impoverished Cambodian village, fulfills her dream of going to school—with the help of a pair of running shoes.

A Song for Cambodia. Michelle Lord. New York: Lee & Low, 2008. The true story of Arn Chorn-Pond. It is heartbreaking, heartwarming, and inspirational somehow all rolled into one.

The South Wind: A Story of Best Friends. Les Hazen. Mustang, OK: Tate, 2009. A shifting southern wind transforms the life of an aging, solitary polar bear.

Take It to the Queen: A Tale of Hope. Josephine Nobisso. Westhampton Beach, NY: Gingerbread House, 2008. Although favored by their king, his charitable wife, and their peace-loving son, ungrateful villagers turn away and bring disaster upon themselves; then, when they have nothing left, repent, and ask the queen to intervene on their behalf.

“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” —Psalm 33.22

12 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS my books on hope

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 15 “He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4.8

The Biggest Snowman Ever. Steven Kroll. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2006. When the mayor of Mouseville announces a contest, Clayton and Desmond compete to win the prize for building the biggest snowman.

Grandma Calls Me Beautiful. Barbara M. Joosse. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2008. A Hawaiian grandmother tells her granddaughter a favorite story about how much she loves her.

Grandpa Green. Lane Smith. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2011. A child explores the ordinary life of his extraordinary great-grandfather, as expressed in his topiary garden.

The Hello, Goodbye Window. Norton Juster. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. Looking through the kitchen window, a little girl and her doting grandparents watch stars, play games, and, most importantly, say hello and goodbye.

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas: The Twenty-six Book of Their Adventures. Cynthia Rylant. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2005. When Henry and his dog, Mudge, go with Henry’s parents to visit Great-Grandpa Bill in the home with lots of other grandpas, they lead them all on a wonderful adventure.

The House in the Night. Susan Marie Swanson. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008. A spare, patterned text and glowing pictures explore the origins of light that make a house a home in this bedtime book for young children.

In My Heart. Molly Bang. New York: Little, Brown, 2005. Parents describe how their child is always in their hearts, no matter where they are or what they are doing.

I’ll follow the Moon. Stephanie Lisa Tara. Dallas, TX: Brown Books, 2006. Traces a baby sea turtle as she hatches from a nest underneath the sandy beach and digs her way up into the soft night.

I Will Hold You ’til You Sleep. Linda Zuckerman. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2006. A parent expresses undying love for a child.

16 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS I Will Not Read This Book. Cece Meng. Boston: Clarion Books, 2011. A child adamantly refuses to read a book, regardless of the increasingly outrageous circumstances that might occur.

Just in Case You Ever Wonder. Max Lucado. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2011. A parent tells a child how special she is, both to the parent and to God.

Little Pink Pup. Johanna Kerby. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2010. Pink, a piglet who is the runt of the litter, is adopted by Tink, a dachshund who is nursing a litter of her own. Pink is raised in the house along with the puppies.

Little White Rabbit. Kevin Henkes. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2011. As he hops along, a little rabbit wonders what it would be like to be green as grass, tall as fir trees, hard as rocks, and flutter like butterflies.

Love Waves. Rosemary Wells. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. While they are at work a mother and father send powerful “love waves” to their child at home, offering reassurance and comfort in their absence.

Memoirs of a Goldfish. Devin Scilian. Ann Arbor, MI. Sleeping Bear Press, 2010. A goldfish gives a personal account of his experiences while swimming around his bowl as it slowly fills with fish and other accessories, only to realize when he is relocated for a cleaning how much he misses them.

No Hugs till Saturday. Julie Downing. New York: Clarion Books, 2008. When Felix declares that there will be no hugs, snuggles, or super squeezes for a whole week, both he and his mama have a hard time.

Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep. Susan Lendroth. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press, 2008. In nineteenth-century New England, a young girl watches her baby brother learn to walk and talk while waiting for Papa’s return from the sea after he joins the China trade and sails to foreign lands.

Only One You. Linda Kranz. Flagstaff, AZ: Rising Moon, 2006. Adri promises to remember his parents’ words of wisdom about how to live his life, such as “Find your own way. You don’t have to follow the crowd” and “Make wishes on the stars in the nighttime sky.”

Papa Jethro. Deborah Bodin Cohen. Minneapolis, MN: Kar-Ben, 2007. When Rachel asks her Grandpa Nick why he is Christian when she is Jewish, he relates the biblical story of Jethro and his grandson Gershom, who loved one another very much despite their different religious beliefs.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 17 Puppy is Lost. Harriet Ziefert. Maplewood, NJ: Blue Apple Books, 2011. When Max’s dog Puppy gets lost, it is not until both Max and Puppy have the same idea that they finally find one another.

Sammy in the Sky. Barbara Walsh. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. A little girl tells about her special pet, Sammy, “the best hound dog in the whole world,” and how, after he becomes sick and dies, she comes to know the truth of her mother’s words, that Sammy’s spirit is everywhere.

Sometimes Smart is Good = A Veces es Bueno Ser Listo. Dena Luchsinger. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2007. While being smart and strong are useful traits, loving other people just because God made them is always good.

Sir Ryan’s Quest. Jason Deeble. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2009. After playing with his toy knights and castle, Ryan dons a saucepan helmet and embarks on an imaginary quest through the rooms of his house.

Someday. Alison McGhee. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007. A mother reflects on the all the milestones, from walking in a deep wood to holding someone else’s hand, that her child will achieve during life.

The Song of Francis. Tomie DePaola. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2009. Francis, the Little Poor One, is so filled with the love of God that he bursts into song, and is joined by birds of every color.

Thank to the Animals. Allen J. Sockabasin. Gardine, ME: Tilbury House, 2005. In 1900, during the Passamaquoddy winter migration in Maine, Baby Zoo Sap falls off the family bobsled and the forest animals, hearing his cries, gather to protect him until his father returns to find him.

Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You. Nancy Tillman. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2010. Children feel the reassuring love of their parents no matter where they go or what they do.

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.” —Psalm 18.1

18 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS my books on love

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 19 community 4

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 21 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. —1 Timothy 2.1-6

All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel. Dan Yaccarino. New York: Knopf, 2011. This is the story of four generations of an Italian American family. It begins with an immigrant who came through Ellis Island with big dreams, a small shovel, and his parents’ good advice: “Work hard, but remember to enjoy life, and never forget your family.”

All the World. Elizabeth Garton Scanlon. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2009. Pictures and rhyming text celebrate a family’s day spent going to the beach, shopping at the market, eating at a restaurant, and spending the evening with the rest of the extended family.

Bringing in the New Year. Grace Lin. New York: Knopf, 2008. This is a story about a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year. Each member of the family lends a hand as they sweep out the dust of the old year, hang decorations, and make dumplings. Then it’s time to put on new clothes and celebrate with family and friends.

Be My Neighbor. Maya Ajmera. Washington, DC: Shakti for Children; Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2004. This book contains a simple introduction to the characteristics of a neighborhood.

22 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS The Busiest Street in Town. Mara Rockliff. New York: Knopf, 2009. Agatha Walker does not want to live on the busiest street in town! Rushmore Boulevard is the busiest street in town—until Agatha May Walker decides to do something about it.

City Dog, Country Frog. Mo Willems. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2010. Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country he runs straight for Country Frog’s rock to play games with him, but during the winter things change for them both.

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin. Duncan Tonatiuh. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. Two cousins, one in Mexico and one in New York City, write to each other and learn that even though their daily lives differ, at heart the boys are very similar.

First Snow in the Woods. Carl R. Sams. Milford, MI: C. R. Sams II & J. Stoick, 2007. A traditional story about all the animals in the forest getting ready for hibernation and feeling the change of season coming.

Grandma’s Gift. Eric Velasquez. New York: Walker, 2010. The author describes Christmas at his grandmother’s apartment in Spanish Harlem the year she introduced him to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Diego Velazquez’s portrait of Juan de Pareja, which has had a profound and lasting effect on him.

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids. Carol McCloud. Northville, MI: Ferne Press, 2006. Through sweet, simple prose and vivid illustrations, this book encourages positive behavior as children see how very easy and rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation, and love on a daily basis.

Henry Aaron’s Dream. Matt Tavares. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2010. A picture book biography of African-American baseball player Hank Aaron.

Homer, the Library Cat. Reeve Lindbergh. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. A cat’s quiet life is disrupted one day when a window is broken, and after several frustrating attempts to find a suitable place, he winds up in the perfect spot.

Imogene’s Last Stand. Candace Fleming. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009. Young Imogene Tripp tries to save her town’s historical society from being demolished in order to build a shoelace factory. As a baby, Imogene’s first words were “Four score and seven years ago.” In preschool, she fingerpainted a map of the Oregon Trail. So it’s not surprising that when the mayor wants to tear down the long-neglected Liddleton Historical Society to make room for a shoelace factory, Imogene is desperate to convince the town how important its history is. But even though she rides through the streets in her Paul Revere costume shouting, “The bulldozers are coming, the bulldozers are coming!” the townspeople won’t budge. What’s a history-loving kid to do?

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 23 Jazz on a Saturday Night. Leo Dillon. New York: Blue Sky Press, 2007. Leo and Diane Dillon use bright colors and musical patterns that make music skip off the page in this toe-tapping homage to many jazz greats.

Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel. Leslie Connor. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Miss Bridie emigrates to America in 1856 and chooses to bring a shovel, which proves to be a useful tool throughout her life.

Neville. Norton Juster. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2011. A long road trip, depicted in a series of panels on the title page, sets the stage for this tender, funny story about moving, settling down, and starting over. A boy and his family move to a new town. He worries about all of the troubles of relocation, especially being lonely, and his mother sends him out into the neighborhood to find new friends.

Niwechihaw – I Help. Dale Nicholsond. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2008. Story is in Cree and English and explores a young child’s relationship to his grandmother, or kôkhom, as they go for a walk in the woods to pick rosehips.

One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference. Katie Smith Milway. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press, 2008. Based on a true story, a poor Ghanaian boy buys a chicken through a community loan program, which eventually helps lift him, his mother, and his community out of poverty.

One Little Chicken. Elka Weber. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press, 2011. Weber retells a story in the Talmud about a family that cares for a lost chicken, turning its eggs into a profit which they later give to its owner.

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II. Lita Judge. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. The author describes her family’s efforts to help their friends and others who were left homeless and hungry in the aftermath of World War II.

A Picnic in October. Eve Bunting. Boston, MA: Sandpiper, 2004. A contemporary Italian-American family living in New York City makes its annual pilgrimage to Liberty Island to celebrate the birthday of the Statue of Liberty in this poignant picture book. Young Mike thinks a picnic in blustery October is just plain dumb.

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai. Claire A. Nivola. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2008. Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and founder of the Green Belt Movement, grew up in the highlands of Kenya, where fig trees cloaked the hills, fish filled the streams, and the people tended their bountiful gardens.

24 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS The Story Blanket. Ferida Wolff. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree, 2008. With no wool to be found in the village, Babba Zarrah, the storyteller, starts unraveling her story blanket bit by bit, to secretly supply the needs of the community. When the villagers realize what is happening they return the favor.

The Storyteller’s Candle. Lucia M. Gonzalez. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press, 2008. During the early days of the Great Depression, New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian, Pura Belpré, introduces the public library to immigrants living in El Barrio and hosts the neighborhood’s first Three Kings’ Day fiesta.

Under the Night Sky. Amy Lundebrek. Gardiner, ME: Tilbury House, 2008. A boy is surprised when his mother tells him to get up and dressed when she returns from work late one night, but soon they are outside, surrounded by neighbors, watching an amazing display of the northern lights.

You and Me and Home Sweet Home. George Ella Lyon. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009. Third-grader Sharonda and her mother help volunteers from their church to build the house that will be their very own.

Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean. Gail Karwoski. Mt. Pleasant, SC: Sylvan Dell, 2005. Karwoski introduces readers to the variety of sleeping patterns found in marine mammals.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 25 Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the Lord.

—Psalm 148

26 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS my books on community

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 27

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 29 “Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.” —Psalm 70.5

Ben and the Emancipation Proclamation. Patrice Sherman. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2010. Young Benjamin Holmes, a slave in Charleston who has taught himself to read, recites Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to his fellow slaves in prison.

The Bus Ride that Changed History: The Story of Rosa Parks. Pamela Duncan Edwards. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. In 1955, a young African-American woman named Rosa Parks took a big step for civil rights when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger.

Busing Brewster. Richard Michelson. New York: Knopf, 2010. Bused across town to a school in a white neighborhood of Boston in 1974, a young African- American boy named Brewster describes his first day in first grade. Includes historical notes on the court-ordered busing.

Doctor All-Knowing: a Folk Tale from the Brothers Grimm. Doris Orgel. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008. Desperate to provide enough food for himself and his daughter, a poor man sets himself up as Doctor All-Knowing and is soon called upon by a rich man to find a thief.

Freedom on the Menu: the Greensboro Sit-Ins. Carole Boston Weatherford. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2005. The 1960 civil rights sit-ins at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, are seen through the eyes of a young, Southern black girl.

The Greedy Sparrow: An Armenian Tale. Lucine Kasbarian. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books, 2011. A sparrow receives kindness from strangers and repays each act of kindness with a trick to get more, but at last, in a surprising twist, the sparrow is back with his original problem.

Hiromi’s Hands. Lynne Barasch. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2007. The biography of one of the first female sushi chefs in New York City celebrates Hiromi Suzuki’s Japanese-American roots and her achievements in the U.S.

30 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS Josephine’s Dream. Joan Betty Stuchner. Sandy, UT: Silverleaf Press, 2008. “Josephine Baker was a famous singer, dancer, and entertainer. After moving to France to break free of prejudice, she eventually helped with the French resistance as a spy in World War II and won a medal for her service...”--Jacket.

Lily and the Paper Man. Rebecca Upjohn. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2007. At first, Lily is afraid of the paper man whom she sees on the way home from school, but when winter comes and she sees that he has no warm clothes, she tells her mother and father that she has an idea.

The Little Matador. Julian Hector. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. A young matador who would rather draw pictures than fight bulls finds a new way to entertain the townsfolk.

Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer. Bill Wise. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2007. “A biography of Penobscot Indian Louis Sockalexis, who pursued his childhood love of baseball and eventually joined the Major Leagues, where he faced racism and discrimination with humility and courage as the first Native American to play professional baseball.”

Mama Panya’s Pancakes: A Village Tale from Kenya. Mary Chamberlin. Cambridge, MA. Barefoot Books, 2005. Mama Panya has just enough money to buy ingredients for a few pancakes, so when her son Adika invites all their friends to join them, she is sure there will not be enough to go around.

Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson. Sue Stauffacher. New York: Knopf, 2007. A biography of Althea Gibson, the first Black tennis player to ever compete in what is now known as the U.S. Open, and in the Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, England.

Priscilla and the Hollyhocks. Anne Broyles. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2008. A young African-American girl is sold away from her mother as a slave, and then later is sold to a Cherokee Indian, but eventually she is bought by a white man who not only sets her free, but adopts her into his family of fifteen children.

Ruth and the Green Book. Calvin A. Ramsey. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, 2010. When Ruth and her parents take a motor trip from Chicago to Alabama to visit her grandma, they rely on a pamphlet called “The Negro Motorist Green Book” to find places that will serve them. Includes facts about “The Green Book.”

Side by Side: the Story of Dolores Herta and Cesar Chavezz. Monica Brown. New York: Rayo, 2010. Something special happened when Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez met. Together, they fought for the rights of countless farmworkers. Side by side, inspiring hope, they changed history.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 31 Signed, Abiah Rose. Diane Browning. Berkeley: Tricycle Press, 2009. In pioneer days, a young girl, who is a talented artist, is encouraged to paint portraits, Bible scenes, and other pictures, but told never to sign her work, either because it would be a sign of pride or because artists are expected to be men.

Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride. Andrea Davis Pinkney. New York: Jump at the Sun Books, 2009. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery, but became a free woman. Freedom meant so much to Sojourner that she used the power of speech to help end slavery.

The Yankee at the Seder. Elka Weber. Berkeley: Tricycle Press, 2009. As a Confederate family prepares for Passover the day after the Civil War has ended, a Yankee arrives on their Virginia doorstep and is invited to share their meal, to the dismay of ten-year-old Jacob.

“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.” —Deuteronomy 15.11

32 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS my books on justice

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 33

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 35 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41.10

Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend). Deborah Hopkinson. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2008. In 1816, in Knob Creek, Kentucky, seven-year-old Abe Lincoln falls into a creek and is rescued by his best friend, Austin Gollaher.

Across the Alley. Richard Michelson. New York: Putnam, 2006. Jewish Abe’s grandfather wants him to be a violinist while African-American Wille’s father plans for him to be a great baseball pitcher, but it turns out that the two boys are more talented when they switch hobbies.

The Berenstain Bears and the Gift of Courage. Jan Berenstain; Mike Berenstain. Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz, 2010. Through the story of David and Goliath, Brother and Sister Bear learn that they can stand up to bullies and be as brave as David, because God is with them just as he was with David.

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia. Jeanette Winter. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2010. After amassing piles of books, Luis, a voracious reader, dreams up a way to share his collection with “faraway villages.”

The Boy Who Painted Dragons. Demi. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2007. Ping, a painter of dragons--of which he is secretly afraid--is challenged to seek the truth, find the truth, and dare to be true.

The Bravest of the Brave. Shutta Crum. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2005. A fearless little skunk sets off through the woods alone at night encountering scary creatures, which the reader can correctly identify as various forest animals.

36 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! (Big Time). Troy Cummings. New York: Random House, 2010. Frightened after the scary waterspout incident, the Eensy Weensy Spider needs some encouragement from her friend the ladybug before she will try climbing again.

Finn McCool and the Great Fish. Eve Bunting. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2010. Irish giant Finn McCool is told that in order to become wise he must catch and eat the salmon that possesses knowledge, but Finn finds that he cannot bring himself to kill the miraculous fish.

Four Feet, Two Sandals. Karen Lynn Williams. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2007. Two young Afghani girls living in a refugee camp in Pakistan share a precious pair of sandals brought by relief workers. Includes the author’s note about refugees.

The Girl on the High-Diving Horse. Linda Oatman High. New York: Penguin Group, 2005. Eight-year-old Ivy Cordelia spends the summer of 1936 in Atlantic City with her photographer father and dreams of being the girl who perches on a horse as it dives into a tank of water.

The Giant Surprise: a Narnia Story. Hiawyn Oram. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. In the land of Narnia, Puddleglum the Marsh-wiggle and his niece Lally try to outwit the giants who capture their two mice friends for a mice pie.

Good Enough to Eat. Brock Cole. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2007. When an Ogre comes to town demanding a bride, the mayor chooses the homeless girl with no name that everyone thinks is a pest, but she finds a way to outwit them all.

Goyangi Means Cat. Christine McDonnell. New York: Viking Children’s Books, 2011. An understanding cat helps a young Korean girl adjust to her new home in America.

Jenny’s Moonlight Adventure. Ester Holden Averill. New York: New York Review of Books, Inc., 2006. On Halloween night when Madame Butterfly slips down the drainpipe, hurts her paw, and loses her nose flute, Jenny bravely volunteers to return her friend’s beloved flute, even at the risk of being captured by dogs.

Library Mouse: A World to Explore. Daniel Kirk. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. When Sarah, an explorer mouse, meets Sam she gives him the courage to finally climb to the highest library shelves--and beyond--and he shows her how to explore the world through reading.

Lizzie Nonsense. Jan Ormerod. New York: Clarion Books, 2005. Her mother calls it nonsense when Lizzie pretends that their house is pretty or that a bath is the sea, but it turns out that imagination runs in the family.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 37 Marley’s Treasure. Gable Yerrid. New York: Yorkville Press, 2007. Marley finds a bunch of “the most beautiful golden bananas.” Marley is a little monkey.

My Name is not Isabella. Jennifer Fosberry. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2010. From breakfast to bedtime, a young girl imagines being different women who made history, and ends the day empowered to be herself.

My Name is Sangoel. Karen Lynn Williams. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2009. As a refugee from Sudan to the United States, Sangoel is frustrated that no one can pronounce his name correctly until he finds a clever way to solve the problem.

No Easy Way: The Story of Ted Williams and the Last .400 Season. Fred Bowen. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books, 2010. Ted Williams hit .406 for the season in 1941--a feat not matched since. In this inspirational picture book, authentic sports writing and rich, classic illustrations bring to life the truly spectacular story of the Red Sox legend, whose hard work and perseverance make him the perfect role model for baseball enthusiasts of all ages.

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival. Kirby Larson. New York: Walker, 2008. Bobbi and Bob Cat are the best of friends. When their hometown of New Orleans was struck by Hurricane Katrina, many lost everything. But not Bobbi and Bob Cat—they still had each other. Only by staying together could they survive. This is the story of their remarkable friendship.

“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” —Hebrews 13.5-6

38 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS my books on courage

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 39 reconciliation7

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 41 “And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” —Colossians 1.20

Am I Forgiving? Jeannie Taylor. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel KidZone, 2007. Erik is upset when his best friend laughs at him when he falls off his sled and breaks his arm. While recovering at home, he thinks of ways to get revenge, but then he remembers what the Bible says about forgiving people, so he asks Jesus to help him to be forgiving.

The Berenstain Bears and theThe Forgiving Tree. Jan Berenstain. Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz, 2011. Sister Bear tries to help Brother Bear forgive Cousin Fred, after Fred accidentally damages the new bike Brother received for his birthday.

Big Red Lollipop. Rukhasana Khan. New York: Viking, 2010. Having to take her younger sister along the first time she is invited to a birthday party spoils Rubina’s fun. Later, when that sister is asked to a party and baby sister wants to come, Rubina must decide whether to help.

Big Whopper. Patricia Reilly Giff. New York: Yearling, 2010. When Destiny Washington cannot think of a discovery during Discovery Week at school, she makes up a story, but finds that she cannot keep on pretending it is true.

Child’s Guide to Reconciliation. Elizabeth Ficocelli. New York/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2003. Provides guidance on receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time, describing the purpose and procedure of the rite and why it is a reason to celebrate.

Don’t Worry, Douglas! David Melling. Newton, CT: Tiger Tales, 2011. Douglas the bear has just been given a hat by his father. But despite his father’s advice to take care of the hat, it gets caught on a tree and turns into a long string of spaghetti. How will Douglas ever tell his dad?

Forgiving a Friend. Virginia L. Kroll. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman and Company, 2006. Seth cannot forgive his friend Jacob for breaking a favorite toy until he learns firsthand that friends and family are more valuable than anything.

Forgiveness. Cynthia Amoroso. Chanhassen, MN: Child’s World, 2008. Introduces the value of forgiveness and letting go of bad feelings, presenting hypothetical situations intended to make young readers see the benefit of forgiving others.

42 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS God’s Dream. Desmond Tutu. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2008. The story involves people who reach out and hold each other’s hands, but sometimes get angry and hurt each other — and say they’re sorry and forgive. It’s a wish that everyone will see they are brothers and sisters, no matter their way of speaking to God, no matter the size of their nose, or the color of their skin.

Harriet’s Had Enough! Elissa Haden Guest. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009. Harriet the raccoon and her mother exchange mean words when Harriet refuses to pick up her toys, until an apology saves the day and everyone sits down to a spaghetti dinner.

Hot Day on Abbott Avenue. Karen English. New York: Clarion Books, 2004. After having a fight, two friends spend the day ignoring each other, until the lure of a game of jump rope helps them to forget about being angry.

The Legend of the Dogwood. Brenda Gough. Johnson City, TN: Gazelle Drake Academic, 2008. A story about the dogwood, which reveals that the slight tree once grew as strong as the oak. After the Romans used the dogwood to form the cross to crucify Jesus, the dogwood asked Jesus to forgive him.

Llama Llama Mad at Mama. Anna Dewdney. New York: Viking, 2007. A young llama wants to play but must go shopping with his mother instead and so he gets angry and makes a mess at the store.

Little Blue Truck. Alice Schertie. Orlando: Harcourt, 2008. A small blue truck finds its way out of a jam, with a little help from its friends.

Little Croc’s Purse. Lizzie Finlay. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2011. When Little Croc and his friends find a purse filled with money, they must decide whether to spend the money or turn in the purse.

Mad Maddie Maxwell Level 1. Stacie K. B. Maslyn. Clermont, FL: Paw Prints, 2010. Maddie’s jump rope is missing, and she’s angry! Who took her jump rope? Will forgiveness happen after this?

Mouse was Mad. Linda Urban. Orland: Harcourt Children’s Books, 2009. Mouse struggles to find the right way to express his anger, modeling the behavior of Hare, Bear, Hedgehog, and Bobcat, only to discover that his own way may be the best way of all.

A Picnic with the Barleys: A Little Story about Courage and Forgiveness. Karen Hunt. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2008. When the wealthy Rumpole mice picnic with their country friends, a lost parasol leads to an encounter with the dreaded weasel.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 43 The Quiltmaker’s Journey. Jeff Brumbeau. New York: Orchard Books, 2005. The quiltmaker grows up wealthy and sheltered, but radically changes her life after she discovers the poverty and need outside her town.

Ruthie and the (not so) Teeny Tiny Lie. Laura Rankin. New York: Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2007. Ruthie loves tiny things and when she finds a tiny camera on the playground she is very happy, but after she lies and says the camera belongs to her, nothing seems to go right.

The Sandwich Swap. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan; Kelly S. DiPucchio; Tricia Tusa. New York: Disney-Hyperion Books, 2010. Best friends Lily and Salma disagree over their preferred foods, but after trading sandwiches to see how they taste, the girls change their minds.

The Scar. Charlotte Moundlic. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. When his mother dies, a little boy is angry at his loss but does everything he can to hold onto the memory of her scent, her voice, and the special things she did for him, even as he tries to help his father and grandmother cope.

Sorry! Trudy Ludwig. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press, 2006. When Jack makes friends with Charlie, a trouble-maker, he learns the difference between an insincere apology and showing that you are truly sorry.

Tilly the Trickster. Molly Shannon. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2011. Tilly loves to play pranks on everyone around her, but when her family decides to turn the tables, Tilly needs to decide if she should change.

The Worst Best Friend. Alexis O’Neill. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. When a new boy named Victor arrives at school, Conrad temporarily forgets about his best friend Mike, but when Victor’s desire to win makes him not want Conrad on his team, Mike and Conrad discover that they are still best friends after all.

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” —2 Cor. 5.18-19

44 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS my books on reconciliation

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 45

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 47 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus... —Philippians 2.1-11

Ally’s Busy Day: The Story of a Service Dog. Maureen Pranghofer. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford, 2006. Ally, a black lab golden retriever mix, was taken from an animal shelter the day before she was to be euthanized to become a service dog for Maureen, a totally blind quadriplegic.

Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade. Melissa Sweet. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011. The story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, captures his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America--the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Before You Were Mine. Maribeth Boelts. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007. A young boy imagines what his rescued dog’s life might have been like before he adopted him.

Brother Juniper. Diane Gibfried. New York: Clarion Books, 2006. Brother Juniper lives in the hills of Assisi with Father Francis and seven other brothers. Brother Juniper is the most generous of the brothers. He is so generous that he will happily give the robe off his back to someone in need—even if that leaves him with nothing else to wear.

48 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS Buffalo Music. Tracey E. Fern. New York: Clarion Books, 2008. After hunters kill off the buffalo around her Texas ranch, a woman begins raising orphan buffalo calves and eventually ships four members of her small herd to Yellowstone National Park, where they form the beginnings of newly-thriving buffalo herds.

Emma’s Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty. Linda Glaser: Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. The story of Emma Lazarus, who, despite her life of privilege, became a tireless advocate for the immigrants who arrived in New York City in the 1880s and wrote a famous poem for the Statue of Liberty.

The Giant Hug. Sandra Horning. New York: Knopf, 2005. When Owen sends a real hug to his grandmother for her birthday he inadvertently brings cheer to the postal workers as they pass the hug along.

The Guardian Team: On the Job with Rena and Roo. Cat Urbigkit. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2011. The story of a dog and burro guarding sheep on a Wyoming ranch.

The Hallelujah Flight. Phil Bildner. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2010. In 1932, James Banning, along with his co-pilot Thomas Allen, make history by becoming the first African Americans to fly across the United States, relying on the generosity of people they meet in the towns along the way who help keep their “flying jalopy” going.

Hardworking Puppies. Lynn Reiser. Orlando: Harcourt, 2006. One by one, ten energetic puppies find important jobs as dogs helping people in different ways, including pulling sleds and saving swimmers.

Helen Keller: The World in Her Heart. Lesa Cline-Ransome. New York: HarperCollins, 2008. Offers the story of the challenges faced by Helen Keller who, despite being blind and deaf, learned to communicate with the world through her own unstoppable determination and help from her devoted teacher, Anne.

Junkyard Wonders. Patricia Polacco. New York: Philomel Books, 2010. Inspired by a teacher who believes each of them is a genius, a class of special-needs students invents something that could convince the whole school they are justifiably proud to be “Junkyard Wonders.”

Kiki’s Hats. Warren Hanson. Minneapolis: Tristan, 2007. Kiki loves to knit hats and give them away, leading many other people to be generous, as well.

Me ... Jane. Patrick Mc Donnell. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011. Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 49 New York’s Bravest. Mary Pope Osborne. New York, NY: Dragonfly Books, 2006. Tells of the heroic deeds of the legendary New York firefighter, Mose Humphreys.

Nito Meets Chloe! The Continuing Tale of an Assistance Dog of the West. Judith M. Newton. Santa Fe, NM: Suntone Press, 2007. Nito, an ‘assistance dog’ and a member of Assistance Dogs of the West, has a new assignment. He has just been matched up with Chloe, a little girl in a wheelchair and is looking forward to this new experience.

Owney, the Mail-Pouch Pooch. Mona Kerby. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2008. In 1888, Owney, a stray terrier puppy, finds a home in the Albany, New York, post office and becomes its official mascot as he rides the mail train through the Adirondacks and beyond, crisscrossing the United States, into Canada and Mexico, and eventually traveling around the world by mail boat in 132 days.

Pascual and the Kitchen Angels. Tomie dePaola. New York: Puffin, 2006. Pascual, a boy blessed by angels at his birth, receives divine help when the Franciscan monks make him their cook.

Pop’s Bridge. Eve Bunting. Orlando: Harcourt Children’s Books, 2006. Robert and his friend Charlie, are proud of their fathers, who are working on the construction of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

Rain School. James Rumford. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2010. The children arrive on the first day of school and build a mud structure to be their classroom for the next nine months until the rainy season comes and washes it all away.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Philip Christian Stead. New York: Roaring Brook, 2010. Zookeeper Amos McGee always makes time to visit his friends who live at the zoo until the day he stays home because he is sick.

That Book Woman. Heather Henson. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008. A family living in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1930s gets books to read during the regular visits of the “Book Woman”--a librarian who rides a pack horse through the mountains, lending books to the isolated residents.

Veterans Day. Marlene Targ Brill. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2005. Explains what Veterans Day is, the history of this holiday, and how it is celebrated.

Why Am I Here? Matthew Kelly. West Palm Beach, FL: Beacon, 2010. Matthew Kelly poses the eternal questions about the meaning of life through the eyes of a young boy. He explains the connection between the choices people make and the character they develop.

50 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” —James 2.14-17

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 51 my books on service

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52 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS resources

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“The Catholic Writers Guild Marketplace,” The Catholic Writers Guild Showcase. N.p., n.d. (http:// catholicwritersguild.com/marketplace)

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 53 Pauline Discover Hope. Daughters of St. Paul, 2011 (http://store.pauline.org/ English/ Books/tabid/ 126 / List/ 0/ CategoryID/ 765/ Level/ a/ Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName)

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2010 Catholic Bestsellers Lists. Assn. of Catholic Publishers, 2011 (http://www.cbpa.org/ catholicbest sellerlist/ 2010bestsellerslist.html)

Weblog post. Abby the Librarian. eBlogger, 2011 (http://www.abbythelibrarian.com)

Weblog post. Book Aunt. e-Blogger, 2011 (http://bookaunt.blogspot.com)

Weblog post. Bookworm Burrow. Wordpress, 2011 (http://bookwormburrow.wordpress.com)

Weblog post. Reading Together for Life. Mother Daughter Book Club, 2009 (http://motherdaughter bookclub.com)

“Welcome to the Caldecott Medal Home Page!” Association for Library Service for Children (ALSC). American Lib. Assn., 7 Oct. 2011. Web. 1 Nov. 2011. .

Welcome to the Middle Level Section of NCTE -- Your Home in the Middle! National Council of Teachers of English, 2011 (http://www.ncte.org/middle)

“Welcome to the Newbery Medal Home Page!” Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). American Lib. Assn., 2011 (http://www.ala.org/alsc/ awardsgrants/ bookmedia/ newberymedal/ newb erymedal)

“Welcome to the Pura Belpré Award Home Page!” American for Library Service to Children (ALSC). American Lib. Assn., 6 Oct. 2011 (http://www.ala.org/alsc/ awardsgrants/bookmedia/ belpremedal)

“Welcome to the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Home Page!” Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). American Lib. Assn., 2011.

54 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS about the author

KATHLEEN MARIE BURGESS has taught religious education classes, served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and volunteered as an adult advisor for her parish CYO. She and her husband, David, Sr., were members of the Fundraising Board for Rosemont College and De Sales University. She served as the treasurer of the Catholic Library Association’s Neumann Chapter and completed courses at Villanova University in Library Science and Technology. Burgess has instructed students in the effective use of the library and encouraged teachers to read aloud and share books with students. While serving as a member of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Instructional Technology Planning Board, she began instructing teachers and students in the use of computers and Internet tools. Since 1987, she has served as a member of the Elementary Curriculum Committee and is now the Chairman of that Committee. Burgess has written curriculum guidelines and has assisted many elementary schools in the planning, organizing, and setting up of school libraries. She has been a presenter on the topic of the integration of technology in the curriculum and maintains the Elementary Library/Media Committee web site: http://teacherweb. com/PA/AOP/ElementaryLibraryMediaCommittee/h0.aspx.

Burgess and her husband are the parents of Kathleen, a teacher of French and Spanish, and David, Jr., a radio marketing and promotions director, and the grandparents of Jacqueline and Christopher.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 55 notes

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56 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

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