Children's Choices
The list of Children's Choices
began in 1974 as a joint pro-
ject of the IRA and the
Children's Book Council. Each
year, approximately 10,000 children in grades K-6 throughout the United States select 100 books for inclusion on the list. Classroom teachers, reading specialists, and literacy coaches from Missouri and Kansas examined a selection of the titles from the 2013 Children's Choices list. This group examined the following titles:
1. Legends of Zita the Space Girl by Ben Hatke (Recommended grade level: 5-6)
Summary:
Zita is a reluctant hero in this graphic novel
series. After saving the world for the first time, Zita is on tour, making public appearances. However, she grows weary of this and discovers a robot on a planet that has made itself look just like her. They switch places, and her
ship takes off with the robot in it instead of her. She ends up needing to save the world again. This slightly rebellious female main character is appealing to young readers.
Meeting the CCSS:
Because there are two "Zita" characters represented in the story, students can compare and contrast the two by using specific details in the text (RL.5.3). Further, since the story is told in the format of a graphic novel, students can analyze how this structure contributes to the overall story (RL.5.7). In addition, due to its "superhero" main character, students can analyze the problem and solution in the story as well as how the main character responds to these challenges (RL.5.2; RL.6.3).
2. Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere (Recommended grade level: K)
Summary:
This clever book centers around the difficult journey a monster takes to eat the reader, but in the end, he is just coming for a good-night kiss so he can go to bed. It uses suspense, minimal text, and graphics to keep the
reader hooked throughout the story.
Meeting the CCSS:
This text is an excellent
choice for a read-aloud with a
group of students (RL.K.10).
While engaged in this group
reading activity, teachers can
use the text to meet additional standards. The text contains various words that may be new to the reader (i.e., wonder, delicious, squished, indeed), so it can be used to discuss unknown words (RL.K.4). Further, because of the story's suspenseful format, students can practice making inferences while reading (RL.K.1). In addition, students can identify characters, setting, and events in the story (RL.K.3).
3. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin (Recommended grade level: K)
Summary:
Pete the Cat and his easy-going personality
are back in this story of Pete and the four groovy buttons on his shirt. One by one, the buttons pop off his shirt. Each time a button pops off, the question is asked, "Did Pete cry?" The answer is always, "Goodness, no." Pete rolls
with the punches and continues to groove on, even with the unfortunate event of losing all of the buttons on his favorite shirt. However, Pete is still left with his "groovy" belly button.
Meeting the CCSS:
Like other Pete the Cat stories, this text can be used to meet a variety of standards. Its rhythmic format can provide students with opportunities to practice fluency through repeated readings (RF.K.4). Further, teachers can use this text to examine possible unknown words in the text (i.e., rolled, popped, groovy) (RL.K.4). In addition, teachers can easily use this text for group reading activities to strengthen students' comprehension of the text (RL.K.10).
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