2021 Picture Book Nominees
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris (2019)
IL: K-3 RL: 1.9
A Caldecott Honor Book! A cheerful and action-packed adventure about the importance of friendship and community from a successful author and illustrator duo! Once there was a river flowing through a forest. The river didn't know it was capable of adventures until a big bear came along. But adventures aren't any fun by yourself, and so enters Froggy, Turtles, Beaver, Racoons, and Duck. These very different animals take off downstream, but they didn't know they needed one another until thankfully, the river came along. This hilarious picture book and heartfelt message celebrates the joy and fun that's in store when you embark together on a ride of a lifetime.
Lesson Ideas:
Story Kit
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Book and a Hug Review
Book Review
Similar Titles:
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Can We Go to the Sea? by Arai Hiroyuki
The Cool Bean by Jory John
Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel
Story Kit
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Book and a Hug Review
Book Review
Similar Titles:
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Can We Go to the Sea? by Arai Hiroyuki
The Cool Bean by Jory John
Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel
The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli (2019)
IL: K-3 RL: 1.8
The Book Hog loves books---the way they look, the way they feel, the way they smell--and he'll grab whatever he can find. There's only one problem: he can't read! But when a kind librarian invites him to join for storytime, this literature-loving pig discovers the treasure that books really are.
Lesson Ideas:
Activities from the Author
Similar Titles:
A Big Surprise for Little Card by Charise Mericle Harper
The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris
Bunny's Book Club by Annie Silvestro
But Excuse Me That is My Book by Lauren Child
Do Not Open This Book! by Michaela Muntean
Activities from the Author
Similar Titles:
A Big Surprise for Little Card by Charise Mericle Harper
The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris
Bunny's Book Club by Annie Silvestro
But Excuse Me That is My Book by Lauren Child
Do Not Open This Book! by Michaela Muntean
Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings (2018)
IL: K-3 RL: 1.9
A heart-tugging dog adoption story told through letters--deeply sincere and almost desperate pleas for a forever home--from the dog, himself!
This picture book shares the tale of Arfy, a homeless mutt who lives in a box in an alley. Arfy writes to every person on Butternut Street about what a great pet he'd make. His letters to prospective owners share that he's house broken! He has his own squeaky bone! He can learn to live with cats! But, no one wants him. Won't anyone open their heart--and home--to a lonesome dog? Readers will be happily surprised to learn just who steps up to adopt Arfy.
Lesson Ideas:
Writing Activity
Activity Suggestion
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Teaching Books.net
Washington Children's Choice Awards (see page 3)
Similar Books:
Bad Dog by Mike Boldt
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Cat on the Bus by Aram Kim
Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon
Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo
I Want a Dog by Jon Agee
Oh No! by Candace Fleming
The Stray Dog by Marc Simont
The Donkey Egg by Janet Stevens (2019)
IL: K-3 RL: 1.6
Bear would rather sleep all day than work on his farm, and Fox knows just the kind of help he needs--a donkey! When Fox tricks Bear into buying a donkey egg, Bear can't wait for it to hatch so he can meet his new friend. But donkeys don't come from eggs! And when the "egg" finally opens, Bear gets a fruity surprise. Luckily, Bear doesn't have to face disappointment alone . . . Hare is there to help!
Lesson Ideas:
Writing Activity
Egg Shape template
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Book Activity
Similar Books:
Abner and Ian Get Right-Side Up by Dave Eggers
Bad Dog by Mike Boldt
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
The Bear Who Wasn't There by LeUyen Pham
Chicken Big! by Keith Graves
Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
The Great Indoors by Julie Falatko
Writing Activity
Egg Shape template
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Book Activity
Similar Books:
Abner and Ian Get Right-Side Up by Dave Eggers
Bad Dog by Mike Boldt
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
The Bear Who Wasn't There by LeUyen Pham
Chicken Big! by Keith Graves
Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
The Great Indoors by Julie Falatko
Eraser by Anna Kang (2018)
IL: K-3 RL: 2.3
Eraser is always cleaning up everyone else's mistakes. Except for Ruler and Pencil Sharpener, none of the other school supplies seem to appreciate her. They all love how sharp Pencil is and how Tape and Glue help everyone stick together. Eraser wants to create so that she can shine like the others. She decides to give it a try, but it's not until the rubber meets the road that Eraser begins to understand a whole lot about herself.
Lesson Ideas:
Activity Kit
Teaching Books.net
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Similar Books:
Buck Denver's Bad, Bad Day: A Lesson in Thankfulness by Phil Vischer
Cheer: A Book to Celebrate Community by Ian Aurora
Look and Be Grateful by Tomie DePaola
Perfect by Max Amato
The Good Egg by Jory John (2019)
IL: K-3 RL: 2.3
Meet the good egg. He's a verrrrrry good egg indeed. But trying to be so good is hard when everyone else is plain old rotten. As the other eggs in the dozen behave badly, the good egg starts to crack from all the pressure of feeling like he has to be perfect. So, he decides enough is enough! It's time for him to make a change.
Lesson Ideas:
Compare and Contrast with The Bad Seed
Drawing Activity
Book Trailer from Publisher
Counseling Activity
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Egg Craft and more
Activity With Text-to-self Connections
National Egg Month Activities
Teaching Books.net resources
Similar Books:
Am I Yours? by Alex Latimer
The Bad Seed by Jory John
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
Bently and Egg by William Joyce
Little Owl's Egg by Debi Gliori
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
Peeping Beauty by Brenda Maier
Compare and Contrast with The Bad Seed
Drawing Activity
Book Trailer from Publisher
Counseling Activity
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Egg Craft and more
Activity With Text-to-self Connections
National Egg Month Activities
Teaching Books.net resources
Similar Books:
Am I Yours? by Alex Latimer
The Bad Seed by Jory John
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
Bently and Egg by William Joyce
Little Owl's Egg by Debi Gliori
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
Peeping Beauty by Brenda Maier
Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich (2019)
IL: K-3 RL: 2.1
Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world. He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures--from tumbleweed to lizard to owl--come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed.
He doesn't like noise, he doesn't like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs.
But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely.
So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.
Lesson Ideas:
Activity Kit from Publisher
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Book and a Hug Review
Teaching Books.net
Similar Titles:
Bird Hugs by Ged Adamson
Cat on the Bus by Aram Kim
Grumpy Duck by Joyce Dunbar
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey
No Hugs for Porcupine by Zoe Waring
Activity Kit from Publisher
Teachers Pay Teachers $
Book and a Hug Review
Teaching Books.net
Similar Titles:
Bird Hugs by Ged Adamson
Cat on the Bus by Aram Kim
Grumpy Duck by Joyce Dunbar
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey
No Hugs for Porcupine by Zoe Waring
A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade (2018)
IL: K-3 RL: 3.1
Pluto got the shock of his life when he was kicked out of the famous nine. His planet status was stripped away, leaving him lost and confused. Poor Pluto! On his quest to find a place where he belongs, he talks to comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. He doesn't fit it anywhere! But when Pluto is about to give up, he runs into a dwarf planet and finally finds his place in the solar system. This feel-good picture book combines a popular science topic with character education themes of self discovery, acceptance, and friendship.
Lesson Ideas:
Naming a New Planet Writing Activity
Template of a Planet
Activity Kit from Publisher
Character Education Lesson
Sizing Up Pluto Activity from NASA
Enchanted Learning Info
Similar Titles:
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
Doll-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey
Pluto Gets the Call by Adam Rex
The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee (2018)
IL: K-3 RL: 2.1
There's a wall in the middle of the book, and our hero--a young knight--is sure that the wall protects his side of the book from the dangers of the other side--like an angry tiger and giant rhino, and worst of all, an ogre who would gobble him up in a second! But our knight doesn't seem to notice the crocodile and growing sea of water that are emerging on his side. When he's almost over his head and calling for help, who will come to his rescue? An individual who isn't as dangerous as the knight thought--from a side of the book that might just have some positive things to offer after all!
Lesson Ideas:
Writing Activity
Writing Activity with Wall
Teachers pay Teachers $
Teaching Books.net
Hornbook Review
Book and a Hug information
Book Activity
Similar Titles:
After the Fall by Dan Santat
Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark by Deborah Diesen
Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt
The Pigeon Has to go to School by Mo Willems
Something Might Happen by Helen Lester
Little Mouse's Big Book of Bears by Emily Gravett
We Don't Eat Our Classmates! by Ryan T. Higgins (2018)
IL: K-3 RL: 2.0
It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all....
Lesson Ideas:
Craft Project
Washington Children's Choice see page 23
Activity Sheet
Teachers Pay Teachers $ (distant learning friendly)
Craft Project
Teaching Books.net
Book Study
Similar Titles:
Butterflies in my Stomach and Other School Hazards by Serge Bloch
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child
Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis
