Miss Osi's Favorite Books

Matilda, is a must read book for all children. I would use this book with higher grades, 3rd-5th. This book is about a little girl who must put up with her crazy family and evil principal, and uses her powers of telekinesis to protect herself and those she loves. I think students would really enjoy reading this book. I would use this book in my classroom to have students practice reading comprehension by having whole group/ or small group discussions of the story. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 840L)  

Bud, Not Buddy, is a good book to use with older grades like 4th-5th grade. It is a story about an orphaned boy and his journey to find his true home. It is a humor filled story that kids will enjoy reading. I would use this book in my classroom to read as a whole class and then practice doing a book review on it by analyzing the characters, setting, themes, conflicts, and other story elements. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 950L) 

I think this is a book every teacher should read to their students especially with younger grades when they are learning to read. This book is about a little girl who has to read in front of her classmates and parents and she's scared because she is not a good reader. I think this would be a good book for students to relate to and help them feel better about not being 'good' readers. I would use this book in my classroom by having students talk about how they relate to the little girl, Jessica; and have them talk about a time they were also scared to do something but overcame it. (Book Reading Level: AR 2.4)

This is a great book to use with younger grades when learning about perspective and point of view. I would use this book in my classroom by having students discuss what they see as we read the book together and than have them compare answers with other classmates in order to understand perspective. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 300L)

Where the Wild Things Are, is one of my favorite children's books. I think it's such a cute and creative story to share with younger kids. It is a book about a little boy who is misunderstood, so therefore he creates his own imaginary world. I would definitely like to use this book with my students. By using this book with younger grades, I would have them create their own imaginary world.( Book Reading Level: Lexile 740L)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a holiday classic. I think using this book in the classroom around Christmas time would be exciting for children. I would use this book as a fun book to read for the holidays and maybe even do a fun Christmas activity with it. (Book Reading level: Lexile 590 L)

This is a good book to use for upper grades 3rd-5th grade. This story is about a boy named Alexander and how he is having a bad day because everything is going wrong since the moment he woke up. I would use this book in my classroom by having students do descriptive writing and having them write about a time that they too were having a bad day. (Book Reading Level: AR 3.7)

How Do Dinosaurs Learn To Read is a great book to use when teaching children how to read themselves! This humor book will sure encourage children to learn to read and to do it in a fun and exciting way. I would use this book for children ages 4-6 and have them talk about ways and skills that they would use to learn or improve their reading. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 490 L)

Pete the Cat books are a must have for every teacher who teachers younger grades. Pete is a fun character and there are various of fun Pete the Cat  books  to share with children. This book specifically teaches children to recognize different colors. I would use this book with Kindergarten when they are learning their colors and I would have them pick a color and create a book page like the ones in the book. (Book Reading Level : Lexile 460L ) 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, is another children's book classic. It is a rhythmic and rhyming tale that features the 26 letters of the alphabet.  I would use this book for younger grades when learning about the alphabet. I think that every teacher should have this book in their classroom as it can be incorporated into lessons in various ways. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 530L)

The Watsons Go To Birmingham is a historical fiction book that should be introduced to every child in 4th or 5th grade. The story is about a family and their journey back to the south. The story takes place during 1963, and gives a perspective of what life was like during the Civil Wars era. I would use this book for fifth grade. It would be a great book to incorporate reading and history into one lesson. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 920L)

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White is another Children's classic book. It is a story about a pig who builds a friendship with a spider, and other farm animals. With the help of his friends, Wilbur must fight for his life by showing the world he's not as weak as they think. This would be a good book for 3rd-4th graders. I would use this book in my classroom for my students to read as a whole group and learn about character traits, main idea, story themes, etc. (Book Reading Level: 680L)

This is a great book for children in grades Kindergarten-2nd. This is a story about a little girl pig who is very energetic and just can't help getting into trouble. I think this would be a fun book to read to younger kids as they could easily relate to Olivia's character. I would use this book in my classroom when teaching children about personification. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 470L)

Click Clack Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, is a well know children's book. In this fiction book, Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in their barn and write farmer Brown letters requesting him things, but when Farmer Brown refuses to provide the cows with the things that they asked for, the cows go on strike. I would use this book for grades 2nd-3rd, I think it would be a good book to teach cause and effect or sequencing of events. (Book Reading level: Lexile 470L)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle,  is a classic book for children. In the book, a caterpillar is followed through all the stages of its life until it becomes a butterfly. This book would be very educational for children because it also teaches number 1-5 and the days of the week. I would use this book for students in Kindergarten. This book could help them count up to 5, practice their days of the week, and become familiar with the stages a caterpillar goes through in order to become a butterfly. (Book Reading Level: Lexile 460L)

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, by Laura Numeroff, is a great book to use for younger grades. This book is about how if you give a mouse a cookie, then he'll keep coming back and asking for things. I would use this book in my classroom when teaching children about making predictions. I would have students write about what they think would happen if the mouse was given another cookie. (Book Reading Level: AR 2.7)