This Is Not My Hat

Author and Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Genre: Fantasy
Award: Caldecott Award
Grade Level: Prekindergarten- 1st grade

A little fish steals a hat from a huge sleeping fish. Little fish swims towards a grassy area to hide; he is trying to justify his actions to himself. The huge sleeping fish notices that his hat is missing, and goes on a mission to find it. A little crab points the huge fish in the direction little fish swam, and both fishes disappear into the plants.Huge fish swims away with his hat.

This book is very cute, and entices students to investigate the illustrations in the book. I would use this book in my classroom as a read aloud and a reading center. This book reminds children to not steal; to not take something away that does not belong to them. This would be a cute book to use when introducing reminders on behavior in a classroom. 

A Tree Is Nice

Author and Illustrator: Janice May Udry, Marc Simont
Genre: Fantasy
Awards: Caldecott Award 1957
Grade Level: Prekindergarten - 1st grade

Trees are beautiful and have many purposes. A child can climb a tree, provide shade for a house,  for a picnic, and hold a swing. This book celebrates the beauty and need for trees, especially through illustrations. 

I would use this book in my classroom as a read aloud, and in a reading center. This book encourages children to appreciate trees and overall nature. I would use this book to show the importance of plants, and how plants are important to us.

Noah's Ark

Author and Illustrator: Peter Spier
Awards: 1978 Caldecott Winner, National Book Award for Children's Books
Grade Level: Preschool - 1st grade

Illustrations tell the story of Noah's Ark. Beautiful illustrations show Noah building the ark with other people, gathering a bunch of supplies, and herding animals around the ark. A song called 'The Flood' is about the flood being a part of God's plan and with his grace, we are here. The book begins with Noah guiding the animals into the ark as it begins to rain. As it begins to flood, the ark floats away with all inside. Noah tends to each section filled with different animals. As the book goes on, it emphasizes the duration of the flood, and eventually the ark lands on a high rock. Noah releases a dove, and the dove later returns to him with an olive branch. Noah rejoices and shows the olive branch to the animals; they unload the ark and Noah plants a vineyard.

I would have this book in my classroom; in independent reading center and as a read aloud. I think this book can be used by many grades; the illustrations can be analyzed and the students can discuss it, or write about it. This book encourages thinking and the illustrations depict a beautiful story.