The ABC’s of Nonfiction Picture Books

1. The ABC’s of Nonfiction Picture Books for math, science, and history classes K-12 By: Megan Leiss

2. Common Core State Standards • The new Common Core State Standards are now emphasizing informational text in all grade levels. • Picture books are a great way to incorporate informational text that meets the needs for all learners.

3. Standards from Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects, Appendix A: Research Supporting Key Elements of the Standards

4. Why Use Picture Books? According to Keith Schoch, 5 reasons picture books deserve a place in the classroom because • Picture Books are nonthreatening • Picture Books are focused • Picture Books set a purpose for learning • Picture Books provide a common knowledge background • Picture Books activate thinking on a visual level

5. Still not convinced? • To learn more about why to use picture books in the classroom, check out “Picture Books Across the Curriculum” • To search for picture books using genre, historical period, grade level, and/or genre of protagonist, check out the Database of Award Winning Children’s Literature

6. How to Navigate the ABC’s Book • To navigate this ABC book, click the mouse or the right arrow button on your keyboard while in “View Slide Show” mode. • To go backwards, right click and select previous • Hyperlinks will have blue lines or captions.

7. A is for Apple Fractions By: Jerry Pallota • Author Jerry Pallotta and illustrator Rob Bolster use a variety of different apples to teach kids all about fractions in this innovative and enjoyable book. Playful elves demonstrate how to divide apples into halves, thirds, fourths, and more. Young readers will also learn about varieties of apples, including Golden and Red Delicious, Granny Smiths, Cortlands, and even Asian Pears. Summary from www.scholastic.com Click on the picture above for a lesson plan to accompany Apple Fractions

8. B is forBeanstalk, The Measure of a Giant By: Ann McCallum • In this new spin on the classic tale, Jack climbs the beanstalk and finds a giant friend. How can Jack and the giant do things together when they are such different sizes? Humorous illustrations clearly show their math problems and how they solve them. Summary from www.goodreads.com

9. C is for Curious Critters By: David FitzSimmons • This collection of amazing close-up images on stark white backgrounds is a stunning introduction to the animals' unique beauty. Young children won't be able to resist lingering over the sharp details in these vibrant photographs. The humorous, first-person text implies a rivalry. A concluding two-page section provides a brief paragraph on the natural history of each animal and insect. The sophisticated photography and lighthearted narrative combine in an intriguing peek into some of the inhabitants of the natural world. Summary from www.scholastic.com Click on the picture above to see a quick video about Curious Critters

10. D is for Disasters By: David Burnie • Readers will be able to follow a tornado chaser into the heart of a storm, track the path taken by a hurricane as it sweeps the ocean, or find out which natural disaster was the world's worst killer. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step illustrations show how natural disasters occur and the destruction they wreak. Timelines show events unfolding minute-by-minute or hour-by-hour. This exciting new book also features eyewitness accounts from people who have lived to tell the tale and mind-blowing, up-to-the-minute facts and figures. A free digital companion book is available online. Summary from www.scholastic.com

11. E is for Eleanor, Quiet No More By: Doreen Rappaport • In her eloquent prose, Doreen Rappaport captures the essence of Eleanor's character and the deep significance of her legacy. With beautiful paintings by Gary Kelley and selections from Eleanor's own writings, Eleanor's Big Words is an extraordinary tribute to an extraordinary American. Summary from www.goodreads.com

12. F is for First Mothers By: Beverly Gherman • Did you know that Thomas Jefferson's mother ran a plantation by herself, or that Abraham Lincoln's mother was a wrestler? James Madison's mom called him "Jemmy" and made his shirts while he went to college, and Woodrow Wilson created Mother's Day to celebrate all mothers, especially his. Join Beverly Gherman and Julie Downing in this celebration of the women behind the White House. Gherman delightfully dishes fun facts about each mother, and Downing's lively illustrations are sure to enthrall and entertain Summary from www.scholastic.com

13. G is for George Washington and the General’s Dog By: Frank Murphy • In a thoroughly enjoyable reader, George Washington's little-known love of animals is revealed. In addition to Washington's life-long relationship to his pets and farm animals, is the touching story of the stray dog found after battle. Washington's kindness to both man and beast is displayed in his returning the pet to his enemy, and his ensuing popularity crossed every border. Summary from www.scholastic.com

14. H is for Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Weights and Measures By: Jerry Pallotta • How long is a foot? What is the metric system? What weighs more, a ton of feathers or a ton of Hershey's candy? Author and educator Jerry Pallotta answers these and lots of other questions as only he can -- using Hershey's Kisses, Twizzlers, Hershey's chocolate bars, and other yummy snacks to teach weights and measurements. Rob Bolster's comical clowns demonstrate the concepts. Summary from www.scholastic.com

15. I is for The I Hate Mathematics! Book By: Marilyn Burns, Linda Allison, and David Weitzman • This book is for non-believers of all ages-written especially for children who have been convinced that mathematics is impossible, only for bright kids, or just no fun at all. Events, gags, magic tricks, and experiments will change one from a mathematical weakling into a mathematical heavyweight. Summary from www.scholastic.com

16. J is for JFK By: Jonah Winter • JFK tells how a little boy grew up to be president in a story about hope and courage and the power of words. It details JFK's childhood as well as his presidency and includes the Cuban missile crisis, the civil rights movement, the Camelot years, and a firsthand account of his assassination. JFK's is a story that has been told by many voices. Acclaimed picture book biographer Jonah Winter offers his own voice and memories about JFK and his significance in this heartfelt personal profile, illustrated in vibrant detail by award-winning artist AG Ford. Summary from www.scholastic.com

17. K is for The Kangaroo By: Sabrina Crewe • This educational look at kangaroos includes colorful pictures and interesting facts about how they develop, what they eat, their mating rituals, differences between males and females, where they live, and their predators. A glossary and index are included Summary from www.scholastic.com

18. L is for Locomotive By: Brian Floca • It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean. Come hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the landscape race by. Come ride the rails, come cross the young country! Summary from www.goodreads.com

19. M is for Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington By: Frances E. Ruffin • On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation's capital. They came by plane, by bus, by car — even on roller-skates — to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone. They also came to hear the words of a very special leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Told with a wonderful immediacy, this book captures the spirit of this landmark day in American history and brings Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech to vivid life for young children. Summary from www.scholastic.com

20. N is for Night Sky By: Giles Sparrow • Cool, modern graphics grab kids' attention. Layouts are structured for reluctant and eager readers alike. Learn a little or learn a lot; it's your information journey. Includes thought-provoking math and science concepts: cause and effect and sequence and prediction. Vetted by literacy experts. Summary from www.scholastic.com

21. O is for Orangutans Are Ticklish By: Jill Davis • In this knockout book of animal photographs, perfect for the youngest animal lover, you'll discover all sorts of things. Did you know that orangutans are ticklish? Yes, they are—just like you and me. But be careful if you ever see a hippo yawning. It doesn't mean he's sleepy—it means he wants to fight. The gorgeous up-close pictures and fascinating facts are complemented by behind-the-scenes peeks at how animal photographs are taken. (For instance, photographer Steve Grubman once had to lull a cow to sleep with soft music!) Summary from www.goodreads.com Click on the picture above for an orangutan educational guide to accompany Orangutans Are Ticklish

22. P is for Penguins Close Up By: Lorna Hendry • Get up close and personal and see how different penguins look, where they live and what they eat (and what eats them!). Try and spot the native New Zealand penguins too. • This book is the latest in the popular Closeup series by Wild Dog Books. Summary from www.tasmanlibraries.govt.nz

23. Q is for The Keeping Quilt By: Patricia Polacco • When Patricia's Great-Gramma Anna came to America as a child, the only things she brought along from Russia were her dress and the babushka she liked to throw up into the air when she was dancing. Soon enough, though, Anna outgrew the dress and her mother decided to incorporate it and the babushka into a quilt. "It will be like having a family in backhome Russia dance around us at night," she said. And so it was. Together with her Uncle Vladimir's shirt, Aunt Havalah's nightdress, and an apron of Aunt Natasha's, Anna's mother made a quilt that would be passed down through their family for almost a century. Summary from www.scholastic.com Click on the picture above for vocabulary resources for The Keeping Quilt

24. R is for The Revolutionary War By: Brendan January • The birth of a country is captured in fun, accessible style with this lively book containing a wealth of historical illustrations. From the Stamp Act in 1765 to the 1783 Treaty of Paris, from Washington to Cornwallis, children get a first-rate introduction to the compelling creation of the United States. Summary from www.scholastic.com

25. S is for Stay By: Michaela Muntean • When trapeze artist Luciano falls and injures himself, his high-wire career is over. Determined not to give up his life in the circus, he begins adopting the dogs that no one else wants. They're blind, they're sick, they're cranky — but Luciano sees something in them that no one else does. He knows they've got hidden talents and he sets about training each one of them to perform astounding tricks, and little by little, these hopeless strays turn into a showbiz miracle. With his extraordinary performing dogs, Luciano finds a way to still be a star of the Big Apple Circus. Summary from www.scholastic.com

26. T is for Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids By: Gail Gibbons • Everything there is to know about trees-from acorn to seedling, from root to fruit, from Pin Oak to Cottonwood, the tree enthusiast will find it all in this well-illustrated and fact-filled book. Summary from www.scholastic.com

27. U is for The Usborne Illustrated Encyclopedia: The Natural World By: Lisa Watts • Indispensable reference booksthat are filled with fascinating details, charts, lists and tables. There are also comprehensive indexes and glossaries. Summary from www.goodreads.com

28. V is for Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. Helens By: Patricia Lauber • This book studies the eruption of Mount St. Helens, its impact on scientific knowledge, and the gradual return of life to its barren slopes. Summary from www.scholastic.com

29. W is for What if You Had Animal Teeth? By: Sandra Markle • This book takes children on a fun, imaginative and informative journey as they explore what it would be like if their own front teeth were replaced by those of a different animal. Featuring a dozen animals (beaver, great white shark, narwhal, elephant, rattlesnake, naked mole rat, hippopotamus, crocodile, and more) the easy text and whimsical illustrations show how different teeth are especially adapted for an animal's survival. At the end of the book, children will discover why their own teeth are just right for them. Summary from www.scholastic.com Click on the picture above for a fun activity to accompany What If You Had Animal Teeth?

30. X is for The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses By: Joanna Cole • Ms. Frizzle's class has been studying the senses. Ms. Frizzle, her pink-haired mom, assistant principal Mr. Wilde, and the kids take an amazing ride into the eye of a passing policeman, the ear of a child, and the nose of a dog! Summary from www.scholastic.com

31. Y is for The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book By: Jerry Pallotta • This book introduces the characteristics and activities of snakes and reptiles from A to Z--the armadillo lizard to the yellow-headed gecko--and describes the time zillions of years ago when dinosaurs lived on the earth. Summary from www.scholastic.com

32. Z is for Z is for Moose By: Paul O. Zelinsky • Caldecott Medalist Zelinsky illustrates an outrageously funny and boundary-breaking story for fans of Jon Scieszka and David Weisner. Zebra wants to put on a show as simple as A-B-C, but Zebra's friend Moose has other (unexpected and hilarious) ideas. Summary from www.scholastic.com

33. References • Photos from Google images • Summaries from scholastic.com and goodreads.com • Audio file from youtube.com • Standards from the Common Core State Standards accessed from the ODE website- Appendix A