Tales of friends and family are perfect for November!
Make sure to check out these delightful titles and activities for K-2nd graders
that honor and celebrate the wonder of making new friends,
discovering family and everything in between!
All titles are available in our Juvenile Fiction section!
Make sure to check out these delightful titles and activities for K-2nd graders
that honor and celebrate the wonder of making new friends,
discovering family and everything in between!
All titles are available in our Juvenile Fiction section!
Green Thumbs-Up! [The Friendship Garden #1]
By: Jenny Meyerhoff
Illustrated By: Eva Chatelain
New to the big city of Chicago, 8-year-old Anna misses her small hometown and the house and friends she had to leave behind. Now Anna is living in an apartment with her family, and is going to a school where she doesn’t know anybody. But over the summer, Anna decides to get involved with a community garden, and along with flowers and vegetables, grows new friendships that she never expected.
Cute illustrations and short chapters make this a great choice for kids in second grade and up, or kids who are comfortable reading chapter books with help from an adult. The book is also full of activities and recipes based on the story, such as “Anna’s Zucchini Fritters” and directions for how to “Grow Your Own Broccobabies” (aka broccoli!). These activities are simple, yet add a fun, interactive dimension to the series. Kids will have a lot of fun getting to know Anna and her friends!
By: Jenny Meyerhoff
Illustrated By: Eva Chatelain
New to the big city of Chicago, 8-year-old Anna misses her small hometown and the house and friends she had to leave behind. Now Anna is living in an apartment with her family, and is going to a school where she doesn’t know anybody. But over the summer, Anna decides to get involved with a community garden, and along with flowers and vegetables, grows new friendships that she never expected.
Cute illustrations and short chapters make this a great choice for kids in second grade and up, or kids who are comfortable reading chapter books with help from an adult. The book is also full of activities and recipes based on the story, such as “Anna’s Zucchini Fritters” and directions for how to “Grow Your Own Broccobabies” (aka broccoli!). These activities are simple, yet add a fun, interactive dimension to the series. Kids will have a lot of fun getting to know Anna and her friends!
Little Elliot Big Family
By: Mike Curato
When Mouse heads off to a family reunion, Little Elliot decides to go for a walk alone. As he explores each busy street, he sees families in all shapes and sizes. In a city of millions, Little Elliot feels very much alone-until he finds he has a family of his own!
Small and sweet Elliot is a character that kids and grown-ups will love, especially for his gentle nature and cuteness. The emotions that Elliot experiences in the book, such as loneliness and belonging, are very relatable to all children, and are handled in a delicate, approachable way that allows for discussion between adults and young readers. Rich, vibrant illustrations make the story come to life and will catch the eyes of readers of all ages. If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out Elliot’s first adventure in Little Elliot, Big City also by Mike Curato!
By: Mike Curato
When Mouse heads off to a family reunion, Little Elliot decides to go for a walk alone. As he explores each busy street, he sees families in all shapes and sizes. In a city of millions, Little Elliot feels very much alone-until he finds he has a family of his own!
Small and sweet Elliot is a character that kids and grown-ups will love, especially for his gentle nature and cuteness. The emotions that Elliot experiences in the book, such as loneliness and belonging, are very relatable to all children, and are handled in a delicate, approachable way that allows for discussion between adults and young readers. Rich, vibrant illustrations make the story come to life and will catch the eyes of readers of all ages. If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out Elliot’s first adventure in Little Elliot, Big City also by Mike Curato!
The Kingfisher Book of Family Poems
Selected By: Belinda Hollyer
Non-Fiction [J 821.008]
This is a diverse and thoughtful poetry collection that includes poems about individual family members, as well as themes such as belonging, shared memories, play, loss, and love. There is a great mix of short poems (4 or 5 lines long) and longer poems (covering 2 pages), as well as a lot of humor, such as in this poem called “Leaky Baby” by Kaye Umansky:
Our brand new baby’s sprung a leak!
He’s dripping like a spout.
We’d better send him back
Before the guarantee runs out.
Simple black and white line drawings add some extra life to the poems, and are slightly reminiscent of Shel Silverstein (but a bit less odd!). While children of all ages would enjoy these poems, those in grades k-2 would need some adult help to read them. Here’s to a family and friend-filled Thanksgiving!
Selected By: Belinda Hollyer
Non-Fiction [J 821.008]
This is a diverse and thoughtful poetry collection that includes poems about individual family members, as well as themes such as belonging, shared memories, play, loss, and love. There is a great mix of short poems (4 or 5 lines long) and longer poems (covering 2 pages), as well as a lot of humor, such as in this poem called “Leaky Baby” by Kaye Umansky:
Our brand new baby’s sprung a leak!
He’s dripping like a spout.
We’d better send him back
Before the guarantee runs out.
Simple black and white line drawings add some extra life to the poems, and are slightly reminiscent of Shel Silverstein (but a bit less odd!). While children of all ages would enjoy these poems, those in grades k-2 would need some adult help to read them. Here’s to a family and friend-filled Thanksgiving!
Continue to celebrate friends and family with these booklists!