Kids Book Index
Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Square spends each day moving blocks from a pile underground to another pile above ground. His friend Circle notices one square-shaped rock and thinks it resembles him. She asks Square to make one that looks like her, leaving before he can explain that he does not know how to carve stone. Their encounter turns Square’s daily work into an unexpected artistic problem.
This book appears on 1 reading list across 1 edition.
The Boy Who Went to MarsSimon James, illustrated by Simon JamesWhen Stanley’s mother leaves for an overnight work trip, he imagines taking a journey to Mars in a spaceship made from a cardboard box. On Mars, he sends a Martian back to his home in his place. Stanley’s dad and older brother accept the visitor’s unusual habits, and the Martian sleeps in Stanley’s bed before going to school, where others assume he is Stanley. When Stanley’s mother comes back, Stanley returns too. His family plays along as he works through his feelings about her absence.Under FiveLexile Text Measure 500LATOS Book Level 2.7On the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
Auntie Luce’s Talking PaintingsFrancie Latour, illustrated by Ken DaleyEach winter, a girl visits Haiti, her mother’s homeland, and spends time with her Auntie Luce, a painter. She remembers being seven, when Auntie Luce painted her portrait and told stories about Haiti, their family, and people she had painted. The girl learns that her mother left Haiti because of hardship, while Auntie Luce remained because she also sees the country’s joy and beauty. Looking at her portrait, the girl finds a new sense of belonging and connection to history. The story links family stories, art, and a Haitian American child’s relationship to place.Picture Books for School-Age ChildrenWord Count 1265On the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
The Dinosaur ExpertMargaret McNamara, illustrated by GKimmy’s class visits a natural history museum, and she is eager to explore because she loves fossils, knows a great deal about dinosaurs, and hopes to become a scientist. A classmate tells her that girls are not scientists, leaving Kimmy quiet even when she recognizes information about the exhibits. Her enthusiasm returns when she encounters Gasparinisaura, named for the woman scientist who discovered it. Kimmy’s report on favorite paleontologists introduces seven girls and women known for work in the field.Picture Books for School-Age ChildrenLexile Text Measure AD550LATOS Book Level 3.6On the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details