The Imaginary Garden
Author: Andrew Larsen Illustrator: Irene Luxbacher Genre: Fiction Copyright: 2009 Reading Level: K-2 Topic: Imagination Theme: With imagination and creativity, you can make anything. Good Read Aloud?: Yes Summary: This is a story of Theodora and her grandfather. They recently moved to a new apartment and at the old apartment they had a beautiful garden. The apartment now is too small and windy to have one. Through imagination and art, Theodora and her grandfather decide to paint a garden. When her grandfather goes on holiday Theo takes care of the garden and it begins to take on a life of its own. |
Alice the Fairy
Author: David Shannon Illustrator: David Shannon Genre: Fiction Copyright: 2004 Reading Level: K Topic: Imagination Theme: Anyone can be a temporary fairy Good Read Aloud?: Yes Summary: This is the story of Alice who says she's a "temporary fairy". This means she can't perform the greatest tricks like the permanent fairies who go to Advanced Fairy School. She uses her imagination as if her everyday routine was magical. She does things such as eat the cookies she turned into hers, disappear by turning the lights off, and using sugar as fairy dust. This tale will make your imagination come to life. |
The Flying Bed
Author: Nancy Willard Illustrator: John Thompson Genre: Fiction Copyright: 2007 Reading Level: 2-4 Topic: Fantasy Theme: Money does not matter with true love and loyalty. Good Read Aloud?: Yes Summary: This is the story of Guido who is a poor small town baker. As the business suffers and money becomes scarce, he sells all of his furniture. His wife Maria asks to have at least a bed- and so he found one in a shop, for free. Little did they know, this bed is enchanted and would fly them all over the city to the master bakers. There they get magic yeast that will make him the best and richest baker in town. |
Polite as a Princess
Author: Melissa Arps Illustrator: Niall Harding Genre: Fiction Copyright: 2006 Reading Level: K-1 Topic: Fantasy Theme: To learn manners Good Read Aloud?: Yes Summary: The Disney Princesses teach you ways to be polite. They teach sayings such as please, thank you, and excuse me. They speak about how polite princesses share, clean up, are patient, chews with their mouth closed, and apologizes when they have hurt someone's feelings. These are all valuable manners to learn and a child would connect to a princess. |
Corduroy
Author: Don Freeman Illustrator: Don Freeman Genre: Fiction Copyright: 1968 Reading Level: K-2 Topic: Fantasy Theme: Friendships/Things take time Good Read Aloud?: Yes Summary: This is the story of the stuffed animal bear, Corduroy who has been sitting on a shelf in a store for far to long. When a girl comes in and asks her mom for him, she says no and that he's missing a button anyway. He was sad, and that night he set out to find his button. He finds himself on the mattress floor and thinks the mattress button is his button. The next day, the girl returns to bring him home and sew his button. |
The Giving Tree
Author: Shel Silverstein Illustrator: Shel Silverstein Genre: Fiction Copyright: 1964 Reading Level: 1-3 Topic: Fantasy Theme: Love and Friendship Good Read Aloud?: Yes Summary: This is the story of a little boy who visited a tree that let him eat her apples, climb her trunk, and swing from her branches. But as he got older, he wanted money, and a house. She gave her all her apples and branches to him until she was just a stump. The boy then came back one day and just wanted to rest, and that, she could give him. |