August Picture Book 10 for 10 - 2013

It's August 10th and time for the 4th annual Picture Book 10 for 10, or #pb10for10.  Cathy Mere from Reflect and Refine and Mandy Robek from Enjoy and Embrace Learning invite us to share our top 10 picture books.  Please be sure to check out their blogs for the links to the event.

As I began planning for my 3rd year participating in this event I knew it would be a challenge.  First, I did a quick write - listing the books that popped into my head.  Then I reviewed my goodreads list and looked through my past lesson plans to see if I had missed anything.  I couldn't decide if I should choose 10 completely new books that weren't on my past lists or if I should make a top ten that has something old and something new.  Such problems!

After some thinking I decided to create a Top Ten "New" Picture Books list.  "New" meaning they were new to me in the last year, not necessarily newly published.  These are some of my favorite picture books that I have read in the past year and think they will continue to be favorites in the future.


Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown

This past school year will always be very memorable for me because along with a group of dedicated teachers and parents I was able to organize our first author visit.  And guess who it was?  Newly awarded Caldecott Honor recipient, Peter Brown!  I have been a huge fan of Peter Brown and look forward to his new book coming out this fall, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild.  Click on the book to watch the book trailer for Creepy Carrots!







Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

I featured this wordless book a while back for #IMWAYR and still think it's one of my favorites of 2013 so far!  I actually have not read it to my class yet, so I am looking forward to doing that this fall.  (I kept lending the book to colleagues and friends.) Click on the book to watch the book trailer.







This is Not My Hat  by Jon Klassen

This little gem won the 2013 Caldecott Medal.  No matter what age you are you will enjoy this book!  Last fall, while visiting a bookstore with my daughter and her girlfriend, I pulled the book off a shelf and insisted they sit down and read the book.  (I do this kind of thing often - I'm sure it is annoying.)  Anyway, I loved watching them read it, especially when they came to the end!  Sometimes adult reactions are the best!  I quickly found a copy of I Want My Hat Back and insisted they read that one too!  Click the book to watch the book trailer.

The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman


I featured this book on #IMWAYR also.  Totally can't wait to read it to my class this fall!  I'm definitely thinking it will be part of our Mock Caldecott.  Visit Mr. Schu's blog Watch Connect Read to read an interview with Deborah Freedman and watch some videos.








On a Beam of Light by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky


I featured this book on my Non-Fiction Wednesday post and still need to purchase another copy since I gave away the first copy I bought!  Beautiful non-fiction.  Shows the value of just sitting, thinking and daydreaming.








Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford and illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska

Many of my young students have actually heard of the term infinity.  Maybe it's Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear and his phrase, "To infinity and beyond" but students are always curious about this word!  In this story, the little girl, Uma, looks up to the sky and stars and begins wondering about the concept of infinity.  She asks different people, from friends to adults,  to explain infinity to her.  Along the way she starts figuring out how infinity relates to her, personally.  This is definitely not a book that explains infinity in a mathematical, facts only way.  Kate Hosford handles it more as a thinking exercise.  The illustrations are unique and beautiful.  Kate Hosford also has a curriculum guide to go along with the book.


The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

I featured this book on a #IMWAYR post recently.  Again, I can't wait to read the book to my students!  Oliver Jeffers' illustrations are brilliant.  I use his book, The Book Eating Boy, each fall to help build our reading identities.  We even create a collage in the same style as the book.  Also check out the book, Stuck.







Ocean Sunlight: How tiny plants feed the sea by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm

I featured this book on a Non-Fiction Wednesday post.  It is the 3rd book in a series she and her scientist friend have written on how sunlight effects the earth.  This is the only one I have read and I can't wait to get the other 2 from my library.  My class absolutely loved the book!

One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Jane Chapman

This is the story of the life of a sea turtle - from the moment it hatches on a beach, to living in the Sargasso Sea, the coral reefs and then returning to the beach that it was born on to lay eggs.  The text reads like poetry!  My class loved this book!  Make sure you check out more of Nicola's books.  Her picture books are perfect for my second grade.

The Dark by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Jon Klassen

Face your fears!  Isn't everyone a little afraid of the dark?  I know my second graders will enjoy this book.  another book I can't wait to share with my class!  Click on the  book to watch the book trailer.