Social Studies

1. Borden, L.W.  (1999).  A. Lincoln and me.  New York: Scholastic.  A boy, who is often made fun of for his body structure, is compared to Abraham Lincoln.  This boy often feels out of place because
he is so tall and thin.  However, in order to make him feel better about himself, the extraordinary life of Abraham Lincoln is told to him.  The boy soon realizes he too can be anything he wants to be, and he does not feel so bad.  This book can be used in the classroom when talking about Abraham Lincoln.  It can also be used as leisurely reading in the classroom.

2. Buckley, H.E.  (1959).  Grandfather and I.  New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard.  Illustrated by  Paul Galdone, a boy and his grandfather take a long walk, in no hurry to get anywhere.  They don't
worry about the pace of their walk, but they talk about how many people are always in a hurry.  It is just important to the boy and his grandfather that they have this time together as it is to some people to get places quickly.  In the classroom, this book can be used to explain different generations of family members, and the relationships between the families.

3. Kleven, E.  (1996).  Hooray, a piñata.  New York: Dutton children's Books.  A young girl, or  Hispanic heritage, picks out a piñata for her birthday party, but soon grows attached to it and treats
it like her pet.  In the classroom, this book can introduce tradition, elaborate on a Hispanic tradition,
and explain how tradition is important in many cultures.

4. Lewin, T.  (1993).  Amazon boy. New York: Macmillan.  A Brazilian boy goes up the Amazon River to Belem, something he has been waiting for his birthday to do.  He learns the importance of the
river, the troubles it has seen, and what the river provides to the land and its people.  In the classroom, this book can be used to explain different cultures, families, the environment, survival, and new vocabulary.

5. Little, M.O.  (1996).  Yoshiko and the foreigner.  Canada: Harper Collins.  Written and illustrated by Mimi Otey Little, this book describes a Japanese girl afraid to talk to an American soldier who is
lost.  She finally realizes it is important for her to help him, and the two become secret friends.  He
begins to learn and understand the Japanese culture, but is sent back to America before he can meet
her family.  He later sends a letter asking for her hand in marriage, and she is faced with telling her
family about the American soldier.  In the classroom, this book can be used to explain different cultures, and the controversy of interracial marriages.  It can also be used to explain how the Japanese and Americans were enemies.

6. McCully, E.A.  (1998).  Beautiful warrior.  New York: Scholastic Press.  Written and illustrated by
Emily Arnold McCully, this book tells the lives of 2 girls, who go against the norm of their culture and learn Kung Fu.  One girl teaches Kung Fu, and saves the life of another girl.  She then proceeds to teach Kung Fu to the girl she saved, and if she is successfully taught she will be able to save herself from a horrible marriage.  In the classroom, this book can be used to teach different traditions in cultures.  It also defines the differences between what is expected of men and women in certain cultures.

7. Moss, M.  (1997).  Amelia hits the road.  New York: Scholastic.  This book describes the trip of a
young girl and what she does on it.  She tells of the places she is visiting, and what she encounters     along the way.  This book can be used to describe geography, and where certain places are in relation to one another.  This book can also be used for mathematics because of the different references to measurement, distance, time, and weight.  In addition, this book can be used as a picture book.

8. Williams, V.B.  (1982).  A chair for my mother.  New York: Greenwillow Brooks.  A child decides to start saving the money her mother gets from waitressing, and any other spare change she has, to buy
a comfortable armchair for their new apartment.  The family is forced to move when their apartment catches on fire.  In the classroom, this book can be used when talking about communities in Social Studies, and it also describes different types of families.  In addition to Social Studies, this book can be used when talking about money in math class, and how to save money.

9. Williams, V.B.  (1988).  Stringbean's trip to the shining sea.  New York: Greenwillow Books.  This book reveals postcards and pictures from Stringbean's vacation with his brother.  Stringbean
describes different spots they stopped at, and his reactions toward the trip.  It can be used in the
classroom to teach Geography.  This book can also introduce children to writing letters and keeping
a memory book.

 

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