Croco'nile

By: Roy Gerrard

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd. Excellent for storytelling and easy for children to follow.

Plot: A brother and sister, Hamut and Nekatu, became friends with a baby crocodile. One night they stowed away on a boat and before they knew it, they were hundreds of miles away from home. The captain left them with trusted friends and they became very skilled and popular at young ages. They were captured by slave traders. When the ship capsizes, the crocodile is there to save them and take them home.

Characters: Hamut, Nekatu, and the crocodile.

Setting: Ancient Egypt

Theme: Friends are always there to help you when you least expect it.

Illustrations: By Roy Gerrard. Paintings.

A Pocketful of Poems

By: Nikki Grimes

Genre: Poetry

Age  Range: 2nd - 4th. The poems are short and easy to follow with simple rhyme schemes making it simple for kids just being introduced to poetry to get into it.

Plot: Short poems describing everyday things that children can encounter everyday.

Characters: Tiana, Mama, Daddy

Setting: Harlem

Illustrations: By Javaka Steptoe. Two page illustrations accompanying each poem. Mixed media.

Gingerbread Days

By: Joyce Carol Thomas

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 3rd - 5th. There are varying rhyme schemes which can help kids new to poetry recognize that poetry is different. The styles vary but are not too difficult to follow.

Plot: This book of African-American poetry has a poem for each month of the year. Each poem reflects traditions or activities that are associated with the month.

Setting: 1960's/70's

illustrations: By Floyd Cooper.  A full page illustration accompanies each poem using colors often associated with that month or celebration. Painting.

Equity Issues: No gender-bias or stereotypes.

A Suitcase of Seaweed

By: Janet S. Wong

Genre: Poetry

Age Range: 4th - 8th. The poems have no clear rhyme scheme and have varying styles that can confuse younger kids who are just being introduced to poetry.

Plot: The poems are divided into three groups: Korean, Chinese, and American. Each section describes a certain part of the author. Mother is Korean, father is chinese, and the author is American.

Characters: Author, Father, Mother, Grandfather.

Equity Issues: No stereotypes or gender bias

Deep Blues: Bill Traylor, Self-taught artist

By: Mary E. Lyons

Genre: Biography Nonfiction

Age Range: 3rd-6th. An easy read for fluent readers but not challenging enough for older readers.

Content: The story of Bill Traylor, a former slave with no formal art training. Contains photos of him, his work, and some depicting what life was like back then. The end of the book contains an index and a sources list for those who would like to learn more.

Organization: It begins with Bill's childhood going to the time he passed all throughout showing various painting and drawings that are related to those events.

Ilusstrations: Bill Traylor's works of art, photos of himself, and various photos showing what life was like. Photo credit given in captions.

Norman Rockwell: Storyteller with a Brush

By: Beverly Gherman

Genre: Biography Nonfiction

Age Range: 4th- 6th. The reading isn't difficult but it is lengthy and younger readers may have difficulty paying attention or remaining interested.

Content: Story of Norman Rockwell and how he became an artist. The back of the book contains a bibliography and an index for all his paintings.

Organization: It begins in Norman Rockwell's childhood and explains how became interested in drawing. From there describing the different events that influenced his art, his family life, and how they all tied together.

Illustrations. Norman Rockwell's paintings and photographs of his family and himself.

Seeing the Circle

By: Joseph Bruchac

Genre: Biography non-fiction

Age Range: K - 2nd. Easy read with short simple sentences and little writing on each page.

Content: A short story of Joseph Bruchac and how he became a storyteller and writer.

Organization: It begins with Joseph Bruchac explaining his daily activities, then his Native American heritage, his childhood and how these events influenced him to become a storyteller and writer.

Illustrations by: John Christopher Fine. Photographs of Joseph Bruchac doing daily activities.