The Littlest Wolf

By: Larry Dane Brimner

Genre: Traditional

Age Range: K-3rd grade. Talking animals, center of own world, striving to accomplish skills, peer-group acceptance, and repetition are all reasons why this book fits for this age group.

Plot: As Big Gray watched over his pups playing in the fields, he found Little One hiding up against a great oak tree. Asking why he wasn't playing, Little Wolf told Big Gray that he wasn't as good as his brothers and sister. Each time Big Gray said "That is as it should be". With each time, Little Wolf became more confident and accepting of himself. At the end of the day, Big Gray tells Little Wolf to remember the acorns on the great oak tree and see what they become.

Characters: Little Wolf, Big Gray, Tyler, Frankie, and Ana

Setting: Bright sunny day in a field.

Theme: Acceptance of self and realizing one's own potential.

Illustrations: Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. Big, bright illustrations taking up more space on the pages than words keep children's attention while also helping tell the story.

Puss in Boots

By: Charles Perrault

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: K-3rd grade. This book is appropriate for this age group because of the talking animals, the pictures go hand-in-hand with the reading keeping the attention of young readers, and allows for expansion of language.

Plot: A miller dies and leaves nothing for his three sons except his mill, donkey, and cat. They divide them up with the oldest getting the mill, second oldest getting the donkey, and the youngest getting the cat. The youngest is unhappy but the cat promises him it will be worth his while. The cat begins to catch game and give it to the game saying it is from his master, the Marquis of Carabas. The king is very pleased and Puss continues to manipulate and out smart everyone including a giant Ogre. Puss tricked him into turning into a mouse and ate him leaving his lands and castle to his master. This impressed the king so much that the Marquis married the princess that same day.

Characters: Puss, the Marquis of Carabas (the youngest son), and the Ogre.

Setting: French countryside hundreds of years ago

Theme: Little things can accomplish big tasks

Illustrations: Fred Marcellino; Following the story exactly, the illustrations help to keep the attention of the children allowing them to also see the story and help keep up.

Awards: Caldecott  Medal (1990)

Lon Po Po

By: Ed Young

Genre: Traditional

Age Range: 3rd grade - 5th grade. Reading level is increasing as well as independent reading. Children are able to see problems more clearly and have a sense of right and wrong as well as a sense of justice. This is a folk tale and is intriguing to this age group.

Plot: A Chinese version of the famous story "Little Red Riding Hood", a mother leaves her three children Shang, Tao, and Paotze alone for the night to go visit their grandmother. While gone, a wolf tricks the children and gets into the house. The oldest, Shang, finds out it is the wolf, tricks the wolf using gingko nuts and saves herself and her sisters.

Characters: Shang, Tao, Paotze, and the wolf.

Setting: Deep in the woods of ancient China

Theme: Chinese version of "Little Red Riding Hood"; folk tale

Illustrations: Watercolor illustrations help visualize beautifully what is happening through out the story.

Awards: Caldecott Medal (1990)

When Sophie Gets Angry

By: Molly Bang

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: K-3rd grade. It is an easy read for young children with vibrant illustrations. Different punctuation and accents help to teach emphasis on different words while reading. This is also a nice book for any child who may have trouble dealing with their anger/frustration.

Plot: When her sister takes away her toy and her mom allows it, Sophie becomes very, very angry. She wants to smash and explode. Instead she runs and climbs a tree in the woods and it calms her down. After, she comes home and all is well.

Characters: Sophie, her sister, and her mom.

Setting: Small house in the woods.

Theme: Everyone has different ways of dealing with anger and frustration.

Illustrations: The illustrations are vibrant and eye catching. Keeping their attention will be no problem.