Grades 3-5

Illustrator: Pamela Zagarenski
Houghton Mifflin, 2007
47 pages
Reading Level: 3.9

A phenomenal, unique collection of humorous and serious poems of apology and forgiveness awaits readers. Completely authored by sixth-grade students, responses to each apology are also included. From apologies for stealing the powdered sugar doughnuts (that left evidence on one's shirt) to the theft of the class lizard (now deceased), to the apology for putting a pet to sleep, the poems are supported by colorful illustrations that are just as creative as the poems they support. Cleverly arranged, the apologies come first, followed by the "Responses" section.

Illustrator: Beth Krommes
Houghton Mifflin, p2006
42 pages
Reading Level: 4.9
Meadow Animals

Donned with beautiful scratchboard illustrations, the paired poems on each two-page spread portray two interrelated elements of the meadows, such as hawk and prey. After each pairing, Sidman provides non-fiction information about each. A glossary of terms is also included.

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2007
181 pages
Reading Level: 5.8
Disabilities, cerebral palsy, single parent, friendship, free verse novel

Scholastic, Inc., 1997
32 pages
RL 3.9
Caldecott Medal Honor, 1998

Walter Dean Myers celebrates the sights, sounds, people, and hope of Harlem.

Joanna Cotler Books, 2001
86 pages
Reading Level: 4.1
Diaries, Authorship

A young student, confused by poetry's messages that stretch beyond the literal level, eventually allows his poems to be displayed as he discovers the enjoyment of authoring his own poetry. Readers will delight in the voice that is so apparent each time the boy gives his teacher permission to display his poems, each time qualifying the permission with, "But don't put my name on it, please"...until he learns to love poetry.

Little, Brown, 1999
32 pages
Reading Level: 4.2
Mother Goose Parodies, imitations, etc.

A fun collection of "updates" informing readers Mother Goose characters' fates in the "present day", readers will find great enjoyment in this humorous collection.

Sunburst, 2003
146 pages
Reading Level: 4.8
Friendship, self-confidence, individuality

Told in free-verse, an unexpected friendship between two completely different individuals blossoms.