A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla (1st-3rd)

A brief, illustrated biography of the Baptist minister and civil rights leader whose philosophy and practice of nonviolent civil disobedience helped American blacks win many battles for equal rights.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Free at Last by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla (3rd -6th)

This is a biography of the Baptist minister who worked unceasingly for his dream of a world without hate, prejudice, or violence, and was assassinated in the attempt.

 

Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? by Bonnie Bader and Elizabeth Wolf (3rd–6th)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was only 25 when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was soon organizing black people across the country in support of the right to vote, desegregation, and other basic civil rights. Maintaining nonviolent and peaceful tactics even when his life was threatened, King was also an advocate for the poor and spoke out against racial and economic injustice until his death—from an assassin’s bullet—in 1968.

 

My First Biography: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Marion Dane Bauer and Jamie Smith (PreK-3rd)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a great man. His words changed the way people thought, and his actions spurred them on to change the world. With simple, lyrical text and bold, kid-friendly illustrations, this book introduces Dr. King to the youngest readers and encourages them to change the world.

 

Martin Luther King by Rosemary L. Bray and Malcah Zeldis (K–3rd)

Powerful folk-art paintings and an accessible, fact-filled text add up to a moving portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr., and his courageous fight for human rights.

 

Free At Last: The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull (3rd-5th)

Free at Last! is a biography of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., who encouraged nonviolent protest to fulfill his dream of an America where people would be judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin.

 

I Have a Dream: The Story of Martin Luther King by Margaret Davidson (1st-4th)

This is an inspiring portrait of a man who changed the course of American history.

 

My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Christine King Farris and Chris Soentpiet (1st-4th)

Long before he became a world-famous dreamer, Martin Luther King Jr. was a little boy who played jokes and practiced the piano and made friends without considering race. But growing up in the segregated south of the 1930s taught young Martin a bitter lesson: little white children and little black children were not to play with one another. Martin decided then and there that something had to be done. And so he began the journey that would change the course of American history.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Story of Our Nation from Coast to Coast, from 1948 to 1976 by Sally Senzell Isaacs (PreK-3rd)

This book tells readers about life in the United States during the time of Martin Luther King, Jr.

My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. by Coretta Scott King (5th-6th)

This personal, inspirational account of the history of the Civil Rights Movement describes the author’s relationship with Martin Luther King, Jr., detailing their marriage, the events of the 1960s, and King’s tragic assassination.

 

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr., and Kadir Nelson (K– 3rd)

On August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther King gave one of the most powerful and memorable speeches in our nation’s history. His words, paired with Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson’s magnificent paintings, make for a picture book certain to be treasured by children and adults alike. The themes of equality and freedom for all are not only relevant today, 50 years later, but also provide young readers with an important introduction to our nation’s past.

 

If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King by Ellen Levine and Beth Peck (2nd-5th)

This book tells you what it was like during the exciting era when Martin Luther King, Jr., led the fight against segregation.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. by Wil Mara (1st-3rd)

This book presents a brief look at the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. Jr. by Jean Marzollo, J. Brian Pinkney and J. Pinkney (PreK-3rd)

This book is a study of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., told in simple, straightforward language for even the youngest of readers to understand. Pinkney’s scratchboard and oil pastel illustrations convey both the strength and gentleness of King’s character. Both text and art carry his central message of peace and brotherhood among all people.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day by Margaret McNamara and Mike Gordon (PreK-2nd)

When Mrs. Conner’s class learns about a great man, they discover their own dreams and hopes for a better world!

 

As Good as Anybody: Martin Luther King and Abraham Joshua Heschel’s Amazing March Toward Freedom by Richard Michelson and Raul Colon (2nd-6th)

Martin Luther King, Jr.. and Abraham Joshua Heschel: their names stand for a quest for justice and equality. Martin grew up in a loving family in the American South at a time when this country was plagued by racial discrimination. He aimed to put a stop to it. Abraham grew up in a loving family many years earlier in a Europe that did not welcome Jews. He found a new home in America, where he became a respected rabbi like his father, carrying a message of peace and acceptance. Here is the story of two icons for social justice, how they formed a remarkable friendship, and turned their personal experiences of discrimination into a message of love and equality for all.

 

Meet Martin Luther King, Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore and Amy Wummer (PreK-3rd)

Beginning with King’s childhood and following his life through his “I Have a Dream” speech and subsequent death, this book reveals (in age-appropriate language) how King ended segregation in America and influenced the way we live our lives today.

 

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier (K– 3rd)

This picture-book biography is an excellent introduction to the great civil rights leader. Ends with ”His big words are alive for us today.”

 

My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold (K-4th)

This book from the acclaimed creator of the Caldecott Honor Book Tar Beach offers a personal and captivating portrait of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Thank You, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Eleanora E. Tate (3rd-6th)

Mary Eloise is disappointed that the part she gets in the school play is that of Black History narrator-but two storytellers visit her school and change how she views her heritage.

Snow:

 

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino (2nd-4th)

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered in this visually stunning exploration of the science of snow. Perfect for reading on winter days, the book features photos of real snow crystals in their beautiful diversity. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included.

 

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost and Susan Jeffers (PreK-3rd)

This picture-book presentation of Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is an enduring favorite.

 

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (PreK-2nd)

This 1963 Caldecott Medal winner is the story of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a day of simple adventures-experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day.

 

The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll & Jeni Bassett (PreK-3rd)

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! This is a sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Biggest Pumpkin Ever!

 

The Ice Bear by Jackie Morris (PreK-2nd)

Back in a time when people and animals lived together in harmony, a bear-child is stolen away from his mother. A hunter and his wife find the child, and wrapping him in sealskin, they sing him songs of the ice, the wind, and the great white bears. One day the child wanders off and a bear comes to take him back to his mother. But by now the hunter is on the trail, determined to kill the creature that has taken his child. Set in the pristine polar regions of the Arctic, Jackie Morris’s beautiful story reminds us that we are caretakers of these wild creatures and our actions directly affect their future.

 

The Snow Leopard by Jackie Morris (1st-4th)

From the beginning of time, high above the hidden valley in the Himalayas, Snow Leopard has sung the stars to life, the sun to rise, and the moon to wax and wane. He has woven words of protection to keep the enshrouded valley safe from the world. But time is passing, and Snow Leopard must find a singer who will follow him. Moreover, the arrival of soldiers looking for gold and slaves poses a new and dire threat. As he sings, a child lies dreaming the song down in the valley beneath. . . . Jackie Morris’s poetic text and superb artwork create a new myth with a timely message.

 

Fancy Nancy: There’s No Day Like a Snow Day by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (PreK-2nd)

Even a snow day is fancy when Nancy is around! Ooh la la! It’s a blizzard. School is canceled. And Nancy, JoJo, Bree, and Freddy are very excited to go outside and play. From making snow angels to building snowmen to catching snowflakes . . . everyone has “snow” much fun!

 

The Snow Globe Family by Jane O’Connor and S.D. Schindler (K-2nd)

Oh, when will it snow again? wonders the little family who live in the snow globe. They long for a snowstorm. If only someone in the big family would pick up the snow globe and give it a shake. Baby would love to. She notices the little family, but the snow globe is too high for her to reach. But then Baby is alone during a snowstorm. Will the snow globe family get a chance to go sledding, too?

 

The Story of the Snow Children by Sibylle Olfers (K-2nd)

Poppy is gazing out of the window at the snow when suddenly she sees that the snowflakes are really Snow Children, dancing and whirling in the garden. Soon they whisk her away to the Snow Queen’s wintry kingdom. From the author of The Story of the Root Children, this is another classic children’s story with beautiful illustrations in the art-nouveau style.

 

Curious George in the Snow by H. A. Rey and Margaret Rey (K-3rd)

George and the man with the yellow hat enjoy watching the winter sports competition. When they stop to warm up with some cocoa, George’s curiosity about the racing equipment leads to some wild rides up and down the slopes. He creates quite a stir at the resort, and may even create a new sport!

 

Snow by Cynthia Rylant and Lauren Stringer (PreK-2nd)

Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical descriptions of the sights and feelings evoked by falling snow blend gorgeously with the rich and beautiful world created by Lauren Stringer’s illustrations, in which a young girl, her friend, and her grandmother enjoy the many things a snowy day has to offer.

 

The Snow Day by Komako Sakai (PreK-2nd)

This is considered by many to be the best snow day book since Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day . . . A young rabbit wakes up to wonderful news: A snow day! School is canceled, and the day that follows is rich with the magic and delight of the falling snow. And yet there is longing too, as the young rabbit and his mother wait for news of his father grounded on a plane in a faraway city. . . . The news that his father will be home tomorrow gives the book a peaceful and comforting ending.

 

Snow by Uri Shulevitz (PreK-2nd)

No one thinks one or two snowflakes will amount to anything. Not the man with the hat or the lady with the umbrella. Not even the television or the radio forecasters. But one boy and his dog have faith that the snow will amount to something spectacular, and when flakes start to swirl down on the city, they are also the only ones who know how to truly enjoy it.

 

Cold Snap by Eileen Spinelli and Marjorie Priceman (K-2nd)

It’s snowy cold in the town of Toby Mills. The thermometer is sinking toward zero, and the icicle hanging from the nose of General Toby’s statue is growing closer to the ground. The newspaper headline reads “COLD SNAP!” The people of the town are losing hope—and the feeling in their toes—until the mayor’s wife saves the day with a toasty treat.

 

Brave Irene by William Steig (K-3rd)

Brave Irene is Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker’s daughter. Her mother, Mrs. Bobbin, isn’t feeling so well and can’t possibly deliver the beautiful ball gown she’s made for the duchess to wear that very evening. So Irene volunteers to get the gown to the palace on time, in spite of the fierce snowstorm that’s brewing-quite an errand for a little girl. She must defy the wiles of the wicked wind, her most formidable opponent, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission.

 

Snow by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace (PreK-1st)

A reminiscence of familiar wintery adventures told by a rabbit grandfather includes a few rabbity twists: sledding, snowball fights, making a “snow rabbit” (whose carrot serves as nourishment, not as a nose), culminating with the traditional mug of cocoa.

 

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen (K-3rd)

A girl and her father go owling on a moonlit winter night near the farm where they live. Bundled tight in wool clothes, they trudge through snow “whiter than the milk in a cereal bowl”; here and there, hidden in ink-blue shadows, a fox, raccoon, field mouse, and deer watch them pass. An air of expectancy builds as Pa imitates the Great Horned Owl’s call once without answer, then again.

 

Penguins:

 

Penguins by Gail Gibbons (1st-4th)

An informative presentation of the penguin’s habitat, physical characteristics, and behavior, Includes a map of the Southern Hemisphere where each type of penguin lives.

 

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger (PreK-2nd)

Tacky’s perfect friends find him annoying until his odd behavior saves the day.

 

Three Cheers for Tacky (Tacky the Penguin) by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger (PreK-2nd)

Tacky the Penguin is back, this time trying to compete with Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect in the iceberg-wide Penguin Cheering Contest. But will Tacky ever be able to learn the synchronized moves and win the contest?

 

Tacky in Trouble (Tacky the Penguin) by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger (PreK-2nd)

Tacky the Penguin goes windsurfing and ends up on a tropical island, captive to an elephant who, upon seeing Tacky’s floral Hawaiian shirt, mistakes him for a bouquet of flowers. The elephant thinks that Tacky would make a pretty centerpiece, so she arranges him in a vase and sets him on her table.

 

Tacky and the Winter Games (Tacky the Penguin) by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger (PreK-2nd)

“A-huff-and-a-puff-and-a-huff-and-a-puff-and-a-huff-and-a-puff.” “WHAT’S HAPPENING?” Tacky the penguin wants to know. The Winter Games: that’s what’s happening. And Tacky and his fellow penguins Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect have to work hard to get in shape so they can represent Team Nice Icy Land in the athletic competitions. After rigorous training, they’re ready - but are the games ready for Tacky? Will his antics keep Team Nice Icy Land from winning a medal?

 

Tacky Goes to Camp (Tacky the Penguin) by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger (PreK-2nd)

Tacky and his fellow penguins are off to summer camp in Nice Icy Land to enjoy some Rock Hopping, Line Dancing, and Capture the Ice Cube. One night they gather around the campfire to sing, eat s’mores, and tell scary stories. But after going to bed, something straight out of one of their scary stories pays the sleeping penguins a visit. Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect think they should hightail it out of there, but not Tacky!

 

Tackylocks and the Three Bears (Tacky the Penguin) by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger (PreK-2nd)

How do you keep a crowd of energetic young penguins entertained? Put on a play, perhaps? But will they pay attention through an entire performance? If Tacky’s center stage, they might. So what if the set is in shambles? This is one performance Mrs. Beakly’s students won’t soon forget.

 

Little Penguin: The Emperor of Antarctica by Jonathan London and Julie Olson (PreK-2nd)

From the time the little penguin crawls out of his cracked egg, cradled on his father s feet, until the day when he goes off to live at sea alone, he is a majestic figure in an extraordinary setting the emperor of Antarctica. He faces natural predators and the struggles of survival in a challenging climate. Then one day he cradles his own little penguin on his feet.

 

Penguin Chick (Let’s Read and Find…Science) by Liz Pichon (K-3rd)

An emperor penguin lays an egg on the Antarctic ice. In the bitter cold, miles away from the only source of food, how can the chick survive?

 

Penguins by Liz Pichon (K-3rd)

Penguins do the same thing every day. They swim, eat fish, sleep standing up, look at people, and look at more people. It’s an ordinary day at the zoo until a little girl drops something into the penguin pen.

 

A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis (PreK-2nd)

Edna the penguin only knows the three colors that surround her: white ice, black night, and blue sea. She is convinced there is something more out there. So she sets out on a quest—a quest for color. When she finally finds what she’s been looking for, it’s everything she hoped for and more. But that doesn’t mean she will ever stop looking.

 

Curious George at the Aquarium by Margaret Rey, H.A. Rey, R. P. Anderson and Anna Grossnickle Hines (PreK-2nd)

Beluga whales! Sea lions! Sharp-toothed piranhas! Curious George at the Aquarium is a lively story based on the popular primate. The aquarium is the perfect place for a little monkey to get into big trouble.

 

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (PreK-2nd)

In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango’s family is not like any of the others.

 

National Geographic Readers: Penguins! by Anne Schreiber (K-3rd)

They waddled into stardom in National Geographic’s March of the Penguins film. These guys are now nature’s ROCK STARS! If you’re age 5, you’re probably as tall as an Emperor. But why do they throw up so much? March this way, and find out all!

 

Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems by Judy Sierra, Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey (PreK-2nd)

Judy Sierra, Jose Aruego, and Ariane Dewey invite you into the world of an Emperor penguin family and their wild, slip-sliding, rhyming fun.

 

 

 

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater (1st-5th)

A classic of American humor, the story of adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations.

 

About Average by Andrew Clements and Mark Elliot (4th-6th)

Can Average be amazing? A girl challenges herself to become extraordinary. Jordan Johnston is average. Not short, not tall. Not plump, not slim. Not blond, not brunette. Not gifted, not flunking out. Even her shoe size is average. But everyone else? They’re remarkable. She sees evidence everywhere—on TV, in magazines, and even in her classroom. Jordan feels doomed to a life of wallowing in the vast, soggy middle. So she makes a goal: By the end of the year, she will discover her great talent. By the end of the year, she will no longer be average. She will find a way to become extraordinary, and everyone will know about it! Well known for his expert ability to relate to kids in a school setting, bestselling author Andrew Clements presents a compelling story of the greatest achievement possible: personal acceptance.

 

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements and Mark Elliot (4th-6th)

It isn’t that Abby Carson can’t do her schoolwork. She just doesn’t like doing it. And consequently, Abby will have to repeat sixth grade—unless she meets some specific conditions, including taking on an extra credit project: find a pen pal in a distant country. But when Abby’s first letter arrives at a small school in Afghanistan, complications arise. The elders agree that any letters going back to America must be written well, but the only qualified English-speaking student is a boy. And in this village, it’s not proper for a boy to correspond with a girl. So Sadeed’s sister will dictate and sign the letters for him. But what about the villagers who believe that girls should not be anywhere near a school? And what about those who believe that any contact with Americans is…unhealthy?

 

Troublemaker by Andrew Clements and Mark Elliot (4th-6th)

Once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker? There’s a folder in Principal Kelling’s office that’s as thick as a phonebook and it’s growing daily. It’s filled with the incident reports of every time Clayton Hensley broke the rules. There’s the minor stuff like running in the hallways and not being where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there. But then there are also reports that show Clay’s own brand of troublemaking, like the most recent addition: the art teacher has said that the class should spend the period drawing anything they want and Clay decides to be extra “creative” and draw a spot-on portrait of Principal Kellings…as a donkey. It’s a pretty funny joke, but really, Clay is coming to realize that the biggest joke of all may be on him. When his big brother, Mitchell, gets in some serious trouble, Clay decides to change his own mischief making ways…but he can’t seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker.

 

Snow Dog by Jim Kjelgaard (4th-6th)

The steel gray Husky Chiri was just a puppy when he watched the black wolf kill his mother and two brothers. Left alone in the snow-covered land with the coyote, caribou, and grizzly, Chiri learned to fend for himself, to hunt and survive by his keen instinct and natural intelligence. Now full-grown and full of courage and cunning, Chiri forms a tentative bond with trapper Link Stevens, the only human he’s ever learned to trust. But the Husky knows that one day soon he will have to face the black wolf again-and this time only one of them will survive.

 

Magic Tree House #32: Winter of the Ice Wizard by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca (1st-3rd)

Merlin the magician and Morgan le Fay have disappeared, and in order to find them, Jack and Annie journey with their friends Teddy and Kathleen to the Land-Behind-the-Clouds, a frozen kingdom of ice and snow. There they must overcome their fears and solve the Ice Wizard’s riddle, because if Jack and Annie don’t complete their mission in time, Merlin and Morgan will disappear forever!

 

Magic Tree House #40: Eve of the Emperor Penguin by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca (1st-3rd)

Jack and Annie continue their quest for the secrets of happiness—secrets they need to save Merlin. This time, the Magic Tree House takes them to the one continent they haven’t visited before: Antarctica! What can they hope to learn about happiness in such a barren place? Only the penguins know for sure . . . Jack and Annie are about to find out!

 

Junie B. Jones #20: Toothless Wonder! by Barbara Park and Denise Brunkus (1st-3rd)

Yikes . . . It’s a looth tooth! One of Junie B. Jones’s top front teeth is loose! Only Junie B. is not that thrilled about this development. Because what if she looks like toothless Uncle Lou? And even worse . . . what’s all this tooth fairy business? Like, who is this woman, really? And what does she do with all those used teeth? So many questions, so little time.

 

The Mystery in the Snow (The Boxcar Children, No. 32) by Gertrude Chandler Warner (2nd-5th)

The Boxcar Children Mysteries are about young orphaned children who survive on their own in an abandoned boxcar. The Aldens spend winter vacation at Snow Haven lodge.