Bibliography
Theme 10: A World of Animals
The books listed below may be available through publishers, distributors such as bookstores or online retailers, or library systems.
Recommended Books for Browsing
Animal ABC's
by the World Wildlife Fund
Cedco 1997 (28p)
Stunning color photographs show animals of the land and sea for each letter of the alphabet.
Science
Sweet Dreams
by Kimiko Kajikawa
Holt 1999 (32p)
Simple rhyming verse describes the many different ways animals sleep.
Science
A Kitten's Year
by Nancy Raines Day
Harper 2000 (32p)
A kitten paws and pounces its way through the months of a year.
I Had a Hippopotamus
by Hector Viveros Lee
Lee & Low 1998 (32p) also paper
A boy imagines what he would do with the creatures in his box of animal crackers. Available in Spanish as Yo tenía un hipopótamo.
Multicultural
Animals in the Fall
by Gail Saunders-Smith
Pebble 1998 (24p) also paper
In autumn, geese fly south, bears find dens, and squirrels build nests.
Science
Giant Pandas
by Marcia S. Freeman
Pebble 1999 (24p)
Simple text and photos describe the giant panda, a native of China, and its behavior.
Science
Tabby
by Aliki
Harper 1995 (32p)
In this wordless story, a kitten's first year with its new family is one of growth and exploration.
Multicultural
Little Lions
by Jim Arnosky
Putnam 1998 (32p)
On a rocky ledge, two mountain lion cubs play under the protection of their mother.
Science
I Love Animals
by Flora McDonnell
Candlewick 1994 (32p)
From dogs and ducks to pigs and ponies, a girl tells about the farm animals she loves.
Recommended Books for Teacher Read Aloud
Whistle for Willie
by Ezra Jack Keats
Viking 1964 (32p) also paper
An African American boy learns to whistle for his dog. Available in Spanish as Sílbale a Willie.
Multicultural
Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey
Viking 1948 (56p) also paper
Picking blueberries on a hillside, a girl and a bear cub have a surprise meeting.
Classic
Ducks Don't Get Wet
by Augusta Goldin
Harper 1999 (32p) also paper
Wild ducks can swim in the water without getting wet. See others in series.
Science
Harry the Dirty Dog
by Gene Zion
Harper 1956 (32p) also paper
The classic story about a dog, some dirt, and a bath. Available in Spanish as Harry, el perrito sucio.
Science
The Mitten
by Jan Brett
Putnam 1989 (32p)
A rabbit, an owl, a fox, and even a bear all squeeze into a boy's lost mitten in this Ukrainian folktale.
* Henny Penny
by Paul Galdone
Clarion 1968 (32p) also paper
Convinced the sky is falling, Henny Penny and her friends rush off to tell the king.
Classic
Coyote
by Gerald McDermott
Harcourt (32p) also paper
Coyote persuades some crows to help him fly in this Native American trickster tale. Available in Spanish as Coyote.
Multicultural
Each Living Thing
by Joanne Ryder
Harcourt 2000 (32p)
Poetic text asks readers to care for each living thing.
Nuts to You!
by Lois Ehlert
A frisky squirrel digs up bulbs, steals birdseed, and enters a house through a tear in a screen.
The Hatseller and the Monkeys
by Baba Wagué Diakité
Scholastic 1999 (32p)
A band of mischievous monkeys steals Bamusa's hats in an African version of a familiar tale.
Multicultural
The Bossy Gallito
by Lucía M. Gonzalez
Scholastic 1999 (32p) paper
A bossy rooster learns a lesson about politeness. Text in English and Spanish.
Multicultural
Recommended Books for Shared Reading
Way Out in the Desert
by T. J. Marsh and J. Watson
Rising Moon (32p)
A song introduces readers to the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert.
Music
Roar! A Noisy Counting Book
by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Harper 2000 (32p)
One lion cub and his nine cubmates roar much too loudly for their animal neighbors.
Math
What Does the Rabbit Say?
by Jacque Hall
Bantam 2000 (32p)
A boy and girl wonder what kind of sound their pet rabbit makes.
From Head to Toe
by Eric Carle
Harper 1997 (32p)
Children imitate animal movement.
Little White Duck
by Walt Whipp
Little 2000 (32p)
A duck causes a commotion on the pond in this song.
Music
* Do Pigs Have Stripes?
by Melanie Walsh
Houghton 1996 (40p)
Bright pictures illustrate a series of silly questions about animals. See others in series.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
by Eric Carle
Holt 1991 (32p) also paper
Children learn about animal sounds in this patterned story.
Recommended Books for Phonics Read Aloud
Bugs for Lunch
by Margery Facklam
Charlesbridge 1999 (32p)
Rhyming verse introduces creatures that eat bugs.
Hug Bug
by Karen Hoenecke
School Zone 1997 (8p) paper
A girl's favorite bug is the one that wears a silly hat.
Jamberry
by Bruce Degen
Harper 1983 (32p) also paper
A boy and a bear share a berry picking adventure.