Books for Independent Reading
VERY EASY
- Taking a Walk: A Book in Two
Languages/Caminando: Un libro en
dos lenguas
- by Rebecca Emberley
(Social Studies)
Little 1990 (26p)
A walk through the neighborhood. In
English and Spanish.
- My Perfect Neighborhood
- by Leah Komaiko
(Social Studies)
Harper 1990 (32p)
On a walk through her city
neighborhood, a girl delights in what
she sees.
- We Keep Store
- by Anne Shelby
(Multicultural)
Orchard 1990 (32p)
A young girl helps her family run their
general store in the country.
- Car Washing Street
- by Denise Patrick Lewis
(Multicultural)
Tambourine 1993 (32p)
It's Saturday and all the neighbors are
washing their cars.
- David Plays Hide-and-Seek in the
City/David juega al escondite en la
ciudad
- by Dolores Mayorga
(Social Studies)
Lerner 1992 (24p)
David and his friends find places and
objects. In English and Spanish.
- City Seen from A to Z
- by Rachel Isadora
Greenwillow 1983 (32p)
This alphabet book draws on an urban setting, one word for
each letter.
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- by Nikki Giovanni
(Multicultural)
Scholastic 1994 (28p)
A poem that celebrates community life
in summer.
EASY
- Down Buttermilk Lane
- by Barbara Mitchell
(Social Studies)
Lothrop 1993 (32p)
A typical day in the life of an Amish
family.
- A Is for Aloha
- by Stephanie Feeney
(Multicultural)
U. of Hawaii Press 1985 (64p)
Alphabet book showing everyday lives
of Hawaii University children.
- City Green
- by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan
(Social Studies)
Morrow 1994 (32p)
A community works together to turn a
vacant lot into a garden.
- Fly Away Home
- by Eve Bunting
Clarion 1991 (32p); 1993 paper
A homeless boy and his father survive
by living in an airport.
- This Home We Made/Esta casa que
hemos hecho
- by Anne Hammond and Joseph Matunis
(Social Studies)
Crown 1993 (28p)
A homeless child watches a parade in
hopes of finding a home. In English
and Spanish.
- Wanda's Roses
- by Pat Brisson
(Social Studies)
Boyds Mill 1994 (32p)
Wanda's neighbors help her brighten up
the community with flowers.
- Mr. Griggs' Work
- by Cynthia Rylant
Orchard 1989 (32p)
Mr. Griggs loves his post office job
and worries when he becomes ill.
- It Takes a Village
- by Jane Cowen-Fletcher
(Multicultural)
Scholastic 1994 (32p)
A West African girl learns that the
entire community is looking after her
and her brother.
- Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon
Quilt
- by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Lothrop 1983 (32p)
When they discover the fun of quilting,
the men challenge the women to a
contest.
- My Place in Space
- by Robin and Sally Hirst
(Science/Health)
Orchard 1988 (32p); 1992 paper
Henry tells a bus driver exactly where
he lives, from the street and town to
the solar system and galaxy.
AVERAGE
- Pearl Moscowitz's Last Stand
- by Arthur Levine
(Multicultural)
Tambourine 1993 (32p)
Neighbors conspire to keep the city
from cutting down the last tree on their
street.
- Busybody Nora
- by Johanna Hurwitz
Morrow 1990 (63p); Puffin 1991 paper
Curious Nora lives in an apartment in
New York City.
- Loop the Loop
- by Barbara Dugan
Greenwillow 1992 (32p); Puffin 1993
paper
Anne befriends a wheelchair-bound
neighbor who knows wonderful yoyo
tricks.
- I Know a Lady
- by Charlotte Zolotow
Morrow 1992 (24p); also paper
A story of the friendship between an
older woman and the children in her
neighborhood. Available in Spanish
asMi amiga la Señora Mayor.
- Saturday Market
- by Patricia Grossman
(Multicultural)
Lothrop 1994 (32p)
A Mexican market comes to life each
Saturday.
- Vejigante Masquerader
- by Lulu Delacre
(Multicultural)
Scholastic 1993 (38p)
Ramon wants a costume to wear in the
neighborhoodcarnaval. In English
and Spanish.
- Tonibah and the Rainbow
- by Jack Crowder
(Multicultural)
Upper Strata 1986 (32p)
When Tonibah's home burns to the
ground, neighbors help build her
family a new hogan. In English and
Navajo.
- My New York
- by Kathy Jacobsen
(Social Studies)
Little 1993 (32p)
A New York girl describes her city in
letters to a Midwestern friend.
- Tar Beach
- by Faith Ringgold
(Multicultural)
Crown 1991 (32p)
One magical evening, Cassie Lightfoot
flies over her neighborhood.
- Jasmine's Parlour Day
- by Lynn Joseph
(Multicultural)
Lothrop 1994 (32p)
In a Trinidad village, everyone prepares
for Parlour Day (Market Day).
- Mrs. Katz and Tush
- by Patricia Polacco
(Multicultural)
Bantam 1992 (32p)
A young boy and an elderly woman
share the care of an abandoned kitten.
- Sing to the Stars
- by Mary Brigid Barrett
(Multicultural)
Little 1994 (32p)
A blind neighbor, once a famous jazz
musician, urges a boy to play his
violin in a neighborhood concert.
- Hopscotch Around the World
- by Mary D. Lankford
(Multicultural)
Morrow 1992 (48p)
Seventeen versions of this
neighborhood favorite game from
around the globe.
- Tonight Is Carnaval
- by Arthur Dorros
(Multicultural)
Dutton 1991 (32p)
A Peruvian family prepares to enjoy
the neighborhoodcarnaval. Available
in Spanish asPor fin es Carnaval.
- Apple Picking Time
- by Michele Benoit Slawson
Crown 1994 (32p)
When it's time to pick apples,
everyone in town helps.
- By the Dawn's Early Light
- by Karen Ackerman
Atheneum 1994 (32p)
While their mother works, two
youngsters take care of their
grandmother. Available in Spanish as
Al amanecer.
- Mrs. Peachtree and the Eighth
Avenue Cat
- by Erica Silverman
Macmillan 1994 (32p)
Mrs. Peachtree and the neighborhood
stray cat become good friends.
- The City by the Bay: A Magical
Journey Around San Francisco
- by Tricia Brown
Chronicle 1993 (28p)
Explores the neighborhoods and
provides facts about San Francisco.
CHALLENGING
- Come Home with Me: A Multicultural
Treasure Hunt
- by Aylette Jenness
(Multicultural)
New Press 1993 (48p)
Through different ethnic
neighborhoods, children search for
clues to find various objects.
- Pueblo Boy: Growing Up in Two
Worlds
- by Marcia Keegan
(Multicultural)
Cobblehill 1992
The life of a ten-year-old Pueblo boy
living in contemporary New Mexico is
described.
- City Within a City: How Kids Live in
New York's Chinatown
- by Kathleen Krull
(Multicultural)
Lodestar 1994 (48p)
Reflects traditional and contemporary
lifestyles of kids in Chinatown.
- The Other Side: How Kids Live in a
California Latino Neighborhood
- by Kathleen Krull
(Multicultural)
Lodestar 1994 (48p)
Three Mexican American children show
off their neighborhoods.
- Tikvah Means Hope
- by Patricia Polacco
(Multicultural)
Doubleday 1994 (40p)
An Oakland Jewish community finds
hope after the fires of 1992.
- La calle es libre (The Street Is Free)
- by Kurusa Ekaré
1989 (48p)
Working together, children make a
difference in their Venezuelan
community. Text in Spanish.
- Eskimo Boy: Life in an Inupiaq
Eskimo Village
- by Russ Kendall
Scholastic 1992 (32p)
Readers are introduced to a seven-year-old Inupiaq boy living in a small
Alaskan village.
Books for Teachers to Read Aloud
- Letting Swift River Go
- by Jane Yolen
Little 1992 (32p)
A young girl's hometown is flooded to
create the Quabbin Reservoir in
Massachusetts.
- Taxi Cab Blues
- by Barbara Ann Porte
Greenwillow 1992 (56p)
Abigail and Sam's father, a cab driver,
tells them wonderful stories about his
passengers.
- Chi-Hoon: A Korean Girl
- by Patricia McMahon
(Multicultural)
Boyds Mills 1993 (49p)
A week in the life of eight-year-old
Chi-Hoon.