Ms. Parrish’s Picks

If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk. Once you’ve given him the cookie, you don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into! This catchy story is on a AD410L Lexile Reading Level. It is equivalent to a 2nd grade reading level. After reading through the story once, the teacher can go back through the story for students to label the causes and effects in the story. 

One very hungry caterpillar eats his way through many different foods, until he finally falls asleep! This book is on a AD460L Lexile reading level and is equivalent to a 2nd grade reading level. Students can work on retelling the story by completing a craft, where they place the events in the story in order. They will place these events in order, in the shape of a catepillar. 

One of my most entertaining favorites, this book is about an officer who travels to schools to talk about safety. Unfortunately, many of the students are bored with his speeches. One day, this officer is assigned a special dog, and suddenly his speeches become a lot more interesting! This book is on a 570L Lexile reading level. This is equivalent to a 2nd grade reading level. Since this story reflects a time that Officer Buckle and Gloria have a disagreement, the teacher can print out friendship problems on a card and assign two students to work together. These students must work together to solve the problem. Students will then act out their situation in front of the class.

When a small village is attacked by millions of wasp, the villagers work together to trap the wasp in an unusual way. This book is on an accelerated reading level of 3.8 (3rd grade, 8th month). Students will be able to work on sequencing events as they write down the order to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Students can make their sandwiches and enjoy a tasty treat! 

When a small village is attacked by millions of wasp, the villagers work together to trap the wasp in an unusual way. This book is on an accelerated reading level of 3.8 (3rd grade, 8th month). Students will be able to work on sequencing events as they write down the order to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Students can make their sandwiches and enjoy a tasty treat! 

A Bad Case of the Stripes is about a girl who loves lima beans... BUT she also knows that all of the kids at school hate lima beans. She starts to worry about what her friends might think. She worries so much, until she breaks out in stripes! Read to the end to find out what cures this sweet girl of her stripes. This book is on a AD610L Lexile reading level, and is equivalent to a 3rd grade reading level. Students will enjoy drawing themselves, as they fill in their drawing to reflect something that they love to do. For example, a student who likes swimming may draw a photo that shows “A Bad Case of Swimming.” 

This lovely story is about two unseen characters who have two different perspectives and ideas about the type of animals they are both looking at. It is on a AD300L Lexile reading level which is equivalent to a kindergarten reading level. Students will love to give their own opinion about what type of animal they think they are reading about, and will be able to work on opinionated writing as they argue their point. 

Because of Winn-Dixie, is about a young girl named Opal who has already faced many challenges in her ten years of life. When going to the grocery store, she stumbles upon a special dog, with a sweet little grin. You’ll have have to read this story for yourself to see how this dog helps Opal through her challenges. This book is on 670L Lexile reading level, which is equivalent to a 4th grade reading level. Teachers can use this book to teach students about the structure of a story. 

Chrysanthemum thinks she has a perfect name until she attends her first day of school, where other students start to ridicule her. This book can be used to teach students about acceptance. It is on a 570L Lexile reading level, which is a 3rd grade equivalent. When reading this story to students, the teacher can have a large heart cut out at the front of the room. Every time someone says something mean to chrysanthemum, a student can come up front and crinkle a portion of the heart. Afterwards, students will take turns trying to smooth out the heart. This is to show students that even after something unkind is said, the person may still feel upset by it. It shows students that it hurts someone’s heart, when people are being unkind to them. 

The Foot Book explores the wide world of feet! It is on a guided reading level of E, which is equivalent to a 2nd grade reading level. This story can be taught beside a math lesson. Students can use different size feet to measure things in the classroom. 2nd graders will love this interactive math lesson, as it is taught along side this engaging story! 

Hooray for Reading Day! is on a AD380L Lexile reading level, which is a 1st-2nd grade equivalent. In this story, Jessica struggles to read. She feels as if she is always making mistakes when reading aloud. Jessica is dreading the day when parents come to hear their children read aloud in front of everyone. Read this book for yourself, to find out how Jessica overcomes her worry! After reading this story, students can write about how they feel when they have to read aloud! 

The Cat in the Hat is on a 430L Lexile reading level. This is equivalent to a 1st grade reading level. In this story, Dick and Sally are stuck inside with nothing to do, on a cold and rainy day. Suddenly, the Cat in the Hat shows up, and completely turns around their day! 1st graders will enjoy creating the Cat’s Hat to sort word families and other rhyming words to go along with this book! 

Green Eggs and Ham is on a  210L Lexile reading level. This is equivalent to a 2nd grade reading level. Sam-I-Am is determined to convince a friend to try green eggs and ham! Students may have a Green Eggs and Ham egg hunt. Students will find eggs with words written on them from the book, and must find another egg that rhymes with the previous one that they found. 

Bridge to Terabithia is on a 810L Lexile reading level (7th grade equivalent). In this book, Jess and his new-found friend Leslie, create their very own kingdom in the woods. For this story’s activity, the teacher may teach students about vivid imagery. The teacher can distribute art materials to the class, read a passage aloud from the book, and have students create an image based off of the imagery that the author writes about in the book. The students can then compare their creations, 

Where the Wild Things are is on a AD740L Lexile reading level (2nd grade reading level). In this story, a trouble-making boy is sent to bed without any supper. This young boy goes on adventure of his own, in his very own bed room. An activity that can go along with this book, is an action word rumpus. Students take turns being the king or queen. When the king or queen says an action word, the whole class performs the action. When the king or queen orders the class to be still, then they must freeze. 

Amazing Grace is on a 3.3 accelerated reading level (3rd grade, 3rd month reading level). This story is about a young African American girl who loves to read and act out stories. Grace is presented with an opportunity to play a role in her school’s play. Grace knows exactly which part she wants to play. Students will read about how Grace also loved to make up stories in her head. Students can create their own stories within groups and act them out for the class.