The Painter by Peter Catalanotto

This story revolves around a young girl who loves to be with her father, but she can't when he's painting. She wants to paint just like him, but it's never the time. Finally her father lets her paint and she loves it!

Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan

In this story, a young girl explores the ocean, her favorite place, with all of her senses.

Blubber by Judy Blume

In this story Jill's classmates make fun of a girl named Linda for her weight. Various other events unfold through the story with Jill and Tracy, but ultimately, Jill sticks up for Linda. In the end she learns that she shouldn't make fun of people and that things change all the time.

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel

In this story, a little girl goes through what she wears when it snows.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

In this story, a young boy and a tree become great friends. They have so much fun together and the tree gives everything to the boy, and as the boy grows up he wants more. Finally the boat offers herself up to be chopped down and made into a boat for the boy. When he is old, the man comes back to the tree and sits on her stump, and she is happy.

Superfudge by Judy Blume

In this story Peter finds out his family is having another baby, and he is not happy because he already doesn't get along with his younger brother, Fudge. Their family moves to New Jersey, and Peter goes through various events such as making friends and the baby being born. Near the end of the story, Fudge gets lost. They finally find him and decide that they were moving back to New York.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

This book is about Greg as he goes through the issues of any typical preteen. He has a silly friend named Rowley who he gets into trouble and fights with from time to time. This book just accounts for some of the silly adventures they have such a Halloween gone wrong, wrestling, and a fight that breaks them apart, but they become friends again.

Junie B., First Grader (at last!) by Barbara Park

Junie B. starts first grade. She is having a hard time reading things on the board and doing well in class. At the end of the book, she gets glasses and shows them at show and tell. Everyone approves of them, and she feels better about both the glasses and first grade.

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

Ramona Quimby meets her eventual nemesis Yard Ape on her first day of first grade. As she progresses through the year she smashes a raw egg into her hair, has to play with her younger neighbor, and throws up in the classroom. She finds herself to be a nuisance to her teacher, but eventually learns that this is a misunderstanding. At home, her father is going back to school and things are a bit tough, but eventually everyone is happy together as a family and find that they are a great family.

Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos

Joey has ADD and is always on the move if he doesn't have his medicine. He is on his way to meet his father that he has never met. They get along, but his father is a bit weird and is a recovering alcoholic. Joey decides to play baseball for his dad's team and does great as the pitcher. Things get crazy with his dad, and finally Joey calls his mother to come get him. They leave his father behind and decide to get closer to one another.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Setting: School
Characters: Vashti, art teacher
Theme: You can do anything, believe in yourself

 Vashti's art class was over, and she had drawn nothing. She told her teacher she couldn't draw. Her teacher told her to make a mark and see where it would take her. So she just made a dot, and the teacher had her sign it. The next day her dot was framed above her desk. She said she could do better than that. She opened her watercolors and made all different colors, sizes, and non-existing dots. The dots went in the school art show. A boy came up to Vashti and told her she was a great artist. He said he couldn't do art like her. She made him draw a line on a paper and sign it just like her teacher had done to her.

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

Setting: Home
Characters: Little Bunny, Mother
Theme: Unconditional love

The Little Bunny says he wants to run away, and his mother says she'll run after him. He says he'll turn into a fish and swim away, but she says she'll become a fisherman and fish for him. He says then he'll turn into a rock on a mountain, but she says she'll become a mountain climber and climb up to him. He says then he'll turn into a crow and hide in a garden, but she says she'll turn into a gardener and find him. He says he'll turn into a bird and fly away, but she says she'll be the tree he comes home to. He says he'll be a boat and sail away, but she says she'll be the wind and blow him where she wants to. He says he'll join the circus and fly away, but she say she'll be a tight rope walker and walk to him. He says he'll be a boy and run into a house, and she says she'll be his mother and catch him her arms. He decided he would just stay at home, and she gave him a carrot.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Setting: Winter, Outside
Characters: Peter, Mother
Theme: Snow, Enjoying yourself

Peter woke up and it was snowing.He put on his snowsuit and walk through the snow in all different ways. He saw older kids having a snowball fight. He wasn't big enough to join in. He made a snowman and a snow angel. He climbed hills and slid down the,. He put a snowball in his pocket for tomorrow. When he got home, he told his Mother about his day and took a bath. The he found his snowball melted, and he was sad. He dreamed about the sun melting all of the snow, but it was still snowing when he woke up the next morning.He invite a friend to go outside with him for the day.

When I was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant

Setting: Mountains
Characters: Girl, Grandmother, Grandfather, Crawfords' boy, Peter
Theme: Family traditions

When the girl was young in the mountains, her grandfather would come home from the coal mines. Her grandmother would spread food on the table. She would walk the girl to the outhouse at night after having too much okra. She went swimming and would stop at the Crawfords' on the way back for butter. They would pump water and heat it for baths, and then grandmother would make hot cocoa while they huddled by the stove. They would go to church at the schoolhouse on Sundays. They would also go to see baptisms. She even got to see her cousin Peter get baptized. They would listen to frogs, and grandmother would threaten the snakes with her hoe. Once she killed one that was long enough to be draped over 4 kid's necks.. They would also sit on the porch swing, and grandfather would sharpen pencils with knives. Grandmother would braid the girl's hair. The girl never want to go to the ocean or desert. She never wanted to go anywhere else. The mountains were always enough.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Setting: Winter, Night
Characters: Pa, Child, Owl
Theme: Family traditions

Pa and his child went owling. They had to be quiet, and then Pa hooted to the owl. It responded to him. They waited for more owls, but nothing happened. They went deeper into the woods, and Pa hooted again. The owl replied, and then they were hooting back and forth like they were having a conversation. Pa shined his flashlight on the owl, and they stared at each other. The owl flew away, and they started on their way home. Now they could talk. All you need is hope when your owling.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Williams

Setting: Town, Laundromat
Characters: Trixie, Dad, Mom, Knuffle Bunny
Themes: Doing anything for your loved ones

Trixie went with her dad to the Laundromat. Then they were going home, but she didn't want to so she threw a fit.. When they got home, mom asked where Knuffle Bunny was. They ran back to the laundromat. They finally found him. Trixie screamed, "Knuffle Bunny!" Those were her first words.

I Can Be Anything by Jerry Spinelli

Setting: Imagination
Characters: Boy
Theme: You can be anything you want to be

The boy wonders what he wants to be when he gets older. Should he be a pumpkin grower, dandelion blower, paper-plan folder, puppy-dog holder, or a puddle stomper. He goes on through a bunch of other jobs he could do, but in the end he chooses to do them all.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

Setting: Zoo, Amos' house
Characters: Amos, Elephant, Tortoise, Penguin, Rhinoceros, Owl
Theme: Being there for others, Friendship

Amos works at the zoo and works very early in the morning. He rides the bus there everyday. At the zoo he would play chess with the elephant who thinks a lot about his moves, races the tortoise who never lost, sat with the penguin since he's shy, lends the rhinoceros a handkerchief who always has a runny nose, and read stories to the owl who was afraid of the dark. One morning he woke up and was feeling sick so he couldn't go to work. All his animal friends wondered where he was so they all boarded the bus and went to his house. Amos was so happy when they got there. He and the elephant played chess thinking a lot about his own moves, played hide and seek with the tortoise, the penguin warmed his feet while he napped, and the rhinoceros had the handkerchief for when he sneezed. He felt much better, and they made tea. Then they all went to bed to go back to the zoo in the morning.